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This study aimed to identify and characterize runs of homozygosis (ROHs), genes involved in production characteristics and adaptation to tropical systems and to estimate the inbreeding coefficient of Curraleiro Pé-Duro (CPD) and Pantaneiro (PANT), two brazilian locally adapted cattle breeds. The results demonstrated that 79.25% and 54.29% of ROH segments were bigger than 8 Mb in CPD and PANT, respectively, indicating recent inbred matings in the studied population. Six homozygosis islands were identified simultaneously in both breeds, where 175 QTLs and 1072 genes previously described as associated with production traits are located. The inbreeding coefficient (FROH) estimated based on ROHs (FROH) showed that inbreeding is low (2 to 4%), which is different from expected for small populations such as locally adapted ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Rectourethral fistula (RUF) is an infrequent yet distressing pathology that can lead to significant complications for patients. Its management has been debated over the years and physicians have yet to reach a consensus on RUF treatment. In this review, we outline the status of the current literature on RUF from the initial diagnosis to the outcomes, complications, and surgical techniques available for RUF repair. Recent Findings: Higher rates of success are achieved on the first surgical attempt. Therefore, when deciding which surgical procedure to use, it is of vital importance to consider both patient characteristics (such as identifying if the fistula is simple or complex) and surgeon-related factors. Overall, many of the papers published reported good outcomes with several surgical techniques. However, most of the reports in the literature are retrospective in nature, reporting only small series with limited statistical merit. Through our analysis of the varying surgical techniques, we were able to identify the following suggestions: Conservative management should be performed with both urinary and fecal diversion, especially for simple fistulas. The transanal approach is an alternative approach for use in small simple fistulas as well as sealant glues. The transperineal approach has shown great results for complex fistulas in some series, but it also increases the risk for stress urinary incontinence. In some cases, the transsphincteric approach has been linked to fecal incontinence. Finally, the transabdominal approach in a robotic fashion may be a reliable technique. However, physicians must consider the high cost and the danger of invasion of the peritoneum before its use. Summary: As of yet there is still not enough evidence to determine which surgical techniques are best for the varying scenarios of RUF. However, one point remains true for every RUF case: surgical repairs should only be done by an expert, after proper patient selection, and with the intention of both achieving success in the first repair. In order to advance our understanding of RUF occurrences and treatment, larger prospective and randomized studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous stem cell malignancy characterized by the clonal expansion of immature myeloid precursors. AML may emerge de novo, following other hematopoietic malignancies or after cytotoxic therapy for other disorders. Here, we investigated the clonal vs reactive nature of residual maturing bone marrow cells in 59 newly diagnosed adult AML and mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL) patients as assessed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of AML and myelodysplastic syndrome-associated cytogenetic alterations and/or the pattern of chromosome X inactivation, in females. In addition, we investigated the potential association between the degree of molecular/genetic involvement of hematopoiesis and coexistence of altered immunophenotypes by flow cytometry. Our results indicate that residual maturing neutrophils, monocytes and nucleated red cell precursors from the great majority of newly diagnosed AML and MPAL cases show a clonal pattern of involvement of residual maturing hematopoietic cells, in association with a greater number of altered immunophenotypes. These findings are consistent with the replacement of normal/reactive hematopoiesis by clonal myelopoiesis and/or erythropoiesis in most newly diagnosed AML and MPAL cases, supporting the notion that in most adults presenting with de novo AML, accumulation of blast cells could occur over a pre-existing clonal hematopoiesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the development and characterization of 17 anonymous nuclear markers for cetacean species. These markers were isolated from a genomic library built from a common dolphin (genus Delphinus), and tested across several families within Cetacea. An average of 1 SNP per 272 bp was found in 10 anonymous markers screened for polymorphism within the genus Delphinus (total of 6,537 bp sequenced). These markers represent a significant addition to the set of tools used in genetic studies of cetaceans where population and species boundaries have to be inferred in order to implement proper conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiesel is a non-toxic biodegradable fuel that consists of alkyl esters produced from renewable sources, vegetal oils and animal fats, and low molecular mass alcohols, and it is a potential substitute for petroleum-derived diesel. Depending on the raw materials used, the amount of unsaturated fatty acids can vary in the biodiesel composition. Those substances are widely susceptible to oxidation processes, yielding polymeric compounds, which are harmful to the engines. Based on such difficulty, this work aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity of cashew nut shell liquid (cardanol), as additive for cotton biodiesel. The oxidative stability was investigated by the pressure differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) and UV/Vis spectrophotometer techniques. The evaluated samples were: as-synthesized biodiesel — Bio T0, additivated and heated biodiesel — Bio A (800 ppm L−1 of hydrogenated cardanol, 150°C for 1 h), and a heated biodiesel — Bio B (150°C, 1 h). The oxidative induction time (OIT) analyses were carried out employing the constant volume operation mode (203 psi oxygen) at isothermal temperatures of 80, 85, 90, 100°C. The high pressure OIT (HPOIT) were: 7.6, 15.7, 22.7, 64.6, 124.0 min for Bio T0; 41.5, 77.0, 98.6, 106.6, 171.9 min for Bio A and 1.7, 8.2, 14.8, 28.3, 56.3 min for Bio B. The activation energy ( E) values for oxidative processes were 150.0±1.6 (Bio T0), 583.8±1.5 (Bio A) and 140.6±0.1 kJ mol−1(Bio B). For all samples, the intensities of the band around 230 nm were proportional to the inverse of E, indicating small formation of hyper conjugated compounds. As observed, cardanol has improved approximately four times the cotton biodiesel oxidative stability, even after the heating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biodiesel obtained by transesterification by reaction between ester and an alcohol in the presence of catalyst. