Characterization of the cryptic interspecific hybrid Lemna×mediterranea by an integrated approach provides new insights into duckweed diversity.

Lemnaceae taxonomy is challenged by the particular morphology of these tiny free-floating angiosperms. Although molecular taxonomy has helped clarify the phylogenetic history of this family, some inconsistency with morphological data leads to frequent misclassifications in the genus Lemna. Recently, the finding that Lemna japonica is an interspecific hybrid between Lemna minor and Lemna turionifera provided a clear explanation for one such taxonomic question.

Decision-making regarding immediate vs. interval postpartum levonorgestrel intrauterine device insertion timing.

Background: Understanding decision-making for contraception initiation timing postpartum may help guide patients in selecting a contraceptive method most aligned with their reproductive goals. The objective of this study was to explore the decision-making process in patients who chose immediate postplacental (IPP) levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG IUD) insertion versus interval insertion at the postpartum follow-up visit.

Methods: We recruited English-speaking, reproductive-aged adult postpartum participants who received either an IPP or interval postpartum LNG IUD from September to December 2017 at MetroHealth Medical Center.

Tubulin-Based Polymorphism (TBP) in Plant Genotyping.

Tubulin-based polymorphism (TBP) is an intron length polymorphism (ILP) method widely applicable to any plant species and particularly suitable for a first and rapid classification of any plant genome. It is based on the selective, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based amplification of the two introns present at conserved positions within the coding sequences of plant β-tubulin genes. Amplification releases a simple yet distinctive genomic profile.

Strategies for Intraspecific Genotyping of Duckweed: Comparison of Five Orthogonal Methods Applied to the Giant Duckweed .

The predominantly vegetative propagating duckweeds are of growing commercial interest. Since clonal accessions within a respective species can vary considerably with respect to their physiological as well as biochemical traits, it is critical to be able to track the clones of species of interest after their characterization. Here, we compared the efficacy of five different genotyping methods for , a species with very low intraspecific sequence variations, including polymorphic NB-ARC-related loci, tubulin-gene-based polymorphism (TBP), simple sequence repeat variations (SSR), multiplexed ISSR genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq), and low-coverage, reduced-representation genome sequencing (GBS).

A Combinatorial and Tubulin-Based Polymorphism (TBP) Approach Helps in Discriminating Species.

The simple and straightforward recognition of species is not an easy task due to their complex genetic origins. To provide a recommendation, we have compared the performance of different PCR-based methods relying on the discrimination ability of the and () genes, as well as TBP (Tubulin-Based Polymorphism), a method based on the multiple amplification of genes of the β-tubulin family. Among these approaches, the PCR-RFLP (Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) assay based on a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) present in the gene is the only one capable of fully discerning hexaploid spelt and common wheat species, while both and TBP fail with similar error frequencies.

New Insights into Interspecific Hybridization in L. Sect. (Lemnaceae Martinov).

Duckweeds have been increasingly studied in recent years, both as model plants and in view of their potential applications as a new crop in a circular bioeconomy perspective. In order to select species and clones with the desired attributes, the correct identification of the species is fundamental. Molecular methods have recently provided a more solid base for taxonomy and yielded a consensus phylogenetic tree, although some points remain to be elucidated.

Postpartum Contraceptive Decision-Making of Parous Teens-A Qualitative Study.

Study Objective: Approximately 25% of teens in the United States will become pregnant before the age of 18, and within 2 years, more than 31% will have a repeat pregnancy. Acknowledging that some adolescents might seek or be ambivalent toward rapid repeat pregnancy, compared with their counterparts, not using a long-acting reversible contraception method increases a teen's risk of another pregnancy in 2 years by more than 35 times. We seek to better understand the influences and factors surrounding adolescent postpartum contraceptive decision-making following the index delivery.

Obstetrician-Gynecologists' Practices in Postpartum Sterilization Without a Valid Medicaid Consent Form.

Objective: To explore the practices of obstetrician-gynecologists (ob-gyns) in the United States surrounding postpartum sterilization when the Medicaid consent form was not valid.

Methods: Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' online directory, we conducted a qualitative study where we recruited ob-gyns practicing in 10 geographically diverse U.S.

