A common coding variant in CASP8 is associated with breast cancer risk

The Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) has been established to conduct combined case-control analyses with augmented statistical power to try to confirm putative genetic associations with breast cancer. We genotyped nine SNPs for which there was some prior evidence of an association with breast cancer: CASP8 D302H (rs1045485), IGFBP3 -202 C --> A (rs2854744), SOD2 V16A (rs1799725), TGFB1 L10P (rs1982073), ATM S49C (rs1800054), ADH1B 3' UTR A --> G (rs1042026), CDKN1A S31R (rs1801270), ICAM5 V301I (rs1056538) and NUMA1 A794G (rs3750913). We included data from 9-15 studies, comprising 11,391-18,290 cases and 14,753-22,670 controls. We found evidence of an association with breast cancer for CASP8 D302H (with odds ratios (OR) of 0.89 (95% confidence interval (c.i.): 0.85-0.94) and 0.74 (95% c.i.: 0.62-0.87) for heterozygotes and rare homozygotes, respectively, compared with common homozygotes; P(trend) = 1.1 x 10(-7)) and weaker evidence for TGFB1 L10P (OR = 1.07 (95% c.i.: 1.02-1.13) and 1.16 (95% c.i.: 1.08-1.25), respectively; P(trend) = 2.8 x 10(-5)). These results demonstrate that common breast cancer susceptibility alleles with small effects on risk can be identified, given sufficiently powerful studies.     

Review of Loxopus Townes (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with descriptions of six new species

The taxonomic limits of Loxopus Townes are reviewed. The genus is characterized by the lateral margin of the clypeus projecting as subtriangular lobe; lateral lobes of fourth tarsomeres distinctly longer than mesal lobes; fore wing vein 3r-m absent; hind wing vein 2-1A absent or vestigial; and first metasomal tergite with a basolateral tooth. It occurs from Mexico to southern Brazil. Nine species are recognized, of which six are described as new: L. dodecius Santos et Aguiar, L. duckei Santos et Aguiar, L. exius Santos et Aguiar, L. ichilus Santos et Aguiar, L. tenuis Santos et Aguiar, and L. venezuelanus Santos et Aguiar. The type species, L. australis Townes, and L. multicolor Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino are redescribed, and a diagnosis is provided for L. unicolor Kasparyan et Ruíz-Cancino, not examined. All studied species are illustrated and distribution records are mapped. An identification key for the species of Loxopus is presented.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5B73E8B4-1288-4FD9-AABD-845B5085FFE3     

Common variants in ZNF365 are associated with both mammographic density and breast cancer risk

High-percent mammographic density adjusted for age and body mass index is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. We conducted a meta analysis of five genome-wide association studies of percent mammographic density and report an association with rs10995190 in ZNF365 (combined P = 9.6 × 10(-10)). Common variants in ZNF365 have also recently been associated with susceptibility to breast cancer.     

Introducing System Identification Strategy into Model Predictive Control

As system identification theory and model predictive control are belonged to two different research fields separately, so one gap exists between these two subjects. To alleviate this gap between them, one new idea proposed in this paper is to introduce system identification theory into model predictive control. As the most important element in model predictive control is the prediction of the output value for a nonlinear system, then the problem of deriving the prediction of the output value can be achieved by system identification theory. More specifically, a Bayesian approach is applied for the nonparametric estimation by modeling the prediction as realizations of zero mean random fields.Through comparing this kind of prediction corresponding to this Bayesian approach and the former direct weight optimization identification for nonlinear system, the authors see that if the unknown weights are chosen appropriately, these two approaches are equivalent to each other. Based on the obtained prediction of the output value, the authors substitute this prediction of the output value into one cost function of model predictive control, and then a quadratic programming problem with inequality constraints is formulated. When to solve this quadratic programming problem, a detailed process about how to derive its dual form is given. As the dual problem has a simple constraint set, it is amenable to the use of the common Gauss-Seidel algorithm, whose convergence can be shown easily.Finally, one simulation example confirms the proposed theoretical results.     

Catecholamine-depleting effect of Brazilian scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) venom on adrenergic nerves of the rat atrioventricular valves

Zusammenfassung Mittels Fluoreszenztechnik wurde ein mikrochemischer Nachweis der Freisetzung von Katecholamin an adrenergischen Strukturen in den Arterioventrikularklappen des Rattenherzens nach Verabreichung von Skorpiongift (Tityus serrulatus) erbracht.     

Chromsome aberrations in cattle raised on bracken fern pasture

Summary Thirteen cows maintained on natural bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) were analyzed cytogenetically. The frequency of structural chromosome aberrations detected in peripheral blood cells was significantly higher when compared to that detected in animals raised on pasture containing no bracken fern. We discuss the clastogenic action of fern and its synergistic action with infection by type 2 and 4 papilloma virus in the same animals.Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Dr F. J. Benesi, Dr J. L. Guerra and Dr I. L. Sinhorini for performing some of the clinical and pathological analyses; O. P. Ferraz, L. A. Tadeu Dias, L. F. Feitosa and A. M. N. Paiva for technical assistance; and to Dr N. H. C. Castro and Dr C. de Araujo Peres for critical and statistics review, respectively. Research was supported by CNPq FAPESP and CAPES.     

Genotype-isopropanol interaction in theAdh locus ofDrosophila buzzatii

Summary Drosophila buzzatii, when reared in a medium with isopropanol, shows a significant band interconversion in ADH zymograms and a general lowering of ADH activity. Changes in activity are greater inAdh ^F homozygotes than inAdh ^S homozygotes and generate a significant genotype-isopropanol interaction. These mechanisms are relevant to an explanation of the high naturalAdh polymorphism of this species.This work has been partly supported by a fellowship from the Instituto Nacional para la Asistencia y Promoción del Estudiante (INAPE). We are much indebted to the personnel of the Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, for their help in using the facilities at that Department.     

Action of some compounds on the adenosine triphosphatase activity ofStreptococcus faecalis

Résumé L'activité ATPasique après l'addition d'ATP et en présence de diverses substances est étudié chezStreptococcus faecalis. Les effets les plus évidents ont été les effects inhibiteurs de l'acide sodique et de la gramicidine.     

Identification of mutations in CUL7 in 3-M syndrome

Intrauterine growth retardation is caused by maternal, fetal or placental factors that result in impaired endovascular trophoblast invasion and reduced placental perfusion. Although various causes of intrauterine growth retardation have been identified, most cases remain unexplained. Studying 29 families with 3-M syndrome (OMIM 273750), an autosomal recessive condition characterized by severe pre- and postnatal growth retardation, we first mapped the underlying gene to chromosome 6p21.1 and then identified 25 distinct mutations in the gene cullin 7 (CUL7). CUL7 assembles an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex containing Skp1, Fbx29 (also called Fbw8) and ROC1 and promotes ubiquitination. Using deletion analysis, we found that CUL7 uses its central region to interact with the Skp1-Fbx29 heterodimer. Functional studies indicated that the 3-M-associated CUL7 nonsense and missense mutations R1445X and H1464P, respectively, render CUL7 deficient in recruiting ROC1. These results suggest that impaired ubiquitination may have a role in the pathogenesis of intrauterine growth retardation in humans.