2,507 research outputs found
Delimitation of Neonectria and Cylindrocarpon (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) and related genera with Cylindrocarpon-like anamorphs
Neonectria is a cosmopolitan genus and it is, in part, defined by
its link to the anamorph genus Cylindrocarpon. Neonectria
has been divided into informal groups on the basis of combined morphology of
anamorph and teleomorph. Previously, Cylindrocarpon was divided into
four groups defined by presence or absence of microconidia and chlamydospores.
Molecular phylogenetic analyses have indicated that Neonectria
sensu stricto and Cylindrocarpon sensu stricto are
phylogenetically congeneric. In addition, morphological and molecular data
accumulated over several years have indicated that Neonectria sensu
lato and Cylindrocarpon sensu lato do not form a
monophyletic group and that the respective informal groups may represent
distinct genera. In the present work, a multilocus analysis (act,
ITS, LSU, rpb1, tef1, tub) was applied to representatives of
the informal groups to determine their level of phylogenetic support as a
first step towards taxonomic revision of Neonectria sensu
lato. Results show five distinct highly supported clades that correspond
to some extent with the informal Neonectria and
Cylindrocarpon groups that are here recognised as genera: (1) N.
coccinea-group and Cylindrocarpon groups 1 & 4
(Neonectria/Cylindrocarpon sensu stricto); (2) N.
rugulosa-group (Rugonectria gen. nov.); (3) N.
mammoidea/N. veuillotiana-groups and Cylindrocarpon group 2
(Thelonectria gen. nov.); (4) N. radicicola-group and
Cylindrocarpon group 3 (Ilyonectria gen. nov.); and (5)
anamorph genus Campylocarpon. Characteristics of the anamorphs and
teleomorphs correlate with the five genera, three of which are newly
described. New combinations are made for species where their classification is
confirmed by phylogenetic data
Whole-genome association analysis of treatment response in obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Up to 30% of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibit an inadequate response to serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). To date, genetic predictors of OCD treatment response have not been systematically investigated using genome-wide association study (GWAS). To identify specific genetic variations potentially influencing SRI response, we conducted a GWAS study in 804 OCD patients with information on SRI response. SRI response was classified as 'response' (n=514) or 'non-response' (n=290), based on self-report. We used the more powerful Quasi-Likelihood Score Test (the MQLS test) to conduct a genome-wide association test correcting for relatedness, and then used an adjusted logistic model to evaluate the effect size of the variants in probands. The top single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was rs17162912 (P=1.76 × 10(-8)), which is near the DISP1 gene on 1q41-q42, a microdeletion region implicated in neurological development. The other six SNPs showing suggestive evidence of association (P<10(-5)) were rs9303380, rs12437601, rs16988159, rs7676822, rs1911877 and rs723815. Among them, two SNPs in strong linkage disequilibrium, rs7676822 and rs1911877, located near the PCDH10 gene, gave P-values of 2.86 × 10(-6) and 8.41 × 10(-6), respectively. The other 35 variations with signals of potential significance (P<10(-4)) involve multiple genes expressed in the brain, including GRIN2B, PCDH10 and GPC6. Our enrichment analysis indicated suggestive roles of genes in the glutamatergic neurotransmission system (false discovery rate (FDR)=0.0097) and the serotonergic system (FDR=0.0213). Although the results presented may provide new insights into genetic mechanisms underlying treatment response in OCD, studies with larger sample sizes and detailed information on drug dosage and treatment duration are needed
Finite temperature molecular dynamics study of unstable stacking fault free energies in silicon
We calculate the free energies of unstable stacking fault (USF)
configurations on the glide and shuffle slip planes in silicon as a function of
temperature, using the recently developed Environment Dependent Interatomic
Potential (EDIP). We employ the molecular dynamics (MD) adiabatic switching
method with appropriate periodic boundary conditions and restrictions to atomic
motion that guarantee stability and include volume relaxation of the USF
configurations perpendicular to the slip plane. Our MD results using the EDIP
model agree fairly well with earlier first-principles estimates for the
transition from shuffle to glide plane dominance as a function of temperature.
