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The increasing demand for fertility treatments has led to the rise of private clinics offering complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments. The most frequently offered CAM infertility treatment is acupuncture. However, there is no good evidence to support the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating infertility. This study evaluates the scope of information provided by CAM fertility clinics in the UK. A content analysis was conducted on 200 websites of CAM fertility clinics in the UK that offer acupuncture as a treatment for infertility. Of the 48 clinics that met the eligibility criteria, the majority of the websites did not provide sufficient information on the efficacy, risks and success rates of acupuncture for infertility. This has the potential to infringe on patient autonomy, provide false hope and reduce the chances of pregnancy ever being achieved as fertility declines during the time course of ineffective acupuncture treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper critiques the restrictive criteria for germline genome editing recently proposed by Chin, Nguma, and Ahmad in this journal. While praising the authors for resisting fervent calls for an outright ban on clinical applications of the technology, this paper argues that their approach is nevertheless unduly restrictive, and may thus hinder technological progress. This response advocates for weighing potential benefits against risks without succumbing to excessive caution, proposing that ethical oversight combined with genetic scrutiny at the embryo stage post-editing can enable responsible use of the technology, ultimately reducing the burden of genetic diseases and enhancing human health, akin to how IVF transformed reproductive medicine despite strong initial opposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

‘Embodied cognition’ suggests that our bodily experiences broadly shape our cognitive capabilities. We study how embodied experience affects the abstract physical problem-solving styles people use in a virtual task where embodiment does not affect action capabilities. We compare how groups with different embodied experience – 25 children and 35 adults with congenital limb differences versus 45 children and 40 adults born with two hands – perform this task, and find that while there is no difference in overall competence, the groups use different cognitive styles to find solutions. People born with limb differences think more before acting but take fewer attempts to reach solutions. Conversely, development affects the particular actions children use, as well as their persistence with their current strategy. Our findings suggest that while development alters action choices and persistence, differences in embodied experience drive changes in the acquisition of cognitive styles for balancing acting with thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorization of biomass-derived substrates via electrocatalytic hydrogenation-hydrogenolysis (ECH) is an attractive approach for selective production of organic chemicals. The electrocatalytic activity is strongly dependent on the surface coverage of adsorbed hydrogen radicals, which is a complex function of the catalytically active surface sites, electrolyte (pH and composition) and electrode potential. The performance of carbon-supported catalysts (Pt/C, Ru/C, Pd/C) was explored in the ECH of phenol and guaiacol in a stirred slurry electrochemical reactor where the cathode and anode compartments were separated by a Nafion® 117 membrane. Acid (H2SO4) and neutral (NaCl) catholytes were used. Pt/C showed superior activity in the acid-acid electrolyte pair, while the activity of Ru/C and Pd/C were significantly improved in the neutral-acid catholyte-anolyte pairs. By pairing neutral catholyte and acid anolyte, the anodic protons transported through the membrane can be effectively utilized for ECH reactions. In terms of reaction pathways for guaiacol ECH, ring saturation leading to 2-methoxycyclohexanol was generally the dominant pathway. However, for Pt/C in either 0.2 or 0.5 M NaCl catholyte paired with 0.5 M H2SO4 anolyte the demethoxylation–ring saturation pathway producing cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone was equally competitive at a constant superficial current density of -109 mA cm−2 and 50 0C. Efficient reductive upgrading of lignin model compounds can be achieved under mild conditions via electrocatalysis in the slurry reactor by exploiting synergistic effects between the catalyst and electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two prominent theoretical frameworks in moral psychology, Moral Foundations and Dual Process Theory, share a broad foundational assumption that individual differences in human morality are dispositional and in part due to genetic variation. The only published direct test of heritability, however, found little evidence of genetic influences on moral judgments using instrumentation approaches associated with Moral Foundations Theory. This raised questions about one of the core assumptions underpinning intuitionist theories of moral psychology. Here we examine the heritability of moral psychology using the moral dilemmas approach commonly used in Dual Process Theory research. Using such measures, we find consistent and significant evidence of heritability. These findings have important implications not only for understanding which measures do, or do not, tap into the genetically influenced aspects of moral decision-making, but in better establishing the utility and validity of different intuitionist theoretical frameworks and the source of why people differ in those frameworks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have sleep disorders. Face-to-face (F2F) sessions have empowered parents to help their child sleep. Our goal was whether online technologies could provide similar improvements in children's sleep while also improving parents' quality of life. Identical programs were taught in two sessions to F2F and online parents. Measurements were compared from baseline to 4 and 8 weeks post teaching sessions. Twenty-three participants completed the program. Parent quality of life improved for both groups. Parent fatigue scores were improved and sustained for the online group. The total sleep score improved for both groups, while the online group had sustained decreases in night wakings. Online methods can conveniently help improve sleep for children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of various oxygen passivation treatments on a 15 wt% MoP/SiO and a 15 wt% NiP/SiO catalyst is reported. Approximately 85 % of the MoP was re-oxidized when the MoP/SiO catalyst was passivated or simply exposed to air, whereas only about 40 % of the NiP was re-oxidized when the NiP/SiO catalyst was treated similarly. A second reduction of the catalysts after the passivation, followed by CO uptake measurements, showed an increase in CO uptake in the case of the MoP/SiO and a significant loss in CO uptake on the NiP/SiO when compared to the CO uptake measurements of the corresponding non-passivated samples. The oxidized species that resulted from the passivation of the NiP/SiO were much more easily reduced than those on the MoP/SiO. The loss in CO uptake observed in the case of the NiP/SiO is attributed to sintering and/or restructuring of the NiP during the second reduction step. Graphical Abstract: [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of unsupported NiMoP catalysts in the presence of citric acid (CA) is reported. Phase pure NiMoP with a surface area ~60 m/g was synthesized in the presence of CA at low reduction temperature (550 °C), with a Ni/Mo/P molar ratio of 1/1/1 and a 1.5 CA/Me ratio (Me = Ni + Mo). Depending on the synthesis conditions, small amounts of MoP and NiMoP were also present in the catalysts. The catalyst precursors appeared similar to those identified for MoP and NiP catalysts, also synthesized in the presence of CA. For the phase pure NiMoP catalysts, the TOFs for the HDS of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene were almost identical, despite large differences in NiMoP surface area and crystallite size. