455 research outputs found
Closure of population biobanks and direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies
Genetic research gained new momentum with the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003. Formerly centered on the investigation of single-gene disorders, genetic research is increasingly targeting common complex diseases and in doing so is studying the whole genome, the environment and its impact on genomic variation. Consequently, biobanking initiatives have emerged around the world as a tool to sustain such progress. Whether they are small scale or longitudinal, public or private, commercial or non-commercial, biobanks should consider the possibility of closure. Interestingly, while raising important ethical issues, this topic has hardly been explored in the literature. Indeed, ethical issues associated with sale, insolvency, end of funding, or transfer of materials to other entities (which are all issues either related to or possible consequences of closure) are seldom the subject of discussion. In an attempt to fill this gap, this paper will discuss-using population and direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing companies' biobanks as case studies-(1) international and national normative documents addressing the issue of closure and (2) the internal policies of population biobanks and DTC genetic testing companies. The analysis will inform the debate on biobank closure and elucidate the underlying ethical issues, which include, but are not limited to informed consent, storage and privacy
The calibration of the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory using uniformly distributed radioactive sources
The production and analysis of distributed sources of 24Na and 222Rn in the
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO) are described. These unique sources provided
accurate calibrations of the response to neutrons, produced through
photodisintegration of the deuterons in the heavy water target, and to low
energy betas and gammas. The application of these sources in determining the
neutron detection efficiency and response of the 3He proportional counter
array, and the characteristics of background Cherenkov light from trace amounts
of natural radioactivity is described.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figure
3D Coronal Density Reconstruction and Retrieving the Magnetic Field Structure during Solar Minimum
Measurement of the coronal magnetic field is a crucial ingredient in
understanding the nature of solar coronal phenomena at all scales. We employed
STEREO/COR1 data obtained during a deep minimum of solar activity in February
2008 (Carrington rotation CR 2066) to retrieve and analyze the
three-dimensional (3D) coronal electron density in the range of heights from
1.5 to 4 Rsun using a tomography method. With this, we qualitatively deduced
structures of the coronal magnetic field. The 3D electron density analysis is
complemented by the 3D STEREO/EUVI emissivity in the 195 A band obtained by
tomography for the same CR. A global 3D MHD model of the solar corona was used
to relate the reconstructed 3D density and emissivity to open/closed magnetic
field structures. We show that the density maximum locations can serve as an
indicator of current sheet position, while the locations of the density
gradient maximum can be a reliable indicator of coronal hole boundaries. We
find that the magnetic field configuration during CR 2066 has a tendency to
become radially open at heliocentric distances greater than 2.5 Rsun. We also
find that the potential field model with a fixed source surface (PFSS) is
inconsistent with the boundaries between the regions with open and closed
magnetic field structures. This indicates that the assumption of the potential
nature of the coronal global magnetic field is not satisfied even during the
deep solar minimum. Results of our 3D density reconstruction will help to
constrain solar coronal field models and test the accuracy of the magnetic
field approximations for coronal modeling.Comment: Published in "Solar Physics
Small-scale solar magnetic fields
As we resolve ever smaller structures in the solar atmosphere, it has become
clear that magnetism is an important component of those small structures.
