Highly effective SNP-based association mapping and management of recessive defects in livestock

The widespread use of elite sires by means of artificial insemination in livestock breeding leads to the frequent emergence of recessive genetic defects, which cause significant economic and animal welfare concerns. Here we show that the availability of genome-wide, high-density SNP panels, combined with the typical structure of livestock populations, markedly accelerates the positional identification of genes and mutations that cause inherited defects. We report the fine-scale mapping of five recessive disorders in cattle and the molecular basis for three of these: congenital muscular dystony (CMD) types 1 and 2 in Belgian Blue cattle and ichthyosis fetalis in Italian Chianina cattle. Identification of these causative mutations has an immediate translation into breeding practice, allowing marker assisted selection against the defects through avoidance of at-risk matings.     

Climatic regionalization mapping of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area,Australia

In this study,spatial analysis techniques were used to generate climatic zoning maps of the East Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA),Australia.Long term climate data were used to analyze and assess regional climatic variation by cluster analysis in a GIS environment.Based on thermal and moisture factors,four variables were chosen to develop climate zones.These variables include annual average rainfalls,annual average ETc,annual average Growing Day Degree (GDD) and daily average temperature generated from daily climate data of 36 years (1971-2006) on 12 local weather stations as the fundamental elements of regional climate characteristics.GIS-based spatial analysis models are used to map climate sub-regions from sets of climatic parameters derived from regional climate data sources.Two climate zoning schemes are presented by integration of spatial interpolation,spatial cluster analysis and climate indices methods.One scheme comes with the two climate zones of the West and the East based on spatial cluster analysis according to selected climatic variables,and the other comes with the three comprehensive hydro-thermal zones and the six hydro-thermal balance zones.     

Influence of alkaline treatment and fiber loading on the physical and mechanical properties of kenaf/polypropylene composites for variety of applications

Due to current trend and increasing interest towards natural based fiber products, Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) fibers have been used for the developments of many products. Therefore, Kenaf fiber-reinforced composites have been widely used in engineering and industrial applications. The present work deals with the fabricating and characterization of untreated and treated kenaf/polypropylene (PP)-reinforced composites. Composites of PP reinforced with treated and untreated kenaf fibers were fabricated using the injection molding technique. Different fiber loadings of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 wt% treated and untreated kenaf composites were also prepared. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed on the treated, untreated kenaf fibers and kenaf/PP composites. Moreover, the alkaline-treated kenaf composites exhibit better physical, morphological, and mechanical properties because of the compatibility of kenaf with PP. However, variations in tensile and flexural properties depend on treatment and kenaf fiber contents. The percentage increase in the mechanical properties of the treated kenaf/PP composites relative to that of PP was also measured. In addition, 40 wt% kenaf fiber loading resulted in higher mechanical properties. By contrast, kenaf/PP composite with 50% fiber loading was not successfully prepared because of improper mixing and the burning of kenaf fibers in the PP matrix. To conclude, 40% kenaf/PP composites with superior physical and mechanical properties may be used in variety of applications such as automotive, sports, construction, animal bedding, and mass production industries.     

Polyimides Based on Flexible Diamines:Synthesis, Characterization and Thermal Properties

1 Results and DiscussionTwo diamines 1,4-phenylene di(oxy-4,4′-aniline) and 4-aminophenyloxy-N-4-[(4-amiophenyloxy)benzylidene]aniline were prepared via the nucleopilic substitution reaction and were polymerized with 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BP), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (HF) , 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (PD) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) either by one step solution polymerization reaction or two step procedure. The l...     

Pyridoxine application enhances nitrate reductase activity and productivity ofVigna radiata

Summary Pyridoxine, applied to seeds before sowing or by the spraying of a standing crop of moong (Vigna radiata) significantly enhanced leaf nitrate reductase activity (NRA). Leaf NRA levels, being significantly correlated with seed yield, can be utilized for predicting crop productivity and for adopting corrective measures, if necessary, at an early growth stage.Acknowledgment. This work was partly supported by the award of a Research Fellowship to S.A.A. by the Government of India Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, which is gratefully acknowledged.     

Chromodomains are protein-RNA interaction modules

In Drosophila, compensation for the reduced dosage of genes located on the single male X chromosome involves doubling their expression in relation to their counterparts on female X chromosomes. Dosage compensation is an epigenetic process involving the specific acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 16 by the histone acetyltransferase MOF. Although MOF is expressed in both sexes, it only associates with the X chromosome in males. Its absence causes male-specific lethality. MOF is part of a chromosome-associated complex comprising male-specific lethal (MSL) proteins and at least one non-coding roX RNA. How MOF is integrated into the dosage compensation complex is unknown. Here we show that association of MOF with the male X chromosome depends on its interaction with RNA. MOF specifically binds through its chromodomain to roX2 RNA in vivo. In vitro analyses of the MOF and MSL-3 chromodomains indicate that these chromodomains may function as RNA interaction modules. Their interaction with non-coding RNA may target regulators to specific chromosomal sites.     

Loss-of-function variant in DNASE1L3 causes a familial form of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that causes substantial morbidity. As is typical for many other multifactorial disorders, much of the heritability of SLE remains unknown. We identified a rare autosomal recessive form of SLE, in which autozygome analysis revealed a null mutation in the DNASE1L3 gene. The DNASE1L3-related SLE we describe was always pediatric in onset and correlated with a high frequency of lupus nephritis. Our findings confirm the critical role of impaired clearance of degraded DNA in SLE pathogenesis.