Balanced complex chromosomal rearrangements (BCCR) with at least three chromosomes and three or more breakpoints: report of three new cases

Balanced complex chromosomal rearrangements (BCCR) encompass a heterogeneous group of rare chromosomal aberrations. In this paper, we report three cases of BCCRs. In two the probands were referred for either genetic counseling or prenatal management. One case was ascertained after chromosome analysis performed because of psychiatric manifestations; this was an isolated finding. We also outline the molecular cytogenetic techniques, which were essential in confirming and precisely delineating the BCCRs identified in these patients. In addition the various aspects of genetic counseling for this type of chromosomal rearrangement, highlighting the details particular to each individual case are discussed. We discuss the classification for this type of chromosomal mutation.     

Regarding paper: "robustness of shrunken predictors in stratified population"

Article http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bimj.4710360113 Authors reply http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200810432     

Taylor's law and body size in exploited marine ecosystems

Taylor's law (TL), which states that variance in population density is related to mean density via a power law, and density‐mass allometry, which states that mean density is related to body mass via a power law, are two of the most widely observed patterns in ecology. Combining these two laws predicts that the variance in density is related to body mass via a power law (variance‐mass allometry). Marine size spectra are known to exhibit density‐mass allometry, but variance‐mass allometry has not been investigated. We show that variance and body mass in unexploited size spectrum models are related by a power law, and that this leads to TL with an exponent slightly <2. These simulated relationships are disrupted less by balanced harvesting, in which fishing effort is spread across a wide range of body sizes, than by size‐at‐entry fishing, in which only fish above a certain size may legally be caught.     

雄性短尾猴的等级顺位、睾酮水平与肠道寄生虫感染强度的关系

在等级森严的非人灵长类群体中,睾酮对雄性顺位维持有着重要作用,且影响着体内寄生虫种类和荷虫量。本研究以栖息于安徽黄山的雄性短尾猴为研究对象,通过计算成年雄性的等级顺位,测定其粪便中睾酮含量以及寄生虫的荷虫量,探讨雄性等级顺位、睾酮水平与健康间的平衡关系。结果表明：共检测出10种肠道寄生虫,包括4种蠕虫、5种原虫和1种螨虫;其中雄性短尾猴个体间睾酮水平（1.00±0.42） ng/g和肠道寄生虫荷虫量（112.44±83.62）EPG均存在显著差异（Kruskal-Wallis H,P<0.05）;等级顺位与睾酮水平呈正相关（Spearman, N=8,ρ= 0.326, P<0.05）,与肠道原虫类的荷虫量呈负相关（Spearman, N=8,ρ= - 0.345, P<0.05）,与肠道蠕虫类的荷虫量无相关性（Spearman, N=8,ρ= 0.065, P>0.05）;睾酮水平与肠道原虫类寄生虫的荷虫量呈负相关（Spearman, N=8,ρ= -0.546, P<0.05）,与肠道蠕虫类的荷虫量无相关性（Spearman, N=8,ρ= -0.013, P>0.05）。本研究表明高顺位雄性拥有更高的睾酮水平,这不仅对其顺位的维持具有重要作用,对原虫类寄生虫也具有明显的抑制作用。