Curvature Detection with an Optoelectronic Measurement System Using a Self-Made Calibration Profile

So far, no studies of material deformations (e.g., bending of sports equipment) have been performed to measure the curvature (w″) using an optoelectronic measurement system OMS. To test the accuracy of the w″ measurement with an OMS (Qualisys), a calibration profile which allowed to: (i) differentiates between three w″ (0.13˙ m−1, 0.2 m−1, and 0.4 m−1) and (ii) to explore the influence of the chosen infrared marker distances (50 mm, 110 mm, and 170 mm) was used. The profile was moved three-dimensional at three different mean velocities (vzero = 0 ms−1, vslow = 0.2 ms−1, vfast = 0.4 ms−1) by an industrial robot. For the accuracy assessment, the average difference between the known w″ of the calibration profile and the detected w″ from the OMS system, the associated standard deviation (SD) and the measuring point with the largest difference compared to the defined w″ (=maximum error) were calculated. It was demonstrated that no valid w″ can be measured at marker distances of 50 mm and only to a limited extent at 110 mm. For the 170 mm marker distance, the average difference (±SD) between defined and detected w″ was less than 1.1 ± 0.1 mm−1 in the static and not greater than −3.8 ± 13.1 mm−1 in the dynamic situations. The maximum error in the static situation was small (4.0 mm−1), while in the dynamic situations there were single interfering peaks causing the maximum error to be larger (−30.2 mm−1 at a known w″ of 0.4 m−1). However, the Qualisys system measures sufficiently accurately to detect curvatures up to 0.13˙ m−1 at a marker distance of 170 mm, but signal fluctuations due to marker overlapping can occur depending on the direction of movement of the robot arm, which have to be taken into account.

Effect of an anti-adhesion agent on vision-based assessment of cervical adhesions after thyroid surgery: randomized, placebo-controlled trial

Many patients experience cervical adhesions after thyroid surgery. To date, however, no studies have objectively measured the effects of anti-adhesion agents on cervical adhesion symptoms. This study evaluated the effects of an anti-adhesion agent on cervical adhesions after thyroid surgery, as determined using a system that measures the extent of marker movement objectively. One hundred patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo thyroid surgery with or without the anti-adhesion agent Collabarrier. Using specially manufactured recording equipment, the position of the marker on neck skin was measured before surgery, and 2 weeks, 3 months, and 9 months after surgery. Relative change in marker distance, calculated by subtracting the marker position before surgery from the marker positions 2 weeks, 3 months, and 9 months after surgery, differed significantly in the groups of patients who underwent thyroid surgery with and without the anti-adhesion agent (P < 0.05). A novel measuring system can objectively evaluate the effectiveness of a thyroid anti-adhesion agent. The anti-adhesion agent used significantly reduced adhesions compared with the control group. The trial is registered at www.cris.nih.go.kr (KCT0005745; date of registration, 08/01/2021).

Construction of a High-Density Genetic Map of Acca sellowiana (Berg.) Burret, an Outcrossing Species, Based on Two Connected Mapping Populations

Acca sellowiana, known as feijoa or pineapple guava, is a diploid, (2n = 2x = 22) outcrossing fruit tree species native to Uruguay and Brazil. The species stands out for its highly aromatic fruits, with nutraceutical and therapeutic value. Despite its promising agronomical value, genetic studies on this species are limited. Linkage genetic maps are valuable tools for genetic and genomic studies, and constitute essential tools in breeding programs to support the development of molecular breeding strategies. A high-density composite genetic linkage map of A. sellowiana was constructed using two genetically connected populations: H5 (TCO × BR, N = 160) and H6 (TCO × DP, N = 184). Genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach was successfully applied for developing single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 4,921 SNP markers were identified using the reference genome of the closely related species Eucalyptus grandis, whereas other 4,656 SNPs were discovered using a de novo pipeline. The individual H5 and H6 maps comprised 1,236 and 1,302 markers distributed over the expected 11 linkage groups, respectively. These two maps spanned a map length of 1,593 and 1,572 cM, with an average inter-marker distance of 1.29 and 1.21 cM, respectively. A large proportion of markers were common to both maps and showed a high degree of collinearity. The composite map consisted of 1,897 SNPs markers with a total map length of 1,314 cM and an average inter-marker distance of 0.69. A novel approach for the construction of composite maps where the meiosis information of individuals of two connected populations is captured in a single estimator is described. A high-density, accurate composite map based on a consensus ordering of markers provides a valuable contribution for future genetic research and breeding efforts in A. sellowiana. A novel mapping approach based on an estimation of multipopulation recombination fraction described here may be applied in the construction of dense composite genetic maps for any other outcrossing diploid species.