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sleep-disordered breathing has been extensively studied in patients with left-ventricular dysfunction, little is known of its prevalence in adults with congenital heart disease. Patients with d-looped transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) who have undergone atrial switch procedures often develop progressive heart failure. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of patients at risk for sleep-disordered breathing in adults with d-TGA and atrial switch procedures compared with a control population. Thirty-two patients with d-TGA (66 % males, median age 31) were compared with 32 healthy controls. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were documented. The snoring, tiredness during daytime, observed apnea, and high blood pressure (STOP) questionnaire was used to identify subjects at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). There was no difference in baseline demographics between subjects and controls. For the STOP questionnaire, 14 subjects with d-TGA had scores predictive of OSA compared with three in the control group (44 vs. 9 %, p = 0.0038). There was no difference in functional status between d-TGA patients with or without OSA. There is a greater prevalence of risk for sleep disordered breathing in adults with d-TGA compared with controls. Further prospective investigation with sleep studies will be valuable to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and its associated mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), are the major biotic factors limiting cereal production in many parts of the world. A recent association mapping (AM) study of US six-row spring barley identified several modest effect quantitative trait loci (QTL) for DON and FHB. To date, few studies have attempted to verify the results of association analyses, particularly for complex traits such as DON and FHB resistance in barley. While AM methods use measures to control for the effects of population structure and multiple testing, false positive associations may still occur. A previous AM study used elite breeding germplasm to identify QTL for FHB and DON. To verify the results of that study, we evaluated the effects of the nine DON QTL using near-isogenic lines (NILs). We created families of contrasting homozygous haplotypes from lines in the original AM populations that were heterozygous for the DON QTL. Seventeen NIL families were evaluated for FHB and DON in three field experiments. Significant differences between contrasting NIL haplotypes were detected for three QTL across environments and/or genetic backgrounds, thereby confirming QTL from the original AM study. Several explanations for those QTL that were not confirmed are discussed, including the effect of genetic background and incomplete sampling of relevant haplotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a poorly understood yet recurring phenomenon, communities occupying diverse settings within a region may undertake large-scale migrations that cannot be easily attributed to single variables such as climate change. As a result, the study of these movements has increasingly focused on the distinct histories of localities to address how they may have articulated as large-scale abandonments. We adopt this micro-history perspective on the fourteenth to fifteenth century depopulation of a large portion of the North American Midwest and Southeast, popularly referred to as the Vacant Quarter. Our research on the Middle Cumberland drainage within the Vacant Quarter suggests that a significant exodus began slowly ca. 1300 CE; then, it accelerated extremely rapidly in the first half of the fifteenth century CE. This genesis of this trajectory seems to be related to a pattern of severe droughts, but it was brought to a close by social and demographic challenges such as endemic conflict and adverse health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in empirically exploring the biological underpinnings of political attitudes and behavior. Heritability studies are a primary vehicle for conducting such investigations and data sets rich in political phenotypes are becoming broadly accessible. A bottleneck exists, however, in exploiting these opportunities because they involve a statistical re-tooling for political scientists and require a conceptual shift that has substantial implications for the field's traditional theoretical models. Methodologically, most twin studies rely on structural equation models unfamiliar to political scientists. We show this methodological bottleneck is easily navigable; it is the lesser discussed shift in theoretical assumptions poses the larger problem to integrating biological elements into the study of political attitudes and behavior. To address these issues we provide a detailed introduction to a regression-based method for analyzing genetic influence on political attitudes and behaviors that will be methodologically intuitive to political scientists with even minimum quantitative training. In doing so, we provide a platform for bridging important conceptual divides between political science and behavioral genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unsupported, high surface area MoP and NiP catalysts were synthesized by adding citric acid (CA) to solutions of ammonium heptamolybdate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate or nickel nitrate and diammonium hydrogen phosphate, respectively, followed by drying (397 K), calcination (773 K), and reduction in H (923 K). The addition of CA increased the surface area, decreased the particle size, and increased the CO uptake of the MoP and NiP catalysts. At 623 K and 4.4 MPa, the NiP was 2.3 times more active than the MoP on a mass basis and 6 times more active on a site basis for the hydrodeoxygenation of 4-methylphenol. However, the NiP catalysts deactivated due to non-selective carbon deposition on the catalyst surface. Oxidation was excluded as a potential cause of deactivation over the NiP catalysts. The rate of deactivation was well described by an exponential decay law. Deactivation was eliminated by operation at higher H pressures (5.3 and 6.1 MPa) but the hydrogenation selectivity of the NiP increased at these conditions. No deactivation was observed over the MoP catalysts at the conditions of the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades many quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been detected; however, very few have been incorporated into breeding programs. The recent development of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in plants provides the opportunity to detect QTL in germplasm collections such as unstructured populations from breeding programs. The overall goal of the barley Coordinated Agricultural Project was to conduct GWAS with the intent to couple QTL detection and breeding. The basic idea is that breeding programs generate a vast amount of phenotypic data and combined with cheap genotyping it should be possible to use GWAS to detect QTL that would be immediately accessible and used by breeding programs. There are several constraints to using breeding program-derived phenotype data for conducting GWAS namely: limited population size and unbalanced data sets. We chose the highly heritable trait heading date to study these two variables. We examined 766 spring barley breeding lines (panel #1) grown in balanced trials and a subset of 384 spring barley breeding lines (panel #2) grown in balanced and unbalanced trials. In panel #1, we detected three major QTL for heading date that have been detected in previous bi-parental mapping studies. Simulation studies showed that population sizes greater than 384 individuals are required to consistently detect QTL. We also showed that unbalanced data sets from panel #2 can be used to detect the three major QTL. However, unbalanced data sets resulted in an increase in the false-positive rate. Interestingly, one-step analysis performed better than two-step analysis in reducing the false-positive rate. The results of this work show that it is possible to use