Identification of grapevine clones via high-throughput amplicon sequencing: a proof-of-concept study.

Wine cultivars are available to growers in multiple clonal selections with agronomic and enological differences. Phenotypic differences between clones originated from somatic mutations that accrued over thousands of asexual propagation cycles. Genetic diversity between grape cultivars remains unexplored, and tools to discriminate unequivocally clones have been lacking. This study aimed to uncover genetic variations among a group of clonal selections of 4 important Vitis vinifera cultivars: Cabernet sauvignon, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnay, and Merlot, and use this information to develop genetic markers to discriminate the clones of these cultivars. We sequenced with short-read sequencing technology the genomes of 18 clones, including biological replicates for a total of 46 genomes. Sequences were aligned to their respective cultivar's reference genome for variant calling. We used reference genomes of Cabernet sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot and developed a de novo genome assembly of Sauvignon blanc using long-read sequencing. On average, 4 million variants were detected for each clone, with 74.2% being single nucleotide variants and 25.8% being small insertions or deletions (InDel). The frequency of these variants was consistent across all clones. From these variants, we validated 46 clonal markers using high-throughput amplicon sequencing for 77.7% of the evaluated clones, most of them small InDel. These results represent an advance in grapevine genotyping strategies and will benefit the viticulture industry for the characterization and identification of the plant material.

Relationship between Attention Capacity and Hand-Eye Reaction Time in Adolescents between 15 and 18 Years of Age.

Some experiences demonstrate a direct correlation between attention capacity and reaction capacity. However, the evidence from adolescents enrolled in the Chilean school system is scarce. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between attention capacity and hand-eye reaction time (RT) in adolescents between 15 and 18 years of age. Thirty-one adolescents participated voluntarily in this study. The variables were: attention capacity, evaluated through the Evalúa-10 battery (item 1.1), and hand-eye RT, assessed through a simple RT test (SRT) and complex RT (CRT). The relationship between the variables was performed through Pearson's correlation. Comparisons between males and females were performed with the t-test for independent samples (p ˂ 0.05). There was a moderate correlation between attention and CRT (r = -0.43), a very high correlation between attention and SRT in males (r = -0.73), and between attention and CRT in females (r = -0.73). Between males and females, there was no difference in attention (p ˃ 0.05), while males showed better RT in all tests (p ˂ 0.05). Attention positively influences hand-eye RT in both males and females. Likewise, male adolescents present better hand-eye RT than their female peers.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic healthcare workers at a clinic in Chile.

Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection of healthcare workers (HCWs) has been reported as a key player in the nosocomial spreading of COVID-19. Early detection of infected HCWs can prevent spreading of the virus in hospitals among HCWs and patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the asymptomatic infection of HCWs in a private clinic in the city of Santiago, Chile. Our study was conducted during a period of 5 weeks at the peak of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in Chile. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 413 HCWs and tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 using RT-qPCR. We found that a 3.14% of HCWs were positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 (14/413). Out of these, 7/14 were completely asymptomatic and did not develop symptoms within 3 weeks of testing. Sequencing of viral genomes showed the predominance of the GR clade; however, sequence comparison demonstrated numerous genetic differences among them suggesting community infection as the main focus of transmission among HCWs. Our study demonstrates that the protocols applied to protect HCWs and patients have been effective as no infection clusters due to asymptomatic carriers were found in the clinic. Together, these data suggest that infection with SARS-CoV-2 among HCWs of this health center is not nosocomial.

