A Genome-Wide Association Study of Female Sexual Dysfunction

PMCID: PMC3324410. CCBurri LC et al.PLOS Genet Doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0035041Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is an important but controversial problem with serious negative impact on women's quality of life. Data from twin studies have shown a genetic contribution to the development and maintenance of FSD

South American Spider Mites: New Hosts and Localities

In order to contribute to taxonomic information on Tetranychid mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) in South America, surveys were conducted in Brazil (15 States and the Federal District) and Uruguay (one Department); 550 samples of 120 plant species were collected. Tetranychid mite infestations were confirmed in 204 samples, and 22 species belonging to seven genera of the Bryobiinae and Tetranychinae subfamilies were identified on 58 different host plants. Thirty-six new plant hosts were found in Brazil, South America, and worldwide for the following species: Eutetranychus banksi (McGregor); Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar); Oligonychus anonae Paschoal; O. mangiferus (Rahman and Sapra); Tetranychus bastosi Tuttle, Baker and Sales; T. desertorum Banks, 1900, T. evansi Baker and Pritchard; T. ludeni Zacher; T. mexicanus (McGregor); T. neocaledonicus André; and T. urticae Koch. Four new localities in Brazil were reported for Eotetranychus tremae De Leon; O. anonae; Panonychus ulmi (Koch); and T. gloveri Baker and Pritchard

Cardiovascular disease and the role of oral bacteria

In terms of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) the focus has traditionally been on dyslipidemia. Over the decades our understanding of the pathogenesis of CVD has increased, and infections, including those caused by oral bacteria, are more likely involved in CVD progression than previously thought. While many studies have now shown an association between periodontal disease and CVD, the mechanisms underpinning this relationship remain unclear. This review gives a brief overview of the host-bacterial interactions in periodontal disease and virulence factors of oral bacteria before discussing the proposed mechanisms by which oral bacterial may facilitate the progression of CVD

Intrathecal orexin A increases sympathetic outflow and respiratory drive, enhances baroreflex sensitivity and blocks the somato-sympathetic reflex

BACKGROUND: Intrathecal (i.t.) injection of orexin A (OX-A) increases blood pressure and heart rate (HR), but the effects of OX-A on sympathetic and phrenic, nerve activity, and the baroreflex(es), somato-sympathetic and hypoxic chemoreflex(es) are unknown. Experimental Approach: Urethane-anaesthetized, vagotomized and artificially ventilated male Sprague-Dawley rats were examined in this study. The effects of i.t. OX-A (20 nmol 10 ÂμL-1) on cardiorespiratory parameters, and responses to stimulation of the sciatic nerve (electrical), arterial baroreceptors (phenylephrine hydrochloride, 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ i.v.) and peripheral (hypoxia) chemoreceptors were also investigated. Key Results: i.t. OX-A caused a prolonged dose-dependent sympathoexcitation, pressor response and tachycardia. The peak effect was observed at 20 nmol with increases in mean arterial pressure, HR and splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (sSNA) of 32 mmHg, 52 beats per minute and 100% from baseline respectively. OX-A also dose-dependently increased respiratory drive, as indicated by a rise in phrenic nerve amplitude and a fall in phrenic nerve frequency, an increase in neural minute ventilation, a lengthening of the expiratory period, and a shortening of the inspiratory period. All effects of OX-A (20 nmol) were attenuated by the orexin receptor 1 antagonist SB 334867. OX-A significantly reduced both sympathoexcitatory peaks of somato-sympathetic reflex while increasing baroreflex sensitivity. OX-A increased the amplitude of the pressor response and markedly amplified the effect of hypoxia on sSNA. Conclusions: Thus, activation of OX receptors in rat spinal cord alters cardiorespiratory function and differentially modulates sympathetic reflexes.13 page(s

Forest biomass estimation using texture measurements of high-resolution dual-polarization C-band SAR data

Recent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors with a capability of providing data with varying spatial resolutions, polarizations, and incidence angles have attracted greater interest for forest biomass and carbon storage estimation. This study investigates the capability of RADARSAT-2 fine-beam dual-polarization (C-HV and C-HH) data for forest biomass estimation in complex subtropical forest, with different types of processing: 1) raw intensity data (both polarizations separately and as polarization ratio) and 2) texture parameters of both polarizations (separately, jointly, and as polarization ratio). Field data (diameter at breast height and height) were collected from 53 field plots and converted to biomass (dry weight) using a newly developed allometric model. Finally, biomass estimation models were developed between SAR signatures from different processing steps and field plot biomass using stepwise multiple regression. All biomass estimation models using radar intensity data (C-HV, C-HH, and ratio of C-HV and C-HH) proved ineffective, but texture parameters derived from intensity data showed potential. We were able to estimate forest biomass amounts up to 360 t/ha with a goodness of fit of 0.78 (adjusted r2) and an rmse of 28.68 t/ha using the combination of texture parameters of both polarizations (C-HV and C-HH). However, goodness of fit could be improved to 0.91 (adjusted r2) and an rmse of 26.95 t/ha for biomass levels up to 532 t/ha using the ratio of texture parameters of C-HV/C-HH. The result is very encouraging and indicates that the dual-polarization C-band SAR sensor has a potential for the estimation of forest biomass, particularly using the polarization ratio of texture measurements, and biomass estimation can be improved substantially beyond the previously stated saturation level for C-band SAR.Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journa