| 1. |
- Clark, Andrew G., et al.
(author)
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Evolution of genes and genomes on the Drosophila phylogeny
- 2007
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 450:7167, s. 203-218
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Comparative analysis of multiple genomes in a phylogenetic framework dramatically improves the precision and sensitivity of evolutionary inference, producing more robust results than single-genome analyses can provide. The genomes of 12 Drosophila species, ten of which are presented here for the first time (sechellia, simulans, yakuba, erecta, ananassae, persimilis, willistoni, mojavensis, virilis and grimshawi), illustrate how rates and patterns of sequence divergence across taxa can illuminate evolutionary processes on a genomic scale. These genome sequences augment the formidable genetic tools that have made Drosophila melanogaster a pre-eminent model for animal genetics, and will further catalyse fundamental research on mechanisms of development, cell biology, genetics, disease, neurobiology, behaviour, physiology and evolution. Despite remarkable similarities among these Drosophila species, we identified many putatively non-neutral changes in protein-coding genes, non-coding RNA genes, and cis-regulatory regions. These may prove to underlie differences in the ecology and behaviour of these diverse species.
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| 2. |
- Casolino, M., et al.
(author)
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Cosmic ray measurements with Pamela experiment
- 2009
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PAMELA is a satellite borne experiment designed to study with great accuracy cosmic rays of galactic, solar, and trapped nature hi a wide energy range (protons: 80 MeV-700 GeV, electrons 50 MeV-400 GeV). Main objective is the study of the antimatter component: antiprotons (80 MeV-190 GeV), positrons (50 MeV-270 GeV) and search for antinuclei with a precision of the order of 10(-8)). The experiment, housed on board the Russian Resurs-DK1 satellite, was launched on June, 15(th) 2006 in a 350 X 600 km orbit with an inclination of 70 degrees. In this work we describe the scientific objectives awl the performance of PAMELA in its first two years of operation. Data oil protons of trapped, secondary and galactic nature - as well as measurements of the December 13(th) 2006 Solar Particle Event - are also provided.
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| 3. |
- Prokopenko, Inga, et al.
(author)
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Variants in MTNR1B influence fasting glucose levels
- 2009
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In: Nature Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1546-1718 .- 1061-4036. ; 41:1, s. 77-81
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To identify previously unknown genetic loci associated with fasting glucose concentrations, we examined the leading association signals in ten genome-wide association scans involving a total of 36,610 individuals of European descent. Variants in the gene encoding melatonin receptor 1B (MTNR1B) were consistently associated with fasting glucose across all ten studies. The strongest signal was observed at rs10830963, where each G allele (frequency 0.30 in HapMap CEU) was associated with an increase of 0.07 (95% CI = 0.06-0.08) mmol/l in fasting glucose levels (P = 3.2 x 10(-50)) and reduced beta-cell function as measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-B, P = 1.1 x 10(-15)). The same allele was associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 1.09 (1.05-1.12), per G allele P = 3.3 x 10(-7)) in a meta-analysis of 13 case-control studies totaling 18,236 cases and 64,453 controls. Our analyses also confirm previous associations of fasting glucose with variants at the G6PC2 (rs560887, P = 1.1 x 10(-57)) and GCK (rs4607517, P = 1.0 x 10(-25)) loci.
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| 4. |
- Vasan, Ramachandran S, et al.
(author)
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Genetic variants associated with cardiac structure and function : a meta-analysis and replication of genome-wide association data
- 2009
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In: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). - : American Medical Association (AMA). - 0098-7484 .- 1538-3598. ; 302:2, s. 168-178
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- CONTEXT: Echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) structure and function are heritable phenotypes of cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To identify common genetic variants associated with cardiac structure and function by conducting a meta-analysis of genome-wide association data in 5 population-based cohort studies (stage 1) with replication (stage 2) in 2 other community-based samples. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Within each of 5 community-based cohorts comprising the EchoGen consortium (stage 1; n = 12 612 individuals of European ancestry; 55% women, aged 26-95 years; examinations between 1978-2008), we estimated the association between approximately 2.5 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; imputed to the HapMap CEU panel) and echocardiographic traits. In stage 2, SNPs significantly associated with traits in stage 1 were tested for association in 2 other cohorts (n = 4094 people of European ancestry). Using a prespecified P value threshold of 5 x 10(-7) to indicate genome-wide significance, we performed an inverse variance-weighted fixed-effects meta-analysis of genome-wide association data from each cohort. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Echocardiographic traits: LV mass, internal dimensions, wall thickness, systolic dysfunction, aortic root, and left atrial size. RESULTS: In stage 1, 16 genetic loci were associated with 5 echocardiographic traits: 1 each with LV internal dimensions and systolic dysfunction, 3 each with LV mass and wall thickness, and 8 with aortic root size. In stage 2, 5 loci replicated (6q22 locus associated with LV diastolic dimensions, explaining <1% of trait variance; 5q23, 12p12, 12q14, and 17p13 associated with aortic root size, explaining 1%-3% of trait variance). CONCLUSIONS: We identified 5 genetic loci harboring common variants that were associated with variation in LV diastolic dimensions and aortic root size, but such findings explained a very small proportion of variance. Further studies are required to replicate these findings, identify the causal variants at or near these loci, characterize their functional significance, and determine whether they are related to overt cardiovascular disease.
