Optimizing the choice of microsatellite markers for fingerprinting eucalyptus

In this study we have analyzed the information provided by 17 publicly available Eucalyptus microsatellite (SSR) markers (Brondani et al. 1998, 2002; Jones et al. 2002; Steane et al. 2001) in the context of genetic identification within a sample of 140 individuals from an elite collection (denoted hereafter base) of RAIZ genetic improvement population

Estimativa do parentesco numa população de melhoramento de Eucalyptus globulus através de microsatélites nucleares

É situação comum desconhecer-se o grau de parentesco entre a população na origem da maioria dos programas de melhoramento genético de espécies florestais. Para resolver este problema, desenvolvemos um protocolo de avaliação do parentesco utilizando 125 indivíduos e 16 microssatélites, da população base ou de referência (PR) de Eucalyptus globulus do RAIZ. Através da recombinação gamética in silico foram simulados 105 indivíduos com diferentes graus de parentesco: descendentes de autopolinização, meiosirmãos, irmãos completos e indivíduos não aparentados. Por simulação Monte-Carlo foram calculados o valor médio e a variância associada à média dos diferentes grupos de parentesco, com quatro coeficientes de similaridade genética. Compararam-se as funções densidade dos diferentes grupos de parentesco, obtidas com quatro coeficientes de parentesco, utilizando o valor crítico correspondente à intercepção das funções densidade dos indivíduos não aparentados e dos meios-irmãos. O estimador escolhido foi aplicado à PR. Detectaram-se 4,4% de pares de indivíduos potencialmente aparentados, com um erro de tipo II de 8%. Inferimos também, o parentesco de um conjunto de 24 clones elite e encontrámos 4 pares que são potencialmente aparentados. Futuros cruzamentos entre estes indivíduos deverão ser evitados

Molecular estimates of similarity in Eucalyptus globulus

The base populations used in most forest tree genetic improvement programs usually lack detailed pedigree information. Molecular markers, such as microsatellites (SSR), can be used to estimate individuals’ pairwise relatedness, which is based on the probabilities’ ratios of the identity in state between the individuals compared and the reference unrelated population These estimates can be very useful to infer the level of relationship among sub-populations of elite material and/or for the design of controlled crosses between putatively unrelated parents. Using 113 putatively unrelated individuals - genotyped with 18 SSR - self, full-sib, half-sib and unrelated were simulated, and four pairwise similarity coefficients were tested: Queller & Goodnight 1989; Li et al. 1993; Ritland 1996, and Lynch & Ritland 1999. The Lynch & Ritland (1999) coefficient was selected (Figure 1), for it displayed a better adjustment with the expected level of relatedness and narrower standard errors (SE). SE were calculated through Monte- Carlo techniques, to avoid unequal sample size bias, by using 105 simulations for each relatedness group. To illustrate the usefulness of molecular estimates of similarity in genetic improvement programs, a clustering (UPGMA) based on the pairwise Lynch & Ritland (1999) coefficient (LR) values was performed to infer about the putative relationship among individuals of the subgroups of E. globulus elite individuals. From that analysis at least two pairs might be related and a PCA analysis confirmed the clustering results

Balanced scorecard performance assessment in a medical imaging department

The authors present and discuss the development of a strategic management model based on the Balanced Scorecard by Kaplan and Norton to implement in an imaging ward and the relations with Performance Measurement System that allows for the monitoring of the service's evolution, the alignment of objectives, and the evaluation of individual employees within the strategy of the ward and the hospital

Influência do sistema de poda no vigor e produção da videira, em condições naturais de deficiência hídrica, casta ‘Fernão Pires’

Apresentam-se alguns resultados de um ensaio instalado na Tapada da Ajuda, em Lisboa, com a casta 'Fernão Pires'. Estuda-se o efeito do sistema de poda (Guyot vs Royat), no vigor e produtividade da videira e na qualidade do mosto em condições naturais de stress hídrico. O stress hídrico provocou uma senescência prematura das folhas e induziu baixas taxas fotossintéticas que afectaram negativamente a maturação e originaram uma progressiva redução do vigor. Durante a maturação, apesar dos sistemas Royat terem apresentado potenciais hídricos foliares mais desfavoráveis relativamente aos Guyot, a taxa fotossintética de folhas expostas não foi afectada. Em geral, o sistema de poda não influenciou o rendimento e a qualidade do mosto mas os índices do vigor foram significativamente superiores nos sistemas Royat. Em 1992 foi testado o efeito da rega tendo-se verificado uma influência positiva no comportamento fisiológico, no crescimento vegetativo e no rendimento, sem afectar a qualidade do mostoinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Palatable Hyperlipidic Diet Causes Obesity and Affects Brain Glucose Metabolism in Rats

