Correlations in sleeping patterns and circadian preference between spouses

Spouses may affect each other's sleeping behaviour. In 47,420 spouse-pairs from the UK Biobank, we found a weak positive phenotypic correlation between spouses for self-reported sleep duration (r=0.11; 95% CI=0.10, 0.12) and a weak inverse correlation for chronotype (diurnal preference) (r=-0.11; -0.12, -0.10), which replicated in up to 127,035 23andMe spouse-pairs. Using accelerometer data on 3,454 UK Biobank spouse-pairs, the correlation for derived sleep duration was similar to self-report (r=0.12; 0.09, 0.15). Timing of diurnal activity was positively correlated (r=0.24; 0.21, 0.27) in contrast to the inverse correlation for chronotype. In Mendelian randomization analysis, positive effects of sleep duration (mean difference=0.13; 0.04, 0.23 SD per SD) and diurnal activity (0.49; 0.03, 0.94) were observed, as were inverse effects of chronotype (-0.15; -0.26, -0.04) and snoring (-0.15; -0.27, -0.04). Findings support the notion that an individual's sleep may impact that of their partner, with implications for sleep health.

Negative association between anterior insula activation and resilience during sustained attention: an fMRI twin study

Background While previous studies have suggested that higher levels of cognitive performance may be related to greater wellbeing and resilience, little is known about the associations between neural circuits engaged by cognitive tasks and wellbeing and resilience, and whether genetics or environment contribute to these associations. Methods The current study consisted of 253 monozygotic and dizygotic adult twins, including a subsample of 187 early-life trauma-exposed twins, with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging data from the TWIN-E study. Wellbeing was measured using the COMPAS-W Wellbeing Scale while resilience was defined as a higher level of positive adaptation (higher levels of wellbeing) in the presence of trauma exposure. We probed both sustained attention and working memory processes using a Continuous Performance Task in the scanner. Results We found significant negative associations between resilience and activation in the bilateral anterior insula engaged during sustained attention. Multivariate twin modelling showed that the association between resilience and the left and right insula activation was mostly driven by common genetic factors, accounting for 71% and 87% of the total phenotypic correlation between these variables, respectively. There were no significant associations between wellbeing/resilience and neural activity engaged during working memory updating. Conclusions The findings suggest that greater resilience to trauma is associated with less activation of the anterior insula during a condition requiring sustained attention but not working memory updating. This possibly suggests a pattern of ‘neural efficiency’ (i.e. more efficient and/or attenuated activity) in people who may be more resilient to trauma.

Genetic Correlation Between Fe and Zn Biofortification and Yield Components in a Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important legume for direct human consumption worldwide. It is a rich and relatively inexpensive source of proteins and micronutrients, especially iron and zinc. Bean is a target for biofortification to develop new cultivars with high Fe/Zn levels that help to ameliorate malnutrition mainly in developing countries. A strong negative phenotypic correlation between Fe/Zn concentration and yield is usually reported, posing a significant challenge for breeders. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic relationship between Fe/Zn. We used Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) mapping and Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) analysis in three bi-parental populations that included biofortified parents, identifying genomic regions associated with yield and micromineral accumulation. Significant negative correlations were observed between agronomic traits (pod harvest index, PHI; pod number, PdN; seed number, SdN; 100 seed weight, 100SdW; and seed per pod, Sd/Pd) and micronutrient concentration traits (SdFe and SdZn), especially between pod harvest index (PHI) and SdFe and SdZn. PHI presented a higher correlation with SdN than PdN. Seventy-nine QTLs were identified for the three populations: 14 for SdFe, 12 for SdZn, 13 for PHI, 11 for SdN, 14 for PdN, 6 for 100SdW, and 9 for Sd/Pd. Twenty-three hotspot regions were identified in which several QTLs were co-located, of which 13 hotpots displayed QTL of opposite effect for yield components and Fe/Zn accumulation. In contrast, eight QTLs for SdFe and six QTLs for SdZn were observed that segregated independently of QTL of yield components. The selection of these QTLs will enable enhanced levels of Fe/Zn and will not affect the yield performance of new cultivars focused on biofortification.

Genotypic and phenotypic correlations among coffee leaf rust symptoms of Arabica coffee genotypes in North Sumatra. Indonesia

Coffee leaf rust (CLR) is a pandemic and a serious threat for coffee sustainability in many coffee producing countries. To overcome this CLR, the world’s consensus is to use of resistant cultivars which can be created through coffee breeding program. This research aimed to study genotypic and phenotypic correlations between CLR symptoms of seven arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) genotypes that were selected from different districts of North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. This experimental research using a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted at the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas HKBP Nommensen in Medan. The result of this study indicate that leaf rust severity (LRS) had a genotypic component variance of 86.8% which indicated that LRS was controlled more dominantly by plant genetics than other unknown factors. Severity indicated by LRS showed no genotypic and phenotypic correlation with dispersal indicated by branch rust incidence (BRI) and leaf rust incidence (LRI). BRI genotypically correlated with LRI. The results of this study could contribute to resistance coffee breeding for CLR.

