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Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in samples of European ancestry have identified thousands of genetic variants associated with complex traits in humans. However, it remains largely unclear whether these associations can be used in non-European populations. Here, we seek to quantify the proportion of genetic variation for a complex trait shared between continental populations. We estimated the between-population correlation of genetic effects at all SNPs ([Formula see text]) or genome-wide significant SNPs ([Formula see text]) for height and body mass index (BMI) in samples of European (EUR; [Formula see text]) and African (AFR; [Formula see text]) ancestry. The [Formula see text] between EUR and AFR was 0.75 ([Formula see text]) for height and 0.68 ([Formula see text]) for BMI, and the corresponding [Formula see text] was 0.82 ([Formula see text]) for height and 0.87 ([Formula see text]) for BMI, suggesting that a large proportion of GWAS findings discovered in Europeans are likely applicable to non-Europeans for height and BMI. There was no evidence that [Formula see text] differs in SNP groups with different levels of between-population difference in allele frequency or linkage disequilibrium, which, however, can be due to the lack of power.Stronger contractility and smaller bladder capacity are common symptoms in ketamine cystitis (KC). This study investigates the association between expression levels of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V (TRPV) proteins and the clinical characteristics of KC. Bladder tissues were obtained from 24 patients with KC and four asymptomatic control subjects. Video urodynamic parameters were obtained before surgical procedures. The TRPV proteins were investigated by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence staining, and immunohistochemistry. The Pearson test was used to associate the expression levels of TRPV proteins with clinical characteristics of KC. The expression level of TRPV1 and TRPV4 was significantly higher in the severe KC bladders than in mild KC or control bladders. The TRPV1 proteins were localized in all urothelial cell layers, and TRPV4 was located in the basal cells and lamina propria. The expression of TRPV1 was negatively associated with maximal bladder capacity (r = - 0.66, P = 0.01). The expression of TRPV4 was positively associated with the velocity of detrusor pressure rise to the maximum flow rate (r = 0.53, P = 0.01). These observations suggest smaller bladder capacity and stronger contractility in KC are associated with an elevated expression of TRPV1 and TRPV4, respectively.Morphological variations in human teeth have long been recognized and, in particular, the spatial and temporal distribution of two patterns of dental features in Asia, i.e., Sinodonty and Sundadonty, have contributed to our understanding of the human migration history. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying such dental variations have not yet been completely elucidated. Recent studies have clarified that a nonsynonymous variant in the ectodysplasin A receptor gene (EDAR 370V/A; rs3827760) contributes to crown traits related to Sinodonty. In this study, we examined the association between the EDAR polymorphism and tooth root traits by using computed tomography images and identified that the effects of the EDAR variant on the number and shape of roots differed depending on the tooth type. In addition, to better understand tooth root morphogenesis, a computational analysis for patterns of tooth roots was performed, assuming a reaction-diffusion system. The computational study suggested that the complicated effects of the EDAR polymorphism could be explained when it is considered that EDAR modifies the syntheses of multiple related molecules working in the reaction-diffusion dynamics. In this study, we shed light on the molecular mechanisms of tooth root morphogenesis, which are less understood in comparison to those of tooth crown morphogenesis.While DNA encodes protein structure, glycans provide a complementary layer of information to protein function. As a prime example of the significance of glycans, the ability of the cell surface receptor CD44 to bind its ligand, hyaluronan, is modulated by N-glycosylation. CMC-Na However, the details of this modulation remain unclear. Based on atomistic simulations and NMR, we provide evidence that CD44 has multiple distinct binding sites for hyaluronan, and that N-glycosylation modulates their respective roles. We find that non-glycosylated CD44 favors the canonical sub-micromolar binding site, while glycosylated CD44 binds hyaluronan with an entirely different micromolar binding site. Our findings show (for the first time) how glycosylation can alter receptor affinity by shielding specific regions of the host protein, thereby promoting weaker binding modes. The mechanism revealed in this work emphasizes the importance of glycosylation in protein function and poses a challenge for protein structure determination where glycosylation is usually neglected.Coastal communities in New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), and Connecticut (CT) sustained huge structural loss during Sandy in 2012. We present a comprehensive science-based study to assess the role of coastal wetlands in buffering surge and wave in the tri-state by considering Sandy, a hypothetical Black Swan (BS) storm, and the 1% annual chance flood and wave event. Model simulations were conducted with and without existing coastal wetlands, using a dynamically coupled surge-wave model with two types of coastal wetlands. Simulated surge and wave for Sandy were verified with data at numerous stations. Structural loss estimated using real property data and latest damage functions agreed well with loss payout data. Results show that, on zip-code scale, the relative structural loss varies significantly with the percent wetland cover, the at-risk structural value, and the average wave crest height. Reduction in structural loss by coastal wetlands was low in Sandy, modest in the BS storm, and significant in the 1% annual chance flood and wave event. NJ wetlands helped to avoid 8%, 26%, 52% loss during Sandy, BS storm, and 1% event, respectively. This regression model can be used for wetland restoration planning to further reduce structural loss in coastal communities.