Pea heat stress-responsive transcriptome analysis and heat tolerance improvement through marker-assisted backcrossing

Non-Peer Reviewe

Pea heat stress-responsive transcriptome analysis

Non-Peer Reviewe

Validity of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Its Relationship with Parent-Reported Eating Behaviors among Adolescents in Portugal

The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) is a tool developed in the UK, used in the investigation of appetitive traits in adults and adolescents, and later validated in a number of countries. To date, the validity of the AEBQ has not been tested on Portuguese-speaking popula-tions. The aim of this study was to validate the AEBQ in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Participants were 4483 13-year-olds enrolled in the population-based cohort study Generation XXI. Appetitive traits were self-reported by adolescents through the AEBQ and parents also reported adolescent eating behaviors. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted. Construct validity was tested through correlations between AEBQ subscales and parent-reported eating behaviors, and linear regressions between AEBQ subscales and adolescent body mass index z-scores were performed. Adequate internal consistency and several associations with parent-reported eating behaviors and measured adolescent body mass index z-scores were found. This study supports the validity of a five-factor AEBQ (Food Responsiveness and Enjoyment of Food; Slowness in Eating; Food Fussiness; Emotional Over-and Undereating) to measure appetitive traits among Portuguese adolescents and provides a convenient and easy-to-use tool to be used in large-scale research. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: Generation XXI was funded by the Health Operational Programme—Saude XXI, Community Support Framework III and the Regional Department of Ministry of Health. This study was supported through FEDER from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness— COMPETE and through national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) under the projects “Appetite regulation and obesity in childhood: a comprehensive approach towards understanding genetic and behavioral influences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030334; PTDC/SAUEPI/30334/2017); “Appetite and adiposity—evidence for gene-environment interplay in children” (IF/01350/2015), under the projects UIDB/04750/2020 and LA/P/0064/2020, and through Investigator Contract (IF/01350/2015—Andreia Oliveira). It had also support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal. We also acknowledge the support from the Epidemiology Research Unit (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862)

Sugar-sweetened beverages, effects on appetite and public health strategies to reduce the consumption among children: a review

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption have been of public health concern and a target of interventions due to their high consumption and burden in health-related consequences, particularly in children and adolescents. SSBs provide high energy intake with low nutritional value and are a major contributor for added and free sugars intake of Portuguese in all age-groups, especially adolescents. Despite its recognized effect on weight gain, it might also disrupt appetite regulation. Research on the effect of SSBs on appetitive traits is still scarce and unclear, and the current knowledge of these potential effects will be discussed in this review. This review also aims to describe public health strategies implemented to decrease SSBs consumption among children, particularly in Portugal, such as: (i) implemented taxation measures and its impact in sales and in preventable cases of disease and death, (ii) marketing regulations applied to children and adolescents, and ultimately (iii) the intention of application of a single Front-of-Package labeling system in all countries, aiming to increase consumers’ food literacy

The effect of sugar-sweetened beverages at 4 years of age on appetitive behaviours of 7-year-olds from the Generation XXI birth cohort

