A simulation study of a honeybee breeding scheme accounting for polyandry, direct and maternal effects on colony performance

Abstract Background Efficient breeding programs are difficult to implement in honeybees due to their biological specificities (polyandry and haplo-diploidy) and complexity of the traits of interest, with performances being measured at the colony scale and resulting from the joint effects of tens of thousands of workers (called direct effects) and of the queen (called maternal effects). We implemented a Monte Carlo simulation program of a breeding plan designed specifically for Apis mellifera’s populations to assess the impact of polyandry versus monoandry on colony performance, inbreeding level and genetic gain depending on the individual selection strategy considered, i.e. complete mass selection or within-family (maternal lines) selection. We simulated several scenarios with different parameter setups by varying initial genetic variances and correlations between direct and maternal effects, the selection strategy and the polyandry level. Selection was performed on colony phenotypes. Results All scenarios showed strong increases in direct breeding values of queens after 20 years of selection. Monoandry led to significantly higher direct than maternal genetic gains, especially when a negative correlation between direct and maternal effects was simulated. However, the relative increase in these genetic gains depended also on their initial genetic variability and on the selection strategy. When polyandry was simulated, the results were very similar with either 8 or 16 drones mated to each queen. Across scenarios, polyandrous mating resulted in equivalent or higher gains in performance than monoandrous mating, but with considerably lower inbreeding rates. Mass selection conferred a ~ 20% increase in performance compared to within-family selection, but was also accompanied by a strong increase in inbreeding levels (25 to 50% higher). Conclusions Our study is the first to compare the long-term effects of polyandrous versus monoandrous mating in honeybee breeding. The latter is an emergent strategy to improve specific traits, such as resistance to varroa, which can be difficult or expensive to phenotype. However, if used during several generations in a closed population, monoandrous mating increases the inbreeding level of queens much more than polyandrous mating, which is a strong limitation of this strategy.

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Impact of genotype multiply environment interaction on response to selection in sugarcane

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea9920731 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 731 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

JK Bull ◽

DM Hogarth ◽

KE Basford

Keyword(s):

Cost Effective ◽

Genotype X Environment Interaction ◽

Mass Selection ◽

Environment Interaction ◽

Selection Methods ◽

Family Selection ◽

Random Group ◽

Genotype X Environment ◽

Experiment Station ◽

The Impact

The impact of genotype x environment interaction on the response to 3 methods of selection in sugarcane was assessed over 3 locations and 3 cropyears. The 3 selection methods considered were 2 previously used procedures, mass (individual) selection using a visual appraisal of clonal performance and family selection using selection rate, and a new procedure, family selection using a net merit grade (NMG) derived from weighing family plots. Within the 2 forms of family selection, light mass selection based on a visual appraisal of clonal performance was used to reject the poorest clones. The gains from selection, cdculated as the deviation in performance of the select groups from the performance of a group of randomly chosen clones, were assessed for each of these 3 methods. All 3 selection methods gave similar gains over the random group when averaged over all locations and crop-years. Family selection based on NMG is recommended for routine use as it is the least labour-intensive and most cost-effective. Genotype x environment interaction, on both a family and clonal basis, was large enough to affect the gains made from selection. These effects provided some support for location-specific selection. Furthermore, selections based on the results from the central experiment station produced relatively poor gains when assessed over all locations and crop-years. This indicates that the experiment station may be a poor location for centralised selection. The use of at least 1 other location may provide a buffer against infrequent environmental factors rendering worthless family or clonal discrimination at any particular location.

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SUMBER-SUMBER RESILIENSI PADA REMAJA AKHIR YANG MENGALAMI KEKERASAN DARI ORANGTUA PADA MASA KANAK-KANAK

Psibernetika ◽

10.30813/psibernetika.v11i1.1161 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Devina Calista ◽

Garvin Garvin

Keyword(s):

Late Adolescents ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Parental Affection ◽

