Digital Quantification of Human Eye Color Highlights Genetic Association of Three New Loci

Previous studies have successfully identified genetic variants in several genes associated with human iris (eye) color; however, they all used simplified categorical trait information. Here, we quantified continuous eye color variation into hue and saturation values using high-resolution digital full-eye photographs and conducted a genome-wide association study on 5,951 Dutch Europeans from the Rotterdam Study. Three new regions, 1q42.3, 17q25.3, and 21q22.13, were highlighted meeting the criterion for genome-wide statistically significant association. The latter two loci were replicated in 2,261 individuals from the UK and in 1,282 from Australia. The LYST gene at 1q42.3 and the DSCR9 gene at 21q22.13 serve as promising functional candidates. A model for predicting quantitative eye colors explained over 50% of trait variance in the Rotterdam Study. Over all our data exemplify that fine phenotyping is a useful strategy for finding genes involved in human complex traits

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

Synthesis of carbon aerogels based on resorcinol-formaldehyde/hydroxyethyl cellulose/carbon fiber and its electrochemical properties

Ternary carbon aerogels (CAs) were fabricated via a sol-gel process using resorcinol-formaldehyde (R-F), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HC) and carbon fibers (CFs) in the presence of an acid-base catalyst. The acid-base catalyst was composed of ascorbic acid (VC) and sodium carbonate. The products were carbonized at 900 degrees C in a nitrogen atmosphere. The effects of the acid-base catalyst on the structure and the electrochemical properties of the resulting CAs were studied. The textural and electrochemical properties were investigated by variable instruments (e.g. scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), an ASAP 2420 surface-area analyzer, and a GAMRY Interface 1000 electrochemical workstation). These tests showed that, when the molar ratios of F/R, VC/R and Na2CO3/R were 2, 0.02 and 0.002, respectively, and the mass ratios of HC/R and CF/R were 0.09 and 0.005, respectively, the specific surface area of the resulting CA was 1071 m(2) g(-1) and its specific capacitance was 131 F g(-1); both of these values are substantially better than those in prior reports

The biogeochemistry of inorganic carbon and nutrients in the Pearl River estuary and the adjacent Northern South China Sea

The Zhu-jiang (Pearl River) estuary and its adjacent continental shelf in the Northern South China Sea (SCS) is unique in that its drainage basin is located entirely in a subtropical zone with heavy population development, and therefore represents an important regime for biogeochemical studies on how large rivers influence continental shelves. The near-zero salinity end member has high nutrient concentrations (silicate 130-140 muM, nitrate 75-100 muM and phosphate 0.2-1.2 muM) and relatively high total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (1500 muM) and alkalinity (similar to1650 muM) values. Water column DIC, alkalinity, and nutrient in the estuary are largely controlled by mixing of waters from different tributaries with different drainage basin chemistry, anthropogenic influence, and degree of estuarine recycling. Biological uptake of nutrients and inorganic carbon occur in the outer estuary and inner shelf areas supported by riverine nutrients. The N/P and Si/P ratios are generally very high within the estuary. The summertime area-integrated biological production rate of 0.8 gCm(-2) d(-1) is estimated based on the depletion of DIC and alkalinity relative to the conservative mixing line and a plume travel time. This estimate agrees reasonably well with C-14 based primary production rates (PP) and with that from effective river phosphate flux. Biological production decreases about 10-fold in the open continental shelf and slope and is largely supported by mixing with subsurface water. A comparison of DIC, phosphate, and nitrate concentrations in the surface mixing layer and at the bottom of the euphotic zone with the C-14-based PP (0.13 gCm(-2)d(-1)) suggests that the surface water residence time in the Northern SCS is similar to1.3 years. The N/P, Si/P, and Si/C ratios are 15, 25, and 0.15, respectively. The subtropical Pearl River study is also compared to other large rivers with regard to differences in both natural processes (i.e., weathering rates) and anthropogenic influences (i.e., nutrient input) between these different river estuary systems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The biogeochemistry of inorganic carbon and nutrients in the Pearl River estuary and the adjacent Northern South China Sea

The Zhu-jiang (Pearl River) estuary and its adjacent continental shelf in the Northern South China Sea (SCS) is unique in that its drainage basin is located entirely in a subtropical zone with heavy population development, and therefore represents an important regime for biogeochemical studies on how large rivers influence continental shelves. The near-zero salinity end member has high nutrient concentrations (silicate 130-140 muM, nitrate 75-100 muM and phosphate 0.2-1.2 muM) and relatively high total dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) (1500 muM) and alkalinity (similar to1650 muM) values. Water column DIC, alkalinity, and nutrient in the estuary are largely controlled by mixing of waters from different tributaries with different drainage basin chemistry, anthropogenic influence, and degree of estuarine recycling. Biological uptake of nutrients and inorganic carbon occur in the outer estuary and inner shelf areas supported by riverine nutrients. The N/P and Si/P ratios are generally very high within the estuary. The summertime area-integrated biological production rate of 0.8 gCm(-2) d(-1) is estimated based on the depletion of DIC and alkalinity relative to the conservative mixing line and a plume travel time. This estimate agrees reasonably well with C-14 based primary production rates (PP) and with that from effective river phosphate flux. Biological production decreases about 10-fold in the open continental shelf and slope and is largely supported by mixing with subsurface water. A comparison of DIC, phosphate, and nitrate concentrations in the surface mixing layer and at the bottom of the euphotic zone with the C-14-based PP (0.13 gCm(-2)d(-1)) suggests that the surface water residence time in the Northern SCS is similar to1.3 years. The N/P, Si/P, and Si/C ratios are 15, 25, and 0.15, respectively. The subtropical Pearl River study is also compared to other large rivers with regard to differences in both natural processes (i.e., weathering rates) and anthropogenic influences (i.e., nutrient input) between these different river estuary systems. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of an estuarine plume-associated bloom on the carbonate system in the lower reaches of the Pearl River estuary and the coastal zone of the northern South China Sea

We observed a phytoplankton bloom downstream of a large estuarine plume induced by heavy precipitation during a cruise conducted in the Pearl River estuary and the northern South China Sea in May-June 2001. The plume delivered a significant amount of nutrients into the estuary and the adjacent coastal region, and enhanced stratification stimulating a phytoplankton bloom in the region near and offshore of Hong Kong. A several fold increase (0.2-1.8 mu g Chl L-1) in biomass (Chl a) was observed during the bloom. During the bloom event, the surface water phytoplankton community structure significantly shifted from a pico-phytoplankton dominated community to one dominated by microphytoplankton (> 20 mu m). In addition to increased Chl a, we observed a significant drawdown of pCO(2) , biological uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and an associated enhancement of dissolved oxygen and pH, demonstrating enhanced photosynthesis during the bloom. During the bloom, we estimated a net DIC drawdown of 100-150 mu mol kg(-1) and a TAlk increase of 0-50 mu mol kg(-1). The mean sea-air CO2 flux at the peak of the bloom was estimated to be as high as similar to-18 mmol m(-2) d(-1). For an average surface water depth of 5 m, a very high apparent biological CO2 consumption rate of 70-110 mmol m(-2)d(-1) was estimated. This value is 2-6 times higher than the estimated air-sea exchange rate. Crown Copyright (c) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved