A genome-wide association study reveals specific transferases as candidate loci for bovine milk oligosaccharides synthesis.

BackgroundHuman milk oligosaccharides (OS) play a key role in brain and gut microbiota development of the neonate, but the underlying biosynthetic steps of OS in the mammary gland are still largely unknown. As bovine milk contains OS with somewhat similar structures and functionalities there is increased interest in further understanding the genetic basis underlying the OS content of milk for eventual extraction and generation of value-added ingredients for infant formulas and nutraceuticals. The present study is the first to report on genetic parameter estimation as well as on a genome wide association study (GWAS) from the largest bovine milk OS dataset analyzed to date.ResultsIn total 15 different bovine milk OS were monitored. Heritabilities ranged from 0 to 0.68 in Danish Holstein and from 0 to 0.92 in Danish Jersey. The GWAS identified in total 1770 SNPs (FDR < 0.10) for five different OS in Danish Holstein and 6913 SNPs (FDR < 0.10) for 11 OS in Danish Jersey. In Danish Holstein, a major overlapping QTL was identified on BTA1 for LNH and LNT explaining 24% of the variation in these OS. The most significant SNPs were associated with B3GNT5, a gene encoding a glycosyltransferase involved in glycan synthesis. In Danish Jersey, a very strong QTL was detected for the OS with composition 2 Hex 1 HexNAc (isomer 1) on BTA11. The most significant SNP had -log10(P-value) of 52.88 (BOVINEHD1100030300) and was assigned to ABO, a gene encoding ABO blood group glycosyltransferases. This SNP has been reported to be a missense mutation and explains 56% of the OS variation. Other candidate genes of interest identified for milk OS were ALG3, B3GALNT2, LOC520336, PIGV, MAN1C1, ST6GALNAC6, GLT6D1, GALNT14, GALNT17, COLGALT2, LFNG and SIGLEC.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study documenting a solid breeding potential for bovine milk OS and a strong indication of specific candidate genes related to OS synthesis underlying this genetic influence. This new information has the potential to guide breeding strategies to achieve production of milk with higher diversity and concentration of OS and ultimately facilitate large-scale extraction of bovine milk OS

A dyadic planning intervention to quit smoking in single-smoking couples:design of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is the largest preventable cause of death. Smoking cessation interventions that use implementation intentions show promising results. Implementation intentions are if-then plans that specify a certain behaviour within a situational context. This study will examine whether involving a non-smoking partner could improve planning interventions, and whether and which partner interactions underlie this effectiveness. METHODS: This single-blind randomized controlled trial has a longitudinal design with a baseline questionnaire, end-of-day measurements for three weeks starting on the quit date, and a follow-up questionnaire after three months. PARTICIPANTS: single-smoking couples who live together and are in a relationship for more than one year. SETTING: couples are randomized to either a dyadic or individual planning condition. After the intervention the smoker attempts to quit smoking and the diary measurements start. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome variable is smoking abstinence. Secondary outcome measures are smoking behaviour and relationship satisfaction. Partner interactions are examined as a possible mediator. DISCUSSION: This RCT is the first to examine the effectiveness of dyadic planning to quit smoking in single-smoking couples. Partner interactions are thought to play an important role during the quit attempt, and therefore in the effectiveness of the intervention. This RCT will provide more insight into which daily partner interactions are beneficial for smoking abstinence and the couples' relationship satisfaction, and whether the type of intervention is related to different types or levels of partner interactions and smoking behaviour. When proven effective, this planning intervention in combination with coaching for the non-smoking partner will be a valuable and low-cost addition to existing smoking interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial is retrospectively registered on 19/04/2017 on www.trialregister.nl ( TC: 6398 )

Diffusion of spheres in isotropic and nematic suspensions of rods

Diffusion of a small tracer sphere (apoferritin) in isotropic and nematic networks [of fd virus] is discussed. For a tracer sphere that is smaller than the mesh size of the network, screened hydrodynamic interactions between the sphere and the network determine its diffusion coefficient. A theory is developed for such interactions as well as their relation to the long-time self-diffusion coefficient. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements on mixtures of apoferritin and fd virus are presented. The long-time self-diffusion coefficient of apoferritin is measured as a function of the fd-virus concentration, both in the isotropic and nematic state, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the nematic director. The hydrodynamic screening length of the fd-virus network as a function of fd concentration is obtained by combining these experimental data with the theory. Surprisingly, the screening length increases with increasing concentration in nematic networks. This is due to the increase in the degree of alignment, which apparently leads to a strong increase of the screening length. Hydrodynamic screening is thus strongly diminished by alignment. A self-consistent calculation of the screening length does not work at higher concentrations, probably due to the strong variation of the typical incident flow fields over the contour of a rod

Estimation of genetic parameters and detection of chromosomal regions affecting the major milk proteins and their post translational modifications in Danish Holstein and Danish Jersey cattle

Linkage disequilibrium plot (r 2) of the DGAT region in the Danish Jersey breed. (PNG 342 kb

Daily Support and Negative Control During a Quit Attempt in Single-Smoking Couples

OBJECTIVE: Research has shown a beneficial influence of partner support on smoking cessation. Previous studies mainly focused on support and neglected negative behaviors. Less is known about differences in support perceptions between partners. This study aimed to examine how supportive as well as negative control behaviors relate to smoking and relationship satisfaction in single-smoking couples during a quit attempt. METHOD: Smokers and their nonsmoking partners (n = 170 cohabiting couples) participated in an intensive longitudinal study over 21 days with end-of-day diaries. A dyadic score model was used, emphasizing couple levels and differences for the explanatory variables (i.e., support and negative control) and the outcome variables (smoking [for smokers only]; relationship satisfaction). RESULTS: Smokers whose partner showed more supportive and less negative control behavior had a lower probability of smoking, and both partners had higher relationship satisfaction. On days with more supportive and less negative control behavior than usual, smokers had a lower probability of smoking and both partners had higher relationship satisfaction. For smokers who reported more support than their partner reported providing, the couples' relationship satisfaction was higher and the smokers' relationship satisfaction was higher than their partners'. Differences between received and provided support/control at the between-couple and daily level were unrelated to smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Support seems important during a quit attempt as it was related to a lower probability of smoking and higher relationship satisfaction in couples, while negative control behaviors should be avoided as they were associated with higher probability of smoking and lower relationship satisfaction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)

AB 2019/343

Een ligplaatsverbod raakt verhuurders van woonboten niet specifiek. Daarom is het geen vergunning in de zin van de Dienstenwet en is de lex silencio positivo niet van toepassing.ABRvS343The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Law & Governance in a World of Multilevel Jurisdiction

A continuous isotropic-nematic liquid crystalline transition of F-actin solutions

The phase transition from the isotropic (I) to nematic (N) liquid crystalline suspension of F-actin of average length $3~\mu$m or above was studied by local measurements of optical birefringence and protein concentration. Both parameters were detected to be continuous in the transition region, suggesting that the I-N transition is higher than 1st order. This finding is consistent with a recent theory by Lammert, Rokhsar & Toner (PRL, 1993, 70:1650), predicting that the I-N transition may become continuous due to suppression of disclinations. Indeed, few line defects occur in the aligned phase of F-actin. Individual filaments in solutions of a few mg/ml F-actin undergo fast translational diffusion along the filament axis, whereas both lateral and rotational diffusions are suppressed.Comment: 4 pages with 4 figures. Submitted to Physical Review Letter