On the strict value of the non-linear optimal stopping problem

We address the non-linear strict value problem in the case of a general filtration and a completely irregular pay-off process (ξt). While the value process (Vt) of the non-linear problem is only right-uppersemicontinuous, we show that the strict value process (V+t) is necessarily right-continuous. Moreover, the strict value process (V+t) coincides with the process of right-limits (Vt+) of the value process. As an auxiliary result, we obtain that a strong non-linear f-supermartingale is right-continuous if and only if it is right-continuous along stopping times in conditional f-expectation

Optimal stopping with f-expectations: The irregular case

We consider the optimal stopping problem with non-linear f-expectation (induced by a BSDE) without making any regularity assumptions on the payoff process ξ and in the case of a general filtration. We show that the value family can be aggregated by an optional process Y. We characterize the process Y as the Ef-Snell envelope of ξ. We also establish an infinitesimal characterization of the value process Y in terms of a Reflected BSDE with ξ as the obstacle. To do this, we first establish some useful properties of irregular RBSDEs, in particular an existence and uniqueness result and a comparison theorem

Eicosapentaenoic acid provokes stronger in vitro antiadipogenic effect than docosahexaenoic acid in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells

The comparative studies of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) effects on the amount of lipid droplets (LD) and within adipocytes are limited. In this study, 3T3-L1 mouse embryo fibroblasts (ATCC® CL-173™) were expanded up to fifth passage. At the stage of growth arrest, the cells were treated with EPA and DHA separately and in combination at 100 μg/mL for 2 days. Oil Red O staining protocol, subsequent extraction with isopropanol and spectrophotometric determination of absorbed dye were used to establish the amount of intracellular lipid droplets depo-sition. While DHA administration had no significant effect on reduction of LD intracellular deposi-tion, the EPA treatment decreased optical density (OD) significantly (P<0.05). Furthermore, a syner-gic effect of combined application of both PUFAs was not observed. In conclusion, EPA provoked stronger antiadipogenic effect than DHA suggesting that EPA administration would be more effective in already existing obesity

Discovering study-specific gene regulatory networks

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Microarrays are commonly used in biology because of their ability to simultaneously measure thousands of genes under different conditions. Due to their structure, typically containing a high amount of variables but far fewer samples, scalable network analysis techniques are often employed. In particular, consensus approaches have been recently used that combine multiple microarray studies in order to find networks that are more robust. The purpose of this paper, however, is to combine multiple microarray studies to automatically identify subnetworks that are distinctive to specific experimental conditions rather than common to them all. To better understand key regulatory mechanisms and how they change under different conditions, we derive unique networks from multiple independent networks built using glasso which goes beyond standard correlations. This involves calculating cluster prediction accuracies to detect the most predictive genes for a specific set of conditions. We differentiate between accuracies calculated using cross-validation within a selected cluster of studies (the intra prediction accuracy) and those calculated on a set of independent studies belonging to different study clusters (inter prediction accuracy). Finally, we compare our method's results to related state-of-the art techniques. We explore how the proposed pipeline performs on both synthetic data and real data (wheat and Fusarium). Our results show that subnetworks can be identified reliably that are specific to subsets of studies and that these networks reflect key mechanisms that are fundamental to the experimental conditions in each of those subsets

Genome-wide association study with 1000 genomes imputation identifies signals for nine sex hormone-related phenotypes.

