Genome-wide association study identifies susceptibility loci for dengue shock syndrome at MICB and PLCE1

Hypovolemic shock (dengue shock syndrome (DSS)) is the most common life-threatening complication of dengue. We conducted a genome-wide association study of 2,008 pediatric cases treated for DSS and 2,018 controls from Vietnam. Replication of the most significantly associated markers was carried out in an independent Vietnamese sample of 1,737 cases and 2,934 controls. SNPs at two loci showed genome-wide significant association with DSS. We identified a susceptibility locus at MICB (major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I polypeptide-related sequence B), which was within the broad MHC region on chromosome 6 but outside the class I and class II HLA loci (rs3132468, P(meta) = 4.41 × 10(-11), per-allele odds ratio (OR) = 1.34 (95% confidence interval: 1.23-1.46)). We identified associated variants within PLCE1 (phospholipase C, epsilon 1) on chromosome 10 (rs3765524, P(meta) = 3.08 × 10(-10), per-allele OR = 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.75-0.86)). We identify two loci associated with susceptibility to DSS in people with dengue, suggesting possible mechanisms for this severe complication of dengue.     

Meta-analysis identifies common variants associated with body mass index in east Asians

Multiple genetic loci associated with obesity or body mass index (BMI) have been identified through genome-wide association studies conducted predominantly in populations of European ancestry. We performed a meta-analysis of associations between BMI and approximately 2.4 million SNPs in 27,715 east Asians, which was followed by in silico and de novo replication studies in 37,691 and 17,642 additional east Asians, respectively. We identified ten BMI-associated loci at genome-wide significance (P < 5.0 × 10(-8)), including seven previously identified loci (FTO, SEC16B, MC4R, GIPR-QPCTL, ADCY3-DNAJC27, BDNF and MAP2K5) and three novel loci in or near the CDKAL1, PCSK1 and GP2 genes. Three additional loci nearly reached the genome-wide significance threshold, including two previously identified loci in the GNPDA2 and TFAP2B genes and a newly identified signal near PAX6, all of which were associated with BMI with P < 5.0 × 10(-7). Findings from this study may shed light on new pathways involved in obesity and demonstrate the value of conducting genetic studies in non-European populations.     

Equivalency and unbiasedness of grey prediction models

In order to deeply research the structure discrepancy and modeling mechanism among different grey prediction models, the equivalence and unbiasedness of grey prediction models are analyzed and verified. The results show that all the grey prediction models that are strictly derived from x(0)(k) +az(1)(k) = b have the identical model structure and simulation precision. Moreover, the unbiased simulation for the homogeneous exponential sequence can be accomplished. However, the models derived from dx(1)/dt + ax(1)= b are only close to those derived from x(0)(k) + az(1)(k) = b provided that |a| has to satisfy|a| < 0.1; neither could the unbiased simulation for the homogeneous exponential sequence be achieved. The above conclusions are proved and verified through some theorems and examples.     

Effect of electrolytes on electrochemical properties of graphene sheet covered with polypyrrole thin layer

Graphene sheet (GS) was successfully covered with a polyp yrrole (PPy) thin layer through in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole monomers in aqueous solution by using GS as a support materi al and ferric trichloride as an oxidant. The resulting nanocomposite was studied by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and electrical measurements, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge experiment (GCD), and impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It has been found that the nanocomposite exhibited a typically curved and layer ?like structure, and conformational change of PPy chains occurred due to the π?π stacking interaction between the graphitic structures in GS and aromatic rings of the PPy chains. More attention was paid to the effect of electrolytes on electrochemical properties of the nanocomposites, as expected, electrochemical performance was dependent on the nature of the electrolyte, and the neutral electrolytes containing alkali metal ions were found to be very suitable for GS/PPy nanocomposite. Compared with the pure PPy, the nanocomposite possessed larger specific capaci tance and lower internal im pedance, indicating that the nanocomposite can be a promising candidate as electrod e material for supercapacitors.     

Adaptive cancellation of Es layer interference using auxiliary horizontal antennas

1 .INTRODUCTIONBesides the regularly Dlayer、Elayer、F1 layer andF2 layer ,ionosphere also has sporadic Elayer (Eslayer) .Es layer is theionized clouds with all kindsof shapes that appearinthe altitude of Elayer ,andthe peak values of the Es cloud electron density aremuch higher thanthe peak value of the Elayer elec-tron density around. The ionospheric interference(ELI) discussedinthis Letter are the transmitted sig-nal which are directly reflected back by the Es layer .ELI is a sel…     

