Inference of the genetic architecture underlying BMI and height with the use of 20,240 sibling pairs

Evidence that complex traits are highly polygenic has been presented by population-based genome-wide association studies (GWASs) through the identification of many significant variants, as well as by family-based de novo sequencing studies indicating that several traits have a large mutational target size. Here, using a third study design, we show results consistent with extreme polygenicity for body mass index (BMI) and height. On a sample of 20,240 siblings (from 9,570 nuclear families), we used a within-family method to obtain narrow-sense heritability estimates of 0.42 (SE = 0.17, p = 0.01) and 0.69 (SE = 0.14, p = 6 x 10(-)(7)) for BMI and height, respectively, after adjusting for covariates. The genomic inflation factors from locus-specific linkage analysis were 1.69 (SE = 0.21, p = 0.04) for BMI and 2.18 (SE = 0.21, p = 2 x 10(-10)) for height. This inflation is free of confounding and congruent with polygenicity, consistent with observations of ever-increasing genomic-inflation factors from GWASs with large sample sizes, implying that those signals are due to true genetic signals across the genome rather than population stratification. We also demonstrate that the distribution of the observed test statistics is consistent with both rare and common variants underlying a polygenic architecture and that previous reports of linkage signals in complex traits are probably a consequence of polygenic architecture rather than the segregation of variants with large effects. The convergent empirical evidence from GWASs, de novo studies, and within-family segregation implies that family-based sequencing studies for complex traits require very large sample sizes because the effects of causal variants are small on average.

Design of a high sensitivity FET integrated MEMS microphone

FET based MEMS microphones comprise of a flexible diaphragm that works as the moving gate of the transistor. The integrated electromechanical transducer can be made more sensitive to external sound pressure either by increasing the mechanical or the electrical sensitivities. We propose a method of increasing the overall sensitivity of the microphone by increasing its electrical sensitivity. The proposed microphone uses the transistor biased in the sub-threshold region where the drain current depends exponentially on the difference between the gate-to-source voltage and the threshold voltage. The device is made more sensitive without adding any complexity in the mechanical design of the diaphragm.

A Safe Vaccine (DV-STM-07) against Salmonella Infection Prevents Abortion and Confers Protective Immunity to the Pregnant and New Born Mice

Pregnancy is a transient immuno-compromised condition which has evolved to avoid the immune rejection of the fetus by the maternal immune system. The altered immune response of the pregnant female leads to increased susceptibility to invading pathogens, resulting in abortion and congenital defects of the fetus and a subnormal response to vaccination. Active vaccination during pregnancy may lead to abortion induced by heightened cell mediated immune response. In this study, we have administered the highly attenuated vaccine strain delta pmrG-HM-D (DV-STM-07) in female mice before the onset of pregnancy and followed the immune reaction against challenge with virulent S. Typhimurium in pregnant mice. Here we demonstrate that DV-STM-07 vaccine gives protection against Salmonella in pregnant mice and also prevents Salmonella induced abortion. This protection is conferred by directing the immune response towards Th2 activation and Th1 suppression. The low Th1 response prevents abortion. The use of live attenuated vaccine just before pregnancy carries the risk of transmission to the fetus. We have shown that this vaccine is safe as the vaccine strain is quickly eliminated from the mother and is not transmitted to the fetus. This vaccine also confers immunity to the new born mice of vaccinated mothers. Since there is no evidence of the vaccine candidate reaching the new born mice, we hypothesize that it may be due to trans-colostral transfer of protective anti-Salmonella antibodies. These results suggest that our vaccine DV-STM-07 can be very useful in preventing abortion in the pregnant individuals and confer immunity to the new born. Since there are no such vaccine candidates which can be given to the new born and to the pregnant women, this vaccine holds a very bright future to combat Salmonella induced pregnancy loss.

