Trait value Dotaz Zobrazit nápovědu
Functional diversity (FD) is an important component of biodiversity that quantifies the difference in functional traits between organisms. However, FD studies are often limited by the availability of trait data and FD indices are sensitive to data gaps. The distribution of species abundance and trait data, and its transformation, may further affect the accuracy of indices when data is incomplete. Using an existing approach, we simulated the effects of missing trait data by gradually removing data from a plant, an ant and a bird community dataset (12, 59, and 8 plots containing 62, 297 and 238 species respectively). We ranked plots by FD values calculated from full datasets and then from our increasingly incomplete datasets and compared the ranking between the original and virtually reduced datasets to assess the accuracy of FD indices when used on datasets with increasingly missing data. Finally, we tested the accuracy of FD indices with and without data transformation, and the effect of missing trait data per plot or per the whole pool of species. FD indices became less accurate as the amount of missing data increased, with the loss of accuracy depending on the index. But, where transformation improved the normality of the trait data, FD values from incomplete datasets were more accurate than before transformation. The distribution of data and its transformation are therefore as important as data completeness and can even mitigate the effect of missing data. Since the effect of missing trait values pool-wise or plot-wise depends on the data distribution, the method should be decided case by case. Data distribution and data transformation should be given more careful consideration when designing, analysing and interpreting FD studies, especially where trait data are missing. To this end, we provide the R package "traitor" to facilitate assessments of missing trait data.
Association mapping of the central part of porcine chromosome 2 harboring QTLs for carcass and meat quality traits was performed with 17 gene-tagged SNPs located between 44.0 and 77.5 Mb on a physical map (Sscrofa10.2) in Italian Large White pigs. For the analyzed animals records of estimated breeding values for average daily gain, back fat thickness, lean cuts, ham weight, feed conversion ratio, pH1, pHu, CIE L*, CIE a*, CIE b* and drip loss were available. A significant QTL for fat deposition (adjusted P=0.0081) and pH1 (adjusted P=0.0972) to MYOD1 at position 44.4 Mb and a QTL for growth and meatiness (adjusted P=0.0238-0.0601) to UBL5 at position 68.9 Mb were mapped. These results from association mapping are much more accurate than those from linkage mapping and facilitate further search for position candidate genes and causative mutations needed for application of markers through marker assisted selection.
- MeSH
- chov MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- jednonukleotidový polymorfismus MeSH
- koncentrace vodíkových iontů MeSH
- kvalita jídla * MeSH
- lokus kvantitativního znaku * MeSH
- mapování chromozomů metody MeSH
- maso analýza MeSH
- MyoD Protein genetika MeSH
- prasata genetika MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Current plant--herbivore interaction models and experiments with mammalian herbivores grazing plant monocultures show the superiority of a maximizing forage quality strategy (MFQ) over a maximizing intake strategy (MI). However, there is a lack of evidence whether grazers comply with the model predictions under field conditions. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS: We assessed diet selection of sheep (Ovis aries) using plant functional traits in productive mesic vs. low-productivity dry species-rich grasslands dominated by resource-exploitative vs. resource-conservative species respectively. Each grassland type was studied in two replicates for two years. We investigated the first grazing cycle in a set of 288 plots with a diameter of 30 cm, i.e. the size of sheep feeding station. In mesic grasslands, high plot defoliation was associated with community weighted means of leaf traits referring to high forage quality, i.e. low leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and high specific leaf area (SLA), with a high proportion of legumes and the most with high community weighted mean of forage indicator value. In contrast in dry grasslands, high community weighted mean of canopy height, an estimate of forage quantity, was the best predictor of plot defoliation. Similar differences in selection on forage quality vs. quantity were detected within plots. Sheep selected plants with higher forage indicator values than the plot specific community weighted mean of forage indicator value in mesic grasslands whereas taller plants were selected in dry grasslands. However, at this scale sheep avoided legumes and plants with higher SLA, preferred plants with higher LDMC while grazing plants with higher forage indicator values in mesic grasslands. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that MFQ appears superior over MI only in habitats with a predominance of resource-exploitative species. Furthermore, plant functional traits (LDMC, SLA, nitrogen fixer) seem to be helpful correlates of forage quality only at the community level.
- MeSH
- biomasa MeSH
- býložravci fyziologie MeSH
- dieta MeSH
- druhová specificita MeSH
- ekosystém * MeSH
- kvantitativní znak dědičný * MeSH
- lineární modely MeSH
- lipnicovité fyziologie MeSH
- ovce fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Climate change is expected to modify plant assemblages in ways that will have major consequences for ecosystem functions. How climate change will affect community composition will depend on how individual species respond, which is likely related to interspecific differences in functional traits. The extraordinary plasticity of some plant traits is typically neglected in assessing how climate change will affect different species. In the Mongolian steppe, we examined whether leaf functional traits under ambient conditions and whether plasticity in these traits under altered climate could explain climate-induced biomass responses in 12 co-occurring plant species. We experimentally created three probable climate change scenarios and used a model selection procedure to determine the set of baseline traits or plasticity values that best explained biomass response. Under all climate change scenarios, plasticity for at least one leaf trait correlated with change in species performance, while functional leaf-trait values in ambient conditions did not. We demonstrate that trait plasticity could play a critical role in vulnerability of species to a rapidly changing environment. Plasticity should be considered when examining how climate change will affect plant performance, species' niche spaces, and ecological processes that depend on plant community composition.
