Respiratory responses of elite oarsmen, former oarsmen, and highly trained non-rowers during rowing, cycling and running

The position of the body and use of the respiratory muscles in the act of rowing may limit ventilation and thereby reduce maximal aerobic power relative to that achieved in cycling or running, in spite of the greater muscle mass involved in rowing. This hypothesis was investigated for three groups of male subjects: nine elite senior oarsmen, eight former senior oarsmen and eight highly trained athletes unskilled in rowing. The subjects performed graded exercise to maximal effort on a rowing ergometer, cycle ergometer and treadmill while respiratory minute volume and oxygen consumption were monitored continuously. The VE at a given during intense submaximal exercise (greater than 75% of maximal ) was not significantly lower in rowing compared with that in cycling and treadmill running for any group, which would suggest that submaximal rowing does not restrict ventilation. At maximal effort, and for rowing were less than those for the other types of exercise in all the groups, although the differences were not statistically significant in the elite oarsmen. These data are consistent with a ventilatory limitation to maximal performance in rowing that may have been partly overcome by training in the elite oarsmen. Alternatively, a lower maximal VE in rowing might have been an effect rather than a cause of a lower maximal if maximal was limited by the lower rate of muscle activation in rowing.     

Prospects and limits of marker imputation in quantitative genetic studies in European elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Background

The main goal of our study was to investigate the implementation, prospects, and limits of marker imputation for quantitative genetic studies contrasting map-independent and map-dependent algorithms. We used a diversity panel consisting of 372 European elite wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties, which had been genotyped with SNP arrays, and performed intensive simulation studies.

Results

Our results clearly showed that imputation accuracy was substantially higher for map-dependent compared to map-independent methods. The accuracy of marker imputation depended strongly on the linkage disequilibrium between the markers in the reference panel and the markers to be imputed. For the decay of linkage disequilibrium present in European wheat, we concluded that around 45,000 markers are needed for low cost, low-density marker profiling. This will facilitate high imputation accuracy, also for rare alleles. Genomic selection and diversity studies profited only marginally from imputing missing values. In contrast, the power of association mapping increased substantially when missing values were imputed.

Conclusions

Imputing missing values is especially of interest for an economic implementation of association mapping in breeding populations.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1366-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

玉米优良自交系愈伤组织基因枪转化的研究

利用基因枪将Ｂｔ基因导入玉米Ｅ２８幼胚愈合组织中,在潮霉素浓度为５ｍｇ／Ｌ选择培养基上,经过３５天的继代和分化２次选择及４５天继代继续３次选择后分化再生成植株,ＰＣＲ及Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ分子杂交结果表明,潮霉素基因及Ｂｔ基因已导入并整合到玉米基因组中,Ｅ２８２次选择的转化频率达到７．８％,显著地高于３次选择２．９％的转化频率,选择至再生的时间缩短２５天;自交系Ｐａｌ３７２次选择的转化频率为１３．３％     

重庆地区玉米种质资源调查与收集

"第三次全国农作物种质资源普查与收集行动"重庆项目组于2015-2016年在重庆市石柱县、巫山县、巫溪县、城口县、奉节县、武隆县、秀山县、云阳县、潼南区、合川区、江津区和万盛经济技术开发区这12个重点区县75个乡镇的181个村开展了农作物资源的系统调查与收集,并向重庆市其他区县以普查的形式进行了优异资源的征集,通过这两种方式共收集到资源1379份,其中玉米地方品种122份。本文对收集到的重庆玉米地方品种资源的分布区域、特点和特异资源进行了整理和分析。从玉米资源的水平分布来看,收集的资源多分布于重庆的东北、南部和武陵山地区,中西部地区资源分布较少;从玉米资源的垂直分布来看,收集的资源多分布于800~1000 m的中山和1200~1600 m的高山地区。收集的玉米资源籽粒多为硬粒型,籽粒颜色多为白色。收集的特异玉米地方品种中,大籽黄高抗穗粒腐病;野鸡爪根系发达,具有极强的耐瘠性;铁籽白、青壳早、金黄早食用品质良好,具有良好的淀粉加工特性。这些资源对现代玉米品种在品质、抗逆性、适应性和营养高效利用等性状方面的改良具有较强的利用价值。     

