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Abstract High-density genomic data analyzed by accurate statistical methods are of potential to enlighten past breeding practices such as selection by unraveling fixed regions. In this study, four native Turkish sheep breeds (80 samples) were genotyped via 296.097 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected by double-digest restriction site-associated DNA (ddRADseq) library preparation combined with the Illumina HiSeq X Ten instrument in order to identify genes under selection pressure. A total of 32, 136, 133, and 119 protein-coding genes were detected under selection pressure by runs of homozygosity (ROH), integrated haplotype score (iHS), the ratio of extended haplotype homozygosity (Rsb), and fixation index (FST) approaches, respectively. Of these, a total of 129 genes were identified by at least two statistical models which overlapped with a total of 52 quantitative trait loci (QTL)-associated SNPs, known to be related to fiber diameter, milk content, body weight, carcass traits, some blood parameters, and entropion. A total of six genes under selection pressure were validated by three statistical approaches five of which are of potential to be integrated into animal breeding since they were associated with wool fiber diameter (ZNF208B), behaviors related to neurocognitive development (CBX1 and NFE2L1), adaptation to high-altitude (SDK1), and anxiety causing internal stress (GSG1L). The sixth gene (COPZ1) turned out to play an important role in coping with different types of cancer in mammals. In particular, ROH analysis uncovered significant findings that the Güney Karaman (GKR) had experienced different selection practices than the Akkaraman (AKR) breed. Moreover, some genes specifically under selection in the GKR breed turned out to be associated with olfaction (OR6K6, OR6N1, OR6N2, and OR4C16), survival during the gestation period (PRR15L), and heat stress (CDK5RAP9). The results of this study imply that GKR may become genetically different from the AKR breed at the genome level due to most probably experiencing different adaptation processes occurring in raised climatic conditions. These differences should be conserved to face future challenges, while other native Turkish sheep breeds could be monitored via genome-wide high-density SNP data to obtain deeper knowledge about the effects of natural selection.

Discussing a method to produce the best CeO2 buffer layer having the characteristics of high orientation and smooth surface independent of the thickness for an YBCO film on an MgO substrate is investigated. It shows that the microwave application, it is necessary to fabricate double-sided YBCO films simultaneously by the TFA-MOD method using double-side coatings of CeO2 buffered MgO substrates.

Abstract Background To enhance and extend the knowledge about the global historical and phylogenetic relationships between Merino and Merino-derived breeds, 19 populations were genotyped with the OvineSNP50 BeadChip specifically for this study, while an additional 23 populations from the publicly available genotypes were retrieved. Three complementary statistical tests, Rsb (extended haplotype homozygosity between-populations), XP-EHH (cross-population extended haplotype homozygosity), and runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands were applied to identify genomic variants with potential impact on the adaptability of Merino genetic type in two contrasting climate zones. Results The results indicate that a large part of the Merino’s genetic relatedness and admixture patterns are explained by their genetic background and/or geographic origin, followed by local admixture. Multi-dimensional scaling, Neighbor-Net, Admixture, and TREEMIX analyses consistently provided evidence of the role of Australian, Rambouillet and German strains in the extensive gene introgression into the other Merino and Merino-derived breeds. The close relationship between Iberian Merinos and other South-western European breeds is consistent with the Iberian origin of the Merino genetic type, with traces from previous contributions of other Mediterranean stocks. Using Rsb and XP-EHH approaches, signatures of selection were detected spanning four genomic regions located on Ovis aries chromosomes (OAR) 1, 6 and 16, whereas two genomic regions on OAR6, that partially overlapped with the previous ones, were highlighted by ROH islands. Overall, the three approaches identified 106 candidate genes putatively under selection. Among them, genes related to immune response were identified via the gene interaction network. In addition, several candidate genes were found, such as LEKR1, LCORL, GHR, RBPJ, BMPR1B, PPARGC1A, and PRKAA1, related to morphological, growth and reproductive traits, adaptive thermogenesis, and hypoxia responses. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive dataset that includes most of the Merino and Merino-derived sheep breeds raised in different regions of the world. The results provide an in-depth picture of the genetic makeup of the current Merino and Merino-derived breeds, highlighting the possible selection pressures associated with the combined effect of anthropic and environmental factors. The study underlines the importance of Merino genetic types as invaluable resources of possible adaptive diversity in the context of the occurring climate changes.

Playing a key role in immunity and autoimmunity, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) contains microsatellite regions and polymorphisms associated with resistance to several diseases and thermo-physiologic characteristics in farm animals. This study aims to reveal genetic diversity in four native Turkish goat populations via MHC related gene regions including MHC-linked microsatellite markers (BF1, BM1818, BM1258, SMHCC1 and DYMS1) and MHC Class II-DRB gene. A total of 120 unrelated animals belonging to Hair (HAI), Honamlı (HNM), Kabakulak (KBK) and Norduz (NRD) from different representative populations in Antalya and Van provinces were sampled and genotyped for molecular analysis. Based on MHC-linked microsatellite markers, number of alleles ranged from 8.20 (NRD) to 8.80 (HAI and KBK) across studied goat populations. Observed heterozygosity was between 0.68 (NRD) and 0.80 (KBK), whereas expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.74 (NRD) to 0.82 (KBK) in native Turkish goats. Inbreeding coefficients were 0.04, 0.13, -0.01 and 0.09 for HAI, HNM, KBK and NRD populations, respectively. A 284 bp length PCR products belonging to MHC Class II-DRB gene region were digested separately with PstI, TaqI, BsaHI and AluI restriction endonucleases to assess polymorphism status together with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in studied goat populations. P allele frequency ranged from 0.73 (KBK) to 0.95 (NRD), while p allele frequency was between 0.05 (NRD) and 0.27 (KBK) in PstI polymorphism. The highest and lowest frequency of T allele were detected in HNM (0.80) and KBK (0.49), respectively, whereas frequency of t allele was between 0.20 (HNM) and 0.51 (KBK) in TaqI polymorphism. G and A allele frequency were between 0.16 (HNM) - 0.39 (HAI) and 0.84 (HNM) – 0.61 (HAI), respectively in BsaHI polymorphism, while three different genotypes and two alleles, which were different from results reported in the literature, were observed in AluI polymorphism. In this study, high genetic diversity and low inbreeding were detected in native Turkish goats according to MHC-linked microsatellite markers. Similarly, native Turkish goats hold enough polymorphisms in MHC Class II-DRB gene which gives opportunity to support selection strategies against tuberculosis and heat stress in the future.

