Smoking is a major risk factor for several somatic diseases and is also emerging as a causal factor for neuropsychiatric disorders. Genome-wide association (GWA) and candidate gene studies for ...smoking behavior and nicotine dependence (ND) have disclosed too few predisposing variants to account for the high estimated heritability. Previous large-scale GWA studies have had very limited phenotypic definitions of relevance to smoking-related behavior, which has likely impeded the discovery of genetic effects. We performed GWA analyses on 1114 adult twins ascertained for ever smoking from the population-based Finnish Twin Cohort study. The availability of 17 smoking-related phenotypes allowed us to comprehensively portray the dimensions of smoking behavior, clustered into the domains of smoking initiation, amount smoked and ND. Our results highlight a locus on 16p12.3, with several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the vicinity of CLEC19A showing association (P<1 × 10(-6)) with smoking quantity. Interestingly, CLEC19A is located close to a previously reported attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) linkage locus and an evident link between ADHD and smoking has been established. Intriguing preliminary association (P<1 × 10(-5)) was detected between DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition) ND diagnosis and several SNPs in ERBB4, coding for a Neuregulin receptor, on 2q33. The association between ERBB4 and DSM-IV ND diagnosis was replicated in an independent Australian sample. Recently, a significant increase in ErbB4 and Neuregulin 3 (Nrg3) expression was revealed following chronic nicotine exposure and withdrawal in mice and an association between NRG3 SNPs and smoking cessation success was detected in a clinical trial. ERBB4 has previously been associated with schizophrenia; further, it is located within an established schizophrenia linkage locus and within a linkage locus for a smoker phenotype identified in this sample. In conclusion, we disclose novel tentative evidence for the involvement of ERBB4 in ND, suggesting the involvement of the Neuregulin/ErbB signalling pathway in addictions and providing a plausible link between the high co-morbidity of schizophrenia and ND.
An electronically reconfigurable microstrip antenna with circular and linear polarization switching is presented. The prototype fabricated on a substrate of dielectric constant (ε r ) 4.4 and height ...(h) 1.6 mm is fed by a proximity feed fabricated using the same substrate. By controlling the bias voltage of two PIN diodes, the polarization of the antenna can be switched between three states; two states for linear polarization (horizontal and vertical) and one state for circular polarization (RHCP). Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed antenna has a cross polar level better than 10 dB in the linear polarization state and 18 MHz axial ratio bandwidth in the circular polarization state. The frequency and polarization diversities of this design could potentially improve the reliability of wireless communication systems.
We present an overview of results obtained by analyses of data from heavy ion (PbPb) collisions in the CMS experiment at LHC. The heavy ion physics program of the CMS collaboration spans a gamut of ...interesting measurements on high density multi-particle systems created in PbPb collisions at the TeV scale. We highlight key results from the inclusive production of charged particles at high pT, the effect of QCD dynamics on jets and heavy quark bound states. Intriguing new results on long range angular two-particle correlations observed in PbPb and pPb collisions are also presented.
The coefficient of thermal expansion analysis suite (CTEAS) has been developed to calculate and visualize thermal expansion properties of crystalline materials in three dimensions. The software can ...be used to determine the independent terms of the second‐rank thermal expansion tensor using hkl values, corresponding dhkl listings and lattice constants obtained from powder X‐ray diffraction patterns collected at different temperatures. Using CTEAS, a researcher can also visualize the anisotropy of this essential material property in three dimensions. In‐depth understanding of the thermal expansion of crystalline materials can be a useful tool in understanding the dependence of the thermal properties of materials on temperature when correlated with the crystal structure.
Quasibinary solid solutions of calcite-structure carbonate minerals play an important role in rock formation. We have investigated solid solutions with cations Ca2+, Cd2+, Mg2+ and Zn2+ by performing ...first-principles phase diagram calculations for Ca1−xZnxCO3, Cd1−xZnxCO3, Ca1−xCdxCO3 and Mg1−xZnxCO3 (0≤x≤1) with density functional theory, cluster expansion and Monte Carlo simulations. The end members and the dolomite structures were individually studied to analyze their structural parameters and bonding characteristics. Consolute temperatures and continuous order-disorder transition temperatures are 1450K for Ca1−xZnxCO3 and 1000K for Cd1−xZnxCO3, but below 100K for Ca1−xCdxCO3 and Mg1−xZnxCO3. In agreement with existing literature, consolute temperatures increase with increasing differences in cation radii. If the dolomite structures are assumed to be stable, the phase diagram calculations predict that they persist to 1150K for Ca1−xZnxCO3, and 900K for Cd1−xZnxCO3 before decomposition at peritectoid points. This confirms the conjectured phase diagram for Ca1−xZnxCO3 in (Goldsmith, 1983. Rev. Mineral. Geochemistry 11). In addition, formation energies of the dolomite structures were decomposed into two parts: first a volume change, then chemical exchange and relaxation. They were compared with the corresponding random solid solutions at the same bulk compositions. (Meta)stability of the dolomite structures was demonstrated by this analysis, and was also studied by examining the bond lengths and cation octahedral distortions.
•First-principles phase diagram calculations for calcite-structure solid solutions were performed with cluster expansion.•Consolute and transition temperatures are ≥ 1000K for (Ca,Zn)CO3 and (Cd,Zn)CO3, <100K for (Ca,Cd)CO3 and (Mg,Zn)CO3.•If dolomite structures assumed stable, they persist to peritectoid points at ~1000K for (Ca,Zn)CO3 and (Cd,Zn)CO3.•Dolomite structures were studied through two-step energy decomposition, and bond lengths and cation octahedral distortions.
A defected ground structure (DGS) for improving isolation between four ports in a collocated multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) antenna is proposed. Isolation improvement by 7 dB is achieved by ...reducing surface waves within the dielectric substrate. Mutual coupling values as low as −25 dB are obtained along both the E- and H-planes. The MIMO antenna includes a square patch antenna surrounded by a square ring patch antenna with the DGS etched in the form of a square ring. The DGS effectively suppresses the cross-polarisation levels for all radiating modes. The design and effectiveness of the DGS in improving isolation for a fabricated 4-port antenna are discussed.
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