pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
LDL-cholesterol concentrations: a genome-wide association study

SummaryBackgroundLDL cholesterol has a causal role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Improved understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie the metabolism and regulation of LDL cholesterol might help to identify novel therapeutic targets. We therefore did a genome-wide association study of LDL-cholesterol concentrations.MethodsWe used genome-wide association data from up to 11 685 participants with measures of circulating LDL-cholesterol concentrations across five studies, including data for 293 461 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with a minor allele frequency of 5% or more that passed our quality control criteria. We also used data from a second genome-wide array in up to 4337 participants from three of these five studies, with data for 290 140 SNPs. We did replication studies in two independent populations consisting of up to 4979 participants. Statistical approaches, including meta-analysis and linkage disequilibrium plots, were used to refine association signals; we analysed pooled data from all seven populations to determine the effect of each SNP on variations in circulating LDL-cholesterol concentrations.FindingsIn our initial scan, we found two SNPs (rs599839 [p=1·7×10−15] and rs4970834 [p=3·0×10−11]) that showed genome-wide statistical association with LDL cholesterol at chromosomal locus 1p13.3. The second genome screen found a third statistically associated SNP at the same locus (rs646776 [p=4·3×10−9]). Meta-analysis of data from all studies showed an association of SNPs rs599839 (combined p=1·2×10−33) and rs646776 (p=4·8×10−20) with LDL-cholesterol concentrations. SNPs rs599839 and rs646776 both explained around 1% of the variation in circulating LDL-cholesterol concentrations and were associated with about 15% of an SD change in LDL cholesterol per allele, assuming an SD of 1 mmol/L.InterpretationWe found evidence for a novel locus for LDL cholesterol on chromosome 1p13.3. These results potentially provide insight into the biological mechanisms that underlie the regulation of LDL cholesterol and might help in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease
Effective degrees of freedom of the quark–gluon plasma

AbstractThe effective degrees of freedom of the quark–gluon plasma are studied in the temperature range ∼(1–2)Tc. We show that including light bosonic states one can reproduce the pressure and energy density of the quark–gluon plasma obtained by lattice simulations. The number of the bosonic states required is at most of the order of 20, consistent with the number of light mesonic states and in disagreement with a recently proposed picture of the quark–gluon plasma as a system populated with exotic bound states. We also constrain the quark quasiparticle chiral invariant mass to be ≲300 MeV. Some remarks regarding the role of the gluon condensation and the baryon number-strangeness correlation are also presented
Search for diphoton resonances in the mass range from 150 to 850 GeV in pp collisions at s=8TeV

AbstractResults are presented of a search for heavy particles decaying into two photons. The analysis is based on a 19.7fb−1 sample of proton–proton collisions at s=8TeV collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The diphoton mass spectrum from 150 to 850GeV is used to search for an excess of events over the background. The search is extended to new resonances with natural widths of up to 10% of the mass value. No evidence for new particle production is observed and limits at 95% confidence level on the production cross section times branching fraction to diphotons are determined. These limits are interpreted in terms of two-Higgs-doublet model parameters
Runs of Homozygosity: Association with Coronary Artery Disease and Gene Expression in Monocytes and Macrophages

Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are recognized signature of recessive inheritance. Contributions of ROHs to the genetic architecture of coronary artery disease and regulation of gene expression in cells relevant to atherosclerosis are not known. Our combined analysis of 24,320 individuals from 11 populations of white European ethnicity showed an association between coronary artery disease and both the count and the size of ROHs. Individuals with coronary artery disease had approximately 0.63 (95% CI: 0.4–0.8) excess of ROHs when compared to coronary-artery-disease-free control subjects (p = 1.49 × 10−9). The average total length of ROHs was approximately 1,046.92 (95% CI: 634.4–1,459.5) kb greater in individuals with coronary artery disease than control subjects (p = 6.61 × 10−7). None of the identified individual ROHs was associated with coronary artery disease after correction for multiple testing. However, in aggregate burden analysis, ROHs favoring increased risk of coronary artery disease were much more common than those showing the opposite direction of association with coronary artery disease (p = 2.69 × 10−33). Individual ROHs showed significant associations with monocyte and macrophage expression of genes in their close proximity—subjects with several individual ROHs showed significant differences in the expression of 44 mRNAs in monocytes and 17 mRNAs in macrophages when compared to subjects without those ROHs. This study provides evidence for an excess of homozygosity in coronary artery disease in outbred populations and suggest the potential biological relevance of ROHs in cells of importance to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
A note on the theorems of M.G. Krein and L.A. Sakhnovich on continuous analogs of orthogonal polynomials on the circle

