Chiral molecule candidates for trapped ion spectroscopy by ab initio calculations: From state preparation to parity violation

Parity non-conservation (PNC) due to the weak interaction is predicted to give rise to enantiomer dependent vibrational constants in chiral molecules, but the phenomenon has so far eluded experimental observation. The enhanced sensitivity of molecules to physics beyond the Standard Model (BSM) has led to substantial advances in molecular precision spectroscopy, and these may be applied to PNC searches as well. Specifically, trapped molecular ion experiments leverage the universality of trapping charged particles to optimize the molecular ion species studied toward BSM searches, but in searches for PNC, only a few chiral molecular ion candidates have been proposed so far. Importantly, viable candidates need to be internally cold, and their internal state populations should be detectable with high quantum efficiency. To this end, we focus on molecular ions that can be created by near threshold resonant two-photon ionization and detected via state-selective photo-dissociation. Such candidates need to be stable in both charged and neutral chiral versions to be amenable to these methods. Here, we present a collection of suitable chiral molecular ion candidates we have found, including CHDBrI+ and CHCaBrI+, that fulfill these conditions according to our ab initio calculations. We find that organo-metallic species have low ionization energy as neutrals and relatively high dissociation thresholds. Finally, we compute the magnitude of the PNC values for vibrational transitions for some of these candidates. An experimental demonstration of state preparation and readout for these candidates will be an important milestone toward measuring PNC in chiral molecules for the first time.

A High-End Estimate of Sea Level Rise for Practitioners

Sea level rise (SLR) is a long-lasting consequence of climate change because global anthropogenic warming takes centuries to millennia to equilibrate for the deep ocean and ice sheets. SLR projections based on climate models support policy analysis, risk assessment and adaptation planning today, despite their large uncertainties. The central range of the SLR distribution is estimated by process-based models. However, risk-averse practitioners often require information about plausible future conditions that lie in the tails of the SLR distribution, which are poorly defined by existing models. Here, a community effort combining scientists and practitioners builds on a framework of discussing physical evidence to quantify high-end global SLR for practitioners. The approach is complementary to the IPCC AR6 report and provides further physically plausible high-end scenarios. High-end estimates for the different SLR components are developed for two climate scenarios at two timescales. For global warming of +2°C in 2100 (RCP2.6/SSP1-2.6) relative to pre-industrial values our high-end global SLR estimates are up to 0.9 m in 2100 and 2.5 m in 2300. Similarly, for a (RCP8.5/SSP5-8.5), we estimate up to 1.6 m in 2100 and up to 10.4 m in 2300. The large and growing differences between the scenarios beyond 2100 emphasize the long-term benefits of mitigation. However, even a modest 2°C warming may cause multi-meter SLR on centennial time scales with profound consequences for coastal areas. Earlier high-end assessments focused on instability mechanisms in Antarctica, while here we emphasize the importance of the timing of ice shelf collapse around Antarctica. This is highly uncertain due to low understanding of the driving processes. Hence both process understanding and emission scenario control high-end SLR.

Adolescent BMI and early-onset type 2 diabetes among Ethiopian immigrants and their descendants: a nationwide study

Background

We assessed in a nationwide cohort the association between adolescent BMI and early-onset (< 40 years) type 2 diabetes among Israelis of Ethiopian origin.

Methods

Normoglycemic adolescents (range 16–20 years old), including 93,806 native Israelis (≥ 3rd generation in Israel) and 27,684 Israelis of Ethiopian origin, were medically assessed for military service between 1996 and 2011. Weight and height were measured. Data were linked to the Israeli National Diabetes Registry. Incident type 2 diabetes by December 31, 2016 was the outcome. Cox regression models stratified by sex and BMI categories were applied.

Results

226 (0.29%) men and 79 (0.18%) women developed diabetes during 992,980 and 530,814 person-years follow-up, respectively, at a mean age of 30.4 and 27.4 years, respectively. Among native Israeli men with normal and high (overweight and obese) BMI, diabetes incidence was 9.5 and 62.0 (per 10⁵ person-years), respectively. The respective incidences were 46.9 and 112.3 among men of Ethiopian origin. After adjustment for sociodemographic confounders, the hazard ratios for type 2 diabetes among Ethiopian men with normal and high BMI were 3.4 (2.3–5.1) and 15.8 (8.3–30.3) respectively, compared to third-generation Israelis with normal BMI. When this analysis was limited to Israeli-born Ethiopian men, the hazard ratios were 4.4 (1.7–11.4) and 29.1 (12.9–70.6), respectively. Results persisted when immigrants of other white Caucasian origin were the reference; and among women with normal, but not high, BMI.

