Haseman-Elston weighted by marker informativity

In the Haseman-Elston approach the squared phenotypic difference is regressed on the proportion of alleles shared identical by descent (IBD) to map a quantitative trait to a genetic marker. In applications the IBD distribution is estimated and usually cannot be determined uniquely owing to incomplete marker information. At Genetic Analysis Workshop (GAW) 13, Jacobs et al. [BMC Genet 2003, 4(Suppl 1):S82] proposed to improve the power of the Haseman-Elston algorithm by weighting for information available from marker genotypes. The authors did not show, however, the validity of the employed asymptotic distribution. In this paper, we use the simulated data provided for GAW 14 and show that weighting Haseman-Elston by marker information results in increased type I error rates. Specifically, we demonstrate that the number of significant findings throughout the chromosome is significantly increased with weighting schemes. Furthermore, we show that the classical Haseman-Elston method keeps its nominal significance level when applied to the same data. We therefore recommend to use Haseman-Elston with marker informativity weights only in conjunction with empirical p-values. Whether this approach in fact yields an increase in power needs to be investigated further

The relation of personality and intelligence - what can the Brunswik symmetry principle tell us?

Personality and intelligence are defined as hierarchical constructs, ranging from broad g-factors to (domain-)specific constructs. The present study investigated whether different combinations of hierarchical levels lead to different personality-intelligence correlations. Based on the integrative data analysis approach, we combined a total of five data sets. The focus of the first study (N = 682) was an elaborated measurement of personality (NEO-PI-R), which was applied with a relatively short intelligence test (Intelligence Structure Test 2000 R). In the second study (N = 413), a comprehensive measurement of intelligence (Berlin Intelligence Structure test) was used with a shorter personality questionnaire (NEO-FFI). In line with the Brunswik symmetry principle, the findings emphasize that personality-intelligence correlations varied greatly across the hierarchical levels of constructs considered in the analysis. On average, Openness showed the largest relation with intelligence. We recommend for future studies to investigate personality-intelligence relations at more fine-grained levels based on elaborated measurements of both personality and intelligence

Antiarrhythmic effect of ischemic preconditioning during low-flow ischemia: The role of bradykinin and sarcolemmal versus mitochondrial ATP-sensitive K+ channels

Abstract. : Short episodes of ischemia (ischemic preconditioning) protect the heart against ventricular arrhythmias during zero-flow ischemia and reperfusion. However, in clinics, many episodes of ischemia present a residual flow (low-flow ischemia). Here we examined whether ischemic preconditioning protects against ventricular arrhythmias during and after a low-flow ischemia and, if so, by what mechanism(s). Isolated rat hearts were subjected to 60 min of low-flow ischemia (12% residual coronary flow) followed by 60 min of reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning was induced by two cycles of 5 min of zero-flow ischemia followed by 5 and 15 min of reperfusion, respectively. Arrhythmias were evaluated as numbers of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) as well as incidences of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular .brillation (VF) during low-flow ischemia and reperfusion. Ischemic preconditioning significantly reduced the number of VPBs and the incidence of VT and of VF during low-flow ischemia. This antiarrhythmic effect of preconditioning was abolished by HOE 140 (100 nM), a bradykinin B2 receptor blocker. Similar to preconditioning, exogenous bradykinin (10 nM) reduced the number of VPBs and the incidence of VT and of VF during low-flow ischemia. Furthermore, the antiarrhythmic effects of both ischemic preconditioning and bradykinin were abolished by glibenclamide (1 µM), a non-specific blocker of ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels. Finally, the antiarrhythmic effects of both ischemic preconditioning and bradykinin were abolished by HMR 1098 (10 µM), a sarcolemmal KATP channel blocker but not by 5-hydroxydecanoate (100 µM), a mitochondrial KATP channel blocker. In conclusion, ischemic preconditioning protects against ventricular arrhythmias induced by low-flow ischemia, and this protection involves activation of bradykinin B2 receptors and subsequent opening of sarcolemmal but not of mitochondrial KATP channel

Mapping track density changes in nigrostriatal and extranigral pathways in Parkinson's disease

peer reviewedHighlights First whole-brain probabilistic tractography study in Parkinson's disease High quality diffusion-weighted images (120 gradient directions, b = 2500 s/mm2) Voxel-based group analysis comparing early-stage patients and controls Abnormal reconstructed track density in the nigrostriatal pathway and brainstem Track density also increased in limbic and cognitive circuits

