Genetic engineering of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) for resistance to fungal diseases using g2ps1 gene from Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae)

In the present study, g2ps1 gene from Gerbera hybrida coding for 2-pyrone synthase which contribute for fungal and insect resistance was used. The aim was to work out an efficient approach of genetic transformation for apple cvs. ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘MM111’, ‘M26’ rootstocks for improving their fungal resistance using genetic engineering techniques. Adventitious shoot formation from leaf pieces of apples studied was achieved using middle leaf segments taken from the youngest leaves from in vitro-grown plants.Optimum conditions for ‚direct’ shoot organogenesis resulted in high regeneration efficiency of  0%, 95%, 92%, 94% in the studied apples respectively. Putative transgenic shoots could be obtained on MS media with B5 Vitamins, 5.0 mg l-1 BAP, or 2.0 mg l-1 TDZ with 0.2 mg l-1 NAA in the presence of the selection agent “PPT” at 3.0-5.0 mgl-1. Shoot multiplication of transgenic shoots was achieved on: MS + B5 vitamins + 1.0 mg l-1 BAP + 0.3 mg l-1 IBA, 0.2 mg l-1 GA3+1.0 g/l MES+ 30 g/l sucrose + 7.0 g/l Agar, with the selection agent PPT at 5.0 mg l-1 and were subcultured every 4 weeks in order to get sufficient material to confirm transformation of the putative shoots obtained. Six, seven, one and six transgenic clones of the apples studied respectively have been obtained and confirmed by selection on the media containing the selection agent “PPT” and by PCR analysis using the suitable primers in all clones obtained for the presence of the selection” bar gene (447 bp) and the gene-of- interest “g2PS1” (1244 bp), with transformation efficiency of 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. These transgenic clones were multiplied further in vitro in the presence of the selection agent ‘PPT’ and rooted in vitro. Rooted transgenic plantlets were successfully acclimatized and are being kept under-containment conditions according to the biosafety by-law in Syria to evaluate their performance for fungal resistance

SCSBRS 113 - Tio Taka: cultivar de arroz irrigado obtida através de seleção recorrente.

O objetivo deste trabalho é mostrar e discutir os principais resultados que levaram ao lançamento da SCSBRS 113 ? TioTaka para plantio em Santa Catarina e apresentar a metodologia utilizada no desenvolvimento da referida cultivar

Genetic engineering of apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) for resistance to fungal diseases using g2ps1 gene from Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae)

In the present study, g2ps1 gene from Gerbera hybrida coding for 2-pyrone synthase which contribute for fungal and insectresistance was used. The aim was to work out an efficient approach of genetic transformation for apple cvs. ‘Golden Delicious’, ‘Royal Gala’and ‘MM111’, ‘M26’ rootstocks for improving their fungal resistance using genetic engineering techniques. Adventitious shoot formationfrom leaf pieces of apples studied was achieved using middle leaf segments taken from the youngest leaves from in vitro-grown plants.Optimum conditions for ‚direct’ shoot organogenesis resulted in high regeneration efficiency of 90%,95%,92%,94% in the studied applesrespectively. Putative transgenic shoots could be obtained on MS media with B5 Vitamins, 5.0 mg l-1 BAP, or 2.0 mg l-1 TDZ with 0.2 mg l-1NAA in the presence of the selection agent “PPT” at 3.0-5.0 mgl-1. Shoot multiplication of transgenic shoots was achieved on: MS + B5vitamins + 1.0 mg l-1 BAP + 0.3 mg l-1 IBA, 0.2 mg l-1 GA3+1.0 g/l MES+ 30 g/l sucrose + 7.0 g/l Agar, with the selection agent PPT at 5.0mg l-1 and were subcultured every 4 weeks in order to get sufficient material to confirm transformation of the putative shoots obtained. Six,seven, one and six transgenic clones of the apples studied respectively have been obtained and confirmed by selection on the media containingthe selection agent “PPT” and by PCR analysis using the suitable primers in all clones obtained for the presence of the selection” bar gene(447 bp) and the gene-of- interest “g2PS1” (1244 bp), with transformation efficiency of 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.1% and 0.3% respectively. Thesetransgenic clones were multiplied further in vitro in the presence of the selection agent ‘PPT’ and rooted in vitro. Rooted transgenic plantletswere successfully acclimatized and are being kept under-containment conditions according to the biosafety by-law in Syria to evaluate theirperformance for fungal resistance

