Evaluation of Seed-Filling Period as an Indirect Selection Trait for Higher Yield and Its Relationship With Nitrogen Parameters in Soybean

47 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1987.Previous reports have shown that seed-filling period (SFP) and seed yield are positively related in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Indirect selection for yield using SFP is effective if heritability of SFP is higher than that for yield, and genetic correlation between SFP and yield is high. Relative selection efficiency of gain (p) was computed to determine the merit of using SFP in indirect selection for yield. Soybean population 1 and 2 were derived from cross PI 398.881 x PI 398.763 and PI 416.750 x PI 407.721, respectively. Determinate soybean lines in population 1 had a high heritability for SFP ({\rm h}\sp2 = 0.84), and a high genetic correlation between SFP and yield (r = 0.92). However, the low number of lines (13) used prevent making a general conclusion for SFP as an indirect selection trait. Indeterminate soybean lines in population 2 had a low heritability for SFP ({\rm h}\sp2 = 0.37) and SFP showed no relationship with yield. The low p value for SFP in indeterminate lines suggested that SFP would not be an effective indirect selection trait for yield. In population 2, neither heritability for SFP nor genetic correlation between SFP and yield was computed because genotypic variance for SFP and covariance for SFP and yield were negative. Phenotypic variance for SFP in population 2 was small.Two other experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between SFP and nitrogen parameters. Ten soybean lines were selected from each of the two {\rm F}\sb5 populations. Five lines were considered as having a long SFP and the other five lines having a short SFP. Seed-filling period showed no association with N concentration or N content in the vegetative tissue at the beginning of seed fill or at physiological maturity. Nitrogen content in the vegetative tissue was determined by its dry weight. Nitrogen form fixation was closely related with N content in the seed, but showed no association with SFP. The N concentration of vegetative tissue at physiological maturity was higher than that in the non-nodulated line (L63-1899) which suggested that N concentration might not have been low enough to affect physiological activities or SFP.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

Sequence determinants of pri-miRNA recognition and processing

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Biology, 2012.This electronic version was submitted by the student author. The certified thesis is available in the Institute Archives and Special Collections.Cataloged from student submitted PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNAs that regulate many processes in physiology and pathology by guiding the repression of target messenger RNAs. For classification purposes, miRNAs are defined as ~22 nt RNAs that are produced by the cleavage of endogenously transcribed hairpins. From a cellular perspective, however, miRNAs are the functional products of a multistep maturation pathway, and are thus defined by the ability of their precursors to enter this pathway. The cellular distinction between miRNA precursors and other hairpins is made in the first step of maturation, when the primary miRNA transcript (pri-miRNA) is cleaved by the Microprocessor, a complex containing Drosha, an RNase III enzyme, and an RNA-binding partner DGCR8. However, it is unclear how the Microprocessor distinguishes between these hairpins and authentic pri-miRNAs. In fact, C. elegans pri-miRNAs are not processed in human cells, illustrating the complexity of pri-miRNA recognition and processing. To systematically explore sequence determinants of pri-miRNA recognition, hundreds of billions of variants of human pri-miRNAs were generated, and millions of variants that were functional Microprocessor substrates were selected in vitro and sequenced. Analysis of the successful sequences revealed multiple determinants of pri-miRNA binding and cleavage, including hairpin secondary structure and primary sequence preferences in the terminal loop and flanking the hairpin. One of these determinants, a CNNC motif downstream of the Drosha cleavage site, is enriched in pri-miRNAs throughout bilaterian animals. Addition of the primary sequence motifs to C. elegans pri-miRNAs promoted their efficient processing in human cells, underscoring the importance of these determinants. The identification and characterization of specific motifs greatly expands the understanding of the features that cells use to recognize pri-miRNAs, and opens the door to future studies of pri-miRNA recognition in humans and other bilaterian animals. In addition, the approach is applicable to the exploration of a variety of functional RNA elements that have so far resisted functional dissection, including long noncoding RNAs and messenger RNA localization signals.by Vincent C. Auyeung.Ph.D

