The neuronal sortilin-related receptor SORL1 is genetically associated with Alzheimer disease

The recycling of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) from the cell surface via the endocytic pathways plays a key role in the generation of amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) in Alzheimer disease. We report here that inherited variants in the SORL1 neuronal sorting receptor are associated with late-onset Alzheimer disease. These variants, which occur in at least two different clusters of intronic sequences within the SORL1 gene (also known as LR11 or SORLA) may regulate tissue-specific expression of SORL1. We also show that SORL1 directs trafficking of APP into recycling pathways and that when SORL1 is underexpressed, APP is sorted into Abeta-generating compartments. These data suggest that inherited or acquired changes in SORL1 expression or function are mechanistically involved in causing Alzheimer disease.     

A genome-wide association study for celiac disease identifies risk variants in the region harboring IL2 and IL21

We tested 310,605 SNPs for association in 778 individuals with celiac disease and 1,422 controls. Outside the HLA region, the most significant finding (rs13119723; P = 2.0 x 10(-7)) was in the KIAA1109-TENR-IL2-IL21 linkage disequilibrium block. We independently confirmed association in two further collections (strongest association at rs6822844, 24 kb 5' of IL21; meta-analysis P = 1.3 x 10(-14), odds ratio = 0.63), suggesting that genetic variation in this region predisposes to celiac disease.     

Osteoclast-poor human osteopetrosis due to mutations in the gene encoding RANKL

Autosomal recessive osteopetrosis is usually associated with normal or elevated numbers of nonfunctional osteoclasts. Here we report mutations in the gene encoding RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-KB ligand) in six individuals with autosomal recessive osteopetrosis whose bone biopsy specimens lacked osteoclasts. These individuals did not show any obvious defects in immunological parameters and could not be cured by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; however, exogenous RANKL induced formation of functional osteoclasts from their monocytes, suggesting that they could, theoretically, benefit from exogenous RANKL administration.     

混沌粒子群优化算法及其在平面选址问题上的应用

通过引入混沌来影响粒子速度的更新,构造出一种混沌粒子群优化算法.其主要思想是用混沌迭代引导个体进一步优化,从而避免群体陷入局部最优,而且收敛速度得到加快.通过对三个测试函数以及平面选址问题的求解,验证该算法具有非常好的性能.     

THEMIS星座对2008年2月26日磁层亚暴的观测--磁尾重联触发的亚暴分析研究

本文利用THEMIS卫星结合地面极光和地磁的观测,研究了2008年2月26日04：05和04：55UT的两次亚暴事件.Angelopoulos已经对发生在04：55UT的第二个亚暴事件做了分析.本文对两次亚暴的相关活动进行了详细研究,特别对第一次做了深入讨论,并着重分析了磁重联与亚暴活动的关系.在两次亚暴的初始阶段,第一次极光增亮发生在中磁尾磁重联后2～3min,但是持续时间较短,极向膨胀缓慢,与伪暴的特征相似,标志了亚暴的初突发（initial onset）.两次亚暴都存在第二次极光增亮和极光的极向膨胀,且时间与近地磁尾观测的地向流和磁场偶极化同时发生,并与亚暴膨胀相的其他活动的发生同步,标志了亚暴的主突发（major onset）.在两次亚暴的增长相期间,极盖区开放磁通量持续增加;在亚暴膨胀相和恢复相中,极盖区磁通量迅速减少.表明两次亚暴膨胀相的演化分别与两次尾瓣开放磁力线重联过程相联系的.从亚暴活动的参数分析,这两次亚暴都属于小亚暴范围;从重联率分析,两次磁重联都属于弱重联.本文的观测结果表明,中磁尾磁尾重联首先触发伪暴;高速流将磁通量和能量传输到近地磁尾;高速流减速最终导致亚暴...更多电流楔（substorm current wedge,简称SCW）的形成和电流中断,产生近地偶极化和极光膨胀,引起亚暴膨胀相突发.本文的观测结果是对近地中性线模型（near earth neutral line,简称NENL）和重联-电流中断协同模型（synthesis scenario of MR and CD,简称RCS）模型及亚暴膨胀相两步突发观点的有力支持.     

Yersinia pestis genome sequencing identifies patterns of global phylogenetic diversity

Plague is a pandemic human invasive disease caused by the bacterial agent Yersinia pestis. We here report a comparison of 17 whole genomes of Y. pestis isolates from global sources. We also screened a global collection of 286 Y. pestis isolates for 933 SNPs using Sequenom MassArray SNP typing. We conducted phylogenetic analyses on this sequence variation dataset, assigned isolates to populations based on maximum parsimony and, from these results, made inferences regarding historical transmission routes. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that Y. pestis evolved in or near China and spread through multiple radiations to Europe, South America, Africa and Southeast Asia, leading to country-specific lineages that can be traced by lineage-specific SNPs. All 626 current isolates from the United States reflect one radiation, and 82 isolates from Madagascar represent a second radiation. Subsequent local microevolution of Y. pestis is marked by sequential, geographically specific SNPs.     

Genome-wide association studies of 14 agronomic traits in rice landraces

Uncovering the genetic basis of agronomic traits in crop landraces that have adapted to various agro-climatic conditions is important to world food security. Here we have identified ～ 3.6 million SNPs by sequencing 517 rice landraces and constructed a high-density haplotype map of the rice genome using a novel data-imputation method. We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for 14 agronomic traits in the population of Oryza sativa indica subspecies. The loci identified through GWAS explained ～ 36% of the phenotypic variance, on average. The peak signals at six loci were tied closely to previously identified genes. This study provides a fundamental resource for rice genetics research and breeding, and demonstrates that an approach integrating second-generation genome sequencing and GWAS can be used as a powerful complementary strategy to classical biparental cross-mapping for dissecting complex traits in rice.     

Common variants at TRAF3IP2 are associated with susceptibility to psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease that is distinct from other chronic arthritides and which is frequently accompanied by psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) and seronegativity for rheumatoid factor. We conducted a genome-wide association study in 609 German individuals with PsA (cases) and 990 controls with replication in 6 European cohorts including a total of 5,488 individuals. We replicated PsA associations at HLA-C and IL12B and identified a new association at TRAF3IP2 (rs13190932, P = 8.56 × 10?1?). TRAF3IP2 was also associated with PsV in a German cohort including 2,040 individuals (rs13190932, P = 1.95 × 10?3). Sequencing of the exons of TRAF3IP2 identified a coding variant (p.Asp10Asn, rs33980500) as the most significantly associated SNP (P = 1.13 × 10?2?, odds ratio = 1.95). Functional assays showed reduced binding of this TRAF3IP2 variant to TRAF6, suggesting altered modulation of immunoregulatory signals through altered TRAF interactions as a new and shared pathway for PsA and PsV.