Sequencing of 15 622 Gene-bearing BACs Clarifies the Gene-dense Regions of the Barley Genome

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) possesses a large and highly repetitive genome of 5.1 Gb that has hindered the development of a complete sequence. In 2012, the International Barley Sequencing Consortium released a resource integrating whole-genome shotgun sequences with a physical and genetic framework. However, because only 6278 bacterial artificial chromosome (BACs) in the physical map were sequenced, fine structure was limited. To gain access to the gene-containing portion of the barley genome at high resolution, we identified and sequenced 15 622 BACs representing the minimal tiling path of 72 052 physical-mapped gene-bearing BACs. This generated ~1.7 Gb of genomic sequence containing an estimated 2/3 of all Morex barley genes. Exploration of these sequenced BACs revealed that although distal ends of chromosomes contain most of the gene-enriched BACs and are characterized by high recombination rates, there are also gene-dense regions with suppressed recombination. We made use of published map-anchored sequence data from Aegilops tauschii to develop a synteny viewer between barley and the ancestor of the wheat D-genome. Except for some notable inversions, there is a high level of collinearity between the two species. The software HarvEST:Barley provides facile access to BAC sequences and their annotations, along with the barley–Ae. tauschii synteny viewer. These BAC sequences constitute a resource to improve the efficiency of marker development, map-based cloning, and comparative genomics in barley and related crops. Additional knowledge about regions of the barley genome that are gene-dense but low recombination is particularly relevant

Effects of a partially supervised conditioning programme in cystic fibrosis: an international multi-centre randomised controlled trial (ACTIVATE-CF): study protocol

Physical activity (PA) and exercise have become an accepted and valued component of cystic fibrosis (CF) care. Regular PA and exercise can positively impact pulmonary function, improve physical fitness, and enhance health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, motivating people to be more active is challenging. Supervised exercise programs are expensive and labour intensive, and adherence falls off significantly once supervision ends. Unsupervised or partially supervised programs are less costly and more flexible, but compliance can be more problematic. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of a partially supervised exercise intervention along with regular motivation on forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) at 6 months in a large international group of CF patients. Secondary endpoints include patient reported HRQoL, as well as levels of anxiety and depression, and control of blood sugar.; It is planned that a total of 292 patients with CF 12 years and older with a FEV1 ≥ 35% predicted shall be randomised. Following baseline assessments (2 visits) patients are randomised into an intervention and a control group. Thereafter, they will be seen every 3 months for assessments in their centre for one year (4 follow-up visits). Along with individual counselling to increase vigorous PA by at least 3 h per week on each clinic visit, the intervention group documents daily PA and inactivity time and receives a step counter to record their progress within a web-based diary. They also receive monthly phone calls from the study staff during the first 6 months of the study. After 6 months, they continue with the step counter and web-based programme for a further 6 months. The control group receives standard care and keeps their PA level constant during the study period. Thereafter, they receive the intervention as well.; This is the first large, international multi-centre study to investigate the effects of a PA intervention in CF with motivational feedback on several health outcomes using modern technology. Should this relatively simple programme prove successful, it will be made available on a wider scale internationally.; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01744561 ; Registration date: December 6, 2012

Применение детандер-генератора для повышения ресурсоэффективности газораспределительной станции магистрального газопровода

Объектом исследования является: Газораспределительная станция "Урожай-20" магистрального газопровода "П-К" в Томской области. Цель работы: Выбор наиболее оптимального детандер–генераторного агрегата для использования потенциала природного газа при редуцировании на газораспределительной станции. В процессе исследования были проведены: аналитический обзор детандер–генераторных агрегатов применимых для газораспределительных станций различной производительности, изучение характеристик и специфики эксплуатации газораспределительной станции; выбор оптимального детандер–генераторного агрегата для использования его на ГРС-Ч "Урожай-20; проведение расчетов мощности и рентабельности применения детандер–генераторного агрегата.Object of the study: gas distribution station "Urozhay-20" of the main gas pipeline "P-K" in the of the Tomsk region. Purpose – Selection of the most optimal expander-generator set for using natural gas capabilities while reducing at a gas distribution station. The study included: analytical review of expander-generator sets applicable for gas distribution stations of various capacities, study of characteristics and specific features of operation of the gas distribution station, selection of the optimal expander-generator set for its use on GDS "Urozhai-20, carrying out of calculations of capacity and profitability of application of the expander-generator set, adoption of the most acceptable schemes for the introduction of an expander-generator set at AGRS "Urozhay-20"

