A study on multidimensional time series model of individual age’s measurement in Castanopsis kawakamii population

Studies on disclosing characteristics and endangered mechanisms of Castanopsis kawakamii population ecology have already become an urgent task of protecting C. kawakamii population. The establishment of the standard life table is one of an important work study on C. kawakamii population ecology, and determining individual ages of the plant is necessary for studying age structures and population dynamics of C. kawakamii. There are three main methods of determining individual age of forest population: (1) by annual ring of tree, (2) by individual growth phase, and (3) by DBH and height of tree. However, the three methods have their shortcomings, such as low precision, worse serviceability, high difficulty for operation and so on. In this paper, a new method for determining plant individual ages more accurately is presented on the basis of the method aboU_t “annual ring–time series”. Based on the stem analysis, the multidimensional time series model of diameter growth at breast height in C. kawakamii population was established by U_tilizing the analY_tical method of multidimensional time series: Y_t = 1.325034Y_t-1 ? 0.4711007Y_t-2 ? 284.5648U_t + 569.4783U_t?1 ? 284.8745U_t?2, where Y_t, Y_t-1, Y_t-2 represent diameter growth in C. kawakamii population at t, t ? 10 and t ? 20 years respectively, and U_t, U_t?1, U_t?2 represent individual age in C. kawakamii population at t, t ? 10 and t ? 20 years respectively, the model coefficient correlation is 0.9994. Based on this model CAR(2), the total increment of individual DBH in C. kawakamii population are simulated and regressively verified at different ages. The mean simulating precision of this model was 98.84%, the maximum relative error was 2.56%, bU_t the next was 2.47% and the minimum relative error was 0.07%, showing that this model was suitable for estimating breast-height diameter of C. kawakamii plant. Using the multidimensional time series model, diameter growth of C. kawakamii population for longer time series was estimated in order to gain data for establishing the relationship model of individual age, diameter growth and to increase its precision in determining individual age is by tree ring analysis. A combination method of determining individual age of C. kawakamii population by integrating annual ring data with its diameter using multidimensional time series model, which can improve precision of individual ages in C. kawakami, was produced: A = 9.966671944 + 1.146011591D + 0.041059628D² ? 0.000211907D³, where A and D represent individual age and diameter at breast height respectively in C. kawakamii population, the model coefficient correlation is 0.9998. The combination model, which shows that the regression relationship is significant and the model can exactly predict the individual age of population, is a valuable tool for determining individual ages in endangered plants.     

Allosteric modulation of adenosine receptors

Allosteric modulators for adenosine receptors may have potential therapeutic advantage over orthosteric ligands. Allosteric enhancers at the adenosine A₁ receptor have been linked to antiarrhythmic and antilipolytic activity. They may also have therapeutic potential as analgesics and neuroprotective agents. A₃ allosteric enhancers are postulated to be useful against ischemic conditions or as antitumor agents. In this review, we address recent developments regarding the medicinal chemistry of such compounds. Most efforts have been and are directed toward adenosine A₁ and A₃ receptors, whereas limited or no information is available for A_2A and A_2B receptors. We also discuss some findings, mostly receptor mutation studies, regarding localization of the allosteric binding sites on the receptors.     

A proteomic approach identifies early pregnancy biomarkers for preeclampsia: Novel linkages between a predisposition to preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease

Preeclampsia (PE) is a common, potentially life‐threatening pregnancy syndrome triggered by placental factors released into the maternal circulation, resulting in maternal vascular dysfunction along with activated inflammation and coagulation. Currently there is no screening test for PE. We sought to identify differentially expressed plasma proteins in women who subsequently develop PE that may perform as predictive biomarkers. In seven DIGE experiments, we compared the plasma proteome at 20 wk gestation in women who later developed PE with an appropriate birth weight for gestational age baby (n=27) or a small for gestational age baby (n=12) to healthy controls with uncomplicated pregnancies (n=57). Of the 49 differentially expressed spots associated with PE‐appropriate for gestational age, PE‐small for gestational age or both (p<0.05, false discovery rate corrected), 39 were identified by LC‐MS/MS. Two protein clusters that accurately (>90%) classified women at risk of developing PE were identified. Immunoblots confirmed the overexpression of fibrinogen γ chain and α‐1‐antichymotrypsin in plasma prior to PE. The proteins identified are involved in lipid metabolism, coagulation, complement regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, protease inhibitor activity and acute‐phase responses, indicating novel synergism between pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PE. Our findings are remarkably similar to recently identified proteins complexed to high‐density lipoprotein and linked to cardiovascular disease.     

