Genomic prediction and quantitative trait locus discovery in a cassava training population constructed from multiple breeding stages

Open Access Article; Published online: 11 Dec 2019Assembly of a training population (TP) is an important component of effective genomic selection‐based breeding programs. In this study, we examined the power of diverse germplasm assembled from two cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) breeding programs in Tanzania at different breeding stages to predict traits and discover quantitative trait loci (QTL). This is the first genomic selection and genome‐wide association study (GWAS) on Tanzanian cassava data. We detected QTL associated with cassava mosaic disease (CMD) resistance on chromosomes 12 and 16; QTL conferring resistance to cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) on chromosomes 9 and 11; and QTL on chromosomes 2, 3, 8, and 10 associated with resistance to CBSD for root necrosis. We detected a QTL on chromosome 4 and two QTL on chromosome 12 conferring dual resistance to CMD and CBSD. The use of clones in the same stage to construct TPs provided higher trait prediction accuracy than TPs with a mixture of clones from multiple breeding stages. Moreover, clones in the early breeding stage provided more reliable trait prediction accuracy and are better candidates for constructing a TP. Although larger TP sizes have been associated with improved accuracy, in this study, adding clones from Kibaha to those from Ukiriguru and vice versa did not improve the prediction accuracy of either population. Including the Ugandan TP in either population did not improve trait prediction accuracy. This study applied genomic prediction to understand the implications of constructing TP from clones at different breeding stages pooled from different locations on trait accuracy

An Adult`s Vitiligo in Estonia: Study of 155 Patients

Background: Vitiligo is a common depigmentary disorder characterized by white patches of the skin, hair and mucous membranes due to selective destruction of melanocytes. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics, coexisting diseases, presence of autoantibodies and autoimmune polyglandular syndrome (APS) in Estonian adult vitiligo patients. Methods:Adult patients with vitiligo were called to participate in the study at the Dermatology Department of Tartu University from January 2005 to July 2008. One hundred fifty five subjects were examined in 141 of those the level of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), gastric parietal cell antibodies (PCA), antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antiadrenal cortex antibodies (AAA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) in blood were measured. Results: Study group (mean age 44.9 years, mean age of vitiligo onset 28.5 years, mean duration of vitiligo 16.9 years) consisted of 44 males and 111 females. Vitiligo vulgaris was the most common clinical type (81.3%), followed by acrofacial, focal, segmental and universal vitiligo. Two-thirds of subjects reported a coexisting disease and 36.7% had one or more disease of autoimmune origin. The presence of autoantibodies was established in 49.6%. TPO-Ab was found in 36.9%, PCA in 14.2%, ANA and AAA both in 2.8% and positive RF in 7.8% cases. 17 subjects had APS 3, 35 had subclinical APS 3 and two subjects had APS 4. Conclusions: Vitiligo vulgaris was the most frequent clinical type. Vitiligo was associated with other autoimmune diseases, the presence of autoantibodies in the blood was frequent (especially TPO-Ab) and many subjects had APS

Conceptual model for cloud ERP adoption for SMEs

The Small and Medium Enterprise industry is experiencing a major transformation towards cloud ERP systems. These systems can organize, and maintain data remotely, accept a pay-as-you- use method and enhance related information through a cloud computing platform. Hence, this makes the cloud ERP system crucial for their sustainability and enables them to become competitive in the market. However, the adoption rate of cloud ERP among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has been recorded as slightly low compared to other enterprise systems like Customer Relationship Management. This could be attributed to unclear adoption factors among SMEs and the lack of a theoretical model that can enhance the predictive power to adopt a cloud ERP system. To address this gap, the objective of this study is to develop a conceptual model by which to investigate the broad factors which influence or inhibit the adoption of cloud ERP, the model based on TOE, DOI and FVM. Thus, this model intends to help SMEs managers understand and increase predictive capacity on cloud ERP adoption. The model has been constructed using four dimensions, namely; task, technology, organization and environmental. Findings from this study are projected to be able to instruct SMEs decision-makers on the factors that will lead to successful adoption. The proposed model will be a critical lens for decision-makers on cloud ERP adoption

