Melanocortin-1 receptor, skin cancer and phenotypic characteristics (M-SKIP) project

Background: For complex diseases like cancer, pooled-analysis of individual data represents a powerful tool to investigate the joint contribution of genetic, phenotypic and environmental factors to the development of a disease. Pooled-analysis of epidemiological studies has many advantages over meta-analysis, and preliminary results may be obtained faster and with lower costs than with prospective consortia. Design and methods. Based on our experience with the study design of the Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, SKin cancer and Phenotypic characteristics (M-SKIP) project, we describe the most important steps in planning and conducting a pooled-analysis of genetic epidemiological studies. We then present the statistical analysis plan that we are going to apply, giving particular attention to methods of analysis recently proposed to account for between-study heterogeneity and to explore the joint contribution of genetic, phenotypic and environmental factors in the development of a disease. Within the M-SKIP project, data on 10,959 skin cancer cases and 14,785 controls from 31 international investigators were checked for quality and recoded for standardization. We first proposed to fit the aggregated data with random-effects logistic regression models. However, for the M-SKIP project, a two-stage analysis will be preferred to overcome the problem regarding the availability of different study covariates. The joint contribution of MC1R variants and phenotypic characteristics to skin cancer dev

Preliminary studies on releasing the staphylind beetle Aleochara bilineata Gyll. onto protected cabbage seed beds

National audienc

Plastic and dissipated work and stored energy

International audienceThis paper depicts one theoretical and experimental method to take into account the energy phenomena, associated with the elasto—plastic deformation process, during the elaboration of behaviour laws. The energy balance definition is examined in order to relate the stored energy of cold work to the hardening state variables. Two experimental approaches are used to study the evolution of the energy balance. The first one uses microcalorimetric technique and the second infrared technique. Several industrial metallic materials are studied by both approaches. Energy data are used to control the validity domain of the classical behaviour laws and to elaborate new more appropriate ones. Therefore, the hardening parameters cannot be identified with the thermodynamical forces. The use of energy considerations allows the definition of new thermodynamical forces and state variables, in the case of isotropic or kinematical hardening

High density of defoliated tomato plants in protected cultivation and its effects on development of trusses and fruits Alta densidade com desfolhamento de plantas de tomateiro em cultivo protegido e seus efeitos sobre o desenvolvimento de inflorescências e frutos

Tomato fruit setting on high density defoliated tomato plants with similar leaf area index was determined in three environmental conditions, inside polyethylene tunnels. Experiment 1 was carried out in autumn when average solar radiation received by the crop was 8.0 MJ m-2 day-1. Average external temperature was 18.1&ordm;C. Experiments 2 and 3 were conducted in spring, when average external temperature was 19.7&ordm;C. In experiment 2, average solar radiation received by the crop was 12.4 MJ m-2 day-1, whereas in experiment 3 it was reduced to 5.9 MJ m-2 day-1 by a 52% shading net. Plants were grown in bags, spaced 1.0 m between row and 0.3 m within row bags distance, using 5.5 L of a commercial substrate. Nutrients and water were supplied by means of a nutrient solution, delivered daily in order to replace volumes lost by transpiration. Treatments consisted of one (T1), two (T2) and three (T3) plants per bag, leading to plant densities of 3.3, 6.7 and 10 plants m-2, respectively. In T1, three leaves per sympod were kept, with a ratio of 3:1 between number of leaves and inflorescences per sympod. In T2, two and one leaf was kept respectively on two consecutive sympods, alternatively on both plants. The ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences was 3:2. In T3, with three plants per bag, only one leaf per sympod was kept on each plant. The ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences was 3:3. In all experiments, the number of trusses per area in T2 and T3 was two and three times higher than in T1, respectively. The number of fruits per unit ground area was lower in T1 plants and similar in T2 and T3 plants in the first experiment, whereas in the second and third experiments similar values were observed among treatments. Results indicated that tomato plants adjust the number of fruits, and exceeding flowers are aborted. The use of a plant density of 6.7 plants m-2 combined with a 3:2 ratio between number of leaves and inflorescences per unit ground area seems to be the upper limit in maximizing the number of set fruits of this crop.<br>O número de frutos em plantas de tomateiro cultivadas em alta densidade e com índice de área foliar similar mantido através de desfolhamento foi determinado em três condições ambientais, no interior de túneis de polietileno. O experimento 1 foi conduzido no outono, com radiação solar média recebida pela cultura de 8,0 MJ m-2 dia-1 e temperatura média exterior de 18,1&ordm;C. Os experimentos 2 e 3 foram conduzidos na primavera, com temperatura média exterior de 19,7&ordm;C. No experimento 2, a radiação solar média recebida pela cultura foi de 12,4 MJ m-2 dia-1, enquanto no experimento 3 foi reduzida para 5,9 MJ m-2 dia-1 por meio de uma tela com 52% de sombreamento. As plantas foram cultivadas em sacolas, com 1,0 m entre fileiras e 0,3 m entre sacolas, enchidas com 5,5 L de substrato comercial. Nutrientes e água foram fornecidos via solução nutritiva, de forma a repor os volumes perdidos pela transpiração. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma (T1), duas (T2) e três (T3) plantas por sacola, correspondendo a densidades de 3,3; 6,7 e 10 plantas m-2, respectivamente. Em T1, três folhas por simpódio foram mantidas, com uma proporção de 3:1 entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências, em cada simpódio. Em T2, duas e uma folha foram mantidas respectivamente em dois simpódios consecutivos, alternativamente em ambas as plantas da sacola. A relação entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências foi de 3:2. Em T3, com três plantas por sacola, somente uma folha por simpódio foi mantida, com uma relação de 3:3. Em todos os experimentos, o número de inflorescências por unidade de área em T2 e T3 foi duas e três vezes maior que em T1, respectivamente. O número de frutos fixados por área de solo foi menor em T1 e similar em T2 e T3 no primeiro experimento, enquanto no segundo e terceiro experimentos valores similares foram observados entre os tratamentos. Os resultados indicaram que as plantas de tomateiro ajustam o número de frutos fixados e as flores excedentes são abortadas. Uma densidade de 6,7 plantas m-2 combinada com uma proporção de 3:2 entre o número de folhas e de inflorescências por unidade de área de solo é apontada como a mais indicada para maximizar a fixação de frutos da cultura

MC1R

Dermatology-oncolog

MC1R variants in relation to naevi in melanoma cases and controls: a pooled analysis from the M-SKIP project

Dermatology-oncolog