A new structure for difference matrices over abelian pp-groups

A difference matrix over a group is a discrete structure that is intimately related to many other combinatorial designs, including mutually orthogonal Latin squares, orthogonal arrays, and transversal designs. Interest in constructing difference matrices over $2$-groups has been renewed by the recent discovery that these matrices can be used to construct large linking systems of difference sets, which in turn provide examples of systems of linked symmetric designs and association schemes. We survey the main constructive and nonexistence results for difference matrices, beginning with a classical construction based on the properties of a finite field. We then introduce the concept of a contracted difference matrix, which generates a much larger difference matrix. We show that several of the main constructive results for difference matrices over abelian $p$-groups can be substantially simplified and extended using contracted difference matrices. In particular, we obtain new linking systems of difference sets of size $7$ in infinite families of abelian $2$-groups, whereas previously the largest known size was $3$.Comment: 27 pages. Discussion of new reference [LT04

"Like a candy shop with forbidden fruits": Exploring Sexual Desire of Cohabiting Millennial Couples with Technology

Many cohabiting millennials report dissatisfaction about declining levels of sexual desire. Barriers such as desire discrepancy, lack of communication, changing needs, and habituality interfere with sexual desire and relationship satisfaction. This paper explores whether technology has a role in supporting and increasing sexual desire or developing an understanding of different individual needs towards sexual desire within couples’ relationships and how it can do so. To explore this, we conducted a survey (n=77) and interview study (n=12). Results show that participants wanted a shared, dedicated, and protected space to playfully explore their individual desire with each other. They felt technology could facilitate a better understanding of their evolving needs as a couple, motivate open sexual communication, bring spontaneity, and hands-on exploration; however, technology should not inflict judgement or obligations on desire levels; it should help to understand and situate differing needs in a relationship meaningfully. We share our reflections on the role of technology and raise important considerations in such technology design

Intersecting near-optimal spaces: European power systems with more resilience to weather variability

We suggest a new methodology for designing robust energy systems. For this, we investigate so-called near-optimal solutions to energy system optimisation models; solutions whose objective values deviate only marginally from the optimum. Using a refined method for obtaining explicit geometric descriptions of these near-optimal feasible spaces, we find designs that are as robust as possible to perturbations. This contributes to the ongoing debate on how to define and work with robustness in energy systems modelling. We apply our methods in an investigation using multiple decades of weather data. For the first time, we run a capacity expansion model of the European power system (one node per country) with a three-hourly temporal resolution and 41 years of weather data. While an optimisation with 41 weather years is at the limits of computational feasibility, we use the near-optimal feasible spaces of single years to gain an understanding of the design space over the full time period. Specifically, we intersect all near-optimal feasible spaces for the individual years in order to get designs that are likely to be feasible over the entire time period. We find significant potential for investment flexibility, and verify the feasibility of these designs by simulating the resulting dispatch problem with four decades of weather data. They are characterised by a shift towards more onshore wind and solar power, while emitting more than 50% less CO2 than a cost-optimal solution over that period. Our work builds on recent developments in the field, including techniques such as Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA) and Modelling All Alternatives (MAA), and provides new insights into the geometry of near-optimal feasible spaces and the importance of multi-decade weather variability for energy systems design. We also provide an effective way of working with a multi-decade time frame in a highly parallelised manner. Our implementation is open-sourced, adaptable and is based on PyPSA-Eur

Endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis in the development of diabetes: is there a role for adipose tissue and liver?

