Zero-inflated generalized Poisson regression mixture model for mapping quantitative trait loci underlying count trait with many zeros

Phenotypes measured in counts are commonly observed in nature. Statistical methods for mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying count traits are documented in the literature. The majority of them assume that the count phenotype follows a Poisson distribution with appropriate techniques being applied to handle data dispersion. When a count trait has a genetic basis, “naturally occurring” zero status also reflects the underlying gene effects. Simply ignoring or miss-handling the zero data may lead to wrong QTL inference. In this article, we propose an interval mapping approach for mapping QTL underlying count phenotypes containing many zeros. The effects of QTLs on the zero-inflated count trait are modelled through the zero-inflated generalized Poisson regression mixture model, which can handle the zero inflation and Poisson dispersion in the same distribution. We implement the approach using the EM algorithm with the Newton-Raphson algorithm embedded in the M-step, and provide a genome-wide scan for testing and estimating the QTL effects. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through extensive simulation studies. Extensions to composite and multiple interval mapping are discussed. The utility of the developed approach is illustrated through a mouse F₂ intercross data set. Significant QTLs are detected to control mouse cholesterol gallstone formation.     

MAN2C1基因在病毒感染中的作用

目的 通过观察MAN2C1转基因小鼠对H5N1高致病性禽流感病毒的易感性,以了解此转基因小鼠的免疫应答情况和MAN2C1基因在病毒感染中的作用。方法 以H5N1高致病性禽流感病毒滴鼻感染MAN2C1转基因小鼠,HE染色观察小鼠肺组织病理变化;RT-PCR和免疫组织化学方法检测小鼠肺组织H5N1病毒载量;间接ELISA方法 检测小鼠血清抗体滴度变化。结果 与对照组小鼠比较,MAN2C1转基因小鼠表现为更为严重的间质性肺炎,肺组织病毒载量增加,外周血中性粒细胞数目降低,淋巴细胞数量增加,血清IgG抗体滴度降低。结论 MAN2C1基因抑制了小鼠的体液免疫。     

甘肃省马衔山地区种子植物区系的研究

分析了甘肃省马衔山地区种子植物区系,用主成分分析（Ｐ．Ｃ．Ａ）和信息聚类（Ｉ．Ｃ．Ａ）方法对该区系与国内其它１０个有代表性地区的种子植物区系进行了对比分析。其结果为：１．该区系温带性质十分明显,是一个汇集四大区系成分的过渡带;２．该区系起源于第三纪亚热带亚高山森林植物区系,随青藏高原的隆起和中亚干旱区的形成而分化形成;３．该区系与六盘山植物区的关系最近。该区系隶属于泛北极植物区,中国－日本森林植物     

两种滨藜甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因的克隆及序列分析

甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(Betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase,BADH)对非生物胁迫下植物渗透调节物质的合成和积累具有重要作用。分别从异苞滨藜和鞑靼滨藜两种盐生植物中分离到了BADH基因。序列分析表明,BADH全长均为1 507bp,编码501个氨基酸,两种BADH序列具有较高的相似性。甜菜碱醛脱氢酶的克隆为植物的基因转化及其功能分析奠定了基础。     

A craniofacial morphological study of a population of northern Greek children

689 boys and 644 girls of a northern Greek children population have been studied concerning the head and face shape by means of principal component analysis. From the morphological patterns show a homogenic population with small shape differences due mainly to vertical and ear variables. Size differences appear to be responsible for the variability of the population.     

A C群脑脊髓膜炎球菌多糖菌苗生产工艺与内毒素含量研究

A群及C群流脑多糖抗原用 10 0 0 0 0×g离心或不经超速离心处理 ,经用鲎试验法测定内毒素含量 ,2种工艺生产的A群及C群流脑多糖抗原的内毒素含量均很低。用未经超速离心处理的A群及C群流脑多糖抗原制成的A C群流脑多糖菌苗 ,经鲎试验法测定 ,内毒素含量也很低 ;经家兔升温法进行热原质试验 ,家兔体温未明显升高。证明A C群流脑多糖菌苗生产工艺不经 10 0 0 0 0×g离心去除内毒素步骤是可行的。所制备的流脑多糖抗原内毒素含量符合要求。     

