Memorial University of Newfoundland

About: Memorial University of Newfoundland is a education organization based out in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 13818 authors who have published 27785 publications receiving 743594 citations. The organization is also known as: Memorial University & Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Genome-wide association and large-scale follow up identifies 16 new loci influencing lung function

Abstract: Pulmonary function measures reflect respiratory health and are used in the diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We tested genome-wide association with forced expiratory volume in 1 second and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity in 48,201 individuals of European ancestry with follow up of the top associations in up to an additional 46,411 individuals. We identified new regions showing association (combined P < 5 × 10(-8)) with pulmonary function in or near MFAP2, TGFB2, HDAC4, RARB, MECOM (also known as EVI1), SPATA9, ARMC2, NCR3, ZKSCAN3, CDC123, C10orf11, LRP1, CCDC38, MMP15, CFDP1 and KCNE2. Identification of these 16 new loci may provide insight into the molecular mechanisms regulating pulmonary function and into molecular targets for future therapy to alleviate reduced lung function.

Uptake and Biotransformation of Trichloroethylene by Hybrid Poplars

Abstract: Poplar trees were found to be capable of taking up trichloroethylene (TCE) and degrading it to several known metabolic products: trichloroethanol, trichloroacetic acid, and dichloracetic acid. Poplars were also shown to transpire TCE in measurable amounts. To eliminate the possibility that the degradation we observed was produced solely by rhizosphere organisms, axenic poplar tumor cell cultures were tested; the cultures produced the same intermediate metabolic products. When dosed with [14C]TCE, cell cultures also produced low levels of radiolabeled carbon dioxide and a labeled insoluble residue. These results show that significant TCE uptake and biotransformation occurs in poplar, which demonstrates the potential for the use of poplars for in situ remediation of TCE.

The application of laser-ablation microprobe; inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LAM-ICP-MS) to in situ trace-element determinations in minerals

Abstract: A laser ablation microprobe (LAM) sample-introduction system, designed for in sira microsampling of minerals in petrographic sections, has been interfacedto anlnductively CoupledPlasma-Mass Spectrometer(ICP-MS). TheLAM consists of aQ-switched Nd:YAG laser with power attenuation and steering optics to guide the laser beam through the phototube of a petrographic microscope, where it is focused onto the petrographic section contained in a sample cell. The response of rock-forming minerals to ablation is related to their absorptivity of the 1064 nm wavelength of the laser beam (a function of the proportion of transifion elements, especially Fe), and their physical properties, particularly cleavage and tenacity. Minerals with a high absolptivity can generally be ablated controllably in thin section. In minerals with low absorptivity, catastrophic ablation may occur due to absorption at interfaces beneath the mineral surface, particularly at the mineral glass slide interface in standard thin sections. Most minerals can be ablated controllably in unsupported polished wafers, grain mounts and polished blocks, where ablation pits with diameten of 2A-40 pm can be achieved routinely. In addition, the ability of the LAM to bore allows production of vertical profiles of element concentrations at a much finer spatial resolution. Comparison of LAMand solution-ICP-MS analyses of titanite, zircon, apatite, uraninite, and garnet separates demonstrates that a simple scheme of calibration employing.a spiked NBS silicate glass reference material, using major-element intemal standards to correct for differences in ablation yield, drift, and matrix effects, provides good accuracy and precision (RSD < 107o, at concentrations > 60 ppm) for a diverse suite of elements. Routine limits of detection are about 0.5 ppm.

Somatic and gonadal mosaicism of the Huntington disease gene CAG repeat in brain and sperm.

Abstract: Huntington disease is associated with an unstable and expanded (CAG) trinucleotide repeat. We have analysed the CAG expansion in different tissues from 12 affected individuals. All tissues examined were found to display some repeat mosaicism, with the greatest levels detected in brain and sperm. Regions within the brain showing most obvious neuropathology, such as the basal ganglia and the cerebral cortex, displayed the greatest mosaicism, whereas the cerebellar cortex, which is seldom involved, displayed the lowest degree of CAG instability. In two cases of childhood onset disease we detected differences of 8 and 13 trinucleotides between the cerebellum and other regions of the brain. Our results provide evidence for tissue specific instability of the CAG repeat, with the largest CAG repeat lengths in affected regions of the brain.