Background We have previously shown that either the continuous intake of a palatable hyperlipidic diet (H) or the alternation of chow (C) and an H diet (CH regimen) induced obesity in rats. Here, we investigated whether the time of the start and duration of these feeding regimens are relevant and whether they affect brain glucose metabolism. Methods Male Wistar rats received C, H, or CH diets during various periods of their life spans: days 30-60, days 30-90, or days 60-90. Experiments were performed the 60th or the 90th day of life. Rats were killed by decapitation. The glucose, insulin, leptin plasma concentration, and lipid content of the carcasses were determined. The brain was sliced and incubated with or without insulin for the analysis of glucose uptake, oxidation, and the conversion of [1-14C]-glucose to lipids. Results The relative carcass lipid content increased in all of the H and CH groups, and the H30-60 and H30-90 groups had the highest levels. Groups H30-60, H30-90, CH30-60, and CH30-90 exhibited a higher serum glucose level. Serum leptin increased in all H groups and in the CH60-90 and CH30-90 groups. Serum insulin was elevated in the H30-60, H60-90, CH60-90, CH30-90 groups. Basal brain glucose consumption and hypothalamic insulin receptor density were lower only in the CH30-60 group. The rate of brain lipogenesis was increased in the H30-90 and CH30-90 groups. Conclusion These findings indicate that both H and CH diet regimens increased body adiposity independent treatment and the age at which treatment was started, whereas these diets caused hyperglycemia and affected brain metabolism when started at an early age

Cottage cheeses functionalized with fennel and chamomile extracts: comparative performance between free and microencapsulated forms

Globally, there is a trend for healthy food products, preferably incorporating natural bioactive ingredients, replacing synthetic additives. From previous screening studies, extracts of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (fennel) and Matricaria recutita L. (chamomile) maintained nutritional properties and improved the antioxidant activity of cottage cheese. Nevertheless, this effect was limited to 7 days. Accordingly, aqueous extracts of these plants were microencapsulated in alginate and incorporated into cottage cheese to achieve an extended bioactivity. Plain cottage cheese, and cheese functionalized by direct addition of free decoctions, were prepared and compared. Independently of plant species, "functionalization type" factor did not show a significant effect on the nutritional parameters, as also confirmed in the linear discriminant analysis, where these parameters were not selected as discriminating variables. Furthermore, samples functionalized with microencapsulated extracts showed higher antioxidant activity after the 7th day, thereby demonstrating that the main purpose of this experimental work was achieved.The authors are grateful for financial support to CIMO (Project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2014). Thanks are also due to FCT/MEC and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to LSRE (Project UID/EQU/50020/2013). Also QREN, ON2 and FEDER (NORTE-07- 0124-FEDER-000014) and PRODER (Project n 46577- PlantLact) and to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for C. Caleja’s PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/93007/2013), João C.M. Barreira’s Post-Doc Grant (SFRH/BPD/72802/2010) and L. Barros’s research contract. The authors also thank Ms Clarinda Paixão, from Américo Duarte Paixão Lda, for providing the plant samples and Queijos Casa Matias, for providing the cottage cheese samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Inclusion of shrimp waste meal in diet of free-range chickens

Shrimp waste meal (SWM) is a by-product from the processing of shrimp for human consumption. The value of SMW in feeding poultry is not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the energy value and optimal inclusion level of SWM in the diet of growing chickens. A total of 180 one-day-old broilers were randomly assigned to five treatments with 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 g/kg of SWM included in their diet. There were six replicates of six birds for each treatment. Dry matter intake (DMI) was not affected by the level of SWM that was fed. Retained dry matter varied from 72.39% in the diet that did not contain SWM to 66.97% in the diet with 200 g/kg of SWM. Nitrogen retention (NR) ranged from 54.70% to 70.10%; N ingested was between 18.71% and 24.03%. Energy intake ranged from 73.57% to 69.33% for the control and the diet with 200 g/kg of SWM, respectively. NR improved with increasing SWM inclusion levels. The apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and corrected apparent energy metabolizable (AMEn) ranged from 2928 to 2527 kcal/kg and 2774 to 2329 kcal/kg, respectively, relative to the control and 200 g/kg SWM diets. The energy consumption, in kcal/kg, of SWM consumed was AME = 2332-6.971 x SWM and AMEn = 2113-8.128 x SWM. High levels of SWM reduce the dry matter metabolization coefficient and metabolizable energy values in broilers during the growing phase, so it is recommended that up to 100 g/kg should be included, which would provide an AMEn of 1300.2 kcal/kg for free-range chickens in dry matter