Multiple novel prostate cancer susceptibility signals identified by fine-mapping of known risk loci among Europeans

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous common prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility loci. We have fine-mapped 64 GWAS regions known at the conclusion of the iCOGS study using large-scale genotyping and imputation in 25 723 PrCa cases and 26 274 controls of European ancestry. We detected evidence for multiple independent signals at 16 regions, 12 of which contained additional newly identified significant associations. A single signal comprising a spectrum of correlated variation was observed at 39 regions; 35 of which are now described by a novel more significantly associated lead SNP, while the originally reported variant remained as the lead SNP only in 4 regions. We also confirmed two association signals in Europeans that had been previously reported only in East-Asian GWAS. Based on statistical evidence and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure, we have curated and narrowed down the list of the most likely candidate causal variants for each region. Functional annotation using data from ENCODE filtered for PrCa cell lines and eQTL analysis demonstrated significant enrichment for overlap with bio-features within this set. By incorporating the novel risk variants identified here alongside the refined data for existing association signals, we estimate that these loci now explain ∼38.9% of the familial relative risk of PrCa, an 8.9% improvement over the previously reported GWAS tag SNPs. This suggests that a significant fraction of the heritability of PrCa may have been hidden during the discovery phase of GWAS, in particular due to the presence of multiple independent signals within the same regio

Laser cutting of eggshells

Preparation of chicken embryo allantoic fluids for animal health requires opening the eggshell by cutting, drilling or punching methods. Laser cutting and drilling is used as an alternative to known processes. Both CO.sub.2 and Nd:YAG lasers are employed. A focused CO.sub.2 laser beam at a power of 200 watts in conjunction with an X-Y motion table produced 25 mm diameter "clean-cuts" in eggshells with a cutting time of 0.5 seconds per egg. The material removal mechanism was vaporization. When an axicon/lens combination is used with a CO.sub.2 laser, the cutting time was further reduced to 0.2 seconds per egg and the mechanism of material removal is changed from vaporization to decomposition of the eggshell into fine powders. Small holes, typical diameters of 0.5 mm to 1 mm are generated in the eggshell using the pulsed Nd:YAG laser.</p

Helping students with difficult first year subjects through the PASS Program

The purpose of this action research was to find out if participants of a pilot PASS program found it to be helpful. The program was implemented for the first time in an institute of higher learning in Malaysia. An action research design guided the study, with surveys, documents, and reflections as primary data sources. The findings were largely positive, with participants citing PASS sessions to have helped them in the study of difficult first year subjects and in the development of some study skills. PASS also improved social integration. The collaborative and facilitated structure of PASS sessions were reported to be key aspects that improved student learning. Some issues were also highlighted and discussed, such as misconceptions of the role of PASS leaders