phenotypic data from breeding programs to detect QTL, but that careful consideration of population size and experimental design are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spot blotch, caused by Cochliobolus sativus, is an important foliar disease of barley. The disease has been controlled for over 40 years through the deployment of cultivars with durable resistance derived from the line NDB112. Pathotypes of C. sativus with virulence for the NDB112 resistance have been detected in Canada; thus, many commercial cultivars are vulnerable to spot blotch epidemics. To increase the diversity of spot blotch resistance in cultivated barley, we evaluated 318 diverse wild barley accessions comprising the Wild Barley Diversity Collection (WBDC) for reaction to C. sativus at the seedling stage and utilized an association mapping (AM) approach to identify and map resistance loci. A high frequency of resistance was found in the WBDC as 95% (302/318) of the accessions exhibited low infection responses. The WBDC was genotyped with 558 Diversity Array Technology (DArT®) and 2,878 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and subjected to structure analysis before running the AM procedure. Thirteen QTL for spot blotch resistance were identified with DArT and SNP markers. These QTL were found on chromosomes 1H, 2H, 3H, 5H, and 7H and explained from 2.3 to 3.9% of the phenotypic variance. Nearly half of the identified QTL mapped to chromosome bins where spot blotch resistance loci were previously reported, offering some validation for the AM approach. The other QTL mapped to unique genomic regions and may represent new spot blotch resistance loci. This study demonstrates that AM is an effective technique for identifying and mapping QTL for disease resistance in a wild crop progenitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of isobutanol in microorganisms has recently been achieved by harnessing the highly active 2-keto acid pathways. Since these 2-keto acids are precursors of amino acids, we aimed to construct an isobutanol production platform in Corynebacterium glutamicum, a well-known amino-acid-producing microorganism. Analysis of this host’s sensitivity to isobutanol toxicity revealed that C. glutamicum shows an increased tolerance to isobutanol relative to Escherichia coli. Overexpression of alsS of Bacillus subtilis, ilvC and ilvD of C. glutamicum, kivd of Lactococcus lactis, and a native alcohol dehydrogenase, adhA, led to the production of 2.6 g/L isobutanol and 0.4 g/L 3-methyl-1-butanol in 48 h. In addition, other higher chain alcohols such as 1-propanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 1-butanol, and 2-phenylethanol were also detected as byproducts. Using longer-term batch cultures, isobutanol titers reached 4.0 g/L after 96 h with wild-type C. glutamicum as a host. Upon the inactivation of several genes to direct more carbon through the isobutanol pathway, we increased production by ∼25% to 4.9 g/L isobutanol in a ∆ pyc∆ ldh background. These results show promise in engineering C. glutamicum for higher chain alcohol production using the 2-keto acid pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase that participates in numerous signalling pathways involved in diverse physiological processes. Several of these pathways are implicated in disease pathogenesis, which has prompted efforts to develop GSK3-specific inhibitors for therapeutic applications. However, before now, there has been no strong rationale for targeting GSK3 in malignancies. Here we report pharmacological, physiological and genetic studies that demonstrate an oncogenic requirement for GSK3 in the maintenance of a specific subtype of poor prognosis human leukaemia, genetically defined by mutations of the MLL proto-oncogene. In contrast to its previously characterized roles in suppression of neoplasia-associated signalling pathways, GSK3 paradoxically supports MLL leukaemia cell proliferation and transformation by a mechanism that ultimately involves destabilization of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1. Inhibition of GSK3 in a preclinical murine model of MLL leukaemia provides promising evidence of efficacy and earmarks GSK3 as a candidate cancer drug target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation, competition, and their interaction are known to be important factors that influence the structure of ecological communities. In particular, in those cases where a competitive hierarchy exists among prey species, the presence of certain keystone predators can result in enhanced diversity in the prey community. However, little is known regarding the influence of keystone predator presence on invaded prey communities. Given the widespread occurrence of invasive species and substantial concern regarding their ecological impacts, studies on this topic are needed. In this study I used naturalistic replications of an experimental tadpole assemblage to assess the influence of predatory eastern newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, on the outcome of interspecific competition among native and nonindigenous tadpoles. When newts were absent, the presence of the tadpoles of one invasive species, the Cuban treefrog, Osteopilus septentrionalis, resulted in decreased survival and growth rate of the dominant native species, Bufo terrestris, and dominance of the tadpole assemblage by O. septentrionalis. However, the presence of one adult newt generally reduced or eliminated the negative impacts of O. septentrionalis tadpoles, resulting in comparable survival and performance of native species in invaded and noninvaded treatments. Differential mortality among the tadpole species suggests that newts preyed selectively on O. septentrionalis tadpoles, supporting the hypothesis that newts acted as keystone predators in the invaded assemblage. The presence of nonindigenous larval cane toads, Bufo marinus, did not significantly affect native species, and this species was not negatively affected by the presence of newts. Collectively, these results suggest that eastern newts significantly modified the competitive hierarchy of the invaded tadpole assemblage and reduced the impacts of a competitively superior invasive species. If general, these results suggest that the presence of certain species may be an essential factor regulating the ecological impacts of biological invasions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of exfoliated MoS2 in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene, the hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) of carbazole and the hydrogenation of naphthalene has been determined. The catalytic activity was compared to MoS2 prepared by the decomposition of molybdenum naphthenate (MoNaph). Exfoliated MoS2 was found to give better overall HDS activity compared to MoNaph derived MoS2 catalyst, whereas MoNaph derived MoS2 was found to give higher hydrogenation and HDN activity. These results are discussed in terms of the morphology of the two catalysts. The relative activity of the two catalysts in the hydrotreating reactions is shown to be different to that obtained during Cold Lake bitumen hydrocracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes development of a quality of life measure designed to assess issues relevant to long-term cancer survivors. