Genomic structure and marker-derived gene networks for growth and meat quality traits of Brazilian Nelore beef cattle

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Nelore is the major beef cattle breed in Brazil with more than 130 million heads. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are often used to associate markers and genomic regions to growth and meat quality traits that can be used to assist selection programs. An alternative methodology to traditional GWAS that involves the construction of gene network interactions, derived from results of several GWAS is the AWM (Association Weight Matrices)/PCIT (Partial Correlation and Information Theory). With the aim of evaluating the genetic architecture of Brazilian Nelore cattle, we used high-density SNP genotyping data (~770,000 SNP) from 780 Nelore animals comprising 34 half-sibling families derived from highly disseminated and unrelated sires from across Brazil. The AWM/PCIT methodology was employed to evaluate the genes that participate in a series of eight phenotypes related to growth and meat quality obtained from this Nelore sample.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Our results indicate a lack of structuring between the individuals studied since principal component analyses were not able to differentiate families by its sires or by its ancestral lineages. The application of the AWM/PCIT methodology revealed a trio of transcription factors (comprising VDR, LHX9 and ZEB1) which in combination connected 66 genes through 359 edges and whose biological functions were inspected, some revealing to participate in biological growth processes in literature searches.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud The diversity of the Nelore sample studied is not high enough to differentiate among families neither by sires nor by using the available ancestral lineage information. The gene networks constructed from the AWM/PCIT methodology were a useful alternative in characterizing genes and gene networks that were allegedly influential in growth and meat quality traits in Nelore cattle.This study was conducted with funding from EMBRAPA (Macroprograma1,\ud 01/2005) and FAPESP (process number 2012/23638-8). GBM, LLC, LCAR and\ud MMA were granted CNPq fellowships. We thank Sean McWilliam, Marina R. S.\ud Fortes, Edilson Guimaraes, Robson Rodrigues Santiago, Roselito F. da Silva,\ud Fernando F. Cardoso, Flavia Aline Bressani, Wilson Malago Jr., Avelardo U. C.\ud Ferreira, Michel E. B. Yamaguishi and Fabio D. Vieira for the help and\ud technical assistance. The authors would like to acknowledge the\ud collaborative efforts among EMBRAPA, University of Sao Paulo and CSIRO

Syntheses, characterization and antifungal activity of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(ii) bis(n-r-sulfonyldithiocarbimate)zincate(ii)

Four new compounds with the general formula [Fe(phen)3][Zn(RSO2N=CS2)2], where phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, R = 4-FC6H4 (1), 4-ClC6H4 (2), 4-BrC6H4 (3) and 4-IC6H4 (4), respectively, were obtained by the reaction of the appropriate potassium N-R-sulfonyldithiocarbimate (RSO2N=CS2K2) and tris(1,10-phenanthroline)iron(II) sulfate, with zinc(II) acetate dihydrate in dimethylformamide. The elemental analyses and the IR data were consistent with the formation of the expected complexes salts. The ¹H and 13C NMR spectra showed the signals for the cationic iron(II) complex and dithiocarbimate moieties. The molar conductance data were consistent with the 1:1 cation:anion complexes in 1-4. The antifungal activities of the compounds were tested in vitro against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Zinc and lead content and availability in Brazilian soil contaminated with residue of a secondary smelting lead recycling plant

The sequential extraction procedure of Zinc and lead performed in a Brazilian soil showed that it presents high pollution potential once over 90% of total lead is present in fractions where the metals can be easily mobilized. The fraction contents are as follow: F1 = 174 and 15 mg kg-1; F2 = 3155 and 9.7 mg kg -1; F3 = 99 and 1.6 mg kg -1; Residual fraction = 38 and 5.5 mg kg -1 for lead and zinc, respectively. The comparison with non contaminated soil only Pb 2+ concentration is above its intervention reference concentration, 900 mg kg -1

Contribuição dos créditos de carbono na viabilidade econômica dos contratos de fomento florestal no sul da Bahia

A região do extremo sul da Bahia é caracterizada por sua extensa produção de eucalipto. Grandes empresas do setor de celulose e papel desempenham importante função na economia da região através dos programas de fomento florestal. Além disso, tem-se que alguns produtores fomentados por essas empresas possuem interesse em incrementar o retorno financeiro de seus contratos de fomento florestal através do recebimento de crédito de carbono. Nesse contexto, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a contribuição dos créditos de carbono na viabilidade econômica nos contratos de fomento florestal da região. O Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), a Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR) e o Valor Anual Equivalente (VAE) foram os indicadores utilizados na avaliação financeira, a uma taxa de desconto de 10% ao ano, em 45 contratos de fomento distribuídos em 11 municípios da região, e estimou-se o potencial de estocagem de carbono utilizando dados de estoque de carbono do momento em que os contratos atingiram a idade técnica de corte. Os produtores florestais informaram dados referentes à produção, produtividade e rentabilidade do plantio de eucalipto em seus contratos de fomento. Os resultados da pesquisa mostram que a comercialização dos créditos de carbono pode aumentar consideravelmente a viabilidade financeira do contrato de fomento. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que o comércio de créditos de carbono é uma atividade viável na região e aumentará os ganhos dos produtores fomentados

Workshop report: Organ preservation strategies in advanced head and neck cancer—Current status and future directions Presented at the Fifth Research Workshop on the Biology, Prevention and Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer, McLean, Virginia, August 27–30, 1998. Head & Neck 21: 689–693, 1999

No abstract.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35114/1/2_ftp.pd

Role of body mass index and gestational weight gain on preterm birth and adverse perinatal outcomes

The association of body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with preterm birth (PTB) remains controversial in the literature. To evaluate different maternal BMI and GWG categories, according to the initial BMI, in relation to different PTB subtypes and perinatal outcomes, we conducted a secondary analysis of a multicentre cross-sectional study, along with a nested case-control study including PTB from 20 centers in Brazil. Pre-pregnancy underweight was associated with a lower risk of provider-initiated PTB, while overweight and obesity were associated with a higher risk of provider-initiated PTB and a lower risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Insufficient gestational weight gain was associated with a higher prevalence of spontaneous PTB and preterm premature rupture of membranes. Excessive GWG correlated with a higher prevalence of provider-initiated PTB or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Irrespective of the initial BMI, the greater the rate of GWG, the higher the predicted probability of all PTB subtypes, except for spontaneous PTB in underweight women and those with normal BMI. On multivariate analysis, the initial BMI was shown to be the only factor associated with pi-PTB. Briefly, further studies evaluating the risk for PTB should consider that GWG may have a different role depending on the initial BMI and PTB subtype9CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP401636/2013-5sem informaçãoFAPESP (Foundation for Research Support of the State of Sao Paulo) BrazilFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP); CNPq (Brazilian National Research Council) BrazilNational Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Bill and Melinda Gates FoundationGates Foundation [401636/2013-5, 05/2013]; Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq)National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) [401636/2013-5, 05/2013