Correlation and Path Analysis in Commercial Tenera Oil Palms Collected from Southern Thailand

Background: Tenera oil palm is widely planted as a commercial plantation crop throughout Southern Thailand. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenotypic correlation and the direct and indirect effects among bunch yields and vegetative characteristics in commercial tenera oil palms. Methods: The oil yield, fresh fruit bunch, bunch number, average bunch weight, leaf area, leaf dry weight and rachis length were recorded from six commercial tenera oil palm progenies. The data were recorded between January 2019 and June 2020 at The Chaipattana Foundation’s oil palm plantation in Trang Province, Thailand. Result: Results show that fresh fruit bunch, average bunch weight and rachis length positively correlated with oil yield (rp = 0.90**, 0.50* and 0.53, respectively), while bunch number and rachis length positively correlated with fresh fruit bunch (rp = 0.58* and 0.47*, respectively). The path analysis shows that bunch number significantly correlated with fresh fruit bunch (0.58*) and strongly directly affected it (1.11). The fresh fruit bunch significantly correlated with oil yield, (0.90**) and had a strong direct (2.08) and indirect effect (1.20). These results indicate that bunch number and fresh fruit bunch are useful variables for oil yield improvement in further breeding programs of oil palm.

Phenotypic correlation and regression of hydroponics maize fodder as influenced by seed rate, nutrient sources and spray schedule

The experiments were carried out at AICRP on Dry Land Agriculture, University of Agricultural Science, GKVK, Bengaluru to study the “Phenotypic correlation and regression of hydroponics maize fodder as influenced by seed rate, nutrient sources and spray schedule” during 2017-2018. The results of revealed significantly positive correlation between fodder yield per kg seed and yield parameter like total fresh weight of fodder per kg seed (r=0.95**), total dry weight per kg of seed (r=0.86*), growth parameters like shoot length (r= 0.90**), root length (r=0.85*) and seedling vigour (r=0.84*), physiological parameters like water use efficiency (r=0.86*), relative water content (r=0.91*) and SPAD (r=0.92**). With respect to nutrition study correlation coefficients of traits with fodder yield revealed positive correlation growth components like shoot length (r=0.90**), root length (r=0.74**), seedling vigour (r=0.86**) and dry matter accumulation (0.97**), yield parameters like Total fresh weight of fodder (r=0.96**), individual fresh weight of plant (r=0.95**) and individual dry weight of plant (r=0.97**), physiological parameters like SPAD (r=0.78**) and WUE (r=1.00**), quality parameters like nitrogen content, crude protein, crude fibre and total carbohydrates (r=0.927**, 0.927**, 0.770* and 0.905**, respectively). The study revealed significantly higher fodder yield with two combined sprays of urea and MOP each @ 1 per cent at 3rd and 10th Days after sowing (DAS) with 2.5 kg m-2 under hydroponic conditions.

Clinical Manifestations of Hyperandrogenism and Ovulatory Dysfunction Are Not Associated with His1058 C/T SNP (rs1799817) Polymorphism of Insulin Receptor Gene Tyrosine Kinase Domain in Kashmiri Women with PCOS

Background. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine metabolic disorder affecting premenopausal women. Besides primary features like anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and polycystic ovaries, women with PCOS present with multiple metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological disorders. The etiology is multifactorial and the different genetic variants are suggested to play an important role in pathogenesis. Insulin resistance is a ubiquitous finding in PCOS and SNPs in genes involved in the insulin signaling pathway are possible candidates that can explain the development of clinical manifestations of PCOS. Aim. We aimed to investigate the association of INSR His1058 C/T (rs1799817) single nucleotide polymorphism with PCOS in Kashmiri women. The genotypic-phenotypic correlation of the tested SNP with hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and metabolic markers was evaluated. Results. The allele frequency (OR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.67–1.48, χ2 = 0.01, P = 0.99 ) and genotype distribution (χ2 = 3.73, P = 0.15 ) in INSR C/T polymorphism were comparable with controls. No significant association was found with PCOS in dominant ( P = 0.194 ), recessive ( P = 0.442 ), and homo vs. het. ( P = 0.5 ) genotype models. Genotype-phenotype correlation analysis revealed that variant TT genotype had significantly higher HOMA ( P = 0.029 ) and reduced insulin sensitivity QUICKI ( P = 0.037 ) values. There was no significant variation in the prevalence of hirsutism, acne, alopecia, menstrual disturbances, acanthosis nigricans, and obesity (all P > 0.05 ) in different INSR C/T genotypes. Conclusion. The INSR C/T SNP (rs1799817) does not increase the risk of PCOS in Kashmiri women. This SNP is unlikely to play a significant role in the development and manifestation of clinical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Somatic cells count in milk and its relation with productive traits in dairy cows

