RTM-GWAS identified 111 DT QTLs, 262 alleles with high proportion of QEI and genetic variation accounting for 88.55-95.92% PV in NAM, from which QTL-allele matrices were established and candidate genes annotated. Drought tolerance (DT) is one of the major challenges for world soybean production. A nested association mapping (NAM) population with 403 lines comprising two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations: M8206 × TongShan and ZhengYang × M8206 was tested for DT using polyethylene-glycol (PEG) treatment under spring and summer environments. The population was sequenced using restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq) filtered with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥ 0.01, 55,936 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained and organized into 6137 SNP linkage disequilibrium blocks (SNPLDBs). The restricted two-stage multi-locus genome-wide association studies (RTM-GWAS) identified 73 and 38 QTLs with 174 and 88 alleles contributed main effect 40.43 and 26.11% to phenotypic variance (PV) and QTL-environment interaction (QEI) effect 24.64 and 10.35% to PV for relative root length (RRL) and relative shoot length (RSL), respectively. The DT traits were characterized with high proportion of QEI variation (37.52-41.65%), plus genetic variation (46.90-58.40%) in a total of 88.55-95.92% PV. The identified QTLs-alleles were organized into main-effect and QEI-effect QTL-allele matrices, showing the genetic and QEI architecture of the three parents/NAM population. From the matrices, the possible best genotype was predicted to have a weighted average value over two indicators (WAV) of 1.873, while the top ten optimal crosses among RILs with 95th percentile WAV 1.098-1.132, transgressive over the parents (0.651-0.773) but much less than 1.873, implying further pyramiding potential. From the matrices, 134 candidate genes were annotated involved in nine biological processes. The present results provide a novel way for molecular breeding in QTL-allele-based genomic selection for optimal cross selection.

The study shows that the prevalence of induced abortion is still very high among married women in rural China, and highly effective methods of contraception (sterilization, intrauterine device) decrease women's recourse to induced abortion.

The aim of this study was to estimate the risk factors of bacterial vaginosis (BV) among rural married women of childbearing age in Anhui Province of China. A cross-sectional study was conducted and the method of stratified cluster sampling was used to identify a sample of 53,652 married women aged 18-49 years. All women were asked to complete an interviewer-administered standardized questionnaire, covering sociodemographic characteristics, history of menstruation, marriage and procreation, sexual life, personal hygienic behaviors, and reproductive tract infections (RTIs) knowledge, followed by the gynecological examination and laboratory inspection. A total of 53,286 married women aged 18-49 years were included in this analysis. The prevalence of BV was 11.99 % (6,391/53,286). Risk factors for BV included the minority nationality, women's lower education levels, husband's elder age, over 35 days of menstrual cycle, less than 3 days of menstruation, dysmenorrhea, usage of an intrauterine device (IUD), lack of RTIs knowledge, higher frequency of washing genitals before having sex with husband and changing underwear, lower frequency of sexual intercourse per month, and suffering from other RTIs. The results suggest that BV can be affected by many factors among rural married women of reproductive age, so comprehensive, scheduled programs at healthcare educations should be provided for women in order to prevent BV.

Soybean crops face drought as one of their major yield barriers. Dissecting the complete genetic architecture of drought tolerance (DT) is an ongoing challenge for soybean breeders. A half-sib population with 404 lines consisting of two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations with M8206 as the joint parent (M8206 × TongShan and ZhengYang × M8206) was established and tested for their DT under sand culture. The population was sequenced using RAD-seq (restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing) filtered with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥ 0.01, and 55 936 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were obtained and organized into 6137 SNPLDBs (SNP linkage disequilibrium blocks). The innovative RTM-GWAS (restricted two stage multi-locus genome-wide association study) identified 46 novel QTLs with 107 alleles on an average of 38.67% of the phenotypic variance (PV) collectively for relative plant length (RPL) and relative plant dry weight (RPDW). The identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) with their corresponding alleles for RPL and RPDW were structured into QTL-allele matrices, showing the DT genetic architecture of the three parents and half-sib population. From the matrices, the possible best genotype was predicted to have their weighted average value (WAV) over two indicators 1.663, while the top 10 optimal crosses among RILs with 95th percentile WAV was 0.872–0.960, transgressive over the parents (0.469–0.675) but much less than 1.663, depicting further pyramiding potential. From the detected QTL-allele system, 63 potential candidate genes collectively for both RPL and RPDW indicators explaining on average of 26.94% PV were annotated and χ2-tested as a DT potential candidate gene system involving nine biological processes, endorsing the genetic complexity of DT.

Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy can be affected by many factors, and some are indirectly acting factors. Further prospective studies that include a larger sample size and more information on the development of bacterial vaginosis are needed.