Support for an independent familial segregation of executive and intelligence endophenotypes in ADHD families

Contains fulltext : 70924.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Impairments in executive functioning (EF) and intelligence quotient (IQ) are frequently observed in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The aim of this paper was twofold: first, to examine whether both domains are viable endophenotypic candidates for ADHD and second to investigate whether deficits in both domains tend to co-segregate within families. METHOD: A large family-based design was used, including 238 ADHD families (545 children) and 147 control families (271 children). Inhibition, visuospatial and verbal working memory, and performance and verbal IQ were analysed. RESULTS: Children with ADHD, and their affected and non-affected siblings were all impaired on the EF measures and verbal IQ (though unimpaired on performance IQ) and all measures correlated between siblings. Correlations and sibling cross-correlations were not significant between EF and IQ, though they were significant between the measures of one domain. Group differences on EF were not explained by group differences on IQ and vice versa. The discrepancy score between EF and IQ correlated between siblings, indicating that siblings resembled each other in their EF-IQ discrepancy instead of having generalized impairments across both domains. Siblings of probands who had an EF but not IQ impairment, showed a comparable disproportionate lower EF score in relation to IQ score. The opposite pattern was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results supported the viability of EF and IQ as endophenotypic candidates for ADHD. Most findings support an independent familial segregation of both domains. Within EF, similar familial factors influenced inhibition and working memory. Within IQ, similar familial factors influenced verbal and performance IQ

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617-625Bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum is the most devastating disease of tomato resulting in huge yield loss in commercial growing pockets of Himachal Pradesh, India. Cold tolerant strains of this pathogen evolved in the recent past, particularly pathotype IIB, are responsible for causing bacterial wilt in cold and temperate regions. High temperature and humidity favours the incidence of disease. Resistant genotypes have been developed at various research centers, located within the country and abroad but these genotypes were not found suitable for growing in Himachal Pradesh as these are lacking in one or other characteristics. Therefore, 18 bacterial wilt resistant F4 progenies of tomato were evaluated along with two bacterial wilt resistant checks to identify the most promising progenies on the basis of nature and extent of genetic variability and heritability coupled with genetic gain. To ascertain the variability source structure, computation of principal component analysis (PCA) was also done. Estimates for phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV), genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), heritability and genetic gain were found to be high for average fruit weight, total fruits per plant, marketable fruits per plant, marketable yield per plant, gross yield per plant and lycopene content that indicates the presence of sufficient variability ensuring ample scope for improvement through selection. High heritability allied with high genetic gain suggested the presence of additive gene action and thereby these traits could be considered as reliable indices for selection. For PCA studies, eigenvalues were calculated for 16 morphological traits and the results revealed that the initial eight traits exhibited more than 0.5 eigenvalues and above 95 per cent of genetic variability. Hence, these traits can be considered for effective selection of developing elite bacterial wilt resistant lines in tomato

Aquatic nitrogen prevelace among Ammophila breviligulata in the dune environment

General EcologySources of nitrogen, often a limiting factor to growth and development, can be very important to an ecosystem. Allochthonous inputs into a system can stabilize a low-nutrient system. Using stable isotope analysis, it is now possible to determine nitrogen sources as aquatic or terrestrial. The limited nutrient dune system at Sturgeon Bay in northern Michigan was observed by examining 15N/14N ratios in beach grass, Ammophila breviligulata both at the shoreline and at distances 10m, 20m, and 30m from the shoreline. Algae were collected as an aquatic control; the 30m samples were used as a terrestrial control. Assuming only two nitrogen sources, aquatic (algae) and terrestrial (30m), 15N/14N ratios were determined. While 15N was depleted compared to the standard in all A. breviligulata samples, there was significantly more 15N in samples taken from the shore. Samples at 10m and 20m were composed entirely of terrestrial nitrogen. Shoreline A. breviligulata was composed of 23.3% aquatic nitrogen. Primary succession modeling dune systems suggest the presence of high nutrients and terrestrial influence in older dunes far from the shore. The significant increase in total nitrogen (% in the plant) from 10m to 30m and from 20m to 30m supports this. There was a significantly greater amount of nitrogen at the shoreline than from plants at 10m, suggesting the aquatic source supplements nitrogen in A. breviligulata at the shore. It can then be assumed Lake Michigan also provides other allochthonous inputs into the shoreline of the dune system.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61490/1/McCormick_Gail_2008.pd

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Photograph used for a story in the Daily Oklahoman newspaper. Caption: "Sometimes the sun shone, and sometimes it didn't.

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Photograph used for a newspaper owned by the Oklahoma Publishing Company

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Photograph used for a story in the Oklahoma Times newspaper. Caption: "Some of the class members tackling the Grove advertising campaign are, from left, Deanie Williams, Tamy Stevens, Rick Calhoun, seated, Kris Miller and Ginnie tack.

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Castilleja exserta (A.A. Heller) Chuang & HeckardOwl's clover, Purple owl's cloverOrthocarpus purpurascens20 yds w of Hicks Lane and 200 yds s of Keefer Road, ca. 6 mi n of Chicoopen field195 feetsmall populationCorolla crimson or purplis