Importance of adenosine-to-inosine editing adjacent to the anticodon in an Arabidopsis alanine tRNA under environmental stress

In all organisms, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) undergo extensive post-transcriptional modifications. Although base modifications in the anticodon are known to alter decoding specificity or improve decoding accuracy, much less is known about the functional relevance of modifications in other positions of tRNAs. Here, we report the identification of an A-to-I tRNA editing enzyme that modifies the tRNA-Ala(AGC) in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The enzyme is homologous to Tad1p, a yeast tRNA-specific adenosine deaminase, and it selectively deaminates the adenosine in the position 3'-adjacent to the anticodon (A(37)) to inosine. We show that the AtTAD1 protein is exclusively localized in the nucleus. The tad1 loss-of-function mutants isolated in Arabidopsis show normal accumulation of the tRNA-Ala(AGC), suggesting that the loss of the I(37) modification does not affect tRNA stability. The tad1 knockout mutants display no discernible phenotype under standard growth conditions, but produce less biomass under environmental stress conditions. Our results provide the first evidence in support of a physiological relevance of the A(37)-to-I modification in eukaryotes

Demographic and mental health assessments in the adolescent brain and cognitive development study: Updates and age-related trajectories

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study of 11,880 youth incorporates a comprehensive range of measures assessing predictors and outcomes related to mental health across childhood and adolescence in participating youth, as well as information about family mental health history. We have previously described the logic and content of the mental health assessment battery at Baseline and 1-year follow-up. Here, we describe changes to that battery and issues and clarifications that have emerged, as well as additions to the mental health battery at the 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year follow-ups. We capitalize on the recent release of longitudinal data for caregiver and youth report of mental health data to evaluate trajectories of dimensions of psychopathology as a function of demographic factors. For both caregiver and self-reported mental health symptoms, males showed age-related decreases in internalizing and externalizing symptoms, while females showed an increase in internalizing symptoms with age. Multiple indicators of socioeconomic status (caregiver education, family income, financial adversity, neighborhood poverty) accounted for unique variance in both caregiver and youth-reported externalizing and internalizing symptoms. These data highlight the importance of examining developmental trajectories of mental health as a function of key factors such as sex and socioeconomic environment

A high-order fully coupled electro-fluid-dynamics solver for multiphase flow simulations

A high-order discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element solver is developed for solving electro-fluid-dynamics problems. The solver is employed to perform numerical simulations of deformation of a droplet suspended in another immiscible liquid by applying steady and oscillatory electric fields. The level set method is adopted to represent the common interface of the droplet and surrounding medium. Electrostatics equation with a jump in the dielectric property at the interface is solved to find the electric field distribution. The incompressible Navier-Stokes equations including the surface tension force are solved to find the flow field. The Electrostatics and Navier-Stokes equations are coupled through changes in the geometry because of the deformation of the droplet and the dielectrophoretic body force, which is present at the interface

Characterization and inheritance assessment of fruit and leaf shape in unique Vitis seedlings

From August to October of 2009, two separate studies were conducted to assess fruit shape of Vitis section Euvitis hybrid bunch grapes using digital photography (Study 1) and evaluate inheritance of leaf shape in unique populations of V. rotundifolia hybrids (Vitis section Muscadinia) (Study 2). All vines studied were located at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Station, Clarksville. Study 1 used SigmaScan® digital photography analysis software to calculate shape factor, major:minor axis ratio, and compactness of highly variable, unique-shaped fruit from a population of 182 Euvitis seedlings. SigmaScan® accurately characterized fruit shape elongation as had been recorded in previous studies. Although elongated shapes were measured accurately, the calculations used were unable to conclusively analyze ovoid or pear-shaped fruits. Study 2 evaluated the inheritance of leaf shape (lobing) in several populations of V. rotundifolia crosses within the University of Arkansas fruit breeding program. Based on previous studies, it was hypothesized that leaf lobing was a dominant trait. The two populations expected to segregate into a 3:1, lobed:standard, phenotypic ratio were successfully observed, while only two of the six expected to demonstrate a 1:1, lobed:standard, phenotypic ratio were observed. Previous studies suggest the unexpected ratios observed may be attributed to a lethal allele combination, where homozygous dominant progeny are not viable, or modifier genes impacted leaf shape of the seedlings. Further evaluation of these and other populations in addition to molecular analysis would be helpful in characterizing inheritance of leaf lobing in muscadine hybrid

