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

Metal-grating-coupled terahertz quantum-well photodetectors

Three terahertz (THz) GaAs/AlGaAs quantum-well photodetectors with different 1-D metal gratings are fabricated for front-incident detection of THz waves. Photocurrent spectra are acquired and compared with 45 \ub0 incident facet samples (without grating), and peak responsivities are determined with a calibrated blackbody radiation source. The results show that these gratings can couple THz waves into detectors effectively, resulting in good detector responsivities. The modal method is employed to simulate the light coupling efficiency and the optimization conditions of the gratings. \ua9 2011 IEEE.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

3D effects on RWM physics in RFX-mod

n this paper insights into the behaviour of resistive wall modes (RWMs) in the RFX-mod reversed field pinch device are given, with a focus on 3D issues in the characterization of the m spectrum of the mode and on the study of multi-harmonic coupling.In the first part of the paper the interaction between multiple unstable RWMs is studied and the presence of a coupling between different poloidal components of the most unstable RWM is demonstrated, taking advantage of the flexibility of the RFX-mod control system.In the second part of the work, the dependence of the growth rates of RWMs on a complete set of plasma parameters is studied in order to create a complete and homogeneous database, which permits a careful validation of stability codes.Finally, the experimental data are compared with the code predictions which take into account the 3D structure of conductors around the plasma. The different effects that modify the simple description, where unstable modes can be identified with single Fourier harmonics, appear to be explained by a mixture of toroidicity-induced and 3D eddy current effects

3D effects on RWM physics in RFX-mod

n this paper insights into the behaviour of resistive wall modes (RWMs) in the RFX-mod reversed field pinch device are given, with a focus on 3D issues in the characterization of the m spectrum of the mode and on the study of multi-harmonic coupling.In the first part of the paper the interaction between multiple unstable RWMs is studied and the presence of a coupling between different poloidal components of the most unstable RWM is demonstrated, taking advantage of the flexibility of the RFX-mod control system.In the second part of the work, the dependence of the growth rates of RWMs on a complete set of plasma parameters is studied in order to create a complete and homogeneous database, which permits a careful validation of stability codes.Finally, the experimental data are compared with the code predictions which take into account the 3D structure of conductors around the plasma. The different effects that modify the simple description, where unstable modes can be identified with single Fourier harmonics, appear to be explained by a mixture of toroidicity-induced and 3D eddy current effects