A genome-wide map of diversity in Plasmodium falciparum

Genetic variation allows the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum to overcome chemotherapeutic agents, vaccines and vector control strategies and remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. Here we describe an initial survey of genetic variation across the P. falciparum genome. We performed extensive sequencing of 16 geographically diverse parasites and identified 46,937 SNPs, demonstrating rich diversity among P. falciparum parasites (pi = 1.16 x 10(-3)) and strong correlation with gene function. We identified multiple regions with signatures of selective sweeps in drug-resistant parasites, including a previously unidentified 160-kb region with extremely low polymorphism in pyrimethamine-resistant parasites. We further characterized 54 worldwide isolates by genotyping SNPs across 20 genomic regions. These data begin to define population structure among African, Asian and American groups and illustrate the degree of linkage disequilibrium, which extends over relatively short distances in African parasites but over longer distances in Asian parasites. We provide an initial map of genetic diversity in P. falciparum and demonstrate its potential utility in identifying genes subject to recent natural selection and in understanding the population genetics of this parasite.     

Abnormal display of PfEMP-1 on erythrocytes carrying haemoglobin C may protect against malaria

Haemoglobin C, which carries a glutamate-to-lysine mutation in the beta-globin chain, protects West African children against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Mechanisms of protection are not established for the heterozygous (haemoglobin AC) or homozygous (haemoglobin CC) states. Here we report a marked effect of haemoglobin C on the cell-surface properties of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes involved in pathogenesis. Relative to parasite-infected normal erythrocytes (haemoglobin AA), parasitized AC and CC erythrocytes show reduced adhesion to endothelial monolayers expressing CD36 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). They also show impaired rosetting interactions with non-parasitized erythrocytes, and reduced agglutination in the presence of pooled sera from malaria-immune adults. Abnormal cell-surface display of the main variable cytoadherence ligand, PfEMP-1 (P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein-1), correlates with these findings. The abnormalities in PfEMP-1 display are associated with markers of erythrocyte senescence, and are greater in CC than in AC erythrocytes. Haemoglobin C might protect against malaria by reducing PfEMP-1-mediated adherence of parasitized erythrocytes, thereby mitigating the effects of their sequestration in the microvasculature.     

Semi-Continuity of Complex Fuzzy Functions

This paper introduces the concept of semi-continuity of complex fuzzy functions, and discusses some of their elementary properties, such as the sum of two complex fuzzy functions of type I upper (lower) semi-continuity is type I upper (lower) semi-continuous, and the opposite of complex fuzzy functions of type I upper (lower) semi-continuity is type I lower (upper) semi-continuous. Based on some assumptions on two complex fuzzy functions of type I upper (lower) semi-continuity, it is shown that their product is type I upper (lower) semi-continuous. The paper also investigates the convergence of complex fuzzy functions. In particular, sign theorem, boundedness theorem, and Cauchy‘s criterion for convergence are kept. In this paper the metrics introduced by Zhang Guangquan was used. This paper gives a contribution to the study of complex fuzzy functions, and extends the corresponding work of Zhang Guangquan.     

2,3,4,6-四-氧-乙酰基-1-溴-1-氯-β-D-吡喃糖的超声波合成

应用超声技术，在超声波辐射下，合成了若干吡喃糖溴化物及偕双卤代吡喃糖。结果表明，超声波频率、功率对反应收率、速率及选择性均有很大影响。在功率不变时，随着频率的增大，反应速率和收率也增大，选择性提高；在频率不变时，随着功率的增大，反应的收率增大，选择性提高。借助电子自旋共振(ESR)技术，证实此类超声波溴化反应是自由基反应。     

Increased exonic de novo mutation rate in individuals with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that profoundly affects cognitive, behavioral and emotional processes. The wide spectrum of symptoms and clinical variability in schizophrenia suggest a complex genetic etiology, which is consistent with the numerous loci thus far identified by linkage, copy number variation and association studies. Although schizophrenia heritability may be as high as ～80%, the genes responsible for much of this heritability remain to be identified. Here we sequenced the exomes of 14 schizophrenia probands and their parents. We identified 15 de novo mutations (DNMs) in eight probands, which is significantly more than expected considering the previously reported DNM rate. In addition, 4 of the 15 identified DNMs are nonsense mutations, which is more than what is expected by chance. Our study supports the notion that DNMs may account for some of the heritability reported for schizophrenia while providing a list of genes possibly involved in disease pathogenesis.     

Intravenous delivery of a multi-mechanistic cancer-targeted oncolytic poxvirus in humans

The efficacy and safety of biological molecules in cancer therapy, such as peptides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), could be markedly increased if high concentrations could be achieved and amplified selectively in tumour tissues versus normal tissues after intravenous administration. This has not been achievable so far in humans. We hypothesized that a poxvirus, which evolved for blood-borne systemic spread in mammals, could be engineered for cancer-selective replication and used as a vehicle for the intravenous delivery and expression of transgenes in tumours. JX-594 is an oncolytic poxvirus engineered for replication, transgene expression and amplification in cancer cells harbouring activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/Ras pathway, followed by cell lysis and anticancer immunity. Here we show in a clinical trial that JX-594 selectively infects, replicates and expresses transgene products in cancer tissue after intravenous infusion, in a dose-related fashion. Normal tissues were not affected clinically. This platform technology opens up the possibility of multifunctional products that selectively express high concentrations of several complementary therapeutic and imaging molecules in metastatic solid tumours in humans.     

几内亚共和国Fria市Kimbo(ACG)氧化铝工厂CO2排放评估

依据国际政府间气候变化委员会（IPCC）提出的方法，建立了针对一般大型化工厂CO2排放评估的方法，对几内亚共和国Fria市Kimbo(ACG)氧化铝工厂的CO2多年排放进行了评估。给出了各种排放源的排放比例。提出了降低CO2排放量的建议。     

Plant constitutents involved in coating practices among traditional African potters

A phytochemical survey of several plant species used in sub-Saharan Africa for the treatment of pottery, as well as some coating experiments carried out with purified extracts ofBridelia ferruginea stem bark, indicated that procyanidin fractions play a predominant role in the coating properties of the plant extracts. The analysis by high performance gel permeation chromatography of organic compounds isolated from the vessel walls suggested that products deriving from pyrolysis of procyanidins are detectable both in contemporary and older pottery, and their analysis could be useful for archaeological purposes.