Introduction to the Special Issue: Human Linkage Studies for Behavioral Traits

In the post Genome era, the aim of behavior genetics has shifted from estimating the relative contributions of genes and environmental factors to (co-)variation in human complex traits, to localization of genes and identification of functional genetic variants. This special issue reflects this transition and presents fifteen papers that report on genome-wide linkage scans for complex traits in humans and on methodological tools and innovations. Six papers focus on cognition and report overlapping linkage peaks on chromosomes 6p and 14p. Papers on addictive behavior, i.e. smoking and alcohol dependence and its endophenotypes, find moderate LOD scores on chromosomes 6p, 5q, 4p and 7q, respectively. Three papers concentrate on emotionality, depression and loneliness and examine chromosomes 2q and 12q. The papers in this issue represent a summary of the first large scale linkage enterprises of human behavioral traits. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

The Role of Frequency and Duty Cycle on the Gate Reliability of p-GaN HEMTs

In this letter, we present an extensive analysis on the role of both switching frequency (ranging from 100 kHz to 1 MHz) and duty cycle (from 10% to 90%) on the time-dependent gate breakdown of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with Schottky metal to p-GaN gate. More specifically, results show how the gate lifetime of GaN HEMTs increases by reducing the frequency and the duty cycle of the stressing gate signal (VG). Such behavior is ascribed to the OFF-time, which is responsible to alter the electrostatic potential in the p-GaN layer during the rising phases of VG (from OFF- to ON-state). Findings of this analysis are useful both for further technology improvement and for GaN-based power circuit designers

"Never Regard Yourself As Already So Thoroughly Informed": The Withdrawal of its Invitation to Rodney Syme to Address its 2015 Congress by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians

In 1628, William Harvey presented his revolutionary theory of the circulation to ears at the Royal College of Physicians that had been deafened by the unquestionable authority of Galen’s teachings, from one and a half millennia in the past. Harvey’s theory was initially rejected, despite his faith in his colleagues being eager for truth and knowledge, and never regarding themselves as so well informed that they would not welcome “further information”. Recently Rodney Syme, the retired Melbourne urologist who for a long time has agitated for the legalisation of assisted dying, and also challenged the authorities to apply the current law in response to his admitted assistance to a number of individuals, was invited to address the 2015 Congress of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. At the eleventh hour, the invitation to speak was withdrawn. In this column, we trace the course of events leading to this withdrawal of the invitation, and describe some of the correspondence to and from the College in response to the withdrawal. We draw parallels between the experiences of Harvey and Syme, and point to lessons to be learnt from the recent episode of apparent unwillingness, on the part of an institution that seeks to present itself as outward-looking, progressive and socially aware, to fulfil this promise in the increasingly important area of the end-of-life

On bi-Hamiltonian deformations of exact pencils of hydrodynamic type

In this paper we are interested in non trivial bi-Hamiltonian deformations of the Poisson pencil \omega_{\lambda}=\omega_2+\lambda \omega_1=u\delta'(x-y)+\f{1}{2}u_x\delta(x-y)+\lambda\delta'(x-y). Deformations are generated by a sequence of vector fields $\{X_2, X_4,...\}$, where each $X_{2k}$ is homogenous of degree $2k$ with respect to a grading induced by rescaling. Constructing recursively the vector fields $X_{2k}$ one obtains two types of relations involving their unknown coefficients: one set of linear relations and an other one which involves quadratic relations. We prove that the set of linear relations has a geometric meaning: using Miura-quasitriviality the set of linear relations expresses the tangency of the vector fields $X_{2k}$ to the symplectic leaves of $\omega_1$ and this tangency condition is equivalent to the exactness of the pencil $\omega_{\lambda}$. Moreover, extending the results of [17], we construct the non trivial deformations of the Poisson pencil $\omega_{\lambda}$, up to the eighth order in the deformation parameter, showing therefore that deformations are unobstructed and that both Poisson structures are polynomial in the derivatives of $u$ up to that order.Comment: 34 pages, revised version. Proof of Theorem 16 completely rewritten due to an error in the first versio

'Intraspecific pathogen variation' Verslag KNPV/Plantum/EPS-eendagsconferentie : Wageningen, 22 januari 2013

Dinsdag 22 januari 2013 werd in Wageningen een eendagsconferentie gehouden getiteld ‘Intraspecific pathogen variation - implications and opportunities’. Deze conferentie werd georganiseerd naar aanleiding van discussies over het werken met intraspecifieke variatie voor diagnostiek en veredeling binnen de Nematodenwerkgroep van de KNPV en de Isolaten-beheerwerkgroep van Plantum. Het doel van de bijeenkomst was a.) onderzoekers uit de private en de publieke sector samenbrengen om recente ontwikkelingen te bespreken in fundamentele en toegepaste aspecten van het werken met intraspecifieke variatie, en b.) het stimuleren van uitwisselen van ideeën binnen en tussen beide groepen, voor mogelijke vervolginitiatieven

Non-cross-linked biological mesh in complex abdominal wall hernia: a cohort study

Purpose: Complex abdominal wall hernia repair (CAWHR) is a challenging procedure. Mesh prosthesis is indicated, but the use of synthetic mesh in a contaminated area may add to overall morbidity. Biological meshes may provide a solution, but little is known about long-term results. The aim of our study was to evaluate clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction following Strattice™ (PADM) placement. Methods: In this cohort study, all patients operated for CAWHR with PADM in three large community hospitals in Germany were included. Patients underwent abdominal examination, an ultrasound was performed, and patients completed quality-of-life questionnaires. The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under Identifier NCT02168231. Results: Twenty-seven patients were assessed (14 male, age 67.5 years, follow-up 42.4 months). The most frequent postoperative complication was wound infection (39.1%). In no case, the PADM had to be removed. Four patients had passed away. During outpatient clinic visit, six out of 23 patients (26.1%) had a recurrence of hernia, one patient had undergone reoperation. Five patients (21.7%) had bulging of the abdominal wall. Quality-of-life questionnaires revealed that patients judged their scar with a median 3.5 out of 10 points (0 = best) and judged their restrictions during daily activities with a median of 0 out of 10

The Construction and Validation of an Abridged Version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Short)

This study reports on the development and validation of an abridged version of the 50-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a self-report measure of autistic traits. We aimed to reduce the number of items whilst retaining high validity and a meaningful factor structure. The item reduction procedure was performed on data from 1,263 Dutch students and general population adults. The resulting 28-item AQ-Short was subsequently validated in 3 independent samples, both clinical and controls, from the Netherlands and the UK. The AQ-Short comprises two higher-order factors assessing ‘social behavioral difficulties’ and ‘a fascination for numbers/patterns’. The clear factor structure of the AQ-Short and its high sensitivity and specificity make the AQ-Short a useful alternative to the full 50-item version