Bayesian threshold analysis of litter size in sheep

Background: Litter size at birth (LSB) is one of the most important economic traits in sheep and could be used in genetic improvement schemes for meat production. LSB is inherently a categorical trait and should be analysed with threshold models. Objective: Bayesian threshold models were used to analyze sheep LSB to estimate genetic parameters. Methods: Data was based on 7,901 LSB records from 14,968 dams and 682 sires collected from 1986 to 2012 at Makouie Sheep Breeding Station in Iran. Means of posterior distributions (MPDs) of LSB's genetic parameters were estimated, and the best-fitted models were selected using the deviance information criterion. Results: In the repeated measurement analysis, the estimated direct and maternal heritabilities, and permanent environmental effect (±SE), according to the best-fitted model (model 5), were 0.01 (0.010), 0.02 (0.014), and 0.01 (0.011), respectively. In the univariate analysis, the best estimates of direct and maternal heritabilities were 0.12 (0.064) and 0.08 (0.045), respectively. An increasing trend for direct and maternal heritabilities was observed in parity 2 (0.15 (0.082) and 0.25 (0.083), respectively). In the bivariate analysis, the best estimates of direct and maternal heritabilities for LSB were 0.03 (0.027) and 0.22 (0.041), respectively. The direct and maternal genetic correlations among parities were 0.25 (0.054) and 0.12 (0.021), respectively. Conclusions: The results showed a considerable influence of environmental factors on LSB in each parity of sheep; also, statistically different genetic parameters (p<0.05) were obtained from one parity to another, indicating the different and large influences of genetic and environmental factors for each parity.

Antecedentes: El tamaño de la camada al nacer (LSB) es inherentemente un rasgo categórico y debe analizarse con modelos de umbral. El LSB es uno de los rasgos de producción de carne más importantes en las ovejas y podría usarse en esquemas de mejora genética para la producción de carne. Objetivo: Se utilizaron modelos de umbral bayesiano para analizar el tamaño de la camada de ovejas al nacer (LSB) y estimar parámetros genéticos. Métodos: Los datos se basaron en 7.901 registros de LSB de 14.968 ovejas y 682 carneros recolectados de 1986 a 2012 en la estación de cría de ovejas Makouie en Irán. Se estimaron las medias de distribuciones posteriores (MPD) de los parámetros genéticos de LSB y se seleccionaron los modelos mejor ajustados utilizando el criterio de información de desviación. Resultados: En los análisis de medición repetida, la heredabilidad materna y directa estimada y el efecto ambiental permanente (±SE), según el modelo mejor ajustado (modelo 5), fueron 0,01 (0,010), 0,02 (0,014) y 0,01 (0,011), respectivamente. En el análisis univariado, las mejores estimaciones de heredabilidad directa y materna fueron 0,12 (0,064) y 0,08 (0,045), respectivamente. Se observó una tendencia creciente de heredabilidades directas y maternas en la paridad 2 (0,15 (0,082) y 0,25 (0,083), respectivamente). En el análisis bivariado, las mejores estimaciones de heredabilidad directa y materna para LSB fueron 0,03 (0,027) y 0,22 (0,041), respectivamente. Las correlaciones genéticas directas y maternas entre partos fueron 0,25 (0,054) y 0,12 (0,021), respectivamente. Conclusiones: Los resultados mostraron una influencia considerable de los factores ambientales sobre el LSB en cada parto de las ovejas; además, se obtuvieron parámetros genéticos estadísticamente diferentes (p<0.05) de un parto a otro, indicando las diferentes y grandes influencias de factores genéticos y ambientales para cada parto en ovejas. Los resultados de este estudio se pueden precisar aún más utilizando datos de SNP de todo el genoma sobre diferentes partes para manejar una amplia gama de problemas relacionados con la interacción del entorno genético del rasgo LSB.