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 58 long-term cancer survivors to identify domains most relevant to long-term survivors (> or = 5 years post-diagnosis). Self-report items were developed from these interviews and administered to a second sample of 242 long-term survivors. Domains and items were selected from the item pool by a combination of factor analysis and criterion-based item selection. Five cancer-specific domains were identified (appearance concerns, financial problems, distress over recurrence, family-related distress, and benefits of cancer) along with seven generic QOL domains (negative feelings, positive feelings, cognitive problems, sexual problems, physical pain, fatigue, and social avoidance). Cronbach's alpha was 0.72 or greater for each domain. Correlations between domain scores and criterion measures were 0.72 or higher in all but one generic domain (social avoidance), but somewhat lower on cancer-specific domains. The new multidimensional measure has good internal consistency and validity and is appropriate for comparisons between cancer and non-cancer populations, as well as long-term follow-up of cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exfoliated MoS2 has been investigated as a dispersed catalyst for Cold Lake bitumen upgrading. The results are compared with MoS2 prepared in situ by the decomposition of molybdenum naphthenate. Although liquid yield and coke suppression were similar among the catalysts, better hydrogenation activity, especially hydrodenitrogenation, and asphaltene and microcarbon residue (MCR) removal, were obtained with the exfoliated MoS2. The improved hydrogenation is suggested to be a consequence of increased rim-edge sites associated with the exfoliated MoS2. The potential for recycle of the exfoliated MoS2 is also reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon deposition during catalytic CH4 decomposition (CH2↔C+2H2), occurs at a given reaction temperature when KM < KM*, where KM* is the carbon formation threshold defined as the value of $K\_M\; =\; (P^2\_\{H\_2\}/P\_\{CH\_4\})$ at which the net rate of carbon deposition is zero (Snoeck et al., J. Catal. 169 (1997) 240). Carbon deposition can produce encapsulating carbon that results in catalyst deactivation, or filamentous carbon that ensures stable catalyst activity for extended periods of time. In the present study, the rate of catalyst deactivation during CH4 decomposition at 773 K on supported Co and Ni catalysts decreased as KM increased. A filamentous carbon formation threshold KMf is therefore defined as the value of KM at which the rate of catalyst deactivation equals zero as a consequence of filamentous carbon formation. Results presented herein demonstrate that stable activity and filamentous carbon formation during CH4 decomposition on supported Ni and Co catalysts can be guaranteed by choosing KM such that the inequality KMf < KM < KM* is satisfied, whereas if KM < KMf < KM*, encapsulating carbon accompanied by catalyst deactivation occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avian spleen has been frequently used in studies of avian ecology, parasitology, and evolution to infer immune system strength in birds. Traditionally, it has been assumed that a large spleen is representative of a strong immune system and conclusions based on this assumption have led to interesting interpretations of the role of disease and parasitism, for example in predator-prey interactions. This assumption of a positive relationship between spleen size and immune system strength has been made despite an incomplete understanding of the physiology of the avian spleen and little evidence of the validity of such an assumption. In this response, we demonstrate that the assumption of a predictable, positive relationship between spleen size and immunocompetence may be unjustified based on what is known of avian splenology. We also review recent research that may indicate that the inverse of the above assumption is true and we discuss general limitations of the use of the spleen as an indicator of immune system strength in birds. Finally, we make recommendations for future research topics in this field of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain sharp inequalities between the large scale asymptotic of the J functional with respect to the d 1 metric on the space of Kähler metrics. Applications regarding the initial value problem for geodesic rays are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uneven illumination affects every image acquired by a microscope. It is often overlooked, but it can introduce considerable bias to image measurements. The most reliable correction methods require special reference images, and retrospective alternatives do not fully model the correction process. Our approach overcomes these issues for most optical microscopy applications without the need for reference images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing acceptance of quality of life (QOL) as a critical endpoint in medical research, there is little consensus regarding the definition of this construct or how it differs from perceived health status. The objective of this analysis was to understand how patients make determinations of QOL and whether QOL can be differentiated from health status. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relationships among two constructs (QOL and perceived health status) and three functioning domains (mental, physical, and social functioning) in 12 chronic disease studies. Instruments used in these studies included the RAND-36, MOS SF-20, EORTC QLQ-30, MILQ and MQOL-HIV. A single, synthesized correlation matrix combining the data from all 12 studies was estimated by generalized least squares. The synthesized matrix was then used to estimate structural equation models. The meta-analysis results indicate that, from the perspective of patients, QOL and health status are distinct constructs. When rating QOL, patients give greater emphasis to mental health than to physical functioning. This pattern is reversed for appraisals of health status, for which physical functioning is more important than mental health. Social functioning did not have a major impact on either construct. We conclude that quality of life and health status are distinct constructs, and that the two terms should not be used interchangeably. Many prominent health status instruments, including utility-based questionnaires and health perception indexes, may be inappropriate for measuring QOL. Evaluations of the effectiveness of medical treatment may differ depending on whether QOL or health status is the study outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoral cultures of East Africa include certain institutions that meet requirements for labor organization and control over resources. Institutions that have been adapted to multi-species pastoralism in arid or semi-arid environments include: a patriarchical and gerontocratic control over resources that permits polygyny; an age-system that both dictates work roles and legitimizes control over resources; and marriage practices that permit elder males to control the labor of unmarried junior males. All of these institutions and ideals are interrelated, reinforcing each other and perpetuating the social and ideological order of society. When the economy changes, however, institutions may also change or perhaps become less useful for organizing society. Such is the case for Rendille and Ariaal of northern Kenya who now farm and are more involved in the market economy than their pastoral kin. The result is greater economic opportunity for young men of the warrior age grade, while ways for elders to maintain their authority continue to exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the variety of economic roles pursued by Rendille women of northern Kenya in terms of production tasks practiced in nomadic and town communities. Previous studies of pastoral women and sedentarization; Sedentarization among pastoral Rendille; Less rest and leisure time for women; More opportunities to earn money in towns.