Duckweed Species Genotyping and Interspecific Hybrid Discovery by Tubulin-Based Polymorphism Fingerprinting.

Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) are the smallest and fastest-growing angiosperms. This feature, together with high starch production and good nutritional properties, makes them suitable for several applications, including wastewater treatment, bioenergy production, or feed and food supplement. Due to their reduced morphology and great similarity between diverse species, taxonomic identification of duckweeds is a challenging issue even for experts.

Attitudes and beliefs of obstetricians-gynecologists regarding Medicaid postpartum sterilization - A qualitative study.

Objective: To explore the attitudes and beliefs of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States (US) regarding the Medicaid postpartum sterilization policy.

Study Design: We recruited obstetrician-gynecologists practicing in ten geographically diverse US states for a qualitative study using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists directory. We conducted semi-structured interviews via telephone, professionally transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method and principles of grounded theory.

aTBP: A versatile tool for fish genotyping.

Animal Tubulin-Based-Polymorphism (aTBP), an intron length polymorphism method recently developed for vertebrate genotyping, has been successfully applied to the identification of several fish species. Here, we report data that demonstrate the ability of the aTBP method to assign a specific profile to fish species, each characterized by the presence of commonly shared amplicons together with additional intraspecific polymorphisms. Within each aTBP profile, some fragments are also recognized that can be attributed to taxonomic ranks higher than species, e.

On the applicability of the Tubulin-Based Polymorphism (TBP) genotyping method: a comprehensive guide illustrated through the application on different genetic resources in the legume family.

Background: Plant discrimination is of relevance for taxonomic, evolutionary, breeding and nutritional studies. To this purpose, evidence is reported to demonstrate TBP (Tubulin-Based-Polymorphism) as a DNA-based method suitable for assessing plant diversity.

Results: Exploiting one of the most valuable features of TBP, that is the convenient and immediate application of the assay to groups of individuals that may belong to different taxa, we show that the TBP method can successfully discriminate different agricultural species and their crop wild relatives within the Papilionoideae subfamily.

Preliminary Results, Perspectives, and Proposal for a Screening Method of Susceptibility of Species to Antimicrotubular Agents.

Microorganisms belonging to the genus are achlorophyllous microalgae, occasionally behaving as environmental pathogens that cause severe mastitis in milk cows, as well as localized or systemic infections in humans and animals. Among the different species belonging to the genus, genotype 2 (recently reclassified as ) and are most commonly associated with bovine mastitis. To date, no pharmacological treatment is available to cure protothecal mastitis, and infected animals must be quarantined to avoid spreading the infection.

Tubulin-Based DNA Barcode: Principle and Applications to Complex Food Matrices.

The DNA polymorphism diffusely present in the introns of the members of the Eukaryotic beta-tubulin gene families, can be conveniently used to establish a DNA barcoding method, named tubulin-based polymorphism (TBP), that can reliably assign specific genomic fingerprintings to any plant or/and animal species. Similarly, many plant varieties can also be barcoded by TBP. The method is based on a simple cell biology concept that finds a conveniently exploitable molecular basis.

Flax tubulin and CesA superfamilies represent attractive and challenging targets for a variety of genome- and base-editing applications.

Flax is both a valuable resource and an interesting model crop. Despite a long history of flax genetic transformation only one transgenic linseed cultivar has been so far registered in Canada. Implementation and use of the genome-editing technologies that allow site-directed modification of endogenous genes without the introduction of foreign genes might improve this situation.

Untargeted DNA-based methods for the authentication of wheat species and related cereals in food products.

New food commodities, particularly pasta, bread and cookies, made with mixed flours containing ancient wheat species and other cereals, have become popular in recent years. This calls for analytical methods able to determine authenticity of these products. Most DNA-based methods for the authentication of foodstuff rely on qPCR assays specifically targeting each plant species, not allowing the identification of unsearched ingredients.

A TaqMan real-time PCR method based on alternative oxidase genes for detection of plant species in animal feed samples.