Conclusions

Ethiopian origin is a risk factor for early-onset type 2 diabetes among young men at any BMI, and may require selective interventions.

Impact of Immigration on Body Mass Index and Blood Pressure Among Adolescent Males and Females: A Nationwide Study

Immigration from one cultural milieu to another has been associated with a greater risk for incident cardio-metabolic morbidity among adults. In this nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional study of data recorded from 1992 to 2016, we assessed the association between body mass index and blood pressure levels among adolescent immigrants, aged 16 to 19 years, of Ethiopian origin, and their secular trend of overweight and obesity. Adolescents of Ethiopian origin were classified as Israeli-born (n=16 153) or immigrants (N=23 487), with stratification by age at immigration. Adolescents whose fathers were at least 3 generations in Israel (n=277 789) served as a comparative group. Hypertensive-range blood pressure values adjusted for age, sex, and height served as outcome. Among adolescents of Ethiopian origin, overweight and obesity (body mass index ≥85th percentile), increased by 2.5 and 4-fold in males and females, respectively, during the study period, compared with a 1.5-fold increase among native Israeli-born males and females. The odds for hypertensive-range measurements increased with the length of residence in Israel: 7.3%, 10.6%, and 14.4% among males who immigrated at ages 12 to 19, 6 to 11.9, and 0 to 5.9 years, respectively; and 11.5%, 16.7%, and 19.3%, respectively, among females. Israeli-born Ethiopians had a significantly higher risk for hypertensive-range measurements at any body mass index level compared with native Israeli-born examinees, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors and health status. In conclusion, among Ethiopian Israeli adolescents, abnormal blood pressure correlates directly with the time-lapse since immigration. Immigrant populations require targeted surveillance and appropriate intervention.

A false-carrier state for the c.579G>A mutation in the NCF1 gene in Ashkenazi Jews

BACKGROUND

Mutations in the NCF1 gene that encodes p47^phox, a subunit of the NADPH oxidase complex, cause chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). In Kavkazi Jews, a c.579G>A (p.Trp193Ter) mutation in NCF1 is frequently found, leading to CGD. The same mutation is found in about 1% of Ashkenazi Jews, although Ashkenazi CGD patients with this mutation have never been described.

METHODS

We used Sanger sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), gene scan analysis and Ion Torrent Next Generation Sequencing for genetic analysis, and measured NADPH oxidase activity and p47^phox expression.

RESULTS

In an Ashkenazi couple expecting a baby, both parents were found to be heterozygotes for this mutation, as was the fetus. However, segregation analysis in the extended family was consistent with the fetus inheriting both carrier alleles from the parents. MLPA indicated four complete NCF1 genes in the fetus and three in each parent. Gene sequencing confirmed these results. Analysis of fetal leucocytes obtained by cordocentesis revealed substantial oxidase activity with three different assays, which was confirmed after birth. In six additional Ashkenazi carriers of the NCF1 c.579G>A mutation, we found five individuals with three complete NCF1 genes of which one was mutated (like the parents), and one individual with in addition a fusion gene of NCF1 with a pseudogene.

CONCLUSION

These results point to the existence of a 'false-carrier' state in Ashkenazi Jews and have wide implications regarding pre-pregnancy screening in this and other population groups.

[UTILIZATION OF WHOLE EXOME SEQUENCING IN DIAGNOSTICS OF GENETIC DISEASE: RABIN MEDICAL CENTER'S EXPERIENCE]

INTRODUCTION

Whole exome sequencing is a diagnostic approach for the identification of molecular etiology in patients with suspected monogenic diseases. In this article we report on our experience with whole-exome sequencing (WES) of DNA samples taken from patients referred for genetic evaluation due to suspected undiagnosed genetic conditions.

METHODS

Exome enrichment was achieved by Nextera Rapid Capture Expanded Exome Kit. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on Illumina HiSeq 2500. Potentially damaging rare variants were selected for familial cosegregation analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 39 patients presenting a wide range of phenotypes suspected to have a genetic cause were sent to WES. Approximately 80% were children with neurological phenotypes. Variations having a high probability of being causative were identified in 20 families, achieving a 51.3% molecular diagnostic rate. Among these, 7 exhibited autosomal dominant disease, 12 autosomal recessive diseases and one X-linked disease; 28% of the patients (11/39) were found to carry a novel mutation located in previously reported genes. Novel mutations located in genes not known to be associated with genetic disease were identified in 23% of the patients (9/39).