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the thermal and kinetic behavior of the methanol biodiesel derived from cotton oil. The quality analysis was done by gas chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) in order to examine if the product meets with the requirements of the European Standard EN 1403. The thermogravimetric profile of the cotton biodiesel indicated that the decomposition steps are associated to the volatilization and/or decomposition of the methyl esters. Kinetic data was also obtained by thermal analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small burrowing petrels nesting on islands rarely survive introductions of mammalian predators. On New Island, a population of around two million pairs of thin-billed prions nests despite the presence of introduced ship rats, house mice and feral cats. Understanding the mechanisms of such coexistence is important, as it is important to establish a baseline for future monitoring. To do this, prion breeding success was determined for 7 years and in several habitats. Breeding success was high, except for the small fraction of the population that nests in tussock Poa flabellata stands, where several lines of evidence suggest significant predation by rats. Such high breeding success possibly resulted from predator swamping in this highly seasonal environment. This study suggests that introduced mammals do not currently depress thin-billed prion breeding success on New Island. However, cats and rodents might have future harmful effects if external factors depressed the prion population or allow a significant population growth of predators on New Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To study the prevalence and current predictors of low body mass index (BMI) in a population undergoing a rapid nutritional transition.Design:Population-based cross-sectional study.Settings:Individuals living in the urban area of Pelotas, a medium-sized southern Brazilian city, were interviewed at home.Subjects:A multiple-stage sampling strategy was used. Out of 3372 eligible subjects, 3047 were interviewed. The study was restricted to adults (≥20 y).Main outcome measure:Low BMI was defined as <18.5 kg/m2.Results:The prevalence of low BMI was 2.7% (95% confidence interval: 2.1; 3.3), higher in women than men (3.8 vs 1.3%; P<0.001). In the whole sample (men and women combined), living without a partner and current smoking were positively associated with low BMI. Among women, low BMI presented a U-shaped relationship with age and was positively associated with educational level. The prevalence of low BMI in young women was 6.3%, and in highly educated young women was 8.9%.Conclusions:Consistently with previous Brazilian studies, a decline in the overall prevalence of low BMI is clear. However, differently from these studies, the predictors of low BMI in women are similar to those observed within developed countries (including low age and high education), possibly indicating an increase in eating disorders.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 1002–1006. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602204; published online 22 June 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf rust caused by the fungusHemileia vastatrixis the most devastating disease of arabica coffee (Coffea arabica). Therefore, developing leaf rust-resistant varieties has been a breeding objective of the highest priority in many countries. The purpose of the present work was to gain insight into the mechanism of introgression intoC. arabicaof a leaf rust resistance gene fromC. liberica(i.e. SH3 resistance factor) and to identify associated molecular markers. An F2 progeny (i.e. 101 individuals) derived from a cross between Matari, an arabica accession and liberica-introgressed line S.288, was evaluated for resistance against three different races ofH. vastatrix. The progeny segregated for the SH3 gene in a 3:1 ratio, as expected for a single dominant gene. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of a population subset using 80 different primer combinations revealed that at least half of the total polymorphism observed in the population is associated with introgression ofC. libericachromosome fragments. Furthermore, 15 primer combinations generating candidate marker bands associated with the SH3 resistance gene were used to analyse the whole F2 population. A total of 34 marker bands originating from S.288 and attributable to introgression were scored. None exhibited segregation distortion. Linkage analysis revealed only three distinct introgressed fragments corresponding to a total length of 52.8 cM. Twenty-one markers were strongly associated (LOD score>14) with the SH3 gene and were grouped together in a single linkage group of 6.3 cM. The results are discussed in relation to the efficient use of genetic resources in arabica breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heated sphere anemometers (HSA) are the most widely used instruments for low-velocity measurements in the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning industry. Experiments were conducted to characterise the flowfield around the spherically shaped sensor and upper probe assembly of a HSA. Particle image velocimetry was the main quantitative experimental technique. Measurements of the flowfield around a HSA probe and a 2:1 scaled-up model were performed in a uniform isothermal axisymmetrical jet air flow at Re around 350, based on sensor diameter, for different pitch angle incident flows. Additionally, extensive flow visualisation studies around scaled-up models of the HSA probe were performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]