Association of plasma microRNA expression with age, genetic background and functional traits in dairy cattle

Abstract A number of blood circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are proven disease biomarkers and have been associated with ageing and longevity in multiple species. However, the role of circulating miRNAs in livestock species has not been fully studied. We hypothesise that plasma miRNA expression profiles are affected by age and genetic background, and associated with health and production traits in dairy cattle. Using PCR arrays, we assessed 306 plasma miRNAs for effects of age (calves vs mature cows) and genetic background (control vs select lines) in 18 animals. We identified miRNAs which were significantly affected by age (26 miRNAs) and genetic line (5 miRNAs). Using RT-qPCR in a larger cow population (n = 73) we successfully validated array data for 12 age-related miRNAs, one genetic line-related miRNA, and utilised expression data to associate their levels in circulation with functional traits in these animals. Plasma miRNA levels were associated with telomere length (ageing/longevity indicator), milk production and composition, milk somatic cell count (mastitis indicator), fertility, lameness, and blood metabolites linked with body energy balance and metabolic stress. In conclusion, circulating miRNAs could provide useful selection markers for dairy cows to help improve health, welfare and production performance

Robust physical methods that enrich genomic regions identical by descent for linkage studies: confirmation of a locus for osteogenesis imperfecta

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The monogenic disease osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is due to single mutations in either of the collagen genes ColA1 or ColA2, but within the same family a given mutation is accompanied by a wide range of disease severity. Although this phenotypic variability implies the existence of modifier gene variants, genome wide scanning of DNA from OI patients has not been reported. Promising genome wide marker-independent physical methods for identifying disease-related loci have lacked robustness for widespread applicability. Therefore we sought to improve these methods and demonstrate their performance to identify known and novel loci relevant to OI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have improved methods for enriching regions of identity-by-descent (IBD) shared between related, afflicted individuals. The extent of enrichment exceeds 10- to 50-fold for some loci. The efficiency of the new process is shown by confirmation of the identification of the Col1A2 locus in osteogenesis imperfecta patients from Amish families. Moreover the analysis revealed additional candidate linkage loci that may harbour modifier genes for OI; a locus on chromosome 1q includes COX-2, a gene implicated in osteogenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Technology for physical enrichment of IBD loci is now robust and applicable for finding genes for monogenic diseases and genes for complex diseases. The data support the further investigation of genetic loci other than collagen gene loci to identify genes affecting the clinical expression of osteogenesis imperfecta. The discrimination of IBD mapping will be enhanced when the IBD enrichment procedure is coupled with deep resequencing.</p

Control y gestión gerencial en la producción audiovisual para canales de televisión como soporte a la toma de decisiones basado en tecnología web

La empresa SOFTRAH S.A. enfocó sus esfuerzos en la realización de E-ProdTV, un Sistema de Gestión para Control de Producciones Audiovisuales. Este es el primer producto que la empresa lanzará al mercado, y con el que espera tener éxito, basado en un servicio que busca la satisfacción del cliente, a través de una herramienta tecnológica, que soporte su infraestructura en la producción audiovisual. La elaboración de una producción, inicia con un libreto desglosado en capítulos y escenas, integradas por personajes, figurantes, vestuario, maquillaje, utilería, escenografía y todos los elementos necesarios en una escena. Cada escena desglosada se programa en una pauta general, donde se asigna el equipo y fecha de grabación, para finalmente formar la pauta diaria registrando para cada escena una hora y orden en la que será grabada. Actualmente las estaciones de televisión, para este proceso, tienen centralizada la información en un operador de un sistema monousuario; el equipo de grabación maneja información de modo informal y redundante, tienen problemas al relacionar sus tareas y no todos cuentan con información actualizada. E-ProdTV dirigido al mercado televisión, es la solución ideal para el control total de una producción, pues integra el equipo y ayuda a optimizar los recursos operativos.ESPO

Hypoxanthine and xanthine levels in human aqueous humor from cataractous eyes.

Purine nucleotide degradation products have been determined by HPLC in aqueous humor obtained during cataract surgery and from plasma of 22 patients (12 women). Uric acid, cytosine, guanosine monophosphate, uracyl, guanine, adenosine, adenosine monophosphate, thymine, adenine, inosine, cyclic guanosine monophosphate, hypoxanthine and xanthine were evaluated. Uric acid and the last two were the only compounds detectable in measurable amounts in aqueous humor and in plasma of all patients. Aqueous humor xanthine levels were not significantly different from plasma; aqueous humor hypoxanthine concentrations were lower than those of xanthine and than plasma oxypurine levels. In 8 patients, treated with allopurinol, oxypurinol concentrations in aqueous humor and in plasma were comparable suggesting that oxypurines are transported through the blood-aqueous humor barrier

Direct visualization of floppy two-dimensional DNA origami using cryogenic electron microscopy

© 2022 The Author(s)Two-dimensional (2D) DNA origami that is capable of self-assembling into complex 2D and 3D geometries pave the way for a bottom-up synthesis for various applications in nano/biotechnology. Here, we directly visualized the aqueous structure of 2D DNA origami cross-tiles and their assemblies using cryogenic electron microscopy. We uncovered flexible arms in cross-tile monomers and designated inter-tile folding. In addition, we observed the formation of clusters and stacks of DNA cross-tiles in solution, which could potentially affect the interaction and assembly of DNA origami. Finally, we quantitatively evaluated the flexibility of DNA origami in solution using finite element analysis. Our discovery has laid the foundation for investigating the dynamic structures of 2D DNA origami assemblies in solution, providing insights regarding the self-assembly and self-replication mechanisms of 2D DNA origami.N