Five breeding populations were created by crossing elite U.S. sorghum parental lines (RTx430, RTx436, BTx631, BTx635, and Tx2903) with 'Sureño', a dual purpose grain mold resistant sorghum cultivar. Molecular markers associated with five previously-reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) for grain mold resistance originating in 'Sureño' were used to determine if their presence enhanced selection for grain mold resistance in these populations. The allelic status of 87 F4 lines, with respect to these QTL, was determined using both simple sequence repeats (SSR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. All 87 F4:5 lines and their parental lines, were evaluated for grain mold resistance in replicated trials in eight diverse environments in South and Central Texas during the summer of 2002. The effects of each allele from the grain mold resistant parent 'Sureño' were determined across and within all five populations, within individual environments, and in each population x environment combination. With a few exceptions, the QTL were effective in reducing grain mold susceptibility only within the RTx430/Sureño progeny, the identical cross that was used in the original mapping study. The results indicate that while that these alleles do confer additional grain mold resistance, they are only selectable in the original mapping population. This fact limits their potential usefulness in an applied breeding program.

A quantitative trait locus (QTL) is the location of a gene that affects a trait that is measured on a quantitative (linear) scale. Many important agricultural traits such as weight gain, milk fat content and intramuscular fat in cattle are quantitative traits. There is a need to integrate genomic sequence data with QTL data and to develop an analytical tool to visualize the data. Without integration, application of this data to agricultural enterprise productivity will be slow and inefficient. My thesis presents a web-accessible tool called the Bovine QTL Viewer developed to solve this problem. It consists of an integrated database of bovine QTL and the QTL viewer to view the QTL and their relative chromosomal position. This tool generates dynamic and interactive images and supports research in the field of genomics. For this tool, the data is modeled and the QTL viewer is developed based on the requirements and feedback of experts in the field of bovine genomics.

Vision-based positioning systems are founded primarily on a simple image processing technique of identifying various visually significant key-points in an image and relating them to a known coordinate system in a scene. Fiducial markers are used as a means of providing the scene with a number of specific key-points, or features, such that computer vision algorithms can quickly identify them within a captured image. This thesis proposes a reliable vision-based positioning system which utilizes a unique pseudo-random fiducial marker. The marker itself offers 49 distinct feature points to be used in position estimation. Detection of the designed marker occurs after an integrated process of adaptive thresholding, k-means clustering, color classification, and data verification. The ultimate goal behind such a system would be for indoor localization implementation in low cost autonomous mobile platforms.

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in bread wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) is one of the major abiotic constraints influencing the production of high quality grain. The flour milled from sprouted wheat grains has increased Ñ-amylase activity as compared to non-sprouted grain. PHS negatively affects the properties of flour with deleterious effects on bread and noodle quality. White-grained wheat is generally more susceptible to PHS damage than red-grained wheat. The objectives of this study were to identify a suitable method for phenotyping PHS resistance and to identify PHS resistance genomic regions and markers that could be used for marker-assisted selection in wheat improvement programs. A doubled haploid (DH) mapping population from a cross between two white-grained spring wheat genotypes, Argent (non-dormant) and W98616 (dormant) was used in this study. Forty DH lines (20 dormant and 20 non-dormant) were evaluated for germination frequency, Falling Number, and Ñ-amylase activity in dry and water-imbibed seeds and spikes. The germination test was the most reliable method for measurement of PHS resistance, whereas the Falling Number and Ñ-amylase activity in dry harvested seeds could not be correlated to dormancy levels. However, a positive association (r = 0.60***) was detected between germination frequency and Ñ-amylase activity in imbibed seeds. To identify the genomic regions associated with PHS resistance, a genetic linkage map with a total genome coverage of 2,577 cM was developed. The map was constructed from 913 scored markers (356 SSR, 290 AFLP, 258 DArT and 9 EST) with an average marker density of 3.7 cM/marker. Five genomic regions on chromosomes 1A, 3A, 4A, 7A and 7D were associated with PHS resistance by interval mapping and all regions were contributed by the dormant parent W98616. A total of 60 Canadian wheat cultivars and experimental lines were screened with three SSR markers, DuPw004, barc170 and wmc650, located under the major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4A. The SSR markers explained 60-75% of the total variation in germination frequency among different wheat genotypes. By using the DuPw004 marker in marker-assisted back crossing, the population size in the BC1F1 and BC2F1 generations were reduced by 41% and 59%, respectively. Thus, the 4A QTL markers have been proven useful for marker-assisted selection of PHS resistance for wheat improvement.

No description available.

Vision-based positioning systems are founded primarily on a simple image processing technique of identifying various visually significant key-points in an image and relating them to a known coordinate system in a scene. Fiducial markers are used as a means of providing the scene with a number of specific key-points, or features, such that computer vision algorithms can quickly identify them within a captured image. This thesis proposes a reliable vision-based positioning system which utilizes a unique pseudo-random fiducial marker. The marker itself offers 49 distinct feature points to be used in position estimation. Detection of the designed marker occurs after an integrated process of adaptive thresholding, k-means clustering, color classification, and data verification. The ultimate goal behind such a system would be for indoor localization implementation in low cost autonomous mobile platforms.