AbstractContinuous analogs of orthogonal polynomials on the circle are solutions of a canonical system of differential equations, introduced and studied by Krein and recently generalized to matrix systems by Sakhnovich. We prove that the continuous analogs of the adjoint polynomials converge in the upper half-plane in the case of L2 coefficients, but in general the limit can be defined only up to a constant multiple even when the coefficients are in Lp for any p>2, the spectral measure is absolutely continuous and the Szegö–Kolmogorov–Krein condition is satisfied. Thus, we point out that Krein's and Sakhnovich's papers contain an inaccuracy, which does not undermine known implications from these results
Search for narrow resonances in dilepton mass spectra in pp collisions at s=7TeV

AbstractA search for narrow, high-mass resonances decaying to electron or muon pairs has been performed using pp collision data collected at s=7TeV by the CMS experiment in 2011. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of approximately 5 fb−1. The event yields observed in the signal regions are consistent with predictions of the standard model backgrounds, and upper limits on the cross section times branching fraction for a resonance decaying to dileptons are extracted from a shape analysis of the dilepton invariant mass distribution. The resulting mass limits at 95% confidence level are 2330 GeV for the Z′ in the Sequential Standard Model, 2000 GeV for the superstring-inspired Zψ′ resonance, 890 (540) GeV for the Stueckelberg extension ZSt′ with the mass parameter ϵ=0.06 (0.04), and 2140 (1810) GeV for Kaluza–Klein gravitons with the coupling parameter k/M¯Pl of 0.10 (0.05). These limits are the most stringent to date
Sustainable venture capital – catalyst for sustainable start-up success?

AbstractTo address global sustainability challenges, major investments are required in sustainable businesses that deliver triple bottom line results. Although interest in sustainable businesses is on the rise, these businesses are not yet widespread. Venture capital investment has a key role to play in the development of sustainable start-ups. The research area of ‘sustainable’ venture capital is still emerging. More research is required to understand how venture capital can support the development of sustainable businesses. This paper provides insight into how venture capitalists can contribute to sustainable business success, by investigating their role, motivations, investment theses, and barriers and enablers to success of sustainable ventures. The following question is investigated: How can sustainable venture capitalists contribute to the success of sustainable start-ups? Interviews were conducted with an expert sample of leading sustainable venture capitalists and other key stakeholders in sustainable entrepreneurship. It was found that next to financial support, venture capitalists provide triple bottom line business advice and network support. Key success factors include business model innovation, collaborations and a strong business case, whereas failure factors include a lack of suitable investors, a strong incumbent industry and a short-term investor mind-set. Sustainable start-ups should focus on triple bottom line business model innovation, find opportunity in new technology and funding platforms and develop multiple business cases to create success beyond the ‘green customer base’. Sustainable venture capitalists can help prove the success of sustainable business formats, mitigate financial risk through co-investments and exercise patience by balancing financial with social and environmental returns
Production of erythrocytes from directly isolated or Delta1 Notch ligand expanded CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells: process characterization, monitoring and implications for manufacture

AbstractBackground aimsEconomic ex vivo manufacture of erythrocytes at 1012 cell doses requires an efficiently controlled bio-process capable of extensive proliferation and high terminal density. High-resolution characterization of the process would identify production strategies for increased efficiency, monitoring and control.MethodsCD34+ cord blood cells or equivalent cells that had been pre-expanded for 7 days with Delta1 Notch ligand were placed in erythroid expansion and differentiation conditions in a micro-scale ambr suspension bioreactor. Multiple culture parameters were varied, and phenotype markers and metabolites measured to identify conserved trends and robust monitoring markers.ResultsThe cells exhibited a bi-modal erythroid differentiation pattern with an erythroid marker peak after 2 weeks and 3 weeks of culture; differentiation was comparatively weighted toward the second peak in Delta1 pre-expanded cells. Both differentiation events were strengthened by omission of stem cell factor and dexamethasone. The cumulative cell proliferation and death, or directly measured CD45 expression, enabled monitoring of proliferative rate of the cells. The metabolic activities of the cultures (glucose, glutamine and ammonia consumption or production) were highly variable but exhibited systematic change synchronized with the change in differentiation state.ConclusionsErythroid differentiation chronology is partly determined by the heterogeneous CD34+ progenitor compartment with implications for input control; Delta1 ligand-mediated progenitor culture can alter differentiation profile with control benefits for engineering production strategy. Differentiation correlated changes in cytokine response, markers and metabolic state will enable scientifically designed monitoring and timing of manufacturing process steps
Fish canning wastewater treatment by activated sludge: Application of factorial design optimization Biological treatment by activated sludge of fish canning wastewater