An ultra-high density SNP-based linkage map for enhancing the pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) genome assembly to chromosome-scale

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is a fish species with growing economic significance in the aquaculture industry. However, successful positioning of pikeperch in large-scale aquaculture requires advances in our understanding of its genome organization. In this study, an ultra-high density linkage map for pikeperch comprising 24 linkage groups and 1,023,625 single nucleotide polymorphisms markers was constructed after genotyping whole-genome sequencing data from 11 broodstock and 363 progeny, belonging to 6 full-sib families. The sex-specific linkage maps spanned a total of 2985.16 cM in females and 2540.47 cM in males with an average inter-marker distance of 0.0030 and 0.0026 cM, respectively. The sex-averaged map spanned a total of 2725.53 cM with an average inter-marker distance of 0.0028 cM. Furthermore, the sex-averaged map was used for improving the contiguity and accuracy of the current pikeperch genome assembly. Based on 723,360 markers, 706 contigs were anchored and oriented into 24 pseudomolecules, covering a total of 896.48 Mb and accounting for 99.47% of the assembled genome size. The overall contiguity of the assembly improved with a scaffold N50 length of 41.06 Mb. Finally, an updated annotation of protein-coding genes and repetitive elements of the enhanced genome assembly is provided at NCBI.

Assessment of Measurement Uncertainty in Optical Marker Tracking of High-Speed Motion

Optical marker tracking is used in research environments to understand the dynamics of moving objects of interest. Due to the complexity of the systems and the wide field of applications, there is no simple method to assess system accuracy. In this approach, a driver clubhead functioned as a rigid body and was tracked during the delivery phase of the golf swing. Marker tracking uncertainty was assessed by measures of inter-marker distance errors. The effect of swing speed on marker tracking uncertainty was tested in the range 0 m/s (static) to 50 m/s. Results demonstrated that the rigid body position in the capture volume has a large effect on marker tracking uncertainty. Positive correlations were found between marker tracking uncertainty and swing speed. Marker size and number of cameras used for marker reconstruction were optimised to provide mean marker tracking uncertainties around the tee position of below 0.13 mm.

Identification of QTL for resistance to root rot in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) with SSR linkage maps