Traceability of processed food and feed products has been gaining importance due to the impact that those products can have on human/animal health and to the associated economic and legal concerns, often related to adulterations and frauds as it can be the case for meat and milk. Despite mandatory traceability requirements for the analysis of feed composition, few reliable and accurate methods are presently available to enforce the legislative frame and allow the authentication of animal feeds. In this study, nine sensitive and species-specific real-time PCR TaqMan MGB assays are described for plant species detection in animal feed samples.

Evolutionary characterization and transcript profiling of β-tubulin genes in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) during plant development.

Background: Microtubules, polymerized from alpha and beta-tubulin monomers, play a fundamental role in plant morphogenesis, determining the cell division plane, the direction of cell expansion and the deposition of cell wall material. During polarized pollen tube elongation, microtubules serve as tracks for vesicular transport and deposition of proteins/lipids at the tip membrane. Such functions are controlled by cortical microtubule arrays.

Interlaboratory Comparison of Methods Determining the Botanical Composition of Animal Feed.

A consortium of European enterprises and research institutions has been engaged in the Feed-Code Project with the aim of addressing the requirements stated in European Union Regulation No. 767/2009, concerning market placement and use of feed of known and ascertained botanical composition. Accordingly, an interlaboratory trial was set up to compare the performance of different assays based either on optical microscope or DNA analysis for the qualitative and quantitative identification of the composition of compound animal feeds.

Development and validation of the modular Feed-code method for qualitative and quantitative determination of feed botanical composition.

The analysis of feed composition in terms of ingredients is addressed by Regulation (EC) 767/2009 and is important for detecting economic fraud and for monitoring feed safety. Within the framework of the EU project Feed-code, we developed and internally validated a modular assay, relying on intron polymorphism, for the complete qualitative analysis of the botanical composition of feed and the quantitative determination of six target plant species. Main performance parameters of each module, such as applicability, repeatability, specificity, and limit of detection, were evaluated.

The Tubulin-Based-Polymorphism Method Provides a Simple and Effective Alternative to the Genomic Profiling of Grape.

The TBP (Tubulin-Based-Polymorphism) method, based on a nuclear ILP (Intron-Length-Polymorphism) molecular marker, has been used for genotyping 37 accessions of the genus Vitis inclusive of different species, rootstocks, wild and cultivated subspecies. A distinct DNA barcode made up by a different number of amplicons, was attributed to each of the different accessions. TBP data were compared with those obtained, with the use of an internationally validated set of six SSR markers.

Traceback identification of plant components in commercial compound feed through an oligonucleotide microarray based on tubulin intron polymorphism.

According to EU Regulations, all components of commercial compound feed need to be declared on the label. Effective protection against fraud requires severe controls based on accurate analytical methods to ascertain what is declared by the producers. The aim of this work was to develop an oligonucleotide microarray for the molecular recognition of multiple plant components in commercial feeds.

A multiplex, bead-based array for profiling plant-derived components in complex food matrixes.

Authentication of processed food ingredients is becoming an important issue for customers, and some DNA-based analytical methods have been developed, especially for animal products. As food products typically contain several different ingredients, a current challenge is to increase the multiplexing capacity of DNA-based methods, to develop "all-in-one" assays. Oligonucleotide-coupled, bead-based suspension arrays are sensitive and reproducible multiplex analytical tools.

Multiple tubulins: evolutionary aspects and biological implications.

Plant tubulin is a dimeric protein that contributes to formation of microtubules, major intracellular structures that are involved in the control of fundamental processes such as cell division, polarity of growth, cell-wall deposition, intracellular trafficking and communications. Because it is a structural protein whose function is confined to the role of microtubule formation, tubulin may be perceived as an uninteresting gene product, but such a perception is incorrect. In fact, tubulin represents a key molecule for studying fundamental biological issues such as (i) microtubule evolution (also with reference to prokaryotic precursors and the formation of cytomotive filaments), (ii) protein structure with reference to the various biochemical features of members of the FstZ/tubulin superfamily, (iii) isoform variations contributed by the existence of multi-gene families and various kinds of post-translational modifications, (iv) anti-mitotic drug interactions and mode of action, (v) plant and cell symmetry, as determined using a series of tubulin mutants, (vi) multiple and sophisticated mechanisms of gene regulation, and (vii) intron molecular evolution.