The chimeric oncoprotein E2a-Pbx1 results from fusion of the E2A and PBX1 genes following t(1;19) chromosomal translocations in B cell precursor acute leukemias. Experimentally B cell progenitors do not tolerate constitutive expression of E2a-Pbx1 which contrasts with transformation of several other cell types following its stable expression both in vitro and in vivo. To further investigate the effects of E2a-Pbx1 on the B cell progenitors, we conditionally expressed E2a-Pbx1 under control of a metal response element in hematopoietic precursor cell lines in vitro. Inducible expression of E2a-Pbx1 resulted in cell death with the morphologic and molecular features of apoptosis. A structure-function analysis demonstrated that induction of apoptosis was not a dominant-negative effect of the E2a moiety but, rather, required the DNA-binding homeodomain of Pbx1. E2a-Pbx1-induced apoptosis proceeded through a BCL2-responsive checkpoint eventuating in PARP inactivation but did require p53. Constitutive expression of E2a-Pbx1 did not induce apoptosis or continued cycling of Rat-1 fibroblasts in low serum conditions. These studies demonstrate that E2a-Pbx1 initiates programmed cell death of hematopoietic precursers by a mechanism that requires its chimeric transcriptional properties, but, unlike other nuclear oncoproteins, is independent of p53. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of a combined medial and lateral segmental clavicle fracture. Open reduction and internal fixation of both fractures was performed with a return to full activities. Combined medial and lateral fractures of the clavicle are exceptionally rare. The relevant medical literature and treatment of this injury is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigorous reviews of reading research over the past 2 decades agree on evidence-based practices in K–3 classrooms. Yet results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) show that about one-third of the nation's 4th graders are proficient in reading—an inadequate percentage for a nation that demands a literate citizenry and workforce. The first objective of this article is to provide an overview of the evidence-based reading practices recommended in K–3 instruction based on systematic reviews and meta-analyses of classroom instruction and intervention studies. The second objective is to provide a brief overview of essential features of multitiered systems of support for implementing evidence-based reading interventions in grades K–3. The third objective is to provide resources to help practitioners implement evidence-based literacy instruction in primary grade classrooms and in intervention settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Association mapping study conducted in a population of 3490 elite barley breeding lines from ten barley breeding programs of the USA identified 12 QTLs for resistance/susceptibility to net form of net blotch. Breeding resistant varieties is the best management strategy for net form of net blotch (NFNB) in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt). Several resistance QTL have been previously identified in barley via linkage mapping and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A GWAS conducted in a collection of advanced breeding lines (n = 3490) representing elite germplasm from ten barley breeding programs of the USA identified 42 unique marker-trait associations (MTA) for NFNB resistance. The lines were genotyped with 3072 SNP markers and phenotyped with four Ptt isolates in controlled environment. The lines were used to construct 13 different GWAS panels. Efficient mixed model association method with principal components and kinship was used for GWAS. Significance threshold for MTA was set at a false discovery rate of 0.05. Two, eight, six, one and 25 MTA were identified in chromosomes 1H, 3H, 4H, 5H and 6H, respectively. Based on genetic positions and linkage disequilibrium, these MTA's correspond to two, three, two, one and four QTLs in chromosome 1H, 3H, 4H, 5H and 6H, respectively. A comparison with previous linkage and GWAS studies revealed several previously identified and novel QTLs. Moreover, different genomic regions were found to be responsible for NFNB resistance in two-row versus six-row germplasm. The germplasm-specific SNP markers with additive effects and allelic distribution is reported to facilitate breeders in selection of markers for MAS to introgress novel net blotch resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Revision ACL surgery may be complicated by tunnel malposition and/or tunnel widening and often requires a staged treatment approach that includes bone grafting, a period of several months to allow bone graft incorporation and then definitive revision ACL reconstruction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of a single-staged ACL revision reconstruction technique using a cylindrical dowel bone graft for patients who have existing posteriorly placed and/or widened tibial tunnels in the tibia at a minimum of 2 years follow-up.Methods: Between 2010 and 2014, patients undergoing single-stage revision ACL reconstruction with the described technique were prospectively enrolled and evaluated. At a minimum of 24 months, patients were evaluated by physical examination, multiple clinical outcome instruments including KOOS, Tegner and Lysholm, and preoperative and postoperative MRIs.Results: At a mean of 35.1 months, 18 consecutive patients had no revision surgery and no subjective knee instability. There were statistically significant improvements in the Tegner (median 2, interquartile range 2.25; p < 0.01), Lysholm (20.0 ± 15.0; p < 0.01), KOOS symptoms scale (12.9 ± 11.8; p < 0.01), KOOS pain scale (15.4 ± 18.7; p < 0.01), KOOS ADL scale (13.5 ± 19.0; p < 0.01), KOOS sports scale (32.8 ± 26.4; p < 0.01), and KOOS QoL scale (18.1 ± 16.9; p < 0.01). Postoperative MRI demonstrated statistically significant anteriorization of the tibial tunnel and a statistically significant decrease in tunnel widening.Conclusion: Revision ACL reconstruction utilizing a single-staged tibial tunnel grafting technique resulted in improved knee pain, function, and stability at a minimum of 24-month follow-up.Level Of Evidence: IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general applicability of genomic selection (GS) to plant breeding and principles guiding its use have been established by simulation and empirical cross-validation studies. More recently, studies have demonstrated genetic gains over multiple cycles of selection in a variety of crop species. In this study, we provide additional evidence for the effectiveness of GS in an actual breeding program by demonstrating significant gains of 186.1 kg ha−1 and − 1.85 ppm for grain yield and deoxynivalenol, respectively, two unfavorably correlated quantitative traits, across 3 cycles of selection in a spring six-row barley breeding population. With its general effectiveness established, the next step is to increase the accuracy of predictions used in GS and thereby increase genetic gains. For this, we first showed that updating the training population (TP) with phenotyped lines from recent breeding cycles, specifically selected lines, had an overall positive effect on prediction accuracy. Additionally, we investigated four recently proposed algorithms that seek to optimize the composition of a TP. Overall, the optimization algorithms improved prediction accuracy when compared to a randomly selected TP subset of the same size, but which algorithm performed best was dependent on the trait being predicted and other factors discussed within. This retrospective investigation highlights the importance of maintaining and optimizing the TP when using GS in applied breeding to maximize prediction accuracy, thereby maximizing gain from selection and resource utilization efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the potency of mRNA therapeutics is an important objective for treating rare diseases, since it may enable lower and less-frequent dosing. Enzyme engineering can increase potency of mRNA therapeutics by improving the expression, half-life, and catalytic efficiency of the mRNA-encoded enzymes. However, sequence space is incomprehensibly vast, and methods to map sequence to function (computationally or experimentally) are inaccurate or time-/labor-intensive. Here, we present a novel, broadly applicable engineering method that combines deep latent variable modelling of sequence co-evolution with automated protein library design and construction to rapidly identify metabolic enzyme variants that are both more thermally stable and more catalytically active. We apply this approach to improve the potency of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), a urea cycle enzyme for which loss of catalytic activity causes a rare but serious metabolic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Integration of multi-omics data improved prediction accuracies of oat agronomic and seed nutritional traits in multi-environment trials and distantly related populations in addition to the single-environment