METHODS: Here, we describe clrDV, a statistical method for detecting genes that show differential variability between two populations. We present the skew-normal distribution for modeling gene-wise null distribution of centered log-ratio transformation of compositional RNA-seq data.
RESULTS: Simulation results show that clrDV has false discovery rate and probability of Type II error that are on par with or superior to existing methodologies. In addition, its run time is faster than its closest competitors, and remains relatively constant for increasing sample size per group. Analysis of a large neurodegenerative disease RNA-Seq dataset using clrDV successfully recovers multiple gene candidates that have been reported to be associated with Alzheimer's disease.
METHODS: This study adopted the instructional design framework of the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation (ADDIE) model to guide the design and development of the functional training program. After development, the program was implemented and evaluated.
RESULTS: The results showed the program aroused students' interest and significantly improved students' physical fitness.
CONCLUSION: This study showed the usefulness of functional training in improving the physical fitness of primary school students. In addition, it provided a reference for how to use functional training in conjunction with the physical education syllabus.
MAIN METHODS: Mice deficient in both dystrophin and ASC (encoded by Pycard [PYD And CARD Domain Containing]) were generated. The impact of ASC deficiency on muscular dystrophy of mdx mice were assessed by measurements of serum cytokines, Western blot, real-time PCR and histopathological staining.
KEY FINDINGS: The pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, KC/GRO and IL-10 were markedly increased in the sera of 8-week-old mdx mice compared to WT. Western blotting showed that P2X7, caspase-1, ASC and IL-18 were upregulated. Disruption of ASC and dystrophin expression in the mdx/ASC-/- mice was verified by Western blot analysis. Histopathological analysis did not find significant alterations in the muscular dystrophy phenotype in mdx/ASC-/- mice as compared to mdx mice.
SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, our results show that disruption of the central adaptor ASC of the inflammasome is insufficient to alleviate muscular dystrophy phenotype in mdx mice.