Topics in Statistical Methods for Human Gene Mapping

Statistical approaches used for gene mapping can be divided into two types: linkage and association analysis. This dissertation work addresses statistical methods in both areas.In the area of linkage analysis, I consider the problem of QTL (Quantitative Trait Locus) linkage analysis. Linkage analysis requires family data, and if the families are selected according to phenotype or if the trait of interest has a non-Gaussian distribution, standard analysis methods may be inappropriate. The score statistic, derived by taking the first derivative of the likelihood with respect to the linkage parameter, maintains the power of likelihood-based methods and with the use of an empirical variance estimator is robust against non-normal traits and selected samples. I investigate a number of empirical variance estimators that can be used for general pedigrees and evaluate the effects of different variance estimators and trait parameter estimates on the power of the score statistic.In the area of association analysis, I consider the question of what is the best model for a simple genome-scan analysis of a case-control study. In a case-control genome-wide association study, hundreds of thousands of SNPs are genotyped and statistical analysis usually starts with 1 or 2 df chi-squared test or logistic regression model. Power comparisons among subsets of these methods have been done but none of these papers have comprehensively tackled the question of which method is best for univariate scanning in a genome scan. I compare different test procedures and regression models for case-control studies starting from single-locus analysis followed by scanning with covariates and then genome-wide analysis. Based on the simulation results, I offer guidelines for choosing robust test procedures or regression models for testing the genetic effect.The methods proposed here can be used to improve the efficiency of gene mapping studies. This will lead to quicker and more reliable discoveries of genetic risk factors for many different diseases with great public health importance, which should in turn lead to improved prevention and treatment strategies

Treatment of Color Filter Wastewater by Fresnel Lens Enhanced Solar Photo-Fenton Process

Treatment of color filter wastewater using solar photo-Fenton process enhanced by high-concentrating Fresnel lens was investigated in this paper. Optimal reaction conditions based on response surface methodology (RSM) were established as under an initial pH of 5, a [H2O2]0/COD0 ratio of 1~1.35 and a [H2O2]0/[Fe2+]0 ratio of 15 for a reaction time of 60 min, which could reach a readily biodegradable level, that is, the biodegradability (BOD5/COD) of wastewater was more than 0.3. With the assistance of Fresnel lens, the solar photo-Fenton process increased the COD degradation rate and mineralization rate by a factor of 4.5 and 6.5, respectively. In addition, the microtoxicity (TU50) of wastewater was almost diminished after a 60 min of treatment, whereas the microtoxicity of treated wastewater without the assistance of Fresnel lens remained a TU50 value of 1.166. This could be mainly due to the concentrating effect of Fresnel lens for solar energy, resulting in an increase of 2~3 times of solar light intensity and a raising heat irradiation in terms of 15~30 °C of wastewater temperature. These results revealed that solar energy could be concentrated effectively by using Fresnel lens and showed a significant promoting effect on the photo-Fenton reaction for treating color filter wastewater

The study on SFLAB GanedenBC30 viability on baking products during storage

AbstractFor understanding Bacillus coagulans, GanedenBC30 was used in different ways to added in raw dough and examine their viability after baking. Eight different baking products: (1) chrysanthemum cookies, (2) egg pastry cakes, (3) mooncakes, (4) muffins, (5) polo breads, (6) soda cookies, (7) sponge cakes, and (8) toasts were made from 0.5% GanedenBC30 added to their dough in two ways: (a) flour powder or (b) egg yolk. Then the (a) pH value, (b) titratable acidity, (c) GanedenBC30 counts, and (d) viability GanedenBC30 of eight different baking products were determined after storing at 4oC for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 days, or 25oC for 0, 3, 6 days. The eight types of raw dough had relatively lower pH values and rise after baking. The titratable acidity of the eight types of dough was relatively higher, and declined after baking. However, the pH value and titratable acidity of the eight baking products remained the same after 9 days at 4oC. On the other hand, the GanedenBC30 counts in the eight baking products were less than their raw dough GanedenBC30 levels. For storage at both 4 and 25oC, the results show the GanedenBC30 viability of baking products decreased with storage days. The dough made by flour powder and baking showed higher GanedenBC30 viability than by egg yolk. GanedenBC30 are good candidates for baking product use, both in lactic acid production and probiotic preparations

Response to Comment on "ApoE e4e4 Genotype and Mortality With COVID-19 in UK Biobank" by Kuo et al

