AlphaSim: Software for Breeding Program Simulation.

This paper describes AlphaSim, a software package for simulating plant and animal breeding programs. AlphaSim enables the simulation of multiple aspects of breeding programs with a high degree of flexibility. AlphaSim simulates breeding programs in a series of steps: (i) simulate haplotype sequences and pedigree; (ii) drop haplotypes into the base generation of the pedigree and select single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN); (iii) assign QTN effects, calculate genetic values, and simulate phenotypes; (iv) drop haplotypes into the burn-in generations; and (v) perform selection and simulate new generations.

Effect of manipulating recombination rates on response to selection in livestock breeding programs.

Background: In this work, we performed simulations to explore the potential of manipulating recombination rates to increase response to selection in livestock breeding programs.

Methods: We carried out ten replicates of several scenarios that followed a common overall structure but differed in the average rate of recombination along the genome (expressed as the length of a chromosome in Morgan), the genetic architecture of the trait under selection, and the selection intensity under truncation selection (expressed as the proportion of males selected). Recombination rates were defined by simulating nine different chromosome lengths: 0.

[Vaginal vault fixation and reinforcement of the rectovaginal septum technique for the treatment of vault prolapse associated or not with rectocele].

The most important current concept in therapeutic management of female genital prolapse is the use of non absorbable prosthesis through a vaginal approach. The application of these surgical techniques to repair prolapse aims to restore the anatomic position of the pelvis, while preserving urinary, bowel and sexual functions. Since 2005, we use the Apogee® prosthesis for the treatment of both the vault prolapse and associated posterior colpocele.

Effects of Kindermusik training on infants' rhythmic enculturation.

Phillips-Silver and Trainor (2005) demonstrated a link between movement and the metrical interpretation of rhythm patterns in 7-month-old infants. Infants bounced on every second beat of a rhythmic pattern with no auditory accents later preferred to listen to an accented version of the pattern with accents every second beat (duple or march meter), whereas infants bounced on every third beat of the same rhythmic pattern preferred to listen to a version with accents every third beat (triple or waltz meter). The present study compared infants participating in Kindermusik classes with infants not participating in music classes.

Congruence between morphological and molecular markers inferred from the analysis of the intra-morphotype genetic diversity and the spatial structure of Oxalis tuberosa Mol.

Oxalis tuberosa is an important crop cultivated in the highest Andean zones. A germplasm collection is maintained ex situ by CIP, which has developed a morphological markers system to classify the accessions into morphotypes, i.e.