interspecific hybrid 'KX4-Hawaii' as a source of agricultural biomass in a water-scarce small island developing state.

Background: is a useful multipurpose tree species for agroforestry systems, but traditional seeded cultivars often become weedy and invasive. A seedless hybrid cultivar, 'KX4-Hawaii', offers a potential solution to this problem. However, relevant agronomic information and information on the performance of 'KX4-Hawaii' under varying growth conditions is required.

Insights into the vaginal microbiome in a diverse group of women of African, Asian and European ancestries.

Background: Intra-continentally, vaginal microbiome signatures are reported to be significantly different between Black and Caucasian women, with women of African ancestry having the less well defined heterogenous bacterial community state type (CST) deficient of species (CST IV). The objective of this study was to characterize the vaginal microbiomes across a more diverse intercontinental group of women ( = 151) of different ethnicities (African American, African Kenyan, Afro-Caribbean, Asian Indonesian and Caucasian German) using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis to determine their structures and offer a comprehensive description of the non- dominant CSTs and subtypes.

Results: In this study, the bacterial composition of the vaginal microbiomes differed significantly among the ethnic groups.

Folk nomenclature and traditional knowledge of breadfruit [Artocarpus altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg] diversity in four Anglophone Caribbean countries.

Background: Since its introduction to the Anglophone Caribbean in 1793, breadfruit has had a diverse history in the region, and there is a considerable repository of traditional knowledge about the crop, that is undocumented. Consequently, it remains underutilized as a food source, despite recognition of its potential to contribute to food and nutrition security. Understanding the folk taxonomy and traditional knowledge associated with its diversity and uses is a prerequisite to develop programs for its commercial production and utilization.

Sampling from four geographically divergent young female populations demonstrates forensic geolocation potential in microbiomes.

Studies of human microbiomes using new sequencing techniques have increasingly demonstrated that their ecologies are partly determined by the lifestyle and habits of individuals. As such, significant forensic information could be obtained from high throughput sequencing of the human microbiome. This approach, combined with multiple analytical techniques demonstrates that bacterial DNA can be used to uniquely identify an individual and to provide information about their life and behavioral patterns.

Haplotypes of CYP1B1 and CCDC57 genes in an Afro-Caribbean female population with uterine leiomyoma.

Uterine leiomyomas (UL) are prevalent benign tumors, especially among women of African ancestry. The disease also has genetic liability and is influenced by risk factors such as hormones and obesity. This study investigates the haplotypes of the Cytochrome P450 1B1 gene (CYP1B1) related to hormones and coiled-coil domain containing 57 gene (CCDC57) related to obesity in Afro-Caribbean females.

Leu/Val SNP polymorphism of CYP1B1 and risk of uterine leiomyoma in a Black population.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the most commonly occurring benign tumor that affects women of reproductive ages. Studies strongly suggest that ULs are hormonally dependent and that genes acting in estrogen metabolism might be involved in their development. The focus of this case-control study was to determine whether the Leucine432Valine single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene encoding cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) was associated with an increased risk of UL in Black Barbadian women.

Distribution of CYP17α polymorphism and selected physiochemical factors of uterine leiomyoma in Barbados.

Uterine leiomyoma is a major reproductive health disease among women and in particular Black women. The present study sought to determine whether a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of CYP17 (rs743572) was associated with the risk of developing uterine leiomyoma (UL) in affected women in Barbados; a majority Black population. It also sought to determine if BMI, waist circumference and oestradiol levels were associated with UL in this group.