Progress of the ECHo SDR Readout Hardware for Multiplexed MMCs

The electron capture in $^{163}$Holmium (ECHo) experiment seeks to achieve sub-eV sensitivity of the electron neutrino mass through calorimetric decay spectroscopy of $^{163}$Ho in large arrays of cryogenic magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs). Microwave SQUID multiplexing serves to efficiently increase the number of readout channels, thus calorimeters per array and ultimately per cryostat. A corresponding frequency multiplexing room temperature software-defined radio (SDR) system is in development to enable the readout of this increased number of MMCs per cable. The SDR consists of a custom FPGA platform that provides signal generation and analysis capabilities, as well as tailored signal conversion and analog conditioning front end electronics that enable the room-temperature-to-cryogenic interface. Ultimately, the system will read out 400 multiplexer channels with double pixel detectors through a bandwidth of 4 GHz (IEEE C band). As high-resolution data converters are limited in sample rate, the C-band is split into five sub-bands using a two-stage mixing method. In this contribution, a prototype of the heterodyne RF design is presented. It comprises one of the five 800 MHz sub-bands for a target frequency range between 4 and 8 GHz. Furthermore, the second version of the A/D converter stage is presented, capable of generating and digitizing up to five complex basebands using 1 GSs$^{-1}$ converters, the reference clocks and a flux-ramp signal. We will show first results of their single and combined characterization in the lab. The current state of the prototype hardware enables preliminary measurements, only limited in bandwidth and with slightly higher noise. Potential improvements could be derived and will be implemented in the full bandwidth, 5-sub-band RF PCB design

Parturition Invokes Changes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Populations in Holstein Dairy Cows Naturally Infected with Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis

Twenty-one multiparous and two primiparous Holstein cows were grouped according to infection status with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative microorganism for Johne’s disease (JD). The effect of parturition and infection on the percentages of CD4 + , CD8 + , and T-cells, B-cells, and monocytes in the peripheral blood were monitored. The data suggest that changes in the percentages of lymphocyte subsets and monocytes are modulated by both infection status and the periparturient period

Osteopontin Expression in Periparturient Dairy Cows Naturally Infected with Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis

Twenty-five multiparous Holstein cows were grouped according to infection status with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), the causative microorganism of Johne’s disease (JD). Osteopontin (Opn) was characterized at both the level of gene and protein expression. Results of this study indicate that in dairy cows, expression of Opn is modulated by natural infection with MAP and by the periparturient period

Baseline characteristics and treatment-emergent risk factors associated with cerebrovascular event and death with risperidone in dementia patients

BACKGROUND: Use of antipsychotics to treat behavioural symptoms of dementia has been associated with increased risks of mortality and stroke. Little is known about individual patient characteristics that might be associated with bad or good outcomes. AIMS: We examined the risperidone clinical trial data to look for individual patient characteristics associated with these adverse outcomes. METHOD: Data from all double-blind randomised controlled trials of risperidone in dementia patients (risperidone n = 1009, placebo n = 712) were included. Associations between characteristics and outcome were analysed based on crude incidences and exposure-adjusted incidence rates, and by time-to-event analyses using Cox proportional hazards regression. Interactions between treatment (risperidone or placebo) and characteristic were analysed with a Cox proportional hazards regression model with main effects for treatment and characteristic in addition to the interaction term. RESULTS: Baseline complications of depression (treatment by risk factor interaction on cerebrovascular adverse event (CVAE) hazard ratio (HR): P = 0.025) and delusions (P = 0.043) were associated with a lower relative risk of CVAE in risperidone-treated patients (HR = 1.47 and 0.54, respectively) compared to not having the complication (HR = 5.88 and 4.16). For mortality, the only significant baseline predictor in patients treated with risperidone was depression, which was associated with a lower relative risk (P<0.001). The relative risk of mortality was increased in risperidone patients treated with anti-inflammatory medications (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Only anti-inflammatory medications increased mortality risk with risperidone. The reduced risks of CVAE in patients with comorbid depression and delusions, and of mortality with depression, may have clinical implications when weighing the benefits and risks of treatment with risperidone in patients with dementia