The effect of Astragalus Membranaceus on Pathological Angiogenesis

Poster PresentationConference Theme: Translating Advances in Science into Improvements in Cardiovascular HealthAbnormality of angiogenesis can contribute to several pathologic processes including atherosclerosis and cancer. Different bioactive components of astragalus membranaceus (huangqi), a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, exert different effects on the angiogenesis of human cancer cells and endothelial cells. Therefore, the effect of astragalus membranaceus and its active components on angiogenesis under different pathological conditions were investigated. Human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human colon cancer cell HCT 116 were used for in vitro studies. The effect of astragalus membranaceus on proliferation were examined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The results indicated that the viabilities of HUVECs treated with astragalus saponin (0.1 to 25 µg/ml), astragaloside IV (0.01 to 100 µM) and calycosin (1 to 200 µM) for 24-72 hours were not significantly different from the control group (without any treatment). Astragalus saponin and astragaloside IV, at the same concentrations as used in HUVECs, also did not affect the viability of HCT 116 cells, while the highest concentration of calycosin (200 µM) inhibited the growth of HCT 116 cells. The angiogenic potential of these components of astragalus membranaceus are examined in both HUVECs [under the stimulation of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C activator] and HCT 116 cells by wound healing migration assay and tube formation assay, in order to identify the influence of astragalus membranaceus and its components on pathological angiogenesis

Effects of Composting Yard Waste Temperature on Seed Germination of a Major Tropical Invasive Weed, <i>Leucaena leucocephala</i>

Composting is an environmental-friendly option for yard waste management, and produces products for improving soil quality. However, there is a weed dispersal risk if the compost contains many active weed seeds. This study assessed the potential of composting in minimizing the seed germination of a major tropical invasive weed, Leucaena leucocephala. The germination of the species was tested after two different sets of thermal treatments, i.e., (1) different constant temperatures (20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C) for 5 days, and (2) composting temperature (simulating the temperature profile of a typical composting process) for 60 days. A three-month growth test was further conducted for the seeds treated with the composting temperature. The seeds were present either alone (N-seeds) or mixed with wood chips (W-seeds) when thermally treated. A constant temperature treatment of 70 °C suppressed the seed germination to a low rate. For the composting temperature treatment, the germination percentage of the N-seeds and W-seeds were reduced from around 60% to 22.7% and 12.7%, respectively. This preliminary study suggested that the temperature should reach as high as 70 °C in the composting process to guarantee the suppression of the germination of the seeds of L. leucocephala, particularly when the seeds are contained within seed pods during composting

Effects of Composting Yard Waste Temperature on Seed Germination of a Major Tropical Invasive Weed, Leucaena leucocephala

Composting is an environmental-friendly option for yard waste management, and produces products for improving soil quality. However, there is a weed dispersal risk if the compost contains many active weed seeds. This study assessed the potential of composting in minimizing the seed germination of a major tropical invasive weed, Leucaena leucocephala. The germination of the species was tested after two different sets of thermal treatments, i.e., (1) different constant temperatures (20 &deg;C, 30 &deg;C, 40 &deg;C, 50 &deg;C, 60 &deg;C, and 70 &deg;C) for 5 days, and (2) composting temperature (simulating the temperature profile of a typical composting process) for 60 days. A three-month growth test was further conducted for the seeds treated with the composting temperature. The seeds were present either alone (N-seeds) or mixed with wood chips (W-seeds) when thermally treated. A constant temperature treatment of 70 &deg;C suppressed the seed germination to a low rate. For the composting temperature treatment, the germination percentage of the N-seeds and W-seeds were reduced from around 60% to 22.7% and 12.7%, respectively. This preliminary study suggested that the temperature should reach as high as 70 &deg;C in the composting process to guarantee the suppression of the germination of the seeds of L. leucocephala, particularly when the seeds are contained within seed pods during composting

Additional file 1: of The effects of yoga versus stretching and resistance training exercises on psychological distress for people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

