Comprehensive resequence analysis of a 97 kb region of chromosome 10q11.2 containing the MSMB gene associated with prostate cancer

Genome-wide association studies of prostate cancer have identified single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers in a region of chromosome 10q11.2, harboring the microseminoprotein-β (MSMB) gene. Both the gene product of MSMB, the prostate secretory protein 94 (PSP94) and its binding protein (PSPBP), have been previously investigated as serum biomarkers for prostate cancer progression. Recent functional work has shown that different alleles of the significantly associated SNP in the promoter of MSMB found to be associated with prostate cancer risk, rs10993994, can influence its expression in tumors and in vitro studies. Since it is plausible that additional variants in this region contribute to the risk of prostate cancer, we have used next-generation sequencing technology to resequence a ~97-kb region that includes the area surrounding MSMB (chr10: 51,168,025–51,265,101) in 36 prostate cancer cases, 26 controls of European origin, and 8 unrelated CEPH individuals in order to identify additional variants to investigate in functional studies. We identified 241 novel polymorphisms within this region, including 142 in the 51-kb block of linkage disequilibrium (LD) that contains rs10993994 and the proximal promoter of MSMB. No sites were observed to be polymorphic within the exons of MSMB

A comprehensive resequence analysis of the KLK15–KLK3–KLK2 locus on chromosome 19q13.33

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the KLK3 gene on chromosome 19q13.33 are associated with serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Recent genome wide association studies of prostate cancer have yielded conflicting results for association of the same SNPs with prostate cancer risk. Since the KLK3 gene encodes the PSA protein that forms the basis for a widely used screening test for prostate cancer, it is critical to fully characterize genetic variation in this region and assess its relationship with the risk of prostate cancer. We have conducted a next-generation sequence analysis in 78 individuals of European ancestry to characterize common (minor allele frequency, MAF >1%) genetic variation in a 56 kb region on chromosome 19q13.33 centered on the KLK3 gene (chr19:56,019,829–56,076,043 bps). We identified 555 polymorphic loci in the process including 116 novel SNPs and 182 novel insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indels). Based on tagging analysis, 144 loci are necessary to tag the region at an r2 threshold of 0.8 and MAF of 1% or higher, while 86 loci are required to tag the region at an r2 threshold of 0.8 and MAF >5%. Our sequence data augments coverage by 35 and 78% as compared to variants in dbSNP and HapMap, respectively. We observed six non-synonymous amino acid or frame shift changes in the KLK3 gene and three changes in each of the neighboring genes, KLK15 and KLK2. Our study has generated a detailed map of common genetic variation in the genomic region surrounding the KLK3 gene, which should be useful for fine-mapping the association signal as well as determining the contribution of this locus to prostate cancer risk and/or regulation of PSA expression

Ionic contamination tests on printed circuit boards

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań wpływu rodzaju pokrycia płytek obwodowych drukowanych PCB na ilość występujących na ich powierzchni zanieczyszczeń jonowych. Badania wykonano w temperaturze pokojowej na płytkach PCB z trzema rodzajami pokrycia: HASL LF - bezołowiowe, ENIG, OSP - pokrycie organiczne.The paper presents the results of the effect of coating type on the amount of ionic contaminants present on printed circuit boards. The study was performed at the RT on the PCB with three types of coatings: HASL LF - lead-free, ENIG, OSP – organic coating

Coastal border as an indicator changes the effectiveness of agricultural production

Artykuł obejmuje problematykę zmiany zasięgu prawa własności gruntów, graniczących z wodami płynącymi. Szczegółowe badania przeprowadzone zostaną na działkach ewidencyjnych, znajdujących się w bezpośrednim sąsiedztwie rzeki Ropa - obszar miasta Biecz. Otrzymane dane umożliwią stwierdzenie, w jakim zakresie wody płynące powodują zmiany dotychczasowych granic działek ewidencyjnych, wymuszając ponowne ustalenie linii brzegowej oraz jaki jest wpływ oddziaływania wód na rolniczą przestrzeń produkcyjną.The article covers the issue of changes in the scope of ownership of land bordering with the flowing waters. Detailed studies will be carried out on registered parcels of land, in the direct neighborhood of the river Ropa - the area of the city Biecz. The data obtained will allow to determine in what extent the flowing waters cause changes in the existing boundaries of the parcels, forcing a re-determination of the coastline, and what is the effect of the influence that waters have on the agricultural production area

