Testing implications of the omnigenic model for the genetic analysis of Loci identified through genome-wide association

Organismal phenotypes usually have a quantitative distribution, and their genetic architecture can be studied by genome-wide association (GWA) mapping approaches. In most of such studies, it has become clear that many genes of moderate or small effects contribute to the phenotype.1?4 Hence, the attention has turned toward the loci falling below the GWA cut-off, which may contribute to the phenotype through modifier interactions with a set of core genes, as proposed in the omnigenic model.5 One can thus predict that both moderate effect GWA-derived candidate genes and randomly chosen genes should have a similar likelihood to affect a given phenotype when they are analyzed via gene disruption assays. We have tested this hypothesis by using an automated phenotyping system for Drosophila pupal phenotypes.6,7 We first identified candidate genes for pupal length in a GWA based on the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP)8,9 and showed that most of these candidate genes are indeed involved in the phenotype. We then randomly chose genes below a GWA significance threshold and found that three-quarters of them had also an effect on the trait with comparable effect sizes as the GWA candidate genes. We further tested the effects of these knockout lines on an independent behavioral pupal trait (pupation site choice) and found that a similar fraction had a significant effect as well. Our data thus confirm the implication that a large number of genes can influence independent quantitative traits

The Relationship between Upper Arm Anthropometrical Measures and Vertical Jump Displacement

The purpose of this study was to determine if upper body segment length or mass contributes to vertical jump (VJ) displacement. Seventeen men (n=9) and women (n=8) who were active recreationally participated in this investigation. Subjects performed VJ for maximal displacement, and skeletal length measurements of the humerus (acromion following the lateral lip to the greater tuberosity), ulna (olecranon to the ulnar styloid process), and hand (lunate to distal end of third phalanx) were obtained by palpation of boney landmarks and a standard tape measure. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficients were used to compare the data with statistical significance accepted at the p=0.05 level. Length of the ulna was the only upper body limb measurement that was significantly correlated with the vertical jump (P = 0.04). As the regression equation to predict VJ from ulnar length was not significant, it appears that neither intrinsic upper arm skeletal length nor arm segment mass is a strong predictor of VJ displacement

An extreme, blueshifted iron line profile in the Narrow Line Seyfert 1 PG 1402+261; an edge-on accretion disk or highly ionized absorption?

We report on a short XMM-Newton observation of the radio-quiet Narrow Line Seyfert 1 PG 1402+261. The EPIC X-ray spectrum of PG 1402+261 shows a strong excess of counts between 6-9 keV in the rest frame. This feature can be modeled by an unusually strong (equivalent width 2 keV) and very broad (FWHM velocity of 110000 km/s) iron K-shell emission line. The line centroid energy at 7.3 keV appears blue-shifted with respect to the iron Kalpha emission band between 6.4-6.97 keV, while the blue-wing of the line extends to 9 keV in the quasar rest frame. The line profile can be fitted by reflection from the inner accretion disk, but an inclination angle of >60 deg is required to model the extreme blue-wing of the line. Furthermore the extreme strength of the line requires a geometry whereby the hard X-ray emission from PG 1402+261 above 2 keV is dominated by the pure-reflection component from the disk, while little or none of the direct hard power-law is observed. Alternatively the spectrum above 2 keV may instead be explained by an ionized absorber, if the column density is sufficiently high (N_H > 3 x 10^23 cm^-2) and if the matter is ionized enough to produce a deep (tau~1) iron K-shell absorption edge at 9 keV. This absorber could originate in a large column density, high velocity outflow, perhaps similar to those which appear to be observed in several other high accretion rate AGN. Further observations, especially at higher spectral resolution, are required to distinguish between the accretion disk reflection or outflow scenarios.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ (18 pages, 5 figures, 1 table

Addemdum to: ''The Mathematical Structure of Quantum Superspace as a Consequence of Time Asymmetry''

In this paper we improve the results of sec. VI of paper [M. Castagnino, Phys. Rev. D 57, 750 (1998)] by considering that the main source of entropy production are the photospheres of the stars

Contemporaneous VLBA 5 GHz Observations of Large Area Telescope Detected Blazars

The radio properties of blazars detected by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope have been observed contemporaneously by the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). In total, 232 sources were observed with the VLBA. Ninety sources that were previously observed as part of the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS) have been included in the sample, as well as 142 sources not found in VIPS. This very large, 5 GHz flux-limited sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) provides insights into the mechanism that produces strong γ-ray emission. In particular, we see that γ-ray emission is related to strong, uniform magnetic fields in the cores of the host AGN. Included in this sample are non-blazar AGNs such as 3C84, M82, and NGC 6251. For the blazars, the total VLBA radio flux density at 5 GHz correlates strongly with γ-ray flux. The LAT BL Lac objects tend to be similar to the non-LAT BL Lac objects, but the LAT flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) are significantly different from the non-LAT FSRQs. Strong core polarization is significantly more common among the LAT sources, and core fractional polarization appears to increase during LAT detection