Background: Sweetpotato root rot is a devastating disease caused by Fusarium solani that seriously endangers the yield of sweetpotato in China. Although there is currently no effective method to control the disease, breeding of resistant varieties is the most effective and economic option. Moreover, quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with resistance to root rot have not yet been reported, and the biological mechanisms of resistance remain unclear in sweetpotato. Thus, increasing our knowledge about the mechanism of disease resistance and identifying resistance loci will assist in the development of disease resistance breeding. Results: In this study, we constructed genetic linkage maps of sweetpotato using a mapping population consisting of 300 individuals derived from a cross between Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9 by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and mapped seven QTLs for resistance to root rot. In total, 484 and 573 polymorphic SSR markers were grouped into 90 linkage groups for Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9, respectively. The total map distance for Jizishu 1 was 3,974.24 cM, with an average marker distance of 8.23 cM. The total map distance for Longshu 9 was 5,163.35 cM, with an average marker distance of 9.01 cM. Five QTLs ( qRRM_1 , qRRM_2 , qRRM_3, qRRM_4 , and qRRM_5 ) were located in five linkage groups of Jizishu 1 map explaining 52.6–57.0% of the variation. Two QTLs ( qRRF_1 and qRRF_2 ) were mapped on two linkage groups of Longshu 9 explaining 57.6% and 53.6% of the variation, respectively. Furthermore, 71.4% of the QTLs positively affected the variation. Three of the seven QTLs, qRRM_3 , qRRF_1 , and qRRF_2 , were colocalized with markers IES43-5mt, IES68-6fs**, and IES108-1fs, respectively. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the construction of a genetic linkage map for purple sweetpotato (Jizishu 1) and the identification of QTLs associated with resistance to root rot in sweetpotato using SSR markers. These QTLs will have practical significance for the fine mapping of root rot resistance genes and play an important role in sweetpotato marker-assisted breeding.

Identification of QTL for resistance to root rot in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) with SSR linkage maps

Background Sweetpotato root rot is a devastating disease caused by Fusarium solani that seriously endangers the yield of sweetpotato in China. Although there is currently no effective method to control the disease, breeding of resistant varieties is the most effective and economic option. Moreover, quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with resistance to root rot have not yet been reported, and the biological mechanisms of resistance remain unclear in sweetpotato. Thus, increasing our knowledge about the mechanism of disease resistance and identifying resistance loci will assist in the development of disease resistance breeding. Results In this study, we constructed genetic linkage maps of sweetpotato using a mapping population consisting of 300 individuals derived from a cross between Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9 by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and mapped seven QTLs for resistance to root rot. In total, 484 and 573 polymorphic SSR markers were grouped into 90 linkage groups for Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9, respectively. The total map distance for Jizishu 1 was 3974.24 cM, with an average marker distance of 8.23 cM. The total map distance for Longshu 9 was 5163.35 cM, with an average marker distance of 9.01 cM. Five QTLs (qRRM_1, qRRM_2, qRRM_3, qRRM_4, and qRRM_5) were located in five linkage groups of Jizishu 1 map explaining 52.6–57.0% of the variation. Two QTLs (qRRF_1 and qRRF_2) were mapped on two linkage groups of Longshu 9 explaining 57.6 and 53.6% of the variation, respectively. Furthermore, 71.4% of the QTLs positively affected the variation. Three of the seven QTLs, qRRM_3, qRRF_1, and qRRF_2, were colocalized with markers IES43-5mt, IES68-6 fs**, and IES108-1 fs, respectively. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first report on the construction of a genetic linkage map for purple sweetpotato (Jizishu 1) and the identification of QTLs associated with resistance to root rot in sweetpotato using SSR markers. These QTLs will have practical significance for the fine mapping of root rot resistance genes and play an important role in sweetpotato marker-assisted breeding.

Construction of SSR linkage maps and identification of QTL for resistance to root rot in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)

Background: Sweetpotato root rot is a devastating disease caused by Fusarium solani that causes significant yield losses of sweetpotato in China. There is currently no effective method to control the disease. The breeding of resistant varieties is the most effective and economic way to control the disease. To date, quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to root rot have not been reported and the biological mechanisms of resistance remain unclear in sweetpotato. Thus, it is necessary and worthwhile to identify resistance loci to help develop disease-resistant varieties. Results: In this study, we constructed genetic linkage maps of sweetpotato using a mapping population consisting of 300 individuals derived from a cross between Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9 by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and mapped seven QTLs for resistance to root rot. In total, 484 and 573 polymorphic SSR markers were grouped into 90 linkage groups for Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9, respectively. The total map distance for Jizishu 1 was 3,974.24 cM, with an average marker distance of 8.23 cM. The total map distance for Longshu 9 was 5,163.35 cM, with an average marker distance of 9.01 cM. Five QTLs ( qRRM_1 , qRRM_2 , qRRM_3, qRRM_4 , and qRRM_5 ) were located in five linkage groups of Jizishu 1 map explaining 52.6-57.0% of the variation. Two QTLs ( qRRF_1 and qRRF_2 ) were mapped on two linkage groups of Longshu 9 explaining 57.6% and 53.6% of the variation. 71.4 % of the QTLs had a positive effect on the variation. Three of the seven QTLs, qRRM_3 , qRRF_1 , and qRRF_2 , were colocalized with markers IES43-5mt, IES68-6fs**, and IES108-1fs, respectively. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the construction of a genetic linkage map for purple sweetpotato (Jizishu 1) and the identification of QTLs associated with resistance to root rot in sweetpotato using SSR markers. These QTLs will have practical significance for the fine mapping of root rot resistance genes and play an important role in sweetpotato marker-assisted breeding.