The consumption of energy-dense sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and its low satiating effects may influence the development of child eating behaviours. We aimed to investigate the association of SSB consumption at 4 years on appetitive behaviours at age 7 years. Children from the Generation XXI birth cohort were included (n 3880). SSB consumption was evaluated through a FFQ and appetitive behaviours were evaluated through the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, which includes eight subscales. Two composite factors, derived by principal component analysis (Appetite Restraint – related to Food Fussiness, Enjoyment of Food, Slowness in Eating and Satiety Responsiveness – and Appetite Disinhibition – related to Food Responsiveness, Emotional Under- and Overeating and Desire to Drink), were also investigated. The dose–response relationship between SSB consumption and appetitive behaviours was examined using multivariable linear regression (continuous eating behaviour scores) and multinomial logistic regression (tertile categories of eating behaviour scores). Child SSB consumption at 4 years was associated with higher Appetite Disinhibition and Desire to Drink and lower Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating at 7 years. Consuming SSB ≥1 times/d (compared with a lower intake) was associated with 29 % increase in the odds of Desire to Drink (3rd v. 1st tertile). Pre-schoolers’ SSB consumption was associated with higher food approach and less food avoidant behaviours later in childhood. Family characteristics, particularly maternal SSB consumption, explained part of these associations. It is essential to promote the intake of water, instead of sugary drinks, and make parents and caregivers aware of the importance of this exposure, since they have a pivotal role in shaping children’s eating behaviours.The authors gratefully acknowledge the families enrolled in Generation XXI for their kindness, all members of the research team for their enthusiasm and perseverance and the participating hospitals and their staff for their help and support. We also acknowledge the support from the Epidemiology Research Unit (EPI-Unit: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB/04750/2020/PT; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862). Generation XXI was funded by the Health Operational Programme – Saúde XXI, Community Support Framework III and the Regional Department of Ministry of Health. This study was supported through FEDER from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness – COMPETE and through national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology – FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) under the projects ‘Appetite regulation and obesity in childhood: a comprehensive approach towards understanding genetic and behavioural influences’ (PTDC/SAU-EPI/30334/2017/ POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030334) and ‘Appetite and adiposity – evidence for gene–environment interplay in children’ (IF/01350/2015 – Andreia Oliveira). It had also support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal

Plant genomics in lentil breeding: development of a cDNA-based rapid screening method for Ascochyta blight resistance in lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

Non-Peer ReviewedAscochyta blight causes severe crop losses in temperate lentil production areas around the world, including Saskatchewan. At present there is no reliable system available to breeders for identifying blight resistant lentil lines. We are trying to develop a reliable, high throughput and low cost cDNA based system for screening lentil germplasm for polygenic resistance to Ascochyta blight. We have chosen the Ascochyta blight susceptible lentil variety Richlea and the closely related resistant breeding line 1156-2-17A for this study. Lentil plants were inoculated with spore suspensions of Ascochyta under conditions that clearly showed the difference in disease resistance between these lines. Tissue collected from resistant and susceptible lines at different times after inoculation will be used for extraction of total RNA–representing all the genes expressed by the plants in response to Ascochyta infection. Complementary DNA (cDNA) made from these RNA samples along with mock-inoculated controls will be visualized on poly acrylamide gels using the technique of ‘differential display’. We intend to identify the sequences of lentil genes expressed only by the resistant lines in response to Ascochyta infection and use them for developing molecular markers for the resistance trait. cDNA samples made from these plants will also be useful in developing a cDNA library of lentil tissue for future EST projects

High-Risk Deviant Decisions: Does Neutralization Still Play a Role?

Extant research has shown that neutralization processes can enable potential IS security policy violators to justify their behavior and overcome the deterrence effect of sanctions in order to engage in unethical behaviors. However, such sanctions are typically moderate and not career ending. We test the boundary conditions of this theory by evaluating whether neutralization plays a role in overcoming the impact of extreme levels of deterrence. We extend the Siponen and Vance (2010) framework within a professional context that assigns extreme sanctions to violators. Using the scenario-based factorial survey method common in IS security research, we collected data from future auditors who understand these extreme sanctions. We test the reasons that auditors may use to form intentions to falsify information concerning an information security issue with a company’s accounting information system, thereby jeopardizing data integrity and security by modifying working papers to hide irregularities and, by doing so, violating their professional standards, which could result in career-ending sanctions. We empirically validated and tested the theoretical model. Our results show that sanctions play an important role in reducing employees’ intentions to violate policy but that, even under extreme boundary conditions, employees might seek to rationalize their unethical behavior by denying responsibility for their actions through, for example, arguing that their supervisors pressured them into performing the violations. We also establish that messages heightening the awareness and perceptions of the certainty and severity of organizational punishment are likely to attenuate such deviant behaviors. We discuss the implications of these findings and suggest future avenues for research

Parental child-feeding practices at 4 years of age are associated with dietary patterns of 7-year-olds

