TTLL11 gene is associated with sustained attention performance and brain networks: A genome-wide association study of a healthy Chinese sample

Genetic studies on attention have mainly focused on children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), so little systematic research has been conducted on genetic correlates of attention performance and their potential brain mechanisms among healthy individuals. The current study included a genome-wide association study (GWAS, N = 1145 healthy young adults) aimed to identify genes associated with sustained attention and an imaging genetics study (an independent sample of 483 healthy young adults) to examine any identified genes' influences on brain function. The GWAS found that TTLL11 showed genome-wide significant associations with sustained attention, with rs13298112 as the most significant SNP and the GG homozygotes showing more impulsive but also more focused responses than the A allele carriers. A retrospective examination of previously published ADHD GWAS results confirmed an un-reported, small but statistically significant effect of TTLL11 on ADHD. The imaging genetics study replicated this association and showed that the TTLL11 gene was associated with resting state activity and connectivity of the somatomoter network, and can be predicted by dorsal attention network connectivity. Specifically, the GG homozygotes showed lower brain activity, weaker brain network connectivity, and non-significant brain-attention association compared to the A allele carriers. Expression database showed that expression of this gene is enriched in the brain and that the G allele is associated with lower expression level than the A allele. These results suggest that TTLL11 may play a major role in healthy individuals' attention performance and may also contribute to the etiology of ADHD.     

Two New C19-Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Delphinium shawurense

Shawurenine C ( 1a ) and D ( 1b ), a new pair of regioisomeric C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids, and five known C₁₉-diterpenoid alkaloids ( 2 – 6 ) were isolated from the aerial part of Delphinium shawurense W. T. Wang. The chemical structures of new compounds were established based on spectroscopic analyses: HR-ESI-MS, and 1D, 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of these diterpenoid alkaloids were also evaluated.     

The Prevention Effect of Bacillus subtilis on Escherichia coli–Induced Mastitis in Mice by Suppressing the NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - Mastitis, common inflammation of the mammary gland, caused by various factors, is a challenge for the dairy industry. Escherichia coli (E. coli), a...     

Soil amendment with biochar and manure alters wood stake decomposition and fungal community composition

Biochar and manure can be used for sustainable land management. However, little is known about how soil amendments might affect surface and belowground microbial processes and subsequent wood decomposition. In a split-split-split plot design, we amended soil with two rates of manure (whole plot; 0 and 9 Mg ha⁻¹) and biochar (split plot; 0 and 10 Mg ha⁻¹). Wood stakes of three species (hybrid poplar, triploid Populus tomentosa Carr.; aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx.; and pine, Pinus taeda L.) were placed in two positions (horizontally on the soil surface, and inserted vertically in the mineral soil), which served as a substrate for fungal growth. In 3 years, the decomposition rate (density loss), moisture content, and fungal community (via high-throughput sequencing methods) of stakes were evaluated. Results indicated that biochar and/or manure increased the wood stake decomposition rates, moisture content, and operational taxonomic unit abundance. However, the richness and diversity of fungi were dependent on wood stake position (surface > mineral), species (pine > the two Populus), and sample dates. This study highlights that soil amendment with biochar and/or manure can alter the fungal community, which in turn can enhance an important soil process (i.e., decomposition).     

Universal two-dimensional labelled probe-mediated melting curve analysis based on multiplex PCR for rapid typing of Plasmodium in a single closed tube

Currently, malaria is still one of the major public health problems commonly caused by the four Plasmodium species. The similar symptoms of malaria and the COVID-19 epidemic of fever or fatigue lead to frequent misdiagnosis. The disadvantages of existing detection methods, such as time-consuming, costly, complicated operation, need for experienced technicians, and indistinguishable typing, lead to difficulties in meeting the clinical requirements of rapid, easy, and accurate typing of common Plasmodium species. In this study, we developed and optimized a universal two-dimensional labelled probe-mediated melting curve analysis (UP-MCA) assay based on multiplex and asymmetric PCR for rapid and accurate typing of five Plasmodium species, including novel human Plasmodium, Plasmodium knowlesi (Pk), in a single closed tube following genome extraction. The assay showed a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 copies per reaction and could accurately distinguish Plasmodium species from intra-plasmodium and other pathogens. Additionally, we proposed and validated different methods of fluorescence quenching and tag design for probes that are suitable for UP-MCA assays. Moreover, the clinical performance of the Plasmodium UP-MCA assay using a base-quenched universal probe was evaluated using 226 samples and showed a sensitivity of 100% (164/164) and specificity of 100% (62/62) at a 99% confidence interval, with the microscopy method as the gold standard. In summary, the UP-MCA assay showed excellent sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for genotyping Plasmodium species spp. Additionally, it facilitates convenient and rapid Plasmodium detection in routine clinical practice and has great potential for clinical translation.     

河南济源晚石炭世太原组的一种复体四射珊瑚

Ａｃｒｏｃｙａｔｈｕｓ是一类块状体或丛状体的四射珊瑚，在北美分布于下石炭统，我国见于上石炭统，但丛状体的在我国系首次发现。在连续切片上，可见两个生长阶段，其繁殖方式有侧芽繁殖和边缘泡沫板内繁殖，系统分类上另置独立的科级分类。根据形态分析，该珊瑚栖息在动水，能量略高及食料丰富的浅水环境。当前标本为一新种：Ａ．ｊｉｙｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓｓｐ．ｎｏｖ．。     

Characterization of the 16S rRNA- and membrane-binding domains of Streptococcus pneumoniae Era GTPase: structural and functional implications.