CONCLUSIONS

Whole exome sequencing identified the underlying genetic cause in more than half of the patients referred for evaluation in the genetics clinic at the tertiary hospital. These data demonstrate the utility of WES as a powerful tool for effective diagnostics of monogenic genetic diseases.

Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians do not demonstrate enrichment in mitochondrial haplogroup J

Background

Association of mitochondrial haplogroup J with longevity has been reported in several population subgroups. While studies from northern Italy and Finland, have described a higher frequency of haplogroup J among centenarians in comparison to non-centenarian, several other studies could not replicate these results and suggested various explanations for the discrepancy.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have evaluated haplogroup frequencies among Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians using two different sets of matched controls. No difference was observed in the haplogroup J frequencies between the centenarians or either matched control group, despite adequate statistical power to detect such a difference. Furthermore, the lack of association was robust to population substructure in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Given this discrepancy with the previous reported associations in the northern Italian and the Finnish populations, we conducted re-analysis of these previously published data, which supported one of several possible explanations: i) inadequate matching of cases and controls; ii) inadequate adjustment for multiple comparison testing; iii) cryptic population stratification.

Conclusions/Significance

There does not exist a universal association of mitochondrial haplogroup J with longevity across all population groups. Reported associations in specialized populations may reflect genetic or other interactions specific to those populations or else cryptic confounding influences, such as inadequate matching attributable to population substructure, which are of general relevance to all studies of the possible association of mitochondrial DNA haplogroups with common complex phenotypes.

Identification of a recurrent mutation in GALNT3 demonstrates that hyperostosis-hyperphosphatemia syndrome and familial tumoral calcinosis are allelic disorders

Hyperphosphatemia-hyperostosis syndrome (HHS) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder characterized by elevated serum phosphate levels and repeated attacks of acute, painful swellings of the long bones with radiological evidence of periosteal reaction and cortical hyperostosis. HHS shares several clinical and metabolic features with hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis (HFTC), which is caused by mutations in GALNT3 encoding a glycosyltransferase responsible for initiating O-glycosylation. To determine whether GALNT3 is involved in the pathogenesis of HHS we screened two unrelated Arab-Israeli HHS families for pathogenic mutations in this gene. All affected individuals harbored a homozygous splice site mutation (1524+1G-->A) in GALNT3. This mutation was previously described in a large Druze HFTC kindred and has been shown to alter GALNT3 expression and result in ppGalNAc-T3 deficiency. Genotype analysis of six microsatellite markers across the GALNT3 region on 2q24-q31 revealed that the HHS and HFTC families share a common haplotype spanning approximately 0.14 Mb. Our results demonstrate that HHS and HFTC are allelic disorders despite their phenotypic differences and suggest a common origin of the 1524+1G-->A mutation in the Middle East (founder effect). The heterogeneous phenotypic expression of the identified splice site mutation implies the existence of inherited or epigenetic modifying factors of importance in the regulation of ppGalNAc-T3 activity.

Mutations in GALNT3, encoding a protein involved in O-linked glycosylation, cause familial tumoral calcinosis

Familial tumoral calcinosis (FTC; OMIM 211900) is a severe autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that manifests with hyperphosphatemia and massive calcium deposits in the skin and subcutaneous tissues. Using linkage analysis, we mapped the gene underlying FTC to 2q24-q31. This region includes the gene GALNT3, which encodes a glycosyltransferase responsible for initiating mucin-type O-glycosylation. Sequence analysis of GALNT3 identified biallelic deleterious mutations in all individuals with FTC, suggesting that defective post-translational modification underlies the disease.

C7 complement deficiency in an Israeli Arab village

Deficiencies of terminal complement components, particularly the latter ones, are often detected because of increased susceptibility to Neisserial infections. Herein we document the first report of C7 deficiency among a highly inbred Arab population living in the lower Galilee region of Israel. Both biochemical and molecular analysis were performed on samples from infected survivors and parents of children who succumbed to Neisserial infections in a 4-year period. Only the index case who suffered recurrent infections and a sibling who had not suffered an infection during the outbreak were found to be C7-deficient. The mutation was found to be the one previously described to be prevalent among Israeli Jews of Moroccan ancestry (mutation G1135C). The implications of this finding are discussed in the context of family pedigree, the protective effect of complement deficiency, and the clinical outcome.