prediction. Multi-omics prediction has been shown to be superior to genomic prediction with genome-wide DNA-based genetic markers (G) for predicting phenotypes. However, most of the existing studies were based on historical datasets from one environment; therefore, they were unable to evaluate the efficiency of multi-omics prediction in multi-environment trials and distantly related populations. To fill those gaps, we designed a systematic experiment to collect omics data and evaluate 17 traits in two oat breeding populations planted in single and multiple environments. In the single-environment trial, transcriptomic BLUP (T), metabolomic BLUP (M), G + T, G + M, and G + T + M models showed greater prediction accuracy than GBLUP for 5, 10, 11, 17, and 17 traits, respectively, and metabolites generally performed better than transcripts when combined with SNPs. In the multi-environment trial, multi-trait models with omics data outperformed both counterpart multi-trait GBLUP models and single-environment omics models, and the highest prediction accuracy was achieved when modeling genetic covariance as an unstructured covariance model. We also demonstrated that omics data can be used to prioritize loci from one population with omics data to improve genomic prediction in a distantly related population using a two-kernel linear model that accommodated both likely casual loci with large-effect and loci that explain little or no phenotypic variance. We propose that the two-kernel linear model is superior to most genomic prediction models that assume each variant is equally likely to affect the trait and can be used to improve prediction accuracy for any trait with prior knowledge of genetic architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Fine mapping of barley 6H pericentromeric region identified FHB QTL with opposite effects, and high grain protein content was associated with increased FHB severity. Resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), kernel discoloration (KD), deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation and grain protein content (GPC) are important traits for breeding malting barley varieties. Previous work mapped a Chevron-derived FHB QTL to the pericentromeric region of 6H, coinciding with QTL for KD resistance and GPC. The Chevron allele reduced FHB and KD, but unfavorably increased GPC. To determine whether the correlations are caused by linkage or pleiotropy, a fine mapping approach was used to dissect the QTL underlying these quality and disease traits. Two populations, referred to as Gen10 and Gen10/Lacey, derived from a recombinant near-isogenic line (rNIL) were developed. Recombinants were phenotyped for FHB, KD, DON, GPC and other agronomic traits. Three FHB, two DON and two KD QTLs were identified. One of the three FHB QTLs, one DON QTL and one KD QTL were coincident with the GPC QTL, which contains the Hv-NAM1 locus affecting grain protein accumulation. The Chevron allele at the GPC QTL increased GPC and FHB and decreased DON and KD. The other two FHB QTL and the other DON and KD QTL were identified in the regions flanking the Hv-NAM1 locus, and the Chevron alleles decreased FHB, DON and KD. Our results suggested that the QTL associated with FHB, KD, DON and GPC in the pericentromeric region of 6H was controlled by both pleiotropy and tightly linked loci. The rNILs identified in this study with low FHB severity and moderate GPC may be used for breeding malting barley cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth in the surfing equipment industry has led to increased scientific interest in this area, yet no current paper has reviewed and synthesized the effects of equipment design on surfing. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: (1) assess the volume and type of scientific literature that is available to the authors specific to surfing equipment and design, (2) summarise all surfing equipment and design studies completed to date specific to outcome measures and key findings and (3) identify knowledge gaps in the topic of surfing equipment design. This review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA scoping review guidelines. A total of seven electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and Ovid). Google Scholar was also searched for grey literature. Inclusion criteria were mention of surfing equipment and relevant surfing outcome measures (physiological and mechanical). Exclusion criteria were no full text availability and works not available in English. Results from these articles were then extracted, summarised and presented. A total of 17 articles were selected for review and organized by theme of board, wetsuit and fin. Fin and wetsuit design were the most prominent themes (seven studies each respectively). Most were written within the past 5 years and written in the USA. Fin design studies were largely computational, whereas board and wetsuit design were mostly field and laboratory based. Within each study theme there were consistencies in outcome measures and measuring devices. Board design studies focused on paddling efficiency (VO2 and HR). Wetsuit design studies primarily assessed thermoregulation, and less so muscle activation and paddling biomechanics. Fin design studies focused on fin shape and configuration to assess lift and drag properties. Three key themes of board, wetsuit and fin design were noted; from this the authors were able to identify several knowledge gaps such as a lack of standardisation in equipment controls and study design procedures. Alongside improving standardisation, the use of wave pools presents as an area of interest in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trophic interactions can strongly influence the structure and function of terrestrial and aquatic communities through top-down and bottom-up processes. Species with life stages in both terrestrial and aquatic systems may be particularly likely to link the effects of trophic interactions across ecosystem boundaries. Using experimental wetlands planted with purple loosestrife ( Lythrum salicaria), we tested the degree to which the bottom-up effects of floral density of this invasive plant could trigger a chain of interactions, changing the behavior of terrestrial flying insect prey and predators and ultimately cascading through top-down interactions to alter lower trophic levels in the aquatic community. The results of our experiment support the linkage of terrestrial and aquatic food webs through this hypothesized pathway, with high loosestrife floral density treatments attracting high levels of visiting insect pollinators and predatory adult dragonflies. High floral densities were also associated with increased adult dragonfly oviposition and subsequently high larval dragonfly abundance in the aquatic community. Finally, high-flower treatments were coupled with changes in zooplankton species richness and shifts in the composition of zooplankton communities. Through changes in animal behavior and trophic interactions in terrestrial and aquatic systems, this work illustrates the broad and potentially cryptic effects of invasive species, and provides additional compelling motivation for ecologists to conduct investigations that cross traditional ecosystem boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaze cues lead to reflexive shifts of attention even when those gaze cues do not predict target location. Although this general effect has been repeatedly demonstrated, not all individuals orient to gaze in an identical manner. For example, the magnitude of gaze-cuing effects have been reduced or eliminated in populations such as those scoring high on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and in males relative to females (since males exhibit more autism-like traits). In the present study, we examined whether gaze cue effects would be moderated by political temperament, given that those on the political right tend to be more supportive of individualism-and less likely to be influenced by others-than those on the left. We found standard gaze-cuing effects across all subjects but systematic differences in these effects by political temperament. Liberals exhibited a