bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of fungicide resistance and pathogen diversity in Erysiphe necator using quantitative real‐time PCR assays
Authors: Dufour Marie‐Cécile , Fontaine Séverine , Montarry Josselin , Corio‐Costet Marie‐France
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND: Management of grapevine powdery mildew Erysiphe necator Schw. requires fungicide treatments such as sterol demethylation inhibitors (DMIs) or mitochondrial inhibitors (QoIs). Recently, reduction in the efficacy of DMIs or QoIs was reported in Europe and the United States. The aim of the present study was to develop real‐time qPCR tools to detect and quantify several CYP51 gene variants of E. necator: (i) A versus B groups (G37A) and (ii) sensitive versus resistant to sterol demethylase inhibitor fungicides (Y136F).

RESULTS: The efficacy of the qPCR tools developed was better than the CAPS method, with a limit of 2 pg for E necator DNA, 0.06 ng for genetic group A and 1.4 ng for the DMI‐resistant allele. The detection limits of qPCR protocols (LOD) ranged from 0.72 to 0.85%, and the quantification limits (LOQ) ranged from 2.4 to 2.85% for the two alleles G47A and Y136F respectively. The application of qPCR to field isolates from French vineyards showed the presence of DMI‐resistant and/or QoI‐resistant alleles in French pathogen populations, linked to genetic group B.

CONCLUSION: The real‐time PCR assay developed in this study provides a potentially useful tool for efficient quantification of different alleles of interest for fungicide monitoring and for population structure of E. necator. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Transcriptional overexpression of CYP6B8/CYP6B28 and CYP6B9 is a mechanism associated with cypermethrin survivorship in field‐collected Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) moths
Authors: Hopkins Bradley W. , Longnecker Michael T. , Pietrantonio Patricia V
Published: October 2010

BACKGROUND: There are multiple reports of resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in Helicoverpa zea (Boddie); however, metabolic mechanisms responsible for insect survivorship have yet to be elucidated at the molecular level. Here, the transcriptional expression of two cytochrome P450 genes involved in pyrethroid metabolism, CYP6B8/CYP6B28 and CYP6B9, in H. zea male moths surviving discriminating dosages of cypermethrin in the adult vial test were investigated using quantitative PCR.

RESULTS: Insects classified as cypermethrin resistant in the adult vial assay contained significantly higher levels of both transcripts compared with the susceptible (ranging from a factor of 3.7 to 34.9 for CYP6B8/CYP6B28 and from 5.6 to 39.6 for CYP6B9), and in individual insects both transcripts were present at similar levels. Analysis of individual males collected across ecological regions and years in Texas showed overexpression of these genes.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper is the first to identify transcriptional overexpression of CYP genes associated with pyrethroid survivorship in field‐collected H. zea. This discovery will allow for greater focus on increased metabolism studies at the population level. Understanding mechanisms responsible for resistance will greatly improve the ability to monitor resistance and make better control recommendations, as metabolic resistance may threaten the success not only of pyrethroids but also of other synthetic pesticides. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Theoretical study of hydrogenated tetrahedral aluminum clusters
Authors: Ichikawa Kazuhide , Ikeda Yuji , Wagatsuma Ayumu , Watanabe Kouhei , Szarek Paweł , Tachibana Akitomo
Published: October 2010

We report on the structures of aluminum hydrides derived from a tetrahedral aluminum (Al4) cluster using ab initio quantum chemical calculation. Our calculation of binding energies of the aluminum hydrides reveals that stability of these hydrides increases as more hydrogen atoms are adsorbed, while stability of Al – H bonds decreases. We also analyze and discuss the chemical bonds of those clusters by using recently developed method based on the electronic stress tensor. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2011
Governing sustainable forest management in the new climate regime
Authors: Seymour Frances , Forwand Elizabeth
Published: October 2010

The newly appreciated role of deforestation and forest degradation as globally significant sources of carbon emissions has focused fresh political attention and large prospective financial flows on tropical forest management. Negotiations at the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change produced a ‘road map’ toward including compensation to tropical countries for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) in a future global climate agreement. The prospect of a global REDD mechanism has spurred the development of REDD initiatives by national governments, international organizations, and private actors. These new initiatives are facing many of the same forest governance challenges that have stymied past efforts to improve the conservation and management of tropical forests. To be effective, efficient, and equitable, REDD efforts will not only have to reverse the economic incentives that drive forest loss, but will also need to clarify land tenure, link to international efforts to curb illegal logging and trade, and manage trade‐offs among competing objectives. They will also need to strengthen the institutional capacity for inclusive REDD design processes, transparent monitoring of carbon emissions and financial flows, and cross‐sectoral and cross‐scale coordination. At the same time, REDD initiatives could provide opportunities to accelerate the required forest governance reforms. WIREs Clim Change 2010 1 803–810 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.70

This article is categorized under:

Climate and Development > Social Justice and the Politics of Development

Policy and Governance > Multilevel and Transnational Climate Change Governance
Discounting older data
Authors: Caudle Kyle A. , Fowler Gary O. , Jager Leah R. , Ruth David M.
Published: October 2010