Resilience Factors ◽

Childhood Violence ◽

Past Experiences ◽

The Impact ◽

Depth Interviews

Child abuse by parents is common in households. The impact of violence on children will bring short-term effects and long-term effects that can be attributed to their various emotional, behavioral and social problems in the future; especially in late adolescence that will enter adulthood. Resilience factors increase the likelihood that adolescents who are victims of childhood violence recover from their past experiences, become more powerful individuals and have a better life. The purpose of this study was to determine the source of resilience in late adolescents who experienced violence from parents in their childhood. This research uses qualitative research methods with in-depth interviews as a method of data collection. The result shows that the three research participants have the aspects of "I Have", "I Am", and "I Can"; a participant has "I Can" aspects as a source of resilience, and one other subject has no source of resilience. The study concluded that parental affection and acceptance of the past experience have role to the three sources of resilience (I Have, I Am, and I Can) Keyword : Resilience, adolescence, violence, parents

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The Quantification of Structural Reforms in OECD Countries

10.1093/oso/9780198821878.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Balázs Égert ◽

Peter Gal

Keyword(s):

Product Market ◽

Physical Capital ◽

Oecd Countries ◽

Market Regulation ◽

Structural Reforms ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Per Capita ◽

Product Market Regulation ◽

The Impact

This chapter describes and discusses a new supply-side framework that quantifies the impact of structural reforms on per capita income in OECD countries. It presents the overall macroeconomic impacts of reforms by aggregating over the effects on physical capital, employment, and productivity through a production function. On the basis of reforms defined as observed changes in policies, the chapter finds that product market regulation has the largest overall single policy impact five years after the reforms. But the combined impact of all labour market policies is considerably larger than that of product market regulation. The paper also shows that policy impacts can differ at different horizons. The overall long-term effects on GDP per capita of policies transiting through capital deepening can be considerably larger than the five- to ten-year impacts. By contrast, the long-term impact of policies coming only via the employment rate channel materializes at a shorter horizon.

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Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (CCREOH) Cohort Study: influences of complex environmental exposures on maternal and child health in Suriname

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-034702 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. e034702

Author(s):

Wilco Zijlmans ◽

Jeffrey Wickliffe ◽

Ashna Hindori-Mohangoo ◽

Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger ◽

Paul Ouboter ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Fish Consumption ◽

Depression Scale ◽

Environmental Exposures ◽

International Standards ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact ◽

Environmental And Occupational Health

PurposeThe Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health prospective environmental epidemiologic cohort study addresses the impact of chemical and non-chemical environmental exposures on mother/child dyads in Suriname. The study determines associations between levels of environmental elements and toxicants in pregnant women, and birth outcomes and neurodevelopment in their children.ParticipantsPregnant women (N=1143) were enrolled from December 2016 to July 2019 from three regions of Suriname: Paramaribo (N=738), Nickerie (N=204) and the tropical rainforest interior (N=201). Infants (N=992) were enrolled at birth. Follow-up will take place until children are 48 months old.Findings to dateBiospecimens and questionnaire data on physiological and psychosocial health in pregnant women have been analysed. 39.1% had hair mercury (Hg) levels exceeding values considered safe by international standards. Median hair Hg concentrations in women from Paramaribo (N=522) were 0.64 µg/g hair (IQRs 0.36–1.09; range 0.00–7.12), from Nickerie (N=176) 0.73 µg/g (IQR 0.45–1.05; range 0.00–5.79) and the interior (N=178) 3.48 µg/g (IQR 1.92–7.39; range 0.38–18.20). 96.1% of women ate fish, respective consumption of the three most consumed carnivorous species, Hoplias aimara, Serrasalmus rhombeus and Cichla ocellaris, known to have high Hg levels, was 44.4%, 19.3% and 26.3%, respectively, and was greater among the interior subcohort. 89% frequently consumed the vegetable tannia, samples of which showed presence of worldwide banned pesticides. 24.9% of pregnant women had Edinburgh Depression Scale scores indicative of probable depression.Future plansFish consumption advisories are in development, especially relevant to interior women for whom fish consumption is likely to be the primary source of Hg exposure. Effects of potentially beneficial neuroprotective factors in fish that may counter neurotoxic effects of Hg are being examined. A pesticide literacy assessment in pregnant women is in progress. Neurodevelopmental assessments and telomere length measurements of the children to evaluate long-term effects of prenatal exposures to toxicant mixtures are ongoing.