Avui en dia, els clínics no disposen de cap marcador tumoral eficaç per a realitzar el seguiment de pacients amb càncers de cap i coll (CCC). Objectius: Analitzar les característiques operatives de la prealbúmina (PRB) com a marcador d’activitat tumoral a pacients amb CCC en comparació amb altres marcadors utilitzats habitualment a pràctica clínica. Métodes: Es va dissenyar un estudi observacional prospectiu amb pacients atesos a l’ Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida amb diagnòstic principal de CCC. Durant el temps a estudi es varen recollir les principals característiques demogràfiques, clíniques i analítiques (inclosa la PRB) dels malalts a 3 fases diferents: al diagnòstic de la malaltia, al finalitzar el tractament i 12 mesos després. Resultats: Es van realitzar 174 determinacions de 138 pacients des de l’1 de gener del 2007 fins l’1 de febrer del 2010, l’edat mitja fou de 62,48(29-89) anys i 121 (88%) eren homes. Els diagnòstics histològics foren majoritàriament carcinomes escamosos 87 (63%).La mortalitat acumulada fou de 14,5% durant el període de seguiment. La sensibilitat, especificitat, així com els valors predictius positiu i negatiu foren 63,2%, 100%, 87% y 100% respectivament per a identificar activitat tumoral. Es va obtenir un àrea sota la curva ROC per a la PRB de 0,82 (interval de confiança de 0,74 a 0,90) que va ser superior a altres variables analitzades. Conclusions: La PRB és eficaç per a identificar activitat tumoral a pacients amb CCC i podria constituir una eina útil per a el clínic al seguiment de dits pacients. / Actualmente los clínicos no disponen de un marcador tumoral eficaz para realizar el seguimento de pacientes con cáncer de cabeza y cuello (CCC). Objetivos: Analizar las características operativas de la prealbúmina(PRB) como marcador de actividad tumoral en pacientes con CCC en comparación con otros marcadores habitualmente utilizados en la práctica clínica. Métodos: Se diseñó un estudio observacional prospectivo en pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida con diagnóstico principal de CCC. Durante el tiempo en estudio se recogieron las principales características demográficas, clínicas y analíticas (incluida la PRB) de los enfermos en 3 fases diferentes: al diagnóstico de la enfermedad, al finalizar el tratamiento y 12 meses después. Resultados. Se realizaron 174 determinaciones en 138 pacientes con CCC desde el 1 de enero del 2007 hasta el 1 de febrero del 2010. La edad media fue de 62,4 (29-89) años y 121 (88%) eran varones. El tipo histológico más frecuente fue el carcinoma escamoso (63%). La mortalidad acumulada fue del 14,5%. La sensibilidad, especificidad así como los valores predictivos positivo y negativo de la PRB para identificar actividad tumoral fue del 63,2%, 100%, 87% y 100%, respectivamente. Se obtuvo un área bajo la curva ROC para la PRB de 0,82 (IC 95%, 0,74 - 0,90), que fue superior a otras variables analizadas. Conclusiones: PRB es eficaz para identificar actividad tumoral en pacientes con CCC y podría constituir una herramienta útil para el clínico en el seguimiento de éstos enfermos. / Nowadays clinicians don’t have a useful tumoral marker to perform the follow up of patients affected of head and neck cancers (H&NC). Objectives: To Analize the operative characteristics of prealbumin (PRB) as a tumoral activity marker in those affected of head and neck cancer compared to other tumoral markers with common use in clinical practice. Methods: It was performed an observational prospective study with patiens visited in Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova de Lleida with the main diagnosis of H&NC. During study time main epidemiological, clinical and analytical (including PRB) characteristics were collected in 3 times: at diagnosis, after finishing the treatment and 12 months later. Results: 174 blood samples were obertained from 138 patients from the 1st January 2007 till the 1st February 2010. Mean age was 62,48 (29-89) years and 121 (88%) were males. Most frequent histological diagnosis was scamous carcinoma 87 cases (63%). 19 patients (14,5) died during that time. Sensitivity, Specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 63,2%, 100%, 100%, 87% respectively. The area under the curve ROC was 0,82 (CI 0,74-0,90), that was better than other parameters studied. Conclussions: Prealbumin is a useful tumoral activity marker in those affected of head and neck cancer and It could be a useful tool in these patients follow up