This article describes two general methods for discounting older data in the real‐time analysis of a data stream. In the first method, the distribution of a data stream is estimated by a series of orthogonal basis functions, and the coefficients of this estimate are updated as new data arrive by combining windowing and exponential smoothing techniques. The second method involves sequential hypothesis testing. When new data arrive, test significance level is adjusted by alpha‐investing, which raises or reduces the significance level of subsequent hypothesis tests on the basis of whether the previous hypothesis test rejects or fails to reject the null hypothesis. Both these methods are nonparametric in nature. WIREs Comp Stat 2011 3 30–33 DOI: 10.1002/wics.134

This article is categorized under:

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Algorithms

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Nonparametric Methods

Statistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Streaming Data Mining
Comparison of phenolic compounds and the effects of invasive and native species in East Asia: support for the novel weapons hypothesis
Authors: Kim Yong Ok , Lee Eun Ju
Published: October 2010

One prediction of the novel weapons hypothesis (NWH) for the dominance of exotic invasive plant species is that the allelopathic effects of successful invaders will, in general, be more biochemically inhibitory to native species and microbes in invaded regions than the native plants themselves. However, no study has compared biochemical concentrations, compositions, or effects of large numbers of native species to those of large numbers of invasive species. In this context we tested the allelopathic and antimicrobial potentials of nine native plant species and nine invasive species in East Asia by comparing their broad phenolic contents and the effects of extracts made from each of the species on target plants and soil fungi. Three of the invasive species, including Eupatorium rugosum, had higher concentrations of total phenolic compounds than any of the native species, and the mean concentration of total phenolics for invasive species was 2.6 times greater than the mean for native species. Only scopoletin was novel to the invasive species, being found in all of nine invasive species, but not in the native species. More importantly, the effects of the total suites of phenolic compounds produced by invasive species differed from the effects of phenolics produced by natives. Extracts of invasive species reduced radicle growth of the three test plant species by 60–80%, but extracts of native species reduced radicle growth by only 30–50%. Extracts of invasive species reduced shoot growth of the three test species by 20–40%, but the overall effect of native species’ extract was to stimulate shoot growth. The antimicrobial activity of invasive species was also significantly higher than that of native species. It should be noted that phenolics are just one component of a plant's potential allelopathic arsenal and non‐phenolic compounds are likely to play a role in the total extract effect. For example, extracts of P. americana contained the lowest levels of phenolic compounds, but exhibited the strongest inhibition effect. We could not determine whether the greater inhibitory effects of the extracts from invasive species were due to novel combinations of chemicals or higher concentrations of chemicals, but our results are consistent with the predictions of the NWH.
Simulating seasonal and inter‐annual variations in energy and carbon exchanges and forest dynamics using a process‐based atmosphere–vegetation dynamics model
Authors: Toda Motomu , Takata Kumiko , Nishimura Naoyuki , Yamada Masahito , Miki Naoko , Nakai Taro , Kodama Yuji , Uemura Shigeru , Watanabe Tsutomu , Sumida Akihiro , Hara Toshihiko
Published: October 2010

The present paper shows simulated results of seasonal and inter‐annual variations in energy and carbon exchanges and forest dynamics in a sub‐boreal deciduous forest using a fully coupled atmosphere–vegetation interaction model [multilayered integrated numerical model of surface physics‐growing plants interaction (MINoSGI)]. With careful adjustment of site‐specific eco‐physiological parameters, MINoSGI reproduced successfully stand biomass–tree density relationship based on the forest inventory data for 7 years (1999–2005) and seasonal and inter‐annual variations in energy and CO2 fluxes measured by means of eddy covariance technique for 3 years (2003–2005) in the sub‐boreal forest, northern Japan. In addition, MINoSGI estimated annual evapotranspiration (Evt) at 328.6 ± 25.8 mm year−1, net primary production (NPP) at 372.1 ± 31.5 gC m−2 year−1 and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) at −224.2 ± 32.2 gC m−2 year−1. We found the estimate of annual NEE in our site lies among the estimates at other forest stands with the almost same climatic conditions in northern Japan, although the tree species and stand age of these forests are different from those of our site. Overall, MINoSGI was found useful to present simultaneous simulations of forest dynamics, surface energy, and carbon exchanges of a forest stand in the future from micro‐meteorological and ecophysiological points of view.
Ostracod distribution in Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang, China) and a reassessed Holocene record
Authors: Mischke Steffen , Zhang Chengjun
Published: October 2010

Ostracod shells in surface sediments from Ulungur Lake (Xinjiang, China) belong mainly to Limnocythereinopinata as the dominant species, and Candonaneglecta and Darwinulastevensoni as accompanying, less abundant taxa. Shells of an additional nine species were recorded only sporadically. The three most abundant ostracods have wide tolerance ranges in terms of salinity, substrate and water depth. The similarly recorded bivalve Pisidiumsubtruncatum, and the gastropods Gyrauluschinensis and Radixauricularia belong to the most tolerant representatives of the genera. The bivalve and gastropods, in addition to the ostracod assemblage, reflect the fact that Ulungur Lake has experienced strong lake level and salinity variations due to water withdrawal in the catchment and the counteracting diversion of river waters to the lake in recent decades. The substrate in Ulungur Lake is typically fine‐grained, apart from the delta region of the Ulungur River channel, which is marked by relatively coarse‐grained detrital sediments barren of ostracod shells. This channel was created 40 years ago to divert water to Ulungur Lake and support its local fisheries and recreational facilities. A reassessed Holocene ostracod record from the lake shows that a significantly higher salinity and lower lake level existed in the early Holocene before 6.0 ka in response to the regional climate. In contrast, a higher lake level and lowest salinity is inferred for the late Holocene period between ca. 3.6 and 1.3 ka before present. Afterwards, the lake level declined and salinity increased in response to regional moisture reduction, although conditions similar to the early Holocene lake status were not re‐established. Our surface‐sediment‐derived data provide a baseline for analysis of future environmental variations due to global climate change and regional water management.
A Changing South: The 2008 Elections Illuminate Demographic and Economic Trends
Authors: Guillory Ferrel
Published: October 2010

