QTL analysis of cooking time and quality traits in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

KEY MESSAGE: Three robust QTL for dry bean cooking time shortened cooking time 11-26 min and co-localized with QTL for increased cooked seed protein concentration. Cooking time is a major factor associated with consumer preference of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The genetic control of cooking time was investigated with a quantitative trait loci (QTL) study on a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population developed from TZ-27 (slow cooking) and TZ-37 (fast cooking). The RIL population of 146 lines was grown on research farms over 2 years in Arusha and Morogoro, Tanzania. Arusha is an important mid-altitude bean-growing region, with moderate temperatures and reliable rainfall, whereas the low altitude and high temperatures in Morogoro make it unfavorable for bean production. The population exhibited large variation for cooking time with a range of 22-98 min. On average, beans grown in Arusha cooked 15 min faster than those grown in Morogoro. A linkage map developed with 1951 SNP markers was used for QTL analysis. Ten QTL were identified for cooking time, three of which were found in multiple environments. RILs with all three QTL (CT3.1, CT6.1, and CT11.2) cooked on average 11 min faster in Arusha and 26 min faster in Morogoro than RILs with none. Seed attributes were related to cooking time such that seeds with greater seed mass and less seed coat percentage cooked faster. Cooked seed protein concentration ranged from 17.8 to 30.8% across the years and locations. All three of the most robust cooking time QTL co-localized with QTL for protein concentration, and TZ-37 always contributed faster cooking time and increased protein concentration.

Long-term trends in HIV care entry: over 15 years of clinical experience from Poland.

INTRODUCTION: Delay in HIV diagnosis and consequently late care entry with low CD4 counts remain a major challenge for the control of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The aim of this study was to analyse the evolution of characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Poland. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were collected for 3972 HIV-infected patients followed up in 14 of 17 Polish HIV treatment centres in the years 2000-2015. Clinical data were analysed and factors associated with late presentation (baseline CD4 count < 350 cells/µL or history of AIDS-defining illness) and advanced HIV disease (baseline CD4 count < 200 cells/µL or history of AIDS) were identified. RESULTS: The majority (57.6%) of patients entered care late, while 35.6% presented with advanced HIV disease. The odds of being linked to care late or with advanced HIV disease increased consistently across age categories, increasing from 2.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.46-4.47] for late presentation and 3.13 (95% CI 1.49-6.58) for advanced disease for the 21-30-year-old category to 5.2 (95% CI 1.94-14.04) and 8.15 (95% CI 2.88-23.01), respectively, for individuals > 60 years of age. Increased risks of late entry and advanced HIV disease were also observed for injecting drug users [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.74 (95% CI 1.16-2.60) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.05-2.30), respectively], with lower aOR associated with the men who have sex with men transmission route [aOR 0.3 (95% CI 0.31-0.59) and 0.39 (95% CI 0.29-0.53), respectively]. The frequencies of cases in which patients were linked to care late and with advanced HIV disease decreased over time from 67.6% (2000) to 53.5% (2015) (P < 0.0001) and from 43.5% (2000) to 28.4% (2015) (P = 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite improvements over time, most patients diagnosed with HIV infection entered care late, with a third presenting with advanced HIV disease. Late care entry remains common among people who inject drugs and heterosexual groups.

Ethical implications of for-profit corporate sponsorship of research.

Academic institutions and commercial companies both recognize the need for the United States to enhance its economic competitiveness worldwide. Improved trading status is linked, in part, to education and to research and development (R&D) as cooperative efforts between nonprofit colleges and universities and for-profit corporations. As more and more colleges and universities seek for-profit corporate sponsors for their research programs, their collaboration may be complicated by several ethical issues. Most of these issues arise because of the differences between academic and corporate missions. This paper emphasizes that these differences are not irreconcilable; indeed, there are many successful research partnerships between academia and for-profit corporations. With a solid understanding of each partner's mission, productive corporate sponsorship of academic research is possible.