NullHap – a versatile application to estimate haplotype frequencies from unphased genotypes in the presence of null alleles

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Laboratory techniques used to determine haplotypes are often too expensive for large-scale studies and lack of phase information is commonly overcome using likelihood-based calculations. Whereas a number of programs are available for that purpose, none of them can handle loci with both multiple and null alleles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we present a description of a modified Expectation – Maximization algorithm as well as its implementation (NullHap) which allow to effectively overcome these limitations. As an example of application we used Nullhap to reanalyze published data on distribution of <it>KIR </it>genotypes in Polish psoriasis patients and controls showing that the <it>KIR2DS4/1D </it>locus may be a marker of <it>KIR2DS1 </it>haplotypes with different effects on disease susceptibility.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The developed application can estimate haplotype frequencies for every type of polymorphism and can effectively be used in genetic research as illustrated by a novel finding regarding the genetic susceptibility to psoriasis.</p

Changes in the Genetic Variance and Heritability of the Body Mass Index and Skinfolds among Polish Twins Aged 8–18 Years

Body Mass Index (BMI) and skinfolds are common indicators of adiposity. Many studies have shown relationships between the BMI in childhood and adolescence and the BMI in adulthood. Similar correlations were observed for the skinfolds, although they tend to be lower. The aim of this study was to estimate changes with age in the genetic variance and heritability of the BMI and skinfolds among Polish twins born between 1959 and 1965. Observations involved male and female monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins, who were measured annually between 8 and 18 years of age. Body Mass Index and skinfold thicknesses at the triceps (TSF), subscapular (SSF) and suprailiac (SIF) sites were measured. Genetic variance and heritability were estimated for individual skinfold thicknesses, the sum of three skinfolds (SUMSF) and BM, separately by age classes for both sexes. Intraclass correlations were significantly higher for MZ twins than for DZ twins in both sexes and across all ages. Heritability estimates were significant for all indicators of adiposity, but varied with age and had different ranges for boys and girls. Estimates of genetic variance were significant for all indicators of adiposity and were higher for girls than for boys

Portfolio optimization tool with risk calculations

Abstract-The electricity exchange include the uncertainty of many aspects, e.g. energy demand. The techniques to risk management used widely in financial markets must be adopted, because of differences between electricity and other products. The uncertainty in presented approach is modelled by random variables, described by probability density function or probability distribution. Risk management involve the measurement of many instruments, such as the uncertainty of energy consumption, energy price, CO2 certificates price etc. The model included most of technical and economical aspects is created and is resolved numerically by Monte Carlo simulations. The changes in time are modelled by the stochastic processes, the calculations includes the prediction of the time values using the auto-regressive models and/or the memory based methods and figure the linear statistical dependencies (correlations). The system provides portfolio management methods, including optimisation of the portfolio, given technical and economical restrictions. The genetic algorithm is used to find the global optimum, then the hill climbing (local optimisation) improves the result

Second Quarter 2019: Gradual Hotel Slowdown: Has the Party Ended?

In this issue, we introduce our new regional indices of hotel performance. Based on these indices, hotels in the Midwest and Mountain regions (mostly hotels in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada) have outperformed other regions, while hotels in the Pacific region (primarily California) and South Atlantic region (mostly Florida) have grown at a more moderate pace in the post-recession era. The performance of hotels in gateway cities declined this quarter, narrowing the gap in performance relative to hotels in non-gateway cities. Hotel financial performance overall is now in the red zone: operating profit stands below a hotel property’s borrowing cost based on economic value analysis (EVA). The price performance of small hotels and repeat sale hotels has reversed course and has started to weaken, while larger hotels continued their downward price spiral. The cost of hotel debt financing and equity financing have declined, with no change in the relative risk premium for hotels. However, the spread between the 10-year U.S. Treasury bond and the 3-month bond is now in negative territory, which might affect market liquidity as well as contribute to slower price growth in hotels. A reading of our tea leaves suggests prices are expected to decline for both large and small hotels. This is report number 31 of the index series

First Quarter 2017: Status Quo Maintained

Our Standardized Unexpected Price (SUP) metric indicates that the price momentum of large and small hotels continues to revert to the mean, with the cost of debt financing for hotels declining slightly. However, we expect higher hotel financing costs going forward. Our early warning indicators suggest that prices of large hotels and small hotels should rise during the second quarter of 2017. This is report number 22 of the index series. Supplemental File: Hotel Valuation Model (HOTVAL) We provide this user friendly hotel valuation model in an excel spreadsheet entitled HOTVAL Toolkit as a complement to this report which is available for download from http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/creftools/1

First Quarter 2018: Introducing Our Gateway Cities Index

Hotels in gateway cities have outperformed hotels in non-gateway cities, with hotels in gateway locations rising 10 percent in the past year, compared to 6 percent for those in non-gateway cities. Hotel operating performance scaled by price is still in the black based on economic value analysis (EVA), with returns continuing to exceed borrowing costs (for debt). Transaction volume strengthened both on a quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year basis. While our various pricing metrics point to continued positive price momentum for larger hotels at the expense of smaller hotels, we are concerned whether rising interest rates will put a damper on this momentum. A reading of our tea leaves suggests prices will continue to increase, but at a decelerating rate. This is report number 26 of the index series. Supplemental File: Hotel Valuation Model (HOTVAL) We provide this user friendly hotel valuation model in an excel spreadsheet entitled HOTVAL Toolkit as a complement to this report which is available for download from http://scholarship.sha.cornell.edu/creftools/1