A computational approach to characterization of bovine sperm chromatin alterations

We describe here a computational morphology-based approach to the investigation of possible causes of chromatin alterations in sperm. A comprehensive set of state-of-the-art and geometric measures are computationally extracted from toluidine blue stained images and analyzed to infer the possible processes leading to normal and abnormal chromatin formation while seeking a possible taxonomy of chromatin alterations and their influence on sperm head morphology. Using this methodology, we have identified higher chromatin fragility at some specific points of the sperm head. Despite the lack of correlation between morphologies of sperm head and chromatin structure, four main morphological types of chromatin alterations in bull spermatozoa have been identified and their possible causes discussed.     

Reproductive system,social organization,human disturbance and ecological dominance in native populations of the little fire ant,Wasmannia auropunctata

The invasive ant species Wasmannia auropunctata displays both ecologically dominant and non‐dominant populations within its native range. Three factors could theoretically explain the ecological dominance of some native populations of W. auropunctata: (i) its clonal reproductive system, through demographic and/or adaptive advantages; (ii) its unicolonial social organization, through lower intraspecific and efficient interspecific competition; (iii) the human disturbance of its native range, through the modification of biotic and abiotic environmental conditions. We used microsatellite markers and behavioural tests to uncover the reproductive modes and social organization of dominant and non‐dominant native populations in natural and human‐modified habitats. Microsatellite and mtDNA data indicated that dominant and non‐dominant native populations (supercolonies as determined by aggression tests) of W. auropunctata did not belong to different evolutionary units. We found that the reproductive system and the social organization are neither necessary nor sufficient to explain W. auropunctata ecological dominance. Dominance rather seems to be set off by unknown ecological factors altered by human activities, as all dominant populations were recorded in human‐modified habitats. The clonal reproductive system found in some populations of W. auropunctata may however indirectly contribute to its ecological dominance by allowing the species to expand its environmental niche, through the fixation over time of specific combinations of divergent male and female genotypes. Unicoloniality may rather promote the range expansion of already dominant populations than actually trigger ecological dominance. The W. auropunctata model illustrates the strong impact of human disturbance on species’ ecological features and the adaptive potential of clonal reproductive systems.     

Attention and the detectability of weak taste stimuli

Subjects detected weak solutions of sucrose or citric acid under conditions in which attention was directed toward one of the tastants or the other. Detection thresholds were measured using an adaptive, forced-choice procedure, with a three-down one-up rule, which computer simulations suggest should be more reliable than the popular two-down one-up rule. The thresholds were modestly but systematically lower for attended tastants than for unattended ones. Similar results have been reported in other sense modalities, including vision (greater sensitivity to stimuli presented to attended versus unattended spatial locations) and hearing (greater sensitivity to stimuli presented at attended versus unattended sound frequencies). Taken together, the findings are consistent with a general hypothesis regarding attention in sensory systems: gains or losses in detectability occur when a central attentional mechanism (or, conceivably, a preattentive mechanism) selectively and preferentially monitors signals arising from particular subsets of peripheral neural inputs.      

Isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, and thiazolylpropionic acid derivatives as potent alpha(4)beta(1) integrin antagonists

A series of isoxazolyl, oxazolyl, and thiazolylpropionic acid derivatives derived from LDV was found to be a potent antagonist of the alpha(4)beta(1) integrin. The synthesis and SAR leading up to 3-[3-(1-[-[3-methoxy-4-(3-o-tolyl-ureido)-phenyl]-acetylamino]-3-methyl-butyl)-isoxazol-5-yl]-propionic acid (22) are reported. In an allergic mouse model, compound 22 was efficacious delivered systemically (58% inhib @ 10 mg/kg, sc) as well as by intra-tracheal instillation (ED(50)=2 microg/kg).     

Inferring recent migration rates from individual genotypes

We present a novel and straightforward method for estimating recent migration rates between discrete populations using multilocus genotype data. The approach builds upon a two-step sampling design, where individual genotypes are sampled before and after dispersal. We develop a model that estimates all pairwise backwards migration rates ( m_ij , the probability that an individual sampled in population i is a migrant from population j ) between a set of populations. The method is validated with simulated data and compared with the methods of BayesAss and Structure. First, we use data for an island model and then we consider more realistic data simulations for a metapopulation of the greater white-toothed shrew ( Crocidura russula ). We show that the precision and bias of estimates primarily depend upon the proportion of individuals sampled in each population. Weak sampling designs may particularly affect the quality of the coverage provided by 95% highest posterior density intervals. We further show that it is relatively insensitive to the number of loci sampled and the overall strength of genetic structure. The method can easily be extended and makes fewer assumptions about the underlying demographic and genetic processes than currently available methods. It allows backwards migration rates to be estimated across a wide range of realistic conditions.     

