High dimensional generalized empirical likelihood for moment restrictions with dependent data

This paper considers the maximum generalized empirical likelihood (GEL) estimation and inference on parameters identified by high dimensional moment restrictions with weakly dependent data when the dimensions of the moment restrictions and the parameters diverge along with the sample size. The consistency with rates and the asymptotic normality of the GEL estimator are obtained by properly restricting the growth rates of the dimensions of the parameters and the moment restrictions, as well as the degree of data dependence. It is shown that even in the high dimensional time series setting, the GEL ratio can still behave like a chi-square random variable asymptotically. A consistent test for the over-identification is proposed. A penalized GEL method is also provided for estimation under sparsity setting

Measurements of diffusion, T 1 and T 2 in one shot by MMME

In this paper, we demonstrate a rapid simultaneous measurement of diffusion constant D, T1 and T2 relaxation times in just two scans. Theoretical standard deviations of D, T1 T2 for a wide range of T1 and T2 were predicted for given sequences with a random experimental error of 3%. By carefully selecting of sequence parameters for samples with different relaxation times, the error propagators in T1, T2, and D can be modified to within 10%

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in thymic stromal lymphopoietin gene are not associated with allergic rhinitis susceptibility in Chinese subjects

BACKGROUND: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cell-derived cytokine, implicated in the development and progression of allergic diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated significantly increased expression and synthesis of TSLPin nasal mucosa of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), compared with nonallergic control subjects. Also, there is significant correlation between the level of TSLP mRNA and symptom severity in AR patients. In this study, we investigated whether polymorphisms in the TSLP gene were associated with increased risk of AR in the Chinese population. METHODS: In a candidate gene association study, we tested 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TSLP gene in 368 AR and 325 control adult Han Chinese subjects from Beijing. The 11 SNPs were selected from the Chinese HapMap genotyping dataset to ensure complete genetic coverage. AR was established by questionnaire and clinical examination, and blood was drawn from all subjects for DNA extraction. The PLINK software package was used to perform statistical testing. RESULTS: In the single-locus analysis of AR risk, no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies were found between AR and control subjects. Further logistic regression analyses adjusted for age and gender also failed to reveal significant associations between AR and the selected SNPs. Similarly, analysis stratified by gender, and haplotype or diplotype did not reveal any association with AR risk. CONCLUSION: Although TSLP presents itself as a good candidate for contributing to allergy, this study failed to find an association between specific SNPs in the TSLP gene and AR susceptibility in the Han Chinese population

(1R*,2R*)-1-(7-Bromo-3-methoxy­naphthalen-2-yl)-4-(dimethyl­amino)-2-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1-phenyl­butan-2-ol

In the crystal structure of the title compound, C33H32BrNO2, the naphthalene ring system and the benzene ring are oriented at dihedral angles of 82.24 (4) and 79.53 (4)°, respectively, to the quinoline ring system. An intra­molecular O—H⋯N hydrogen bond occurs between the hydr­oxy H atom and the amine N atom

IS BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR (BDNF) VAL66MET POLYMORPHISM ASSOCIATED WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER? A META-ANALYSIS

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) polymorphism plays an important role in neural survival and was proposed to be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Genetic association studies of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism (rs6265) in OCD have produced inconsistent results. A meta-analysis of studies was conducted to compare the frequency of the BDNF Val66Met variant between cases with OCD and age-matched controls. Subjects and methods: Electronic databases were searched for eligible articles in English and ten studies on the association of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism with OCD were analysed. Results: A total of ten studies involving 2306 cases with OCD and 4968 healthy controls were included. Findings indicated that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was not associated with OCD. But there was a marginally significant effect of the BDNF Val66Met variant on OCD in different ethnicity. Conclusion: Findings from this meta-analytic investigation of published literature provide little support for the Val66Met variant of BDNF as a predictor of OCD. Future well-powered agnostic genome-wide association studies with more refined phenotype are needed to clarify genetic influences on OCD