BackgroundParental child-feeding practices have been associated with child body mass index (BMI) and specific food group consumption; however, their role in the development of dietary patterns is less understood. We aim to study the association between parental child-feeding practices at 4 years old and dietary patterns at 7 years that explain BMI z-scores at age 10. MethodsParticipants were children from the Generation XXI birth cohort (n = 3272). Three patterns of feeding practices at 4 years were previously identified: 'Perceived monitoring', 'Restriction' and 'Pressure to eat'. At 7 years, two dietary patterns were derived: 'Energy-dense foods', higher consumption of energy-dense foods and drinks and processed meats and lower consumption of vegetable soup (significantly associated with BMI z-scores at 10 years) and 'Fish-based', higher in fishery intake and lower in energy-dense food intake. Associations were estimated by linear regression models, adjusted for potential confounders (mother's age, education and pre-pregnancy BMI). ResultsGirls whose parents used more Restriction, Perceived monitoring and Pressure to eat at 4 years were less likely to follow the 'Energy-dense foods' dietary pattern at 7 years (beta = -0.082; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: -0.134; -0.029; beta = -0.093; 95% CI: -0.146; -0.039; beta = -0.079; 95% CI: -0.135; -0.04, respectively). In both sexes, children whose parents used more Restriction and Perceived monitoring at 4 years were more likely to follow the 'Fish-based' dietary pattern at 7 years (girls: beta = 0.143; 95% CI: 0.077; 0.210; beta = 0.079; 95% CI: 0.011; 0.148; boys: beta = 0.157; 95% CI: 0.090; 0.224; beta = 0.104; 95% CI: 0.041; 0.168). ConclusionsChildren whose parents used more Restriction and Perceived monitoring at preschool age were more likely to follow healthier dietary patterns at age 7.Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologi

Moving pulse crop breeding into the 21st century

Non-Peer Reviewe

Fungicides application timing, sequencing, and tank mixing for controlling blight in chickpea

Non-Peer ReviewedTotal crop losses can result from ascochyta blight on chickpea (caused by Ascochyta rabiei). A study was conducted to investigate effective fungicide application strategies in particular fungicide application timing as well as product choices, sequencing and mixtures for blight control. In addition, this study is expected to provide information on resistance management through fungicide rotations, mixtures or sequences. Fungicide trials were conducted in Saskatoon and Swift Current using Bravo 500, Quadris, Headline, BAS510 and Dithane in various sequences or tank mixes on cultivars Myles and CDC Yuma. Only Bravo 500 is registered on chickpea. Quadris had emergency registration in 2002. Applications were timed at the seedling stage, pre-flower, early-flower, late-flower and the podding stages. These results relate to the trial at Swift Current. Cultivar CDC Yuma developed higher infection levels than Myles. The level of disease control by each fungicide treatment was dependent on cultivar. The above average rainfall in Swift Current increased the level of blight severity and consequently it required several sprays especially on cultivar CDC Yuma to protect the crop. Cool wet weather towards the end of the season also delayed maturity and affected yield and seed quality. Disease severity was 97% and 82% in the untreated plots of CDC Yuma and Myles, respectively. In treated plots, it ranged from 13-50% in Myles and 15-96% in CDC Yuma. The yields varied from 434 to1956 kg/ha for CDC Yuma and 1430 to 2627 kg/ha for Myles. When spraying started before symptoms (per calender sprays with five applications), the high rate of Dithane at 2.44 kg a.i./ha reduced disease severity and increased yield more than the low rate of Dithane at 1.68kg a.i./ha. Sequencing Headline and Dithane in the per calender spray was better than per calender sprays with Dithane alone on both cultivars. However, per calender spray with a high rate of Dithane alone compared well with some treatments which included Headline or Quadris on Myles. Almost all other sequences were effective on Myles, but on CDC Yuma the most effective were those that included mostly Headline and in some cases Quadris. In general, at least three sprays to Myles and most treatments with at least four sprays to CDC Yuma reduced blight to less than 50% and also increased yields by up to 84% in Myles and up to 351% in CDC Yuma. The results suggest that there could be a range of different fungicides and sequences one might use to adequately protect chickpea, but this will depend on the registration of products other than Bravo 500