Serial Testing for Detection of Multilocus Genetic Interactions

A method to detect relationships between disease susceptibility and multilocus genetic interactions is the Multifactor-Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) technique pioneered by Ritchie et al. (2001). Since its introduction, many extensions have been pursued to deal with non-binary outcomes and/or account for multiple interactions simultaneously. Studying the effects of multilocus genetic interactions on continuous traits (blood pressure, weight, etc.) is one case that MDR does not handle. Culverhouse et al. (2004) and Gui et al. (2013) proposed two different methods to analyze such a case. In their research, Gui et al. (2013) introduced the Quantitative Multifactor-Dimensionality Reduction (QMDR) that uses the overall average of response variable to classify individuals into risk groups. The classification mechanism may not be efficient under some circumstances, especially when the overall mean is close to some multilocus means. To address such difficulties, we propose a new algorithm, the Ordered Combinatorial Quantitative Multifactor-Dimensionality Reduction (OQMDR), that uses a series of testings, based on ascending order of multilocus means, to identify best interactions of different orders with risk patterns that minimize the prediction error. Ten-fold cross-validation is used to choose from among the resulting models. Regular permutations testings are used to assess the significance of the selected model. The assessment procedure is also modified by utilizing the Generalized Extreme-Value distribution to enhance the efficiency of the evaluation process. We presented results from a simulation study to illustrate the performance of the algorithm. The proposed algorithm is also applied to a genetic data set associated with Alzheimer\u27s Disease

Galerkin approximations with embedded boundary conditions for retarded delay differential equations

Finite-dimensional approximations are developed for retarded delay differential equations (DDEs). The DDE system is equivalently posed as an initial-boundary value problem consisting of hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs). By exploiting the equivalence of partial derivatives in space and time, we develop a new PDE representation for the DDEs that is devoid of boundary conditions. The resulting boundary condition-free PDEs are discretized using the Galerkin method with Legendre polynomials as the basis functions, whereupon we obtain a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) that is a finite-dimensional approximation of the original DDE system. We present several numerical examples comparing the solution obtained using the approximate ODEs to the direct numerical simulation of the original non-linear DDEs. Stability charts developed using our method are compared to existing results for linear DDEs. The presented results clearly demonstrate that the equivalent boundary condition-free PDE formulation accurately captures the dynamic behaviour of the original DDE system and facilitates the application of control theory developed for systems governed by ODEs

Adaptive sparse Galerkin methods for vibrating continuous structures

Adaptive reduced-order methods are explored for simulating continuous vibrating structures. The Galerkin method is used to convert the governing partial differential equation (PDE)into a finite-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) whose solution approximates that of the original PDE. Sparse projections of the approximate ODE solution are then found at each integration time step by applying either the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) or the optimal subset selection method. We apply the two projection schemes to the simulation of a vibrating Euler–Bernoulli beam subjected to nonlinear unilateral and bilateral spring forces. The subset selection approach is found to be superior for this application, as it generates a solution with similar sparsity but substantially lower error than the lasso

Effect of Engineering Properties of Soil on Pavement Failures in Ogbagi - Akoko Area, Southwestern, Nigeria

Geotechnical properties of lateritic soil from 8 failed and 2 un –failed sections of road along Ogbagi and Arigidi Akoko, Southwestern Nigeria were investigated to determine the causes of the road failure. Tests carried out were natural moisture content, specific gravity, grain size distribution, atterberg limits, linear shrinkage, compaction and California bearing ratio. From the test results, natural moisture content ranged between 6.75 and 25.5 %, specific gravity (2.68 and 2.76), linear shrinkage (5.7 and 11.4 %) , maximum dry density (1483 and 1780 kg/m3), optimum moisture content (13.5 and 26.0 %), CBR (14 and 31%), liquid limits (31.1 and 53.5 %), plastic limits (0 and 28.2 %) and plasticity index (0 and 29.5 %). Factors responsible for the failure of the pavement are stress induced associated with high swelling of the soil due to ingress of water through joints or cracks, poor engineering properties of the soil due to high percentage of fine materials or clayey nature of topsoil/sub-grade soil below the pavement, poor compaction and drainage systems of the road. Keywords: Atterberg limits, Engineering properties, lateritic soil, pavement failures, grain siz

