Ten new diabetes gene links offer picture of biology underlying disease

ScienceDaily (Aug. 12, 2012) ? Ten more DNA regions linked to type 2 diabetes have been discovered by an international team of researchers, bringing the total to over 60.

The study provides a fuller picture of the genetics and biological processes underlying type 2 diabetes, with some clear patterns emerging.

The international team, led by researchers from the University of Oxford, the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, used a new DNA chip to probe deeper into the genetic variations that commonly occur in our DNA and which may have some connection to type 2 diabetes.

Their findings are published in the journal Nature Genetics.

'The ten gene regions we have shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes are taking us nearer a biological understanding of the disease,' says principal investigator Professor Mark McCarthy of the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at the University of Oxford. 'It is hard to come up with new drugs for diabetes without first having an understanding of which biological processes in the body to target. This work is taking us closer to that goal.'

Approximately 2.9 million people are affected by diabetes in the UK, and there are thought to be perhaps a further 850,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes. Left untreated, diabetes can cause many different health problems including heart disease, stroke, nerve damage and blindness. Even a mildly raised glucose level can have damaging effects in the long-term.

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common form of the disease. In the UK, about 90% of all adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to control the level of glucose in the blood, and when the body no longer reacts effectively to the insulin that is produced.

The researchers analysed DNA from almost 35,000 people with type 2 diabetes and approximately 115,000 people without, identifying 10 new gene regions where DNA changes could be reliably linked to risk of the disease. Two of these showed different effects in men and women, one linked to greater diabetes risk in men and the other in women.

With over 60 genes and gene regions now linked to type 2 diabetes, the researchers were able to find patterns in the types of genes implicated in the disease. Although each individual gene variant has only a small influence on people's overall risk of diabetes, the types of genes involved are giving new insight into the biology behind diabetes.

Professor Mark McCarthy says: 'By looking at all 60 or so gene regions together we can look for signatures of the type of genes that influence the risk of type 2 diabetes.

'We see genes involved in controlling the process of cell growth, division and aging, particularly those that are active in the pancreas where insulin is produced. We see genes involved in pathways through which the body's fat cells can influence biological processes elsewhere in the body. And we see a set of transcription factor genes -- genes that help control what other genes are active.'

While gene association studies have been successful in finding DNA regions that can be reliably linked to type 2 diabetes, it can be hard to tie down which gene and what exact DNA change is responsible.

Professor McCarthy and colleagues' next step is to get complete information about genetic changes driving type 2 diabetes by sequencing people's DNA in full.

He is currently leading a study from Oxford University that, with collaborators in the US and Europe, has sequenced the entire genomes of 1400 people with diabetes and 1400 people without. First results will be available next year.

'Now we have the ability to do a complete job, capturing all genetic variation linked to type 2 diabetes,' says Professor McCarthy, a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator. 'Not only will we be able to look for signals we've so far missed, but we will also be able to pinpoint which individual DNA change is responsible. These genome sequencing studies will really help us push forward towards a more complete biological understanding of diabetes.'

Professor McCarthy says: 'We now have strong evidence that there is a long tail of further common gene variations beyond those we have identified so far. The 60 or so we know about will be the gene variants with strongest effects on risk of type 2 diabetes. But there are likely to be tens, hundreds, possibly even thousands more genes having smaller and smaller influences on development of the condition.'

Notes

*It is possible to see how some types of genes identified in these studies could be involved in type 2 diabetes.

For example, one feature of type 2 diabetes is that the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas can no longer produce enough of the hormone to control glucose levels in the blood. However, it is not known whether this is because there are fewer cells left to respond to the demand, or there are plenty of cells but they don't respond as much, or both. Cell cycle genes, which control the growth, development and death of cells, could well play a role here.

Obesity is known to be a major risk factor for diabetes. Becoming obese tends to result in the body becoming less responsive to the insulin it produces. While fat must be important in this, it is the liver and muscle where the insulin resistance has an effect. The involvement of processes where fat cells communicate with other parts of the body, as suggested by the genetics findings, could explain how this occurs.

* The researchers show that the data emerging from gene association studies is consistent with the genetic contribution to diabetes being made up of many, many common gene variants each having a small effect. This is more likely than there being a significant contribution from unknown rare genetic variants that only a few people have, but which confer a much greater risk of diabetes.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Oxford, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Robert Scott et al. Large-scale association analyses identify new loci influencing glycemic traits and provide insight into the underlying biological pathways. Nature Genetics, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/ng.2385

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/gwoaYmMKpdQ/120812151657.htm

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Why are people overconfident so often? It's all about social status

ScienceDaily (Aug. 13, 2012) ? Researchers have long known that people are very frequently overconfident -- that they tend to believe they are more physically talented, socially adept, and skilled at their job than they actually are. For example, 94% of college professors think they do above average work (which is nearly impossible, statistically speaking). But this overconfidence can also have detrimental effects on their performance and decision-making. So why, in light of these negative consequences, is overconfidence still so pervasive?