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifactorial chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycaemia. Several different mechanisms have been implicated in the development of the disease, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. ER stress is increasingly acknowledged as an important mechanism in the development of DM, not only for β-cell loss but also for insulin resistance. Accumulating evidence suggests that ER stress-induced apoptosis may be an important mode of β-cell loss and therefore important in the development of diabetes. Recent data also suggest a role of ER stress-induced apoptosis in liver and adipose tissue in relation to diabetes, but more extensive studies on human adipocyte and hepatocyte (patho)physiology and ER stress are needed to identify the exact interactions between environmental signals, ER stress and apoptosis in these organs

PyPSA meets Africa: Developing an open source electricity network model of the African continent

Electricity network modelling and grid simulations form a key enabling element for the integration of newer and cleaner technologies such as renewable energy generation and electric vehicles into the existing grid and energy system infrastructure. This paper reviews the models of the African electricity systems and highlights the gaps in the open model landscape. Using PyPSA (an open Power System Analysis package), the paper outlines the pathway to a fully open model and data to increase the transparency in the African electricity system planning. Optimisation and modelling can reveal viable pathways to a sustainable energy system, aiding strategic planning for upgrades and policy-making for accelerated integration of renewable energy generation and smart grid technologies such as battery storage in Africa

Genetic variation in thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) is associated with hypertriglyceridaemia and blood pressure in diabetes mellitus

Aims Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) is an attractive candidate gene for diabetes or diabetic dyslipidaemia, since TXNIP is the strongest glucose-responsive gene in pancreatic B-cells, TXNIP deficiency in a mouse model is associated with hyperlipidaemia and TXNIP is located in the 1q21-1q23 chromosomal Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) locus. We set out to investigate whether metabolic effects of TXNIP that were previously reported in a murine model are also relevant in human Type 2 DM. Methods The frequency distribution of a 3' UTR single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in TXNIP was investigated in subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 379), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT; n = 228) and Type 2 DM (n = 230). Metabolic data were used to determine the effect of this SNP on parameters associated with lipid and glucose metabolism. Results The frequency of the TXNIP variation did not differ between groups, but within the group of diabetic subjects, carriers of the TXNIP-T variant had 1.6-fold higher triglyceride concentrations (P = 0.015; n = 136) and a 5.5-mmHg higher diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.02; n = 212) than homozygous carriers of the common C-allele, whereas in non-diabetic subjects fasting glucose was 0.26 mmol/l lower (P = 0.002; n = 478) in carriers of the T-allele. Moreover, a significant interaction between plasma glucose concentrations and TXNIP polymorphism on plasma triglycerides was observed (P = 0.012; n = 544). Conclusion This is the first report to implicate TXNIP in a human disorder of energy metabolism, Type 2 diabetes. The effect of TXNIP on triglycerides is influenced by plasma glucose concentrations, suggesting that the biological relevance of TXNIP variations may be particularly relevant in recurrent episodes of hyperglycaemia

Ассоциация аллельных полиморфизмов гена эндотелиальной NO-синтазы с развитием ишемической болезни сердца (литературный обзор)

