Response of Egg Number to Selection of Different Genotypes of 24-bp Insertion-Deletion Locus in the Promoter of Prolactin Gene of Papua Local Chickens

This study aims to estimate the response of the number of eggs produced up to 240 days of age (EN240) to the selection of Papua local chickens (PLC) with different genotypes from the 24-bp Indel cPRLp locus. A total of 68 PLCs were taken randomly from several breeders in Manokwari as the basic population for selection (G0). Genotype identification of the 24-bp Indel cPRLp locus was performed G0. Based on the distribution of these genotypes, mating pairs were randomly formed G0-II, G0-DD and G0-ID to produce G1-II, G1-DD, and G1-Control (G0-ID offspring). Heritability of EN240 in G1-II and G1-DD populations were estimated in full-sib (single pairs mating). Individual selection based on breeding value EN240 was carried out on G1-II (♀) and G1-DD (♀) to form the selection generation (GS): GS-II (♀) and GS-DD (♀). Selection was also carried out on G1-II (♂) and G1-DD (♂) based on body weight at 240 days (BW240) to become selected GS-II (♀) and GS-DD (♀) mating partners. GS-Control was also formed through 25% random sampling from G1-Control (♂ and ♀). GS mating resulted in the second generation (G2): G2-II, G2-DD, and G2-Control. Age at first laying (AFL), EN240, and mean egg weight (EWA) in hens of G1, GS, and G2 were recorded. Response to selection for EN240 was calculated by two methods predicted selection response (Rp) and actual selection response (Rr). Both methods of calculation yield positive and high values. In actual response (Rr), PLC in II genotypes group are more responsive to the selection treatment than DD genotype group. Selection increase EN240 impact accelerate of AFL and lower the EWA, because of their negative genetic correlation.

“I want to stop using drugs. What should I do next?”

The care of individuals living with HIV who inject drugs involves a unique subset of patients. People who inject drugs have become a key driver of new cases in the United States as the opiate epidemic has impacted such a large group of the population. The proliferation of oral narcotics prompted increased use of injectable opiates as the sale of oral medications became both more expensive and difficult. This epidemic has been confluent with the development of addiction, which can be very hard to treat, as well as the impact of adherence of active addiction on antiretroviral therapy medications. The challenge to the clinician caring for people who inject drugs is to become fluent in the treatment of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, the psychosocial skills of dealing with addiction, and opiate substitution therapy. The chapter outlines approaches to care for this population that can assist with these clinical challenges as the actual selection of medications will not be unique for this population. Therefore, different approaches are being learned, not different sets of medications (except for opiate substitution treatment).

Switchable design of a frequency reconfigurable broadband whip antenna in high frequency

In this paper, the antenna reconfigurable technology is used to redesign a whip antenna in different sub-bands of high frequency (HF). According to the electrical characteristics of the antenna, on the one hand, two different radiation whip heights are designed to solve the problem of pattern up-warping in the high-frequency band; on the other hand, a common upper loading network and several different adjusting inductors and matching networks are designed for each sub-band to achieve high gain and efficiency when keeping good voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) characteristics. Five sub-bands of the 10-m HF whip antenna are reconfigured through the actual selection of radiation height, adjusting inductance, and matching network by radio frequency (RF) switch. The antenna load and matching network are optimized by grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), and integrated into the antenna body by using the printed circuit technology. The scaled prototype of 1 m frequency reconfigurable antenna is manufactured and tested, which shows that the VSWR is all <3 with an average value of 2.14; the gain is all >−2.5 dB with an average value of 3.90 dB; the efficiency is all >18.2% with an average value of 71.59%, and the patterns all keep horizontal omnidirectional without the phenomenon of up-warping.

Identification of mRNA degradome variation dependent on divergent muscle mass in different pig breeds

The search for the molecular processes associated with the development and metabolism of skeletal muscles is still actual. Selection conducted in farm animals is focused on high muscle mass because it delivers higher economic profit. The present study aimed to shed light on mRNA degradome signals that could be characteristic for molecular processes associated with an abundance of muscle mass and to identify miRNA regulatory networks controlling these processes in pigs applying next-generation-sequencing (NGS). In the study, over 10,000 degraded transcripts were identified per sample, with the highest abundance for genes encoding mitochondrial proteins (COXs, NDs, CYTB, ATP6 and ATP8). Moreover, only 26% of the miRNA targets were found whithin this degraded transcript pool, which suggested for miRNAs other molecular mechanism at different level of gene expression than mRNA degradation.On the other hand, a small share of the identified degraded transcripts associated with miRNA regulation suggests a different mechanism of mRNA degradation for identified degraded transcropts. Subsequently, most of the miRNA gene degraded targets, such as ENO3, CKM, CRYAB and ADAM19 encode proteins involved in the mascle mass control. The present study showed an interesting dependence between miRNAs and their targets. Nevertheless, the complete view of the miRNA regulatory network could be a subject of further advanced research, which would employ a miRNA transfection procedure in skeletal muscle cell cultures.

Propeller Flaps for the Anterior Trunk

Various types of propeller flaps from multiple donor sites can be used to reconstruct anterior trunk skin defects. The actual selection depends on the condition and location of the recipient site, especially if it is to be the chest or abdomen that requires attention. Before surgery commences, it is always important to use an imaging analyses such as computed tomography angiography to examine and identify perforators that could perfuse a perforator-pedicled propeller flap (PPPF), as it is the most multifaceted imaging technique. Clusters of perforators that can be commonly used for the “workhorse” PPPFs for the thoracic and abdominal regions are the internal mammary artery perforator, the musculophrenic artery perforator, and the deep inferior epigastric perforator. These perforators are reliable and large enough to support long and large propeller flaps that will cover most defects in this region, while still allowing primary donor-site closure.

