Mitochondrial polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes-related traits in Finns

Mitochondria play an integral role in ATP production in cells and are involved in glucose metabolism and insulin secretion, suggesting that variants in the mitochondrial genome may contribute to diabetes susceptibility. In a study of Finnish families ascertained for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on phylogenetic networks. These SNPs defined eight major haplogroups and subdivided groups H and U, which are common in Finns. We evaluated association with both diabetes disease status and up to 14 diabetes-related traits for 762 cases, 402 non-diabetic controls, and 465 offspring of genotyped females. Haplogroup J showed a trend toward association with T2DM affected status (OR 1.69, P =0.056) that became slightly more significant after excluding cases with affected fathers (OR 1.77, P =0.045). We also genotyped non-haplogroup-tagging SNPs previously reported to show evidence for association with diabetes or related traits. Our data support previous evidence for association of T16189C with reduced ponderal index at birth and also show evidence for association with reduced birthweight but not with diabetes status. Given the multiple tests performed and the significance levels obtained, this study suggests that mitochondrial genome variants may play at most a modest role in glucose metabolism in the Finnish population. Furthermore, our data do not support a reported maternal inheritance pattern of T2DM but instead show a strong effect of recall bias.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47596/1/439_2005_Article_46.pd

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

The Importance of Building Relationships with Students Post Remote Learning

Strong bonds created between a teacher and their students within the classroom can greatly help students in a variety of ways. According to the American Psychological Association (2015), the learning process in elementary and secondary classrooms is interpersonal, comprising of both student-teacher and peer relationships. Creating connections within the elementary classroom is vital. Positive student-teacher relationships have been shown to improve student behavior and academic success within the classroom (Kudlats & Brown, 2021). The purpose of this study is to evaluate how relationships between students and their teachers impact students’ learning during a pandemic. To evaluate this topic, I gathered research studies regarding classroom relationships during my student teaching in a fourth-grade classroom. This data consisted of field notes, lesson plans, and student work. I examined my data to look for trends relating to the impact my relationships had on my students in school. Throughout this study, I dove deeper into the importance of building strong relationships with students, especially after students were remote learning

Archaeal Intact Polar Lipids in Polar Waters: A Comparison Between the Amundsen and Scotia Seas

The West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) is one of the largest potential sources of future sea-level rise, with glaciers draining the WAIS thinning at an accelerating rate over the past 40 years. Due to complexities in calibrating palaeoceanographic proxies for the Southern Ocean, it remains difficult to assess whether similar changes have occurred earlier during the Holocene or whether there is underlying centennial- to millennial-scale forcing in oceanic variability. Archaeal lipid-based proxies, specifically glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT; e.g. TEX86 and TEXL86), are powerful tools for reconstructing ocean temperature, but these proxies have been shown previously to be difficult to apply to the Southern Ocean. A greater understanding of the parameters that control Southern Ocean GDGT distributions would improve the application of these biomarker proxies and thus help provide a longer-term perspective on ocean forcing of Antarctic ice sheet changes. In this study, we characterised intact polar lipid (IPL)-GDGTs, representing (recently) living archaeal populations in suspended particulate matter (SPM) from the Amundsen Sea and the Scotia Sea. SPM samples from the Amundsen Sea were collected from up to four water column depths representing the surface waters through to Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW), whereas the Scotia Sea samples were collected along a transect encompassing the sub-Antarctic front through to the southern boundary of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. IPL-GDGTs with low cyclic diversity were detected throughout the water column with high relative abundances of hydroxylated IPL-GDGTs identified in both the Amundsen and Scotia seas. Results from the Scotia Sea show shifts in IPL-GDGT signatures across well-defined fronts of the Southern Ocean. Indicating that the physicochemical parameters of these water masses determine changes in IPL-GDGT distributions. The Amundsen Sea results identified GDGTs with hexose-phosphohexose head groups in the CDW, suggesting active GDGT synthesis at these depths. These results suggest that GDGTs synthesised at CDW depths may be a significant source of GDGTs exported to the sedimentary record and that temperature reconstructions based on TEX86 or TEXL86 proxies may be significantly influenced by the warmer waters of the CDW