Review of the Imaging Performance and the Current Status of the Cascade Gamma-Rays Coincidence Imagers

Various studies that have investigated the detection of gamma coincidence events have revealed that design factors and image reconstruction approaches dictate the spatial resolution, coincidence efficiency, and levels of statistical noise of the detection system. In the case of imaging, cascade gamma-ray coincidence (CGC) imagers coupled with collimated detectors offer promising values for both spatial resolution and coincidence efficiency. However, to date, no CGC imager with single or multiple collimated detectors has reported a performance level beyond 6.7 mm spatial resolution (FWHM) and 6.0 ×1ncidence efficiency. Given the recent developments and the current interests in high resolution and localization of an individual decaying nucleus, there is a need for CGC imagers with higher performance in terms of spatial resolution and efficiency. Therefore, deploying a CGC imager coupled with multiple collimated detectors may prove to be of value in nuclear imaging and probably in clinical application

Otimização do cultivo de Burkholderia gladioli BRM 58833 por fermentação submersa.

O objetivo do estudo foi entender as melhores condições de fermentação da Burkholderia gladioli BRM 58833 submersa a partir de condições encontradas na literatura para a produção de enzima com atividade lipolítica elevada. Para isso, foi realizado um Delineamento Composto Central Rotacional (DCCR), considerando três variáveis (pH, concentração de fosfato de amônio e óleo de dendê) em cinco níveis e em cinco diferentes tempos. Resultou‑se então em cinco conjuntos de análises estatísticas e 15 cinéticas. As análises estatísticas dos dados indicaram que apenas o cultivo de 24 horas apresentou um coeficiente de ajuste adequado do modelo gerado, porém com atividades lipolíticas inferiores aos tempos mais longos. O modelo gerado indica que menor concentração de fosfato de amônio e pH próximo da neutralidade tendem a mostrar atividades lipolíticas mais elevadas. Essa tendência foi verificada nos tempos subsequentes (48 horas, 72 horas, 96 horas e 168 horas)

Estabelecimento de processo enzimático para estonagem de tecidos de algodão em escala de bancada.

A estonagem enzimática é um processo no qual celulases são aplicadas em tecidos a fim de proporcionar uma aparência desbotada, com toque mais macio e maleável. Este trabalho teve por objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia de processo de estonagem enzimática de denim (tecido de algodão) utilizando equipamento de bancada. Utilizou‑se para isso a enzima Akmey Biotecnologia Têxtil BioKey STLV. Estudaram‑se diversas variáveis, como relação de banho, quantidade e tipo de abrasivos, disposição do tecido no reator e tempo de processo. O melhor resultado de estonagem foi obtido nas seguintes condições de processo: denim disposto de forma cilíndrica encostado nas paredes da caneca, tratado com enzima BioKey STLV a 0,7% (m/m) com tampão de ácido acético/ acetato de sódio 0,1 mol/L pH 5,0 utilizando sete esferas de vidro e 30 g de pirâmide PET em 2 horas de processamento. Nessas condições, foi observado que o tecido tratado apresentou coloração desbotada em relação ao controle. A diferença de cor entre o controle e a amostra estonada foi mensurada com auxílio de colorímetro de reflectância e mostrou‑se significativa (ΔE igual a 5,14). Estudos posteriores devem ser feitos para avaliar a resistência à tração dos tecidos tratados a fim de garantir que ela é conservada ao final do processamento

QTL associated with resistance to cassava brown streak and cassava mosaic diseases in a bi-parental cross of two Tanzanian farmer varieties, Namikonga and Albert

