Signal-Processing tools for core-collection selection from genetic-resource collection / Herramienta de procesamiento de señales para la selección de "Core-Collection" desde colección de recursos genéticos

Abstract Selecting a representative core collection (CC) is a proven and effective strategy for overcoming the expenses and difficulties of managing genetic resources in gene banks around the globe. Because of the diverse applications available for these sub-collections, several algorithms have been successfully implemented to construct them based on genotypic, phenotypic, passport or geographic data (either by individual datasets or by consensus). However, to the best of our knowledge, no single comprehensive datasets has been properly explored to date. Thus, researchers evaluate multiple datasets in order to construct representative CCs; this can be quite difficult, but one feasible solution for such an evaluation is to manage all available data as one discrete signal, which allows signal processing tools (SPTs) to be implemented during data analysis. In this research, we present a proof- of-concept study that shows the possibility of mapping to a discrete signal any type of data available from genetic resource collections in order to take advantage of SPTs for the construction of CCs that adequately represent the diversity of two crops. This method is referred to as 'SPT selection.' All available information for each element of the tested collections was analysed under this perspective and compared when possible, with one of the most used algorithms for CC selection. Genotype-only SPT selection did not prove as effective as standard CC selection did not prove as effective as standard CC selection algorithms; however, the SPT approach can consider genotype alongside other types of information, which results in well-represented Ccs that consider both the genotype and agromorphological diversities present in original collections. Furthermore, SPT-based analysis can evaluate all available data both in a comprehensive manner and under different perspective, and despite its limitations, the analysis renders satisfactory results. Thus, SPT-based algorithms for CC selection can be valuable in the field of genetic resources research, management and exploitation.

Resumen La selección de una colección núcleo (core-collection) representativa (CC) es una estrategia comprobada y eficaz para superar los gastos y las dificultades de la gestión de los recursos genéticos en los bancos de germoplasma de todo el mundo. Debido a las diversas aplicaciones disponibles para estas subcolecciones, se han implementado con éxito varios algoritmos para construirlos en base a datos genotípicos, fenotípicos, de pasaporte o geográficos (ya sea por conjuntos de datos individuales o por consenso). Sin embargo, hasta donde tenemos conocimiento, no se han explorado adecuadamente conjuntos de datos integrales hasta la fecha. Por lo tanto, los investigadores evalúan conjuntos de datos múltiples para construir CCs representativos; esto puede ser bastante difícil, pero una solución factible para tal evaluación es administrar todos los datos disponibles como una señal discreta, que permite implementar herramientas de procesamiento de señal (SPT) durante el análisis de datos. En esta investigación, presentamos un estudio de prueba de concepto que muestra la posibilidad de asignar a una señal discreta cualquier tipo de datos disponibles de colecciones de recursos genéticos para aprovechar los SPT para la construcción de CC que representen adecuadamente la diversidad de dos cultivos. Este método se conoce como "selección de SPT." Toda la información disponible para cada elemento de las colecciones analizadas se analizó bajo esta perspectiva y se comparó cuando fue posible, con uno de los algoritmos más utilizados para la selección de CC. La selección de SPT de solo genotipo no resultó tan efectiva como los algoritmos de selección de CC estándar; sin embargo, el enfoque SPT puede considerar el genotipo junto con otros tipos de información, lo que da como resultado CCs bien representados que consideran tanto el genotipo como las diversidades agromorfológicas presentes en las colecciones originales. Además, el análisis basado en SPT puede evaluar todos los datos disponibles, tanto de manera integral y bajo diferentes perspectivas, y a pesar de sus limitaciones, el análisis arroja resultados satisfactorios. Por lo tanto, los algoritmos basados en SPT para la selección de CC pueden ser valiosos en el campo de la investigación, gestión y explotación de recursos genéticos.

Feeling healthy: so why should Mexican-descent women screen for breast cancer?

Mexican-descent women are at particular risk of late-stage breast cancer diagnosis by being the least likely of the major U.S. Hispanic subgroups to undergo breast cancer screening. This grounded theory study investigated how cultural health beliefs regarding the causes and nature of breast cancer influence women's decision to participate in screening. Thirty-four women (age 49 to 81) were interviewed in five focus groups using theoretical sampling across levels of acculturation and socioeconomic status. Analysis of the most prevalent cultural health beliefs led to a discovery that the core problem Mexican-descent women face is that they perceive there is no reason to participate in breast cancer screening when they are "feeling healthy." In addition, women who subjectively and cognitively feel healthy and otherwise have no evidence of illness according to their cultural health beliefs are unlikely to risk feeling ill rather than healthy by seeking to discover breast cancer through screening.

Feeling Indecent: Breast Cancer Screening Resistance of Mexican-descent Women.

This grounded theory study investigated how Mexican-descent women's traditional cultural beliefs, values, and norms regarding the propriety of their behavior and that of their health care providers influence their decision to participate in breast cancer screening. Thirty-four women (aged 49-81 years old) were interviewed in five focus groups using theoretical sampling across levels of acculturation and socioeconomic status. We discovered that the women's basic social-psychological problem is that screening is an insensitive procedure that violates their cultural standards by requiring inappropriate behavior. The risk involved is 'feeling indecent' since both touching one's breast and breast exposure to health care providers is prohibited according to cultural norms for respectable female behavior. Thus, women resist participating in breast cancer screening to avoid feeling indecent.

Differences in Mexican-born and U.S.-born women of Mexican descent regarding factors related to breast cancer screening behaviors.

A survey on factors related to breast cancer screening was completed by 179 U.S.-resident women of Mexican descent who were either Mexican born (n = 76) or U.S. born (n = 103). The U.S.-born women had significantly higher levels of income, education. and acculturation and were significantly more likely to be covered by health insurance and to receive health professional interventions such as breast self-exam (BSE) instruction. Accordingly, these U.S.-born women engaged in BSE more frequently and were more motivated to engage in other health behaviors. In comparison, the Mexican-born women reported significantly greater beliefs that breast cancer is a serious illness and that they were relatively more susceptible to this illness. For the Mexican-born women health locus of control was significantly more geared toward powerful others and chance factors. Factor differences suggest that Mexican-born women face more breast cancer screening barriers than the U.S.-born women of Mexican descent.