We use these results to make contact to brittle-ductile transition models.Comment: 6 pages revtex, 4 figs, 16 refs, to appear in Phys. Rev.
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Genome-wide association study in obsessive-compulsive disorder: results from the OCGAS.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by intrusive thoughts and urges and repetitive, intentional behaviors that cause significant distress and impair functioning. The OCD Collaborative Genetics Association Study (OCGAS) is comprised of comprehensively assessed OCD patients with an early age of OCD onset. After application of a stringent quality control protocol, a total of 1065 families (containing 1406 patients with OCD), combined with population-based samples (resulting in a total sample of 5061 individuals), were studied. An integrative analyses pipeline was utilized, involving association testing at single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and gene levels (via a hybrid approach that allowed for combined analyses of the family- and population-based data). The smallest P-value was observed for a marker on chromosome 9 (near PTPRD, P=4.13 × 10(-)(7)). Pre-synaptic PTPRD promotes the differentiation of glutamatergic synapses and interacts with SLITRK3. Together, both proteins selectively regulate the development of inhibitory GABAergic synapses. Although no SNPs were identified as associated with OCD at genome-wide significance level, follow-up analyses of genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals from a previously published OCD study identified significant enrichment (P=0.0176). Secondary analyses of high-confidence interaction partners of DLGAP1 and GRIK2 (both showing evidence for association in our follow-up and the original GWAS study) revealed a trend of association (P=0.075) for a set of genes such as NEUROD6, SV2A, GRIA4, SLC1A2 and PTPRD. Analyses at the gene level revealed association of IQCK and C16orf88 (both P<1 × 10(-)(6), experiment-wide significant), as well as OFCC1 (P=6.29 × 10(-)(5)). The suggestive findings in this study await replication in larger samples
What Brown saw and you can too
A discussion is given of Robert Brown's original observations of particles
ejected by pollen of the plant \textit{Clarkia pulchella} undergoing what is
now called Brownian motion. We consider the nature of those particles, and how
he misinterpreted the Airy disc of the smallest particles to be universal
organic building blocks. Relevant qualitative and quantitative investigations
with a modern microscope and with a "homemade" single lens microscope similar
to Brown's, are presented.Comment: 14.1 pages, 11 figures, to be published in the American Journal of
Physics. This differs from the previous version only in the web site referred
to in reference 3. Today, this Brownian motion web site was launched, and
http://physerver.hamilton.edu/Research/Brownian/index.html, is now correc
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Dielectric and absorbate effects on the optical properties of phosphazenes
The optical response of polyphosphazenes can be directly related to the {pi} (out-of-plane) and {pi}{prime} (in-plane) bonding interactions intrinsic to the electronic structure of these materials. Altering this structure either by hydrogen bonding or absorbate effects, affects both the linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities. In this paper, we have performed electronic structure calculations on the cyclic molecules, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(NHCH{sub 3}){sub 6}, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(SCH{sub 3}){sub 6}, P{sub 3}N{sub 3}(OCH{sub 3}){sub 6} and P{sub 4}N{sub 4}(NHCH{sub 3}){sub 8} as model systems for the polymer. Charge distribution arguments are discussed to explain the influence of a polarizing electric field on the {pi} bonding systems, and are used to suggest methods to enhance their nonlinearities
Borrelia burgdorferi membranes are the primary targets of reactive oxygen species
Spirochetes living in an oxygen-rich environment or when challenged by host immune cells are exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS). These species can harm/destroy cysteinyl residues, iron-sulphur clusters, DNA and polyunsaturated lipids, leading to inhibition of growth or cell death. Because Borrelia burgdorferi contains no intracellular iron, DNA is most likely not a major target for ROS via Fenton reaction. In support of this, growth of B. burgdorferi in the presence of 5 mM H2O2 had no effect on the DNA mutation rate (spontaneous coumermycin A1 resistance), and cells treated with 10 mM t-butyl hydroperoxide or 10 mM H2O2 show no increase in DNA damage. Unlike most bacteria, B. burgdorferi incorporates ROS-susceptible polyunsaturated fatty acids from the environment into their membranes. Analysis of lipoxidase-treated B. burgdorferi cells by Electron Microscopy showed significant irregularities indicative of membrane damage. Fatty acid analysis of cells treated with lipoxidase indicated that host-derived linoleic acid had been dramatically reduced (50-fold) in these cells, with a corresponding increase in the levels of malondialdehyde by-product (fourfold). These data suggest that B. burgdorferi membrane lipids are targets for attack by ROS encountered in the various stages of the infective cycle
