A Cell-Specific Analysis Of Gene Expression In The Neural Crest Of Zebrafish.

This thesis presents a new approach to the rapid and systematic identification of genes expressed differentially between specific cell types. The approach is based upon the hybridization of amplified tissue or cell-specific complex cDNA probes to robotically arrayed cDNA libraries and the computer-assisted analysis ('electronic subtraction') of the resulting hybridization patterns. This approach was applied to two populations of cultured zebrafish neural crest cells, as well as to tissue from ventral trunk neural tube. Sets of cDNA clones were assembled that putatively represent genes expressed in early-migrating trunk neural crest cells (390 clones), late-migrating trunk neural crest cells (422 clones), or both neural crest cell populations (292 clones), but not in ventral trunk neural tube. The procedures and techniques used were tested for reproducibilty and initial conclusions are made about the feasibility and validity of the approach. A critical assessment of the techniques apphed suggests aspects of the approach which might be improved in its future application

Long-Time Behaviour and Self-Similarity in a Coagulation Equation with Input of Monomers

For a coagulation equation with Becker-Doring type interactions and time-independent monomer input we study the detailed long-time behaviour of nonnegative solutions and prove the convergence to a self-similar function.Comment: 30 pages, 5 Figures, now published in Markov Processes and Related Fields 12, 367-398, (2006

Remote sensing applications in forestry. The development of an earth resources information system using aerial photographs and digital computers photographs and digital computers

Remote aerial sensing and automatic mapping for forest resources information syste

Remote sensing applications in forestry - The development of an earth resources information system using aerial photographs and digital computers Annual progress report

Earth resources information system using aerial photographs and digital computer

Scaling behaviour in a coagulation-annihilation model and Lotka-Volterra competition systems

In a recent paper, Laurencot and van Roessel (2010 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor., 43, 455210) studied the scaling behaviour of solutions to a two-species coagulation–annihilation system with total annihilation and equal strength coagulation, and identified cases where self-similar behaviour occurs, and others where it does not. In this paper, we proceed with the study of this kind of system by assuming that the coagulation rates of the two different species need not be equal. By applying Laplace transform techniques, the problem is transformed into a two-dimensional ordinary differential system that can be transformed into a Lotka–Volterra competition model. The long-time behaviour of solutions to this Lotka–Volterra system helps explain the different cases of existence and nonexistence of similarity behaviour, as well as why, in some cases, the behaviour is nonuniversal, in the sense of being dependent on initial conditions.FPC, JTP e RS foram parcialmente financiados pelo CAMGSD-LARSyS através do financiamento plurianual atribuido pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal

Treatment-resistant OCD: Pharmacotherapies in adults

Serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) medications are well established as first-line pharmacotherapeutic treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). However, despite the excellent safety profile and demonstrated ef-ficacy of these medications, a substantial proportion of individuals with OCD fail to attain sufficient benefit from SRIs. In this narrative review, we discuss clinical features of OCD that have been associated with poorer response to SRIs, and we present pharmacotherapeutic interventions that have been explored as augmenting or alternative treatments for treatment-resistant OCD. We additionally highlight non-SRI interventions for OCD that are currently under investigation. Pharmacotherapeutic interventions were identified via expert consensus. To assess the evidence base for in-dividual pharmacotherapies, targeted searches for relevant English-language publications were performed on standard biomedical research databases, including MEDLINE. Information relevant to ongoing registered clinical trials in OCD was obtained by search of ClinicalTrials.gov. Pharmacotherapies are grouped for review in accordance with the general principles of Neuroscience-based Nomenclature (NbN). Clinical features of OCD that may suggest poorer response to SRI treatment include early age of onset, severity of illness, duration of untreated illness, and the presence of symmetry/ordering or hoarding-related symptoms. Based on evolving pathophysiologic models of OCD, diverse agents engaging serotonin, dopamine, norepi-nephrine, glutamate, and anti-inflammatory pathways have been explored as alternative or adjunctive therapies for treatment-resistant OCD and have at least preliminary evidence of efficacy. Medications with dopamine antagonist activity remain the most robustly evidence-based of augmenting in-terventions, yet dopamine antagonists benefit only a minority of those who try them and carry elevated risks of adverse effects. Interventions targeting glutamatergic and anti-inflammatory pathways are less well evidenced, but may offer more favorable benefit to risk profiles. Ongoing research should explore whether specific in-terventions may benefit individuals with particular features of treatment-resistant OCD