The election of Barack Obama as President of the United States opened a window for an examination of the most recent round of demographic, social and economic change in the American South. Using the 2008 election—in which the nation's first black president won three states of the former Confederacy—as a launching pad for analysis, this paper presents a South that has become metropolitan-driven, more prosperous and economically diverse than ever in its history. The paper also depicts a South with inter-regional differences and with distinct inequalities, especially in income and educational attainment.
Failed Back Surgery Syndrome and intrathecal drugs infusion
Authors: Demartini Laura , Stocco Elisa , Bonezzi Cesare
Published: October 2010

Even if there is no study evaluating how often Failed Back Surgery Syndrome is the cause of pain in patients who need spinal drugs infusion to control their symptoms, it seems that in most centres, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome was the most frequent indication for spinal cord stimulation and for intrathecal analgesic delivery pumps implantation. In our experience of spinal drug delivery for pain, about one third of the patients (35.7%) had undergone one or more spinal surgeries.

A literature search was performed looking for intrathecal drugs infusion and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome or chronic back and leg pain without specification of previous surgery. The data in which we were interested were trialling methods, drugs used, outcomes and side effects. A comparison was made with the 14 years experience in intrathecal drugs infusion in our centre.

We evaluated the side effects reported with chronic spinal drugs infusion even if not specific for patients with Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.
Efficacy and Safety of the Doxazosin Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System for the Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Authors: Sun Guang‐Huan , Tsui Ke‐Hung , Wu Tony T , Chang Chao‐Hsiang , Cheng Chen‐Li , Schou Manjula
Published: October 2010

This study was carried out to obtain information on the efficacy and safety of the controlled release formulation of the doxazosin Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System (GITS) in Taiwanese subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Studies of doxazosin in Asian populations for this indication have lacked data particularly from Taiwan. This was an 8‐week, post‐marketing, open‐label, non‐comparative study. Eighty male subjects (mean age=64 years) with BPH received doxazosin GITS 4 mg once daily. At week 4, subjects who achieved an increase in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) of >3 mL/s and a >30% reduction in the total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) continued on doxazosin GITS 4 mg for the remaining 4 weeks; all other subjects were up‐titrated to 8mg once daily. Change from baseline at weeks 4 and 8 (primary endpoint) in IPSS and Qmax was evaluated using two‐sided paired t tests for the intent‐to‐treat population. Safety was assessed throughout the study. A total of 53 (66.3%) subjects completed the study. Baseline Qmax and IPSS were 10.7+3.4 mL/s and 20.6+5.4, respectively. At week 8, a significant increase from baseline in Qmax of 3.3+4.6 mL/s (95% confidence interval = 2.2‐4.4, p< 0.001) and a significant decrease in total IPSS of −8.9 + 7.0 (95% confidence interval=−10.5 to −7.3, p< 0.001) was observed. The most common treatment‐related adverse event was dizziness. Doxazosin GITS 4 mg per day (with an 8‐mg titration step) effectively improved symptoms of BPH. The results from this study provide further information for clinicians on the use of doxazosin GITS for the treatment of BPH, particularly in Taiwanese patients.
Comparison of Left Ventricular Diastolic Parameters Between Patients With and Without Significant Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Su Ho‐Ming , Lin Tsung‐Hsien , Lee Chee‐Siong , Hsu Po‐Chao , Tsai Wei‐Chung , Chu Chun‐Yuan , Lai Wen‐Ter , Sheu Sheng‐Hsiung , Voon Wen‐Chol
Published: October 2010

Mitral regurgitation (MR) can affect left ventricular diastolic parameters because of interference with regurgitation flow. This study compared left ventricular diastolic parameters between patients with and without significant MR. The MR group included 57 consecutive patients with significant MR. Fifty‐seven age‐, sex‐ and Tei index‐matched patients without significant MR were selected as the reference group. Baseline characteristics and Tei index and its components were comparable between the MR and reference groups. The MR group had higher left atrial volume index, transmitral E wave velocity (E), ratio of E to transmitral A wave velocity, early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Ea), E/Ea, and ratio of E to isovolumic relaxation flow propagation velocity (IRFPV) (p = 0.025), and lower E‐wave deceleration time (p = 0.019) and late diastolic mitral annular velocity (p < 0.001). However, the two groups had similar IRFPV (p = 0.844). In conclusion, MR apparently affects E and Ea, but not IRFPV. IRFPV could potentially be a reliable relaxation parameter in patients with significant MR, but further confirmation by invasive studies is needed.
Frontal Function, Disability and Caregiver Burden in Elderly Patients With Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Chen Hui‐Mei , Hou Shu‐Ying , Yeh Yi‐Chun , Chang Chiung‐Yi , Yen Ju‐Yu , Ko Chih‐Hung , Yen Cheng‐Fang , Chen Cheng‐Sheng
Published: October 2010