Effective natural handicap criteria application for productive and sustainable agricultural land-use management in Lithuania

Since 1975, European policy has provided some kind of support to areas with specific handicaps for agricultural production, in an attempt to maintain farming activities and population levels in them. The definition of clear criteria for the selection of the so called “Less Favoured Areas” (LFAs) is challenging because of the variability of regions within Europe and the variability of farm characteristics within each region. Actual selection remains very much a deductive approach and empirical evidence is scarce. This study investigates the relationship between the criteria of specific natural handicaps used for the delineation of intermediate LFAs (2014–2020) in Lithuania and generic farming condition and status. Results confirm the negative effects of selected natural handicaps on farm economic status and productive land use but raise some concerns regarding the idoneity of some of them, opening a way for their improvement.

phydms: software for phylogenetic analyses informed by deep mutational scanning

It has recently become possible to experimentally measure the effects of all amino-acid point mutations to proteins using deep mutational scanning. These experimental measurements can inform site-specific phylogenetic substitution models of gene evolution in nature. Here we describe software that efficiently performs analyses with such substitution models. This software, phydms, can be used to compare the results of deep mutational scanning experiments to the selection on genes in nature. Given a phylogenetic tree topology inferred with another program, phydms enables rigorous comparison of how well different experiments on the same gene capture actual natural selection. It also enables re-scaling of deep mutational scanning data to account for differences in the stringency of selection in the lab and nature. Finally, phydms can identify sites that are evolving differently in nature than expected from experiments in the lab. As data from deep mutational scanning experiments become increasingly widespread, phydms will facilitate quantitative comparison of the experimental results to the actual selection pressures shaping evolution in nature.

phydms: Software for phylogenetic analyses informed by deep mutational scanning

BackgroundThe evolution of protein-coding genes can be quantitatively modeled using phylogenetic methods. Recently, it has been shown that high-throughput experimental measurements of mutational effects made via deep mutational scanning can inform site-specific phylogenetic substitution models of gene evolution. However, there is currently no software tailored for such analyses.ResultsWe describe software that efficiently performs phylogenetic analyses with substitution models informed by deep mutational scanning. This software, phydms, is ∼100-fold faster than existing programs that accommodate such substitution models. It can be used to compare the results of deep mutational scanning experiments to the selection on genes in nature. For instance, phydms enables rigorous comparison of how well different experiments on the same gene describe natural selection. It also enables the re-scaling of deep mutational scanning data to account for differences in the stringency of selection in the lab and nature. Finally, phydms can identify sites that are evolving differently in nature than expected from experiments in the lab.ConclusionsThe phydms software makes it easy to use phylogenetic substitution models informed by deep mutational scanning experiments. As data from such experiments becomes increasingly widespread, phydms will facilitate quantitative comparison of the experimental results to the actual selection pressures shaping evolution in nature.

Do Urology Male Patients Prefer Same-Gender Urologist?

There are several studies on patients’ preference for same-gender physicians, especially female preference for same-gender gynecologists. Data regarding the preferences of urology patients, of whom the majority are males, are scarce. The objective of this study is to assess provider gender preference among urology patients. One hundred and nineteen consecutive men (mean age 57.6 years) who attended a urology clinic in one university-affiliated medical center were prospectively enrolled. A self-accomplished 26-item anonymous questionnaire was used to assess patients’ preferences in selecting their urologist. Of the 119 patients, 51 (42.8%) preferred a male urologist. Patients exhibited more same-gender preference for physical examination (38.3%), or urological surgery (35.3%), than for consultation (24.4%). Most patients (97%) preferred a same-gender urologist because they felt less embarrassed. Four patient characteristics were identified to be significantly associated with preference for a male urologist: religious status, country of origin, marital status, and a prior management by a male urologist. Of these, religious status was the most predictive parameter for choosing a male urologist. The three most important factors that affected actual selection, however, were professional skills (84.6%), clinical experience (72.4%), and medical knowledge (61%), rather than physician gender per se. Many male patients express gender bias regarding their preference for urologist. However, professional skills of the clinician are considered to be more important factors when it comes to actually making a choice.

Comparing Vertical and Horizontal Screening Methods for Pharmacy Resident Candidates Before Interviews

Purpose: Prior studies have examined autobiographical screening methods among medical student applicants, and demonstrated halo bias with single-rater scoring; though others have questioned its practical significance. Comparing with traditional vertical screening method, we evaluated a horizontal method for initial screening of Post-Graduate Year-1 (PGY-1) pharmacy practice resident candidate applications prior to interviews. Methods: Our screening rubric for PGY-1 pharmacy residency candidates consisted of eight criteria, each scored using a 5-point Likert scale. During the 2014 residency recruitment season, two single-evaluators (A&B) scored all eight criteria and their scores were summed into total application scores (vertical method). Meanwhile two other evaluators (C&D) each evaluated only two criteria for all applications. The four combined-evaluators (A-D) scores, on two criteria each, were summed together into total application scores (horizontal method). For statistical comparison of single-evaluator and combined-evaluators, inter-component reliabilities were analyzed for each evaluator, while inter-rater consistency was also examined. For practical significance, actual selection differences were reviewed. Results:Forty-six applications were evaluated to determine 24 invitations for on-site interviews. Inter-component reliability differed among evaluatorA, evaluatorB, combined-evaluators A-D (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.74, 0.73, 0.58, respectively; lower better). Among raters, inter-rater consistency was excellent (0.86 by intraclass correlation, p Conclusion: Halo bias was seen with the single-evaluators (vertical method); two interview invitations were negatively impacted. For pharmacy resident screening, a horizontal screening method appears to be rigorous in promoting fairness for applicants. As pharmacy residency applications continue to grow, a fair and time-efficient method of screening seems imperative. Type: Original Research