Genome-wide association mapping: a case study in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Association-based trait mapping is an innovative methodology based on linkage disequilibrium. Studies in plants, especially in cereals, are rare. A genome-wide association study of wheat is reported, in which a large number of diversity array technology markers was used to genotype a winter wheat core collection of 96 accessions. The germplasm was structured into two sub-populations. Twenty agronomic traits were measured in field trials conducted over up to eight growing seasons. Association analysis was performed with two different approaches, the general linear model incorporating the Q-matrix only and the mixed linear model including also the kinship-matrix. In total, 385 marker-trait associations significant in both models were detected. The intrachromosomal location of many of these coincided with those of known major genes or quantitative trait loci, but others were detected in regions where no known genes have been located to date. These latter presumptive loci provide opportunities for further wheat improvement, based on a marker approach

The emergence of non-secretory multiple myeloma during the non-cytotoxic treatment of essential thrombocythemia: A case report

Introduction. The emergence of multiple myeloma as a second malignancy in patients with essential thrombocythemia is extremely rare. Several cases have been published so far, pointing out the impact of a cytotoxic effect during treatment of essential thrombocythemia on the development of multiple myeloma. Case presentation. We report the case of a 52-year-old Caucasian man who presented to our hospital because of leukocytosis, a slightly decreased hemoglobin level and thrombocytosis. After a complete hematological work-up, essential thrombocythemia was diagnosed. The patient was included in a multicenter clinical study, treated with anagrelide and his platelet counts were maintained in the normal range for more than 3 years. A sudden drop in his hemoglobin level with normal leukocyte and platelet count occurred at the same time as a back pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of his spine revealed the existence of a pathological fracture of Th4, the collapse of the upper edge of Th7 and osteolytic lesions of multiple thoracic vertebrae. Repeated hematological examinations, including bone biopsy with immunohistochemistry, disclosed diagnosis of multiple myeloma of the non-secretory type. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first published case in which multiple myeloma developed during the treatment of essential thrombocythemia with the non-cytotoxic drug anagrelide. Our attempts to find a common origin for the coexistence of multiple myeloma and essential thrombocythemia have not confirmed the genetic basis of their appearance. Further studies are needed to determine the biological impact of this coexistence

Locating stable across environment QTL involved in the determination of agronomic characters in wheat

The International Triticeae Mapping Initiative (ITMI) recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying some key agronomic characters in bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.). Trait measurements were taken from five independent field experiments performed in Serbia. Stable across environment QTL involved in the determination of heading/flowering time and ear morphology/grain yield were detected on, respectively, chromosome arms 2DS and 4AL. These map locations are consistent with those obtained where the same population has been grown in contrasting geographical sites. However, as a result of QTL × environment interactions, not all these QTL are expressed in all environments. Nevertheless the (pleiotropic) effect on ear morphology appears to be expressed in almost all environments, and so represents a high value target for wheat improvement

A comparison of the Analytic Hierarchy Process and the Analysis and Synthesis of Parameters under Information Deficiency method for assessing the sustainability of waste management scenarios

The selection of an appropriate Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis method or a combination thereof, is essential to support sustainability decision-making in the waste management sector. None of the methods is ideal, so that sometimes a combination of methods may be necessary. The aim of this study is to examine the ability the Analysis and Synthesis of Parameters under Information Deficiency method to be used in sustainable waste management, as never been used method in this sector. In order to do this, scenario ranking is done using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and the results are compared with results obtained by the Analysis and Synthesis of Parameters under Information Deficiency method. Four waste treatment scenarios were developed based on the waste composition in city of Nit, and nine indicators were selected. The obtained results indicate that there is no significant difference in the scenario ranking, regardless of the method used, the Analytic Hierarchy Process or the Analysis and Synthesis of Parameters under Information Deficiency method. The best sustainable waste management scenario is the scenario which involves composting of organic waste and recycling of inorganic waste (393% ranking priority). This study has illustrated how the Analysis and Synthesis of Parameters under Information Deficiency method, that has a capability to work with a lack of information, which is often the case in waste management, can be applied to assessment sustainability of waste management scenario. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved