Common non-synonymous polymorphisms in the BRCA1 Associated RING Domain (BARD1) gene are associated with breast cancer susceptibility:a case-control analysis

The BRCA1 Associated RING Domain(BARD1) gene has been identified as a high penetrance gene for breast cancer, whose germline and somatic mutations were reported in both non-BRCA1/2 hereditary site-specific and sporadic breast cancer cases. BARD1 plays a crucial role in tumor repression, along with its heterodimeric partner BRCA1. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that common non-synonymous polymorphisms in BARD1 are associated with breast cancer susceptibility in a case-control study of 507 patients with incident breast cancer and 539 frequency-matched cancer-free controls in Chinese women. We genotyped all three common(minor allele frequency (MAF) > 0.10) non-synonymous polymorphisms(Pro24Ser, Arg378Ser, and Val507Met) in BARD1. We found that the BARD1 Pro24Ser variant genotypes(24Pro/Ser and 24Ser/Ser) and Arg378Ser variant homozygote 378Ser/Ser were associated with a significantly decreased breast cancer risk, compared with their wild-type homozygotes, respectively. Furthermore, a significant locus-locus interaction was evident between Pro24Ser and Arg378Ser (P-int = 0.032). Among the 378Ser variant allele carriers, the 24Pro/Pro wild-type homozygote was associated with a significantly increased breast cancer risk (adjusted OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.11-2.95), but the subjects having 24Pro/Ser or Ser/Ser variant genotypes had a significantly decreased risk(adjusted OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56-0.99). In stratified analysis, this locus-locus interaction was more evident among subjects without family cancer history, those with positive estrogen receptor (ER) and individuals with negative progesterone receptor(PR). These findings indicate that the potentially functional polymorphisms Pro24Ser and Arg378Ser in BARD1 may jointly contribute to the susceptibility of breast cancer.

Design Curves for Mooring Lines of Turret Mooring Systems

This paper presents a series of design curves to aid in the selection of turret mooring systems for tankers based Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) systems. These curves are appropriate to water depths ranging from 100 m to 600 m. The curves can be used as a preliminary design tool, allowing the designer to quickly evaluate alternative mooring system configurations, including the number of mooring lines, the characteristics of chain and wire rope to be deployed and the. initial tension. With a knowledge of the total environmental force and vessel motion characteristics, the designer can determine the appropriate system for closer evaluation.

A STUDY OF THE ONSET OF KINK BAND

This paper suggests the asymmetric-plastic theory of crystalline solids concerning the plastic rotation of crystal. The deformation of crystalline solids undergoes three microprocesses, lattice distortion, slip over active crystallographic planes and the rotation- of the crystal. In the asymmetric-plastic theory of crystal suggested, the corotational rates of symmetric Cauchy stress and moment stress correspond to the rates of elastic strain and the gradient of the rotational rate of the crystal respectively. The Schmid yield condition and Prager's consistency condition incorporating antisymmetric stress are formulated. Then the asymmetric-plastic model of crystalline solids is applied for the investigation of the onset of kink band by a standard stability analysis. The orientation of the kink band is perpendicular to the primary slip system. The width of the kink band is the function of the ''characteristic length'' of the microstructure of metal materials.

Study of operator reliability in nuclear power plants

The study of the reliability of operator’s diagnosis and decision-making during abnormal events with HCR model has been introduced. A new approach has been proposed by the authors to deal with the classification of HIs. The modification of T0.5 by PSFs coefficients has been discussed. In addition, it is emphasized that T0. 5 and SD(σ) of response times can be used as a scale to predict and evaluate the reliability of crew/operator behavior. These processings provide improvement and refinement to HCR model and its practical application. The experiment for operator response time of Chinese NPP using a lull-scale simulator has proved the above-mentioned processings and presented the quantitative results of operator reliability in Chinese NPP.

Synthesis, characterization and oxidative activity of heteropolyanion pillared layered compound

TRANSITION element trisubstituted and Ln bi-（1:11）series heteropolyanion with Keggin struc-ture are excellent catalyst with oxidizing properties.But they have some shortcomingssuch as poor stability and impossible recycle use when they are used in homogeneous oxidation.Anions（An-）,among hydroxides（LDHS）-like layers,having a general formula[M1-x2+Mx3+-