In a prospective, remote natural history study of 277 individuals with (60) and genetically at risk for (217) Parkinson’s disease (PD), we examined interest in the return of individual research results (IRRs) and compared characteristics of those who opted for versus against the return of IRRs. Most (n = 180, 65%) requested sharing of IRRs with either a primary care provider, neurologist, or themselves. Among individuals without PD, those who requested sharing of IRRs with a clinician reported more motor symptoms than those who did not request any sharing (mean (SD) 2.2 (4.0) versus 0.7 (1.5)). Participant interest in the return of IRRs is strong.

Abstract

The implementation of non-smoking policies in psychiatric hospitals is often a more challenging and controversial issue than in other settings. This may be particularly true in Switzerland, a country with a still rather permissive general attitude regarding tobacco smoking. Only recently general hospitals, and subsequently psychiatric hospitals, have begun to implement smoking bans.

Research on acoustic communication and its underlying neurobiological substrates has led to new insights about the functioning of central pattern generators (CPGs). CPG-related atypicalities may point to brainstem irregularities rather than cortical malfunctions for early vocalizations/babbling. The “vocal pattern generator,” together with other CPGs, seems to have great potential in disentangling neurodevelopmental disorders and potentially predict neurological development.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) has a profound impact with a high disease burden. In order to truly understand the scope of the effect OCD has on the patient population, one must take into account not only the relentless symptoms beleaguering the patients but also examine their overall ability to enjoy their life. Quality of life (QOL) assessments/improvements are becoming an increasingly important component of healthcare, especially in the mental health field. This review examines QOL in OCD, as well as the influence of comorbidities, and the impact that OCD treatment has on QOL. We searched MEDLINE/PUBMED and PsycINFO databases from 1980–2011 using keywords “obsessive compulsive disorder” OR “OCD” AND “quality of life” OR “QOL.” Fifty-eight studies meeting specific selection criteria were ultimately included in this review. The results show that QOL in OCD is significantly impaired when compared to QOL in the general population and in patients with other psychiatric and medical disorders. Likewise, QOL in OCD also appears to be largely affected by comorbid conditions, which should be taken into account when developing a treatment plan. Furthermore, QOL in OCD has been shown to improve with medications and with both individual and group psychotherapy, albeit not to the levels enjoyed by community norms. QOL assessment in both clinical and research settings is important to examine the disease burden, to monitor treatment effectiveness, and to determine full recovery from OCD. Treatment providers should strive to not only reach symptom abatement, but also to assure that patients have regained satisfaction and functioning in their daily lives.

The current study examined regional frontal lobe volumes based on functionally relevant subdivisions in contemporaneously recruited samples of boys and girls with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Forty-four boys (21 ADHD, 23 control) and 42 girls (21 ADHD, 21 control), ages 8–13 years, participated. Sulcal–gyral landmarks were used to manually delimit functionally relevant regions within the frontal lobe: primary motor cortex, anterior cingulate, deep white matter, premotor regions [supplementary motor complex (SMC), frontal eye field, lateral premotor cortex (LPM)], and prefrontal cortex (PFC) regions [medial PFC, dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC), inferior PFC, lateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), and medial OFC]. Compared to sex-matched controls, boys and girls with ADHD showed reduced volumes (gray and white matter) in the left SMC. Conversely, girls (but not boys) with ADHD showed reduced gray matter volume in left LPM; while boys (but not girls) with ADHD showed reduced white matter volume in left medial PFC. Reduced left SMC gray matter volumes predicted increased go/no–go commission rate in children with ADHD. Reduced left LPM gray matter volumes predicted increased go/no–go variability, but only among girls with ADHD. Results highlight different patterns of anomalous frontal lobe development among boys and girls with ADHD beyond that detected by measuring whole lobar volumes. (JINS, 2011, 17, 1047–1057)

Neospora caninum is a recently identified coccidian parasite which was, until 1988, misdiagnosed as Toxoplasma gondii. It causes paralysis and death in dogs and neonatal mortality and abortion in cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The life-cycle of Neospora has not yet been elucidated. The only two stages identified so far are tissue cysts and intracellularly dividing tachyzoites. Very little is known about the biology of this species. We have set up a fluorescence-based adhesion/invasion assay in order to investigate the interaction of N. caninum tachyzoites with bovine aorta endothelial (BAE) cells in vitro. Treatment of both host cells and parasites with metabolic inhibitors determined the metabolic requirements for adhesion and invasion. Chemical and enzymatic modifications of parasite and endothelial cell surfaces were used in order to obtain information on the nature of cell surface components responsible for the interaction between parasite and host. Electron microscopical investigations defined the ultrastructural characteristics of the adhesion and invasion process, and provided information on the intracellular development of the parasites.

