Relationship of short tandem repeats flanking leptin-melanocortin pathway genes with anthropometric profile and leptinemia in Brazilian individuals

Objective: To investigate the relationship of short tandem repeats (STR) near genes involved in the leptin-melanocortin pathway with body mass index (BMI) and leptinemia. Subjects and methods: Anthropometric variables and leptinemia were measured in 100 obese and 110 non-obese individuals. D1S200, D2S1788, DS11912, and D18S858 loci were analyzed by PCR and high-resolution electrophoresis. Results: Overall STR allele frequencies were similar between the obese and non-obese group (p > 0.05). Individual alleles D1S200 (17), D11S912 (43), D18S858 (11/12) were associated with obesity (p < 0.05). Individuals carrying these alleles showed higher BMI than non-carriers (p < 0.05). Moreover, a relationship between D18S858 11/12 alleles and increased waist circumference was found (p = 0.040). On the other hand, leptinemia was not influenced by the studied STRs (p > 0.05). Conclusions: D1S200, D11S912, and D18S858 loci are associated with increased BMI and risk for obesity in this sample. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(1):47-53

Short communication: Principal components and factor analytic models for test-day milk yield in Brazilian Holstein cattle

A total of 46,089 individual monthly test-day (TD) milk yields (10 test-days), from 7,331 complete first lactations of Holstein cattle were analyzed. A standard multivariate analysis (MV), reduced rank analyses fitting the first 2, 3, and 4 genetic principal components (PC2, PC3, PC4), and analyses that fitted a factor analytic structure considering 2, 3, and 4 factors (FAS2, FAS3, FAS4), were carried out. The models included the random animal genetic effect and fixed effects of the contemporary groups (herd-year-month of test-day), age of cow (linear and quadratic effects), and days in milk (linear effect). The residual covariance matrix was assumed to have full rank. Moreover, 2 random regression models were applied. Variance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method. The heritability estimates ranged from 0.11 to 0.24. The genetic correlation estimates between TD obtained with the PC2 model were higher than those obtained with the MV model, especially on adjacent test-days at the end of lactation close to unity. The results indicate that for the data considered in this study, only 2 principal components are required to summarize the bulk of genetic variation among the 10 traits.

Color stability of modern composites subjected to different periods of accelerated artificial aging

The aim of this study was to evaluate the color stability of composites subjected to different periods of accelerated artificial aging (AAA). A polytetrafluorethylene matrix (10 x 2 mm) was used to fabricate 24 test specimens of three different composites (n=8): Tetric Ceram (Ivoclar/Vivadent); Filtek P90 and Z250 (3M ESPE), shade A3. After light activation for 20 s (FlashLite 1401), polishing and initial color readout (Spectrophotometer PCB 687; BYK Gardner), the test specimens were subjected to AAA (C-UV; Comexim), in 8-h cycles: 4 h exposure to UV-B rays at 50°C and 4 h condensation at 50°C. At the end of each cycle, color readouts were taken and the test ended when the mean value of ΔE attained a level ≥3.30. Tetric Ceram presented alteration in ΔE equal to 3.33 in the first aging cycle. For Filtek P90 and Z250, two (ΔE=3.60) and four (ΔE=3.42) AAA cycles were necessary. After each cycle, there was a reduction of luminosity in all the samples (ΔL). It was concluded that a short period of AAA was sufficient to promote clinically unacceptable color alteration in composites, and that this alteration was material-dependent.

Modern Belgian architecture; a short survey of architectural developments in Belgium in the last half century,

Text on p. [2]-[3] of cover.

A short history of freethought, ancient and modern,

"Issued for the Rationalist Press Association limited."

Courage, the story of modern cock-fighting.

Mode of access: Internet.

Modern Methuselahs; or, Short biographical sketches of a few advanced nonagenarians or actual centenarians who were distinguished in art, science, literature, or philanthropy. Also, brief notices of some individuals remarkable chiefly for their longevity.

Introduction.--"Long-lasting."--St. Anthony the Great.-- Joannes Cantacuzenus, emperor of the East.--George Gemisthus Pletho.--Luigi Cornaro.--Titian.--Fontenelle.--Thomas Amory.--A group of far-advanced nonagenarians.--Eva Maria Garrick.--Caroline Lucretia Herschel.--Mary Somerville.--Sir Moses Montefiore.--Martin Joseph Routh.--Mr. Thoms' investigated case of centenarianism.--A group of unquestionable centenarians.--A few recent and probable cases of centenarianism.--Conclusion.

Geography anatomiz'd or The geographical grammar : being a short and exact analysis of the whole body of modern geography after a new and curious method ... /

Mode of access: Internet.

The short French dictionary : the second part, French and English, according to the present use, and modern ortography /

Mode of access: Internet.

The short French dictionary : in two parts, The I. English and French, [The] II. French and English ; according to the present use, and modern ortography /

Mode of access: Internet.

Story, essay, and verse : modern prose and poetry selected from the Atlantic monthly /

Mode of access: Internet.

A short history of modern English literature,/

Biographical list of authors: p. 393-402.

The story-teller; or, Table-book of popular literature.: A collection of romances, short standard tales, traditions, and poetical legends of all nations; embracing the choicest productions, and forming a cheap and comprehensive library of minor fiction. With incidental notes, critical and illustrative.

WU 1952/53,

The Amish people; seventeenth-century tradition in modern America; a complete, illustrated story of the "Old Order" sect of southeastern Pennsylvania.

Mode of access: Internet.

The story of the short ballot cities; an explanation of the success of the commission form of municipal government.

p. 17-20, advertising matter.