Association between morphological traits and yield components in the durra sorghums of Ethiopia

The Ethio-Sudan region is recognized as the center of origin and diversity for cultivated sorghum. All major races of the crop are widely grown in Ethiopia with durras being dominant. The objective of the present study was to determine the extent of morphological variability among the Ethiopian durras and examine the pattern of relationships among these traits and their association with yield and yield components. Two hundred accessions collected from major sorghum-growing regions of the country were evaluated during the 2007 season at two locations representing hot and dry low land and mild mid-altitude environments. A randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Data were collected on phenology, plant height, a range of leaf traits and yield components. Significant variation was observed among all traits measured. Phenological traits and plant height were significantly correlated with each other and with all leaf traits. There was positive correlation among leaf traits, and between leaf traits and yield components except thousand kernel weight (TKW) and panicle length (PL). Grain fill duration was negatively correlated with all traits except days to maturity, TKW, and leaf length. Yield components except PL and TKW were positively correlated with each other. Selection that focuses on key yield components, larger leaf area, and on enhancing the grain filling rate by reducing excessive grain fill duration may contribute to yield improvement.     

Mucosa-Associated Bacterial Diversity in Relation to Human Terminal Ileum and Colonic Biopsy Samples

Little is known about bacterial communities that colonize mucosal surfaces in the human gastrointestinal tract, but they are believed to play an important role in host physiology. The objectives of this study were to investigate the compositions of these populations in the distal small bowel and colon. Healthy mucosal tissue from either the terminal ileum (n = 6) or ascending (n = 8), transverse (n = 8), or descending colon (n = 4) of 26 patients (age, 68.5 ± 1.2 years [mean ± standard deviation]) undergoing emergency resection of the large bowel was used to study these communities. Mucosa-associated eubacteria were characterized by using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), while real-time PCR was employed for quantitative analysis. Mucosal communities were also visualized in situ using confocal laser scanning microscopy. DGGE banding profiles from all the gut regions exhibited at least 45% homology, with five descending colon profiles clustering at ca. 75% concordance. Real-time PCR showed that mucosal bacterial population densities were highest in the terminal ileum and that there were no significant differences in overall bacterial numbers in different parts of the colon. Bifidobacterial numbers were significantly higher in the large bowel than in the terminal ileum (P = 0.006), whereas lactobacilli were more prominent in the distal large intestine (P = 0.019). Eubacterium rectale (P = 0.0004) and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (P = 0.001) were dominant in the ascending and descending colon. Site-specific colonization in the gastrointestinal tract may be contributory in the etiology of some diseases of the large intestine.     

Demand for Modern Family Planning among Married Women Living with HIV in Western Ethiopia

Introduction

People living with HIV (PLHIV) have diverse family planning (FP) needs. Little is reported on FP needs among women living with HIV in Ethiopia. Thus, the objective of the study was to assess the demand for modern FP among married women living with HIV in western Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional survey was conducted on 401 married women living with HIV selected from Nekemte Referral Hospital and Health Center, Nekemte, Oromia, Ethiopia. Convenience sampling of every other eligible patient was used to recruit respondents. Data were collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire. We first calculated frequency and percentage of unmet need, met need and total demand by each explanatory variable, and performed chi-squared testing to assess for differences in groups. We then fitted logistic regression models to identify correlates of unmet need for modern FP at 95% CL.

Results

The proportion of respondents with met need for modern FP among married women living with HIV was 61.6% (30.7% for spacing and 30.9% for limiting). Demand for family planning was reported in 77.0% (38.2% for spacing and 38.8% for limiting), making unmet need for modern FP prevalent in 15.4% (7.5% for spacing and 7.9% for limiting). Whereas age 25–34 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95% confidence interval (CI))  = .397 (.204–.771)] was protective against unmet need for modern FP, not having knowledge of MTCT [AOR (95% CI)  = 2.531 (1.689–9.290)] and not discussing FP with a partner [AOR (95% CI)  = 3.616(1.869–6.996)] were associated with increased odds of unmet need for modern FP.

Conclusions

There is high unmet need for modern FP in HIV-positive married women in western Ethiopia. Health care providers and program managers at a local and international level should work to satisfy the unmet need for modern family planning.     

