The Polygenic and Monogenic Basis of Blood Traits and Diseases

Blood cells play essential roles in human health, underpinning physiological processes such as immunity, oxygen transport, and clotting, which when perturbed cause a significant global health burden. Here we integrate data from UK Biobank and a large-scale international collaborative effort, including data for 563,085 European ancestry participants, and discover 5,106 new genetic variants independently associated with 29 blood cell phenotypes covering a range of variation impacting hematopoiesis. We holistically characterize the genetic architecture of hematopoiesis, assess the relevance of the omnigenic model to blood cell phenotypes, delineate relevant hematopoietic cell states influenced by regulatory genetic variants and gene networks, identify novel splice-altering variants mediating the associations, and assess the polygenic prediction potential for blood traits and clinical disorders at the interface of complex and Mendelian genetics. These results show the power of large-scale blood cell trait GWAS to interrogate clinically meaningful variants across a wide allelic spectrum of human variation. Analysis of blood cell traits in the UK Biobank and other cohorts illuminates the full genetic architecture of hematopoietic phenotypes, with evidence supporting the omnigenic model for complex traits and linking polygenic burden with monogenic blood diseases

Partial wave analyses of J/psi to gamma pi^+ pi^- and gamma pi^0 pi^0

Results are presented on J/psi radiative decays to pi^+pi^- and pi^0pi^0 based on a sample of 58M J/psi events taken with the BESII detector. Partial wave analyses are carried out using the relativistic covariant tensor amplitude method in the 1.0 to 2.3 GeV/c^2 pipi mass range. There are conspicuous peaks due to the f_2(1270) and two 0^++ states in the 1.45 and 1.75 GeV/c^2 mass regions. The first 0^++ state has a mass of 1466\pm 6\pm 20 MeV/c^2, a width of 108^{+14}_{-11}\pm 25 MeV/c^2, and a branching fraction B(J/psi \to \gamma f_0(1500) \to\gamma \pi^+\pi^-) = (0.67\pm0.02\pm0.30) \times 10^{-4}. Spin 0 is strongly preferred over spin 2. The second 0^++ state peaks at 1765^{+4}_{-3}\pm 13 MeV/c^2 with a width of 145\pm8\pm69 MeV/c^2. If this 0^++ is interpreted as coming from f_0(1710), the ratio of its branching fractions to pipi and K\bar K is 0.41^{+0.11}_{-0.17}.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

North American tree migration paced by climate in the West, lagging in the East

Tree fecundity and recruitment have not yet been quantified at scales needed to anticipate biogeographic shifts in response to climate change. By separating their responses, this study shows coherence across species and communities, offering the strongest support to date that migration is in progress with regional limitations on rates. The southeastern continent emerges as a fecundity hotspot, but it is situated south of population centers where high seed production could contribute to poleward population spread. By contrast, seedling success is highest in the West and North, serving to partially offset limited seed production near poleward frontiers. The evidence of fecundity and recruitment control on tree migration can inform conservation planning for the expected long-term disequilibrium between climate and forest distribution.ISSN:0027-8424ISSN:1091-649

Partial wave analysis of J/ ψ→ γ( ηπ+π−)

A partial wave analysis of BES J/ ψ→ γ( ηπ + π −) data has been performed in the mass region 1.1 to 2.0 GeV. A peak is observed due to η(1440) in the ηπ + π − invariant mass distribution; J P =0 − is preferred over 1 +. Its mass is M=1385±7 MeV and it decays into both ησ and a 0(980) π, with BR[ a 0(980) π, a 0→ ηπ/ ησ]=0.70±0.12( stat)±0.20( syst). Destructive interference between the two decay modes is observed. In addition, in the higher ηπ + π − mass region, there is a definite 2 −+ signal, with M=1840±15 MeV and Γ=170±40 MeV and an additional 0 −+ signal at 1760±35 MeV. We also find a possible contribution from a 1 ++ signal decaying dominantly through a 0(980) π; its mass and width are fitted to be M=1505±20 MeV and Γ=130 −20 +50 MeV