Characterization of spatio-temporal epidural event-related potentials for mouse models of psychiatric disorders.

Distinctive features in sensory event-related potentials (ERPs) are endophenotypic biomarkers of psychiatric disorders, widely studied using electroencephalographic (EEG) methods in humans and model animals. Despite the popularity and unique significance of the mouse as a model species in basic research, existing EEG methods applicable to mice are far less powerful than those available for humans and large animals. We developed a new method for multi-channel epidural ERP characterization in behaving mice with high precision, reliability and convenience and report an application to time-domain ERP feature characterization of the Sp4 hypomorphic mouse model for schizophrenia. Compared to previous methods, our spatio-temporal ERP measurement robustly improved the resolving power of key signatures characteristic of the disease model. The high performance and low cost of this technique makes it suitable for high-throughput behavioral and pharmacological studies

Frontotemporal Dementias in Latin America: History, Epidemiology, Genetics, and Clinical Research

Introduction: The historical development, frequency, and impact of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are less clear in Latin America than in high-income countries. Although there is a growing number of dementia studies in Latin America, little is known collectively about FTD prevalence studies by country, clinical heterogeneity, risk factors, and genetics in Latin American countries. Methods: A systematic review was completed, aimed at identifying the frequency, clinical heterogeneity, and genetics studies of FTD in Latin American populations. The search strategies used a combination of standardized terms for FTD and related disorders. In addition, at least one author per Latin American country summarized the available literature. Collaborative or regional studies were reviewed during consensus meetings. Results: The first FTD reports published in Latin America were mostly case reports. The last two decades marked a substantial increase in the number of FTD research in Latin American countries. Brazil (165), Argentina (84), Colombia (26), and Chile (23) are the countries with the larger numbers of FTD published studies. Most of the research has focused on clinical and neuropsychological features (n = 247), including the local adaptation of neuropsychological and behavioral assessment batteries. However, there are little to no large studies on prevalence (n = 4), biomarkers (n = 9), or neuropathology (n = 3) of FTD. Conclusions: Future FTD studies will be required in Latin America, albeit with a greater emphasis on clinical diagnosis, genetics, biomarkers, and neuropathological studies. Regional and country-level efforts should seek better estimations of the prevalence, incidence, and economic impact of FTD syndromes

Global epigenomic reconfiguration during mammalian brain development

DNA methylation is implicated in mammalian brain development and plasticity underlying learning and memory. We report the genome-wide composition, patterning, cell specificity, and dynamics of DNA methylation at single-base resolution in human and mouse frontal cortex throughout their lifespan. Widespread methylome reconfiguration occurs during fetal to young adult development, coincident with synaptogenesis. During this period, highly conserved non-CG methylation (mCH) accumulates in neurons, but not glia, to become the dominant form of methylation in the human neuronal genome. Moreover, we found an mCH signature that identifies genes escaping X-chromosome inactivation. Last, whole-genome single-base resolution 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC) maps revealed that hmC marks fetal brain cell genomes at putative regulatory regions that are CG-demethylated and activated in the adult brain and that CG demethylation at these hmC-poised loci depends on Tet2 activity

Search for First-generation Leptoquarks at HERA

A search for first-generation leptoquarks was performed in electron-proton and positron-proton collisions recorded with the ZEUS detector at HERA in 2003-2007 using an integrated luminosity of 366pb-1. Final states with an electron and jets or with missing transverse momentum and jets were analyzed, searching for resonances or other deviations from the standard model predictions. No evidence for any leptoquark signal was found. The data were combined with data previously taken at HERA, resulting in a total integrated luminosity of 498pb-1. Limits on the Yukawa coupling, λ, of leptoquarks were set as a function of the leptoquark mass for different leptoquark types within the Buchmüller-Rückl-Wyler model. Leptoquarks with a coupling λ=0.3 are excluded for masses up to 699 GeV. © 2012 American Physical Society

Measurement of Inelastic J/ψ and ψ′ Photoproduction at HERA

The cross sections for inelastic photoproduction of J/ψ and ψ′ mesons have been measured in ep collisions with the ZEUS detector at HERA, using an integrated luminosity of 468 pb-1 collected in the period 1996-2007. The ψ′ to J/ψ cross section ratio was measured in the range 0.55 \u3c z \u3c 0.9 and 60 \u3c W \u3c 190 GeV as a function of W, z and pT. Here W denotes the photon-proton centre-of-mass energy, z is the fraction of the incident photon energy carried by the meson and p T is the transverse momentum of the meson with respect to the beam axis. The J/ψ cross sections were measured for 0.1 \u3c z \u3c 0.9, 60 \u3c W \u3c 240 GeV and pT \u3e 1 GeV. Theoretical predictions within the non-relativistic QCD framework including NLO colour-singlet and colour-octet contributions were compared to the data, as were predictions based on the k T-factorisation approach. © 2013 SISSA

Measurement of the t Dependence in Exclusive Photoproduction of Υ{hooked} (1S) Mesons at HERA

The exclusive photoproduction reaction γp→Υ{hooked} (1S)p has been studied with the ZEUS detector in ep collisions at HERA using an integrated luminosity of 468 pb -1. The measurement covers the kinematic range 6

Search for Single-top Production in ep Collisions at HERA

A search for single-top production, ep→etX, has been performed with the ZEUS detector at HERA using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 0.37 fb -1. No evidence for top production was found, consistent with the expectation from the Standard Model. Limits were computed for single-top production via flavour changing neutral current transitions involving a neutral electroweak vector boson, γ or Z. The result was combined with a previous ZEUS result yielding a total luminosity of 0.50 fb -1. A 95% credibility level upper limit of 0.13 pb was obtained for the cross section at the centre-of-mass energy of √s=315 GeV. © 2012 Elsevier B.V

Exclusive Electroproduction of Two Pions at HERA

The exclusive electroproduction of two pions in the mass range 0.

Angular Correlations in Three-jet Events in ep Collisions at HERA

Three-jet production in deep inelastic ep scattering and photoproduction was investigated with the ZEUS detector at HERA using an integrated luminosity of up to 127pb-1. Measurements of differential cross sections are presented as functions of angular correlations between the three jets in the final state and the proton-beam direction. These correlations provide a stringent test of perturbative QCD and show sensitivity to the contributions from different color configurations. Fixed-order perturbative calculations assuming the values of the color factors CF, CA, and TF as derived from a variety of gauge groups were compared to the measurements to study the underlying gauge group symmetry. The measured angular correlations in the deep inelastic ep scattering and photoproduction regimes are consistent with the admixture of color configurations as predicted by SU(3) and disfavour other symmetry groups, such as SU(N) in the limit of large N. © 2012 American Physical Society