Perventricular device closure of muscular ventricular septal defects on the beating heart: technique and results

AbstractObjectiveBoth surgical management and percutaneous device closure of muscular ventricular septal defects have drawbacks and limitations. This report describes our initial experience with intraoperative device closure of muscular ventricular septal defects without cardiopulmonary bypass in 6 consecutive patients.MethodsA median sternotomy or a subxiphoid minimally invasive incision was performed. Under continuous transesophageal echocardiographic guidance, the right ventricle free wall was punctured, and a wire was introduced across the largest defect. The Amplatzer (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, Minn) muscular ventricular septal defect occluding device (a self-expandable double-disk device) was used. An introducer sheath was fed over the wire, with the sheath tip positioned in the left ventricle cavity. The device was then advanced inside the sheath and deployed by retracting the sheath. Associated cardiac lesions, if any, can then be repaired during cardiopulmonary bypass. A similar technique can also be applied for periatrial closure of complex atrial septal defects.ResultsThe initial 6 patients are presented. Cardiopulmonary bypass was not needed in any patient for placement of the device and needed in 4 patients for repair of concomitant malformations only (double-outlet right ventricle, aortic arch hypoplasia, pulmonary artery band removal). No complications from using this technique occurred. Discharge echocardiograms showed no significant shunting across the ventricular septum.ConclusionsPerventricular closure of multiple muscular ventricular septal defects is safe and effective. We believe that this could become the treatment of choice for any infant with muscular ventricular septal defects or any child with muscular ventricular septal defect and associated cardiac defects

Primary left ventricular rehabilitation is effective in maintaining two-ventricle physiology in the borderline left heart

ObjectiveBorderline left heart disease is characterized by left heart obstructive lesions (coarctation, aortic and mitral stenoses, left ventricular hypoplasia) and endocardial fibroelastosis. The multilevel obstruction and impaired left ventricular systolic and diastolic function contribute to failure of biventricular circulation. We studied the effects of left ventricular rehabilitation—endocardial fibroelastosis resection with mitral or aortic valvuloplasty—on left ventricular function and clinical outcomes.MethodsAll patients with borderline left heart structures and endocardial fibroelastosis who underwent a primary left ventricular rehabilitation procedure were retrospectively analyzed to determine operative mortality, reintervention rates, and hemodynamic status. Left heart dimensions and hemodynamics were recorded from preoperative and postoperative echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization. Postoperative left atrial pressure was obtained from the intracardiac line early after left ventricular rehabilitation. Preoperative and postoperative values were compared by paired t test.ResultsBetween 1999 and 2008, 9 patients with endocardial fibroelastosis and borderline left heart disease underwent left ventricular rehabilitation at a median age of 5.6 months (range, 1–38 months). There was no operative mortality, and at a median follow-up of 25 months (6 months to 10 years) there was 1 death from noncardiac causes and 2 patients required reoperations. Significant increases in ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic volume were observed, whereas left atrial pressure and right ventricular/left ventricular pressure ratios decreased postoperatively.ConclusionIn patients with borderline left hearts, primary left ventricular rehabilitation with endocardial fibroelastosis resection and mitral and aortic valvuloplasty results in improved left ventricular systolic and diastolic performance and decreased right ventricular pressures. This approach may provide an alternative to single-ventricle management in this difficult patient group

Combining Momentum, Value, and Quality for the Islamic Equity Portfolio: Multi-style Rotation Strategies using Augmented Black Litterman Factor Model