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| 5. |
- Globe, Dennis, et al.
(author)
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Measuring patient-reported outcomes in haemophilia clinical research
- 2009
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In: Haemophilia. - : Wiley. - 1351-8216 .- 1365-2516. ; 15:4, s. 843-852
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures have been used to assess quality of life and health state preferences from the patient's perspective. However, they have not been fully utilized in haemophilia clinical practice and research. A series of meetings were convened to review and document the state of the art in PROs relevant to haemophilia. Experts developed a process for selection of measures and identified published measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) relevant to patients with haemophilia. These were synthesized and reviewed. Patient preference measures were also identified and reviewed. Although the majority of measures were developed for and validated in adults, several measures were identified for use in paediatric populations. This paper recommends an approach to the selection of PROs for application in haemophilia clinical research and practice and identifies several potential measures relevant for application in haemophilia clinical research and practice.
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| 8. |
- de Groot, Kirsten, et al.
(author)
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Pulse Versus Daily Oral Cyclophosphamide for Induction of Remission in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis A Randomized Trial
- 2009
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In: Annals of Internal Medicine. - 0003-4819. ; 150:10, s. 3-670
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Current therapies for antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis are limited by toxicity. Objective: To compare pulse cyclophosphamide with daily oral cyclophosphamide for induction of remission. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Random assignments were computer-generated; allocation was concealed by faxing centralized treatment assignment to providers at the time of enrollment. Patients, investigators, and assessors of outcomes were not blinded to assignment. Setting: 42 centers in 12 European countries. Patients: 149 patients who had newly diagnosed generalized ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement but not immediately life-threatening disease. Intervention: Pulse cyclophosphamide, 15 mg/kg every 2 to 3 weeks (76 patients), or daily oral cyclophosphamide, 2 mg/kg per day (73 patients), plus prednisolone. Measurement: Time to remission (primary outcome); change in renal function, adverse events, and cumulative dose of cyclophosphamide (secondary outcomes). Results: Groups did not differ in time to remission (hazard ratio, 1.098 [95% CI, 0.78 to 1.55]; P = 0.59) or proportion of patients who achieved remission at 9 months (88.1% vs. 87.7%). Thirteen patients in the pulse group and 6 in the daily oral group achieved remission by 9 months and subsequently had relapse. Absolute cumulative cyclophosphamide dose in the daily oral group was greater than that in the pulse group (15.9 g [interquartile range, 11 to 22.5 g] vs. 8.2 g [interquartile range, 5.95 to 10.55 g]; P < 0.001). The pulse group had a lower rate of leukopenia (hazard ratio, 0.41 [CI, 0.23 to 0.71]). Limitations: The study was not powered to detect a difference in relapse rates between the 2 groups. Duration of follow-up was limited. Conclusion: The pulse cyclophosphamide regimen induced remission of ANCA-associated vasculitis as well as the daily oral regimen at a reduced cumulative cyclophosphamide dose and caused fewer cases of leukopenia. Primary Funding Source: The European Union.
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| 9. |
- Dimov, Stefan S., et al.
(author)
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4M Network of Excellence : Progress Report 2004-2006
- 2007
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In: 4M 2007. - Dunbeath : Whittles Publishing. - 9781904445531 - 9781420070040 ; , s. xvii-xxxi
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Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The 4M Network of Excellence started on 1st October 2004. It is a consortium of 30 academic and research organisations that came together to form the network under the European Commission's 6th Framework Research Programme. The Network has developed a knowledge community in Micro- and Nano- Technology (MNT) for the batch-manufacture of microcomponents and devices in a variety of materials for future microsystems products, particularly in non-silicon materials. This paper gives an overview of the structure, operation and activity of the network since its inception, illustrating the network's progress towards its goals.
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| 10. |
- Giacomelli, Luca, et al.
(author)
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Advanced Neutron Diagnostics for JET and ITER Fusion Experiments
- 2005
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In: Nuclear Fusion. - : IOP Publishing. - 0029-5515 .- 1741-4326. ; 45, s. 1191-1201
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The diagnostics functions of neutron measurements as well as the roles played by neutron yield monitors, cameras and spectrometers are reviewed. The importance of recent developments in neutron emission spectroscopy (NES) diagnostics is emphasized. Results are presented from the NES diagnosis of the Joint European Torus (JET) plasmas performed with the magnetic proton recoil (MPR) spectrometer during the first deuterium tritium experiment of 1997 and the recent trace tritium experiment of 2003. The NES diagnostic capabilities at JET are presently being enhanced by an upgrade of the MPR (MPRu) and a new 2.5 MeV time-of-flight (TOF) neutron spectrometer (TOFOR). The principles of MPRu and TOFOR are described and illustrated with the diagnostic role they will play in the high performance fusion experiments in the forward programme of JET largely aimed at supporting the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The importance of the JET NES effort for ITER is discussed.
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