Functional evaluation of genetic variants associated with endometriosis near GREB1

STUDY QUESTION: Do DNA variants in the growth regulation by estrogen in breast cancer 1 (GREB1) region regulate endometrial GREB1 expression and increase the risk of developing endometriosis in women? SUMMARY ANSWER: We identified new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with strong association with endometriosis at the GREB1 locus although we did not detect altered GREB1 expression in endometriosis patients with defined genotypes. WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN: Genome-wide association studies have identified the GREB1 region on chromosome 2p25.1 for increasing endometriosis risk. The differential expression of GREB1 has also been reported by others in association with endometriosis disease phenotype. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Fine mapping studies comprehensively evaluated SNPs within the GREB1 region in a large-scale data set (>2500 cases and >4000 controls). Publicly available bioinformatics tools were employed to functionally annotate SNPs showing the strongest association signal with endometriosis risk. Endometrial GREB1 mRNA and protein expression was studied with respect to phases of the menstrual cycle (n = 2-45 per cycle stage) and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis for significant SNPs were undertaken for GREB1 [mRNA (n = 94) and protein (n = 44) in endometrium]. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Participants in this study are females who provided blood and/or endometrial tissue samples in a hospital setting. The key SNPs were genotyped using Sequenom MassARRAY. The functional roles and regulatory annotations for identified SNPs are predicted by various publicly available bioinformatics tools. Endometrial GREB1 expression work employed qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry studies. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Fine mapping results identified a number of SNPs showing stronger association (0.004 < P < 0.032) with endometriosis risk than the original GWAS SNP (rs13394619) (P = 0.034). Some of these SNPs were predicted to have functional roles, for example, interaction with transcription factor motifs. The haplotype (a combination of alleles) formed by the risk alleles from two common SNPs showed significant association (P = 0.026) with endometriosis and epistasis analysis showed no evidence for interaction between the two SNPs, suggesting an additive effect of SNPs on endometriosis risk. In normal human endometrium, GREB1 protein expression was altered depending on the cycle stage (significantly different in late proliferative versus late secretory, P < 0.05) and cell type (glandular epithelium, not stromal cells). However, GREB1 expression in endometriosis cases versus controls and eQTL analyses did not reveal any significant changes. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: In silico prediction tools are generally based on cell lines different to our tissue and disease of interest. Functional annotations drawn from these analyses should be considered with this limitation in mind. We identified cell-specific and hormone-specific changes in GREB1 protein expression. The lack of a significant difference observed following our GREB1 expression studies may be the result of moderate power on mixed cell populations in the endometrial tissue samples. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: This study further implicates the GREB1 region on chromosome 2p25.1 and the GREB1 gene with involvement in endometriosis risk. More detailed functional studies are required to determine the role of the novel GREB1 transcripts in endometriosis pathophysiology. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS: Funding for this work was provided by NHMRC Project Grants APP1012245, APP1026033, APP1049472 and APP1046880. There are no competing interests.

Experimental Verification of the Lateral Periodicity of Axially Periodic Incoherent Fields Using the Lau Effect

General' objects, which are specially prepared to possess restricted spatial frequency spectra, have been used in the conventional Lau experiment to obtain experimental proof for the existence of lateral periodicity arising from axial periodicity, for a subclass of axially periodic wavefields in an incoherent situation.

Popular matchings with variable item copies

We consider the problem of matching people to items, where each person ranks a subset of items in an order of preference, possibly involving ties. There are several notions of optimality about how to best match a person to an item; in particular, popularity is a natural and appealing notion of optimality. A matching M* is popular if there is no matching M such that the number of people who prefer M to M* exceeds the number who prefer M* to M. However, popular matchings do not always provide an answer to the problem of determining an optimal matching since there are simple instances that do not admit popular matchings. This motivates the following extension of the popular matchings problem: Given a graph G = (A U 3, E) where A is the set of people and 2 is the set of items, and a list < c(1),...., c(vertical bar B vertical bar)> denoting upper bounds on the number of copies of each item, does there exist < x(1),...., x(vertical bar B vertical bar)> such that for each i, having x(i) copies of the i-th item, where 1 <= xi <= c(i), enables the resulting graph to admit a popular matching? In this paper we show that the above problem is NP-hard. We show that the problem is NP-hard even when each c(i) is 1 or 2. We show a polynomial time algorithm for a variant of the above problem where the total increase in copies is bounded by an integer k. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Orientation dependent electrocatalysis using self-assembled molecular films

Surface orientation of self-assembled molecular films of 2,9,6,23-tetraamino cobalt phthalocyanine on gold and silver is shown to determine the nature and the products of the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen.