The aim of the study was to determine the dependence between Test Day (TD) milk productivity traits and somatic cells count (SCC) in milk and also the influence of the factors: farm, parity and TD recording season of Holstein cows. The survey included a total of 484 lactating cows from 8 cattle farms in Bulgaria. A total of 3473 TD records including data on TD milk yield, fat %, protein % and SCC in milk were used. A statistically significant effect of the farm, recording season, and SCC on TD milk yield, fat % and protein % was reported. The highest TD milk yield was reported in spring (22.42 kg), followed by winter (21.95 kg). In winter and autumn were reported higher mean values for TD fat (3.77 and 3.84%) and TD protein (3.38 and 3.40%) content in milk. At the highest SCC – above 999 000 cells/ml, the highest average daily milk yield – 24.1 kg and the lowest fat (3.48%) was reported. With the highest and positive statistically significant value was the phenotypic correlation between TD milk yield and SCC (0.21). The correlation with TD fat % was statistically significant, with negative value (- 0.07).

Selection of Parameters (Heritability, Expected Genetic Advance, Correlations and Genetic Variances) For Introduced Hybrids of Maize Zea Mays L

A factorial experiment was conducted in Kirkuk govemorate, in which six introduced hybrids (DK 6050, Gimbson, ZP707, ZP6263, Saganto, Glorya) were used, purchased from local markets, and four chemical herbicides (Turkish Nicosulfuron, Rimsulfuron, Atrazine 80%, Nicosulfuron Chinese), as well as a comparison treatment that was purchased from the different original to study growth traits and yield its compound, the effect of each cross, estimation of variances, coefficients of variation, heritability, expected genetic improvement, genetic, environmental and phenotypic correlations for the of herbicides. The results showed that there were significant differences between hybrids in all traits except for the number of grains per ear, index of harvest, and selling %. The highest hybrid ZP707 was in the traits of plant height, ear leaf area, number of ear per plant, ear length, number of grains per row, number of grains per row, number of grains per row, ear weight, biological yield, harvest index and grain yield per plants, as it reached 183.03, 412.00, 1.14, 19.18, 36.97, 568.86, 221.27, 368.39, 59.85 and 205.45, respectively. The genetic correlation of grain yield plant was significant with all traits except the number of leaves per plant, weight of 300 grains, selling %, protein %, and hectoliter, which amounted to -0.406, - 0.385, -1.231, -0.466, -0.546 and -0.807 respectively. The phenotypic correlation of grain yield per plant was significant with all traits except for the number of leaves per plant, the weight of 300 grains, selling %, protein %, and hectoliter, as it amounted to -0.401, -0.332, -0.652, -0.424, -0.514 and -0.652, some of them were not significant and other Negative significant. The environmental correlation of grain yield with the plant was significant with some characteristics such as ear leaf area, number of ears per plant, number of rows per ear, ear weight, and biological yield, which amounted to 0.746, 0.555, 0.542, 0.663, and 0.509, respectively. The highest genetic and phenotypic difference coefficient for a number of grains per ear was 13.80 and 14.37, and the heritability was high in all traits except harvest index and grain yield per plant, which was medium, amounting to 40.15 and 50.35, and selling % and protein % was low, which reached 14.60 and 35.46 respectively, and highest expected genetic improvement for a number of grains per ear was 27.31.

General dimensions of human brain morphometry inferred from genome-wide association data

The human brain is organised into networks of interconnected regions that have highly correlated volumes. In this study, we aim to triangulate insights into brain organisation and its relationship with cognitive ability and ageing, by analysing genetic data. We estimated general genetic dimensions of human brain morphometry within the whole brain, and nine predefined canonical brain networks of interest. We did so based on principal components analysis (PCA) of genetic correlations among grey-matter volumes for 83 cortical and subcortical regions (Nparticipants = 36,778). We found that the corresponding general dimension of brain morphometry accounts for 40% of the genetic variance in the individual brain regions across the whole brain, and 47-65% within each network of interest. This genetic correlation structure of regional brain morphometry closely resembled the phenotypic correlation structure of the same regions. Applying a novel multivariate methodology for calculating SNP effects for each of the general dimensions identified, we find that general genetic dimensions of morphometry within networks are negatively associated with brain age (rg = -0.34) and profiles characteristic of age-related neurodegeneration, as indexed by cross-sectional age-volume correlations (r = -0.27). The same genetic dimensions were positively associated with a genetic general factor of cognitive ability (rg = 0.17-0.21 for different networks). We have provided a statistical framework to index general dimensions of shared genetic morphometry that vary between brain networks, and report evidence for a shared biological basis underlying brain morphometry, cognitive ability, and brain ageing, that are underpinned by general genetic factors.