very large gaze-cuing effect, whereas conservatives showed no such effect at various stimulus onset asynchronies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the biodiversity crisis continuing unchecked, we need to establish levels and drivers of extinction risk, and reassessments over time, to effectively allocate conservation resources and track progress towards global conservation targets. Given that threat appears particularly high in freshwaters, we assessed the extinction risk of 1428 randomly selected freshwater molluscs using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria, as part of the Sampled Red List Index project. We show that close to one-third of species in our sample are estimated to be threatened with extinction, with highest levels of threat in the Nearctic, Palearctic and Australasia and among gastropods. Threat levels were higher in lotic than lentic systems. Pollution (chemical and physical) and the modification of natural systems (e.g. through damming and water abstraction) were the most frequently reported threats to freshwater molluscs, with some regional variation. Given that we found little spatial congruence between species richness patterns of freshwater molluscs and other freshwater taxa, apart from crayfish, new additional conservation priority areas emerged from our study. We discuss the implications of our findings for freshwater mollusc conservation, the adequacy of a sampled approach and important next steps to estimate trends in freshwater mollusc extinction risk over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essential prerequisite for the efficient biomechanical tailoring of crops is to accurately relate mechanical behavior to compositional and morphological properties across different length scales. In this article, we develop a multiscale approach to predict macroscale stiffness and strength properties of crop stem materials from their hierarchical microstructure. We first discuss the experimental multiscale characterization based on microimaging (micro-CT, light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy) and chemical analysis, with a particular focus on oat stems. We then derive in detail a general micromechanics-based model of macroscale stiffness and strength. We specify our model for oats and validate it against a series of bending experiments that we conducted with oat stem samples. In the context of biomechanical tailoring, we demonstrate that our model can predict the effects of genetic modifications of microscale composition and morphology on macroscale mechanical properties of thale cress that is available in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyze the performance of radiological assessment categories and quantitative computational analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps using variant machine learning algorithms to differentiate clinically significant versus insignificant prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Retrospectively, 73 patients were included in the study. The patients (mean age, 66.3 ± 7.6 years) were examined with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) prior to radical prostatectomy (n = 33) or targeted biopsy (n = 40). The index lesion was annotated in MRI ADC and the equivalent histologic slides according to the highest Gleason Grade Group (GrG). Volumes of interest (VOIs) were determined for each lesion and normal-appearing peripheral zone. VOIs were processed by radiomic analysis. For the classification of lesions according to their clinical significance (GrG ≥ 3), principal component (PC) analysis, univariate analysis (UA) with consecutive support vector machines, neural networks, and random forest analysis were performed. Results: PC analysis discriminated between benign and malignant prostate tissue. PC evaluation yielded no stratification of PCa lesions according to their clinical significance, but UA revealed differences in clinical assessment categories and radiomic features. We trained three classification models with fifteen feature subsets. We identified a subset of shape features which improved the diagnostic accuracy of the clinical assessment categories (maximum increase in diagnostic accuracy ΔAUC = + 0.05, p < 0.001) while also identifying combinations of features and models which reduced overall accuracy. Conclusions: The impact of radiomic features to differentiate PCa lesions according to their clinical significance remains controversial. It depends on feature selection and the employed machine learning algorithms. It can result in improvement or reduction of diagnostic performance. Key Points: • Quantitative imaging features differ between normal and malignant tissue of the peripheral zone in prostate cancer. • Radiomic feature analysis of clinical routine multiparametric MRI has the potential to improve the stratification of clinically significant versus insignificant prostate cancer lesions in the peripheral zone. • Certain combinations of standard multiparametric MRI reporting and assessment categories with feature subsets and machine learning algorithms reduced the diagnostic performance over standard clinical assessment categories alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High β-glucan content is one of the main goals of oat breeding programs worldwide. However, the genomic regions and genes controlling β-glucan content in oats are not fully understood. In this sense, the objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to characterize structure and linkage disequilibrium (LD) in a panel of oat germplasm adapted to subtropical environments; and (ii) to identify genomic regions associated with oat β-glucan content. An oat panel with 413 genotypes was evaluated for β-glucan content under subtropical conditions in different years and genotyped using genotyping-by-sequencing. Population structure, LD, and genome-wide association (GWA) analyses were carried out. GWA mapping was performed for each year separately and in a multi-environment model. The UFRGS Oat Panel showed weak population structure and has great potential to elucidate many agronomic traits in subtropical environments. Seven quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with β-glucan content were identified. These QTL are located on Mrg02, Mrg06, Mrg11, Mrg12, Mrg19, and Mrg20. The QTL located on Mrg02, Mrg06, and Mrg11 seem to be genomic regions syntenic with barley. The use of these QTL may be useful to accelerate the genetic progress of oat β-glucan content in subtropical environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern recognition in imaging data by >300,000 players of a global, online, commercial computer game is combined with deep learning to improve the accuracy of annotation of subcellular protein localization.Pattern recognition and classification of images are key challenges throughout the life sciences. We combined two approaches for large-scale classification of fluorescence microscopy images. First, using the publicly available data set from the Cell Atlas of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), we integrated an image-classification task into a mainstream video game (EVE Online) as a mini-game, named Project Discovery. Participation by 322,006 gamers over 1 year provided nearly 33 million classifications of subcellular localization patterns, including patterns that were not previously annotated by the HPA. Second, we used deep learning to build an automated Localization Cellular Annotation Tool (Loc-CAT). This tool classifies proteins into 29 subcellular localization patterns and can deal efficiently with multi-localization proteins, performing robustly across different cell types. Combining the annotations of gamers and deep learning, we applied transfer learning to create a boosted learner that can characterize subcellular protein distribution with F1 score of 0.72. We found that engaging players of commercial computer games provided data that augmented deep learning and enabled scalable and readily improved image classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern recognition in imaging data by >300,000 players of a global, online, commercial computer game