Saturated, Suffocated, and Salty: Human Legacies Produce Hot Spots of Nitrogen in Riparian Zones

The compounding effects of anthropogenic legacies for environmental pollution are significant, but not well understood. Here, we show that centennial-scale legacies of milldams and decadal-scale legacies of road salt salinization interact in unexpected ways to produce hot spots of nitrogen (N) in riparian zones. Riparian groundwater and stream water concentrations upstream of two mid-Atlantic (Pennsylvania and Delaware) milldams, 2.4 and 4 m tall, were sampled over a 2 year period. Clay and silt-rich legacy sediments with low hydraulic conductivity, stagnant and poorly mixed hydrologic conditions, and persistent hypoxia in riparian sediments upstream of milldams produced a unique biogeochemical gradient with nitrate removal via denitrification at the upland riparian edge and ammonium-N accumulation in near-stream sediments and groundwaters. Riparian groundwater ammonium-N concentrations upstream of the milldams ranged from 0.006 to 30.6 mgN L−1 while soil-bound values were 0.11–456 mg kg−1. We attribute the elevated ammonium concentrations to ammonification with suppression of nitrification and/or dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). Sodium inputs to riparian groundwater (25–1,504 mg L−1) from road salts may further enhance DNRA and ammonium production and displace sorbed soil ammonium-N into groundwaters. This study suggests that legacies of milldams and road salts may undercut the N buffering capacity of riparian zones and need to be considered in riparian buffer assessments, watershed management plans, and dam removal decisions. Given the widespread existence of dams and other barriers and the ubiquitous use of road salt, the potential for this synergistic N pollution is significant

Technique [Volume 89, Issue 30]

April Fool's web prank well-receivedBreaking the Bubbleby the numbersClough tours campus in annual safety walkCouncil Clippings Senate and HouseEntertainment BriefsFaces at Georgia TechFire victims rebuild with community's helpFor SGA presidential candidates flyers, publicity only part of campaign costsHewitt signs on for six more yearsHistory of April Fool's jokesHorizon's Drawer Boy showcases pleasures of simple lifeMidseason report: Jackets headed in right directionNews BriefsOUR VIEWS Consensus OpinionOUR VIEWS Hot or NotOwings pursues national championship instead of prosPhuong captures SGA presidencyPiedmont hosts annual Dogwood FestivalPolice report few disturbances after gameRare change of heart as profs push back tests, homework for NCAA championship gameRHA seeks funding for newspapersSet education to lofty goals, not moneySports ShortsSwan song recommends campus involvementTech bands battle it out at Couch...Two BitsWillis, Perry reunite in Yards reduxYOUR VIEWS Letters to the Edito

Technique [Volume 89, Issue 7]

A global trek with a view from TechArchitecture seniors leave for year in ParisAtlanta hosts geeks' annual ultimate dream eventBeyond the White and GoldBreaking the BubbleBuzzPort integrates web-based resourcesby the numbersCommandments still relevant to lawsCouncil Clippings Senate and HouseDavid Spade brings childish laughs with cameos galoreDeftones fourth album lacks previous stellar qualityFaces in the CrowdFrom the archives...Georgia Tech vs. AuburnKele set to leave mark on Tech volleyball record booksLocal venues offer hope to rising musicianNews BriefsOUR VIEWS Consensus OpinionOUR VIEWS Hot or NotRain dampens turnout for BYU broadcastRenovation promises more musician-friendly CouchRHA plans events for yearSociety's fascination with celebrities unfoundedSport ShortsStudents share most memorable summer study abroad experiencesStudents take charge of recycling in West Campus dormsTech falls to Brigham YoungTech names disaster response chief...Two BitsUniversities protect students' legal rights in file sharing casesVolleyball kicks off season with thriller at tourneyWeather, paperwork delay Phi Mu houseWho needs Mentos when you have Altoids Curiously Strong?Worm creator nabbedYOUR VIEWS Letter to the Edito