Pathway-Based Association Analyses Identified TRAIL Pathway for Osteoporotic Fractures

) pathway were associated with bone metabolism. This study aims to verify the potential association between hip OF and TRAIL pathway.Using genome-wide genotype data from Affymetrix 500 K SNP arrays, we performed novel pathway-based association analyses for hip OF in 700 elderly Chinese Han subjects (350 with hip OF and 350 healthy matched controls).) of the pathway had minor alleles (A) that are associated with an increased risk of hip OF, with the ORs (odds ratios) of 16.51 (95%CI:3.83–71.24) and 1.37 (95%CI:1.08–1.74), respectively.Our study supports the potential role of the TRAIL pathway in the pathogenesis of hip OF in Chinese Han population. Further functional study of this pathway will be pursued to determine the mechanism by which it confers risk to hip OF

SnSe: Breakthrough or Not Breakthrough?

International audienceThe simple binary semiconductor SnSe has not been for long considered as a promising thermoelectric material compared to PbSe. For this reason, its thermoelectric properties have been largely overlooked over the past decades. This compound came back to the forefront of research in thermoelectricity due to the very high ZT values reported recently in single crystals. This announcement has been the starting point of a renewed interest leading to a wealth of experimental and theoretical studies in the past few years with the aim of better understanding its physical properties and optimizing its thermoelectric performances in both p-and n-type samples. Here, we review the progress of research on the transport properties of both single-crystalline and polycrystalline SnSe, highlighting in particular the controversy regarding the thermal properties of single crystals and the important points that 2 remain to be investigated to determine whether or not the (re)discovery of SnSe may be considered as a breakthrough in thermoelectricity

The KM3NeT multi-PMT optical module

International audienceThe optical module of the KM3NeT neutrino telescope is an innovative multi-faceted large area photodetection module. It contains 31 three-inch photomultiplier tubes in a single 0.44 m diameter pressure-resistant glass sphere. The module is a sensory device also comprising calibration instruments and electronics for power, readout and data acquisition. It is capped with a breakout-box with electronics for connection to an electro-optical cable for power and long-distance communication to the onshore control station. The design of the module was qualified for the first time in the deep sea in 2013. Since then, the technology has been further improved to meet requirements of scalability, cost-effectiveness and high reliability. The module features a sub-nanosecond timing accuracy and a dynamic range allowing the measurement of a single photon up to a cascade of thousands of photons, suited for the measurement of the Cherenkov radiation induced in water by secondary particles from interactions of neutrinos with energies in the range of GeV to PeV. A distributed production model has been implemented for the delivery of more than 6000 modules in the coming few years with an average production rate of more than 100 modules per month. In this paper a review is presented of the design of the multi-PMT KM3NeT optical module with a proven effective background suppression and signal recognition and sensitivity to the incoming direction of photons