Genetic factors contribute strongly to sex hormone levels, yet knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms remains incomplete. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified only a small number of loci associated with sex hormone levels, with several reproductive hormones yet to be assessed. The aim of the study was to identify novel genetic variants contributing to the regulation of sex hormones. We performed GWAS using genotypes imputed from the 1000 Genomes reference panel. The study used genotype and phenotype data from a UK twin register. We included 2913 individuals (up to 294 males) from the Twins UK study, excluding individuals receiving hormone treatment. Phenotypes were standardised for age, sex, BMI, stage of menstrual cycle and menopausal status. We tested 7,879,351 autosomal SNPs for association with levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), oestradiol, free androgen index (FAI), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin, progesterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and testosterone. Eight independent genetic variants reached genome-wide significance (P<5 × 10(-8)), with minor allele frequencies of 1.3-23.9%. Novel signals included variants for progesterone (P=7.68 × 10(-12)), oestradiol (P=1.63 × 10(-8)) and FAI (P=1.50 × 10(-8)). A genetic variant near the FSHB gene was identified which influenced both FSH (P=1.74 × 10(-8)) and LH (P=3.94 × 10(-9)) levels. A separate locus on chromosome 7 was associated with both DHEAS (P=1.82 × 10(-14)) and progesterone (P=6.09 × 10(-14)). This study highlights loci that are relevant to reproductive function and suggests overlap in the genetic basis of hormone regulation.We thank Roche Diagnostics Australia Pty Limited, Castle Hill, Australia, who provided support for the analysis of the hormones. We thank the volunteer twins for their participation in the study. Twins UK received funding support from NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (grant to Guys’ and St. Thomas’ Hospitals and King’s College London); the Chronic Disease Research Foundation; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé Québec, The Lady Davis Institute, the Jewish General Hospital and Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation du Quebec. The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC project grants 1010494, 1048216), and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Research (grant PP2009/028). This work was supported by funding from the Wellcome Trust (092447/Z/10/Z) and Medical Research Council (MC_U106179472).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from NPG via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2015.10

Assessment of the relationship between the vaginal microecosystem in teenage girls with reproductive disorders

Background. Violations of indigenous microflora composition associates with a wide variety of gynecological complications. Thus, the qualitative and quantitative composition of lactobacilli and their associative capacity and functional activity may serve as a criterion of microecological well-being in the body. Aim. To study species diversity of lactobacilli in vaginal biotope teenage girls with gynecological pathologies and to assess the extent of their relationship with the combination of diversity profiles associated opportunistic pathogens. Materials and methods. The study included 107 adolescents with reproductive system disorders. The study was conducted with the use of gynecological and general microbiological methods. Results. It was revealed that in vaginal biocenosis of the studied group of teenage girls dominating lactobacilli were Lactobacillus plantarum and L. crispatus, the incidence of other species did not exceed 21 %. Among the representatives of opportunistic pathogenic microflora dominated coccal microflora and Corynebacterium spp., being the part of normal flora of vaginal mucosa. Analysis of species composition revealed a statistically significant relationship between certain types of lactobacilli and opportunistic microorganisms, i.e. lactobacilli showed no antagonistic activity towards the opportunistic microorganisms, and formed symbiotic relationships with them. Conclusions. Most commonness was found among the minor species of lactobacilli (L. iners, L. gasseri, L. jensenii), coagulase-negative staphylococci and fungi of Candida genus, and that increases the risk of transformation of normal microflora in the pathological one

Haplotype Structure of FSHB, the Beta-Subunit Gene for Fertility-Associated Follicle-Stimulating Hormone: Possible Influence of Balancing Selection

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is essential for human reproduction. The unique functions of this hormone are provided by the FSH receptor-binding beta-subunit encoded by the FSHB gene. Resequencing and genotyping of FSHB in three European, two Asian and one African population, as well as in the great apes (chimpanzee, gorilla, orangutan), revealed low diversity and significant excess of polymorphisms with intermediate frequency alleles. Statistical tests for FSHB showed deviations from neutrality in all populations suggesting a possible effect of balancing selection. Two core haplotypes were identified (carried by 76-96.6% of each population's sample), the sequences of which are clearly separated from each other. As fertility most directly affects an organism's fitness, the carriers of these haplotypes have apparently had more success in human history to contribute to the next generation. There is a preliminary observation suggesting that the second most frequent FSHB haplotype may be associated with rapid conception success in females. Interestingly, the same haplotype is related to an ancestral FSHB variant shared with the ancestor of the great apes. The determination of the functional consequence of the two core FSHB variants may have implications for understanding and regulating human fertility, as well as in assisting infertility treatments