Photo induced optical changes in Sb/As2S3 multilayered film and (As2S3)(0.93)Sb-0.07 film of equal thickness

The increase in optical band gap (photo bleaching) due to light illumination was studied at room temperature as well as at low (4.2 K) temperature for Sb/As2S3 multilayered film of 640 nm thickness by Fourier Transform Infrared Technique. The interdiffusion of Sb into As2S3 matrix results the formation of Sb-As2S3 ternary solid solutions which is explained by the change in optical band gap (E-g), absorption coefficient (alpha), Tauc parameter (B-1/2), Urbach edge (E-e). At the same time, photo darkening phenomena was observed in (As2S3)(0.93)Sb-0.07 film of same thickness both at low and room temperatures. From our X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy measurements,we are able to show that some of the As-As, S-S and Sb-Sb bonds are converted into As-S and S-Sb bonds in case of multilayers. We found that the energetically favoured heteropolar bond formation take place by a phonon-assisted mechanism using the lone pair pi electrons of S-2(0). But in case of (As2S3)(0.93)Sb-0.02 film, the homopolar bonds are playing a major role. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis dependent characteristics of Sr1-xMnxTiO3 (x=0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09)

Sr1-xMnxTiO3 (where x=0.03, 0.05, 0.07 and 0.09) was synthesized via different routes that include solid-state, oxalate precipitation and freeze drying. In oxalate precipitation technique, compositions corresponding to 3 and 5 mol% doping of Mn were monophasic whereas the higher compositions revealed the presence of the secondary phases such as MnO, Mn3O4 etc., as confirmed by high resolution X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The decomposition behavior of the precursors prepared using oxalate precipitation method corresponding to the above mentioned compositions was studied. Nanopowders of compositions pertaining to 5 to 9 mol% of Mn doping were obtained using freeze-drying technique. The average crystallite size of these nanopowders was found to be in the 35 to 65 nm range. The microstructural studies carried out on the sintered ceramics, fabricated using powders synthesized by different routes established the fine grained nature ( < 1 mu m) of the one obtained by freeze drying method. Raman scattering studies were carried out in order to complement the observations made from XRD regarding the phase purity. The dielectric properties of the ceramics obtained by different synthesis routes were studied in the 80-300 K temperature range at 100 kHz and the effect of grain size has been discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Memory effect in SrRu(1-x)O3 (0.01 < x < 0.07)

SrRuO3 is widely known to be an itinerant ferromagnet with a T-C similar to 160 K. It is well known that glassy materials exhibit time dependent phenomena such as memory effect due to their generic slow dynamics. However, for the first time, we have observed memory effect in SrRu(1-x)O3 (0.01ell below the ferromagnetic ordering temperature. Generally, time dependent phenomena such as aging, memory etc. arise in disordered glassy systems. Thus the observation of memory effect in case of an itinerant ferromagnetic system like SrRuO3 is quite strange. The emergence of such unusual magnetic response is strongly believed to be connected with a cryptic interactions arises in the low temperature. Our effort on neutron diffraction study has been able to trace the cause of such hidden magnetic interaction responsible for bringing glassiness in a ferromagnet.

Data assimilation using ensemble transform Kalman filter (ETKF) in ROMS model for Indian Ocean

Study of Oceans dynamics and forecast is crucial as it influences the regional climate and other marine activities. Forecasting oceanographic states like sea surface currents, Sea surface temperature (SST) and mixed layer depth at different time scales is extremely important for these activities. These forecasts are generated by various ocean general circulation models (OGCM). One such model is the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). Though ROMS can simulate several features of ocean, it cannot reproduce the thermocline of the ocean properly. Solution to this problem is to incorporates data assimilation (DA) in the model. DA system using Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (ETKF) has been developed for ROMS model to improve the accuracy of the model forecast. To assimilate data temperature and salinity from ARGO data has been used as observation. Assimilated temperature and salinity without localization shows oscillations compared to the model run without assimilation for India Ocean. Same was also found for u and v-velocity fields. With localization we found that the state variables are diverging within the localization scale.

