A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies multiple longevity genes

Publisher's version (útgefin grein).Human longevity is heritable, but genome-wide association (GWA) studies have had limited success. Here, we perform two meta-analyses of GWA studies of a rigorous longevity phenotype definition including 11,262/3484 cases surviving at or beyond the age corresponding to the 90th/99th survival percentile, respectively, and 25,483 controls whose age at death or at last contact was at or below the age corresponding to the 60th survival percentile. Consistent with previous reports, rs429358 (apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4) is associated with lower odds of surviving to the 90th and 99th percentile age, while rs7412 (ApoE ε2) shows the opposite. Moreover, rs7676745, located near GPR78, associates with lower odds of surviving to the 90th percentile age. Gene-level association analysis reveals a role for tissue-specific expression of multiple genes in longevity. Finally, genetic correlation of the longevity GWA results with that of several disease-related phenotypes points to a shared genetic architecture between health and longevity.Alexander von Humboldt-StiftungPeer Reviewe

Effect of harmonic noise on a Brownian particle in a ratchet periodic potential

A Brownian particle in a ratchet periodic potential driven by harmonic noise, which is produced through a RLC oscillation circuit with Gaussian white noise, is investigated. The mean velocity and stationary probability distribution function (SPDF) of the system are obtained by means of numerical simulations. We also used the power spectrum of the harmonic noise, the peak position and semi-height width of which can be changed by modulating the driving oscillation circuit’s parameters, to analyse contributions of characteristics of the power spectrum to the mean velocity. The results indicate that: (i) appropriate peak position and semi-height width of the harmonic noise’s power spectrum can maximise the particle’s mean velocity; (ii) the SPDF undergoes a state transition from monostability  →  bistability  →  tristability  →  monostability as the Gaussian white noise intensity is increased, and the other parameters of the driving oscillation circuit can also modify the system’s state

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A Challange for Plasma Deposition Processes

Fuel cells directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy with the potential of very high-efficient values because they are not subjected to the Carnot relationship. Of the different fuel cell types in particular Solide Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) meet a high interest for different applications due to their specific advantageous properties. They operate in the high temperature range around and above 800 °C and consist in the electrochemical active part mainly of ceramic material. Their economic and technical breakthrough depends still on the success to realize them with high quality, reliability and efficiency, and in particular with acceptable and attractive costs. Different manufacturing methods are in application or under development for the production of the cell components. Beneath these methods are also plasma spray technologies. This review will show the specific demands, the performed and ongoing work, the state of development and especially the required R+D goals to render this type of methods successful