Steady mixed convection flow of Maxwell fluid over an exponentially stretching vertical surface with magnetic field and viscous dissipation

The steady mixed convection flow and heat transfer from an exponentially stretching vertical surface in a quiescent Maxwell fluid in the presence of magnetic field, viscous dissipation and Joule heating have been studied. The stretching velocity, surface temperature and magnetic field are assumed to have specific exponential function forms for the existence of the local similarity solution. The coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations governing the local similarity flow and heat transfer have been solved numerically by Chebyshev finite difference method. The influence of the buoyancy parameter, viscous dissipation, relaxation parameter of Maxwell fluid, magnetic field and Prandtl number on the flow and heat transfer has been considered in detail. The Nusselt number increases significantly with the Prandtl number, but the skin friction coefficient decreases. The Nusselt number slightly decreases with increasing viscous dissipation parameter, but the skin friction coefficient slightly increases. Maxwell fluid reduces both skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number, whereas buoyancy force enhances them.

Robust design of multiple trailing edge flaps for helicopter vibration reduction: A multi-objective bat algorithm approach

The objective of this study is to determine an optimal trailing edge flap configuration and flap location to achieve minimum hub vibration levels and flap actuation power simultaneously. An aeroelastic analysis of a soft in-plane four-bladed rotor is performed in conjunction with optimal control. A second-order polynomial response surface based on an orthogonal array (OA) with 3-level design describes both the objectives adequately. Two new orthogonal arrays called MGB2P-OA and MGB4P-OA are proposed to generate nonlinear response surfaces with all interaction terms for two and four parameters, respectively. A multi-objective bat algorithm (MOBA) approach is used to obtain the optimal design point for the mutually conflicting objectives. MOBA is a recently developed nature-inspired metaheuristic optimization algorithm that is based on the echolocation behaviour of bats. It is found that MOBA inspired Pareto optimal trailing edge flap design reduces vibration levels by 73% and flap actuation power by 27% in comparison with the baseline design.

三峡工程对下游及河口环境的影响分析

本文概括了三峡建库后引起下游水沙动力因子的基本变化，论述了三峡水库对下游及河口生态和环境的主要影响，并通过对目前仍难以确定的一些问题的仔细分析，为长江中下及河口地区的综合开发和环境保护提供准确的科学依据。

Evaluación de diferentes niveles de ofrecimiento de concentrado comercial adicionando forraje verde ad libitum en conejos durante el período de ceba

El ensayo estudió el efecto de cuatro niveles de ofrecimiento de concentrado comercial, adicionando forraje verde ad libitum en conejos durante el período de ceba. El forraje verde suministrado, consistió en una mezcla pi­cada, que contenía en base a peso fresco el 75% de hojas de musa. sp (plátano), 15% de hojas cajanus cajan (gandul) y 15% de hojas de pennisetum purpureum (taiwán). En el tratamiento utilizado como testigo T1, se suministró pienso comercial en cantidades en gramos por día por gazapo de 96, 129, 145, 158 y 162 para las semanas uno, dos, tres y cuatro respectivamente, para el tratamiento T2, se suministró el 75% del concentrado comercial ofrecido en T1, para el trata­ miento T3, se suministró el 50% del concentrado comercial ofre­cido en T1 y para el tratamiento T4, se suministró el 25% del concentrado comercial ofrecido en T1. Se utilizó un D C A (Diseño completamente aleatorio), incluyendo la covariable peso inicial. El período de evaluación fue de 35 días, con un tiempo de adaptación al alimento de 5 días. Las unidades experimentales fueron 22 gazapos al destete de 34 y 35 días de edad, nacidos en la granja, presentado caracteristicas entre las razas: Neozelandis, California, Pardo, Mariposa y Chinchilla. Se encontró efecto significativo al 0.05 para los tratamientos y no significativo al 0.05 para la covariable peso inicial, siendo las variables respuestas: Consumo de concentrado, consumo de forraje, ganancia media diaria, relación consumo de concentrado entre incremento de peso y relación consumo de forraje entre incremento de peso. Se obtuvieron ganancias medias promedios en gramos por día de 32.2, 28.57, 25.03 y 12.82. Los costos de alimentación en córdobas por gazapo en los 35 días de evaluación fueron 8.23, 6.29, 4.33 y 2.39, que se determinaron en base al análisis de presupuestos parciales, obteniendo un beneficio neto en córdobas de 32.95, 31.66, 30.28 y 21.619 para los tratamientos T1, T2, T3 y T4 respectivamente, a una taza de cambio de C$8.05: US$ 1.

Caracterización y evaluación preliminar de treinta cultivares de maíz (Zea mays L.)