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as an alternative forage for dairy cows

Fenugreek is a novel forage crop in Canada that is generating interest as an alternative to alfalfa for dairy cows. To evaluate the value of fenugreek haylage relative to alfalfa haylage, six, second lactation Holstein cows (56 ± 8 days in milk), which were fitted with rumen cannulas (10 cm i.d., Bar Diamond Inc., Parma, ID, USA) were used in a replicated three × three Latin square design with 18-day periods. Diets consisting of 400 g/kg haylage, 100 g/kg barley silage and 500 g/kg concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis were fed once daily for ad libitum intake. The haylage component constituted the dietary treatments: (i) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada F70 fenugreek (F70), (ii) Crop Development Center Quatro fenugreek (QUAT) and (iii) alfalfa (ALF). DM intake (DMI), milk yield and milk protein and lactose yields were higher (P < 0.001) for cows fed ALF than fenugreek (FEN, average of F70 and QUAT). Milk fat of cows fed FEN contained lower concentrations of saturated, medium-chain and hypercholestrolemic fatty acids (FAs; P < 0.05) than that of cows fed ALF. Apparent total tract digestibility of DM and nutrients was not affected by treatments. Similarly, individual ruminal volatile FA concentrations and rumen pH (5.9) were not affected by treatments. Rumen ammonia-N concentration was higher for FEN than ALF (P < 0.001). Estimates of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) passage rate (P < 0.05) and NDF turnover rate (P < 0.001) in the rumen were higher for ALF than FEN. Our results suggest that although the digestibility of the FEN diets was not different from that of the ALF diet, fenugreek haylage has a lower feeding value than ALF for lactating dairy cows due in part to lower DMI and subsequently lower milk yield.     

Device thrombogenicity emulation: a novel method for optimizing mechanical circulatory support device thromboresistance

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices provide both short and long term hemodynamic support for advanced heart failure patients. Unfortunately these devices remain plagued by thromboembolic complications associated with chronic platelet activation--mandating complex, lifelong anticoagulation therapy. To address the unmet need for enhancing the thromboresistance of these devices to extend their long term use, we developed a universal predictive methodology entitled Device Thrombogenicity Emulation (DTE) that facilitates optimizing the thrombogenic performance of any MCS device--ideally to a level that may obviate the need for mandatory anticoagulation. DTE combines in silico numerical simulations with in vitro measurements by correlating device hemodynamics with platelet activity coagulation markers--before and after iterative design modifications aimed at achieving optimized thrombogenic performance. DTE proof-of-concept is demonstrated by comparing two rotary Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) (DeBakey vs HeartAssist 5, Micromed Houston, TX), the latter a version of the former following optimization of geometrical features implicated in device thrombogenicity. Cumulative stresses that may drive platelets beyond their activation threshold were calculated along multiple flow trajectories and collapsed into probability density functions (PDFs) representing the device 'thrombogenic footprint', indicating significantly reduced thrombogenicity for the optimized design. Platelet activity measurements performed in the actual pump prototypes operating under clinical conditions in circulation flow loops--before and after the optimization with the DTE methodology, show an order of magnitude lower platelet activity rate for the optimized device. The robust capability of this predictive technology--demonstrated here for attaining safe and cost-effective pre-clinical MCS thrombo-optimization--indicates its potential for reducing device thrombogenicity to a level that may significantly limit the extent of concomitant antithrombotic pharmacotherapy needed for safe clinical device use.     

Potentiation of the anti-tumour effect of docetaxel by conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) in breast cancer cells in vitro

Response rates of tumours to docetaxel (DOCT) are 45-60% in advanced breast cancer but problems associated with side effects, drug resistance and high costs occur. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) also have anti-tumorigenic activity that elicits similar changes in oncogene expression to DOCT and could augment DOCT efficacy. CLA isomers appear to differ in cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. Effects of two CLA isomers on cytotoxicity of DOCT in breast cancer cells (MCF-7; MDA-MB-231) in vitro were assessed. Cells were incubated up to 72 h with 40 microM each of LA or CLA isomers (cis-9, trans-10 CLA, or trans-10, cis-12 CLA) or a 50:50 isomer mix, alone or with DOCT (0-64 microM); a pilot study determined IC(50) and IC(70) concentrations. Treatments were concurrent (CLA and DOCT together) or sequential (CLA then DOCT). MTT assay determined cell viability. Trans-10, cis-12 CLA was the most effective fatty acid (P<0.001) and increased with treatment time. IC(50) and IC(70) concentrations of DOCT were determined, concurrently or sequentially, with and without fatty acids, in the two cell types. Concurrent treatment with trans-10, cis-12 CLA and DOCT augmented inhibition of cell growth in one or both cell lines (decreased IC(50) and IC(70) in MCF-7; P<0.05 but only IC(50) in MDA-MB-231; P<0.05). CLA mix reduced IC(50) and IC(70) in MDA-MB-231 (P<0.001) but not in MCF-7. Cis-9, trans-11 CLA and LA had no effect. Sequential treatment with CLAs then DOCT reduced IC(50) and IC(70) in MCF-7 but not in MDA-MB-231. The latter had increased IC(50) and IC(70) with LA treatment (P<0.05) and increased IC(70) with cis-9, trans-11 CLA (P<0.05) with sequential but not concurrent treatment. Longer pre-incubation times with trans-10, cis-12 CLA (24-72 h) elicited greater reductions in IC(50) and IC(70) in MCF-7 cells. Results show that CLA isomers augment anti-tumour effects of docetaxel in breast cancer cells and suggest possible dual treatment regimens.     

