Imputación de genotipos y detección de regiones genómicas aditivas para caracteres de crecimiento y deposición de grasa en una población cruza porcina

Los estudios de asociación genómica (GWAS) llevan consigo un algo costo monetario, y a su vez requieren algoritmos complejos de análisis de información que consumen tiempo y memoria computacional. En este sentido, el objetivo principal de esta tesis es presentar un esquema de genotipado apropiado para poblaciones cruza, junto con un algoritmo eficiente para GWAS de caracteres complejos productivos. Inicialmente, se presenta un esquema de genotipado que maximiza la exactitud de imputación de genotipos en alta densidad (HD) a partir de paneles de baja densidad (LowD), reduciendo el costo de genotipificación. Posteriormete, se propone un algoritmo que facilita identificar regiones genómicas que explican parte de la variabilidad de un carácter, reduciendo la tasa de falsos positivos, el tiempo de cálculo y el requerimiento de memoria RAM. De igual manera, el algoritmo evalúa segmentos candidatos a partir de las posiciones detectadas significativas y calcula la fracción de la varianza aditiva total explicada por cada segmento. Finalmete se presentan estudios de asociación para características de crecimiento y deposición de grasa, empleando el algoritmo propuesto junto con genotipos imputados en HD. La implementación de dicho algoritmo permite identificar regiones significativas relevantes y genes candidatos que explican parte de la variación de los caracteres evaluados. En conclusión, la tesis propone un enfoque estructurado, práctico y eficiente para la realización de GWAS de caracteres complejos aplicado en poblaciones experimentales con fines productivos.

Geophysical investigations in the European Alps

Joint interpretation of magnetotelluric and geomagnetic depth sounding data in the western European Alps offer new insights into the conductivity structure of the Earth's crust and mantle. This first large scale electromagnetic study in the Alps covers a cross-section from Germany to northern Italy and shows the importance of the alpine mountain chain as an interrupter of continuous conductors. Poor data quality due to the highly crystalline underground is overcome by Remote Reference and Robust Processing techniques. 3d-forward-modelling reveals on the one hand interrupted dipping crustal conductors with maximum conductance of 4960 S and on the other hand a lithosphere thickening up to 208 km beneath the central western Alps. Graphite networks arising from Paleozoic sedimentary deposits are considered to be accountable for the occurrence of high conductivity and the distribution pattern of crustal conductors. The influence of huge sedimentary molasse basins on the electromagnetic data is suggested to be minor compared with the influence of crustal conductors. In conclusion, electromagnetic results can be attributed to the geological, tectonic and palaeogeographical background. Dipping direction (S-SE) and maximum angle (10.1°) of the northern crustal conductor reveal the main thrusting conditions beneath the Helvetic Alps whereas the existence of a crustal conductor in the Briançonnais supports theses about its palaeographic belonging to the Iberian Peninsula.

Geochemical investigations of volcanic ash layers from ODP Leg 119

Geochemical investigations were carried out on 19 discrete ash layers and on 42 dispersed ash accumulations in Oligocene to Pleistocene sediments from Sites 736, 737, 745, and 746 of ODP Leg 119 (Kerguelen Plateau in the southern Indian Ocean). The chemical data obtained from more than 500 single-grain glass analyses allow the characterization of two dominant petrographic rock series. The first consists of transitional- to alkali-basalts, the second mainly of trachytes with subordinated alkali-rhyolites and rhyolites. Chemical correlation with possible source areas indicates that the tephra layers from the northern Kerguelen Plateau Sites 736 and 737 were probably erupted from the nearby Kerguelen Islands. The investigated ash layers clearly reflect the Oligocene to recent changes in the composition of the volcanic material recorded from the Kerguelen Islands. The dispersed ashes from Sites 745 and 746 in the Australian-Antarctic Basin display almost the same range in chemical compositions as those from the north. Heard Island and other sources may have contributed to their formation, in addition to the Kerguelen Islands. Dispersed ash of calc-alkaline composition is most probably derived from the South Sandwich island arc, indicating sea-ice rafting as an important mechanism of transport.

Electrical resistivity, formation factors, and sound velocity at DSDP Holes 75-530A and 75-530B