Long-term prognosis of acute pulmonary oedema--an ominous outcome

BACKGROUND

Acute pulmonary oedema (APOE) is a major health problem, leading to poor hospital and long-term outcomes. There is a relative paucity of studies describing prognosis of consecutive unsolicited patients diagnosed with APOE and hospitalized in internal medicine departments.

AIMS

To describe the clinical profile and outcome (in hospital and 1-year prognosis) of successive unselected patients with APOE, in a prospective observational study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study population included 150 consecutive unsolicited patients (90 men, 60 women; median age 75 years) with APOE all hospitalized in an internal medicine department, in a 900-bed care centre. Ischaemic heart disease (IHD), hypertension and diabetes were present in 85%, 70% and 52% of patients, respectively. The most common precipitating factors for APOE included high blood pressure (29%), rapid atrial fibrillation (29%), unstable angina pectoris (25%), infection (18%) and acute myocardial infarction (MI; 15%). Eighteen patients (12%) died in hospital, with 82% of these deaths attributed to cardiac pump failure. Predictors for an increased in-hospital mortality included: diabetes (P<0.05), orthopnoea (P<0. 05), echocardiographic finding of depressed global left ventricular systolic function (P<0.001), acute MI during hospital stay (P<0.001), hypotension/shock (P<0.05), and the need for mechanical ventilation (P<0.001). After a median hospital stay of 10 days, 132 patients were discharged home. The 1-year mortality was 40%. Only the presence of pleural effusion was found as a predictor for 1-year mortality.

CONCLUSION

Most patients with APOE in this study are elderly, and have IHD, hypertension, diabetes and a previous history of APOE. The overall mortality is high (in-hospital, 12%: 1-year, 40%). Left ventricular dysfunction was associated with high in-hospital mortality, but not with long-term prognosis.

Prospective evaluation of pulmonary edema

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical profile and hospital outcome of successive unselected patients with pulmonary edema hospitalized in an internal medicine department.

DESIGN

Prospective, consecutive, unsolicited patients diagnosed with pulmonary edema.

SETTING

An internal medicine department in a 900 tertiary care center.

PATIENTS

A total of 150 consecutive unselected patients (90 males, 60 females; median age, 75 yrs).

RESULTS

Ischemic heart disease, hypertension, various valvular lesions and diabetes mellitus were present in 85%, 70%, 53%, and 52% of patients, respectively. Acute myocardial infarction at admission was observed in 15% of patients. The most common precipitating factors associated with the development of pulmonary edema included: high blood pressure (29%), rapid atrial fibrillation (29%,) unstable angina pectoris (25%), infection (18%), and acute myocardial infarction (15%). Twenty-two patients (15%) were mechanically ventilated. Eighteen patients (12%) died while in the hospital, and the cause of death was cardiac pump failure in 82%. The median hospital stay was 10 days. Predictors for increase rate of in-hospital mortality included: diabetes (p<.05), orthopnea (p<.05), echocardiographic finding of moderate-to-severely depressed global left ventricular systolic function (p<.001), acute myocardial infarction during hospital stay (p<.001), hypotension/shock (p<.05), and the need for mechanical ventilation (p<.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Most patients with pulmonary edema in the internal medicine department are elderly, having ischemic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and a previous history of pulmonary edema. The overall mortality is high (in-hospital, 12%) and the predictors associated with high in-hospital mortality are related to left ventricular myocardial function. The long median hospital stay (10 days) and the need for many cardiovascular drugs, impose a considerable cost in the management and health care of these patients.

Contrast techniques for line detection in a correlated noise environment

A new class of line detectors based on the theory of linear contrasts is developed. By incorporating the F-statistic and the shape test, the new algorithm detects and locates line features simultaneously, and thereby increases the detection power substantially. Many classes of detectors, including the step edge detector, naturally becomes subclasses of the proposed detector. Mathematical analysis indicates that the new algorithm that accounts for noise dependence performs better than its counterpart that neglects the dependence of noise. A symmetrical balanced incomplete-blocks (SBIB) design is introduced to model real-world images in terms of a treatment group that is associated with preexistent, conspicuous, features such as lines, edges, etc., and an incomplete treatment group that is randomized to accommodate image textures. The new algorithm in conjunction with the SBIB design is applied in the four main directions, perpendicularly to the line under investigation. It is robust, simple, efficient, and amenable to real-time applications. All pertinent statistics for the implementation of the procedure are estimated from data. Extensive computer simulations demonstrate the performance of the proposed detector.