Toepassing GPS en GIS in de akkerbouw : nut en rendement van toepassingen op het gebied van geolandbouw

Het beschikbaar komen van systemen voor satelliet plaatsbepaling en navigatie, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) kan grote invloed hebben op de bedrijfsvoering en rendement van het akkerbouwbedrijf. Voor landbouwkundige toepassingen worden in snel tempo aan GNSS gerelateerde toepassingen en diensten ontwikkeld en aangeboden. Landbouw is in Nederland een grote en intensieve gebruiker van de open ruimte en kan daarmee profiteren van de mogelijkheden die GNSS biedt. Vaak is niet duidelijke welke waarde en betekenis deze toepassingen hebben voor de bedrijfsvoering. Een actueel overzicht van beschikbare toepassingen en diensten met een indicatie van de gevolgen voor het rendement wordt in dit rapport gegeve

Identity gripping or identity flight? Two distinct experiences correlated with self-reported depression in retired professional ice hockey players

This study presents qualitative data on the retirement experiences of retired professional ice hockey players and the relationship of these experiences to self-reported depressive symptoms and measures of athletic identity. Data were obtained from an online survey sent to retired professional hockey players within the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA) database. A total of 213 retired players completed the qualitative section of the survey and were included in the study. Former players expressed an array of responses to questions about the best and most difficult parts of their athletic retirement experiences, and what they believe would help future generations of retiring hockey players. Within these responses, there were two distinct patterns of identity-based challenges among depressed former players. One subset of depressed former players, captured by our proposed term athletic identity flight, scored lower in athletic identity, and emphasized positive aspects of retirement related to “building a new identity.” A second subset of depressed former players, who we described with the term athletic identity gripping, noted an identity crisis upon retiring and retained a strong athletic identity post-career. Non-depressed former players in our sample were more likely to emphasize the importance of career support to help future retiring hockey players, whereas depressed former players emphasized the importance of mental health support. Our findings may inform future preventative interventions to assist retiring hockey players in their end-of-athletic-career transition and suggest the value of tailoring interventions based on the strength of athletic identity and the presence of depressive symptoms

Onderzoek Sclerotinia in 2012 : Sclerotiën, sporen, BOS en spuittechniek

De problemen met Sclerotinia (rattenkeutelziekte), veroorzaakt door de schimmel Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, nemen de laatste jaren steeds meer toe. In diverse vollegrondsgroenten is Sclerotinia een van de belangrijkste ziekten. Om te komen tot een integrale aanpak van de problematiek is er door de Productschappen Tuinbouw en Akkerbouw voor 2012 gekozen voor een gezamenlijke financiering van een aantal onderzoeksthema's die ondergebracht zijn bij de onderzoeksinstellingen DLV Plant, PPO-AGV en Proeftuin Zwaagdijk. Deze thema’s waren: speuren naar sporen; aantal sclerotiën; beslissingsondersteunende systemen (BOS); spuittechniek

Body mass index at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor; a reflection of hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction or lifestyle?

Purpose: Childhood brain tumor survivors (CBTS) are at risk of becoming overweight, which has been shown to be associated with hypothalamic-pituitary (HP) dysfunction during follow-up. Body mass index (BMI) at diagnosis is related to BMI at follow-up. It is uncertain, however, whether aberrant BMI at brain tumor diagnosis reflects early hypothalamic dysfunction or rather reflects genetic and sociodemographic characteristics. We aimed to examine whether BMI at childhood brain tumor diagnosis is associated with HP dysfunction at diagnosis or its development during follow-up. Methods: The association of BMI at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor to HP dysfunction at diagnosis or during follow-up was examined in a Dutch cohort of 685 CBTS, excluding children with craniopharyngioma or a pituitary tumor. Individual patient data were retrospectively extracted from patient charts. Results: Of 685 CTBS, 4.7% were underweight, 14.2% were overweight, and 3.8% were obese at diagnosis. Being overweight or obese at diagnosis was not associated with anterior pituitary deficiency or diabetes insipidus at diagnosis or during follow-up. In children with suprasellar tumors, being obese at diagnosis was associated with central precocious puberty. Conclusion: Overweight or obesity at diagnosis of a childhood brain tumor seems not to be associated with pituitary deficiencies. These results suggest that genetics and lifestyle may be more important etiologic factors for higher BMI at diagnosis in these children than hypothalamic dysfunction. To improve the long-term outcome of CBTS with regards to overweight and obesity, more attention should be given to lifestyle already at the time of brain tumor treatment