With 2 tables ABSTRACT: The Best Linear Unbiased Prediction (BLUP) methodology, which is widely used in animal and forestry genetic evaluation, can also be applied to annual crop breeding. The ...objective of this study was to compare the accuracy and efficiency of among‐ and within‐half‐sib family selection through the use of single‐ and multi‐trait BLUP, and BLUE/anova methods. Expansion volume and yield data from two recurrent selection cycles of a popcorn population were analyzed. Progeny tests were designed as a lattice. To maximize accuracy of the prediction of breeding values, the BLUP analyses included phenotypic values of the two cycles. All BLUP analyses were performed using the ASReml software. The multi‐trait BLUP method demonstrated greater accuracy and efficiency in family selection. In the case of within‐family selection, both accuracy and efficiency of multi‐ and single‐trait BLUP methods were equivalent. The selection efficiency of the multi‐trait BLUP was dependent on the estimated genetic parameters, particularly the difference between the genetic and environmental correlations of the traits.
A stress–strain analysis studying flexural toppling failure in a phyllite mine slope at the Quadrilátero Ferrífero, MG, Brazil is presented in this work. A numerical approach, the discrete element ...method, capable of representing discontinuous rock mass is used. The modeling of a discontinuous rock mass is complex and problematic. On theother hand, it better represents failure along discontinuities than do continuum techniques such as the finite element method. There are few studies using discontinuous modeling techniques to perform parametric and back-analyses of these types of mechanisms in weak and fractured rock mass. Therefore, the analyses herein can contribute to a better understanding of the geomechanical behavior of discontinuities, especially their stiffness. Also, the influence of in situ stresses in the failure mechanism is studied.
Gravitational wave (GW) events have several possible progenitors, including black hole mergers, cosmic string cusps, supernovae, neutron star mergers, and black hole-neutron star mergers. A subset of ...GW events are expected to produce electromagnetic (EM) emission that, once detected, will provide complementary information about their astrophysical context. To that end, the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration has partnered with other teams to send GW candidate alerts so that searches for their EM counterparts can be pursued. One such partner is the Dark Energy Survey (DES) and Dark Energy Camera (DECam) Gravitational Waves Program (DES-GW). Situated on the 4m Blanco Telescope at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, DECam is an ideal instrument for optical followup observations of GW triggers in the southern sky. The DES-GW program performs subtraction of new search images with respect to preexisting overlapping images to select candidate sources. Due to the short decay timescale of the expected EM counterparts and the need to quickly eliminate survey areas with no counterpart candidates, it is critical to complete the initial analysis of each night's images within 24 hours. The computational challenges in achieving this goal include maintaining robust I/O pipelines during the processing, being able to quickly acquire template images of new sky regions outside of the typical DES observing regions, and being able to rapidly provision additional batch computing resources with little advance notice. We will discuss the search area determination, imaging pipeline, general data transfer strategy, and methods to quickly increase the available amount of batch computing. We will present results from the first season of observations from September 2015 to January 2016 and conclude by presenting improvements planned for the second observing season.
The present study was developed to respond to the need for an increase in crop yield in the mountain region of Caparaó (southern Espírito Santo State, Brazil), an area of traditional coffee ...production. This study aimed to analyze the diversity and characterize the crop yield of genotypes of Coffea arabica L. with potential for cultivation in high plant density systems. In addition, it also aimed to quantify the expression of agronomic traits in this cultivation system and provide information on the genotypes with the highest cultivation potential in the studied region. The experiment followed a randomized block design with 16 genotypes, four repetitions, and six plants per experimental plot. Plant spacing was 2.00 x 0.60 m, with a total of 8333 plants per hectare, representing a high-density cultivation system. Coffee plants were cultivated until the start of their reproductive phenological cycles and were evaluated along four complete reproductive cycles. Genotypes with high crop yield and beverage quality, short canopy, and rust resistance were selected. C. arabica genotypes showed variability in almost all characteristics. It was possible to identify different responses among genotypes grown in a high plant density cultivation system. Although the chlorophyll a content was similar among genotypes, the genotypes Acauã, Araponga MG1, Sacramento MG1, Tupi, and Catuaí IAC 44 showed a higher chlorophyll b content than the other genotypes. Among these, Sacramento MG1 also showed high leafiness and growth of vegetative structures, whereas Araponga MG1, Pau-Brasil MG1, and Tupi showed high fruit production. In addition, Araponga MG1 had also a higher and more stable crop yield over the years.