Aim: Patient body composition is an important indicator of metabolic status and is associated with cancer progression. Because body composition varies between men and women, we aimed to examine the difference in clinical impact of preoperative body composition according to sex. Method: We used an integrated dataset of 559 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The association between preoperative body composition indices [body mass index (BMI), visceral to subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR) and skeletal muscle index (SMI)] and patient outcome, clinicopathological factors and preoperative inflammation and nutritional status was analysed, comparing men and women. Results: Preoperative low BMI and low SMI in men was significantly associated with unfavourable overall survival (OS) [BMI: hazard ratio (HR) 2.22, 95% CI 1.28–4.14, P = 0.004; SMI: HR 2.54, 95% CI 1.61–4.07, P < 0.001] and high VSR in women was significantly associated with unfavourable OS (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.03–3.02, P = 0.040). Additionally, low SMI in men was significantly associated with deeper tumour invasion and greater distant metastasis and high VSR in women was significantly associated with advanced age, right‐sided tumour, lower total lymphocyte count and lower albumin levels. Interestingly, low BMI in men was significantly associated with deeper tumour invasion, but also with favourable inflammation and nutritional status (lower C‐reactive protein and higher albumin). Conclusion: The clinical impact of preoperative body composition differed between men and women: SMI in men and VSR in women were good prognosticators. Our findings may provide a novel insight for CRC treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Preoperative anaemia is associated with adverse outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC). To clarify the reason for this we aimed to comprehensively assess the association of preoperative anaemia with tumour characteristics, host systemic inflammation and nutrition status, and perioperative blood transfusion. Method: We used an integrated database of 592 CRC patients. The association of preoperative anaemic subtype, calculated from haemoglobin and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume levels, with patient outcome, preoperative serum data relating to systemic inflammation and nutrition and perioperative blood transfusion was analysed. Results: Preoperative anaemia was significantly associated with poorer overall survival and relapse‐free survival (RFS); in particular microcytic anaemia had a trend to poorer RFS than other forms of anaemia (P = 0.0648). In addition, preoperative anaemia was significantly correlated with right‐sided tumours, greater depth of tumour invasion, use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, poorer prognostic nutritional index and higher modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS). Microcytic anaemia in particular had a strong association with a greater depth of tumour invasion (P = 0.0072) and higher mGPS (P = 0.0058) than other causes of anaemia. Perioperative blood transfusion for CRC patients with anaemia was associated with adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Preoperative anaemia, especially microcytic anaemia, was associated with poor patient outcomes, possibly due to poor systemic inflammatory and nutritional status, and it was not improved by perioperative blood transfusion. Our data suggest that preoperative anaemia and the anaemic subtype may serve as an easily available predictor of outcome in CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background During the Neolithic expansion, cattle accompanied humans and spread from their domestication centres to colonize the ancient world. In addition, European cattle occasionally intermingled with both indicine cattle and local aurochs resulting in an exclusive pattern of genetic diversity. Among the most ancient European cattle are breeds that belong to the so-called Podolian trunk, the history of which is still not well established. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data on 806 individuals belonging to 36 breeds to reconstruct the origin and diversification of Podolian cattle and to provide a reliable scenario of the European colonization, through an approximate Bayesian computation random forest (ABC-RF) approach. Results Our results indicate that European Podolian cattle display higher values of genetic diversity indices than both African taurine and Asian indicine breeds. Clustering analyses show that Podolian breeds share close genomic relationships, which suggests a likely common genetic ancestry. Among the simulated and tested scenarios of the colonization of Europe from taurine cattle, the greatest support was obtained for the model assuming at least two waves of diffusion. Time estimates are in line with an early migration from the domestication centre of non-Podolian taurine breeds followed by a secondary migration of Podolian breeds. The best fitting model also suggests that the Italian Podolian breeds are the result of admixture between different genomic pools. Conclusions This comprehensive dataset that includes most of the autochthonous cattle breeds belonging to the so-called Podolian trunk allowed us not only to shed light onto the origin and diversification of this group of cattle, but also to gain new insights into the diffusion of European cattle. The most well-supported scenario of colonization points to two main waves of migrations: with one that occurred alongside with the Neolithic human expansion and gave rise to the non-Podolian taurine breeds, and a more recent one that favoured the diffusion of European Podolian. In this process, we highlight the importance of both the Mediterranean and Danube routes in promoting European cattle colonization. Moreover, we identified admixture as a driver of diversification in Italy, which could represent a melting pot for Podolian cattle.