Two variants on chromosome 17 confer prostate cancer risk, and the one in TCF2 protects against type 2 diabetes

We performed a genome-wide association scan to search for sequence variants conferring risk of prostate cancer using 1,501 Icelandic men with prostate cancer and 11,290 controls. Follow-up studies involving three additional case-control groups replicated an association of two variants on chromosome 17 with the disease. These two variants, 33 Mb apart, fall within a region previously implicated by family-based linkage studies on prostate cancer. The risks conferred by these variants are moderate individually (allele odds ratio of about 1.20), but because they are common, their joint population attributable risk is substantial. One of the variants is in TCF2 (HNF1beta), a gene known to be mutated in individuals with maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 5. Results from eight case-control groups, including one West African and one Chinese, demonstrate that this variant confers protection against type 2 diabetes.     

Effect of dinitrophenol on the pattern of methionine transport along the small intestine of the rat

Zusammenfassung Der Transport desL-Methionins durch die Rattendarmwand wurde in vitro untersucht. Die Transportgeschwindigkeit im Verlaufe von 1 h ist am höchsten im unteren Jejunum und im oberen Ileum (Abschnitte 4, 5 und 6). DNP-verursachte Hemmung ist in diesen Darmabschnitten am stärksten, was das Verschwinden des Maximums bewirkt.     

Substratum specificity of purified peroxidase isoenzymes of horse radish root

Zusammenfassung An sieben aus Meerrettichwurzeln isolierten Isoenzymen der Peroxydase konnte substratspezifisches Verhalten nachgewiesen werden.     

S-phase checkpoint regulations that preserve replication and chromosome integrity upon dNTP depletion

DNA replication stress, an important source of genomic instability, arises upon different types of DNA replication perturbations, including those that stall replication fork progression. Inhibitors of the cellular pool of deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) slow down DNA synthesis throughout the genome. Following depletion of dNTPs, the highly conserved replication checkpoint kinase pathway, also known as the S-phase checkpoint, preserves the functionality and structure of stalled DNA replication forks and prevents chromosome fragmentation. The underlying mechanisms involve pathways extrinsic to replication forks, such as those involving regulation of the ribonucleotide reductase activity, the temporal program of origin firing, and cell cycle transitions. In addition, the S-phase checkpoint modulates the function of replisome components to promote replication integrity. This review summarizes the various functions of the replication checkpoint in promoting replication fork stability and genome integrity in the face of replication stress caused by dNTP depletion.     

Can Townsend's ground squirrels survive on a diet of exotic annuals?

Southwestern Idaho desert shrub-bunchgrass rangeland is being invaded by fire-prone exotic annuals that permanently dominate the landscape following wildfires. This study was undertaken to describe diets of Townsend's ground squirrels ( Spermophilus townsendii idahoensis ) at four study sites with varying degrees of exotic annual invasion to determine if the squirrels could utilize high proportions of exotic annuals in their diets. Townsend's ground squirrels were collected in March and May of 1987 and 1988, and stomach contents were analyzed using a microhistological technique. Grasses comprised 37-87% of Townsend's ground squirrel diets at the four sites. Native species, especially Sandberg's bluegrass ( Poa secunda ), winterfat ( Ceratoides lanata ), big sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata ) and six-weeks fescue ( Vulpia octoflora ) constituted 7-96% (x = 47.2%) of the diet, whereas exotic species, especially cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorum ), tumbleweed ( Salsola iberica ), and tansymustards ( Descurainia spp.) made up 4-68% (x = 48.0%) of the diet. At each site 2-4 species comprised >90% of the diet. There was no apparent correlation between the importance values of exotic species at a site and their importance in Townsend's ground squirrel diets.     

Survey indicators for pygmy rabbits: temporal trends of burrow systems and pellets

Obtaining estimates of absolute abundance for rare or cryptic species can be challenging. In these cases,methods using indirect indicators such as sign might offer useful indices of population size. Pygmy rabbits ( Brachylagus idahoensis ) are small, burrowing lagomorphs for which methods for population assessment and monitoring are needed. Current tools for estimating relative abundance rely on detecting and assessing fecal pellets and burrow systems. We evaluated temporal changes in each of these indicators to gauge their potential usefulness as indicators of relative and absolute abundance of pygmy rabbits. Pellet persistence was strongly influenced by environmental exposure, and based on our data, we estimated that maximum persistence of fecal pellets would be 24–34 months. Pellet appearance (color) was affected by both time and exposure. Burrow systems were remarkably resilient over the course of the study. Probability of burrow systems transitioning between activity classes (active, recent, and old) did not vary detectably by study site, season, or year. We suggest that 2 protocols currently used for classification of pygmy rabbit burrow systems are most useful for different applications. Further work is needed, however, to link such assessments to quantitative estimates of population size.     

Helicobacter exploits integrin for type IV secretion and kinase activation

Integrins are important mammalian receptors involved in normal cellular functions as well as pathogenesis of chronic inflammation and cancer. We propose that integrins are exploited by the gastric pathogen and type-1 carcinogen Helicobacter pylori for injection of the bacterial oncoprotein cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) into gastric epithelial cells. Virulent H. pylori express a type-IV secretion pilus that injects CagA into the host cell; CagA then becomes tyrosine-phosphorylated by Src family kinases. However, the identity of the host cell receptor involved in this process has remained unknown. Here we show that the H. pylori CagL protein is a specialized adhesin that is targeted to the pilus surface, where it binds to and activates integrin alpha5beta1 receptor on gastric epithelial cells through an arginine-glycine-aspartate motif. This interaction triggers CagA delivery into target cells as well as activation of focal adhesion kinase and Src. Our findings provide insights into the role of integrins in H.-pylori-induced pathogenesis. CagL may be exploited as a new molecular tool for our further understanding of integrin signalling.     

基于眼动实验的服装品牌风格意象认知探析——E品牌上装风格案例研究

随着服装企业对品牌风格建设的重视,管理者认识到只有拥有具备显著风格特征的品牌服装才能拥有忠诚的消费群体,并吸引更多的潜在消费者,进而创造更多的利润.基于产品意象认知理论,以运动休闲女装品牌E品牌为例,从服装造型和风格角度出发,结合眼动跟踪技术,使用感性工学中意象尺度法将关键造型元素与产品意象认知关系量化,建立客观指标和主观感受之间的对应关系,将模糊的意向认知(艺术感觉)转化为数据的表述,对E品牌服装及其外购样衣的风格进行量化分析比较,总结和归纳E品牌产品风格特征描述,帮助品牌及设计师找到明确的产品开发方向,构建消费者和设计师沟通的桥梁.     

RAID在线数据重建方法仿真器设计

在磁盘系统仿真器DiskSim的基础上,提出了一种独立冗余磁盘阵列在线数据重建方法仿真器的设计方案和实现机制.该仿真器以事件驱动的方式与主磁盘系统仿真器进行信息交互,并支持对2种常用的磁盘阵列重建方法(流水重建方法和面向磁盘的重建方法)的功能和性能仿真.仿真结果证明了磁盘阵列在线数据重建方法仿真器的有效性.