Common variants near MC4R are associated with fat mass, weight and risk of obesity

To identify common variants influencing body mass index (BMI), we analyzed genome-wide association data from 16,876 individuals of European descent. After previously reported variants in FTO, the strongest association signal (rs17782313, P = 2.9 x 10(-6)) mapped 188 kb downstream of MC4R (melanocortin-4 receptor), mutations of which are the leading cause of monogenic severe childhood-onset obesity. We confirmed the BMI association in 60,352 adults (per-allele effect = 0.05 Z-score units; P = 2.8 x 10(-15)) and 5,988 children aged 7-11 (0.13 Z-score units; P = 1.5 x 10(-8)). In case-control analyses (n = 10,583), the odds for severe childhood obesity reached 1.30 (P = 8.0 x 10(-11)). Furthermore, we observed overtransmission of the risk allele to obese offspring in 660 families (P (pedigree disequilibrium test average; PDT-avg) = 2.4 x 10(-4)). The SNP location and patterns of phenotypic associations are consistent with effects mediated through altered MC4R function. Our findings establish that common variants near MC4R influence fat mass, weight and obesity risk at the population level and reinforce the need for large-scale data integration to identify variants influencing continuous biomedical traits.     

A bayesian forecasting model for sequential bidding

In this paper we consider the problem facing a company in selecting the values of bids to submit on a sequence of contracts put out to tender. A simple-to-implement Bayesian forecasting model is presented, based on a steady Dirichlet process whose states are indexed by the possible bid decisions open to the company. The model gives an explicit algorithm for calculating the state probabilities, needing only data on the lowest bid made by the company's competitors. The flexibility of the basic model makes it a potentially powerful forecasting system for use by companies bidding for contracts.     

Effect of exercise training on the chronotropic response of isolated rat atria to atropine

Summary Atria isolated from rats after 7 weeks of exercise training beat at a slower rate than did atria from sedentary controls. Atria from exercised rats showed a significant acceleration in response to atropie.This study was supported by a grant from the Genesee Valley Heart Association.     

Capillary zone electrophoresis-MS

Coupling the separation capabilities of capillary zone electrophoresis with the analytical specificity of mass spectrometry yields a tool for detecting levels of substances down to 10 attomoles.