To identify susceptibility loci for ankylosing spondylitis, we performed a two-stage genome-wide association study in Han Chinese. In the discovery stage, we analyzed 1,356,350 autosomal SNPs in 1,837 individuals with ankylosing spondylitis and 4,231 controls; in the validation stage, we analyzed 30 suggestive SNPs in an additional 2,100 affected individuals and 3,496 controls. We identified two new susceptibility loci between EDIL3 and HAPLN1 at 5q14.3 (rs4552569; P = 8.77 × 10(-10)) and within ANO6 at 12q12 (rs17095830; P = 1.63 × 10(-8)). We also confirmed previously reported associations in Europeans within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (top SNP, rs13202464; P < 5 × 10(-324)) and at 2p15 (rs10865331; P = 1.98 × 10(-8)). We show that rs13202464 within the MHC region mainly represents the risk effect of HLA-B*27 variants (including HLA-B*2704, HLA-B*2705 and HLA-B*2715) in Chinese. The two newly discovered loci implicate genes related to bone formation and cartilage development, suggesting their potential involvement in the etiology of ankylosing spondylitis.

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Objective. To investigate differences in genetic risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Han Chinese as compared with Europeans.Methods. A genome-wide association study was conducted in China with 952 patients and 943 controls, and 32 variants were followed up in 2,132 patients and 2,553 controls. A transpopulation meta-analysis with results from a large European RA study was also performed to compare the genetic architecture across the 2 ethnic remote populations.Results. Three non-major histocompatibility complex (non-MHC) loci were identified at the genomewide significance level, the effect sizes of which were larger in anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive patients than in ACPA-negative patients. These

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2011)Integrated control on MR vehicle suspension system associated with braking and steering control, This article presents a hierarchy control strategy for magneto-rheological suspension system integrated with active braking and active front steering subsystems. This is proposed for the improvement of ride comfort and vehicle stability under different kinds of driving conditions. A nonlinear complicated full vehicle model which includes the longitudinal, lateral and vertical motions is established and combined with a modified coupling 'Magic Formula' tyre model. Subsequently, the global state identification and task assignment logic are formulated by adopting several driving conditions such as the straight driving and cornering state. A fuzzy control strategy is then used for the suspension system, while a sliding mode control technique is utilised for both braking and steering systems. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control methodology, control performances such as roll angle, yaw rate and vehicle trajectory are evaluated and presented.