AbstractThe optimization of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and initial organic matter concentration for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) abatement of wastewater from a fish canning industry of northern Portugal by activated sludge was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM). The two parameters were chosen since it was found that the treatment efficiency is mainly influenced by them. The experimental data on DOC removal were fitted into a quadratic polynomial model using factorial design and RSM. The optimum process conditions were determined by analyzing the response surface of a three-dimensional plot and by solving the regression model equation. The obtained results showed a HRT of 6.4h and an initial DOC of 406.2mg/L as the best treatment conditions. Under these conditions, the maximum predicted DOC removal was 88.0%, confirming the feasibility and the reliability of fish canning wastewater treatment by activated sludge for organic content removal
Structures of Asymmetric ClpX Hexamers Reveal Nucleotide-Dependent Motions in a AAA+ Protein-Unfolding Machine

SummaryClpX is a AAA+ machine that uses the energy of ATP binding and hydrolysis to unfold native proteins and translocate unfolded polypeptides into the ClpP peptidase. The crystal structures presented here reveal striking asymmetry in ring hexamers of nucleotide-free and nucleotide-bound ClpX. Asymmetry arises from large changes in rotation between the large and small AAA+ domains of individual subunits. These differences prevent nucleotide binding to two subunits, generate a staggered arrangement of ClpX subunits and pore loops around the hexameric ring, and provide a mechanism for coupling conformational changes caused by ATP binding or hydrolysis in one subunit to flexing motions of the entire ring. Our structures explain numerous solution studies of ClpX function, predict mechanisms for pore elasticity during translocation of irregular polypeptides, and suggest how repetitive conformational changes might be coupled to mechanical work during the ATPase cycle of ClpX and related molecular machines
Heavy flavour decay muon production at forward rapidity in proton–proton collisions at s=7 TeV

AbstractThe production of muons from heavy flavour decays is measured at forward rapidity in proton–proton collisions at s=7 TeV collected with the ALICE experiment at the LHC. The analysis is carried out on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity Lint=16.5 nb−1. The transverse momentum and rapidity differential production cross sections of muons from heavy flavour decays are measured in the rapidity range 2.5<y<4, over the transverse momentum range 2<pt<12 GeV/c. The results are compared to predictions based on perturbative QCD calculations
η and λ deformations as E-models

AbstractWe show that the so-called λ deformed σ-model as well as the η deformed one belong to a class of the E-models introduced in the context of the Poisson–Lie-T-duality. The λ and η theories differ solely by the choice of the Drinfeld double; for the λ model the double is the direct product G×G while for the η model it is the complexified group GC. As a consequence of this picture, we prove for any G that the target space geometries of the λ-model and of the Poisson–Lie T-dual of the η-model are related by a simple analytic continuation
Cellular activation of hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons facilitates short-term spatial memory in mice

AbstractThe hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin (HO) system holds a central role in the regulation of several physiological functions critical for food-seeking behavior including mnemonic processes for effective foraging behavior. It is unclear however whether physiological increases in HO neuronal activity can support such processes. Using a designer rM3Ds receptor activation approach increasing HO neuronal activity resulted in improved short-term memory for novel locations. When tested on a non-spatial novelty object recognition task no significant difference was detected between groups indicating that hypothalamic HO neuronal activation can selectively facilitate short-term spatial memory for potentially supporting memory for locations during active exploration
Low temperature H2 production from ammonia using ruthenium-based catalysts: Synergetic effect of promoter and support

AbstractLow temperature hydrogen production via ammonia decomposition is achieved by the synergetic combination of a highly conductive support and an electron donating promoter in a ruthenium-based system, with activity at temperatures as low as 450K. The high conductivity of graphitized carbon nanotubes allows for greater electronic modification of the ruthenium nanoparticles by cesium located in close proximity but without direct contact, avoiding the blockage of the active sites. This development of low temperature catalytic activity represents a breakthrough toward the use of ammonia as chemical storage for in-situ hydrogen production in fuel cells
Path-integral invariants in abelian Chern–Simons theory

AbstractWe consider the U(1) Chern–Simons gauge theory defined in a general closed oriented 3-manifold M; the functional integration is used to compute the normalized partition function and the expectation values of the link holonomies. The non-perturbative path-integral is defined in the space of the gauge orbits of the connections which belong to the various inequivalent U(1) principal bundles over M; the different sectors of configuration space are labelled by the elements of the first homology group of M and are characterized by appropriate background connections. The gauge orbits of flat connections, whose classification is also based on the homology group, control the non-perturbative contributions to the mean values. The functional integration is carried out in any 3-manifold M, and the corresponding path-integral invariants turn out to be strictly related with the abelian Reshetikhin–Turaev surgery invariants
Autophagy-mediated antigen processing in CD4+ T cell tolerance and immunity

