Tomato: a crop species amenable to improvement by cellular and molecular methods

Tomato is a crop plant with a relatively small DNA content per haploid genome and a well developed genetics. Plant regeneration from explants and protoplasts is feasable which led to the development of efficient transformation procedures. In view of the current data, the isolation of useful mutants at the cellular level probably will be of limited value in the genetic improvement of tomato. Protoplast fusion may lead to novel combinations of organelle and nuclear DNA (cybrids), whereas this technique also provides a means of introducing genetic information from alien species into tomato. Important developments have come from molecular approaches. Following the construction of an RFLP map, these RFLP markers can be used in tomato to tag quantitative traits bred in from related species. Both RFLP's and transposons are in the process of being used to clone desired genes for which no gene products are known. Cloned genes can be introduced and potentially improve specific properties of tomato especially those controlled by single genes. Recent results suggest that, in principle, phenotypic mutants can be created for cloned and characterized genes and will prove their value in further improving the cultivated tomato.

The influence of first generation fertility and economic status on second generation fertility

This paper examines the impact of parental economic status and family size on the actual and expected fertility of adult children using longitudinal data from two generations of families participating in the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. There was a modest positive relationship between first generation family size and second generation fertility. More importantly, the ideal family size of the parental family was more closely related to fertility behavior and plans in the second generation than was actual parental family size. In addition, the data revealed the hypothesized negative correlation between parental financial status and second generation fertility behavior and plans. Several mechanisms which could produce the correlation between parental characteristics and the fertility of their children are explored.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43511/1/11111_2005_Article_BF01253070.pd

Rainfall simulator study of the erosion control potential of palm geotextiles for mine dam slope stabilization

Proceedings of the Green5 Conference, Vilnius, Lithuania 1 July - 4 July 2008Mining has been the backbone of the South African economy since the late 19th century. Large volumes of mine waste, such as tailings, have been generated in some areas. Mine waste is highly susceptible to both water and wind erosion, it may create moderate to severe chemical imbalances or toxicities and has a severe abrasive effect on seedlings, a low water-holding capacity and is prone to compaction and crusting. Biogeotextiles are potentially effective and economically-viable erosion control products. The main objective of the study reported herein was to establish the erosion control properties of palm-mats by determining erosion-related variables via rainfall simulation. The textiles were manufactured from the leaves of the Lala palm (Hyphaene coriacea) and covered about 40% of the tailing surface. Ten representative samples of South African mine waste materials were collected for the rainfall simulator studies. Measured erosion parameters included; runoff, sediment load in runoff and interrill erodibility. Seven samples were sand-textured and three were silty. Sediment load was not dependent on exchangeable sodium or organic matter contents, but prominently associated with pH, silt percentage and the quartz content in the clay fraction. When the samples were covered with palm-mats the amount of runoff was similar to that of bare materials, but sediment yield was reduced by about 55%. These results confirm the suitability of palm geotextiles for erosion control on tailing dam slopes

Statistical analysis plan for the BLING III study: A phase 3 multicentre randomised controlled trial of continuous versus intermittent beta-lactam antibiotic infusion in critically ill patients with sepsis

Background: The β-Lactam Infusion Group (BLING) III study is a prospective, multicentre, open, phase 3 randomised controlled trial comparing continuous infusion with intermittent infusion of β-lactam antibiotics in 7000 critically ill patients with sepsis. Objective: To describe a statistical analysis plan for the BLING III study. Methods: The statistical analysis plan was designed by the trial statistician and chief investigators and approved by the BLING III management committee before the completion of data collection. Statistical analyses for primary, secondary and tertiary outcomes and planned subgroup analyses are described in detail. Interim analysis by the Data Safety and Monitoring Committee (DSMC) has been conducted in accordance with a pre-specified DSMC charter. Results and conclusions: The statistical analysis plan for the BLING III study is published before completion of data collection and unblinding to minimise analysis bias and facilitate public access and transparent analysis and reporting of study findings. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Registry NCT03212990.Laurent Billot, Jeffrey Lipman, Stephen J Brett, Jan J De Waele, Menino Osbert Cotta, Joshua S Davis, Simon Finfer, Naomi Hammond, Serena Knowles, Shay McGuinness, John Myburgh, David L Paterson, Sandra Peake, Dorrilyn Rajbhandari, Andrew Rhodes, Jason A Roberts, Claire Roger, Charudatt Shirwadkar, Therese Starr, Colman Taylor and Joel M Dulhunty, for the BLING III Investigator

Vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration, host comorbidities and mortality in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

We reported an association between elevated vancomycin MIC and 30-day mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB), including patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) treated with flucloxacillin. A detailed analysis of comorbidities and disease severity scores in the same cohort of patients was performed to ascertain if unknown clinical parameters may have influenced these results. The association between elevated vancomycin MIC and 30-day mortality in SAB remained significant (p 0.001) on multivariable logistic regression analysis even when accounting for clinical factors. In addition, the association persisted when restricting analysis to patients with MSSA bacteraemia treated with flucloxacillin. This suggests that elevated vancomycin MIC is associated with but not causally linked to an organism factor that is responsible for increased mortality.N. E. Holmes, J. D. Turnidge, W. J. Munckhof, J. O. Robinson, T. M. Korman, M. V. N. O’Sullivan, T. L. Anderson, S. A. Roberts, S. J. C. Warren, W. Gao, P. D. R. Johnson, and B. P. Howde

Erratum: Relevance of biomarkers across different neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's Research and Therapy (2020) 12 (56) DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00601-w)

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported a production error in the article title. The last word "diseases" was omitted by copy editor. The original article [1] has been updated