Construction of SSR linkage maps and identification of QTL for resistance to root rot in sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.)

Background: Sweetpotato root rot is a devastating disease caused by Fusarium solani that causes significant yield losses of sweetpotato in China. There is currently no effective method to control the disease. The breeding of resistant varieties is the most effective and economic way to control the disease. To date, quantitative trait locus (QTL) for resistance to root rot have not been reported and the biological mechanisms of resistance remain unclear in sweetpotato. Thus, it is necessary and worthwhile to identify resistance loci to help develop disease-resistant varieties. Results: In this study, we constructed genetic linkage maps of sweetpotato using a mapping population consisting of 300 individuals derived from a cross between Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9 by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, and mapped seven QTLs for resistance to root rot. In total, 484 and 573 polymorphic SSR markers were grouped into 90 linkage groups for Jizishu 1 and Longshu 9, respectively. The total map distance for Jizishu 1 was 3,974.24 cM, with an average marker distance of 8.23 cM. The total map distance for Longshu 9 was 5,163.35 cM, with an average marker distance of 9.01 cM. Five QTLs ( qRRM_1 , qRRM_2 , qRRM_3, qRRM_4 , and qRRM_5 ) were located in five linkage groups of Jizishu 1 map explaining 52.6-57.0% of the variation. Two QTLs ( qRRF_1 and qRRF_2 ) were mapped on two linkage groups of Longshu 9 explaining 57.6% and 53.6% of the variation. 71.4 % of the QTLs had a positive effect on the variation. Three of the seven QTLs, qRRM_3 , qRRF_1 , and qRRF_2 , were colocalized with markers IES43-5mt, IES68-6fs**, and IES108-1fs, respectively. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first report on the construction of a genetic linkage map for purple sweetpotato (Jizishu 1) and the identification of QTLs associated with resistance to root rot in sweetpotato using SSR markers. These QTLs will have practical significance for the fine mapping of root rot resistance genes and play an important role in sweetpotato marker-assisted breeding.

Major QTLs for seedling traits in barley using a DArT-based linkage map

Seed vigor is considered as the most critical stage for barley production, and cultivar with high early seedling vigour (ESV) allow plants to form a canopy more quickly. In this study, the QTLs of seedling vigour related-traits were investigated using 185 RILs derived from Xena and H94061120 using DArT approach. In total, 46 significant QTLs for ESV related-traits were detected. The total map length was 1075.1 cM with an average adjacent-marker distance of 3.28 cM. Fourteen QTLs for BY were found on all chromosomes, two of them co-located with QTLs on 1H for GY. The related-traits; LL1, LL2, LA1 and LDW1 had high heritability (>60%). Meanwhile, a significant correlation was observed between GY and BY, which provide the clear image of these traits in the selection process. Our results demonstrate that a pleiotropic QTL related to SLA2, BY, and GY was linked to to the DArT markers bPb-9280 and bPb-9108 on 1H, which could be used to significantly improve the seed vigor by marker-assisted selection and possible future map-based cloning of the gene of intrest.