(Abstracted from Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2018;52:563–568)The prevalence of birth disorders is estimated to be 3% for major fetal malformations, which are thought to be mainly multifactorial in ...origin, and 3% for genetic anomalies, distributed almost equally between chromosomal anomalies (1%), submicroscopic anomalies (1%), and single-gene disorders (1%) (excluding cancer-predisposing and metabolic syndromes). From their introduction in the 1970s, prenatal diagnosis programs focused primarily on the detection of Down syndrome, the most common cause of intellectual disability, and neural tube defects.
Key message
A large collection of Ethiopian sorghum landraces, characterized by agro-ecology and racial-group, was found to contain high levels of diversity and admixture, with significant SNP ...associations identified for environmental adaptation.
Sorghum
Sorghum bicolor
L. (Moench) is a major staple food crop in Ethiopia, exhibiting extensive genetic diversity with adaptations to diverse agroecologies. The environmental and climatic drivers, as well as the genomic basis of adaptation, are poorly understood in Ethiopian sorghum and are critical elements for the development of climate-resilient crops. Exploration of the genome–environment association (GEA) is important for identifying adaptive loci and predicting phenotypic variation. The current study aimed to better understand the GEA of a large collection of Ethiopian sorghum landraces (
n
= 940), characterized with genome-wide SNP markers, to investigate key traits related to adaptation to temperature, precipitation and altitude. The Ethiopian sorghum landrace collection was found to consist of 12 subpopulations with high levels of admixture (47%), representing all the major racial groups of cultivated sorghum with the exception of kafir. Redundancy analysis indicated that agroecology explained up to 10% of the total SNP variation, and geographical location up to 6%. GEA identified 18 significant SNP markers for environmental variables. These SNPs were found to be significantly enriched (
P
< 0.05) for a priori QTL for drought and cold adaptation. The findings from this study improve our understanding of the genetic control of adaptive traits in Ethiopian sorghum. Further, the Ethiopian sorghum germplasm collection provides sources of adaptation to harsh environments (cold and/or drought) that could be deployed in breeding programs globally for abiotic stress adaptation.
A simple, soft, and fast microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was used for the preparation of nanocrystalline cobalt ferrite powders from commercially-available Fe(NO3)3∙9H2O, Co(NO3)2∙6H2O, ...ammonium hydroxide, and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAH). The synthesis was conducted in a sealed-vessel microwave reactor specifically designed for synthetic applications, and the resulting products were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and HR-TEM. After a systematic study of the influence of the microwave variables (temperature, reaction time and nature of the bases), highly crystalline CoFe2O4 nanoparticles with a high uniformity in morphology and size, were directly obtained by heating at 130 °C for 20 min using the base TPAH. Dense ceramics of cobalt ferrite were prepared by non-conventional, microwave sintering of synthesized nanopowders at temperatures of 850–900 °C. The magnetic properties of both the nanopowders and the sintered specimens were determined in order to establish their feasibility as a permanent magnet.
Post-head-emergence frost in wheat and barley Frederiks, T. M.; Christopher, J. T.; Sutherland, M. W. ...
Journal of experimental botany,
06/2015, Letnik:
66, Številka:
12
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Radiant frost is a significant production constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), particularly in regions where spring-habit cereals are grown through winter, maturing ...in spring. However, damage to winter-habit cereals in reproductive stages is also reported. Crops are particularly susceptible to frost once awns or spikes emerge from the protection of the flag leaf sheath. Post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) is a problem distinct from other cold-mediated production constraints. To date, useful increased PHEF resistance in cereals has not been identified. Given the renewed interest in reproductive frost damage in cereals, it is timely to review the problem. Here we update the extent and impacts of PHEF and document current management options to combat this challenge. We clarify terminology useful for discussing PHEF in relation to chilling and other freezing stresses. We discuss problems characterizing radiant frost, the environmental conditions leading to PHEF damage, and the effects of frost at different growth stages. PHEF resistant cultivars would be highly desirable, to both reduce the incidence of direct frost damage and to allow the timing of crop maturity to be managed to maximize yield potential. A framework of potential adaptation mechanisms is outlined. Clarification of these critical issues will sharpen research focus, improving opportunities to identify genetic sources for improved PHEF resistance.
This study investigates the potential migration of plasticisers, plastic components and additives from several plastic water bottles. Compounds studied were phthalates (dimethyl phthalate, di-n-butyl ...phthalate, benzylbutyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate), bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol and bisphenol A. Polycarbonate (PC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS) plastics used in the water bottling sector were tested using three kinds of total or specific migration tests: (1) standard method UNE-EN ISO 177; (2) ultrasonic forced extraction; and (3) standard method UNE-EN
13130
-1. In addition, bottled waters contained in different plastic materials were analysed to determine the potential migration of target compounds in real conditions. In all cases, samples were solid-phase extracted using Oasis HLB 200 mg cartridges and analysed using GC-MS in scan-acquisition mode. Bisphenol A and 4-nonylphenol were detected in incubated samples, indicating that migration from food plastics can occur at the experimental conditions tested. The total daily intake was calculated according to the levels detected in bottled water and the assessment of the consumers' risk was evaluated taking into consideration toxicological and legislative values.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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