Estimación de la edad médico-legal usando dos métodos para la medición de la translucidez dentinaria radicular: análisis comparativo / Legal medical age estimation using two methods measuring root dentin translucency: comparative analysis

En una investigación forense existen diversas incógnitas médico legales y criminalísticas por definir: especie, sexo, edad, identidad, causa y data de muerte de la víctima o victimario. Fenómenos biológicos han colaborado en estimar la edad médico legal de un individuo. Investigadores han propuesto diferentes métodos para esta estimación. El fenómeno de la translucidez dentinaria radicular se asocia con el aumento de la edad del individuo y ha demostrado ser de gran utilidad en esta estimación. El objetivo fue comparar el acierto en la estimación de la edad médico legal en tres rangos etarios predeterminados, mediante la medición de la translucidez dentinaria radicular, aplicando dos metodologías. Se realizaron mediciones de la longitud de la translucidez de piezas dentarias de una población chilena (n=94), mediante un método visual directo convencional y un método digital indirecto basado en una captura computarizada de la imagen. Se estimó la edad aplicando una tabla propuesta. Se preestablecieron tres rangos de edad: 1er rango (20-39 años), 2do rango (40­59 años) y 3er rango (60­79 años). El método digital muestra un acierto en la estimación de la edad en el 1er rango etario (93%), en comparación al método visual que muestra un acierto 2do y 3er rango (86% y 65%). Existen diferencias significativas p=0,001 entre ambos métodos para cada rango. La diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa en los porcentajes totales de aciertos en la estimación de la edad con ambos métodos. Enfrentados a la estimación de la edad en piezas dentarias con poca TDR se recomienda el método digital, considerando que tiende a una subestimación. En casos de mayor TDR recomendamos el método visual, que tiende a sobreestimar. Este trabajo demuestra que ambos métodos son igualmente efectivos.

In a forensic investigation there are several forensic and criminology unknowns to be elucidated, such as, species, sex, age, identity, cause and date of death of the victim or perpetrator. Some biological phenomena have been used to collaborate in determining the forensic age of an individual. Many authors and researchers have proposed different ways to perform this estimate. The phenomenon of root dentine translucency (RDT) is associated with the increase of age of the individual and has proven to be useful in the estimation of this unknown. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy in estimating forensic age in three age ranges, by measurement of RDT, using two different methodologies. The protocol consists of taking measurements of the length translucency of dental pieces in a Chilean population (n=94), by direct visual method conventionally used and an indirect digital method based on the capture of a computerized image. The age was estimated applying a table: Three age ranges are preset: 1st range (20-39 ages), 2nd range (40-59 ages) and 3rd range (60-79 ages). The digital method gave better results in the estimation of age in the 1st age range (93%), compared to the visual method that was more assertive in the 2nd and 3rd range (86% and 65%). There are significant differences p=0.001 between the methods for each age range. The difference between the total percentages of successes in the age estimate obtained with both methods are not statistically significant. In conclusion, for age determination in teeth with very little translucency the digital method is recommended, although we must consider that this method tends to underestimate age. In cases of higher RDT we recommend using the visual method; however this method tends to overestimate age. Regardless of the above conclusion, this work shows that both methods are equally effective.

Chest physiotherapy is not clinically indicated for infants receiving outpatient care for acute wheezing episodes.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of chest physiotherapy (CPT), which provides slow and long expiratory flow and assisted cough techniques, in infants receiving outpatient care for acute wheezing episodes. METHODS: Forty-eight infants with moderate acute wheezing episodes were randomised to receive either salbutamol MDI with CPT (n = 25) or without CPT (n = 23). The clinical score and SpO2 levels were recorded, before and after treatment, in a blinded design. The primary outcome was discharge after the first hour of treatment: clinical score ≤5/12 and SpO2 ≥ 93%. Secondary outcomes were the number of admissions to hospital after the second hour, use of oral corticosteroid bursts and admissions to hospital on day seven. RESULTS: There were no differences between children with and without CPT in discharge rate (92% vs. 87%), clinical score (median [IQR]: 2.8 [2.2-3.3] vs. 3.4 [2.8-4.1]) and SpO2 = (96.4 [95.7-97.1] vs. 96.0 [94.9-96.5]) after the first hour of treatment or in the number of hospital admissions after the second hour. No differences were observed at days seven and 28 following treatment. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of clinical benefits from these specific CPT techniques for infants receiving outpatient care for acute wheezing episodes.