There is evidence across several species for genetic control of phenotypic variation of complex traits(1-4), such that the variance among phenotypes is genotype dependent. Understanding genetic control of variability is important in evolutionary biology, agricultural selection programmes and human medicine, yet for complex traits, no individual genetic variants associated with variance, as opposed

Despite a variety of testing approaches, it is often difficult to make an accurate diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), especially at an early stage of the disease. Diagnosis is based on clinical criteria as well as exclusion of other causes of dementia but a definitive diagnosis can only be made at autopsy. We have investigated the diagnostic value of a 96-gene expression array for detection of

Given an undirected graph and two pairs of vertices $(s_i,t_i)$ for $i\in\{1,2\}$ we show that there is a polynomial time Monte Carlo algorithm that finds disjoint paths of smallest total length joining $s_i$ and $t_i$ for $i\in\{1,2\}$ respectively, or concludes that there most likely are no such paths at all. Our algorithm applies to both the vertex- and edge-disjoint versions of the problem.

Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has had a major breakthrough with the impressive results obtained using systems of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. Ground-based gamma-ray astronomy has a huge potential in astrophysics, particle physics and cosmology. CTA is an international initiative to build the next generation instrument, with a factor of 5-10 improvement in sensitivity in the 100 GeV

Background. The aim of this study was to map gastroscopies performed at a single tertiary pediatric surgery centre to investigate indications, complications, outcomes, and ethical aspects. Material and Methods. A retrospective study of gastroscopies performed during two time periods (2001-2004 and 2011-2014) was conducted. Data regarding indications, outcomes, and complications of pediatric gastro

We analyse global and regional changes in CO2 fluxes using two simple models, an airborne fraction of anthropogenic emissions and a linear relationship with CO2 concentrations. We show that both models are able to fit the non-anthropogenic (hereafter natural) flux over the length of the atmospheric concentration record. Analysis of the linear model (including its uncertainties) suggests no signifi

The current study is the first to investigate confabulatory introspection in relation to clinical psychological symptoms utilizing the Choice Blindness Paradigm (CBP). It was hypothesized that those with obsessive-compulsive symptoms are more likely to confabulate mental states. To test this hypothesis, an experimental choice blindness task was administered in two nonclinical samples (n = 47; n =

Molecular imprinting is a powerful synthetic technique for generating template-defined binding sites in cross-linked polymers. One scientific challenge in molecular imprinting research is to understand the intermolecular interactions leading to molecular complexation and the process of binding site formation during polymerization. In this work, we present a novel method for studying the molecular

Molecular motors of the cell are protein-based, nanoscale machines, which use a variety of strategies to transduce chemical energy into mechanical work in the presence of a large thermal background. The design and construction of artificial molecular motors is one approach to better understand their basic physical principles. Here, we propose the concept of a protein-based, burnt-bridges ratchet,

What does pain look like? Pain is felt, as every human being knows. But what about its visibility? Is it possible to depict pain? We can represent its visible expressions. We can also, to a certain extent, capture that which causes pain. But what about pain itself? This paper addresses the question of how to represent pain from a phenomenological perspective. Adopting the phenomenological analysis

ABSTRACT: Laboratory studies have shown that ordinary household salt (NaCl) exhibits several promising properties for retrospective dosimetry; e.g., a linear dose response and a low detection limit, down to a few mGy or even less. In an attempt to test NaCl as a dosimeter outside the laboratory, the first results from the use of NaCl as a dosimeter under normal environmental conditions are reporte

We demonstrate a case of eclogite exhumation in a partially molten, low-viscosity fold nappe within high-grade metamorphosed crust in the Eastern Segment of the Sveconorwegian orogen. The nappe formed during tectonic extrusion, melt-weakening assisted exhumation and foreland-directed translation of eclogitized crust, and stalled at 35-40 km depth within the collisional belt. The eclogites are stru

QuestionHow do pollen-based functional and phylogenetic diversity help to explain post-glacial vegetation change in relation to climate and human influence? LocationEstonia and Latvia, NE Europe. MethodsWe used a data set of 1062 pollen samples from 20 sites covering the last 14500yrs to estimate plant richness, evenness, functional and phylogenetic diversity (community-weighted mean and mean pair

Stochastic differential equations have been shown useful in describing random continuous time processes. Biomedical experiments often imply repeated measurements on a series of experimental units and differences between units can be represented by incorporating random effects into the model. When both system noise and random effects are considered, stochastic differential mixed-effects models ensu

GPRC5B is an orphan receptor belonging to the group C family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). GPRC5B is abundantly expressed in both human and mouse pancreatic islets, and both GPRC5B mRNA and protein are up-regulated 2.5-fold in islets from organ donors with type 2 diabetes. Expression of Gprc5b is 50% lower in islets isolated from newborn (36 weeks) mice. Lentiviral shRNA-mediated down-re