is combined with deep learning to improve the accuracy of annotation of subcellular protein localization. Pattern recognition and classification of images are key challenges throughout the life sciences. We combined two approaches for large-scale classification of fluorescence microscopy images. First, using the publicly available data set from the Cell Atlas of the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), we integrated an image-classification task into a mainstream video game (EVE Online) as a mini-game, named Project Discovery. Participation by 322,006 gamers over 1 year provided nearly 33 million classifications of subcellular localization patterns, including patterns that were not previously annotated by the HPA. Second, we used deep learning to build an automated Localization Cellular Annotation Tool (Loc-CAT). This tool classifies proteins into 29 subcellular localization patterns and can deal efficiently with multi-localization proteins, performing robustly across different cell types. Combining the annotations of gamers and deep learning, we applied transfer learning to create a boosted learner that can characterize subcellular protein distribution with F1 score of 0.72. We found that engaging players of commercial computer games provided data that augmented deep learning and enabled scalable and readily improved image classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Co-Crystal of Tramadol-Celecoxib (CTC), in development for the treatment of moderate to severe acute pain, is a first-in-class co-crystal containing a 1:1 molecular ratio of two active pharmaceutical ingredients; rac-tramadol·HCl and celecoxib. This randomised, open-label, crossover study compared the bioavailability of both components after CTC administration under fed and fasting conditions.Methods: Healthy adults received single doses of 200 mg CTC under both fed and fasting conditions (separated by a 7-day washout). Each dose of CTC was administered orally as two 100 mg tablets, each containing 44 mg tramadol·HCl and 56 mg celecoxib. In the fed condition, a high-fat, high-calorie meal [in line with recommendations by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)] was served 30 min before CTC administration. Tramadol, O-desmethyltramadol and celecoxib plasma concentrations were measured pre- and post-dose up to 48 h. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using non-compartmental analysis. Safety was also assessed.Results: Thirty-six subjects (18 female/18 male) received one or both doses of CTC; 33 provided evaluable pharmacokinetic data under fed and fasting conditions. For tramadol and O-desmethyltramadol, fed-to-fasting ratios of geometric least-squares means and corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI) values for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and extrapolated area under the plasma concentration-time curve to infinity (AUC∞) were within the pre-defined range for comparative bioavailability (80-125%). For celecoxib, Cmax and AUC∞ fed-to-fasting ratios (90% CIs) were outside this range, at 130.91% (116.98-146.49) and 129.34% (121.78-137.38), respectively. The safety profile of CTC was similar in fed and fasting conditions.Conclusions: As reported for standard-formulation celecoxib, food increased the bioavailability of celecoxib from single-dose CTC. Food had no effect on tramadol or O-desmethyltramadol bioavailability.Clinical trial registration number: 152052 (registered with the Therapeutic Products Directorate of Health Canada) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robust predictions of genetic variances for important traits would facilitate greater genetic gains in plant breeding. Previous attempts to predict the genetic variance ( σ G 2 ) of traits in bi-parental breeding populations were inconsistent and context specific. The weakness of methods that consider the phenotypic distance, genetic distance, and relationship-based distance of pairs of parents, which we collectively term historical methods, stems from the fact that they do not explicitly model the segregation of the underlying genetic effects for a trait within a population. To address this issue, we propose the use of three modern methods made possible by the commonplace use of genomewide molecular marker data and genomic selection in modern breeding programs. These modern methods utilize both phenotypic and genotypic records to, in varying degrees, explicitly model the segregation of informative genomewide markers to predict σ G 2 in bi-parental breeding populations. In this study, we evaluate the accuracy of historical and modern methods to predict σ G 2 using 40 field-tested bi-parental barley breeding populations evaluated during 2003–2010 for Fusarium head blight severity. In general, the modern methods predicted the field-based estimates of σ G 2 more accurately than the historical methods. Specifically, the modern method that most explicitly models the segregation of informative genomewide markers, called ‘PopVar,’ was the most accurate σ G 2 prediction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process that restricts gene expression to either the maternally or paternally inherited allele. Many theories have been proposed to explain its evolutionary origin, but understanding has been limited by a paucity of data mapping the breadth and dynamics of imprinting within any organism. We generated an atlas of imprinting spanning 33 mouse and 45 human developmental stages and tissues. Nearly all imprinted genes were imprinted in early development and either retained their parent-of-origin expression in adults or lost it completely. Consistent with an evolutionary signature of parental conflict, imprinted genes were enriched for coexpressed pairs of maternally and paternally expressed genes, showed accelerated expression divergence between human and mouse, and were more highly expressed than their non-imprinted orthologs in other species. Our approach demonstrates a general framework for the discovery of imprinting in any species and sheds light on the causes and consequences of genomic imprinting in mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: We report malt quality QTLs relevant to breeding with greater precision than previous mapping studies. The distribution of favorable alleles suggests strategies for marker-assisted breeding and germplasm exchange. Abstract: This study leverages the breeding data of 1,862 barley breeding lines evaluated in 97 field trials for genome-wide association study of malting quality traits in barley. The mapping panel consisted of six-row and two-row advanced breeding lines from eight breeding populations established at six public breeding programs across the United States. A total of 4,976 grain samples were subjected to micro-malting analysis and mapping of nine quality traits was conducted with 3,072 SNP markers distributed throughout the genome. Association mapping was performed for individual breeding populations and for combined six-row and two-row populations. Only 16 % of the QTL we report here had been detected in prior bi-parental mapping studies. Comparison of the analyses of the combined two-row and six-row panels identified only two QTL regions that were common to both. In total, 108 and 107 significant marker-trait associations were identified in all six-row and all two-row breeding programs, respectively. A total of 102 and 65 marker-trait associations were specific to individual six-row and two-row breeding programs, respectively indicating that most marker-trait associations were breeding population specific. Combining datasets from different breeding program resulted in both the loss of some QTL that were apparent in the analyses of individual programs and the discovery of new QTL not identified in individual programs. This suggests that simply increasing sample size by pooling samples with different breeding history does not necessarily increase the power to detect associations. The genetic architecture of malting quality and the distribution of favorable alleles suggest strategies for marker-assisted selection and germplasm exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]