This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.C.L.K. and D.M. are supported by an R21 grant (R21AG060018) funded by National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health, USA. D.M. also is supported by the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.published version, accepted version (12 month embargo), submitted versio

Educational Technology Primer: A Guide for Pre-Service Teachers

The Educational Technology Primer grew out of the realization that today’s teacher education students have different needs than their predecessors. Current students arrive on campus less intimidated by technology and more experienced with the use of technology in instruction. However, many introductory educational technology texts still highlight the acquisition of basic technology operations; knowledge and skills that made sense when students entering an introductory educational technology course lacked technology experiences, but not today

Ontology-based HBIM for historic buildings with traditional woodwork in Taiwan

In recent years, the use of Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) has grown prevalent and thus provided a research opportunity. Differing from newly constructed buildings, structural components of historic buildings come with unique physical configurations and have amassed impressive amount of restoration data, all of which must be taken into consideration when incorporating Building Information Modeling. In terms of modelling, it is critical to determine the appropriate level of detail (LoD), level of information (LoI), especially the comprehensiveness and expandability of the database. International Committee for Documentation/Conceptual Reference Model (CIDOC CRM) is a widely accepted standard for ontology model. This study aims to integrate the HBIM and CIDOC CRM to construct a framework and comprehensive operational procedure for the modeling of traditional Minan architecture and a database with complete semantics archiving the background and restoration data. Autodesk A360 is ideal for collaborative. However, there are limitations when it comes to developing advanced models for data management or query; interactive experience; meeting model applications derived from future scenarios. Therefore, the study also offers a 3D modeling platform constructed using Unity, as well as a comparison of the platforms built with Unity, three.js and Autodesk A360 as a reference for users

Association between Residential Exposure to Air Pollution and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Is Not Mediated by Leukocyte Telomere Length: A UK Biobank Study

Higher air pollution exposure and shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) are both associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), and share plausible mechanisms, including inflammation. LTL may serve as a biomarker of air pollution exposure and may be intervened with to reduce the risk of CHD. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to test the mediation effect of LTL in the relationship between air pollution exposure and incident CHD. Using the UK Biobank (UKB) data (n = 317,601), we conducted a prospective study linking residential air pollution exposure (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, NOx) and LTL to incident CHD during a mean follow-up of 12.6 years. Cox proportional hazards models and generalized additive models with penalized spline functions were used to model the associations of pollutant concentrations and LTL with incident CHD. We found non-linear associations of air pollution exposure with LTL and CHD. Pollutant concentrations in the lower range were decreasingly associated with longer LTL and reduced risk of CHD. The associations between lower pollutant concentrations and reduced risk of CHD, however, were minimally mediated by LTL (\u3c3%). Our findings suggest that air pollution influences CHD through pathways that do not involve LTL. Replication is needed with improved measurements of air pollution that more accurately assesses personal exposure

Predictors of intra-abdominal coagulopathic hemorrhage after living donor liver transplantation

AbstractBackgroundResults of preoperative conventional coagulation assays are a poor predictor of hemorrhage after liver transplantation. In this study, we evaluated the factors that are predictive of intra-abdominal coagulopathic hemorrhage after living donor liver transplantation surgery.MethodsDuring the period from January 2009 to December 2012, 118 adults underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in our institution. Of those patients, 18 (15.3%) developed intra-abdominal coagulopathic hemorrhage (n = 7) or hemorrhage due to non-coagulopathic causes (n = 11) that required emergency medical, radiological, or surgical intervention within the first month after LDLT. Possible predictors of postoperative coagulopathic hemorrhage included donor-related factors, age, body mass index, MELD score, INR value, intra-operative blood transfusion, graft/recipient weight ratio, anhepatic phase, cold ischemia time, operative time, APACHE II score, onset of re-bleeding, and hemoglobin levels during rebleeding episodes.ResultsThere were no differences in any of the variables between the two groups (coagulopathic and noncoagulopathic hemorrhage) except for cold ischemia time. We found that cold ischemia time was significantly longer in patients with postoperative coagulopathic hemorrhage (160.50 ± 45.02 min) than in patients with hemorrhage due to non-coagulopathic causes (113.55 ± 29.31 min; P = 0.027).ConclusionProlonged cold ischemia time is associated with postoperative intra-abdominal coagulopathic hemorrhage in patients after LDLT. It is, therefore, necessary to shorten the cold ischemia time in order to reduce the risk of postoperative intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to coagulopathic causes