In this work, we analyze observations of the solar radius at 22 and 43 GHz obtained with the 13.7 m antenna of the Itapetinga Radio Observatory (Atibaia, Brazil) and at submillimeter-wave frequencies, 212 and 405 GHz, obtained by the Solar Submillimeter-wave Telescope (SST) (El Leoncito, San Juan, Argentina). The radius is defined as the limb position where the intensity is equal to half of the quiet Sun value. These measured radii are then compared with those predicted by a model of the solar atmosphere proposed by Selhorst, Silva, and Costa (2005). The results show that at 22 and 43 GHz, the emission comes from regions high in the chromosphere. Furthermore, the Itapetinga observations yield radii of 985” ± 5” and 981” ± 6”, at 22 and 43 GHz respectively, consistent with the theoretical positions in the atmosphere. On other hand, the submillimeter observations resulted in a mean radius of 972” ± 3” and 975” ± 5” at 212 and 405 GHz, respectively, considered equal within the uncertainties. The latter results can be explained by the origin of the emission being very close to the region of minimum temperature, between the photosphere and chromosphere. This is a dynamic region largely affected by many solar features, like spicules and plages.

Management deficiencies on the part of the pastoralists were claimed to be one of the major causes of the high losses of camel (Camelus dromedarius) calves contributing to low productivity of camel herds. In the present study, calf deaths, and the causes thereof, were analysed in connection with pastoral calf management in order to assess possible relationships. Progeny history data on 1506 Rendille, 789 Gabra and 1206 Somali calves born between 1980 and 1995 provided quantitative information on losses and the underlying causes. Assessment of the causes of death, and analysis of related management practices, led to suggestions for management changes. In feedback seminars with pastoralists, however, it became apparent that these management changes would not be adopted because they contradicted the pastoralists' assumptions on the causes of calf mortality. The discussions revealed that differences between pastoralists' and scientists' perceptions determined different opinions on proper calf-rearing management practices. Combining different knowledge systems offers the possibility of a more complete understanding, which is required for the derivation of adoptable calf mortality-reducing interventions that are compatible with the knowledge and production systems of the pastoralists.

AlGaN/GaN single quantum wells (QW) have been grown on 2” sapphire substrates (c-plane) by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The well width was varied between 20 and 40 Å for barriers containing 4 % and 16 % of aluminium. Cathodoluminescence (CL) and Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the samples show, as expected, a shift of the quantum well emission to higher energies with decreasing well width, whereas the barrier luminescence stays at constant energy. Examination of the QWs by resonant Raman spectroscopy tuned to the gap of the well, clearly shows the GaN A1(LO) phonon besides the AlGaN A1(LO) phonon from the barrier. For a well width of 20 Å we observe a shift of the A1(LO) GaN phonon indicating a certain degree of intermixing at the GaN/AlGaN interface. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) reveals that the layers are growing in a 2-dimensional step flow growth mode with step heights of 3 and 6 Å corresponding to mono- and biatomic steps. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) micrographs of the 40 Å well show a very low interface roughness of 1–2 atomic layers.

Four Cu-Zr alloys, Cu56Zr44, Cu50Zr50, Cu47Zr53, and Cu33Zr67, were surface melted with electron and pulsed laser beams to compare their kinetics of nucleation, growth and glass formation. It was observed that the ease of glass formation increased in the order: Cu33Zr67, Cu47Zr53, Cu56Zr44, and Cu50Zr50. The nucleation and regrowth produced different metastable phases. At the equiatomic composition, the preferred phase is a CsCl-type (B2) BCC structure. As the composition deviates from this, the preferred phase is either orthorhombic or tetragonal with a much larger unit cell not previously reported in the literature. The maximum growth velocity of these metastable phases was found to be about 0.025 m/s. The slow kinetics are responsible for the ease of glass formation in these systems.

Since the very beginning of the Itapetinga 45-ft antenna operations in 1971, there were plans to use it as a southern hemisphere VLBI terminal for high north-south resolution. The first successful VLBI tests were performed on water vapor lines in cooperation with Haystack Observatory in 1978 in one of the last runs using the MkI system. This cooperation led to the construction of a MkII terminal for Itapetinga years later (1981–1983). Astrophysical VLBI runs have been carried out since 1984, with the cooperation of Caltech, producing maps of unique resolution on stronger quasars, especially on 3C273 whose evolution has been followed since then. Recently, Bonn joined the collaboration in astrophysical VLBI programs. Itapetinga also participated successfully in geodetic surveys, and in the Vega-Venus mission, in collaboration with JPL and French organizations CNES, Observatoire de Paris and IGN. Plans for continuation and expansion of the Itapetinga VLBI participation in international efforts depend strongly on support to maintain and upgrade instrumentation at the Brazilian Radio Observatory.

Initial studies of the oxidation resistance imparted to uranium metal through the implantation of Mo ions have shown that a significantly increased resistance can be achievedfor doses of 5 ×1016/cm2. No enhancement of oxidation resistance was found for doses below 1 ×1016/cm2. We report results of weight-gain measurements, ion-beam analysis, and x-ray diffraction, as well as observations of the way in which the protective implanted layer fails at long exposure times.

Since the nineteenth century scholars have depicted Indian castes as timeless, fixed communities whose customs, rituals, and occupational specialities evolved at an unidentifiable point in the distant past. It has now been shown, however, that many jatis are of relatively recent origin, and historians have been able to trace the economic, political, and religious changes which acted to form individual caste groups during the colonial period. Several recent works on south India have argued that the agglomerations of artisans and cultivators described as castes in British ethnographies and Census reports had no real cohesion and were often no more than unstable political alliances or ‘administrative fictions’. In this view it was the misconceived European notion of castes as rigid, competing corporations which stimulated the formation of many south Indian castes after 1880.