Suggestive Linkage Detected for Blood Pressure Related Traits on 2q and 22q in the Population on the Samoan Islands

Background High blood pressure or hypertension is a major risk factor involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We conducted genome-wide variance component linkage analyses to search for loci influencing five blood pressure related traits including the quantitative traits systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP), the dichotomous trait hypertension (HT) and the bivariate quantitative trait SBP-DBP in families residing in American Samoa and Samoa, as well as in the combined sample from the two polities. We adjusted the traits for a number of environmental covariates such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity and material life style. Results We found suggestive univariate linkage for SBP on chromosome 2q35-q37 (LOD 2.4) and for PP on chromosome 22q13 (LOD 2.2), two chromosomal regions that recently have been associated with SBP and PP, respectively. Conclusion We have detected additional evidence for a recently reported locus associated with SBP on chromosome 2q and a susceptibility locus for PP on chromosome 22q. However, differences observed between the results from our three partly overlapping genetically homogenous study samples from the Samoan islands suggest that additional studies should be performed in order to verify these results

Rheological Microscopy: Local Mechanical Properties from Microrheology

We demonstrate how tracer microrheology methods can be extended to study submicron scale variations in the viscoelastic response of soft materials; in particular, a semidilute solution of lambda-DNA. The polymer concentration is depleted near the surfaces of the tracer particles, within a distance comparable to the polymer correlation length. The rheology of this microscopic layer alters the tracers’ motion and can be precisely quantified using one- and two-point microrheology. Interestingly, we found this mechanically distinct layer to be twice as thick as the layer of depleted concentration, likely due to solvent drainage through the locally perturbed polymer structure

Genome-Wide Association Study of Periodontal Health Measured by Probing Depth in Adults Ages 18−49 years

The etiology of chronic periodontitis clearly includes a heritable component. Our purpose was to perform a small exploratory genome-wide association study in adults ages 18–49 years to nominate genes associated with periodontal disease−related phenotypes for future consideration. Full-mouth periodontal pocket depth probing was performed on participants (N = 673), with affected status defined as two or more sextants with probing depths of 5.5 mm or greater. Two variations of this phenotype that differed in how missing teeth were treated were used in analysis. More than 1.2 million genetic markers across the genome were genotyped or imputed and tested for genetic association. We identified ten suggestive loci (p-value ≤ 1E-5), including genes/loci that have been previously implicated in chronic periodontitis: LAMA2, HAS2, CDH2, ESR1, and the genomic region on chromosome 14q21-22 between SOS2 and NIN. Moreover, we nominated novel loci not previously implicated in chronic periodontitis or related pathways, including the regions 3p22 near OSBPL10 (a lipid receptor implicated in hyperlipidemia), 4p15 near HSP90AB2P (a heat shock pseudogene), 11p15 near GVINP1 (a GTPase pseudogene), 14q31 near SEL1L (an intracellular transporter), and 18q12 in FHOD3 (an actin cytoskeleton regulator). Replication of these results in additional samples is needed. This is one of the first research efforts to identify genetic polymorphisms associated with chronic periodontitis-related phenotypes by the genome-wide association study approach. Though small, efforts such this are needed in order to nominate novel genes and generate new hypotheses for exploration and testing in future studies

Army Decade in Space

In the twelve short years since the announcement of the SMDC-ONE satellite initiative by Lieutenant General Kevin Campbell, then Commanding General of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), SMDC has put in place an active program of satellite technology development and a Low Earth Orbit Investment Strategy that holds great promise for providing low-cost, responsive data from space as the next major evolution in technology to enable Multi-Domain Operations for the Army of 2028 and beyond. The first fruits of that initiative were seen ten years ago with launch and successful mission of the first SMDC-ONE satellite. This small satellite strategy has gained traction with Army and DoD leadership who embrace the small satellite paradigm. This paper discusses Army progress and lessons learned in the past ten years of small satellite efforts, discusses relationships with other organizations and looks forward to potential capabilities enabled by technology advancements and innovative partnerships

Observation and Assignment of Silent and Higher Order Vibrations in the Infrared Transmission of C60 Crystals

