College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

About: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Soil water. The organization has 513 authors who have published 604 publications receiving 15798 citations.

Anthropometric, lifestyle and menstrual factors influencing size-adjusted bone mineral content in a multiethnic population of premenopausal women

Abstract: We report associations of anthropometric, lifestyle and menstrual characteristics with peak bone mass in a multiethnic population of premenopausal women, ages 25-34 y. Four bone sites were examined: the spine, calcaneus, and distal and proximal radius. Body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with bone mass at the spine and calcaneus, the two most trabecular sites. The calcaneus, in addition, was positively associated with an index of calf muscle mass. The distal radius was associated with an arm muscle index, grip strength and the intensity of menstrual flow (light, moderate or heavy). Menstrual flow was also associated with spine bone mass in models not adjusted for BMI; light flow was an indicator of low distal radius or spine bone mass. We hypothesize that light flow may indicate a lack of regular ovulation. The cortical proximal radius was positively associated with milk consumption and height. The magnitude of associations varied by exposure and bone site. Among the strongest associations were BMI at the spine and calcaneus (4 and 7% differences in bone mass per standard deviation), and menstrual flow at the distal radius (a 7% difference between light and heavy menstrual flow). Ethnicity was not statistically significant in multivariable models at any of the four bone sites. However, the prevalence of exposures associated with bone mass varied substantially among the ethnic groups. Ethnic differences in bone mass may have derived indirectly through differences in exposure histories. Other influences of skeletal development may also occur indirectly. Sports activity during adolescence, for instance, was not an independent predictor of bone mass, but sports activity was associated with both strength and muscle mass. Our results suggest that many factors influence peak bone mass, and that the factors vary in importance by skeletal region, possibly related to bone composition and the local intensity of exposure.

Dietary Enteromorpha Polysaccharides Supplementation Improves Breast Muscle Yield and Is Associated With Modification of mRNA Transcriptome in Broiler Chickens.

Abstract: The present study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of Enteromorpha polysaccharides (EP) on carcass traits of broilers and potential molecular mechanisms associated with it. This study used RNA-Sequencing (RNA-Seq) to detect modification in mRNA transcriptome and the cognate biological pathways affecting the carcass traits. A total of 396 one-day-old male broilers (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to one of six dietary treatments containing EP at 0 (CON), 1000 (EP_1000), 2500 (EP_2500), 4000 (EP_4000), 5500 (EP_5500), and 7000 (EP_7000) mg/kg levels for a 35-d feeding trial with 6 replicates/treatment. At the end of the feeding trial, six birds (one bird from each replicate cage) were randomly selected from each treatment and slaughtered for carcass traits analysis. The results showed that the dietary supplementation of EP_7000 improved the breast muscle yield (p < 0.05). Subsequently, six breast muscle samples from CON and EP_7000 groups (three samples from each group) were randomly selected for RNA-Seq analysis. Based on the RNA-Seq results, a total of 154 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (p < 0.05). Among the DEGs, 112 genes were significantly upregulated, whereas 42 genes were significantly down-regulated by EP_7000 supplementation. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in immune-related signaling pathways, macromolecule biosynthetic, DNA-templated, RNA biosynthetic, and metabolic process (p < 0.05). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that the DEGs were enriched in signaling pathways related to viral infectious diseases and cell adhesion molecules (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary inclusion of EP_7000 improves the breast muscle yield, which may be involved in improving the immunity and the cell differentiation of broilers, thus promoting the muscle growth of broilers. These findings could help understand the molecular mechanisms that enhance breast muscle yield by dietary supplementation of EP in broilers.

The complete genome sequence, occurrence and host range of Tomato mottle mosaic virus Chinese isolate

Abstract: Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) is a recently identified species in the genus Tobamovirus and was first reported from a greenhouse tomato sample collected in Mexico in 2013. In August 2013, ToMMV was detected on peppers (Capsicum spp.) in China. However, little is known about the molecular and biological characteristics of ToMMV. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid identification of cDNA ends (RACE) were carried out to obtain the complete genomic sequences of ToMMV. Sap transmission was used to test the host range and pathogenicity of ToMMV. The full-length genomes of two ToMMV isolates infecting peppers in Yunnan Province and Tibet Autonomous Region of China were determined and analyzed. The complete genomic sequences of both ToMMV isolates consisted of 6399 nucleotides and contained four open reading frames (ORFs) encoding 126, 183, 30 and 18 kDa proteins from the 5’ to 3’ end, respectively. Overall similarities of the ToMMV genome sequence to those of the other tobamoviruses available in GenBank ranged from 49.6% to 84.3%. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences of full-genome nucleotide and the amino acids of its four proteins confirmed that ToMMV was most closely related to Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV). According to the genetic structure, host of origin and phylogenetic relationships, the available 32 tobamoviruses could be divided into at least eight subgroups based on the host plant family they infect: Solanaceae-, Brassicaceae-, Cactaceae-, Apocynaceae-, Cucurbitaceae-, Malvaceae-, Leguminosae-, and Passifloraceae-infecting subgroups. The detection of ToMMV on some solanaceous, cucurbitaceous, brassicaceous and leguminous plants in Yunnan Province and other few parts of China revealed ToMMV only occurred on peppers so far. However, the host range test results showed ToMMV could infect most of the tested solanaceous and cruciferous plants, and had a high affinity for the solanaceous plants. The complete nucleotide sequences of two Chinese ToMMV isolates from naturally infected peppers were verified. The tobamoviruses were divided into at least eight subgroups, with ToMMV belonging to the subgroup that infected plants in the Solanaceae. In China, ToMMV only occurred on peppers in the fields till now. ToMMV could infect the plants in family Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae by sap transmission.