Identificaci��n macrosc��pica de patolog��as hep��ticas de mayor prevalencia en bovinos faenados en el matadero PROINCASA, per��odo del 07 de julio del 2010 - enero del 2011

El presente estudio se llev�� a cabo para determinar la prevalencia de las patolog��as macrosc��picas en h��gados decomisados (condenados) de bovinos faenados en el matadero PROINCASA, identificando las patolog��as hep��ticas mediante la inspecci��n, clasificando los tipos de enfermedades (primarias o secundarias) seg��n las patolog��as identificadas y determinando las p��rdidas econ��micas representadas por los h��gados decomisados. Los datos recopilados se obtuvieron a trav��s de la inspecci��n post mortem de los ��rganos, en los que se realiz�� la debida observaci��n, palpaci��n, limpieza y laminado de los mismos. Se utiliz�� estad��stica descriptiva con distribuciones de frecuencias a partir de los datos recolectados, se estructur�� la base de datos en hoja electr��nica Microsoft Excel℗, se realiz�� un an��lisis de los datos mediante la prueba de Chi2 (X2), utilizando el programa estad��stico SPSS℗, generando tablas de contingencia a una P <0.05. Las variables evaluadas fueron: prevalencia total de patolog��as, prevalencia de patolog��as espec��ficas, y p��rdidas econ��micas; con los datos recopilados, se encontr�� desde el punto de vista general, que el mes con mayor prevalencia de h��gados afectados fue septiembre con un 16%, y el mes con menor prevalencia fue julio con 12%; haciendo un an��lisis individual por patolog��a, el mes con mayor prevalencia de h��gados afectados con abscesos fue julio con un 5%, telangiectasia en octubre con un 9%, Ictericia en agosto con un 5% y para adherencia fue octubre con un 8%, del total de h��gados con diferentes patolog��as por mes se obtuvo la mayor prevalencia en octubre con un 56% para abscesos, telangiectasia en octubre con un 70%, ictericia en septiembre con un 26% y adherencia en octubre con un 27%. De un total de 11 286 h��gados inspeccionados, 1 555 resultaron afectados, lo que equivale a un 13.78% de afecci��n, a su vez estos representan econ��micamente la p��rdida de C$ 466,500 C��rdobas netos.

Prudentia Iuris, 1982, n° 07 (n��mero completo)

Contenido: Editorial – Jorge Joaqu��n Llamb��as / Mario Amadeo – El aporte de Llamb��as en materia de efectos de la nulidad de los actos jur��dicos / Roberto Mart��nez Ru��z – El matrimonio en la regulaci��n propuesta por el anteproyecto de 1954 / Jorge A. Mazzinghi – La reparaci��n del agravio moral / Guillermo R. Quintana Ter��n – Responsabilidad civil de las personas jur��dicas y, en especial, del estado / Federico N. Videla Escalada – La mora en las obligaciones cuyo lugar de pago es el domicilio del deudor / Francisco Alberto Vocos – Algunas p��ginas de Llamb��as – Documentos – Notas bibliogr��ficas

[Discurso do Deputado ��ureo Melo : Sess��o da C��mara dos Deputados de 07 de maio de 1964]

Aborda a campanha de certos jornais do Rio de Janeiro contra Bras��lia. Destaca o verdadeiro pensamento dos cariocas relativamente ao pretendido retorno da capital da Rep��blica para a Guanabara.

[Discurso do Deputado M��cio Athayde : Sess��o da C��mara dos Deputados de 07 de maio de 1985]

Aborda a necessidade de representa����o pol��tica, em todos os n��veis, para o Distrito Federal e da implanta����o de C��mara de Vereadores em cada cidade sat��lite. Faz cr��ticas �� Comiss��o Interpartid��ria encarregada da efetiva����o das reformas pol��ticas e eleitorais.