AbstractMacroautophagy, a homeostatic process that shuttles cytoplasmic constituents into endosomal and lysosomal compartments, has recently been shown to deliver antigens for presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II. Autophagy-mediated antigen processing in thymic epithelial cells has been suggested to be involved in the generation of a self-MHC restricted and self-tolerant CD4+ T cell repertoire. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that the up-regulation of autophagy by pattern-recognition receptor signaling represents an innate defense mechanism against intracellular pathogens. Thus, through linking pathogen breakdown with the presentation of pathogen-derived autophagy substrates on MHC class II, autophagy serves a dual function at the interface of the innate and the adaptive immune response
Assessing use and suitability of scanning electron microscopy in the analysis of micro remains in dental calculus

AbstractDental calculus is increasingly recognized as a major reservoir of dietary information. Palaeodietary studies using plant and animal micro remains (e.g. phytoliths, pollen, sponge spicules, and starch grains) trapped in calculus have the potential to revise our knowledge of the dietary role of plants in past populations. The conventional methods used to isolate and identify these micro remains rely on removing them from their microenvironment in the calculus, thus the microenvironment that traps and preserves micro remains is not understood. By using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDX) on modern chimpanzee calculus from the Taï Forest, Côte d'Ivoire, and human calculus from the Chalcolithic site of Camino del Molino, Spain, we present the first reported observations on characteristics of the matrix setting that are conducive to the survival of starch in dental calculus. We also assess the potential for SEM–EDX to detect starch and differentiate it from structurally and molecularly similar substrates. We demonstrate that SEM–EDX may offer a non-destructive technique for studying micro remains in certain contexts. Finally, we compare traditional optical analytical techniques (OM) with less invasive electron microscopy. The results indicate that SEM–EDX and OM are both effective for observing micro remains in calculus, but differ in their analytical resolution to identify different micro remains, and we therefore recommend a sequential use of both techniques
Measurement of the ϒ(1S) production cross-section in pp collisions at s=7 TeV in ATLAS

AbstractA measurement of the cross-section for ϒ(1S)→μ+μ− production in proton–proton collisions at centre of mass energy of 7 TeV is presented. The cross-section is measured as a function of the ϒ(1S) transverse momentum in two bins of rapidity, |yϒ(1S)|<1.2 and 1.2<|yϒ(1S)|<2.4. The measurement requires that both muons have transverse momentum pTμ>4 GeV and pseudorapidity |ημ|<2.5 in order to reduce theoretical uncertainties on the acceptance, which depend on the poorly known polarisation. The results are based on an integrated luminosity of 1.13 pb−1, collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The cross-section measurement is compared to theoretical predictions: it agrees to within a factor of two with a prediction based on the NRQCD model including colour-singlet and colour-octet matrix elements as implemented in Pythia while it disagrees by up to a factor of ten with the next-to-leading order prediction based on the colour-singlet model
Is There a Female Protective Effect Against Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? Evidence From Two Representative Twin Samples

ObjectiveAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is more frequent in males than in females. The “female protective effect” posits that females undergo greater exposure to etiological factors than males in order to develop ADHD, leading to the prediction that relatives of females with ADHD will display more ADHD behaviors. We thus tested whether cotwins of females displaying extreme ADHD traits would display more ADHD traits than cotwins of males displaying extreme ADHD traits.MethodParents of approximately 7,000 pairs of nonidentical twins in Sweden, and approximately 4,000 pairs of twins in England and Wales, completed dimensional assessments of ADHD traits. Probands were selected on the basis of scoring within the highest 10% of the distribution in each sample. Dimensional scores of cotwins of probands, as well as the categorical recurrence rate, were investigated by proband sex.ResultsCotwins of female probands displayed higher mean ADHD trait scores (mean = 0.62−0.79) than cotwins of male probands (mean = 0.38−0.55) in both samples. This trend was significant in the Swedish sample (p < .01) and when the 2 samples were merged into a single, larger sample (p < .001). When the samples were merged, there was also a significant association between proband sex and cotwin’s categorical status, with more cotwins of female probands also being probands than cotwins of male probands.ConclusionThese findings support a female protective effect against ADHD behaviors, suggesting that females require greater exposure to genetic and environmental factors associated with ADHD in order to develop the condition
The Bezoutian, state space realizations and Fisher’s information matrix of an ARMA process

AbstractIn this paper we derive some properties of the Bezout matrix and relate the Fisher information matrix for a stationary ARMA process to the Bezoutian. Some properties are explained via realizations in state space form of the derivatives of the white noise process with respect to the parameters. A factorization of the Fisher information matrix as a product in factors which involve the Bezout matrix of the associated AR and MA polynomials is derived. From this factorization we can characterize singularity of the Fisher information matrix