Caregivers of patients with late‐life major depressive disorder experience a significant level of general caregiver burden. Disability in patients is possibly one of the origins of caregiver burden. Frontal lobe dysfunction might be the source of disability. This study investigated if frontal lobe dysfunction (body level) of patients with late‐life major depressive disorder was associated with their disability (individual level), and if it led to a high level of caregiver burden (societal level). Thirty‐four unselected pairs of caregivers and their family members with late‐life major depressive disorder were recruited. Frontal Assessment Battery and Timed Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (TIADL) were used to assess patients' frontal function and disability, and Caregiver Burden Inventory was used to measure caregiver burden. Frontal Assessment Battery correlated with TIADL (r= −0.47; p<0.006). TIADL score was also associated with two subscales of the Caregiver Burden Inventory: social (r = 0.38, p=0.026) and time‐dependent (r= 0.37, p= 0.033). This study supported the hypothesis that frontal lobe dysfunction in elderly patients with depression is associated with their disability in instrumental activities of daily living. Disability is related to social and time‐dependent aspects of caregiver burden. Further studies to examine proposed cognitive interventions are suggested to reduce patient disability and caregiver burden.
Metastatic Gallbladder Cancer Presenting as a Gingival Tumor and Deep Neck Infection
Authors: Chen Yuan‐Shen , Hsu Yung‐Hsiang , Lee Chia‐Fone , Chou Yu‐Fu
Published: October 2010

Gallbladder cancer has an extremely poor prognosis because it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. We describe a 63‐year‐old woman who was treated 4 years previously for gallbladder cancer, with laparoscopic cholecystectomy and secondary hepatectomy after presenting with acute cholecystitis and gallbladder rupture. At her second presentation, she had a left lower gingival tumor and deep neck infection. Incision and drainage and tumor biopsies were performed, and pathology at both sites revealed adenocarcinoma. Positron emission tomography revealed other tumors in the left breast and left lower lung field, which were both proven to be adenocarcinoma by biopsy. The patient's presentation with a metastatic oral tumor was rare. Although the incidence is very low, physicians should consider the possibility of metastatic cancer in a patient with a history of cancer, who presents with new oral tumor or deep neck infection.
Semi-parametric genomic-enabled prediction of genetic values using reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces methods
Authors: DE LOS CAMPOS GUSTAVO , GIANOLA DANIEL , ROSA GUILHERME J. M. , WEIGEL KENT A. , CROSSA JOSÉ
Published: October 2010

Prediction of genetic values is a central problem in quantitative genetics. Over many decades, such predictions have been successfully accomplished using information on phenotypic records and family structure usually represented with a pedigree. Dense molecular markers are now available in the genome of humans, plants and animals, and this information can be used to enhance the prediction of genetic values. However, the incorporation of dense molecular marker data into models poses many statistical and computational challenges, such as how models can cope with the genetic complexity of multi-factorial traits and with the curse of dimensionality that arises when the number of markers exceeds the number of data points. Reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces regressions can be used to address some of these challenges. The methodology allows regressions on almost any type of prediction sets (covariates, graphs, strings, images, etc.) and has important computational advantages relative to many parametric approaches. Moreover, some parametric models appear as special cases. This article provides an overview of the methodology, a discussion of the problem of kernel choice with a focus on genetic applications, algorithms for kernel selection and an assessment of the proposed methods using a collection of 599 wheat lines evaluated for grain yield in four mega environments.
Testing temporal changes in allele frequencies: a simulation approach
Authors: SANDOVAL-CASTELLANOS EDSON
Published: October 2010

Analysis of the temporal variation in allele frequencies is useful for studying microevolutionary processes. However, many statistical methods routinely used to test temporal changes in allele frequencies fail to establish a proper hypothesis or have theoretical or practical limitations. Here, a Bayesian statistical test is proposed in which the distribution of the distances among sampling frequencies is approached with computer simulations, and hypergeometric sampling is considered instead of binomial sampling. To validate the test and compare its performance with other tests, agent-based model simulations were run for a variety of scenarios, and two real molecular databases were analysed. The results showed that the simulation test (ST) maintained the significance value used (α=0·05) for a vast combination of parameter values, whereas other tests were sensitive to the effect of genetic drift or binomial sampling. The differences between binomial and hypergeometric sampling were more complex than expected, and a novel effect was described. This study suggests that the ST is especially useful for studies with small populations and many alleles, as in microsatellite or sequencing molecular data.
Mapping quantitative trait loci in a wild population using linkage and linkage disequilibrium analyses
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ-SÁNCHEZ J. , CHATZIPLI A. , BERALDI D. , GRATTEN J. , PILKINGTON J. G. , PEMBERTON J. M.
Published: October 2010

Historical information can be used, in addition to pedigree, traits and genotypes, to map quantitative trait locus (QTL) in general populations via maximum likelihood estimation of variance components. This analysis is known as linkage disequilibrium (LD) and linkage mapping, because it exploits both linkage in families and LD at the population level. The search for QTL in the wild population of Soay sheep on St. Kilda is a proof of principle. We analysed the data from a previous study and confirmed some of the QTLs reported. The most striking result was the confirmation of a QTL affecting birth weight that had been reported using association tests but not when using linkage-based analyses.
Nasopharyngeal cylindrical cell papilloma
Authors: Chrysovergis A , Paschalidis J , Michaels L , Bibas A
Published: October 2010

Introduction:

Cylindrical cell papillomas are rare tumours which usually arise in the sinonasal region.