移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF—ET结局的影响

目的：探讨移植胚胎数目对高龄不孕患者IVF—ET结局的影响。方法：根据移植胚胎个数将年龄超过35岁的不孕患者338个周期分为单胚胎移植组（I组）,2个胚胎移植组（Ⅱ组）,3个胚胎移植组（Ⅲ组）。分析患者IVF治疗情况并按年龄分层比较三组患者的IVF-ET结局。结果：高龄不孕患者行IVF,随年龄增加,获卵数、优质胚胎率和临床妊娠率降低,流产率呈增高趋势。Ⅰ组的妊娠率9．43％,显著低于Ⅱ组（24．24％）和Ⅲ组（31．37％）（P〈0．05）。对于40岁以下的患者,移植3个胚胎的妊娠率与移植2个胚胎差无异,但显著高于移植1个胚胎（P〈0．05）。增加40岁以上患者移植胚胎的数目,妊娠率未出现有统计学意义的升高。三组的胚胎种植率分别为9．43％,12．12％和12．2％,无统计学差异。Ⅲ组中多胎率12．5％（6／48）,其中35-36岁年龄段多胎率16．67％（5／30）。结论：高龄不孕患者可移植的胚胎数目随年龄增加和获卵数目降低而降低。其中较年轻者（35-36岁年龄段）,移植3个胚胎,对妊娠率提高无明显效果,但多胎发生显著增加。     

Genetic parameters for growth, reproductive and maternal traits in a multibreed meat sheep population

The genetic parameters for growth, reproductive and maternal traits in a multibreed meat sheep population were estimated by applying the Average Information Restricted Maximum Likelihood method to an animal model. Data from a flock supported by the Programa de Melhoramento Genético de Caprinos e Ovinos de Corte (GENECOC) were used. The traits studied included birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), slaughter weight (SW), yearling weight (YW), weight gain from birth to weaning (GBW), weight gain from weaning to slaughter (GWS), weight gain from weaning to yearling (GWY), age at first lambing (AFL), lambing interval (LI), gestation length (GL), lambing date (LD - number of days between the start of breeding season and lambing), litter weight at birth (LWB) and litter weight at weaning (LWW). The direct heritabilities were 0.35, 0.81, 0.65, 0.49, 0.20, 0.15 and 0.39 for BW, WW, SW, YW, GBW, GWS and GWY, respectively, and 0.04, 0.06, 0.10, 0.05, 0.15 and 0.11 for AFL, LI, GL, LD, LWB and LWW, respectively. Positive genetic correlations were observed among body weights. In contrast, there was a negative genetic correlation between GBW and GWS (-0.49) and GBW and GWY (-0.56). Positive genetic correlations were observed between AFL and LI, LI and GL, and LWB and LWW. These results indicate a strong maternal influence in this herd and the presence of sufficient genetic variation to allow mass selection for growth traits. Additive effects were of little importance for reproductive traits, and other strategies are necessary to improve the performance of these animals.     

Secular change in size at birth from 1973 to 2003: national data from Denmark

Objective: To explore whether birth weight (BW) has been increasing in Denmark at the same level as in other countries and whether this increase is paralleled by an increase in birth length (BL) or whether body proportionality, expressed as ponderal index (PI), has changed. Research Methods and Procedures: This study used data analysis of information from The Danish Medical Birth Registry including all single live births in Denmark from 1973 to 2003 (n = 1,863,456). BW, BL, gestational age, maternal age, and smoking status (only from 1991 on) were measured. Results: Mean BW increased steadily during the period (160 grams; equivalent to ～5 g/yr) at a rate higher than that reported from other countries. BL showed only a minor increase (2.4 mm), leading to an increase in PI (0.8 kg/m³) during the period. Controlling for the effect of increasing maternal age and decreasing gestational age and maternal smoking prevalence (only data after 1991), there was still an increase in BW of ～4 g/yr. Discussion: During the last 30 years, neonates have become bigger, with a larger relative increase in BW than BL, leading to an increase in PI. The increasing BW and PI, which may be caused by increased maternal weight, could further promote the obesity epidemic.     

盐胁迫下不同树龄枸杞各器官的盐离子分布

以甘肃景泰沿黄灌区栽植的枸杞(Ly cium barbarum L.)为研究对象,研究了盐胁迫下不同树龄枸杞各器官的盐离子分配.结果表明,1~2年生枸杞各器官的K 分布为幼叶>成叶>嫩茎,而3~4年生枸杞为幼果>嫩茎>幼叶>成叶;1~4年生枸杞成叶的N a 含量分别为1.273%、1.414%、0.689%和0.497%;不同年龄枸杞成叶、幼叶、嫩茎和幼果的N a /K 平均值分别为2.425%、1.397%、0.489%和0.301%;随枸杞年龄的增加,根对土壤中N a 、K 的选择吸收比值(SA)逐渐增加.枸杞选择性吸收K 、拒N a 的特性和分配较多N a 、C l-给耐盐性较强的器官(成叶)是枸杞耐盐的重要原因.     

