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- Sliz, E., et al.
(author)
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Evidence of a causal effect of genetic tendency to gain muscle mass on uterine leiomyomata
- 2023
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In: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 14:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Uterine leiomyomata (UL) are the most common tumours of the female genital tract and the primary cause of surgical removal of the uterus. Genetic factors contribute to UL susceptibility. To add understanding to the heritable genetic risk factors, we conduct a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of UL in up to 426,558 European women from FinnGen and a previous UL meta-GWAS. In addition to the 50 known UL loci, we identify 22 loci that have not been associated with UL in prior studies. UL-associated loci harbour genes enriched for development, growth, and cellular senescence. Of particular interest are the smooth muscle cell differentiation and proliferation-regulating genes functioning on the myocardin-cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1A pathway. Our results further suggest that genetic predisposition to increased fat-free mass may be causally related to higher UL risk, underscoring the involvement of altered muscle tissue biology in UL pathophysiology. Overall, our findings add to the understanding of the genetic pathways underlying UL, which may aid in developing novel therapeutics.
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2. |
- Tabassum, R, et al.
(author)
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Genetic architecture of human plasma lipidome and its link to cardiovascular disease
- 2019
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In: Nature communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 10:1, s. 4329-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Understanding genetic architecture of plasma lipidome could provide better insights into lipid metabolism and its link to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Here, we perform genome-wide association analyses of 141 lipid species (n = 2,181 individuals), followed by phenome-wide scans with 25 CVD related phenotypes (n = 511,700 individuals). We identify 35 lipid-species-associated loci (P <5 ×10−8), 10 of which associate with CVD risk including five new loci-COL5A1, GLTPD2, SPTLC3, MBOAT7 and GALNT16 (false discovery rate<0.05). We identify loci for lipid species that are shown to predict CVD e.g., SPTLC3 for CER(d18:1/24:1). We show that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) may more efficiently hydrolyze medium length triacylglycerides (TAGs) than others. Polyunsaturated lipids have highest heritability and genetic correlations, suggesting considerable genetic regulation at fatty acids levels. We find low genetic correlations between traditional lipids and lipid species. Our results show that lipidomic profiles capture information beyond traditional lipids and identify genetic variants modifying lipid levels and risk of CVD.
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3. |
- Hackman, T., et al.
(author)
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Spot activity of II Peg
- 2011
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In: Astronomical Notes - Astronomische Nachrichten. - : Wiley. - 0004-6337 .- 1521-3994. ; 332:9-10, s. 859-865
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have studied the long-term spot activity of the RS CVn star II Peg by means of Doppler imaging based on spectroscopy and time series analysis of photometry. We present 28 Doppler imaging temperature maps spanning the years 1994-2010, of which 14 were calculated for the present study. The longitudinal spot distribution, derived from the surface temperature maps, is compared with epochs of the light curve minima, derived from photometric observations. We detect a longitudinal drift in the major spot structure during 1995-2003. After this there is a clear decrease in the activity level and no clear drift can be seen. We conclude that the variations could be caused by a cyclic behaviour of the underlying magnetic dynamo.
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5. |
- Snellman, J. E., et al.
(author)
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Verification of Reynolds stress parameterizations from simulations
- 2012
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In: Astronomical Notes - Astronomische Nachrichten. - : Wiley. - 0004-6337 .- 1521-3994. ; 333:1, s. 78-83
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We determine the timescales associated with turbulent decay and isotropization in closure models using anisotropically forced and freely decaying turbulence simulations and study the applicability of these models. We compare the results from anisotropically forced three-dimensional numerical simulations with the predictions of the closure models and obtain the turbulent timescales mentioned above as functions of the Reynolds number. In a second set of simulations, turning the forcing off enables us to study the validity of the closures in freely decaying turbulence. Both types of experiments suggest that the timescale of turbulent decay converges to a constant value at higher Reynolds numbers. Furthermore, the relative importance of isotropization is found to be about 2.5 times larger at higher Reynolds numbers than in the more viscous regime.
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6. |
- Vaisala, M. S., et al.
(author)
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Quantifying the effect of turbulent magnetic diffusion on the growth rate of the magneto-rotational instability
- 2014
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 567
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. In astrophysics, turbulent diffusion is often used in place of microphysical diffusion to avoid resolving the small scales. However, we expect this approach to break down when time and length scales of the turbulence become comparable with other relevant time and length scales in the system. Turbulent diffusion has previously been applied to the magneto-rotational instability (MRI), but no quantitative comparison of growth rates at different turbulent intensities has been performed. Aims. We investigate to what extent turbulent diffusion can be used to model the effects of small-scale turbulence on the kinematic growth rates of the MRI, and how this depends on angular velocity and magnetic field strength. Methods. We use direct numerical simulations in three-dimensional shearing boxes with periodic boundary conditions in the spanwise direction and additional random plane-wave volume forcing to drive a turbulent flow at a given length scale. We estimate the turbulent diffusivity using a mixing length formula and compare with results obtained with the test-field method. Results. It turns out that the concept of turbulent diffusion is remarkably accurate in describing the effect of turbulence on the growth rate of the MRI. No noticeable breakdown of turbulent diffusion has been found, even when time and length scales of the turbulence become comparable with those imposed by the MRI itself. On the other hand, quenching of turbulent magnetic diffusivity by the magnetic field is found to be absent. Conclusions. Turbulence reduces the growth rate of the MRI in the same way as microphysical magnetic diffusion does.