Case report:

We report a case of a nasopharyngeal cylindrical cell papilloma in a 56-year-old man who presented with a four-month history of right-sided hearing loss, otalgia, vertigo and tinnitus. Investigation revealed a soft, nodular lesion obstructing the pharyngeal opening of the right eustachian tube; this was treated by wide endoscopic excision.

Conclusion:

Cylindrical cell papilloma is a possible cause of eustachian tube obstruction in adults. Effective treatment of these lesions usually requires wide endoscopic excision, in order not to miss coexistent carcinoma.
Predicting alcohol consumption in adolescence from alcohol-specific and general externalizing genetic risk factors, key environmental exposures and their interaction
Authors: Kendler K. S. , Gardner C. , Dick D. M.
Published: October 2010

Background

Alcohol consumption is influenced by specific genetic risk factors for alcohol use disorders (AUDs), non-specific genetic risk factors for externalizing behaviors and various environmental experiences. We have limited knowledge of how these risk factors inter-relate through development.

Method

Retrospective assessments in 1796 adult male twins using a life history calendar of key environmental exposures and alcohol consumption from early adolescence to mid-adulthood. Analysis by linear mixed models.

Results

The importance of non-specific genetic risk factors on maximal alcohol consumption rose rapidly in early to mid-adolescence, peaked at ages 15–17 years and then declined slowly. Alcohol-specific genetic risk factors increased slowly in influence through mid-adulthood. We detected robust evidence for environmental moderation of genetic effects on alcohol consumption that was more pronounced in early and mid-adolescence than in later periods. Alcohol availability, peer deviance and low prosocial behaviors showing the strongest moderation effects. More interactions with environmental risk factors were seen for the non-specific externalizing disorder risk than for specific genetic risk for AUDs.

Conclusions

The impact of specific and non-specific genetic influences on alcohol consumption have different development trajectories. Genetic effects on alcohol use are more pronounced when social constraints are minimized (e.g. low prosocial behaviors or parental monitoring) or when the environment permits easy access to alcohol and/or encourages its use (e.g. high alcohol availability or peer deviance). Gene–environment interactions influencing alcohol intake may be more robust at younger ages, indicating greater plasticity of genetic influences early in the development of drinking patterns.
Executive functioning-related brain abnormalities associated with the genetic liability for schizophrenia: an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis
Authors: Goghari V. M.
Published: October 2010

Background

Relatives of schizophrenia patients demonstrate abnormalities in prefrontal cortical activation during executive processing as measured by functional neuroimaging, albeit not consistently. A meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether reliable patterns of brain hypo- and hyperactivity, especially in the middle frontal region, were present in the relatives of patients.

Method

Seventeen studies, containing 18 samples of relatives and controls, were included in this meta-analysis. Studies were included if relatives of schizophrenia patients were compared to controls, an executive processing task was used, and standard space coordinates were reported for the functional activations. Activation likelihood estimation (ALE) was implemented to find convergence across functional neuroimaging experiment coordinates. A separate analysis was conducted to assess the potential impact of a priori hypothesis testing used in region-of-interest (ROI) approaches on the meta-analysis results.

Results

Relatives demonstrated hypo- and hyperactivity in statistically overlapping right middle frontal regions [Brodmann area (BA) 9/10]. Use of an ROI analysis that a priori focused on prefrontal regions resulted in more findings of reduced activity in the middle frontal region.

Conclusions

The cortical regions identified by this meta-analysis could potentially serve as intermediate biological markers in the search for candidate genes for schizophrenia. As neurocognitive deficits are related to functional impairments in patients, a better understanding of neural and genetic vulnerabilities would be beneficial in our efforts to remediate these important deficits.
Global and regional cortical thinning in first-episode psychosis patients: relationships with clinical and cognitive features
Authors: Crespo-Facorro B. , Roiz-Santiáñez R. , Pérez-Iglesias R. , Rodriguez-Sanchez J. M. , Mata I. , Tordesillas-Gutierrez D. , Sanchez E. , Tabarés-Seisdedos R. , Andreasen N. , Magnotta V. , Vázquez-Barquero J. L.
Published: October 2010

Background

The thickness of the cortical mantle is a sensitive measure for identifying alterations in cortical structure. We aimed to explore whether first episode schizophrenia patients already show a significant cortical thinning and whether cortical thickness anomalies may significantly influence clinical and cognitive features.