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The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with autism: a survey study across three countries

Molecular Autism ◽

10.1186/s13229-021-00424-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Danna Oomen ◽

Annabel D. Nijhof ◽

Jan R. Wiersema

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Life ◽

Social Stress ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Survey Study ◽

Specific Information ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Adults With Autism ◽

Psychological Burden ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background Previous studies have reported a negative psychological and mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact is likely to be stronger for people with autism as they are at heightened risk of mental health problems and because the pandemic directly affects social functioning and everyday routines. We therefore examined COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in mental health, the impact of the pandemic on their social life and routines, satisfaction with pandemic-related information and tips, and participants’ wishes for guidance. Methods We used a mixed-method approach, collecting quantitative and qualitative survey data from adults with and without autism across three European countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and the UK (N = 1044). Results We found an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms in response to the pandemic for both the non-autism and the autism group, which was greater for adults with autism. Furthermore, adults with autism showed a greater increase in worries about their pets, work, getting medication and food, and their own safety/security. They felt more relieved from social stress, yet experienced the loss of social contact as difficult. Adults with autism also felt more stressed about the loss of routines. Pleasant changes noted by adults with autism were the increase in solidarity and reduced sensory and social overload. Adults with autism frequently reported problems with cancellation of guidance due to the pandemic and expressed their wish for (more) autism-specific information and advice. Limitations Our sample is likely to reflect some degree of selection bias, and longitudinal studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Conclusions Results highlight the psychological burden of the pandemic on adults with autism and shed light on how to support them during this COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially important now that the pandemic is likely to have a prolonged course. There is a need for accessible, affordable (continued) support from health services. Guidance may focus on the maintenance of a social network, and adjusting routines to the rapid ongoing changes. Finally, we may learn from the COVID-19 pandemic-related changes experienced as pleasant by adults with autism to build a more autism-friendly society post-pandemic.

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Morphodynamic signatures of MDA-MB-231 single cells and cell doublets undergoing invasion in confined microenvironments

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-85640-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xingjian Zhang ◽

Trevor Chan ◽

Michael Mak

Keyword(s):

Single Cell ◽

Single Cells ◽

Leading Edge ◽

Cell Group ◽

Collective State ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Cell Metastasis ◽

Geometric Confinement ◽

Short And Long Term ◽

The Impact

AbstractCancer cell metastasis is a major factor in cancer-related mortality. During the process of metastasis, cancer cells exhibit migratory phenotypes and invade through pores in the dense extracellular matrix. However, the characterization of morphological and subcellular features of cells in similar migratory phenotypes and the effects of geometric confinement on cell morphodynamics are not well understood. Here, we investigate the phenotypes of highly aggressive MDA-MB-231 cells in single cell and cell doublet (an initial and simplified collective state) forms in confined microenvironments. We group phenotypically similar single cells and cell doublets and characterize related morphological and subcellular features. We further detect two distinct migratory phenotypes, fluctuating and non-fluctuating, within the fast migrating single cell group. In addition, we demonstrate an increase in the number of protrusions formed at the leading edge of cells after invasion through geometric confinement. Finally, we track the short and long term effects of varied degrees of confinement on protrusion formation. Overall, our findings elucidate the underlying morphological and subcellular features associated with different single cell and cell doublet phenotypes and the impact of invasion through confined geometry on cell behavior.

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The impact of COVID-19 quarantine measures on the mental health of families

Journal of Social Work ◽

10.1177/14680173211011705 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 146801732110117

Author(s):

Fakir Al Gharaibeh ◽

Laura Gibson

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Social Workers ◽

Digital Media ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Strong Shock ◽

Psychosocial Interventions ◽

Snowball Sampling ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact

Summary COVID-19 is shaping all aspects of life throughout the world. The unexpected number of people who have been infected with and died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is evidence that the pandemic has affected families and societies. The strong shock wave that has resulted in the international response has focused more on medical rather than psychosocial interventions. Little has been written or studied about the impact of COVID-19 on families. This article explores the impact of the COVID-19 quarantine on the mental health of families. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with Jordanian families through snowball sampling. Findings The results show that 20 interviewees described varied and new experiences. Many of the families we interviewed displayed symptoms of mental health problems, including disrupted sleep patterns, changes in eating habits, excessive digital media use, anxiety, depression, excessive smoking, stomach aches, bedwetting among children, and persistent headaches. The study also demonstrated the psychological stress partners felt during the lockdown due to their worries about job security. They also communicated their hope that renewed family commitments might bring more stability to their relationships. During the lockdown, family members spent more time together, and it became harder to conceal any issues from each other. Applications The findings of this research demonstrate a critical need for social workers, and it is hoped that future legislation will include a role for social workers in various fields of crisis. Moreover, social workers should encourage families to ask for intervention to overcome the long-term effects that may result from COVID-19.