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) in bread wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) is one of the major abiotic constraints influencing the production of high quality grain. The flour milled from sprouted wheat grains has increased Ñ-amylase activity as compared to non-sprouted grain. PHS negatively affects the properties of flour with deleterious effects on bread and noodle quality. White-grained wheat is generally more susceptible to PHS damage than red-grained wheat. The objectives of this study were to identify a suitable method for phenotyping PHS resistance and to identify PHS resistance genomic regions and markers that could be used for marker-assisted selection in wheat improvement programs. A doubled haploid (DH) mapping population from a cross between two white-grained spring wheat genotypes, Argent (non-dormant) and W98616 (dormant) was used in this study. Forty DH lines (20 dormant and 20 non-dormant) were evaluated for germination frequency, Falling Number, and Ñ-amylase activity in dry and water-imbibed seeds and spikes. The germination test was the most reliable method for measurement of PHS resistance, whereas the Falling Number and Ñ-amylase activity in dry harvested seeds could not be correlated to dormancy levels. However, a positive association (r = 0.60***) was detected between germination frequency and Ñ-amylase activity in imbibed seeds. To identify the genomic regions associated with PHS resistance, a genetic linkage map with a total genome coverage of 2,577 cM was developed. The map was constructed from 913 scored markers (356 SSR, 290 AFLP, 258 DArT and 9 EST) with an average marker density of 3.7 cM/marker. Five genomic regions on chromosomes 1A, 3A, 4A, 7A and 7D were associated with PHS resistance by interval mapping and all regions were contributed by the dormant parent W98616. A total of 60 Canadian wheat cultivars and experimental lines were screened with three SSR markers, DuPw004, barc170 and wmc650, located under the major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 4A. The SSR markers explained 60-75% of the total variation in germination frequency among different wheat genotypes. By using the DuPw004 marker in marker-assisted back crossing, the population size in the BC1F1 and BC2F1 generations were reduced by 41% and 59%, respectively. Thus, the 4A QTL markers have been proven useful for marker-assisted selection of PHS resistance for wheat improvement.

Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur en population av potentiellt blivande föräldrar i åldrarna 20-40 år önskar att handläggning av informationen kring ultraljudsmarkörer bör se ut. Studien utformades som en pilotstudie med bekvämlighetsurval, och en enkät med parametrar fördelade på 11 scenarion utarbetades. Enkäten delades ut på föreläsningar i och omkring Stockholm i april 2012. 49 kvinnor och 36 män deltog i undersökningen. Potentiellt blivande föräldrar vill ofta få information om upptäckta softmarkers. Dock svarar en betydande del av försökspersonerna att de för vissa scenarion inte vill ta del av all tillgänglig information. Flest vill ha information vid obotliga tillstånd och när markören sitter i fostrets hjärna eller hjärta. De scenarion där flest svarar att de inte vill bli informerade är då markören sitter i fostrets tarm eller skelett samt när tillståndet är bortbart. Signifikanta skillnader uppmättes mellan olika gruppers svar. Kvinnor svarar oftare än män att de inte vill ha information om funna softmarkers. Detsamma gäller för sambos/gifta när man jämför dem med de som är singlar. De som hade barn vill oftare inte veta om att en softmarker har upptäckts jämfört med de som inte har barn. / The aim of the study was to investigate how potential new parents aged 20-40 would prefer the information about soft markers to be handled. The study was designed as a pilot study, and a questionnaire was made with parameters divided into 11 scenarios. The questionnaire was handed out at lectures in the Stockholm area in April of 2012. Answers were analyzed in SPSS with chi-2 tests. 49 women and 36 men participated in the study. Potential new parents often wish to be informed of discovered soft markers. However, a significant portion of the participants say they prefer not to know about soft markers in their foetus in some scenarios. Scenarios where the condition is incurable or where the soft marker is placed in the brain or heart of the foetus are the ones where the most people say they want the information. A soft marker placed in the foetus’ intestines or skeleton is when the most people answer that they do not wish to recieve this information. Significant differences are seen between different groups. Women more often than men say they do not want information about a discovered soft marker. The same is true for those who are married or cohabitating when compared to singles. Those who are already parents want information about a soft marker to a lower degree than those who do not have children.

The Reelin gene located on the human chromosome region 7q22, encodes an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, a ligand for ApoER2 and low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDL) Receptor, is required for mediating the correct positioning of neurons during embryonic brain development1. In the current study, first we applied RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis (IHC) analysis on tissue microarrays (TMA) to verify the Reelin expression patterns in a variety of adult tissues, suggesting additional roles for Reelin in stabling the cyto-architecture and controlling the remodeling of many organs during development. Second, we report the Reelin expression status in tumorigenesis. We discover that the loss of Reelin expression is associated with multiple types of cancers, including more than 80% of both breast and colorectal cancers. Interestingly, our study also found suspension small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines that grow as large aggregates retained high Reelin expression, whereas attached non small cell lung cancer cultures do not. That may imply the Reelin expression may be also associated with cell culture morphology and growth characteristics in the in vitro culture system for lung cancers. Our results here also demonstrated that epigenetic silencing of Reelin expression by DNA hypermethylation in tumors directly correlates with loss of Reelin expression in many cancers. Reelinmethylation was reversed and expression restored by treating tumor cell lines with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine. In conclusion, from the molecular basis of Reelingene inactivation in human cancer here, we propose that the Reelinvariation in more than 80% of breast and colorectal cancers makes it a significant novel tumor marker.