The lure of social status promotes overconfidence, explains Haas School Associate Professor Cameron Anderson. He co-authored a new study, "A Status-Enhancement Account of Overconfidence," with Sebastien Brion, assistant professor of managing people in organizations, IESE Business School, University of Navarra, Haas School colleagues Don Moore, associate professor of management, and Jessica A. Kennedy, now a post-doctoral fellow at the Wharton School of Business. The study will be published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (forthcoming).

"Our studies found that overconfidence helped people attain social status. People who believed they were better than others, even when they weren't, were given a higher place in the social ladder. And the motive to attain higher social status thus spurred overconfidence," says Anderson, the Lorraine Tyson Mitchell Chair in Leadership and Communication II at the Haas School.

Social status is the respect, prominence, and influence individuals enjoy in the eyes of others. Within work groups, for example, higher status individuals tend to be more admired, listened to, and have more sway over the group's discussions and decisions. These "alphas" of the group have more clout and prestige than other members. Anderson says these research findings are important because they help shed light on a longstanding puzzle: why overconfidence is so common, in spite of its risks. His findings suggest that falsely believing one is better than others has profound social benefits for the individual.

Moreover, these findings suggest one reason why in organizational settings, incompetent people are so often promoted over their more competent peers. "In organizations, people are very easily swayed by others' confidence even when that confidence is unjustified," says Anderson. "Displays of confidence are given an inordinate amount of weight."

The studies suggest that organizations would benefit from taking individuals' confidence with a grain of salt. Yes, confidence can be a sign of a person's actual abilities, but it is often not a very good sign. Many individuals are confident in their abilities even though they lack true skills or competence.

The authors conducted six experiments to measure why people become overconfident and how overconfidence equates to a rise in social stature. For example:

In Study 2, the researchers examined 242 MBA students in their project teams and asked them to look over a list of historical names, historical events, and books and poems, and then to identify which ones they knew or recognized. Terms included Maximilien Robespierre, Lusitania, Wounded Knee, Pygmalion, and Doctor Faustus. Unbeknownst to the participants, some of the names were made up. These so-called "foils" included Bonnie Prince Lorenzo, Queen Shaddock, Galileo Lovano, Murphy's Last Ride, and Windemere Wild. The researchers deemed those who picked the most foils the most overly confident because they believed they were more knowledgeable than they actually were. In a survey at the end of the semester, those same overly confident individuals (who said they had recognized the most foils) achieved the highest social status within their groups.

It is important to note that group members did not think of their high status peers as overconfident, but simply that they were terrific. "This overconfidence did not come across as narcissistic," explains Anderson. "The most overconfident people were considered the most beloved."

Study 4 sought to discover the types of behaviors that make overconfident people appear to be so wonderful (even when they were not). Behaviors such as body language, vocal tone, rates of participation were captured on video as groups worked together in a laboratory setting. These videos revealed that overconfident individuals spoke more often, spoke with a confident vocal tone, provided more information and answers, and acted calmly and relaxed as they worked with their peers. In fact, overconfident individuals were more convincing in their displays of ability than individuals who were actually highly competent.

"These big participators were not obnoxious, they didn't say, 'I'm really good at this.' Instead, their behavior was much more subtle. They simply participated more and exhibited more comfort with the task -- even though they were no more competent than anyone else," says Anderson.

Two final studies found that it is the "desire" for status that encourages people to be more overconfident. For example, in Study 6, participants read one of two stories and were asked to imagine themselves as the protagonist in the story. The first story was a simple, bland narrative of losing then finding one's keys. The second story asked the reader to imagine him/herself getting a new job with a prestigious company. The job had many opportunities to obtain higher status, including a promotion, a bonus, and a fast track to the top. Those participants who read the new job scenario rated their desire for status much higher than those who read the story of the lost keys.

After they were finished reading, participants were asked to rate themselves on a number of competencies such as critical thinking skills, intelligence, and the ability to work in teams. Those who had read the new job story (which stimulated their desire for status) rated their skills and talent much higher than did the first group. Their desire for status amplified their overconfidence.