Molecular hierarchy of mammary differentiation yields refined markers of mammary stem cells
The partial purification of mouse mammary gland stem cells (MaSCs) using combinatorial cell surface markers (Lin-CD24+CD29hCD49fh) has improved our understanding of their role in normal development and breast tumorigenesis. Despite the significant improvement in MaSC enrichment, there is presently no methodology that adequately isolates pure MaSCs. Seeking new markers of MaSCs, we characterized the stem-like properties and expression signature of label-retaining cells from the mammary gland of mice expressing a controllable H2b-GFP transgene. In this system, the transgene expression can be repressed in a doxycycline-dependent fashion, allowing isolation of slowly dividing cells with retained nuclear GFP signal. Here, we show that H2b-GFPh cells reside within the predicted MaSC compartment and display greater mammary reconstitution unit frequency compared with H2b-GFPneg MaSCs. According to their transcriptome profile, H2b-GFPh MaSCs are enriched for pathways thought to play important roles in adult stem cells. We found Cd1d, a glycoprotein expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, to be highly expressed by H2b-GFPh MaSCs, and isolation of Cd1d+ MaSCs further improved the mammary reconstitution unit enrichment frequency to nearly a single-cell level. Additionally, we functionally characterized a set of MaSC-enriched genes, discovering factors controlling MaSC survival. Collectively, our data provide tools for isolating a more precisely defined population of MaSCs and point to potentially critical factors for MaSC maintenance
Routine testing for IgG antibodies against hepatitis A virus in Israel
BACKGROUND: Viral hepatitis is highly endemic in Israel, with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) responsible for most cases. Improved socioeconomic factors, as well as the universal vaccination of infants (introduced in 1999) has resulted in a decline in infection rates in Israel. This study examines the benefits of routine testing for anti-HAV IgG in high-risk population. METHODS: A retrospective examination of the files of teenage and adult patients (aged 16–99 years; mean 33.9) in two primary care clinics found 1,017 patients who had been tested for anti-HAV IgG antibodies for either general healthcare screening or ongoing follow-up for chronic illness. Seropositive patients were then asked regarding recall of past hepatitis (i.e. jaundice, regardless of viral etiology); post-exposure prophylaxis with immune serum immunoglobulin (ISG); and active immunization with inactivated virus. Seronegative patients were subsequently sent for active immunization. RESULTS: Of the1,017 patient records studied (503 male, 514 female), a total of 692 were seropositive (354 males, 338 females; P = 0.113). Seropositivity rates increased with age (p < 0.005), and were highest among those born in Middle Eastern countries other than Israel (91.3%) and lowest among immigrants from South America (44.1%; P < 0.005). 456 of the seropositive patients were interviewed, of whom only 91 recalled past illness while 103 remembered receiving post-exposure prophylaxis (ISG) and 8 active vaccination. Those who were unaware of past infection were more likely to have been vaccinated with ISG than those who were aware (26.3% vs. 7.7%; p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: The relatively high prevalence rate of anti-HAV seropositivity in our study may me due to the fact that the study was conducted in a primary care clinic or that it took place in Jerusalem, a relatively poor and densely populated Israeli city. Most of the seropostive patients had no recollection of prior infection, which can be explained by the fact that most hepatitis A infections occur during childhood and are asymptomatic. Routine testing for anti-HAV IgG in societies endemic for HAV would help prevent seropositive patients from receiving either post-exposure or preventive immunization and target seronegative patients for preventive vaccination
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