Method

We investigated regional changes in cortical thickness in a large and heterogeneous sample of schizophrenia spectrum patients (n=142) at their first break of the illness and healthy controls (n=83). Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans (1.5 T) were obtained and images were analyzed by using brains2. The contribution of sociodemographic, cognitive and clinical characterictics was investigated.

Results

Patients showed a significant total cortical thinning (F=17.55, d=−0.62, p<0.001) and there was a diffuse pattern of reduced thickness (encompassing frontal, temporal and parietal cortices) (all p's<0.001, d's>0.53). No significant group×gender interactions were observed (all p's>0.15). There were no significant associations between the clinical and pre-morbid variables and cortical thickness measurements (all r's<0.12). A weak significant negative correlation between attention and total (r=−0.24, p=0.021) and parietal cortical thickness (r=−0.27, p=0.009) was found in patients (thicker cortex was associated with lower attention). Our data revealed a similar pattern of cortical thickness changes related to age in patients and controls.

Conclusions

Cortical thinning is independent of gender, age, age of onset and duration of the illness and does not seem to significantly influence clinical and functional symptomatology. These findings support a primary neurodevelopment disorder affecting the normal cerebral cortex development in schizophrenia.
Majorant series convergence for twistless KAM tori
Authors: Gallavotti Giovanni , Gentile Guido
Published: October 2010

A self-contained proof of the KAM theorem in the Thirring model is discussed, completely relaxing the ‘strong diophantine property’ hypothesis used previously.
Metric properties of non-renormalizable S-unimodal maps: II. Quasisymmetric conjugacy classes
Authors: Jakobson M. , Świạtek G.
Published: October 2010

It is shown that for certain classes of S-unimodal maps with aperiodic kneading sequences, the topological conjugacies are also quasisymmetric. This includes some infinitely renormalizable polynomials of unbounded type.
Almost-sure waiting time results for weak and very weak Bernoulli processes
Authors: Marton Katalin , Shields Paul C.
Published: October 2010

Almost-sure convergence of (l/k) log Wk(x, y) to entropy for weak Bernoulli processes is proved, where Wk (x, y) is the waiting time until an initial segment of length k of a sample path x is seen in an independently chosen sample path y. Analogous almost-sure results are obtained in the approximate match case for very weak Bernoulli processes. The weak Bernoulli proof uses recent results obtained by the authors about the estimation of joint distributions, while the very weak Bernoulli result utilizes a new characterization of such processes in terms of a blowing-up property.
Some ergodic properties for infinite graphs associated with subfactors
Authors: Popa Sorin
Published: October 2010

We prove that the restriction of the graph of a subfactor, ΓN,M, to an infinite subset of vertices with finite boundary has the same norm as ΓN,W. In particular, ifNφMis extremal with [M : N] > 4 and ΓN,Mhas an A∞, tail then ΓN, M= A∞.
Horseshoes in the measure-preserving Hénon map
Authors: Brown Ray
Published: October 2010

We show, using elementary methods, that for 0 < a the measure-preserving, orientation-preserving Hénon map, H, has a horseshoe. This improves on the result of Devaney and Nitecki who have shown that a horseshoe exists in this map for a ≥ 8. For a > 0, we also prove the conjecture of Devaney that the first symmetric homoclinic point is transversal.

To obtain our results, we show that for a branch, Cu, of the unstable manifold of a hyperbolic fixed point of H, Cu crosses the line y = − x and that this crossing is a homoclinic point, χc. This has been shown by Devaney, but we obtain the crossing using simpler methods. Next we show that if the crossing of Wu(p) and Ws(p) at χc is degenerate then the slope of Cu at this crossing is one. Following this we show that if χc is a degenerate homoclinic its x-coordinate must be greater than l/(2a). We then derive a contradiction from this by showing that the slope of Cu at H-1(χc) must be both positive and negative, thus we conclude that χc is transversal.

Our approach uses a lemma that gives a recursive formula for the sign of curvature of the unstable manifold. This lemma, referred to as ‘the curvature lemma’, is the key to reducing the proof to elementary methods. A curvature lemma can be derived for a very broad array of maps making the applicability of these methods very general. Further, since curvature is the strongest differentiability feature needed in our proof, the methods work for maps of the plane which are only C2.
Invariant measures of groups of homeomorphisms and Auslander's conjecture
Authors: Friedland Shmuel
Published: October 2010

We give sufficient conditions for a group of homeomorphisms of a compact Hausdorff space to have an invariant probability measure. For a complex projective spaceCPnwe give a necessary condition for a subgroup of Aut(CPn) to have an invariant probability measure. We discuss two approaches to Auslander's conjecture.
On the approximation of Hénon-like attractors by homoclinic tangencies
Authors: Ures Raúl
Published: October 2010

We prove that the diffeomorphisms with strange attractors shown to exist elsewhere are approximated by diffeomorphisms exhibiting homoclinic tangencies. As a consequence for the Hénon family these diffeomorphisms are approximated by diffeomorphisms exhibiting periodic attractors. This answers a question posed by Benedicks and Carleson.
Entropy for extensions of Bernoulli shifts
Authors: Choda Marie
Published: October 2010

