Trans-ancestry genome-wide association study identifies 12 genetic loci influencing blood pressure and implicates a role for DNA methylation

We carried out a trans-ancestry genome-wide association and replication study of blood pressure phenotypes among up to 320,251 individuals of East Asian, European and South Asian ancestry. We find genetic variants at 12 new loci to be associated with blood pressure (P = 3.9 × 10-11 to 5.0 × 10-21). The sentinel blood pressure SNPs are enriched for association with DNA methylation at multiple nearby CpG sites, suggesting that, at some of the loci identified, DNA methylation may lie on the regulatory pathway linking sequence variation to blood pressure. The sentinel SNPs at the 12 new loci point to genes involved in vascular smooth muscle (IGFBP3, KCNK3, PDE3A and PRDM6) and renal (ARHGAP24, OSR1, SLC22A7 and TBX2) function. The new and known genetic variants predict increased left ventricular mass, circulating levels of NT-proBNP, and cardiovascular and all-cause mortality (P = 0.04 to 8.6 × 10-6). Our results provide new evidence for the role of DNA methylation in blood pressure regulation

Preparation and Properties of PVC-Silica Composites using Different Catalysts Via Sol-Gel Process

Novel micro-composites from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and silica were prepared using sol-gel technique. Different catalysts were used for the in-situ generation of silica network from tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) in the PVC matrix. Thin transparent films containing various proportions of silica in PVC were cast by the solvent elution technique. Mechanical properties of these films were studied. The results showed an increase in the value of Young's modulus and strain at rupture by the addition of small amount of silica in PVC. However, the stress at yields point and stress at rupture decreased with the addition of silica contents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDAX) studies were also performed on these samples.</jats:p

Treatment of oily water using hydrophobic nano-silica

In view of serious water contamination threats posed by the ever-increasing usage of automobile fuels, the present study explores the potential of a commercially available hydrophobic nano-silica (Aersosil R 812) for the treatment of water contaminated with the gasoline and diesel using the process of adsorption. Owing to its nanometeic dimension, nano-silica Aerosil R 812 offers large surface area (260 m2/g) that translates into a higher uptake of gasoline and diesel as compared to other adsorbents reported in the literature with a removal efficiency found to be high as 99% and 97%, respectively, at pH 7. Both kinetic as well as equilibrium studies are carried out here, and the data thus obtained are processed in conjunction with appropriate models to obtain relevant parameters. Moreover, unlike porous-matrix based adsorbents, the nano-silica does not suffer from the pore filling and blockage problem, and therefore shows great promise towards the development of cost-effective water-treatment technology