Haplotype affinities resolve a major component of goat (<i>Capra hircus</i>) MtDNA D-loop diversity and reveal specific features of the Sardinian stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity. We identified haplotype groups overrepresented in Sardinian goats as a result of founder effects. We found that breeders maintain diversity of matrilines most likely through equalization of the reproductive potential. Moreover, the relevant amount of inter-farm mtDNA diversity found does not increase proportionally with distance. Our results illustrate the effects of breeding practices on the composition of maternal gene pool and identify mtDNA types that may be considered in projects aimed at retrieving the maternal component of the oldest breeds of Sardinia.</br

Haplotype Affinities Resolve a Major Component of Goat (Capra hircus) MtDNA D-Loop Diversity and Reveal Specific Features of the Sardinian Stock

Goat mtDNA haplogroup A is a poorly resolved lineage absorbing most of the overall diversity and is found in locations as distant as Eastern Asia and Southern Africa. Its phylogenetic dissection would cast light on an important portion of the spread of goat breeding. The aims of this work were 1) to provide an operational definition of meaningful mtDNA units within haplogroup A, 2) to investigate the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of diversity by considering the modes of selection operated by breeders and 3) to identify the peculiarities of Sardinian mtDNA types. We sequenced the mtDNA D-loop in a large sample of animals (1,591) which represents a non-trivial quota of the entire goat population of Sardinia. We found that Sardinia mirrors a large quota of mtDNA diversity of Western Eurasia in the number of variable sites, their mutational pattern and allele frequency. By using Bayesian analysis, a distance-based tree and a network analysis, we recognized demographically coherent groups of sequences identified by particular subsets of the variable positions. The results showed that this assignment system could be reproduced in other studies, capturing the greatest part of haplotype diversity

Le competenze sistemico-relazionali: Analogie e differenze tra due gruppi di terapeuti in formazione

Questo articolo descrive uno studio esplorativo volto ad indagare le principali competenze che gli studenti di psicoterapia sistemica considerano essenziali per il processo terapeutico. Sessantasei studenti che frequentavano due scuole di psicoterapia sistemica italiane (Ecopsys ed Eteropoiesi) hanno compilato un questionario sulle competenze chiave in psicoterapia, mutuato dai position papers di EAP e FIAP, le associazioni europea e italiana di psicoterapia. L'obiettivo dello studio era di evidenziare le somiglianze e le differenze nei programmi di formazione di queste due scuole che hanno la medesima stessa matrice teorica, cioè la psicoterapia sistemico-relazionale, ma focalizzata su diverse tradizioni cliniche. L'indagine si è basata su uno studio esplorativo precedente (Visone et al., 2017). Inoltre, il disegno dello studio mirava a identificare una "linea evolutiva" nella costruzione di abilità sistemiche durante il corso della formazione, attraverso un'analisi dell'intera coorte di studenti nei quattro anni di corso. Viene anche discusso il campo della formazione sistemica in psicoterapia. Il confronto tra gli studenti delle due scuole mostra forti analogie inerenti il modello teorico e clinico sia per gli items scelti che per quelli considerati irrilevanti. Lo studio del campione, distribuito per ogni anno di istruzione, mostra un cambiamento progressivo di enfasi dalle abilità diagnostiche alle abilità relazionali.  This paper describes an exploratory study aimed at investigate the core competencies of trainees in systemic psychotherapy they consider as essential for the therapeutic process. Sixty-sixstudents attending two Italian schools of systemic psychotherapy (Ecopsys and Eteropoiesis) completed a questionnaire on key skills in psychotherapy, drawn up from the position papers of EAP and FIAP, the European and Italian Association of psychotherapy. The focus of the study was to point out the similarities and the differences in the training programs of these two schools stemming from the same theoretical matrix, i.e. the systemic-relational psychotherapy, but focused on different clinical tradition. The survey was based on a previous, exploratory study (Visone et al., 2017). Moreover, the study design was aimed to identify an "evolutionary line" in building systemic skills during the course of training by means of an analysis the whole cohort of students into the four years of the training. The field of systemic psychotherapy training is discussed too. The comparison between the students of the two schools shows strong analogies inherent to the theoretical and clinical model both for the items chosen and for those considered irrelevant. The whole study sample, distributed for each year of education, shows a progressive change of emphasis from the diagnostic skills to the relational ones

Map of Sardinia showing the 34 municipalities (dotted) where sampling was performed.

<p>In the background all municipalities are shaded according to the overall number of goats recorded <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030785#pone.0030785-ISTAT1" target="_blank">[23]</a>, as reported in the left panel (map obtained at <a href="http://www.sar.sardegna.it/servizi/sit/datitematici.asp?wgs=1" target="_blank">http://www.sar.sardegna.it/servizi/sit/datitematici.asp?wgs=1</a>). Sampled municipalities in 5 Sardinian sub regions are shown with the following color codes: Ogliastra-red, Sarrabus-blue, Gerrei-yellow, Iglesiente-purple and Sulcis-green. Detailed names and n. of breeding stations sampled are reported in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030785#pone.0030785.s005" target="_blank">Table S1</a>.</p

Analysis of MOlecular VAriance after partitioning according to different criteria.

<p>Analysis of MOlecular VAriance after partitioning according to different criteria.</p

Histograms of four summary statistics for DNA diversity from 120 goat breeding stations.

<p>Black arrows point to the value obtained in the overall dataset. In the Tajima's D histogram, significant (nominal p<0.05) values are marked with an asterisk and a normal QQ plot is shown in the inset.</p

Composition of the sample of individuals yielding the set of mtDNA sequences used in all analyses, by provenance and breed.

<p>Composition of the sample of individuals yielding the set of mtDNA sequences used in all analyses, by provenance and breed.</p

Properties of major mtDNA clades.

a<p>. Position in the alignment and allelic state (in bold = derived).</p>b<p>. Entries of a 2×2 contingency table, in the order: With defining sub-haplotype AND In the clade, With defining sub-haplotype AND In other clades or unclassified, With other sub-haplotypes AND In the clade, With other sub-haplotypes AND In other clades or unclassified.</p>c<p>. Not calculated, due to mismatch observed variance lower than mean <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0030785#pone.0030785-Excoffier1" target="_blank">[52]</a>.</p

Median joining network of 419 haplotypes and an outgroup obtained as described in Materials and Methods.

<p>Branch length is not proportional to mutational steps. Node size is proportional to haplotype frequency. The correspondence between node clusters and clades in the NJ tree is reported. Unclassified sequences are blackened.</p