Audi��ncias p��blicas como instrumento de democracia deliberativa: estudo de caso do PL nº 612/07, lei das sacolas

Monografia (especializa����o) – Curso de Pol��tica e Representa����o Parlamentar, C��mara dos Deputados, Centro de Forma����o, Treinamento e Aperfei��oamento (Cefor), 2013.

Lei Maria da Penha : Lei nº 11.340, de 07 de agosto de 2006, que disp��e sobre mecanismos para coibir a viol��ncia dom��stica e familiar contra a mulher

Analisa a lei que cria mecanismos para coibir a viol��ncia dom��stica e familiar contra a mulher, nos termos do § 8º do art. 226 da Constitui����o Federal, da Conven����o sobre a Elimina����o de Todas as Formas de Discrimina����o contra as Mulheres e da Conven����o Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Viol��ncia contra a Mulher; disp��e sobre a cria����o dos Juizados de Viol��ncia Dom��stica e Familiar contra a Mulher; altera o C��digo de Processo Penal, o C��digo Penal e a Lei de Execu����o Penal; e d�� outras provid��ncias.

Cruise Report: Spring 2007 Survey of ecological conditions along the continental shelf off Florida from Anclote Key to West Palm Beach NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER NF-07-08-NCCOS (May 15 - May 28, 2007)

This cruise report is a summary of a field survey conducted in coastal-ocean waters off Florida from Anclote Key to West Palm Beach and from approximately 1 nautical mile (nm) offshore seaward to the shelf break (100 m). The survey was conducted May 15 - May 28, 2007 on NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER Cruise NF-07-08-NCCOS. Multiple indicators of ecological condition were sampled synoptically at each of 50 stations throughout the region including 10 stations within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) using a random probabilistic sampling design. Samples were collected for the analysis of benthic community structure and composition; concentrations of chemical contaminants (metals, pesticides, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs) in sediments and target demersal biota; nutrient and chlorophyll levels in the water column; and other basic habitat characteristics such as depth, salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, sediment grain size, and organic carbon content. The overall purpose of the survey was to collect data to assess the status of ecological condition in coastal-ocean waters of the region, based on these various indicators, and to provide this information as a baseline for determining how environmental conditions may be changing with time. The results will be of value in helping to broaden our understanding of the status of ecological resources and their controlling factors, including impacts of potential ecosystem stressors, in such strategic coastal areas. (PDF contains 34 pages

Observations of deep coral and sponge assemblages in Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Washington. Cruise Report: NOAA Ship McArthur II Cruise AR06-07/07

From May 22 to June 4, 2006, NOAA scientists led a research cruise using the ROPOS Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to conduct a series of dives at targeted sites in the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) with the goal of documenting deep coral and sponge communities. Dive sites were selected from areas for which OCNMS had side scan sonar data indicating the presence of hard or complex substrate. The team completed 11 dives in sanctuary waters ranging from six to 52 hours in length, at depths ranging from 100 to 650 meters. Transect surveys were completed at 15 pre-selected sites, with additional observations made at five other sites. The survey locations included sites both inside and outside the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Conservation Area, known as Olympic 2, established by the Pacific Fishery Management Council, enacted on June 12, 2006. Bottom trawling is prohibited in the Olympic 2 Conservation Area for nontribal fishermen. The Conservation Area covers 159.4 square nautical miles or about 15 percent of the sanctuary. Several species of corals and sponges were documented at 14 of the 15 sites surveyed, at sites both inside and outside the Conservation Area, including numerous gorgonians and the stony corals Lophelia pertusa and Desmophyllum dianthus, as well as small patches of the reef building sponge Farrea occa. The team also documented Lophelia sp. and Desmophyllum sp. coral rubble, dead gorgonians, lost fishing gear, and other anthropogenic debris, supporting concerns over potential risks of environmental disturbances to coral health. (PDF contains 60 pages.)