89 research outputs found
Sequence analysis of pooled bacterial samples enables identification of strain variation in group A streptococcus
Knowledge of the genomic variation among different strains of a pathogenic microbial species can help in selecting optimal candidates for diagnostic assays and vaccine development. Pooled sequencing (Pool-seq) is a cost effective approach for population level genetic studies that require large numbers of samples such as various strains of a microbe. To test the use of Pool-seq in identifying variation, we pooled DNA of 100 Streptococcus pyogenes strains of different emm types in two pools, each containing 50 strains. We used four variant calling tools (Freebayes, UnifiedGenotyper, SNVer, and SAMtools) and one emm1 strain, SF370, as a reference genome. In total 63719 SNPs and 164 INDELs were identified in the two pools concordantly by at least two of the tools. Majority of the variants (93.4%) from six individually sequenced strains used in the pools could be identified from the two pools and 72.3% and 97.4% of the variants in the pools could be mined from the analysis of the 44 complete Str. pyogenes genomes and 3407 sequence runs deposited in the European Nucleotide Archive respectively. We conclude that DNA sequencing of pooled samples of large numbers of bacterial strains is a robust, rapid and cost-efficient way to discover sequence variation
SMEs' Confidentiality Concerns for Security Information Sharing
Small and medium-sized enterprises are considered an essential part of the EU
economy, however, highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. SMEs have specific
characteristics which separate them from large companies and influence their
adoption of good cybersecurity practices. To mitigate the SMEs' cybersecurity
adoption issues and raise their awareness of cyber threats, we have designed a
self-paced security assessment and capability improvement method, CYSEC. CYSEC
is a security awareness and training method that utilises self-reporting
questionnaires to collect companies' information about cybersecurity awareness,
practices, and vulnerabilities to generate automated recommendations for
counselling. However, confidentiality concerns about cybersecurity information
have an impact on companies' willingness to share their information. Security
information sharing decreases the risk of incidents and increases users'
self-efficacy in security awareness programs. This paper presents the results
of semi-structured interviews with seven chief information security officers of
SMEs to evaluate the impact of online consent communication on motivation for
information sharing. The results were analysed in respect of the Self
Determination Theory. The findings demonstrate that online consent with
multiple options for indicating a suitable level of agreement improved
motivation for information sharing. This allows many SMEs to participate in
security information sharing activities and supports security experts to have a
better overview of common vulnerabilities. The final publication is available
at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57404-8_22Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 14th International Symposium on Human Aspects of
Information Security & Assurance (HAISA 2020
Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch
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Reconstruction of metabolic pathways for the cattle genome
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic reconstruction of microbial, plant and animal genomes is a necessary step toward understanding the evolutionary origins of metabolism and species-specific adaptive traits. The aims of this study were to reconstruct conserved metabolic pathways in the cattle genome and to identify metabolic pathways with missing genes and proteins. The MetaCyc database and PathwayTools software suite were chosen for this work because they are widely used and easy to implement.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An amalgamated cattle genome database was created using the NCBI and Ensembl cattle genome databases (based on build 3.1) as data sources. PathwayTools was used to create a cattle-specific pathway genome database, which was followed by comprehensive manual curation for the reconstruction of metabolic pathways. The curated database, CattleCyc 1.0, consists of 217 metabolic pathways. A total of 64 mammalian-specific metabolic pathways were modified from the reference pathways in MetaCyc, and two pathways previously identified but missing from MetaCyc were added. Comparative analysis of metabolic pathways revealed the absence of mammalian genes for 22 metabolic enzymes whose activity was reported in the literature. We also identified six human metabolic protein-coding genes for which the cattle ortholog is missing from the sequence assembly.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CattleCyc is a powerful tool for understanding the biology of ruminants and other cetartiodactyl species. In addition, the approach used to develop CattleCyc provides a framework for the metabolic reconstruction of other newly sequenced mammalian genomes. It is clear that metabolic pathway analysis strongly reflects the quality of the underlying genome annotations. Thus, having well-annotated genomes from many mammalian species hosted in BioCyc will facilitate the comparative analysis of metabolic pathways among different species and a systems approach to comparative physiology.</p
Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch
Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a pioneer boreal tree that can be induced to flower within 1 year. Its rapid life cycle, small (440-Mb) genome, and advanced germplasm resources make birch an attractive model for forest biotechnology. We assembled and chromosomally anchored the nuclear genome of an inbred B. pendula individual. Gene duplicates from the paleohexaploid event were enriched for transcriptional regulation, whereas tandem duplicates were overrepresented by environmental responses. Population resequencing of 80 individuals showed effective population size crashes at major points of climatic upheaval. Selective sweeps were enriched among polyploid duplicates encoding key developmental and physiological triggering functions, suggesting that local adaptation has tuned the timing of and cross-talk between fundamental plant processes. Variation around the tightly-linked light response genes PHYC and FRS10 correlated with latitude and longitude and temperature, and with precipitation for PHYC. Similar associations characterized the growth-promoting cytokinin response regulator ARR1, and the wood development genes KAK and MED5A.Peer reviewe
Effect of photosynthetic photon flux density on growth, photosynthetic competence and antioxidant enzymes activity during ex vitro acclimatization of Dieffenbachia cultivars
The effects of 35, 70 and 100 µmol m−2 s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were investigated on ex vitro acclimatization of micropropagated Dieffenbachia plants. Various growth characteristics, photosynthetic parameters and activities of antioxidant enzymes and dehydrins (DHN) were investigated. Fresh and dry plant biomass, plant height and root length were highest under the highest PPFD (100 µmol m−2 s−1), but this treatment was responsible for a reduction in the number of leaves. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents and net photosynthesis were also optimal in plants grown under the highest irradiance. Stomatal resistance, transpiration rate and Fv/Fm values decreased with the incremental light irradiance. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher in the plants treated with 70 and 100 µmol m−2 s−1 PPFD. Accumulation of 55 kDa, 40 and 22 kDa DHN was observed in all light treatments. These results depict that lower PPFD (35 µmol m−2 s−1) was suitable for acclimatization of Dieffenbachia plants. High PPFD (>70 µmol m−2 s−1) induced accumulation of antioxidants and accumulation of DHN in the plants which reveals enhanced stress levels
Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch.
Silver birch (Betula pendula) is a pioneer boreal tree that can be induced to flower within 1 year. Its rapid life cycle, small (440-Mb) genome, and advanced germplasm resources make birch an attractive model for forest biotechnology. We assembled and chromosomally anchored the nuclear genome of an inbred B. pendula individual. Gene duplicates from the paleohexaploid event were enriched for transcriptional regulation, whereas tandem duplicates were overrepresented by environmental responses. Population resequencing of 80 individuals showed effective population size crashes at major points of climatic upheaval. Selective sweeps were enriched among polyploid duplicates encoding key developmental and physiological triggering functions, suggesting that local adaptation has tuned the timing of and cross-talk between fundamental plant processes. Variation around the tightly-linked light response genes PHYC and FRS10 correlated with latitude and longitude and temperature, and with precipitation for PHYC. Similar associations characterized the growth-promoting cytokinin response regulator ARR1, and the wood development genes KAK and MED5A
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Author Correction: Genome sequencing and population genomic analyses provide insights into the adaptive landscape of silver birch.
In the version of this article initially published, there was a mistake in the calculation of the nucleotide mutation rate per site per generation: 1 × 10−9 mutations per site per generation was used, whereas 9.5 × 10−9 was correct. This error affects the interpretation of population-size changes over time and their possible correspondence with known geological events, as shown in the original Fig. 4 and supporting discussion in the text, as well as details in the Supplementary Note. Neither the data themselves nor any other results are affected. Figure 4 has been revised accordingly. Images of the original and corrected figure panels are shown in the correction notice
The benefits and challenges of technology neutral regulation:a scoping review
Abstract
The principle of technology neutrality (PTN) is being used as a starting point for regulation by regulators around the world. While technology neutral ICT regulation is seen as an answer to regulators’ struggles to keep up with fast-paced changes of ICT, also critique towards this principle has been voiced. Here, we report on the results of a scoping review we conducted on literature in three research databases to summarize the current understanding of the benefits and challenges in the context of technology neutral regulation. We contribute to IS research by introducing to the IS community four benefits of and seven challenges related to technology neutral regulation — which has been foremost addressed in legal research so far — and by suggesting three research themes and questions for future IS research on, e.g., technology innovation, the development, adoption and use of technology, and a better theorization of the PTN
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