Antecedentes: O tamanho da ninhada ao nascer (LSB) é inerentemente uma característica categórica e deve ser analisada com modelos de limiar. LSB é uma das características mais importantes de produção de carne em ovinos e pode ser usado em esquemas de melhoramento genético para a produção de carne. Objetivo: Modelos de limiar bayesiano foram usados para analisar o tamanho da ninhada de ovelhas ao nascer (LSB) para estimar parâmetros genéticos. Métodos: Os dados foram baseados em 7.901 registros LSB de 14.968 ovelhas e 682 carneiros coletados de 1986 a 2012 na Estação de Criação de Ovinos Makouie no Irã. Médias de distribuições posteriores (MPDs) dos parâmetros genéticos de LSB foram estimadas e os modelos mais bem ajustados foram selecionados usando o critério de informação de desvio. Resultados: Nas análises de medidas repetidas, as herdabilidades diretas e maternas estimadas e o efeito do ambiente permanente (±SE), de acordo com o modelo mais bem ajustado (modelo 5), foram 0,01 (0,010), 0,02 (0,014) e 0,01 (0,011), respectivamente. Na análise univariada, as melhores estimativas das herdabilidades direta e materna foram 0,12 (0,064) e 0,08 (0,045), respectivamente. Uma tendência crescente para as herdabilidades direta e materna foi observada na paridade 2 (0,15 (0,082) e 0,25 (0,083), respectivamente). Na análise bivariada, as melhores estimativas de herdabilidades direta e materna para LSB foram 0,03 (0,027) e 0,22 (0,041), respectivamente. As correlações genéticas diretas e maternas entre os partos foram 0,25 (0,054) e 0,12 (0,021), respectivamente. Conclusões: Os resultados mostraram uma influência considerável dos fatores ambientais na LSB em cada paridade de ovelhas; também, parâmetros genéticos estatisticamente diferentes (p<0,05) foram obtidos de uma paridade para outra, indicando as diferentes e grandes influências de fatores genéticos e ambientais para cada paridade em ovinos. Os resultados deste estudo podem ser ainda mais definidos usando dados SNPs de todo o genoma em diferentes partes para lidar com uma ampla gama de problemas relacionados à interação do ambiente genético do traço LSB.

Varying the vegetative and morphological traits of Thymus kotschyanus L. submitted to potassium silicate nanoparticles, superabsorbent hydrogel, effective microorganisms, and animal manure / Variação das características vegetativas e morfológ icas de thymus kotschyanus l. submetida a nanopartículas de silicato de potássio, o hidrogel superabsorvente, os microorgan ismos efetivos e o esterco animal

To study the effects of some new facilitators on the vegetative and morphological traits of Thymus kotschyanus, nine treatments were tested in the experimental rangeland field at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. Treatments included control, potassium silicate nanoparticles (PSN) with two levels of 500 and 1000 mg/lit, superabsorbent hydrogel (SH) with two levels of 10 and 30 g/kg, animal manure (AM) with two levels of 100, 200 g/kg, and effective microorganisms (EM) with two levels of 1 and 2%. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results of mean comparisons of treatments for Thymus kotschyanus characteristics showed that the highest amount of studied traits were observed in the treated SH 30 g/kg. These traits include plant height (19.44 cm), basal area (4.66 cm), canopy cover (99.11%), number of secondary branches (9.44) and depth of rooting (16.49 cm), aerial parts volume (26.77 cm3), root volume (17.66 cm3), aerial parts fresh weight (14.40 g), aerial parts dry weight (7.18 g), root fresh weight (3.98 g), and root dry weight (2.07 g). In general, the impact of treatments on Thymus growth traits were ranked as follows: SH 30 g/kg, PSN 1000 mg/lit, AM 200 g/kg, SH 10 g/kg, PSN 500 mg/lit, AM 100 g/kg, EM 2%, and EM 1%. In addition,the lowest plant traits were found in control. Overall, it is recommended extending the cultivation of this native medicinal plant by considering ecological conditions in each region. In addition, to promote the establishment and facilitate the growth of planted species, it is recommended using the facilitators utilized in the present work.