- MeSH
- biologické modely MeSH
- biomasa * MeSH
- druhová specificita MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- klimatické změny * MeSH
- listy rostlin růst a vývoj fyziologie MeSH
- pastviny * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Mongolsko MeSH
The purpose of our study was to develop an approximation procedure to estimate reliabilities of single-step genomic BLUP breeding values in a test-day model for routine evaluation of milk yield in a dairy cattle population. Input data consisted of 20,220,047 first-, second-, and third-lactation test-day milk yield records of 1,126,102 Czech Holstein cows (each lactation being considered a separate trait), with 1,844,679 animals in the pedigree file and with genomic data from 2,236 bulls. Evaluation was according to a multi-lactation model. The procedure was based on the effective number of records per animal from milk recording as well as from genomic and pedigree relationships. Traits were analyzed individually, and genetic covariances among traits were subsequently taken into account. The use of genomic information increased average reliability in young bulls from 0.276 to 0.505, but increased reliability in proven bulls only from 0.828 to 0.855. The reliabilities of genomic breeding values in multi-trait evaluation for first, second and third lactations, respectively, averaged 0.652, 0.673, and 0.633 for young bulls and 0.907, 0.894, and 0.852 for proven bulls. For an index combining all 3 lactations, the average reliability of a single-step genomic BLUP prediction was 0.712 and 0.925 for younger and proven bulls, respectively. Increased reliability due to genotyping in the population of all genotyped and nongenotyped animals was very small (<0.01) because of the small proportion of genotyped animals in the population.
- MeSH
- chov metody MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- genom * MeSH
- laktace * MeSH
- mlékárenství metody MeSH
- mléko sekrece MeSH
- modely genetické MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- skot genetika fyziologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- skot genetika fyziologie MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Súhrn Úvod: Potravinová alergia je chronické ochorenie, ktoré si vyžaduje veľké úsilie a môže mať za následok nielen zníženú kvalitu života, ale aj zvýšený pocit úzkosti a stresu. Štúdia skúma súvislosť medzi potravinovou alergiou, kvalitou života (HRQL) a úrovňou úzkostlivosti u dospelých jedincov s potravinovou alergiou. Sekundárnym cieľom bolo overiť spoľahlivosť slovenskej verzie dotazníka FAQLQ-AF, ktorý bol použitý pre slovenskú populáciu po prvýkrát. Metódy: Výskumnú vzorku tvorilo 167 dospelých osôb s potravinovou alergiou vo veku 19-69 rokov (M vek = 37). Na meranie úzkostlivosti bol použitý dotazník STAI X2 a na meranie kvality života súvisiacej so zdravím bol použitý dotazník FAQLQ-AF, ktorý dosiahol vysoké hodnoty reliability. Výsledky: Vo výsledkoch sa preukázal mierny, pozitívny vzťah medzi úzkostlivosťou a HRQL meraný dotazníkom FAQLQ-AF. Jednoduchá lineárna regresná analýza preukázala, že úroveň črty úzkosti je prediktorom úrovne HRQL a nárast úrovne úzkostlivosti znižuje úroveň HRQL. Faktory ako tetanický syndróm, komorbidity, predpísané lieky a odporúčané voľnopredajné lieky sú spojené s úrovňou úzkostlivosti. Súvisiace ochorenia a zoskupenia symptómov súvisia s úrovňou HRQL. Závery: Dospelí jedinci s potravinovou alergiou, ktorí sú viac úzkostliví, majú vyššiu pravdepodobnosť horšej kvality života. Včasná intervencia a prevencia, optimalizácia manažmentu liečby by mali byť nutnou súčasťou psychologickej starostlivosti o pacientov s potravinovou alergiou.
Introduction: Food allergy is a chronic disease that requires a great deal of effort. It can result not only in a reduced quality of life, but also increased feelings of anxiety and stress. This study examines the association between health-related quality of life (HRQL) and trait anxiety levels in adults with food allergy. Methods: The research sample consisted of 167 adults with food allergy aged 19-69 years, arithmetic average (M) age 37. The STAI X2 questionnaire was used to measure trait anxiety. The food allergy quality of life questionnaire for adult population (FAQLQ-AF) was used to measure the health-related quality of life - and this achieved high reliability values. Results: A moderate, positive relationship was demonstrated between anxiety and the FAQLQ-AF. Simple linear regression analysis demonstrated that trait anxiety level is a predictor of HRQL level, and an increase in anxiety level decreases HRQL. Factors such as tetanus syndrome, comorbidities, prescribed medications and recommended over-the-counter medications are associated with trait anxiety levels. Related illnesses and symptom clusters are related to HRQL levels. Conclusions: Adults with food allergy who are more anxious are more likely to experience a poorer quality of life. Early intervention, prevention and optimization of treatment management should be a necessary part of the psychological care of patients with food allergy.
- MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kvalita života psychologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- potravinová alergie * komplikace terapie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- úzkost etiologie psychologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Slovenská republika MeSH
The functional structures of communities respond to environmental changes by both species replacement (turnover) and within-species variation (intraspecific trait variability; ITV). Evidence is lacking on the relative importance of these two components, particularly in response to both short- and long-term environmental disturbance. We hypothesized that such short- and long-term perturbations would induce changes in community functional structure primarily via ITV and turnover, respectively. To test this we applied an experimental design across long-term mown and abandoned meadows, with each plot containing a further level of short-term management treatments: mowing, grazing and abandonment. Within each plot, species composition and trait values [height, shoot biomass, and specific leaf area (SLA)] were recorded on up to five individuals per species. Positive covariations between the contribution of species turnover and ITV occurred for height and shoot biomass in response to both short- and long-term management, indicating that species turnover and intraspecific adjustments selected for similar trait values. Positive covariations also occurred for SLA, but only in response to long-term management. The contributions of turnover and ITV changed depending on both the trait and management trajectory. As expected, communities responded to short-term disturbances mostly through changes in intraspecific trait variability, particularly for height and biomass. Interestingly, for SLA they responded to long-term disturbances by both species turnover and intraspecific adjustments. These findings highlight the importance of both ITV and species turnover in adjusting grassland functional trait response to environmental perturbation, and show that the response is trait specific and affected by disturbance regime history.
- MeSH
- biomasa MeSH
- čas MeSH
- fenotyp MeSH
- listy rostlin fyziologie MeSH
- pastviny * MeSH
- životní prostředí * MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
We assessed the relative contribution of economic, personal, and affective power bases to perceived relationship power. Based on evolutionary studies, we predicted that personality dominance and mate value should represent alternative personal power bases. Our sample was comprised of 84 Czech heterosexual couples. We measured the economic power base using self-report scales assessing education, income and work status. Personal power bases were assessed using self-report measures of personality dominance (International Personality Item Pool Dominance and Assertiveness subscale from NEO Personality Inventory-Revised Extraversion scale), and partner-report measures of mate value (Trait-Specific Dependence Inventory, factors 2-6). The first factor of Trait-Specific Dependence Inventory, which measures agreeableness/commitment was used to assess the affective power base. Our results show that perceived relationship power is associated with a perception of partner's high agreeableness/commitment. Moreover, women's personality dominance and mate value are also linked with perceived relationship power, which supports our evolutionary prediction of dominance and mate value working as power bases for women. The stronger effect of women's than men's power bases may be due to gender differences in investment into relationships and/or due to transition to more equal relationships currently sought by women in the Czech Republic.
- MeSH
- biologická evoluce MeSH
- heterosexualita * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- muži MeSH
- sexuální partneři * MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
BACKGROUND: In the absence of prognostic biomarkers, most patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (eTNBC) are treated with combination chemotherapy. The identification of biomarkers to select patients for whom treatment de-escalation or escalation could be considered remains an unmet need. We evaluated the prognostic value of histopathologic traits in a unique cohort of young, (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy-naïve patients with early-stage (stage I or II), node-negative TNBC and long-term follow-up, in relation to stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (sTILs) for which the prognostic value was recently reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied all 485 patients with node-negative eTNBC from the population-based PARADIGM cohort which selected women aged <40 years diagnosed between 1989 and 2000. None of the patients had received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy according to standard practice at the time. Associations between histopathologic traits and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) were analyzed with Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 20.0 years, an independent prognostic value for BCSS was observed for lymphovascular invasion (LVI) [adjusted (adj.) hazard ratio (HR) 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.49-3.69], fibrotic focus (adj. HR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09-2.37) and sTILs (per 10% increment adj. HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69-0.82). In the sTILs <30% subgroup, the presence of LVI resulted in a higher cumulative incidence of breast cancer death (at 20 years, 58%; 95% CI 41% to 72%) compared with when LVI was absent (at 20 years, 32%; 95% CI 26% to 39%). In the ≥75% sTILs subgroup, the presence of LVI might be associated with poor survival (HR 11.45, 95% CI 0.71-182.36, two deaths). We confirm the lack of prognostic value of androgen receptor expression and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 -low status. CONCLUSIONS: sTILs, LVI and fibrotic focus provide independent prognostic information in young women with node-negative eTNBC. Our results are of importance for the selection of patients for de-escalation and escalation trials.