De-emphasizing the natural tendency toward overconfidence may prove difficult but Prof. Anderson hopes this research will give people the incentive to look for more objective indices of ability and merit in others, instead of overvaluing unsubstantiated confidence.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Berkeley Haas School of Business, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. Cameron Anderson, Sebastien Brion, A. Moore and Jessica A. A Status??Enhancement Account of Overconfidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2012 (in press)

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/29vawR9j4Lw/120813130712.htm

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Election fatigue hits Wis. in 4-way Senate primary

MADISON, Wis. (AP) ? Even with the biggest name in modern Wisconsin politics on the ballot, the Republican primary in a highly competitive U.S. Senate race appears headed for a fractious four-way battle.

Many election-weary voters in Wisconsin simply haven't made up their minds.

The former Wisconsin governor and Cabinet secretary, Tommy Thompson, has near universal name recognition in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl. A recent poll finds Thompson leading the GOP field, but nearly 1 in 5 voters hasn't settled on a nominee.

Thompson had expected an uncontested run for the nomination, but the party has grown more conservative since he left the governorship in 2001. His three challengers argue that they are more in touch with modern Republicans.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/election-fatigue-hits-wis-4-way-senate-primary-150614460.html

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Finding observed on the web ? Digital Promoting for Smaller Business

The world wide web has developed from a smaller network of academics needing an option to trade study right into a world-spanning, ubiquitous marketplace and repository for almost each attainable type of information and facts and understanding. How does a tiny organization stay clear of becoming washed away inside the constant tide of acquiring, promoting and marketers hawking just about every conceivable item (and some difficult to conceive? )?

The internet delivers positive aspects for each consumer and proprietor in that one can look for just what is sought after, without the bother of limitless phone phone calls, driving to malls, or poring more than mail-order catalogs. A fast key phrase or 3, and many results vie for interest on the screen. Creating confident your company is one of people outcomes near the best is actually a combination of variables: specificity in product offerings, Seo of net content and linking to and from connected topics and web pages.

The sole method to get observed on the internet is usually to have a listing or presence, no matter whether a committed web site, advertisements on related internet sites, or by word-of-mouth. Oftentimes advertisements on on the web journals, helpful sites, or e-zines (on the web publications) are less costly than area in a print publication, also as becoming obtainable to some broader audience than a committed website may be. Rates are usually obtainable for every day, weekly, or month to month terms, rising versatility and allowing a tight spending budget much more leeway. Word-of-mouth advertising might be quite inexpensive, but the returns may perhaps be complicated to quantify. Sponsoring internet exhibits which include podcasts or webcasts can be a good and low-cost option to gain word-of-mouth publicity. Numerous occasions, a podcaster will probably be so delighted to acquire sponsorship that charges could be negotiated for quite tiny, but ensure that to strategy a podcaster that has a present connected by some means for your enterprise. Don?t forget about sources like Google?s Adwords either, as they are able to be somewhat pricier than similar solutions like banner advertisements, but they?re proven to be far far more efficient than pop-ups, banners, or pay-per-click ads as a result of their distinct targeting.

When a possible consumer decides to look up a product that you just promote, is she or he planning to locate your web site or listing? Getting certain within the conditions made use of in your internet site or listing is important, as key phrases are what generate the search engines like google like Google and Yahoo. If your corporation sells shoes, it really is not enough to place the term ?shoes? in your site?it has to be anticipatory towards the searches that prospective buyers are doing. Most prospects have an notion of what they are looking for when doing a lookup, so as opposed to ?shoes,? a customer will search for ?imported Italian leather footwear.? Particular concentrating of terminology and item listings are concerned in Search engine optimization (Search engine optimization), as Seo is pushed by precise search phrases and their repetition or place on the web page. If the phrase ?Italian Leather Shoes? is utilised 15 instances on the web page, it is going to pop up higher about the rating listings than one together with the similar phrases, but only as a web page heading or title. It will be simple to go overboard on this if it were the only real requirements, however it is just one of lots of various strategies search engines like google use to list internet websites by relevance. Our write-up on Seo, located right here, is an excellent reference to optimizing your web-site for maximum Research Engine Overall performance.

With a very clear thought of exactly where you desire to go together with Web advertising, it could become an useful tool to broaden your company into the electronic realm, but be careful not to go overboard, as all promoting eventually crosses into the zone of limited return. Shoppers are in search of what they want?it?s as much as you to make sure they operate into you, along with the only way they?re going to is for you to make sure your company is at the areas they?re going to go.

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Source: http://blog.1stfind.com/?p=364826&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=finding-observed-on-the-web-digital-promoting-for-smaller-business-enterprise

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Olympic gymnastics: South Korea's Yang wins men's vault

London, Aug 6

Yang Hak Seon from South Korea won Olympic gold in the men's vault Monday.