Modeling the Evolutionary Architectures of Transcribed Human Enhancer Sequences Reveals Distinct Origins,Functions, and Associations with Human Trait Variation

Despite the importance of gene regulatory enhancers in human biology and evolution, we lack a comprehensive model of enhancer evolution and function. This substantially limits our understanding of the genetic basis of species divergence and our ability to interpret the effects of noncoding variants on human traits.To explore enhancer sequence evolution and its relationship to regulatory function, we traced the evolutionary origins of transcribed human enhancer sequences with activity across diverse tissues and cellular contexts from the FANTOM5 consortium. The transcribed enhancers are enriched for sequences of a single evolutionary age (“simple” evolutionary architectures) compared with enhancers that are composites of sequences of multiple evolutionary ages (“complex” evolutionary architectures), likely indicating constraint against genomic rearrangements. Complex enhancers are older, more pleiotropic, and more active across species than simple enhancers. Genetic variants within complex enhancers are also less likely to associate with human traits and biochemical activity. Transposable-element-derived sequences (TEDS) have made diverse contributions to enhancers of both architectures; the majority of TEDS are found in enhancers with simple architectures, while a minority have remodeled older sequences to create complex architectures. Finally, we compare the evolutionary architectures of transcribed enhancers with histone-mark-defined enhancers.Our results reveal that most human transcribed enhancers are ancient sequences of a single age, and thus the evolution of most human enhancers was not driven by increases in evolutionary complexity over time. Our analyses further suggest that considering enhancer evolutionary histories provides context that can aid interpretation of the effects of variants on enhancer function. Based on these results, we propose a framework for analyzing enhancer evolutionary architecture.     

Neuropeptide regulators of the juvenile hormone biosynthesis (in vitro) in the beetle,Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera,Tenebrionidae)

The genome of Tribolium castaneum encodes two allatostatin [AS type B; W(X)₆Wamide and AS type C; PISCF‐OH] and one allatotropin (AT) precursor, but no AS type A (FGLamide) (Tribolium Genome Sequencing Consortium, 2008: Nature 452:949–955). Here we studied the activity (in vitro) of peptides derived from these precursors on the synthesis/release of juvenile hormone (JH) III. The corpora cardiaca‐corpora allata (CC‐CA) complexes of adult females of another tenebrionid beetle, the mealworm Tenebrio molitor, were used. Incubating the gland complexes in a medium containing Trica‐AS B3 peptide, we showed that the peptide has allatostatic function in T. molitor. The activity of the type C AS depended on the age of the test animals and their intrinsic rate of JH III biosynthesis. The Trica‐AS C peptide inhibited the JH release from CA of 3‐day‐old females with a high intrinsic rate of JH synthesis, but activated JH release from the CA of 7‐day‐old females with a lower intrinsic rate of JH production. The allatotropin peptide (Trica‐AT) also activated the JH release from the CA of 7‐day‐old females in a dose‐dependent and reversible manner. Unexpectedly, a type A AS derived from the precursor of the American cockroach Periplaneta americana (Peram‐AS A2b) inhibited the JH release from the CA of younger and older females in the concentration range of 10^?8 to 10^?4 M, and the effects were fully reversible in the absence of peptide. These data suggest a complex role of allatoactive neuropeptides in the regulation of JH III biosynthesis in beetles. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Investigation of growth phases for bottlenose dolphins using a Bayesian modeling approach

The Gompertz function is the most commonly used growth function for cetacean studies. However, this function cannot represent multiple phases of growth. In this study, we present a Bayesian framework fitting parameters of a triple-logistic growth function to describe multiple phases of growth for bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ), simultaneously fitting and comparing all growth parameters between South Carolina (SC), Mississippi Sound (MSS), and Indian River Lagoon (IRL) cohorts. The fitted functions indicated a preliminary early, rapid growth phase, followed by a second phase of slower growth, and then a moderate growth spurt later in life. Growth parameters between geographic cohorts did not show obvious differences, although asymptotic length for SC dolphins was lower than MSS and IRL dolphins and significantly lower between females from SC and the IRL. Growth rate velocities between the sexes showed females exceed males initially (<1 yr), followed by males gaining an advantage around the ages of 3–4 yr until the age of around 15 yr when growth rates for both sexes approached zero (asymptotic length). This study demonstrates age-related changes in growth rates between bottlenose dolphin sexes and evidence of at least some differences ( i.e. , asymptotic length) across geographic cohorts.