新疆野苹果果实形态与矿质元素含量多样性以及特异性状单株

对新疆野苹果伊犁霍城县大西沟、巩留县莫合乡库尔德宁和新源县交吾托海等3个种下居群果实形态多样性及生存现状进行了调查研究并结合香味物质、矿质元素含量等测定结果筛选出4株特异性状单株,旨在为探讨栽培苹果的起源演化提供基本资料,并为新疆野苹果保护利用提供科学依据。结果表明,①新疆野苹果的果实形状、大小、颜色和果柄长度等形态性状的变异系数均在10％以上,表现出较丰富的遗传多样性,3个居群的变异趋势基本一致。尤其是本文首次对巩留县莫合乡库尔德宁居群果实形态性状进行调查研究,其中单果重的变异幅度为9．95～47．47g,变异系数29．71％,形状有扁圆形、近圆形、圆形和圆锥形等,果皮颜色有绿、黄、橘黄、粉红、红和深红等,具有栽培苹果的典型特征。上述结果支持“新疆野苹果可能是栽培苹果祖先种”的结论;②对巩留县莫舍乡的新疆野苹果78个实生株系果肉组织Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、Cu、Mn6种矿质营养元素进行测定的结果表明,每种矿质元素含量单株间差异显著,变异系数在24．2％～54．0％,遗传多样性丰富,进一步选择的潜力很大;③根据新疆野苹果果实形态、香味物质和矿质元素含量等的测定结果,初步筛选出了大果型、高钙型、高锌型和大马酮型等4个特异性状单株;④调查发现,由于农田开垦、过度放牧以及苹果小吉丁虫的蔓延危害,目前伊犁野果林面积逐年减少,野苹果固有的繁育体系和遗传多样性受到不同程度的破坏。为此,本文提出了建立新疆野苹果原生境保存、异地保存、离体保存和利用保存等多层次保护保存体系的建议。     

Physical profiling of international cricket players: an investigation between bowlers and batters

This study aimed to develop a physical profile of international cricketers, and investigate if positional differences exist between bowlers and batters. Nineteen, international male cricketers, eleven bowlers (age 24.1 ± 5.2 years; height 179.73 ± 5.27 cm; weight 73.64 ± 6.65 kg), and eight batters (age 22.9 ± 3.8 years; height 180.25 ± 5.57 cm; weight 77.01 ± 8.99 kg) participated in this study. The physical test battery included; power, speed, strength and aerobic fitness tests. Batters demonstrated significantly higher scores for the countermovement jump (p < 0.03; ES = -1.55) and squat jump (p < 0.03; ES = -0.98). Furthermore, batters showed non-significant but small ES for faster 0–5 m (ES = 0.40) and 0–10 m (ES = 0.35) sprint times, superior hand grip strength (ES = -0.20), and higher Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test scores (ES = -0.46). Bowlers showed non-significant but small ES for faster 5 km time trials (ES = -0.51), lower bodyweight (ES = -0.42) and lower body fat percentage (ES = -0.30). However, intra-positional (i.e., seam and spin bowlers) and individual differences amongst players were observed. The physical profiles presented in this study can be used by coaches responsible for the physical development of cricket players to compare their existing data with. Furthermore, it is recommended that practitioners account for individual physical fitness profiles in addition to team profiles, to effectively design and evaluate tailored programs, with the aim of improving both physical and cricket performance.     

