hagis, an R Package Resource for Pathotype Analysis of Phytophthora sojae Populations Causing Stem and Root Rot of Soybean

Phytophthora sojae is a significant pathogen of soybean worldwide. Pathotype surveys for Phytophthora sojae are conducted to monitor resistance gene efficacy and determine if new resistance genes are needed. Valuable measurements for pathotype analysis include the distribution of susceptible reactions, pathotype complexity, pathotype frequency, and diversity indices for pathotype distributions. Previously the Habgood-Gilmour Spreadsheet (HaGiS), written in Microsoft Excel, was used for data analysis. However, the growing popularity of the R programming language in plant pathology and desire for reproducible research made HaGiS a prime candidate for conversion into an R package. Here we report on the development and use of an R package, hagis, that can be used to produce all outputs from the HaGiS Excel sheet for P. sojae or other gene-for-gene pathosystem studies

The check is in the mail: Household characteristics and migrant remittance from the U.S. to Mexico

We develop a household model of migrant remittance that accounts for the effects of subsistence requirements and transaction costs on remittances. The model supports testable hypotheses about the effect on remittances of migrant income, family composition and distribution, transaction costs, income and residence security, and other household characteristics on remittance levels and frequency. We test these hypotheses using survey data on individual Mexican migrants in the United States. The results are broadly consistent with our hypotheses. For example, our subsistence requirement implies that below a threshold, the income effect on remittance is zero. This is borne out in our results.remittances, migrant income, transaction costs

The check is in the mail: Household characteristics and migrant remittance from the U.S. to Mexico

We develop a household model of migrant remittance that accounts for the effects of transaction costs on remittances. The model supports testable hypotheses about the effect on remittances of migrant income, family composition and distribution, transaction costs, income and residence security, and other household characteristics on remittance levels and frequency. We test these hypotheses using survey data on individual Mexican migrants in the United States. The results are broadly consistent with our hypotheses.remittances, migrant income, transaction costs

An Empirical Examination of the Factors Affecting Remittance by Mexican Migrants in the United States

Mexico has reported workers remittances to equal $16.6 billion in 2004, which constitutes nearly 2.5 percent of Mexicos GDP, exceeding the inflows from direct foreign investment and aid. We develop a model of remittances based on a net income concept. The model is used to generate a series of testable hypotheses. We test these hypotheses using what we term a type II generalized ordered probit model based on survey data for Mexican Migrants. Our results are generally consistent with standard utility maximization theory, and more specifically are consistent with a net income hypothesis. we find, for example, that migrant income is a strong positive determinant of remittance levels except for the lowest remittance category. We also find that migrants remit more when they have more family members in Mexico and fewer in the U.S., when they own land and real estate in Mexico, and when they plan on returning to Mexico relatively soon.Labor and Human Capital,

Preliminary Results of American Eel Sampling Efforts in Gulf of Mexico Drainages of Texas

American Eel Anguilla rostrata has a unique and complex life history that is fairly well-studied on the eastern coast of the United States, but few studies have been done on Gulf of Mexico drainages. To inform conservation and management decisions, efforts to better understand the population structure, seasonal dynamics, and life history of American Eel are underway. The primary objectives of our efforts are to assess the current and historical distribution and abundance, habitat use, movement patterns, parasite occurrence, diet and population structure of American Eel across all life stages in Gulf of Mexico drainages of Texas.Texas State Wildlife Grant Program grants T-173-R-1 and T-172-R-1 in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration ProgramIntegrative Biolog

A droplet digital PCR detection method for rare L1 insertions in tumors

Background: The active human mobile element, long interspersed element 1 (L1) currently populates human genomes in excess of 500,000 copies per haploid genome. Through its mobility via a process called target primed reverse transcription (TPRT), L1 mobilization has resulted in over 100 de novo cases of human disease and has recently been associated with various cancer types. Large advances in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) technology have allowed for an increased understanding of the role of L1 in human cancer; however, researchers are still limited by the ability to validate potentially rare L1 insertion events detected by HTS that may occur in only a small fraction of tumor cells. Additionally, HTS detection of rare events varies greatly as a function of read depth, and new tools for de novo element discovery are needed to fill in gaps created by HTS. Results: We have employed droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect rare L1 loci in mosaic human genomes. Our assay allows for the detection of L1 insertions as rare as one cell in every 10,000. Conclusions: ddPCR represents a robust method to be used alongside HTS techniques for detecting, validating and quantitating rare L1 insertion events in tumors and other tissues. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13100-014-0030-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Treatment of Tardive Dyskinesia with High Dose Vitamin B6 Associated with Depression

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a movement disorder associated with dopamine receptor blocking medications. Recommended treatments for TD include discontinuing the causative agent, adding vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors, or adding vitamin B6. We present a 66-year-old Caucasian male with bipolar I disorder who developed TD while on lithium and quetiapine having been euthymic on this regimen for three years. He was initially treated with 1200 mg B6 daily. This failed to improve his TD and was associated with a depressive episode. He switched to valbenazine 40 mg daily which improved his TD and concurrently his mood, but months later the TD symptoms worsened again. Our case adds to the literature by demonstrating that some patients with TD will not respond to vitamin B6. To our knowledge, ours is the first case suggesting association of high dose vitamin B6 with depression. This case also demonstrates that response to valbenazine may not last and further studies are needed