Article purchasedCassava production in Africa is compromised by cassava brown streak disease (CBSD) and cassava mosaic disease (CMD). To reduce costs and increase the precision of resistance breeding, a QTL study was conducted to identify molecular markers linked to resistance against these diseases. A bi-parental F1 mapping population was developed from a cross between the Tanzanian farmer varieties, Namikonga and Albert. A one-step genetic linkage map comprising 943 SNP markers and 18 linkage groups spanning 1776.2 cM was generated. Phenotypic data from 240 F1 progeny were obtained from two disease hotspots in Tanzania, over two successive seasons, 2013 and 2014. Two consistent QTLs linked to resistance to CBSD-induced root necrosis were identified in Namikonga on chromosomes II (qCBSDRNFc2Nm) and XI (qCBSDRNc11Nm) and a putative QTL on chromosome XVIII (qCBSDRNc18Nm). qCBSDRNFc2Nm was identified at Naliendele in both seasons. The same QTL was also associated with CBSD foliar resistance. qCBSDRNc11Nm was identified at Chambezi in both seasons, and was characterized by three peaks, spanning a distance of 253 kb. Twenty-seven genes were identified within this region including two LRR proteins and a signal recognition particle. In addition, two highly significant CMD resistance QTL (qCMDc12.1A and qCMDc12.2A) were detected in Albert, on chromosome 12. Both qCMDc12.1A and qCMDc12.2A lay within the range of markers reported earlier, defining the CMD2 locus. This is the first time that two loci have been identified within the CMD2 QTL, and in germplasm of apparent East African origin. Additional QTLs with minor effects on CBSD and CMD resistance were also identified

Predictors of gaming disorder in children and adolescents : a school-based study

Objective: To determine whether psychiatric and gaming pattern variables are associated with gaming disorder in a school-based sample. Methods: We analyzed data from the Brazilian High-Risk Cohort for Psychiatric Disorders, a community sample aged 10 to 18, using questionnaires on gaming use patterns. We applied the Gaming Addiction Scale to diagnose gaming disorder and the Development and Well-Being Behavior Assessment for other diagnoses. Results: Out of 407 subjects, 83 (20.4%) fulfilled the criteria for gaming disorder. More role-playing game players were diagnosed with gaming disorder that any other genre. Gaming disorder rates increased proportionally to the number of genres played. Playing online, being diagnosed with a mental disorder, and more hours of non-stop gaming were associated with higher rates of gaming disorder. When all variables (including age and gender) were considered in a logistic regression model, the number of genres played, the number of non-stop hours, the proportion of online games, and having a diagnosed mental disorder emerged as significant predictors of gaming disorder. Conclusion: Each variable seems to add further risk of gaming disorder among children and adolescents. Monitoring the length of gaming sessions, the number and type of genres played, time spent gaming online, and behavior changes may help parents or guardians identify unhealthy patterns of gaming behavior

Telomere length and epigenetic age acceleration in adolescents with anxiety disorders

Evidence on the relationship between genetics and mental health are flourishing. However, few studies are evaluating early biomarkers that might link genes, environment, and psychopathology. We aimed to study telomere length (TL) and epigenetic age acceleration (AA) in a cohort of adolescents with and without anxiety disorders (N = 234). We evaluated a representative subsample of participants at baseline and after 5 years (n = 76) and categorized them according to their anxiety disorder diagnosis at both time points: (1) control group (no anxiety disorder, n = 18), (2) variable group (anxiety disorder in one evaluation, n = 38), and (3) persistent group (anxiety disorder at both time points, n = 20). We assessed relative mean TL by real-time quantitative PCR and DNA methylation by Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. We calculated AA using the Horvath age estimation algorithm and analyzed differences among groups using generalized linear mixed models. The persistent group of anxiety disorder did not change TL over time (p = 0.495). The variable group had higher baseline TL (p = 0.003) but no accelerated TL erosion in comparison to the non-anxiety control group (p = 0.053). Furthermore, there were no differences in AA among groups over time. Our findings suggest that adolescents with chronic anxiety did not change telomere length over time, which could be related to a delay in neuronal development in this period of life