Improving wood quality in the western gulf forest tree improvement program: the problem of multiple breeding objectives

Currently, both industrial and private landowners in the Western Gulf Forest Tree Improvement Program (WGFTIP) area are compensated for their timber primarily based on the weight or volume of green wood reaching the mill gate. This places an immediate economic focus on adaptability and volume growth. However, selection for volume growth alone could result in decreased wood quality over time. Wood quality characteristics including stem straightness, wood specific gravity, and microfibril angle have either neutral or slightly unfavorable genetic correlations with volume growth in the WGFTIP loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) program. Since most WGFTIP members also consider wood quality an important selection criterion, the WGFTIP must define the best possible set of selection criteria given that (1) no single set of breeding objectives can be considered optimal for multiple products and (2) improvement in wood quality has no readily recognized economic importance in the existing market. To meet this challenge, the WGFTIP has implemented different strategies for its mainline breeding and deployment populations. In the mainline population, consistent breeding and selection criteria are used across members, while in the various deployment populations, selections are tailored to meet the specific needs of each member. The WGFTIP is also developing an elite wood quality population (WQEPop) based on backward selection. For the WQEPop to be successful, the economic importance of improved wood quality must be recognized, and landowners must be compensated for growing higher quality timber, especially if this results in reduced volume production. Improved methodology for within-family selection and for wood quality trait measurement is also important.     

A physical model of sprinting

A new physical model of all-out sprinting is presented. The first models for the applied forces in the block, drive and maintenance phases, as well as for braking forces, are proposed and are based on experimental observations. The applied forces and the aerodynamic drag forces along with the speed and position of the sprinter are calculated by the model as functions of time. The model?s unknown parameters are physically relevant and are quantitatively comparable to quantities measured experimentally. A novel mathematical method, not based on curve fitting, is proposed along with the model which requires two observable quantities, time of first step and start of maintenance phase, and four time splits. The model was validated by modeling several elite sprints from available split data, as well as measured splits for non-elite sprinters, over 100 m and 200 m distances. Excellent agreement between the split times and the simulated times was obtained and the model was shown to accurately predict 100 m times from 60 m splits for non-elite runners and 200 m times from 100 m splits for elite sprinters. The model was also applied to the study of wind and altitude effects for elite sprinters in 100 and 200 m sprints. The model presented in this paper may also be useful as a coaching tool for non-elite sprinters by enabling comparisons with elite sprinters, the identification of weaknesses (comparing phases, braking coefficient) and by allowing predictions of 100 m times based on 60 m (indoor) performances and 200 m times based on 100 m splits.     

Correlation of DNA methylation patterns to the phenotypic features of Tibetan elite alpinists in extreme hypoxia

High altitude is an extreme environment that imposes hypoxic pressure on physiological processes, and natives living at high altitudes are more adaptive in certain physiological processes. So far, epigenetic modifications under extreme changes in hypoxic pressures are relatively less understood. Here, we recruit 32 Tibetan elite alpinists (TEAs), who have successfully mounted Everest (8848 m) at least five times. Blood samples and physiological phenotypes of TEAs and 32 matched non-alpinist Tibetan volunteers (non-TEAs) are collected for analysis. Genome-wide DNA methylation analysis identifies 23,202 differentially methylated CpGs (P_adj < 0.05, |β| > 0.1) between the two groups. Some differentially methylated CpGs are in hypoxia-related genes such as PPP1R13L, MAP3K7CL, SEPTI-9, and CUL2. In addition, Gene ontology enrichment analysis reveals several inflammation-related pathways. Phenotypic analysis indicates that 12 phenotypes are significantly different between the two groups. In particular, TEAs exhibit higher blood oxygen saturation levels and lower neutrophil count, platelet count, and heart rate. For DNA methylation association analysis, we find that two CpGs (cg16687447, cg06947206) upstream of PTEN were associated with platelet count. In conclusion, extreme hypoxia exposure leads to epigenetic modifications and phenotypic alterations of TEA, providing us clues for exploring the molecular mechanism underlying changes under extreme hypoxia conditions.