Reigning World Champion Yang scored 16.533 after two attempts, one of which had a top difficulty rank of 7.4.

Russia's Denis Ablyazin took silver with 16.399 points for vaults of 7.0 and 7.2 difficulty.

The bronze medal went to 19-year-old Igor Radivilov from Ukraine, whose two attempts, both with a 7.0 difficulty mark, brought him 16.316 points.

Source: http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a319006.html

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Prominent climate change denier now says he was wrong (+video)

Richard Muller, who directed a Koch-funded climate change project, has undergone a 'total turnaround' on his stance on global warming, which he now admits is caused by human activity.

By Neela Banerjee,?Tribune Washington Bureau (MCT) / July 30, 2012

This 2011 photo shows piles of coal at NRG Energy's W.A. Parish Electric Generating Station in Thompsons, Texas.

David J. Phillip/AP/File

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The verdict is in: Global warming is real and greenhouse-gas emissions from human activity are the main cause.

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Richard Muller is not a climatologist, yet he is one of the most controversial figures in climate science. Climate Watch Senior Editor sat down with Muller to talk about his upcoming book, "Energy for Future Presidents," his view of global warming as "secular religion." Posted June 15, 2012.

This, according to?Richard?A.?Muller, professor of physics at the University of California, Berkely, a MacArthur fellow and co-founder of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and hundreds of other climatologists around the world came to such conclusions years ago, but the difference now is the source:?Muller?is a long-standing, colorful critic of prevailing climate science, and the Berkeley project was heavily funded by the Charles Koch Charitable Foundation, which, along with its libertarian petrochemical billionaire founder Charles G. Koch, has a considerable history of backing groups that deny climate change.

In an opinion piece in Saturday?s New York Times titled ?The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic,??Muller?writes:

?Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I?m now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause.?

The Berkeley project?s research has shown,?Muller?says, ?that the average temperature of the earth?s land has risen by 2? degrees Fahrenheit over the past 250 years, including an increase of 1? degrees over the most recent 50 years. Moreover, it appears likely that essentially all of this increase results from the human emission of greenhouse gases.?

He calls his current stance ?a total turnaround.?

Tonya Mullins, a spokeswoman for the Koch Foundation, said the support her foundation provided, along with others, has no bearing on results of the research.

?Our grants are designed to promote independent research; as such, recipients hold full control over their findings,? Mullins said in an email. ?In this support, we strive to benefit society by promoting discovery and informing public policy.?

Some leading climate scientists said?Muller?s?comments show that the science is so strong that even those inclined to reject it cannot once they examine it carefully.

Michael E. Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, said?Muller?s?conversion might help shape the thinking of the ?reasonable middle? of the population ?who are genuinely confused and have been honestly taken in? by attacks on climate science.

On his Facebook page, Mann wrote: ?There is a certain ironic satisfaction in seeing a study funded by the Koch Brothers ? the greatest funders of climate change denial and disinformation on the planet ? demonstrate what scientists have known with some degree of confidence for nearly two decades: that the globe is indeed warming, and that this warming can only be explained by human-caused increases in greenhouse gas concentrations. I applaud?Muller?and his colleagues for acting as any good scientists would, following where their analyses led them, without regard for the possible political repercussions.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/zZHNvjGvzFk/Prominent-climate-change-denier-now-says-he-was-wrong-video

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ICS updates reportedly starting for some Galaxy Tab 10.1 models

Updated: ICS now pushing out to UK Wifi-only Tab 10.1, as well as Italian 3G version.

Good news for anyone living in a country where the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has yet to be banned from sale. Reports from SamMobile? indicate that the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich update for the venerable Tab 10.1 is now complete, and has started to roll out to customers' devices. Updates have begun on the Wifi-only version in the UK, and the 3G version in Italy. In addition to bumping the 10.1-inch tablet up to the most recent version of Android that's not Jelly Bean, you can also expect some visual changes to the TouchWiz UI, bringing the software experience in line with Samsung's Tab 2 range.

If you've got an Italian Galaxy Tab 10.1 with 3G (GT-P7500) or a UK Wifi-only model (GT-P7510), you can update now by heading to Settings > About Tablet > Software Updates, or by plugging your tablet into a PC running Samsung's Kies desktop software. Alternatively, if you're feeling adventurous, you could flash the firmware directly onto any 3G Galaxy Tab 10.1 -- you'll find an ODIN-flashable version version over at the source link.

We'd recommend most Tab owners outside of Italy and the UK sit tight and wait for the official update to roll out, though. It's been eight months already, what's another few days?

Source: SamMobile

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/cNT3DzoA3wU/story01.htm

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