ARGX-110, a highly potent antibody targeting CD70, eliminates tumors via both enhanced ADCC and immune checkpoint blockade

Overexpression of CD70 has been documented in a variety of solid and hematological tumors, where it is thought to play a role in tumor proliferation and evasion of immune surveillance. Here, we describe ARGX-110, a defucosylated IgG1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that selectively targets and neutralizes CD70, the ligand of CD27.   ARGX-110 was generated by immunization of outbred llamas. The antibody was germlined to 95% human identity, and its anti-tumor efficacy was tested in several in vitro assays. ARGX-110 binds CD70 with picomolar affinity. In depletion studies, ARGX-110 lyses tumor cells with greater efficacy than its fucosylated version. In addition, ARGX-110 demonstrates strong complement-dependent cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis activity. ARGX-110 inhibits signaling of CD27, which results in blocking of the activation and proliferation of Tregs. In a Raji xenograft model, administration of the fucosylated version of ARGX-110 resulted in a prolonged survival at doses of 0.1 mg/kg and above. The pharmacokinetics of ARGX-110 was tested in cynomolgus monkeys; the calculated half-life is 12 days. In conclusion, ARGX-110 is a potent blocking mAb with a dual mode of action against both CD70-bearing tumor cells and CD70-dependent Tregs. This antibody is now in a Phase 1 study in patients with advanced malignancies expressing CD70 ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01813539","term_id":"NCT01813539"}}NCT01813539).     

Body mass index and nutritional status of the Bayash Roma from eastern Croatia

This study examines anthropometrically assessed nutritional status of the Bayash, the Roma population from the eastern Croatian region of Baranya, and compares it to the non-Roma general population of eastern Croatia. The analysis of nutritional status and diets is a segment of multidisciplinary anthropological and epidemiological survey of the Roma minority population in Croatia began in 2005. The Bayash are an ethnic group that arrived to Croatia from Romania most likely in the 19th century and speaks a distinct archaic dialect of the Romanian language. The Roma population of Baranya approximates 1,000 according to the 2001 census. The Bayash sample comprised 227 adults aged 18-65yrs. The women fall below the Croatian 10th percentile for stature and men track about the 10th percentile. Both sexes approximate the 25th percentile for body weight. Despite their diminutive size, the Bayash appear to have adequate nutritional status until the age of 35yrs after which their average BMI exceeds the value of 25 kg/m(2) and falls in the overweight category. However, 8% of Bayash are underweight (BMI<18.5) in contrast to 1% of the majority population in the region. Underweight rates are especially high in women (11%) compared to men (4%). The prevalence of overweight (BMI 25.0 to 29.9) of 30% is considerably lower than in the majority population (42%) while the prevalence of obesity (BMI>or=30.0) of 23% is approximately equal. Overall unsatisfactory nutritional status of the Bayash merits attention. It appears to be the product of unhealthy dietary habits and their socio-economic deprivation that resulted from their poor education and extremely high unemployment.     

金柚贮藏真菌病害及保鲜技术研究

1998年5月-2000年10月间调查了梅州柚果贮藏期的真菌病害,它们是:①柚果绿霉病(Penicilliumdigitatum),②柚果炭疽病(Collettrichumgloeosporioides),③柚果黑腐病(Alternariacitri),④柚果焦腐病(Diplodianatalensis)和⑤柚果酸腐病(Oosporacitri-aurantii)等5种.从几种安全性高的保鲜剂中筛选出1个混用配方,该配方对柚果贮藏防腐保鲜效果明显,贮藏5个月无病斑果达100%,6个月也只有20%的柚果出现少量病斑,且柚果几项质量指标较好.     

Reticulate evolution on a mosaic of soils: diversification of the New Caledonian endemic genus Codia (Cunoniaceae)

We reconstructed the evolutionary history of Codia , a plant genus endemic to the New Caledonia biodiversity hotspot in the southwest Pacific, using three single-copy nuclear genes. It seems likely that more than half of Codia species have a hybrid origin, but in the absence of cytological information, it is not known whether polyploids occur. Adaptation to ultramafic soils is possibly a plesiomorphic character for the entire genus. We found that species of hybrid origin can have some morphological characters absent in putative parental species, that is, they exhibit transgressive phenotypes. There is evidence of considerable range alteration post-origin in several species because some likely parental species of hybrid taxa no longer co-occur and are confined to putative rainforest refugia; in some cases, hybrid species do not now co-occur with either of their parental species. These results have implications for the design of conservation strategies, for example, prioritization of parental species for ex-situ conservation and preservation of the contact zones between soil types where hybridization is more likely to occur (i.e. conserving the possibility for the process to continue rather than trying to conserve taxa).