Para estudar os efeitos de alguns novos facilitadores sobre as características vegetativas e morfológicas de Thymus kotschyanus L., nove tratamentos foram testados no campo experimental de pastagens na Universidade de Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Irã. Os tratamentos incluíram controle, nanopartículas de silicato de potássio (PSN) com dois níveis de 500 e 1000 mg/L, hidrogel superabsorvente (SH) com dois níveis de 10 e 30 g/kg, esterco animal (AM) com dois níveis de 100 e 200 g/kg e microorganismos efetivos (EM) com dois níveis de 1 e 2%. Os dados foram submetidos a uma análise de variância unidirecional (ANOVA). Os resultados das comparações médias dos tratamentos para as características de Thymus kotschyanus L. mostraram que a maior quantidade das características estudadas foi observada no tratamento com SH 30 g/kg. Essas características incluem altura de plantas (19,44 cm), área basal (4,66 cm), cobertura de dossel (99,11%), número de ramos secundários (9,44) e profundidade de enraizamento (16,49 cm), volume de partes aéreas (26,77 cm3), volume de raiz (17,66 cm3), peso fresco de partes aéreas (14,40 g), peso seco de partes aéreas (7,18 g), peso fresco de raiz (3,98 g) e peso seco de raiz (2,07 g). Em geral, o impacto dos tratamentos nas características de crescimento de Thymus foi classificado da seguinte forma: SH 30 g/kg, PSN 1000 mg/L, AM 200 g/kg, SH 10 g/kg, PSN 500 mg/L, AM 100 g/kg, EM 2% e EM 1%. Além disso, as características mais baixas da planta foram encontradas no controle. Em geral, recomenda-se estender o cultivo desta plantamedicinal nativa considerando as condições ecológicas em cada região. Além disso, para promover o estabelecimento e facilitar o crescimento de espécies plantadas, recomenda-se utilizar os facilitadores utilizados no presente trabalho.

Variations in Phytophenol Compounds in Association with Morphological Traits in Trigonella spp. Accessions

Aims: To investigate the interrelationship between morphological traits and several phytophenol compounds as important essential oils in 23 fenugreek (Trigonella spp) accessions. Study Design: The experimental design was a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated in two growing seasons. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Natural Resources, Fars Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Shiraz, Iran in the years 2015 and 2016. Methodology: Several agronomic and morphological traits were measured in the field. Leaf tissue samples were used to extract phytophenol compositions by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. Results: The results of analysis of variance revealed that the year × accession interaction was not significant for phytophenol compounds whereas morphological traits were affected by this variance component. Great variations were found for phytophenols. Simple correlation analysis revealed that except quercetin most of phytophenols were not associated with morphological traits but multivariate statistical analysis techniques demonstrated association of these two sets of variables. Trans-ferulic acid, p-Coumaric acid, rutin and hesperidin were the most important phytophenol compounds associated with shoot fresh weight. Several phytophenols had direct and positive relation with shoot fresh weight whereas several others decreased as shoot fresh weight were increased. Quercetin was significantly associated with most of morphological attributes. Conclusion: The outcome of this study provides more options to breeders in terms of several unresolved issues in fenugreek with respect to phytophenol compositions and their associations with important morphological traits.

Evaluation of pityriasis versicolor in prisoners: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV) is a mild but recurrent superficial fungal infection of stratum corneum. Many predisposing factors such as late teen and young adulthood age, tropical and subtropical climate (and to a lesser extent temperate climate), immunosuppression, malnutrition, use of oral contraceptives, hyperhidrosis, poor hygiene and a few other factors have been proposed for this condition. Aim: Regarding these probable and possible risk factors, we felt that jail is a unique population which can be affected by this infection and therefore we decided to evaluate some aspects of this infection in this population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study in male prisoners of Bandarabbas city, 230 prisoners were randomly selected. One hundred and five (45.67%) of them were diagnosed to be infected. They were also evaluated regarding age, duration of being imprisoned, skin color, site of lesion and its pigmentation change and any concomitant clinical manifestation such as pruritis, burning or cebure. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for data analysis. Results: Mean age of infected population was 31.62 ± 8.67 years while peak incidence of PV was in 28-32 years age group. The most common color change was hypopigmentation. No case of PV hyperpigmentation was seen. We could not also observe any association between skin color and duration of being imprisoned with the frequency of infection. Conclusion: There seems to be no difference between pattern of infection in the general population and prisoners' population in the aspects evaluated.