El trabajo consistió en caracterización y evaluación preliminar de 29 cultivares de maíz (Zea mays L), colectadas en la regiones I, IV, y V. y una variedad comercial testigo: el mismo se realizó en los terrenos del programa de Recursos Genéticos Nicaragüenses (REGEN); km. 12 ½ carretera Norte, Managua. Se utilizaron 17 descriptores cualitativos y 24 descriptores cuantitativos, para la descripción del germoplasma, para la interpretación de los datos se utilizó un diseño de Bloques completos al Azar (BCA), con tre repeticiones, además de análisis de correlación y gráficos de racimos (análisis de Clúster). La investigación dejo claramente establecido que es el país existen germoplasma criollo con alto potencial de rendimiento, con las accesión: Colorado, Maíz Criollo, Tusa morada (1591), y Maicena (197) con rendimiento de 3865.7 3685.7 y 3620.6 kgf/Ha. Respectivamente. Precocidad con las accesiones: cuarentena, Rojo Criollo. Olotillo (202), Criollo y Criollo Blanca con 91 días, desde el momento de la siembra y con posibles características sobresalientes de resistencia y/o tolerancia a enfermedades como Achaparramiento y Helminthosporium con las accesiones: Amarillo, Colorado; Blanco y Masaya y las accesiones; ZInica-2 Tusa Morada (1263), Colorado y California, con valores menores de 1.5 y 2.5 respectivamente, representado en una tabla de daños con valores de 1-5. Estas últimas oriundas de Nueva Segovia, Rivas y Jinotega. Además, se clasificaron cuatro grupos de las accesiones, en función del conjunto de descriptores cualitativos de plantas y de los granos. Conclusión por lo tanto , que debe dársele mayor a seguimiento al germoplasma Criollo y en especial a las accesi9ones: cuarenteña. Rojo Criollo; Olotillo (202), Criollo, Criollo Blanco, Colorado y amarillo. Por ser estas las que se comportaron de manera más notoria en cuanto a precocidad, porte de plantas y caracteres de grano.

Corredores ecológicos

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XI - Meio Ambiente e Direito Ambiental, Organização Territorial, Desenvolvimento Urbano e Regional.

Arion ater barearen liseri-guruinaren karakterizazioa: hurbilketa histologikoa

Arion ater barea, ingurumeneko kutsaduraren organismo behale moduan erabiltzen da, horregatik, baldintza normaletan liseriketan zehar liseri-guruina nola aldatzen den aztertzea interesgarria izan daiteke; izan ere, liseriketa dela eta ematen diren aldaketak eragina izan dezakete animaliotan neurtzen den hainbat parametrotan. Liseri-guruina, azino deituriko unitate funtzionalez osatua dago eta liseriketaz eta liseriketarako beharrezkoak diren sustantzien jariapenaz arduratzen da. Liseri-epitelioan, hiru zelula mota bereizi dira: liseri-, eskrezio- eta kaltzio-zelulak. Hauen kopuruak, zein epitelioaren lodiera eta argiaren tamaina, liseriketa fasearen arabera aldatzen dira; aldaketa hauek, zelula mota bakoitzaren funtzioarekin erlazionatuak egonik. Honetaz gain, liseriketa aurrera doan heinean, mukopolisakaridoen garraioa dagoela ikusi da; ondorioz, liseri-traktuko, odol hodietako eta liseri-guruineko mukopolisakaridoen kopuruan desberdintasunak agertu dira.

Artisanal fisheries status and sustainable management options in Teknaf coast, Bangladesh

The study was an endeavor to bring forward a concise, factual description of the salient features of the present status of artisanal fisheries resources and its management for sustainable development of fishing communities in Teknaf coast, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. This study was conducted through 14 fishing villages of 4 Unions in Teknaf Upazila. As a hub of various fisheries deeds, a comprehensive coastal fisheries census, conducted on the coast during the study period, revealed that about 566 fishing fleet of two types, 1263 fishing gears of seven kinds, 6466 fishermen were being involved in fishing at Naaf river estuary. The catch composition of the coastal fishing was found 52 finfish species, 10 shrimp and 3 crabs. The unique potentialities provided by mostly affluent fisheries resources are needed to be tapped and channelized in the appropriate direction for maintaining a paragon of these fisheries resources of coastal area and for pursuing ecologically sustainable development via environment friendly intrinsic exploration and exploitation. “Community Based Fisheries Co-management” program should initiate immediately for the fisherman community of Naaf river estuary of Teknaf coastal region. This will go along way to help sustain the coastal fisheries resources with active participation of the fishermen

A radio frequency field guide using field induced adiabatic potential

We study the behaviour of atoms in a field with both static magnetic field and radio frequency (rf) magnetic field. We calculate the adiabatic potential of atoms numerically beyond the usually rotating wave approximation, and it is pointed that there is a great difference between using these two methods. We find the preconditions when RWA is valid. In the extreme of static field almost parallel to rf field, we reach an analytic formula. Finally, we apply this method to Rb-87 and propose a guide based on an rf field on atom chip.