Applied argument analysis, Nappe tectonics and Palynostratigraphy in the middle Lahn-syncline (Stratigraphy and facies relations in the Devonian and Lower Carboniferous of the middle Lahn-syncline between Weilburg and ruin Aardeck)

INTRODUCTION: The study area is situated in Germany in the federal state Hesse at the eastern margin of the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge within the Lahn syncline. It is part of the former Variscan geosyncline. In 1910 and 1921 AHLBURG developed a new concept for the interpretation of the geological situation in the Lahn region between Marburg and Limburg: the syncline-theory. Within this "Lahn-syncline" an idealised symmetrical succession of structural and facies features - most obvious within Middle Devonian strata - was proposed. He recognised a general trend to a basinal facies from Emsian to Upper Devonian times within the "syncline", which was divided from the Middle Devonian onwards by the build-up of volcanoes and reefs in its middle part. The syncline was thus 3-fold divided into: a) the "Southern Marginal Facies", b) a zone of volcanic ridges and reefs in the middle and c) the "Northern Marginal Facies" which nowadays is called Hörre-facies. Small remnants of proposed Upper Devonian basinal facies within the middle volcano-and-reef facies were attributed by him to the Northern Marginal Facies; but since no direct contact to the latter was observable, he gave them a separate name: "Gaudernbacher Schichten (layers)". Within this study the struggle which persisted over 80 years about the nature, origin, spatial distribution and palaeogeographic setting of the "Gaudernbacher Schichten" sensu AHLBURG (1918) will be settled: The Gaudernbach layers as a separate stratigraphic unit does not exist! It will be shown in this study that this conclusion can be, in the first instance, verified solely by logical inferences and historical contradictions. But what else - if not the occurrence of a "special facies" - could have forced AHLBURG to recognise something unique in this region? In order to solve this problem the following methods have been applied: a) reconstruction of palynostratigraphy and palynofacies, b) applied argument analysis, c) compilation of new correlation charts and historical analysis, d) analysis of Milankovitch cycles, e) fractal analysis, f) petrographic analyses, g) drill core descriptions. RESULTS: 1) The Gaudernbach layers do not exist. 2) Remnants of the Giessen nappe have been encountered in the area between Weilburg and Holzheim. 3) The Giessen nappe in the middle Lahn-syncline comprises a) late Viséan Kulm-slates (Kulmtonschiefer), b) the Viséan Bruchberg sandstone north of Limburg, c) Viséan light flinty-slates, d) Tournaisian dark flinty-slates, e) Tournaisian dark slates, f) Deckdiabas and Erdbach limestone, g) newly encountered early Famennian debris flow sediments and small occurrences of greywacke. 4) The clasts of the Viséan Bruchberg sandstone were derived from the north (Laurussia), whereas the components of the Famennian greywackes came from a southerly situated source region. 5) Milankovitch cycles have been detected within the background sediments of the Bruchberg sandstone formation and the Helle Lydite (Light flinty slate) formation. Sedimentation rates in the order of less than 10 mm/ka have been derived for both analysed sediments with the obtained data. 6) Autochthonous and allochthonous lithologies show no differences in their fractal properties. But apart from that, fractal analysis proved to be a valuable tool for the quantification of tectonic trends. 7) A new Lower Carboniferous correlation chart (LCC2003) is presented. 8) Applied argument analysis has been introduced to geology for the first time. In exemplary analyses the reliability of the Giessen-Harz Nappe concept is analysed and a scheme to make appropriate judgements on the speculative nature of two palaeogeographic texts is presented. 9) A scheme for the structured registration of biostratigraphic results in electronically processable data sets is presented. 10) 18 drill cores from mostly Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous lithologies, drilled north of Limburg, have been analysed and their strata graphically rotated to zero dip for palaeofacies analysis. 11) The palynostratigraphy has been - for the first time - successfully applied in the area between Weilburg and Holzheim. Palynofacies determinations have been undertaken. For the first time reliable statistical data about to what extent reworked fossils could be comprised in greywacke-bearing Upper Devonian debris flow sediments become available. 12) Special attention has been paid on the description of occurrence and formation of framboidal pyrite in pelites and in phycomata of acritarchs therein. 13) A geological sketch map 1:25000, featuring the area between Weilburg and Holzheim, is presented in enclosure 4. 14) Hypothetical reconnaissance maps showing the northern Gondwana — southern Laurussia topography during the Middle Devonian and Lower Carboniferous are presented