Southern hemispheric halon trends and global halon emissions, 1978–2011

The atmospheric records of four halons, H-1211 (CBrClF2), H-1301 (CBrF3), H-2402 (CBrF2CBrF2) and H-1202 (CBr2F2), measured from air collected at Cape Grim, Tasmania, between 1978 and 2011, are reported. Mixing ratios of H-1211, H-2402 and H-1202 began to decline in the early to mid-2000s, but those of H-1301 continue to increase up to mid-2011. These trends are compared to those reported by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and AGAGE (Advanced Global Atmospheric Experiment). The observations suggest that the contribution of the halons to total tropospheric bromine at Cape Grim has begun to decline from a peak in 2008 of about 8.1 ppt. An extrapolation of halon mixing ratios to 2060, based on reported banks and predicted release factors, shows this decline becoming more rapid in the coming decades, with a contribution to total tropospheric bromine of about 3 ppt in 2060. Top-down global annual emissions of the halons were derived using a two-dimensional atmospheric model. The emissions of all four have decreased since peaking in the late 1980s–mid-1990s, but this decline has slowed recently, particularly for H-1301 and H-2402 which have shown no decrease in emissions over the past five years. The UEA (University of East Anglia) top-down model-derived emissions are compared to those reported using a top-down approach by NOAA and AGAGE and the bottom-up estimates of HTOC (Halons Technical Options Committee). The implications of an alternative set of steady-state atmospheric lifetimes are discussed. Using a lifetime of 14 yr or less for H-1211 to calculate top-down emissions estimates would lead to small, or even negative, estimated banks given reported production data. Finally emissions of H-1202, a product of over-bromination during the production process of H-1211, have continued despite reported production of H-1211 ceasing in 2010. This raises questions as to the source of these H-1202 emissions

Van Allen Probes show that the inner radiation zone contains no MeV electrons: ECT/MagEIS data

Abstract We present Van Allen Probe observations of electrons in the inner radiation zone. The measurements were made by the Energetic Particle, Composition, and Thermal Plasma/Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) sensors that were designed to measure electrons with the ability to remove unwanted signals from penetrating protons, providing clean measurements. No electrons \u3e900 keV were observed with equatorial fluxes above background (i.e., \u3e0.1 el/(cm2 s sr keV)) in the inner zone. The observed fluxes are compared to the AE9 model and CRRES observations. Electron fluxes \u3c200 keV exceeded the AE9 model 50% fluxes and were lower than the higher-energy model fluxes. Phase space density radial profiles for 1.3 ≤ L* \u3c 2.5 had mostly positive gradients except near L*~2.1, where the profiles for μ = 20–30 MeV/G were flat or slightly peaked. The major result is that MagEIS data do not show the presence of significant fluxes of MeV electrons in the inner zone while current radiation belt models and previous publications do

Effects of flame retardance additives on the mechanical and fire performance of natural fibre composites

The incorporation of sustainability is becoming increasingly important in manufacturing practices worldwide. This includes the development of natural fibre composites with mechanical and flammability characteristics suitable for structural interiors. Composites manufactured from kenaf fibres and polypropylene (PP) were investigated as to their suitability as materials for the interiors of buildings, aircraft and such-like. Natural fibres like kenaf act as fuel sources during combustion, and hence, flame retardants are added to the mix. In the present study, the ammonium polyphosphate (APP)-based flame retardant Budit® 3167 was used to address this issue. Limited studies exist on how the inclusion of APP influences the composites’ mechanical properties. Hence the main objective of this research project was to evaluate the effect of adding Budit 3167 on both mechanical and flammability properties of kenaf-PP composites. Kenaf-PP composites were manufactured with various fibre weight percentages, with and without Budit 3167. The composites were subjected to different experiments to assess their mechanical and flammability behaviour. It was found that Budit 3167 not only improved the flammability properties of the composites, but also the tensile and flexural moduli due to the flame retardant behaving like a particle reinforcement. However, weak interfacial bonds arising from the addition of Budit 3167 led to a decrease in mechanical strength, providing a basis for further investigation. It was concluded that kenafPP composites with Budit 3167 show good potential as a sustainable alternative for structural interiors