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7. |
- Brandenburg, Axel, et al.
(author)
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NEW SCALING FOR THE ALPHA EFFECT IN SLOWLY ROTATING TURBULENCE
- 2013
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 762:2
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Using simulations of slowly rotating stratified turbulence, we show that the alpha effect responsible for the generation of astrophysical magnetic fields is proportional to the logarithmic gradient of kinetic energy density rather than that of momentum, as was previously thought. This result is in agreement with a new analytic theory developed in this paper for large Reynolds numbers and slow rotation. Thus, the contribution of density stratification is less important than that of turbulent velocity. The a effect and other turbulent transport coefficients are determined by means of the test-field method. In addition to forced turbulence, we also investigate supernova-driven turbulence and stellar convection. In some cases (intermediate rotation rate for forced turbulence, convection with intermediate temperature stratification, and supernova-driven turbulence), we find that the contribution of density stratification might be even less important than suggested by the analytic theory.
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8. |
- Hackman, T., et al.
(author)
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Doppler images of II Pegasi for 2004-2010
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538, s. A126-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. We study the spot activity of II Peg during the years 2004-2010 to determine long- and short-term changes in the magnetic activity. In a previous study, we detected a persistent active longitude, as well as major changes in the spot configuration occurring on a timescale of shorter than a year. The main objective of this study is to determine whether the same phenomena persist in the star during these six years of spectroscopic monitoring. Methods. The observations were collected with the high-resolution SOFIN spectrograph at the Nordic Optical Telescope. The temperature maps were calculated using a Doppler imaging code based on Tikhonov regularization. Results. We present 12 new temperature maps that show spots distributed mainly over high and intermediate latitudes. In each image, 1-3 main active regions can be identified. The activity level of the star is clearly lower than during our previous study for the years 1994-2002. In contrast to the previous observations, we detect no clear drift of the active regions with respect to the rotation of the star. Conclusions. Having shown a systematic longitudinal drift of the spot-generating mechanism during 1994-2002, the star has clearly switched to a low-activity state for 2004-2010, during which the spot locations appear more random over phase space. It could be that the star is near to a minimum of its activity cycle.
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9. |
- Käpylä, Petri J., et al.
(author)
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Flux concentrations in turbulent convection
- 2012
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In: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - : Cambridge University Press. - 9781107033832 ; , s. 283-288
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present preliminary results from high resolution magneto-convection simulations where we find the formation of flux concentrations from an initially uniform magnetic field. The structures appear in roughly ten convective turnover times and live close to a turbulent diffusion time. The time scales are compatible with the negative effective magnetic pressure instability (NEMPI), although structure formation is not restricted to regions where the effective magnetic pressure is negative.
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10. |
- Käpylä, Petri J., et al.
(author)
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Oscillatory large-scale dynamos from Cartesian convection simulations
- 2013
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In: Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0309-1929 .- 1029-0419. ; 107:1-2, s. 244-257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present results from compressible Cartesian convection simulations with and without imposed shear. In the former case the dynamo is expected to be of 2 type, which is generally expected to be relevant for the Sun, whereas the latter case refers to 2 dynamos that are more likely to occur in more rapidly rotating stars whose differential rotation is small. We perform a parameter study where the shear flow and the rotational influence are varied to probe the relative importance of both types of dynamos. Oscillatory solutions are preferred both in the kinematic and saturated regimes when the negative ratio of shear to rotation rates, qS/, is between 1.5 and 2, i.e. when shear and rotation are of comparable strengths. Other regions of oscillatory solutions are found with small values of q, i.e. when shear is weak in comparison to rotation, and in the regime of large negative qs, when shear is very strong in comparison to rotation. However, exceptions to these rules also appear so that for a given ratio of shear to rotation, solutions are non-oscillatory for small and large shear, but oscillatory in the intermediate range. Changing the boundary conditions from vertical field to perfect conductor ones changes the dynamo mode from oscillatory to quasi-steady. Furthermore, in many cases an oscillatory solution exists only in the kinematic regime whereas in the nonlinear stage the mean fields are stationary. However, the cases with rotation and no shear are always oscillatory in the parameter range studied here and the dynamo mode does not depend on the magnetic boundary conditions. The strengths of total and large-scale components of the magnetic field in the saturated state, however, are sensitive to the chosen boundary conditions.
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