DESEMPENHO, CARACTERÍSTICAS DA CARCAÇA E DA CARNE DE NOVILHOS PRECOCES TERMINADOS EM CONFINAMENTO ALIMENTADOS COM SORO DE LEITE

O trabalho teve objetivo de avaliar o desempenho produtivo e características qualitativas da carcaça e da carne de bovinos de corte confinados com dieta controle e dieta soro de leite, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, 2 dietas e 3 repetições. Foram utilizados 24 novilhos, de raças taurinas e suas cruzas, com peso vivo inicial de 319,3±11,4 kg e idade de 11 meses, alimentados por 124 dias. As dietas apresentaram relação volumoso:concentrado de 40:60, contendo 13% de PB e 68% de NDT, compostas por silagem de milho e concentrado. Na dieta soro, foram incluídos 14,78% da MS da dieta de soro de leite. Os resultados apresentaram semelhanças (p>0,05) de 1,42 kg/dia no ganho de peso médio diário, pesos de abate (497±19,94 e 504±21,36 kg), peso das carcaças quente (279,15±12,54 e 287,77±13,16 Kg), rendimento de carcaça quente (56,02±0,50 e 56,89 ±0,50%), espessura de gordura subcutânea (5,25±0,92 e 6,50±1,35 mm), temperatura das carcaças (7,17±0,27 e 7,08±0,29 °C), marmoreio (8,42±0,99 e 7,58±0,62), e valores na cor da carne (L*38,77±0,82 e 38,43±0,69; a* 21,09±0,58 e 20,02±0,58; b* 12,44±0,35 e 11,45±0,44). Diferenças (

Magnetic processes in a collapsing dense core. I Accretion and Ejection

Abridged. It is important for the star formation process to understand the collapse of a prestellar dense core. We investigate the effect of the magnetic field during the first collapse up to the formation of the firstcore, focusing particularly on the magnetic braking and the launching of outflows. We perform 3D AMR high resolution numerical simulations of a magnetically supercritical collapsing dense core using the RAMSES MHD code and develop semi-analytical models that we compare with the numerical results. We study in detail the various profiles within the envelope of the collapsing core for various magnetic field strengths. Even modest values of magnetic field strength modify the collapse significantly. This is largely due to the amplification of the radial and toroidal components of the magnetic field by the differential motions within the collapsing core. For a weak magnetic intensity corresponding to an initial mass-to-flux over critical mass-to-flux ratio, $\mu$ equals to 20, a centrifugally supported disk forms. The strong differential rotation triggers the growth of a slowly expanding magnetic tower. For a higher magnetic field strengths corresponding to $\mu=2$, the collapse occurs primarily along the field lines, therefore delivering weaker angular momentum in the inner part whereas at the same time, strong magnetic braking occurs. As a consequence no centrifugally supported disk forms. An outflow is launched from the central thermally supported core. Detailed comparisons with existing analytical predictions indicate that it is magneto-centrifugally driven. For cores having a mass-to-flux over critical mass-to-flux radio $\mu < 5$, the magnetic field appears to have a significant impact.....Comment: Accepted for publication in A&

The Coping with and Caring for Infants with Special Needs intervention was associated with improved motor development in preterm infants

Aim: We compared the impact of standard infant physiotherapy and the family-centred programme, Coping with and Caring for Infants with Special Needs (COPCA), in infants born before 32 weeks without significant brain lesions. Methods: This randomised controlled trial was carried out in patients' homes and outpatient settings in Switzerland between January 2016 and October 2019. We used data from the national SwissNeoNet register and an assessment battery that included infant and family outcomes and video analyses of therapy sessions. The Infant Motor Profile was the primary outcome instrument. Results: The COPCA group comprised six boys and two girls with a median gestational age of 27 weeks (range 25-30), and the standard care group comprised seven boys and one girl with a median gestational age of 29.5 weeks (range 26-31). COPCA participants improved significantly more between baseline and 18 months in the IMP variation (9.0 percentage points, 95% confidence interval: 0.3-17.5) and performance (12.0 percentage points, 95% confidence interval: 4.1-20.6) domains than standard care participants. COPCA coaching was positively associated with IMP scores at 18 months, but some standard care actions were negatively associated. Conclusion: COPCA was associated with better motor outcome in infants born before 32 weeks than standard infant physiotherapy