Effect of diode laser rays in stimulating anthocyanin pigment levels in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) plant tissues

Plant tissue culture is the method to produce many pigments, such as anthocyanin, regarding the importance of light in plant growth, especially when using laser rays. The present study aimed to establish the effect of laser rays on seed germination, initiation of callus, and the measurement of the amounts of anthocyanin pigment and protein for the growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Sterilizing seeds were cultured on a surface of MS medium, then seedlings stems were exposed to laser rays for 0, 4, 8, and 12 minutes each alone and planted on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l of NAA and 1.0 mg/l of BA, the total protein of seedlings was estimated from all kinds of seedlings exposed to the rays. The anthocyanin pigment content was estimated and read Spectroscopically at a wavelength of 528 nm. The results refer to the different rates and periods of radish seed germination dependent on the exposure time to the laser rays. They also showed the ability of seedlings to initiate callus from hypocotyl stems, which was the fastest exposed for 12 minutes after 7 days at a rate of 100 %. The seeds which were previously exposed to diode laser rays at different times recorded a superiority in stimulating anthocyanin pigment content, which amounted to 1195.2 µg/g for stems and 333.8 µg/g for leaves over the rest of the treatments and the control treatment. This proved to be a modern method to develop forms of physical stimulation as a bio elicitor for the growth of radish tissue cells.

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ixodid ticks and reservoir hosts from Palestine: a pilot survey

Tick-borne anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are clinically important emerging zoonoses usually overlooked by veterinarians and physicians alike. This study aimed at detecting and genetically characterizing Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species in ixodid ticks and their animal hosts from the West Bank, Palestine. A total of 723 ixodid ticks belonging to three genera (Rhipicephalus, Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis) were collected from dogs, sheep, goats and camels. In addition, 189 blood samples were collected from dogs, sheep, camels, horses and a goat from the West Bank, Palestine. All tick and blood samples were investigated for the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia targeting a 345 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequence analysis. The infection rate of Anaplasma spp. in ticks was 6.5% (47/723). Anaplasma platys was identified in 28% (13/47) of them. Whereas, based on a partial sequence (851 bp) of msp4 gene, 38% (18/47) were identified as A. ovis. The species of the remaining 16 positive samples (16/47, 34%) could not be identified. Simultaneously, the infection rate of Ehrlichia spp. in the ticks was 0.6% (4/723). Three of which were E. canis and one was Ehrlichia spp. The infection rate of A. platys in dogs' blood samples was 10% (13/135), while it was 1.5% (2/135) for E. canis. The infection rate of Anaplasma in sheep blood samples was 40% (19/47), out of which 26% (5/19) were caused by A. ovis as revealed by msp4-PCR. Implementation of purely-spatial analysis by saTScan for all cases of Anaplasma revealed two statistically significant clusters in two districts; Tubas town and Majdal-Bani-Fadil village on the western hills of the Jordan Valley. Most cases of Anaplasma (83%) were from rural areas where life cycle components (vector, host and reservoir) abundantly interact. This study is the first in Palestine to reveal the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia in ticks, dogs and sheep providing crucial platform for future epidemiological surveys and control strategies in the country and regio

Sleep Quality, and Fatigue As Predictive Factors For Mechanical Neck Pain

Aims: The purpose of our study was to investigate the relationship between mechanical neck pain and sleep disorders, mental and physical fatigue, and the rising expectations of people in modern societies regarding their work, families, and social lives. Mechanical neck pain is a common problem that can result in disability. Methods: We included 230 patients with mechanical neck discomfort, with a mean age of 25.62 ± 9.25years, in our study. The Neck Disability Index, Chalder Fatigue Scale, and Pitssburg Sleep Quality Index was applied to all participant.   Results: Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the overall model explained 22% of the variance of NDI score. Both sleep quality scale and fatigue scale were significantly associated and can predict NDI score (p < 001). Conclusion: sleep quality and fatigue were found among the independent determinants of neck disability. Therefore, physiotherapists who treat patients with mechanical neck pain should advise them to get enough sleep and teach them relaxation techniques to help them feel less stressed and exhausted, which will lower their neck discomfor