Electron spin resonance characterization of Chromatium D hemes,non-heme irons and the components involved in primary photochemistry

The combination of redox potentiometry with low temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy has led to further characterization of electron transfer components of Chromatium D. These include the readily buffer-soluble cytochromes c₅₅₃ and c′ and the high-potential iron-sulfur protein in the isolated state and associated with the chromatophore membrane. Buffer-insoluble cytochrome c₅₅₃, cytochro—me c₅₅₅, bacteriochlorophyll and the primary electron acceptor have been characterized both in the chromatophore membrane and also in a sodium dodecylsulfate detergent-solubilized subchromatophore preparation. Two iron-sulfur proteins have been revealed which are present in the chromatophore membrane but are released on treatment with sodium dodecylsulfate. They have central g values at 1.90 and 1.94 and have estimated midpoint potentials at pH 7.4 (E_m7·4) at +280 mV and ?100 mV, respectively, when associated with the chromatophore.In the membrane associated state the apparent E_m of cytochrome c′ is approximately 200 mV more positive than the E_m values reported for the free state; this implies either that the reduced form of cytochrome c′ binds to the membrane (or to a component therein) to a degree which is > 10³ times greater than that of the oxidized form or that the E_m shift results from membrane solvation. In the case of the high-potential iron-sulfur protein however, its E_m when associated with the chromatophore membrane is similar to that reported in the isolated state. The light-induced oxidation of the high-potential iron-sulfur protein at room temperature appears to be linked only to the oxidation of cytochrome c₅₅₅; it could serve as an electron pool in equilibrium with cytochrome c₅₅₅ in the cyclic electron flow system.The redox component defined in the reduced state by its g_y = 1.82 and g_x = 1.62 ESR spectrum satisfies the following criteria for its identification as the primary electron acceptor of P883. (a) The E_m7·4 value of the g = 1.82 component is ?120 ± 25mV. (b) At ?70 mV, where the g = 1.82 component is mainly oxidized in the dark, brief illumination at low temperature which causes the irreversible oxidation of one cytochrome c₅₅₃ heme, also induces the permanent reduction of the g = 1.82 component; the extent of reduction after brief illumination, given by the g = 1.82 signal height, is the same as that induced chemically at ?270 mV showing it to be fully reduced by the receipt of a single electron. (c) At more positive potentials where cytochrome c₅₅₃ is oxidized and is not involved in low-temperature reactions, the light-induced low-temperature kinetics of the g = 1.82 signal are reversible; the flash-induced g = 1.82 formation and subsequent dark decay are the same as those for the flash-induced P⁺883 (g = 2) formation and dark decay. We suggest that until a full physical-chemical characterization is completed this g = 1.82 component be designated “photoredoxin”.     

八角属(八角科)三种植物之小记

根据对腊叶标本的研究,将少药八角Illicium oligandrum Merrill & Chun、I. parvifolium Merrill subsp. oligandrum(Merrill & Chun)Q. Lin作为小叶八角I. parvifolium Merrill的新异名,将苏门答腊八角I. sumatranum A. C. Smith作为里德利八角I. ridleyanum A. C. Smith的新异名,发现厚皮香八角I. ternstroemioides A. C. Smith在越南的新记录。     

Statistical analysis of temporal evolution in single-neuron firing rates

A fundamental methodology in neurophysiology involves recording the electrical signals associated with individual neurons within brains of awake behaving animals. Traditional statistical analyses have relied mainly on mean firing rates over some epoch (often several hundred milliseconds) that are compared across experimental conditions by analysis of variance. Often, however, the time course of the neuronal firing patterns is of interest, and a more refined procedure can produce substantial additional information. In this paper we compare neuronal firing in the supplementary eye field of a macaque monkey across two experimental conditions. We take the electrical discharges, or 'spikes', to be arrivals in a inhomogeneous Poisson process and then model the firing intensity function using both a simple parametric form and more flexible splines. Our main interest is in making inferences about certain characteristics of the intensity, including the timing of the maximal firing rate. We examine data from 84 neurons individually and also combine results into a hierarchical model. We use Bayesian estimation methods and frequentist significance tests based on a nonparametric bootstrap procedure. We are thereby able to conclude that a substantial fraction of the neurons exhibit important temporal differences in firing intensity across the two conditions, and we quantify the effect across the population of neurons.