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good

Reduced exercise capacity in pediatric post-COVID syndrome correlates with time post infection and does not affect quality of life

ObjectivesPost-COVID syndrome (PCS) in children and adolescents is reported less frequently and typically of shorter duration than in adults but can be associated with significant morbidity and reduction of quality of life (QoL). In pediatric PCS, data on exercise capacity (EC) are rare.MethodsThis prospective, monocentric, cross-sectional study, analyzed EC, QoL, and clinical parameters in pediatric patients with PCS (n = 29/53 girls, 14.4 ± 2.5 years). A total of 210.0 ± 104.2 days passed between SARS-CoV-2 infection and study-related examinations.ResultsThe main PCS symptoms were reduced subjective EC (92.4%), shortness of breath (64.2%), concentration difficulties (60.4%), and breathlessness (47.2%). In patients with PCS, EC was 76.6 ± 16.0% VO2peakpredicted and maximum workload 76.0 ± 17.9% norm. Overall QoL (Kindl-R total score) was 89.2 ± 17.3% norm, self-assessed physical wellbeing was 60.7 ± 30.4% norm, and emotional wellbeing was 85.1 ± 23.2% norm. We grouped the PCS patients into deconditioned vs. conditioned (threshold 80% of VO2peakpredicted EC). No group differences in age, bodyweight, height, muscle mass, fat percentage, BMI, lung function, neuropsychological symptoms, and wellbeing were found. While maximum workloads and VO2peak differed significantly according to grouping, lactate levels and self-assessed exertion were comparable. However, elapsed time after SARS-COV-2 infection was significantly shorter in deconditioned vs. conditioned patients (mean 198.5 ± 120.7 vs. 230.8 ± 62.6 days; p = 0.021).ConclusionPediatric PCS is associated with reduced EC, which is significantly impacted by time post SARS-CoV-2 infection, but does not appear to affect the QoL or self-esteem of the patients in this study

Influence of Officially Ordered Restrictions during the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Patients after Kidney Transplantation in a Telemedicine Based Aftercare Program—A KTx360° Sub Study

Guidelines recommend a healthy lifestyle and regularly physical activity (PA) after kidney transplantation (KTx). The KTx360° program is a multicenter, multisectoral, multimodal, telemedicine-based follow-up care program. Effects of the first COVID-19 wave restrictions on health-related quality of life and PA of supervised KTx360° patients were evaluated using an online questionnaire. Six hundred and fifty-two KTx360° patients were contacted via email and were asked to complete the Freiburg questionnaire of physical activity and the Short form 12 Health Survey (SF-12) online. Pre-pandemic and lockdown data were compared in 248 data sets. While sporting activity decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, basic and leisure activity increased, resulting in increased overall activity. The physical component scale of the SF-12 was in the low normal range before as well as during the pandemic, with a small but significant increase during the pandemic. The mental component scale showed normal values before and during pandemic with a small but statistically significant decrease. Our study supports the effectiveness of a telemedicine based program for KTx patient care in maintaining PA and quality of life during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, further research and observation during the ongoing pandemic are required

Observation of γγ → ττ in proton-proton collisions and limits on the anomalous electromagnetic moments of the τ lepton

The production of a pair of τ leptons via photon–photon fusion, γγ → ττ, is observed for the f irst time in proton–proton collisions, with a significance of 5.3 standard deviations. This observation is based on a data set recorded with the CMS detector at the LHC at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138 fb−1. Events with a pair of τ leptons produced via photon–photon fusion are selected by requiring them to be back-to-back in the azimuthal direction and to have a minimum number of charged hadrons associated with their production vertex. The τ leptons are reconstructed in their leptonic and hadronic decay modes. The measured fiducial cross section of γγ → ττ is σfid obs = 12.4+3.8 −3.1 fb. Constraints are set on the contributions to the anomalous magnetic moment (aτ) and electric dipole moments (dτ) of the τ lepton originating from potential effects of new physics on the γττ vertex: aτ = 0.0009+0.0032 −0.0031 and |dτ| &lt; 2.9×10−17ecm (95% confidence level), consistent with the standard model

Measurement of associated W plus charm production in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

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