Проведений аналіз вітчизняних та закордонних досліджень стосовно вивчення впливу Т-786С, G894T, 4a/b поліморфізмів гену eNOS на ризик розвитку ІХС у представників різних популяцій. Доведена роль Т-786 С поліморфізма гену eNOS у розвитку ІХС у представників японської, української, італійської популяції, причому в останніх він пов’язаний із багатосудинним ураженням. G894T поліморфізм гену eNOS пов’язаний із підвищеним ризиком розвитку ІХС, ішемічних інсультів в італійській, турецькій, азіатській популяціях, а в російській ─ із рестенозами стентів. Доведений зв’язок 4а/4b поліморфізму гену eNOS із виникненням ІХС у турецькій, японській, корейській, афро-американській, іранській, російській популяціях, а в японській популяції ─ гендерна специфіка даної асоціації. В окремих дослідженнях отримані суперечливі дані щодо впливу Т-786 С поліморфізму гену eNOS в турецькій популяції. Не виявлено асоціації 4а/4b поліморфізму гену eNOS у чоловіків Словенії, Фінляндії, G894T поліморфізму гену eNOS у корейській популяції, а у представників білої австралійської популяцій не виявлено асоціації генотипів 4а/4b, G894T, Т-786С поліморфізму гену eNOS із ризиком розвитку ІХС.В статье проведен анализ отечественных и зарубежных исследований, посвященных изучению влияния Т-786С, G894T, 4a/b полиморфизмов гена eNOS на риск развития ИБС у представителей различных популяций. Доказана роль Т-786 С полиморфизма гена eNOS в развитии ИБС у представителей японской, украинськой, итальянской популяции, причем у последних он связан с многососудистым поражением. G894T полиморфизм гена eNOS связан с повышеным риском развития ИХС, ишемических инсультов в итальянской, турецкой, азиатской популяциях, а в российской ─ с рестенозами стентов. Доказана связь 4а/4b полиморфизма гена eNOS с возникновением ИБС в турецкой, японской, корейской, афро-американской, иранськой, российской популяциях, а в японской популяции ─ гендерная специфика данной ассоциации. В отдельных исследованиях получены противоречивые данные о влиянии Т-786 С полиморфизма гена eNOS в турецкой популяции. Не выявлено ассоциации 4а/4b полиморфизма гена eNOS у мужчин Словении, Финляндии, G894T полиморфизма гена eNOS в корейской популяции, а у представителей белой австралийской популяции не выявлено ассоциации генотипов 4а/4b, G894T, Т-786С полиморфизму гену eNOS с риском развития ИБС.The article analyzed Ukrainian and foreign research on the impact study T-786С, G894T, 4a /b polymorphisms of the eNOS gene on the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) among representatives of different populations. The role of T-786C polimorphism of the eNOS gene was proven in the development of CAD among Japanese, Ukrainian, Italian population, and in the past it is associated with multivessel disease. G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene is associated with high risk of CAD, ischemic stroke in Italian, Turkish, Asian populations. In the Russian population this polymorphism assotiated with restenosis of stents. The 4a/4b polymorphism of the eNOS gene has significant influence on risk of CAD in Turkish, Japanese, Korean, AfricanAmerican, Iranian and Russian populations. Japanese population has gender specificity of the association. Conflicting data obtained in separate studies of the influence of T-786C polymorphism of the eNOS gene in the Turkish population. There was no association 4a /4b polymorphism of the eNOS gene in men Slovenia’s men and in Finland. Wasn’t identify association of G894T polymorphism of the eNOS gene in Korean population. Wasn’t detected association of genotypes 4a/4b, G894T, T-786S of the eNOS gene polymorphisms with risk of CAD in white Australians. Due to the existence of common pathogenetic mechanisms, involving NO, polymorphism eNOS gene presence may increases the risk of developing COPD. So perspective is study of polymorphisms eNOS gene in patients with COPD and CAD of Ukrainian population. Investigate their role as candidate genes can help to predict and prevent the appearance of comorbid disorders

The renewable energy and energy efficiency potential of Waitakere City : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Technology in Energy Management at Massey University

Electricity restrictions and blackouts have occurred in Waitakere City in the past and are likely to occur again in the future unless the city can become more self reliant by meeting, at least in part, the increasing energy requirements for what is one of the fastest growing cities in New Zealand. In this study the potentials for energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy resources have been broadly quantified and assessed using desktop analysis of publicly available data for stationary final use energy systems (i.e. excluding transportation) within the geographical area of Waitakere City and adjoining waters. It was found that energy efficiency and energy conservation measures can consistently and predictably achieve overall energy savings and reduce daily and seasonal peak demand. The best renewable energy resource potential exists with solar and geothermal for heating applications and wave, offshore and inshore wind and tidal currents for electricity generation. There is very limited potential for hydro and bioenergy systems beyond what already exists. PV solar and land based wind power generation are currently only feasible for limited off-grid applications. This scoping study confirms the achievability of the vision expressed in Waitakere City Council's "Long Term Council Community Plan" (LTCCP) that by 2020 " Waitakere City will be an energy cell, not an energy sink. Air quality supports good health". A range of flagship projects have been identified to progress the achievement of this vision. Waitakere City Council can use this report as part of the development of a comprehensive energy management plan