Somatic histone H3 alterations in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas and non-brainstem glioblastomas

To identify somatic mutations in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), we performed whole-genome sequencing of DNA from seven DIPGs and matched germline tissue and targeted sequencing of an additional 43 DIPGs and 36 non-brainstem pediatric glioblastomas (non-BS-PGs). We found that 78% of DIPGs and 22% of non-BS-PGs contained a mutation in H3F3A, encoding histone H3.3, or in the related HIST1H3B, encoding histone H3.1, that caused a p.Lys27Met amino acid substitution in each protein. An additional 14% of non-BS-PGs had somatic mutations in H3F3A causing a p.Gly34Arg alteration.     

Liver cell therapy: is this the end of the beginning?

The prevalence of liver diseases is increasing globally. Orthotopic liver transplantation is widely used to treat liver disease upon organ failure. The complexity of this procedure and finite numbers of healthy organ donors have prompted research into alternative therapeutic options to treat liver disease. This includes the transplantation of liver cells to promote regeneration. While successful, the routine supply of good quality human liver cells is limited. Therefore, renewable and scalable sources of these cells are sought. Liver progenitor and pluripotent stem cells offer potential cell sources that could be used clinically. This review discusses recent approaches in liver cell transplantation and requirements to improve the process, with the ultimate goal being efficient organ regeneration. We also discuss the potential off-target effects of cell-based therapies, and the advantages and drawbacks of current pre-clinical animal models used to study organ senescence, repopulation and regeneration.     

针对东方人黑色虹膜识别的光谱选择

本文以东方人黑色虹膜作为研究对象,进行两方面研究:1)对于单一光谱照明,找到某一个最适合东方人黑色虹膜的光谱段;2)对于多个光谱照明,确定东方人黑色虹膜所需要的光谱段数量.第一部分研究中,采用改进的卷积矩阵与频谱能量相结合的算法,对虹膜纹理质量进行评估;采用改进2-DGabor与1-DLog-Gabor相结合的编码方法,获得虹膜匹配性能的指标.实验显示:针对单一光谱照明,700nm对于东方人的黑色虹膜是最优的光谱段.第二部分研究中,采用改进multi-group(2D)2PCA算法,基于多光谱虹膜图像的最大不相关性进行层次聚类分析.实验显示:针对多个光谱照明,3个主聚类可以最好地描述从545nm到940nm的所有光谱段.以上研究在该领域内具有开拓性,解决了东方人黑色虹膜多光谱采集与识别的基础问题,为东方人黑色虹膜的多光谱融合提供了理论依据.     

Condition models for wintering Northern Pintails in the Southern High Plains

Three condition models for wintering Northern Pintails ( Anas acuta ) were tested for their ability to predict fat mass, logarithm of fat mass, or a condition index (CI) incorporating fat mass. Equations generated to predict fat mass and the logarithm of fat mass accounted for more than 69% of the variation in these dependent variables. Log transformations of body mass, wing length, and total length explained at least 60% of the variation in CI. All models performed better on an independent data set. Mean prediction error was minimal (≤8% of measured variables) and negative for all models. Regression models apply to live and dead pintails and thus represent tools that have utility in a wide variety of studies on pintail condition.     

Evidence of widespread selection on standing variation in Europe at height-associated SNPs

Strong signatures of positive selection at newly arising genetic variants are well documented in humans, but this form of selection may not be widespread in recent human evolution. Because many human traits are highly polygenic and partly determined by common, ancient genetic variation, an alternative model for rapid genetic adaptation has been proposed: weak selection acting on many pre-existing (standing) genetic variants, or polygenic adaptation. By studying height, a classic polygenic trait, we demonstrate the first human signature of widespread selection on standing variation. We show that frequencies of alleles associated with increased height, both at known loci and genome wide, are systematically elevated in Northern Europeans compared with Southern Europeans (P < 4.3 × 10(-4)). This pattern mirrors intra-European height differences and is not confounded by ancestry or other ascertainment biases. The systematic frequency differences are consistent with the presence of widespread weak selection (selection coefficients ～10(-3)-10(-5) per allele) rather than genetic drift alone (P < 10(-15)).     

Acid phosphatase activity of cytolytic T cells during cytolysis].

The localization of Golgi areas, particularly lysosomal bodies detected by their acid phosphatase activities, has been determined in the cytotoxic lymphocytes conjugated to their target cell. The study points out the preferential situation of these organelles close to the contact area between the two cells during the target cell lysis.