From 0 to 277 m at Site 530 are found Holocene to Miocene diatom ooze, nannofossil ooze, marl, clay, and debrisflow deposits; from 277 to 467 m are Miocene to Oligocene mud; from 467 to 1103 m are Eocene to late Albian Cenomanian interbedded mudstone, marlstone, chalk, clastic limestone, sandstone, and black shale in the lower portion; from 1103 to 1121 m are basalts. In the interval from 0 to 467 m, in Holocene to Oligocene pelagic oozes, marl, clay, debris flows, and mud, velocities are 1.5 to 1.8 km/s; below 200 m velocities increase irregularly with increasing depth. From 0 to 100 m, in Holocene to Pleistocene diatom and nannofossil oozes (excluding debris flows), velocities are approximately equivalent to that of the interstitial seawater, and thus acoustic reflections in the upper 100 m are primarily caused by variations in density and porosity. Below 100 or 200 m, acoustic reflections are caused by variations in both velocity and density. From 100 to 467 m, in Miocene-Oligocene nannofossil ooze, clay, marl, debris flows, and mud, acoustic anisotropy irregularly increases to 10%, with 2 to 5% being typical. From 467 to 1103 m in Paleocene to late Albian Cenomanian interbedded mudstone, marlstone, chalk, clastic limestone, and black shale in the lower portion of the hole, velocities range from 1.6 to 5.48 km/s, and acoustic anisotropies are as great as 47% (1.0 km/s) faster horizontally. Mudstone and uncemented sandstone have anisotropies which irregularly increase with increasing depth from 5 to 10% (0.2 km/s). Calcareous mudstones have the greatest anisotropies, typically 35% (0.6 km/s). Below 1103 m, basalt velocities ranged from 4.68 to 4.98 km/s. A typical value is about 4.8 km/s. In situ velocities are calculated from velocity data obtained in the laboratory. These are corrected for in situ temperature, hydrostatic pressure, and porosity rebound (expansion when the overburden pressure is released). These corrections do not include rigidity variations caused by overburden pressures. These corrections affect semiconsolidated sedimentary rocks the most (up to 0.25 km/s faster). These laboratory velocities appear to be greater than the velocities from the sonic log. Reflection coefficients derived from the laboratory data, in general, agree with the major features on the seismic profiles. These indicate more potential reflectors than indicated from the reflection coefficients derived using the Gearhart-Owen Sonic Log from 625 to 940 m, because the Sonic Log data average thin beds. Porosity-density data versus depth for mud, mudstone, and pelagic oozes agree with data for similar sediments as summarized in Hamilton (1976). At depths of about 400 m and about 850 m are zones of relatively higher porosity mudstones, which may suggest anomalously high pore pressure; however, they are more probably caused by variations in grain-size distribution and lithology. Electrical resistivity (horizontal) from 625 to 950 m ranged from about 1.0 to 4.0 ohm-m, in Maestrichtian to Santonian- Coniacian mudstone, marlstone, chalk, clastic limestone, and sandstone. An interstitial-water resistivity curve did not indicate any unexpected lithology or unusual fluid or gas in the pores of the rock. These logs were above the black shale beds. From 0 to 100 m at Sites 530 and 532, the vane shear strength on undisturbed samples of Holocene-Pleistocene diatom and nannofossil ooze uniformly increases from about 80 g/cm**2 to about 800 g/cm**2. From 100 to 300 m, vane shear strength of Pleistocene-Miocene nannofossil ooze, clay, and marl are irregular versus depth with a range of 500 to 2300 g/cm**2; and at Site 532 the vane shear strength appears to decrease irregularly and slightly with increasing depth (gassy zone). Vane shear strength values of gassy samples may not be valid, for the samples may be disturbed as gas evolves, and the sediments may not be gassy at in situ depths.

Paleoelevations in the Pacific Ocean 35 million years ago

Data from deep sea drilling, linear magnetic anomalies and bathymetric measurements together with age and morphometric characteristics of seamounts have been used to construct a paleobathymetric map of the oceans 35 million years ago. A brief analysis of these results is presented.

Hydration of C3S, C2S and their Blends. Micro- and Nanoscale Characterization

This study forms part of wider research conducted under a EU 7 th Framework Programme (COmputationally Driven design of Innovative CEment-based materials or CODICE). The ultimate aim is the multi-scale modelling of the variations in mechanical performance in degraded and non-degraded cementitious matrices. The model is being experimentally validated by hydrating the main tri-calcium silicate (T1-C3S) and bi-calcium silicate (β-C2S), phases present in Portland cement and their blends. The present paper discusses micro- and nanoscale studies of the cementitious skeletons forming during the hydration of C3S, C2S and 70 % / 30 % blends of both C3S/C2S and C2S/C3S with a water/cement ratio of 0.4. The hydrated pastes were characterized at different curing ages with 29 Si NMR, SEM/TEM/EDS, BET, and nanoindentation. The findings served as a basis for the micro- and nanoscale characterization of the hydration products formed, especially C-S-H gels. Differences were identified in composition, structure and mechanical behaviour (nanoindentation), depending on whether the gels formed in C3S or C2S pastes. The C3S gels had more compact morphologies, smaller BET-N2 specific surface area and lesser porosity than the gels from C2S-rich pastes. The results of nanoindentation tests appear to indicate that the various C-S-H phases formed in hydrated C3S and C2S have the same mechanical properties as those formed in Portland cement paste. Compared to the C3S sample, the hydrated C2S specimen was dominated by the loose-packed (LP) and the low-density (LD) C-S-H phases, and had a much lower content of the high density (HD) C-S-H phase

Mapping of mechanical properties of cement paste microstructures

The presented study is related to the EU 7 th Framework Programme CODICE (COmputationally Driven design of Innovative CEment-based materials). The main aim of the project is the development of a multi-scale model for the computer based simulation of mechanical and durability performance of cementitious materials. This paper reports results of micro/nano scale characterisation and mechanical property mapping of cementitious skeletons formed by the cement hydration at different ages. Using the statistical nanoindentation and micro-mechanical property mapping technique, intrinsic properties of different hydrate phases, and also the possible interaction (or overlapping) of different phases (e.g. calcium-silcate-hydrates) has been studied. Results of the mapping and statistical indentation testing appear to suggest the possible existence of more hydrate phases than the commonly reported LD and HD C-S-H and CH phases