Small-scale magnetism holds the key to many poorly understood facets of solar
magnetism on all scales, such as the existence of a local dynamo, chromospheric
heating, and flux emergence, to name a few. Here, we review our knowledge of
small-scale photospheric fields, with particular emphasis on quiet-sun field,
and discuss the implications of several results obtained recently using new
instruments, as well as future prospects in this field of research.Comment: 43 pages, 18 figure
Reconciling Neutralino Relic Density with Yukawa Unified Supersymmetric Models
Supersymmetric grand unified models based on the gauge group SO(10) are
especially attractive in light of recent data on neutrino masses. The simplest
SO(10) SUSY GUT models predict unification of third generation Yukawa couplings
in addition to the usual gauge coupling unification. Recent surveys of Yukawa
unified SUSY GUT models predict an inverted scalar mass hierarchy in the
spectrum of sparticle masses if the superpotential mu term is positive. In
general, such models tend to predict an overabundance of dark matter in the
universe. We survey several solutions to the dark matter problem in Yukawa
unified supersymmetric models. One solution-- lowering the GUT scale mass value
of first and second generation scalars-- leads to u_R and c_R squark masses in
the 90-120 GeV regime, which should be accessible to Fermilab Tevatron
experiments. We also examine relaxing gaugino mass universality which may solve
the relic density problem by having neutralino annihilations via the Z or h
resonances, or by having a wino-like LSP.Comment: 21 page file plus 9 figures; updated version to coincide with
published versio
GenTAC registry report: Gender differences among individuals with genetically triggered thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection
Previous data suggest women are at increased risk of death from aortic dissection. Therefore, we analyzed data from the GenTAC registry, the NIH‐sponsored program that collects information about individuals with genetically triggered thoracic aortic aneurysms and cardiovascular conditions. We performed cross‐sectional analyses in adults with Marfan syndrome (MFS), familial thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection (FTAAD), bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) with thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection, and subjects under 50 years of age with thoracic aortic aneurysm or dissection (TAAD <50 years). Women comprised 32% of 1,449 subjects and were 21% of subjects with BAV, 34% with FTAAD, 22% with TAAD <50 years, and 47% with MFS. Thoracic aortic dissections occurred with equal gender frequency yet women with BAV had more extensive dissections. Aortic size was smaller in women but was similar after controlling for BSA. Age at operation for aortic valve dysfunction, aneurysm or dissection did not differ by gender. Multivariate analysis (adjusting for age, BSA, hypertension, study site, diabetes, and subgroup diagnoses) showed that women had fewer total aortic surgeries (OR = 0.65, P < 0.01) and were less likely to receive angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi; OR = 0.68, P < 0.05). As in BAV, other genetically triggered aortic diseases such as FTAAD and TAAD <50 are more common in males. In women, decreased prevalence of aortic operations and less treatment with ACEi may be due to their smaller absolute aortic diameters. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine if women are at higher risk for adverse events. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97193/1/35836_ftp.pd
The Yamato-type (CY) carbonaceous chondrite group: Analogues for the surface of asteroid Ryugu?
We report new mineralogical, petrographic and noble gas analyses of the carbonaceous chondrite meteorites Y-82162 (C1/2ung), Y-980115 (CI1), Y-86029 (CI1), Y-86720 (C2ung), Y-86789 (C2ung), and B-7904 (C2ung). Combining our results with literature data we show that these meteorites experienced varying degrees of aqueous alteration followed by short-lived thermal metamorphism at temperatures of >500 °C. These meteorites have similar mineralogy, textures and chemical characteristics suggesting that they are genetically related, and we strongly support the conclusion of Ikeda (1992) that they form a distinct group, the CYs (“Yamato-type”). The CY chondrites have the heaviest oxygen isotopic compositions (δ17O ˜12‰, δ18O ˜22‰) of any meteorite group, high abundances of Fe-sulphides (˜10 ‒ 30 vol%) and phosphates, and contain large grains of periclase and unusual objects of secondary minerals not reported in other carbonaceous chondrites. These features cannot be attributed to parent body processes alone, and indicate that the CYs had a different starting mineralogy and/or alteration history to other chondrite groups, perhaps because they formed in a different region of the protoplanetary disk. The short cosmic-ray exposure ages (≤1.3 Ma) of the CY chondrites suggest that they are derived from a near-Earth source, with recent observations by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft highlighting a possible link to the rubble-pile asteroid Ryugu
Multiwavelength studies of MHD waves in the solar chromosphere: An overview of recent results
The chromosphere is a thin layer of the solar atmosphere that bridges the
relatively cool photosphere and the intensely heated transition region and
corona. Compressible and incompressible waves propagating through the
chromosphere can supply significant amounts of energy to the interface region
and corona. In recent years an abundance of high-resolution observations from
state-of-the-art facilities have provided new and exciting ways of
disentangling the characteristics of oscillatory phenomena propagating through
the dynamic chromosphere. Coupled with rapid advancements in
magnetohydrodynamic wave theory, we are now in an ideal position to thoroughly
investigate the role waves play in supplying energy to sustain chromospheric
and coronal heating. Here, we review the recent progress made in
characterising, categorising and interpreting oscillations manifesting in the
solar chromosphere, with an impetus placed on their intrinsic energetics.Comment: 48 pages, 25 figures, accepted into Space Science Review
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