We report the measurement of infrared transmission of large C60 single crystals. The spectra exhibit a very rich structure with over 180 vibrational absorptions visible in the 100 - 4000 cm-1 range. Many silent modes are observed to have become weakly IR-active. We also observe a large number of higher order combination modes. The temperature (77K - 300K) and pressure (0 - 25KBar) dependencies of these modes were measured and are presented. Careful analysis of the IR spectra in conjunction with Raman scattering data showing second order modes and neutron scattering data, allow the selection of the 46 vibrational modes C60. We are able to fit *all* of the first and second order data seen in the present IR spectra and the previously published Raman data (~300 lines total), using these 46 modes and their group theory allowed second order combinations.Comment: REVTEX v3.0 in LaTeX. 12 pages. 8 Figures by request. c60lon

Comparison of the HUI3 with the SF-36 Preference Based SF-6D in a Clinical Trial Setting

AbstractObjectiveTo test the hypothesis that the Health Utilities Index Mark III (HUI3) and the SF-6D, based on the SF-36, generate similar health state values, and to test and compare their discriminant validity and responsiveness.MethodsThe HUI3 and SF-36 were administered to 331 patients enrolled in a double-blind, multinational phase III clinical trial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention before hospital discharge and 6 months thereafter.ResultsThe mean SF-6D baseline health state score was 0.67 compared to the HUI3 of 0.63 with r of 0.616 and intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.40. The relationship was nonlinear with greatest divergence found at the lower levels of health. Both measures were found to agree with known differences in health and to be responsive to changes over time. Nevertheless, disagreement resulted in different estimates of change from baseline (0.08 vs. 0.154).ConclusionBoth measures deployed in the present study were found to have discriminant validity, and to be responsive to changes over time in coronary artery disease conditions. Nevertheless, the measures generated different estimates of health state values for this patient population. These differences might in part be the consequence of the health status descriptive system for the HUI that may have been more in line with the hospitalized state than that for the SF-6D. These findings seemed to indicate that measures deployed are not interchangeable for use in cost-utility analysis. More head-to-head comparisons between these two measures are needed to further define and compare relationships in different patient populations

U.S. Army Small Space Update

In December 2010, the U.S. Army flew its first satellite in 50 years, the SMDC-ONE CubeSat. Placed in a very low orbit, the first SMDC-ONE mission lasted only 35 days but enjoyed great success in demonstrating the viability of CubeSats to perform exfiltration of unattended ground sensors data and serve as a communications relay between ground stations over 1000 land miles apart. The success of SMDC-ONE helped shape the U.S. Army’s Space and Missile Defense Command’s (SMDC) programmatic goals for finding new and innovative ways to implement space applications and technologies that aid the warfighter. Since 2010, SMDC has flown ten additional CubeSats including the three SMDC Nanosatellite Program-3 (SNaP) CubeSats currently on orbit (launched October 2015). This paper addresses several SMDC satellite-related development efforts including SNaP, Army Resilient Global On-the-move SATCOM (ARGOS) Ka-band communications microsatellites, Kestrel Eye (an imaging microsatellite), Kestrel Eye Ground Station (KEGS), Common Ground Station (CGS) for all future Army small satellites, supporting technologies including Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) efforts, the Concepts Analysis Laboratory, SMDC Space Laboratory, the ACES RED effort and earlier responsive launch vehicle activities. Several of the lessons learned from previous as well as ongoing satellite activities are also covered

Early dissemination of bevacizumab for advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We describe early dissemination patterns for first-line bevacizumab given for metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed patient surveys and medical records for a population-based cohort with metastatic colorectal cancer treated in multiple regions and health systems in the United States (US). Eligible patients were diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer and initiated first-line chemotherapy after US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) bevacizumab approval in February 2004. First-line bevacizumab therapy was defined as receiving bevacizumab within 8 weeks of starting chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. We evaluated factors associated with first-line bevacizumab treatment using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 355 patients, 31% received first-line bevacizumab in the two years after FDA approval, including 26% of men, 41% of women, and 16% of those ≥ 75 years. Use rose sharply within 6 months after FDA approval, then plateaued. 20% of patients received bevacizumab in combination with irinotecan; 53% received it with oxaliplatin. Men were less likely than women to receive bevacizumab (adjusted OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.32-0.93; p = 0.026). Patients ≥ 75 years were less likely to receive bevacizumab than patients < 55 years (adjusted OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.04-0.46; p = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>One-third of eligible metastatic colorectal cancer patients received first-line bevacizumab shortly after FDA approval. Most patients did not receive bevacizumab as part of the regimen used in the pivotal study leading to FDA approval.</p

Communication Research

Contains reports on five research projects.Rand Corporatio

Stability of cellular patterns in directional solidification

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