Genome-wide association study identifies a new melanoma susceptibility locus at 1q21.3

We performed a genome-wide association study of melanoma in a discovery cohort of 2,168 Australian individuals with melanoma and 4,387 control individuals. In this discovery phase, we confirm several previously characterized melanoma-associated loci at MC1R, ASIP and MTAP-CDKN2A. We selected variants at nine loci for replication in three independent case-control studies (Europe: 2,804 subjects with melanoma, 7,618 control subjects; United States 1: 1,804 subjects with melanoma, 1,026 control subjects; United States 2: 585 subjects with melanoma, 6,500 control subjects). The combined meta-analysis of all case-control studies identified a new susceptibility locus at 1q21.3 (rs7412746, P = 9.0 × 10(-11), OR in combined replication cohorts of 0.89 (95% CI 0.85-0.95)). We also show evidence suggesting that melanoma associates with 1q42.12 (rs3219090, P = 9.3 × 10(-8)). The associated variants at the 1q21.3 locus span a region with ten genes, and plausible candidate genes for melanoma susceptibility include ARNT and SETDB1. Variants at the 1q21.3 locus do not seem to be associated with human pigmentation or measures of nevus density.     

Genome-wide association study of leaf architecture in the maize nested association mapping population

US maize yield has increased eight-fold in the past 80 years, with half of the gain attributed to selection by breeders. During this time, changes in maize leaf angle and size have altered plant architecture, allowing more efficient light capture as planting density has increased. Through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the maize nested association mapping panel, we determined the genetic basis of important leaf architecture traits and identified some of the key genes. Overall, we demonstrate that the genetic architecture of the leaf traits is dominated by small effects, with little epistasis, environmental interaction or pleiotropy. In particular, GWAS results show that variations at the liguleless genes have contributed to more upright leaves. These results demonstrate that the use of GWAS with specially designed mapping populations is effective in uncovering the basis of key agronomic traits.     

Cdk5 targets active Src for ubiquitin-dependent degradation by phosphorylating Src(S75)

The non-receptor tyrosine kinase Src is a critical regulator of cytoskeletal contraction, cell adhesion, and migration. In normal cells, Src activity is stringently controlled by Csk-dependent phosphorylation of Src(Y530), and by Cullin-5-dependent ubiquitinylation, which affects active Src(pY419) exclusively, leading to its degradation by the proteosome. Previous work has shown that Src activity is also limited by Cdk5, a proline-directed kinase, which has been shown to phosphorylate Src(S75). Here we show that this phosphorylation promotes the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Src, thus restricting the availability of active Src. We demonstrate that Src(S75) phosphorylation occurs in vivo in epithelial cells, and like ubiquitinylation, is associated only with active Src. Preventing Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of Src(S75), by site-specific mutation of S75 or by Cdk5 inhibition or suppression, increases Src(Y419) phosphorylation and kinase activity, resulting in Src-dependent cytoskeletal changes. In transfected cells, ubiquitinylation of Src(S75A) is about 35% that of wild-type Src-V5, and its half-life is approximately 2.5-fold greater. Cdk5 suppression leads to a comparable decrease in the ubiquitinylation of endogenous Src and a similar increase in Src stability. Together, these findings demonstrate that Cdk5-dependent phosphorylation of Src(S75) is a physiologically significant mechanism of regulating intracellular Src activity.     

贺兰山岩画区岩石吸水特性试验研究

岩石吸水率、纵波波速及其相互关系对研究岩石的物理性质与力学性质具有重要意义.选取贺兰山岩画区岩石为样品,进行岩样吸水率实验,探究岩样吸水率和随浸水时间的关系,建立吸水率的数值拟合函数.在吸水率实验的基础上,探究岩样在干燥状态及浸水饱和状态下纵波波速的变化,并分析岩样分别在自然吸水和饱和吸水过程中,岩样吸水率对纵波波速的...     

液态危险品船舶的远程监视报警系统设计

为了有效监测液态危险品船舶运输过程中液货舱液位、压力、温度和惰性气体含量等安全状态参数的实时状况,采用单片机作为微处理器,设计数据采集与处理模块;基于北斗定位与短报文通信技术,实现船舶数据远程传输,并在B/S架构下开发岸基监控报警管理平台,完成液态危险品船舶远程监视报警系统的研发,最后通过实验平台和实船,对系统性能进行...     

从古生物学到地球生物学的跨越

以学科体系和科学问题为导向, 对当前国际上出现的地球生物学从学科分类体系、形成背景、主要研究方向、亟待突破的分支学科及其与之相关的研究领域进行了评述. 作为地球科学与生命科学相结合而形成的新兴交叉学科, 地球生物学在地球科学中应具有独立的一级学科地位, 类似于地球化学和地球物理学. 地球生物学主要研究地球系统的生命运动, 涉及地球环境与生命系统的相互作用. 它的形成与发展既是当今科学技术发展的结果, 也是当今世界对所面临重大人类-环境-资源问题的响应. 分子地球生物学、地球微生物学、地球生态学、地球生理学等地球生物学中的二级学科还有待尽快突破, 以形成地球生物学的成熟理论框架和方法体系.     

考虑结构性能退化的钢-混组合梁桥疲劳寿命研究

文章对随机车流荷载作用下的钢-混组合梁桥进行疲劳寿命分析,并考虑结构性能退化对钢-混组合梁桥疲劳寿命的影响;以某钢-混组合梁桥为例,建立该桥的有限元模型;利用车辆动态称重系统采集实际交通量数据,对实际交通流分布特征进行统计分析,并通过Monte-Carlo算法生成钢-混组合梁桥随机车流模型;引入裂缝密度概念来反映桥梁混凝土板的刚度折减情况,根据桥梁现场实际检测情况,对钢-混组合梁桥混凝土板进行裂缝密度统计,在此基础上考虑混凝土板不同开裂程度,对钢-混组合梁桥疲劳寿命进行预测。当钢-混组合梁桥混凝土板开裂程度为轻微、一般、较严重时,混凝土板刚度分别退化10.62%、16.52%、34.22%,组合梁桥的疲劳寿命分别降低16.66%、37.31%、56.61%。混凝土板裂缝扩展引起的结构刚度退化对钢-混组合梁桥疲劳性能影响显著。     

大学生志愿者参与社区养老服务长效机制研究

随着老龄化社会的问题凸显,越来越多的人开始关注"社区养老"的问题,一些大学生志愿者组织已经在实践中进行了有效尝试。要使大学生志愿者在社区养老服务中发挥更大的作用,形成长效机制,就要对服务的整体规划、氛围营造、途径拓展、人才培养等不断进行完善。