We give a condition for automorphisms α and β on finite von Neumann algebras which induces the tensor product formula for entropies: H(α ⊗ β) = H(α) + H(β). As an application, the Bernoulli shift (1/n, 1/n, …, 1/n) has extensions to ergodic outer automorphisms {αk; k = 1,2, …} on the hyperfinite II1 factor R with the entropies H(αk) = (1/2)kn log n.
Backward continued fractions, Hecke groups and invariant measures for transformations of the interval
Authors: Gröchenig Karlheinz , Haas Andrew
Published: October 2010

We develop a new type of backward continued fractions that can be associated to each Hecke-type group. We study its symbolic dynamics, and the corresponding interval maps and their invariant measures. These measures are infinite if and only if the corresponding groups are discrete. For the discrete Hecke groups the invariant measure is computed explicitly by studying the geodesic flow on the associated Riemann surface.
Julia sets for holomorphic endomorphisms of ℂn
Authors: Heinemann Stefan-M.
Published: October 2010

We give a definition for a Julia setJ(f) for generic classes of polynomial endomorphismsf: ℂn→ ℂn. Forn= 1, our definition is equivalent to the usual one, which gives the points where the iterates offdo not form a normal family. Moreover, the Julia setJ(f1× … ×fn) ⊂ ℂnfor a product of one-dimensional polynomialsfi: ℂ → ℂ turns out to be the productJ(f1) × … ×J(fn) of the associated Julia setsJ(fi) ⊂ ℂ. For a special class of mappingsf: ℂ2→ ℂ2which is not of this simple type, the so-called Cantor skews, we investigate topological structure as well as measure theoretic aspects of the Julia sets obtained using our definition.
Properties of attractors of generic homeomorphisms
Authors: Hurley Mike
Published: October 2010

We describe several generic properties of homeomorphisms on compact manifolds. These properties concern the attractors of a homeomorphism, its chain recurrent set, and the periodic points.
On almost everywhere exponential convergence of the modified Jacobi-Perron algorithm: a corrected proof
Authors: Fujita T. , Ito S. , Keane M. , Ohtsuki M.
Published: October 2010

The following theorem was published in [2].

Theorem. There exists a constant δ > 0 such that for Lebesgue almost every (α, β) ∈ X = [0, 1] × [0, 1], there exists no = no(α, β) such that for any n > no

where the integers pn, qn, rn are provided by the modified Jacobi-Perron algorithm.
Elliptic islands in generalized Sinai billiards
Authors: Donnay Victor J.
Published: October 2010

We find necessary conditions for a generalized Sinai billiard to be ergodic, independent of the geometry of the disks; i.e. if the conditions are not satisfied, then we can always construct special geometries for which the system is not ergodic. We prove non-ergodicity by constructing an elliptic periodic orbit and showing that this orbit satisfies the non-degeneracy condition of KAM theory. By a combination of theory and numerical calculation involving a computer algebra system (Mathematica), we show that the first Birkhoff invariant is non-zero. We apply this result to produce non-ergodic Hamiltonian flows that are generated by smooth potentials of finite range (repelling potentials and Lennard–Jones potentials) and by geodesic flows on the torus.
Rotation orbits and the Farey tree
Authors: Goldberg Lisa , Tresser Charles
Published: October 2010

An α-rotation orbit for a self-map of the circle is an orbit whose cyclic order on the circle is the same as for any orbit of rotation by a. In this paper, we classify sets which are minimal sets comprised of a-rotation orbits for degree d αself-coverings of the circle.
Planar central configuration estimates in the n-body problem
Authors: McCord Christopher K.
Published: October 2010

For all masses, there are at least n − 2, O2-orbits of non-collinear planar central configurations. In particular, this estimate is valid even if the potential function is not a Morse function. If the potential function is a Morse function, then an improved lower bound, of the order of n! ln(n + 1/3)/2, can be given.
Correction to ‘On the classification of some two-dimensional Markov shifts with group structure’ (Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys. 12 (1992), 823–833)
Authors: Shereshevsky Mark A.
Published: October 2010

Correction to ‘On the classification of some two-dimensional Markov shifts with group structure’ (Ergod. Th. & Dynam. Sys. 12 (1992), 823–833)
Prepositional Phrases from the Twilight Zone
Authors: Wechsler Stephen
Published: October 2010

This paper proposes a treatment of optional prepositional phrases with a status intermediate between adjuncts and complements. The essential idea is simply that such PPs are semantically but not syntactically selected. It is argued that prepositions often assign an external theta role to a complement of the governing verb, subject to the heretofore unnoticed syntactic condition that such external arguments must be direct rather than oblique. This explains certain binding opacity effects and also greatly simplifies the subcategorization frames of verbs. The analysis is formulated in the framework of Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar (Pollard & Sag 1994).
An outbreak ofSalmonellaTyphimurium DT191a associated with reptile feeder mice
Authors: HARKER K. S. , LANE C. , DE PINNA E. , ADAK G. K.
Published: October 2010