Fluid structure interaction with contact surface methodology for evaluation of endovascular carotid implants for drug-resistant hypertension treatment

Drug-resistant hypertensive patients may be treated by mechanical stimulation of stretch-sensitive baroreceptors located in the sinus of carotid arteries. To evaluate the efficacy of endovascular devices to stretch the carotid sinus such that the induced strain might trigger baroreceptors to increase action potential firing rate and thereby reduce systemic blood pressure, numerical simulations were conducted of devices deployed in subject-specific carotid models. Two models were chosen--a typical physiologic carotid and a diminutive atypical physiologic model representing a clinically worst case scenario--to evaluate the effects of device deployment in normal and extreme cases, respectively. Based on the anatomical dimensions of the carotids, two different device sizes were chosen out of five total device sizes available. A fluid structure interaction (FSI) simulation methodology with contact surface between the device and the arterial wall was implemented for resolving the stresses and strains induced by device deployment. Results indicate that device deployment in the carotid sinus of the physiologic model induces an increase of 2.5% and 7.5% in circumferential and longitudinal wall stretch, respectively, and a maximum of 54% increase in von Mises arterial stress at the sinus wall baroreceptor region. The second device, deployed in the diminutive carotid model, induces an increase of 6% in both circumferential and longitudinal stretch and a 50% maximum increase in von Mises stress at the sinus wall baroreceptor region. Device deployment has a minimal effect on blood-flow patterns, indicating that it does not adversely affect carotid bifurcation hemodynamics in the physiologic model. In the smaller carotid model, deployment of the device lowers wall shear stress at sinus by 16% while accelerating flow entering the external carotid artery branch. Our FSI simulations of carotid arteries with deployed device show that the device induces localized increase in wall stretch at the sinus, suggesting that this will activate baroreceptors and subsequently may control hypertension in drug-resistant hypertensive patients, with no consequential deleterious effects on the carotid sinus hemodynamics.     

An evaluation of inbreeding measures using a whole-genome sequenced cattle pedigree

The estimation of the inbreeding coefficient (F) is essential for the study of inbreeding depression (ID) or for the management of populations under conservation. Several methods have been proposed to estimate the realized F using genetic markers, but it remains unclear which one should be used. Here we used whole-genome sequence data for 245 individuals from a Holstein cattle pedigree to empirically evaluate which estimators best capture homozygosity at variants causing ID, such as rare deleterious alleles or loci presenting heterozygote advantage and segregating at intermediate frequency. Estimators relying on the correlation between uniting gametes (F_UNI) or on the genomic relationships (F_GRM) presented the highest correlations with these variants. However, homozygosity at rare alleles remained poorly captured. A second group of estimators relying on excess homozygosity (F_HOM), homozygous-by-descent segments (F_HBD), runs-of-homozygosity (F_ROH) or on the known genealogy (F_PED) was better at capturing whole-genome homozygosity, reflecting the consequences of inbreeding on all variants, and for young alleles with low to moderate frequencies (0.10 < . < 0.25). The results indicate that F_UNI and F_GRM might present a stronger association with ID. However, the situation might be different when recessive deleterious alleles reach higher frequencies, such as in populations with a small effective population size. For locus-specific inbreeding measures or at low marker density, the ranking of the methods can also change as F_HBD makes better use of the information from neighboring markers. Finally, we confirmed that genomic measures are in general superior to pedigree-based estimates. In particular, F_PED was uncorrelated with locus-specific homozygosity.Subject terms: Conservation genomics, Animal breeding, Inbreeding