Era is a highly conserved GTPase essential for bacterial growth. The N-terminal part of Era contains a conserved GTPase domain, whereas the C-terminal part of the protein contains an RNA- and membrane-binding domain, the KH domain. To investigate whether the binding of Era to 16S rRNA and membrane requires its GTPase activity and whether the GTPase domain is essential for these activities, the N- and C-terminal parts of the Streptococcus pneumoniae Era - Era-N (amino acids 1-185) and Era-C (amino acids 141-299), respectively - were expressed and purified. Era-C, which had completely lost GTPase activity, bound to the cytoplasmic membrane and 16S rRNA. In contrast, Era-N, which retained GTPase activity, failed to bind to RNA or membrane. These results therefore indicate that the binding of Era to RNA and membrane does not require the GTPase activity of the protein and that the RNA-binding domain is an independent, functional domain. The physiological effects of the overexpression of Era-C were assessed. The Escherichia coli cells overexpressing Era and Era-N exhibited the same growth rate as wild-type E. coli cells. In contrast, the E. coli cells overexpressing Era-C exhibited a reduced growth rate, indicating that the overexpression of Era-C inhibits cell growth. Furthermore, overexpression of era-N and era-C resulted in morphological changes. Finally, purified Era and Era-C were able to bind to poly(U) RNA, and the binding of Era to poly(U) RNA was significantly inhibited by liposome, as the amount of Era bound to the RNA decreased proportionally with the increase of liposome in the assay. Therefore, this study provides the first biochemical evidence that both binding sites are overlapping. Together, these results indicate that the RNA- and membrane-binding domain of Era is a separate, functional entity and does not require the GTPase activity or the GTPase domain of the protein for activity.     

Computer Simulation of Clostridium botulinum Strain 56A Behavior at Low Spore Concentrations

It is generally assumed that spore behavior is independent of spore concentration, but recently published mathematical models indicate that this is not the case. A Monte Carlo simulation was employed in this study to further examine the independence assumption by evaluating the inherent variance in spore germination data. All simulations were carried out with @Risk software. A total of 500 to 4,000 iterations were needed for each simulation to reach convergence. Lag time and doubling time from a higher inoculum concentration were used to simulate the time to detection (TTD) at a lower inoculum concentration under otherwise identical environmental conditions. The point summaries of the simulated and observed TTDs were recorded for the 26 simulations, with kinetic data at the target inoculum concentration. The ratios of the median (R_m = median_obs/median_sim) and 90% range (R_r = 90% range_obs/90% range_sim) were calculated. Most R_m and R_r values were greater than one, indicating that the simulated TTDs were smaller and more homogeneous than the observed ones. R_r values departed farther from one than R_m values. Ratios obtained when simulating 1 spore with 10,000 spores deviated the farthest from one. Neither ratio was significantly different from the other when simulating 1 spore with 100 spores or simulating 100 spores with 10,000 spores. When kinetic data were not available, the percent positive observed at the 95th percentile of the simulated TTDs was obtained. These simulation results confirmed that the assumption of independence between spores is not valid.     

猪精子中与卵透明带糖蛋白ZP3结合的蛋白质

依次经ＰＳＬ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ亲和层析柱和纤维素ＣＭ－５２离子交换层析柱,从猪精子的ＣＨＡＰＳ抽提液分离得４个蛋白质组分。用固相透明带精蛋白结合试验（ＩＺＰＧＢＡ）检测;表明精子蛋白ＳＰ１和ＳＰ２具有结合透明带糖蛋白ＺＰ３的活性,ＳＰ２并显示凝集血球的活性。精子蛋白ＳＰ１与卵预温育明显抑制精卵结合,抑制活性与加入的精子蛋白的浓度呈正相关。用生物素标记的ＺＰ３和蛋白质印迹技术,证明ＳＰ１中的６８ｋＤ精子蛋白与ＺＰ３结合,提示６８ｋＤ精子蛋白参与精卵结合。     

紫米基因与RFLP标记的连锁分析

选用种皮呈紫黑色的水稻体细胞无性系变异体黑珍米和其种皮呈无色的原始亲本Ｂａｓｍａｔｉ３７０配制组合,同时应用１２１个ＤＮＡ探针检测了黑珍米与Ｂａｓｍａｔｉ３７０之间的ＲＦＬＰ。应用Ｆ２和Ｆ３群体研究了紫色种皮的遗传控制。结果表明,有一个显性主效基因控制着黑珍米和Ｂａｓｍａｔｉ３７０在种皮颜色上的差异。通过多态性ＤＮＡ探针与种皮颜色的共分离分析,发现该基因与水稻第四染色体上的ＤＮＡ标记ＲＧ３２９和ＲＧ２１４连锁,与ＲＧ３２９和ＲＧ２１４的遗传图距分别为１８．９ｃＭ和２６．３ｃＭ。