In December 2008 an increase of tetracycline-resistantSalmonellaTyphimurium definitive phage-type 191a (DT191a) was identified in England and Wales by the reference laboratory. This was confirmed to have a phage-typing pattern that had not previously been seen. Strong statistical evidence for an association between illness and keeping reptiles was demonstrated by a matched case-case study (mOR 16·82, 95% CI 2·78–∞). Questionnaires revealed an association with frozen reptile feeder mice, and mice representing 80% of the UK supply lines were tested for the presence ofSalmonella. DT191a was found in three pools of sampled mice, which were traced back to a single supplier in the USA. Imports from this supplier were halted, and tighter regulations are now in place. A leaflet detailing how to prevent contractingSalmonellafrom pet reptiles has been published as well as updated advice on the Health Protection Agency's website.
Source attribution of human Salmonella cases in Sweden
Authors: WAHLSTRÖM H. , ANDERSSON Y. , PLYM-FORSHELL L. , PIRES S. M.
Published: October 2010

The aim of this study was to identify the sources of sporadic domestic Salmonella cases in Sweden and to evaluate the usefulness of a source-attribution model in a country in which food animals are virtually free from Salmonella. The model allocates human sporadic domestic Salmonella cases to different sources according to distribution of Salmonella subtypes in the different sources. Sporadic domestic human Salmonella cases (n=1086) reported between July 2004 and June 2006 were attributed to nine food-animal and wildlife sources. Of all Salmonella cases, 82% were acquired abroad and 2·9% were associated with outbreaks. We estimated that 6·4% were associated with imported food, 0·5% with food-producing animals, and 0·6% with wildlife. Overall, 7·7% could not be attributed to any source. We concluded that domestic food-producing animals are not an important source for Salmonella in humans in Sweden, and that the adapted model is useful also in low-prevalence countries.
Seasonal breeding drives the incidence of a chronic bacterial infection in a free-living herbivore population
Authors: PATHAK A. K. , BOAG B. , POSS M. , HARVILL E. T. , CATTADORI I. M.
Published: October 2010

Understanding seasonal changes in age-related incidence of infections can be revealing for disentangling how host heterogeneities affect transmission and how to control the spread of infections between social groups. Seasonal forcing has been well documented in human childhood diseases but the mechanisms responsible for age-related transmission in free-living and socially structured animal populations are still poorly known. Here we studied the seasonal dynamics ofBordetella bronchisepticain a free-living rabbit population over 5 years and discuss the possible mechanisms of infection. This bacterium has been isolated in livestock and wildlife where it causes respiratory infections that rapidly spread between individuals and persist as subclinical infections. Sera were collected from rabbits sampled monthly and examined using an ELISA. Findings revealed thatB. bronchisepticacirculates in the rabbit population with annual prevalence ranging between 88% and 97%. Both seroprevalence and antibody optical density index exhibited 1-year cycles, indicating that disease outbreaks were seasonal and suggesting that long-lasting antibody protection was transient. Intra-annual dynamics showed a strong seasonal signature associated with the recruitment of naive offspring during the breeding period. Infection appeared to be mainly driven by mother-to-litter contacts rather than by interactions with other members of the community. By age 2 months, 65% of the kittens were seropositive.
Impact of miRNAs in gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis and prognosis
Authors: Song Bo , Ju Jingfang
Published: October 2010

Since the discovery of noncoding small RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs), and their roles as potential tumour suppressors or oncogenes, post-transcriptional and translational control of gene expression have become increasingly important in cancer research. Given that over a third of coding genes, as estimated by computational prediction, are regulated by miRNAs, various types of cancer will show direct association with changes in miRNA expression. The link of certain miRNAs with specific developmental stages, tissues and cancer contributes to their strong potential as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. In this review, we cover recent advances in miRNA research in human gastrointestinal cancer (colorectal, gastric, pancreatic and liver) and the potential of miRNAs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.
Intergenerational risk sharing within funded pension schemes
Authors: CUI JIAJIA , JONG FRANK DE , PONDS EDUARD
Published: October 2010

Is intergenerational risk sharing desirable and feasible in funded pension schemes? Using a multi-period OLG model, we study risk sharing between generations for a variety of realistic collective funded pension schemes, where pension benefits and contributions may depend on the funding ratio and the asset returns. We find that well-structured intergenerational risk sharing via collective schemes can be welfare-enhancing vis-à-vis the optimal individual benchmark. Moreover, from an ex ante perspective the expected welfare gain of the current entry cohort is not at the cost of the older and future cohorts.
Formation of a broad plasma turbulent layer by forward and inverse energy cascades of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability
Authors: Matsumoto Yosuke , Seki Kanako
Published: October 2010

The 2‐D MHD simulations of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) with transverse magnetic field and highly asymmetric density configurations in a large simulation domain show that rapid formation of a broad plasma turbulent layer can be achieved by forward and inverse energy cascades of the KHI. The forward cascade is triggered by growth of the secondary Rayleigh‐Taylor instability excited during the nonlinear evolution of the KHI. The inverse cascade is accomplished by nonlinear mode couplings between the fastest growing mode of the KHI and other KH unstable modes. As a result of the energy transport by the inverse cascade, the growth rate of the largest vortex allowed in the system reaches 3.7 times as large as the linear growth rate. A PIC simulation under the similar initial configuration is also conducted and shows the quick growth of the largest vortex and the resultant spread of the turbulent layer in which plasmas are effectively mixed. The proposed mechanism enables rapid formation of a large scale mixing layer which resembles observational characteristics of the low‐latitude boundary layer of the magnetosphere.