Live birth in the Devonian period

The extinct placoderm fishes were the dominant group of vertebrates throughout the Middle Palaeozoic era, yet controversy about their relationships within the gnathostomes (jawed vertebrates) is partly due to different interpretations of their reproductive biology. Here we document the oldest record of a live-bearing vertebrate in a new ptyctodontid placoderm, Materpiscis attenboroughi gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Devonian Gogo Formation of Australia (approximately 380 million years ago). The new specimen, remarkably preserved in three dimensions, contains a single, intra-uterine embryo connected by a permineralized umbilical cord. An amorphous crystalline mass near the umbilical cord possibly represents the recrystallized yolk sac. Another ptyctodont from the Gogo Formation, Austroptyctodus gardineri, also shows three small embryos inside it in the same position. Ptyctodontids have already provided the oldest definite evidence for vertebrate copulation, and the new specimens confirm that some placoderms had a remarkably advanced reproductive biology, comparable to that of some modern sharks and rays. The new discovery points to internal fertilization and viviparity in vertebrates as originating earliest within placoderms.     

An overview of the switching parameter variation of RRAM

Resistive random access memory（RRAM） has been considered as one of the most promising candidates for next-generation nonvolatile memory, due to its advantages of simple device structure, excellent scalability, fast operation speed and low power consumption. Deeply understanding the physical mechanism and effectively controlling the statistical variation of switching parameters are the basis of fostering RRAM into commercial application. In this paper, based on the deep understanding on the mechanism of the formation and rupture of conductive filament, we summarize the methods of analyzing and modeling the statistics of switching parameters such as SET/RESET voltage, current, speed or time. Then, we analyze the distributions of switching parameters and the influencing factors. Additionally, we also sum up the analytical model of resistive switching statistics composed of the cell-based percolation model and SET/RESET switching dynamics. The results of the model can successfully explain the experimental distributions of switching parameters of the Ni O- and Hf O2-based RRAM devices. The model also provides theoretical guide on how to improve the uniformity and reliability such as disturb immunity. Finally, some experimental approaches to improve the uniformity of switching parameters are discussed.     

Synthesis of lanthanum oxide nanosheets by a green carbonation process

Two-dimensional metal oxide nanostructures, such as nanoplates, nanowalls, and nanosheets, have received further attentions in recent years, due to their outstanding properties resulted from the small thickness and quantum size effects. In this work, lanthanum oxide nanosheets with the thickness of 56 nm had been suc-cessfully prepared by an originally simple method of car- bon dioxide carbonation; the preparation process was green without using surfactants and detergent. The X-ray dif-fraction, transmission electron microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the pro-ducts. Thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis and FT-IR were introduced to prove that the lanthanum oxide precursor with lamellar morphology was La2（CO3）3.3H20. The carbon dioxide carbonation method would provide significant benefits containing mild reaction conditions, high efficiency, low cost, and easy to realize large-scale production.     

Detection of 2,4-dinitrotoluene using hydrogen-bond acidic polymer coated SAW sensor

A strong hydrogen-bond acidic （HBA） polymer linear fluoroalcoholic polysiloxane （PLF）, synthesized by one-step hydrosilylation, was introduced for 2,4-dinitrotoluene （2,4-DNT） detection using surface acoustic wave （SAW） devices. FT-IR spectra and 1H NMR spectra char- acterizations confirmed its molecular structure. Then, PLF was dissolved in chloroform, and spray coated onto a 434 MHz SAW device. And subsequently, the sensitivity and selectivity of the fabricated sensor were studied based on a SAW test platform. To 2,4-DNT of 1 ppm and 100 ppb （for DNT, 1 ppm = 8.1 mg/m3; 1 ppb = 8.1 ;tg/m3）, the responses of the sensor rose 7.7 and 1.5 kHz, respectively. Furthermore, compared with some common interference vapors at 10 mg/m3, the response of the sensor to 2,4-DNT at 1 ppm was 5 times stronger. The sensitive property was attributed to the hydrogen bond interaction between the hexafluoroisopropanol （HFIP） group in PLF and the basic lone electron pairs of nitro-groups in 2,4-DNT. Comparison between the PLF sensor and hydroxyl group functionalized polymer （carbowax and MOBCD）-coated sensors was investigated, and the results showed that the PLF sensor exhibited better sensitivity. In a word, the PLF sensor exhibited fast response, negligible baseline drifts and excellent reversibility, indicating good candidates of HFIP group functionalized HBA polymers for practical nitroaromatic explosives detection.     

Implementation of a new chaotic encryption system and synchronization

1.INTRODUCTIONChaos phenomenonis a kind of deterministic andran-domlike process in nonlinear dynamics.Chaos signalis very sensitive to initial conditions and chaotic se-quences are unpredictable,which makeits applicationin secure communication become a research hotspot innowadays,at the same ti me,it shows the potentialvitality of chaos,but some problems such as the de-sign of secret keys and the li mited models of the gen-eration of chaotic signals,have not resolved yet.It isknown to all …