Analysis of the Outcrossing Ratio of German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) using SSR-markers

German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) is one of the most ancient and widely used medicinal plant species. Plant breeding efforts for desired agronomic traits have existed for over sixty years; however, the breeding programs for chamomile are small in comparison to other crop plant species. The objective of this thesis was to examine the variability of chamomile’s outcrossing ratio based upon multiple environmental factors in order to provide a basic understanding of pollination biology to inform the breeding of chamomile. Two studies were conducted to achieve this objective. The first study evaluated the outcrossing ratio at multiple geographical locations throughout central Germany. The second study evaluated greenhouse compared to field conditions, as well as, potential temperature effects on the outcrossing ratio. Chamomile exhibited a wide range of outcrossing frequencies in the crosses regardless of both location and ploidy. The results did not show a statistical difference between geographical locations; however, in all crosses there appeared to be an effect associated with crossing direction. In many crosses, the frequency of outcrossed progeny was considerably higher in one cross direction than the other. The greenhouse and field comparison could not be made due to progeny germination difficulties. The greenhouse crosses could have been negatively affected by poor pollination, seed dormancy, and unfavorable temperature conditions during germination. Although this study had technical issues, and the outcrossing ratio could not be analyzed as expected, valuable knowledge was gained for the direction of future research in chamomile

Prevalence and Predictors of Unintended Births in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Pooled Analysis of 27 Nationally Representative Surveys

Introduction Rates of unintended births (UIBs) are disproportionately high in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where the capacity to provide care to unexpected mothers and their offspring is often lagging. To decrease the prevalence of UIBs and their negative impacts on children, women, families, communities, and health systems of developing nations, global health stakeholders must understand the characteristics of a woman\u27s life in these regions that increase her risk for UIBs. This project identified and analyzed predictors of UIBs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and South-East Asia among all women of reproductive age. It built on findings from previous studies while also testing novel determinants in predictive models. The overall goal was to add to the conceptual understanding of sociodemographic, interpersonal, and family dynamic situations that predispose a woman to UIBs while factoring out overly specific regional influences. This can guide future research and inform public health practice in regions where comprehensive and context-specific studies on UIBs have not yet been done. Methods Nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey datasets from 27 LMICs across Africa and South-East Asia were appended. Weighted prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated while a Rao-Scott design-adjusted Chi-square test with second-order correction estimated bivariate associations between predictors and UIBs. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict odds of UIBs across three blocks of predictor variables. The first block produced unadjusted odds ratios by treating country of residence as the only predictor. The second block added sociodemographic and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) variables, while the third added variables about the woman\u27s partner, family power dynamics, and intimate partner violence. The regression analyses produced adjusted odds ratios (AORs), accompanying 95% CIs, and p-values for each predictor. Results The final sample (n=380,577) had an UIB prevalence of 19.4% (CI = 19.2 – 19.6). Model 3 showed the highest odds of UIBs among women from Lesotho (AOR = 11.13, CI = 8.54 – 14.51), as compared to all other countries; Africa (AOR = 2.62, CI = 2.09 – 3.29) as opposed to South-East Asia; and fragile regions (AOR = 1.44, CI = 1.30 – 1.59) compared to non-fragile regions. Also with the highest odds of UIBs were women aged 15-20 years (AOR = 1.65, CI = 1.40 – 1.94); women who were never married (AOR = 1.82, CI = 1.61 – 2.05), compared to those currently and formerly married; those with a primary education (AOR = 1.59, CI = 1.18 – 2.16); women with a parity of nine or more (AOR = 5.54, CI = 4.37 – 7.03), compared to women with parities of Conclusions Although not statistically significant, relatively low odds of UIBs were observed in women with low SES, no education, without knowledge of modern contraceptives, and whose partners had no education. These findings may indicate that decreased levels of empowerment lead to a lack of FP or women feeling unable to classify births as unintended. Governments and donors associated with Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, and South Africa are encouraged to increase efforts towards FP outreach and the prevention of UIBs. Stakeholders must pay special attention to UIBs in fragile settings and SSA since these regions had significantly higher odds of UIBs compared to non- fragile regions and South-East Asia, respectively. Women 20 years of age and younger; women not currently married; women married at age nine or younger; women with high parity; women who have their healthcare choices made for them by a family member; and women who had sex forced on them are at significantly higher risk of UIBs. Therefore, SRH practitioners are urged to focus FP programming on these subgroups of women when comprehensive and context-specific studies from which they can inform their practice are not available. Lastly, since several of the sociodemographic and SRH associations with UIBs observed in Model 2 lost statistical significance after adding partner and interpersonal covariates in Model 3, it is important for researchers and survey implementers to take indicators reflective of family dynamics into account in subsequent analyses on UIBs

Integrated disease management of leaf spots and crown rust of oat

Non-Peer ReviewedCrown rust and leaf spots can reduce the yield and quality of oats. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of conventional fungicides, Actigard® and oat cultivars that vary in resistance to crown rust on leaf spot and crown rust severity, and oat yield and quality. Two experiments were established at two locations in Saskatchewan: Saskatoon and Melfort. Experiment 1 consisted of three oat varieties: AC Morgan (crown rust susceptible), CDC Dancer (intermediate) and CDC Morrison (resistant) and three fungicide treatments: check (unsprayed), propiconazole and pyraclostrobin. Experiment 2 consisted of the application of Actigard® at two rates: 8.75 g ai/ha and 26.25 g ai/ha; three crop growth stages: seedling, boot and heading; on two varieties: CDC Dancer and CDC Morrison, with an unsprayed check for each variety. At Saskatoon, crown rust was observed while leaf spot severity was low. At Melfort, no crown rust was observed and leaf spot severity was low. Fungicide reduced the severity of crown rust and increased yield and quality of oat at Saskatoon for the susceptible variety (AC Morgan) and somewhat for the moderately susceptible variety (CDC Dancer). The crown rust resistant variety (CDC Morrison) did not benefit from fungicide. Leaf spots were reduced by fungicide application at Melfort, but little increase in yield or quality was detected. There was little difference between AC Morgan and CDC Morrison for leaf spot symptoms, but CDC Dancer appeared to suffer slightly more than the other varieties. There was no impact of fungicide on beta-glucan content at either location, although there were differences among varieties, but only at Saskatoon. Actigard® was not observed to have any positive or negative effects on disease severity (crown rust or leaf spots) or any of the factors measured, including nutritional characteristics, at either location, although there were differences among varieties for many of the factors measured

Environmental chemistry for the non-science major

Bibliography: p. 62-64, 67-68

Investigations on genetic transformation of tobacco and canola with potential antifungal genes

Most plants have the ability to distinguish between pathogenic and symbiotic associations and to respond accordingly although there are similarities between pathogenic and symbiotic modes of infections. Symbiotic nodule formation is a result of nitrogen-fixing bacteroids being encapsulated in healthy leghaemoglobin-containing tissues, whereas attack by a pathogen induces the activation of a number of defense mechanisms. It is the activation of these defense mechanisms which leads to physical and biochemical changes within the plant. Originally, the main objective of this thesis was to determine if it is possible to produce transgenic tobacco and canola plants which showed increased resistance to plant pathogens by introducing the chiB gene of Serratia liquefaciens and a synthetic gene (amp2) coding for an antimicrobial peptide derived from Mirabilis jalapa, alone and in combination. However, experiments revealed that the presence of the chiB gene suppressed the oncogenic ability of A. tumefaciens, thereforepreventing regeneration of transgenic plants. As well, transgenic tobacco and canola plants carrying amp2 did not show increased resistance to plant pathogens. The chiB open reading frame (ORF), under the control of the 35S-35S promoter module, was used to transform tobacco and canola plants. However, after several transformation attempts it was found that chiB-containing tobacco or canola plants could not be regenerated using the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedure. It was found that in every transformation the discs and cotyledons did not swell normally, turned yellow and failed to form calli. The oncogenicity of the wild type Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58 was tested in the presence of the chiB construct on various plants and it was found that this strain failed to form tumors around the infected wound sites. However, tumors did form around the wound sites that were inoculated with the same strain which carried only the vector. The lack of callus and gall formation was confirmed to be due to the expression of chiB. Inhibition of its expression by the introduction of mutations led to infected discs swelling normally and forming calli within four weeks of infection. As well, the replacement of the chiB-containing plasmid with a broad host range plasmid led to the renewal of the oncogenic ability of the strain. From these results and other experiments it is being proposed that Agrobacterium-mediated transformations require a signal, similar to the Nod factors of Rhizobium, for callus and tumor formation to occur, but that the gene product of chiB somehow inactivates this signal. The antimicrobial gene amp2 was synthesized and the resulting gene product was found to display strong antimicrobial activity in vitro. The coding sequence of amp2 wastransferred to the genomes of tobacco and canola by Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation and protein extracts isolated from amp2--containing To tobacco and canola transgenic plants were found to lack antimicrobial activity. Assays undertaken with proteins extracted from T1 and T2 homozygous and heterozygous plants revealed that low levels of antimicrobial activity could only be observed from the progeny of the tobacco line AW708-1 when using extremely high concentrations of desalted plant protein extracts (3 mg/50 μL). However, none of the transgenic canola and tobacco seedlings tested showed any increase in tolerance towards the pathogen Rhizoctonia solani

Examining End-of-Life Case Management: Systematic Review

Case management was initiated in the 1970s to reduce care discontinuity. A literature review focused on end-of-life (EOL) case management identified 17 research articles, with content analysis revealing two themes: (a) seeking to determine or establish the value of EOL case management and (b) identifying ways to improve EOL case management. The evidence, although limited, suggests that EOL case management is helpful to dying individuals and their families. Research is needed to more clearly illustrate its usefulness or outcomes and the extent of need for it and actual availability. Among other benefits, EOL case management may help reduce hospital utilization, a major concern with the high cost of hospital-based care and the increased desire for home-based EOL care.Peer Reviewe

LOW OVERHEAD DELAY TESTING OF ASICS

Delay testing has become increasingly essential as chip geometries shrink [1,2,3]. Low overhead or cost effective delay test methodology is successful when it results in a minimal number of effective tests and eases the demands on an already burdened IC design and test staff. This paper describes one successful method in use by IBM ASICs that resulted in a slight total test pattern increase, generally ranging between 10 and 90%. Example ICs showed a pattern increase of as little as 14 % from the stuck-at fault baseline with a transition fault coverage of 89%. In an ASIC business, a large number of ICs are processed, which does not allow for the personnel to understand how to test each individual IC design in detail. Instead, design automation software that is timing and testability aware ensures effective and efficient tests. The resultant tests detect random spot timing delay defects. These types of defects are time zero related failures and not reliability wearout mechanisms. 1