Bromeliads are greatly represented in the Atlantic Forest, although many species are threatened with extinction owing to habitat fragmentation and intense extraction for ornamental purposes. ...Therefore, it is necessary to conduct studies generating knowledge about genetic diversity and the distribution of this diversity among and within natural populations to establish conservation strategies. These studies can be performed with the use of molecular markers. Molecular markers are advantageous for studies of natural populations, for conservation programs, and to aid in properly classifying plant species. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity among and within natural populations of Pitcairnia flammea, occurring in three fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the southern State of Espírito Santo through the use of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. DNA samples from 55 individuals were amplified with 18 ISSR primers, generating 180 bands, 159 of which were polymorphic. The Shannon genetic diversity index ranged from 0.348 to 0.465, with an average of 0.412. The Bayesian approach for the molecular data indicated the existence of two genetic groups. Analysis of molecular variance indicated the existence of 90.3% diversity within the population and 9.74% among populations. The amount of genetic differentiation of populations was moderate (0.0974), indicating that gene flow rates may be enough to counteract the effects of genetic drift. Greater genetic variability found in population B indicates that this area is an important source of genetic variability.
Purpose
HyperCKemia is a persistent rise in serum creatine kinase (CK) levels of at least 1.5 times the normal value, as evidenced by a minimum of two measurements at 30-day intervals. One of the ...neuromuscular diseases associated with hyperCKemia is malignant hyperthermia (MH). This study investigated the susceptibility to MH in patients with hyperCKemia via
in vitro
contracture testing (IVCT) and a search of mutations in the
RYR1
gene.
Methods
Patients in an MH centre were followed from 1997-2012, and their epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed, including IVCT, muscle histochemical analysis, and next-generation sequencing molecular analysis.
Results
There were nine patients (eight male) in our study with a mean (SD) age of 33 (12) yr. Four patients were Caucasian and five were African Brazilian. Most complained about myalgia or cramps, but all had a normal neurological examination. They persistently presented with hyperCKemia from three months to ten years, with a mean (SD) CK value of 788 (507) IU·L
−1
ranging from 210-1,667 IU·L
−1
. These values corresponded to a 1.5- to nine-fold increase in the normal value (mean increase, 3.7-fold). Six patients were MH susceptible (MHS) after a positive IVCT. Histopathological muscular analysis disclosed unspecified changes in four of the MHS patients. Mitochondrial proliferation was observed in the other two MHS patients and in three MH negative patients. No pathogenic mutations were identified in the
RYR1
gene in the five patients evaluated.
Conclusion
When investigating patients with idiopathic hyperCKemia, susceptibility to MH should be taken into account, and guidance should be offered to prevent anesthetic complications in the family.
Highlights • This article offers a version in Portuguese of the worldwide used North Star Ambulatory Assessment. • Our results confirm the reliability and validity of the instrument. • This study ...provides a comprehensive analysis of North Star Ambulatory Assessment construct validity.
This paper discusses the importance of block catchment areas at the base of highway rock slopes through problem conceptualisation and application of techniques for designing these structures. ...Rockfall catchment is defined as the area between the edge of the highway pavement and the base of the rock slope, which may also coincide with the protection ditch at the base cut. In terms of rockfall, this structure has the function of preventing this process from reaching the highway surface. Road projects should include prices to build these structures, which also have the important function of surface drainage.
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