This study constructs active Islamic portfolios using a multi-style rotation strategy, derived from the three prominent styles, namely, momentum, value, and quality investing. We use the stocks that are consistently listed in the U.S. Dow Jones Islamic index for a sample period from 1996 to 2012. We also include two macroeconomic mimicking portfolios to capture the premiums of industrial production growth and inflation innovation, accommodating the economic regime shifts. Based on the information coefficients, we find the six-month momentum and the fractal measure as momentum factors; the enterprise yield (gross profit/TEV) and the book to market ratio as valuation factors; the gross profit to total assets, the return on capital, and the scaled total accruals as quality factors. We further construct active portfolios using the augmented Black Litterman (ABL) factor model to avoid the factor alignment problem, with the factor views predicted using Markov Switching VAR, MIDAS, and Bayesian Model Averaging. The out-of-sample performance of our portfolios can produce information ratios of 0.7 – 0.8 over the composite indices, and information ratios of 0.42 – 0.48 over the style indices, with the annualized alphas of 10 – 11%. Even when we put the constrained tracking error of 1% over the benchmark, our portfolios still produce information ratios of 0.9 – 1.2 before transaction costs, and 0.6 – 0.8 after transaction costs. We provide intuitive explanations for each premium changing over time, and suggest the promising strategy for Islamic equity investors to outperform the market

Combining Momentum, Value, and Quality for the Islamic Equity Portfolio: Multi-style Rotation Strategies using Augmented Black Litterman Factor Model

This study constructs active Islamic portfolios using a multi-style rotation strategy, derived from the three prominent styles, namely, momentum, value, and quality investing. We use the stocks that are consistently listed in the U.S. Dow Jones Islamic index for a sample period from 1996 to 2012. We also include two macroeconomic mimicking portfolios to capture the premiums of industrial production growth and inflation innovation, accommodating the economic regime shifts. Based on the information coefficients, we find the six-month momentum and the fractal measure as momentum factors; the enterprise yield (gross profit/TEV) and the book to market ratio as valuation factors; the gross profit to total assets, the return on capital, and the scaled total accruals as quality factors. We further construct active portfolios using the augmented Black Litterman (ABL) factor model to avoid the factor alignment problem, with the factor views predicted using Markov Switching VAR, MIDAS, and Bayesian Model Averaging. The out-of-sample performance of our portfolios can produce information ratios of 0.7 – 0.8 over the composite indices, and information ratios of 0.42 – 0.48 over the style indices, with the annualized alphas of 10 – 11%. Even when we put the constrained tracking error of 1% over the benchmark, our portfolios still produce information ratios of 0.9 – 1.2 before transaction costs, and 0.6 – 0.8 after transaction costs. We provide intuitive explanations for each premium changing over time, and suggest the promising strategy for Islamic equity investors to outperform the market

A longitudinal and cross-sectional study of plasma neurofilament light chain concentration in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Advances in genetic technology and small molecule drug development have paved the way for clinical trials in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT); however, the current FDA-approved clinical trial outcome measures are insensitive to detect a meaningful clinical response. There is, therefore, a need to identify sensitive outcome measures or clinically relevant biomarkers. The aim of this study was to further evaluate plasma neurofilament light chain (NFL) as a disease biomarker in CMT. Plasma NFL was measured using SIMOA technology in both a cross-sectional study of a US cohort of CMT patients and longitudinally over 6 years in a UK CMT cohort. In addition, plasma NFL was measured longitudinally in two mouse models of CMT2D. Plasma concentrations of NFL were increased in a US cohort of patients with CMT1B, CMT1X and CMT2A but not CMT2E compared with controls. In a separate UK cohort, over a 6-year interval, there was no significant change in plasma NFL concentration in CMT1A or HSN1, but a small but significant reduction in patients with CMT1X. Plasma NFL was increased in wild type compared to GARSC201R mice. There was no significant difference in plasma NFL in GARSP278KY compared to wild type mice. In patients with CMT1A, the small difference in cross-sectional NFL concentration vs healthy controls and the lack of change over time suggests that plasma NFL may lack sufficient sensitivity to detect a clinically meaningful treatment response in adulthood