The Influence of Alloying Additions on High Temperature Interaction Between Molten Compacted Graphite Iron and Alumina

High temperature behavior of three compacted graphite iron (CGi) alloys on polycrystalline aluminasubstrates (99.7%, porosity 2 O3 couples during melting alloy, heating to and holding the couples at the test temperature of 1450°C for 15 min and their subsequent cooling. The comparative studies were made with conventional CGi (in wt.%: 3.70 C, 2.30 Si, 0.44 Mn, 0.054 P, 0.017 Mg, 0.015 S) and two alloys additionally containing the same amounts of 0.25 Mo, 0.1 V, 0.045 Sn and 0.032 Sb with different concentrations of Mg + Cu additions, i.e. 0.01Mg + 0.33Cu and 0.02Mg + 0.83Cu. All three CGi alloys demonstrated non-wetting behavior on the Al2 O3 substrates while the contact angle values slightly decreased with increase of the Mg + Cu content in the alloy, i.e. 131° (unalloyed CGi), 130° (0.01Mg + 0.33Cu) and 125° (0.02Mg + 0.83Cu). Structural characterization of solidified couples by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed: 1) heterogeneous nucleation of discontinuous graphite layer at the drop-side interfaces and on the surface of the drops; 2) reactively formed Mg-rich oxide layer at the substrate-side interface; 3) the formation of satellite droplets on the surface of the drops during their solidification; 4) degeneration of initially compacted graphite to lamellar graphite after remelting and subsequent solidification of the drops, particularly in their surface layer

Thermophysical properties of selected vermicular graphite cast iron alloy

The paper presents the results of thermophysical properties of selected vermicular graphite cast iron with nominal chemical composition of 3.70 C; 2.30 Si; 0.44 Mn; 0.054 P; 0.015 S; 0.017 Mg (wt. %). The comparative studies of the alloy were performed using differential scanning calorimetry, dilatometry and laser flash analysis. The calorimetric investigations proved that upon the heating to melting temperature (~1200°C), four endothermic transformations take place: 1) ferromagnetic → paramagnetic at 742°C, 2) pearlite → austenite at 824.2°C, 3) allotropic transformation of bcc ferrite to fcc austenite at 802°C, 4) melting at 1173.1°C. The character of the dilatometric curve shows small deviation at the temperature above 810°C corresponding to the pearlite → austenite transformation. The values of thermal diffusivity and thermal conductivity change throughout the entire examined temperature range. Both curves showed a changeover from negative to positive trends between 700 and 800°C. This effect might be associated with the pearlite → austenite transformation

Bound water freezing in Antarctic Umbilicaria aprina from Schirmacher Oasis

The effect of low temperature on Umbilicaria aprina collected from Schirmacher Oasis, East Antarctica, was determined over a wide range of hydration using proton free induction decays, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra and differential scanning calorimetry methods. The proton NMR line is a superposition of the broad component from the solid matrix of the thallus and a narrower component from the averaged bound water pool. Proton free induction decays may be resolved into three components: a solid component well described by the Abragam function and two exponentially decaying components from water loosely bound and water tightly bound in the thallus. With decreased temperature the loosely bound water pool (freezing water) is transferred to the tightly bound water pool (non-freezing water), and vanishes below -40°C. Bound water freezing and melting temperatures decrease with the decrease of hydration level, suggesting that heterogeneous ice nucleation is responsible for water freezing. The onset of bound water freezing temperature is c. 10°C lower than the melting temperature. The U. aprina thalli do not reveal the ability to stimulated ice nucleation at higher temperature. Freeze-thaw cycles showed that for n > 5 cycles no substantial change occurs in the difference between melting and freezing temperatures