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Individualized embryo selection strategy developed by stacking machine learning model for better in vitro fertilization outcomes: an application study

Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology ◽

10.1186/s12958-021-00734-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Qingsong Xi ◽

Qiyu Yang ◽

Meng Wang ◽

Bo Huang ◽

Bo Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

In Vitro Fertilization ◽

Endometrial Thickness ◽

Learning System ◽

Embryo Selection ◽

Selection Strategy ◽

Application Study ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

The Impact

Abstract Background To minimize the rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF)- associated multiple-embryo gestation, significant efforts have been made. Previous studies related to machine learning in IVF mainly focused on selecting the top-quality embryos to improve outcomes, however, in patients with sub-optimal prognosis or with medium- or inferior-quality embryos, the selection between SET and DET could be perplexing. Methods This was an application study including 9211 patients with 10,076 embryos treated during 2016 to 2018, in Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China. A hierarchical model was established using the machine learning system XGBoost, to learn embryo implantation potential and the impact of double embryos transfer (DET) simultaneously. The performance of the model was evaluated with the AUC of the ROC curve. Multiple regression analyses were also conducted on the 19 selected features to demonstrate the differences between feature importance for prediction and statistical relationship with outcomes. Results For a single embryo transfer (SET) pregnancy, the following variables remained significant: age, attempts at IVF, estradiol level on hCG day, and endometrial thickness. For DET pregnancy, age, attempts at IVF, endometrial thickness, and the newly added P1 + P2 remained significant. For DET twin risk, age, attempts at IVF, 2PN/ MII, and P1 × P2 remained significant. The algorithm was repeated 30 times, and averaged AUC of 0.7945, 0.8385, and 0.7229 were achieved for SET pregnancy, DET pregnancy, and DET twin risk, respectively. The trend of predictive and observed rates both in pregnancy and twin risk was basically identical. XGBoost outperformed the other two algorithms: logistic regression and classification and regression tree. Conclusion Artificial intelligence based on determinant-weighting analysis could offer an individualized embryo selection strategy for any given patient, and predict clinical pregnancy rate and twin risk, therefore optimizing clinical outcomes.

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Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 330

Author(s):

Jean-Christophe Castella ◽

Sonnasack Phaipasith

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Rural Roads ◽

External Resources ◽

Hybrid Maize ◽

The Impact

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

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Antibiotics at birth and later antibiotic courses: effects on gut microbiota

Pediatric Research ◽

10.1038/s41390-021-01494-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sofia Ainonen ◽

Mysore V Tejesvi ◽

Md. Rayhan Mahmud ◽

Niko Paalanne ◽

Tytti Pokka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Control Group ◽

List Type ◽

Antibiotic Exposure ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

The Impact ◽

Antibiotic Courses ◽

Gut Microbiota Composition

Abstract Background Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis (IAP) is widely used, but the evidence of the long-term effects on the gut microbiota and subsequent health of children is limited. Here, we compared the impacts of perinatal antibiotic exposure and later courses of antibiotic courses on gut microbiota. Methods This was a prospective, controlled cohort study among 100 vaginally delivered infants with different perinatal antibiotic exposures: control (27), IAP (27), postnatal antibiotics (24), and IAP and postnatal antibiotics (22). At 1 year of age, we performed next-generation sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene of fecal samples. Results Exposure to the perinatal antibiotics had a clear impact on the gut microbiota. The abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum was significantly higher in the control group, whereas the relative abundance of Escherichia coli was significantly lower in the control group. The impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than exposure to later courses of antibiotics (28% of participants). Conclusions Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the gut microbiota at the age of 1 year. The timing of the antibiotic exposure appears to be the critical factor for the changes observed in the gut microbiota. Impact Infants are commonly exposed to IAP and postnatal antibiotics, and later to courses of antibiotics during the first year of life. Perinatal antibiotics have been associated with an altered gut microbiota during the first months of life, whereas the evidence regarding the long-term impact is more limited. Perinatal antibiotic exposure had a marked impact on the infant’s gut microbiota at 1 year of age. Impact of the perinatal antibiotics on the gut microbiota composition was greater than that of the later courses of antibiotics at the age of 1 year.

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