SPIRIT Checklist. (DOC 120 kb

The effects of yoga versus stretching and resistance training exercises on psychological distress for people with mild-to-moderate Parkinson’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Psychological distress is prevalent among people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and aggravates their motor symptoms, thereby leading to increased disability, high healthcare costs, and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The under-recognition and adverse effects of the pharmacological management of anxiety and depression among the PD population are considerable. Thus, adopting a Complementary and Alternative Management (CAM) approach to address this problem is important. Yoga, one of the most common “mind-body” CAM therapies, can improve the psychological wellbeing of people with chronic illnesses. However, limited research on the effects of yoga in people with PD has been conducted. This study will determine the effects of yoga on the psychological wellbeing of people with mild-to-moderate PD and will compare these effects with those of stretching and resistance training exercises. Methods A community-based, single-blind, randomized trial will be conducted. A total of 126 subjects will be recruited and randomly divided into yoga (n = 63) or stretching and resistance exercise (n = 63) groups. For 8 weeks, the yoga group will receive a weekly 90-min session of yoga, and the control group will receive a weekly 60-min session of stretching and resistance exercises. The primary outcome will be the level of psychological distress measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. The secondary outcomes will include the severity of motor symptoms measured by the Movement Disorders Society – Unified Parkinson’s Disease Scale − Part III Motor Examination; mobility, balance, and fall risk measured by the Timed Up and Go test; spiritual wellbeing measured by the Holistic Wellbeing Scale; and HRQoL measured by the Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-8. Assessment will be conducted at baseline, 8th, and 20th weeks of follow-ups. Discussion This study will be the first randomized trial to compare the effect of yoga versus stretching and resistance training exercises in a PD population. Results will contribute to the value of yoga as a therapeutic option for managing psychological distress in PD patients. Multiple outcomes including psychological, physiological, and spiritual and HRQoL will also be measured to elucidate the potential mechanisms of yoga. The effect of yoga on people with chronic illnesses will further be elucidated. This information should contribute to future research, practice, and policy related to PD management. Trial registration WHO Primary Registry – Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR): CUHK_CCRB00522 Registered on 8 October 2016; date of approval 19 August 2016

A randomized clinical trial of mindfulness meditation versus exercise in Parkinson’s disease during social unrest

Abstract Clinical practice guidelines support resilience training and exercise for patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). This assessor-blinded, randomized clinical trial aimed to compare the effects of a modified mindfulness meditation program versus stretching and resistance training exercise (SRTE) in patients with mild-to-moderate PD. A total of 126 potential participants were enrolled via convenience sampling, of which 68 eligible participants were randomized 1:1 to receive eight weekly 90-min sessions of mindfulness meditation or SRTE. Compared to the SRTE group, generalized estimating equation analyses revealed that the mindfulness group had significantly better improvement in outcomes, particularly for improving depressive symptoms (d, −1.66; 95% CI, −3.31 to −0.02) at week 8 and maintaining emotional non-reactivity at week 20 (d, 2.08; 95% CI, 0.59 to 3.56). Both groups demonstrated significant immediate, small-moderate effects on cognition (effect size [d] = 0.36–0.37, p = 0.006–0.011). Compared with the SRTE, mindfulness meditation appeared to be a feasible and promising strategy for managing depressive symptoms and maintaining emotional stability, with comparable benefits on cognitive performance. To combat the psychospiritual and cognitive sequelae of social unrest and COVID-19 pandemic, the integration of mindfulness training into motor-oriented PD rehabilitation protocols is recommended to strengthen the resilience and minimize the psycho-cognitive comorbidities among patients with mild-to-moderate PD. Trial Registration: HKU Clinical Trials Registry identifier: HKUCTR-2681

Gastrointestinal Colonization of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: What Is the Implication for Infection Control?

The epidemiology of patients with gastrointestinal colonization of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) has not been systematically analyzed. We aimed to analyze the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of patients with newly identified gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB in a healthcare region in Hong Kong, where a multi-pronged screening strategy for gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB, together with other multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), was conducted by collecting fecal specimens (rectal swab or stool) upon admission and during hospitalization. From 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2019, a total of 161,339 fecal specimens from 63,588 patients, 61,856 (97.3%) of whom were hospitalized patients, and 54,525 (88.1%) were screened upon admission, with 1309 positive for CRAB (2.4% prevalence). Among patients positive for CRAB in fecal specimens, 698 (53.3%) had newly detected gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB, giving an incidence of 10.03 per 10,000 patient admissions and constituting 2646 CRAB colonization days in the general wards. Excluding the 164 patients with co-colonization of other MDROs, 534 patients had gastrointestinal colonization with only CRAB, and 12.5% (67/534) developed symptomatic CRAB infections at a median of 61 days (range: 2 to 671 days), during prospective follow-up for 2 years. Compared with age- and sex-matched controls, patients being referred from residential care homes for the elderly, the presence of indwelling devices, use of beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems, and proton pump inhibitors in the preceding 6 months, and history of hospitalization in the past 6 months were significantly associated with gastrointestinal colonization with CRAB, as shown by multivariable analysis. Log-rank test showed that cases had significantly shorter survival duration than controls (p &lt; 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio of gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.5&ndash;2.2; p &lt; 0.001), as shown by Cox regression analysis. Whole-genome sequencing of eight patients with CRAB isolates in their blood cultures and rectal swabs during the same episode of hospitalization revealed ST-195 as the predominant type, as shown by multilocus sequencing type. Gastrointestinal colonization of CRAB poses a considerable challenge for infection prevention and control