E-BioFlow: Different Perspectives on Scientific Workflows

We introduce a new type of workflow design system called\ud e-BioFlow and illustrate it by means of a simple sequence alignment workflow. E-BioFlow, intended to model advanced scientific workflows, enables the user to model a workflow from three different but strongly coupled perspectives: the control flow perspective, the data flow perspective, and the resource perspective. All three perspectives are of\ud equal importance, but workflow designers from different domains prefer different perspectives as entry points for their design, and a single workflow designer may prefer different perspectives in different stages of workflow design. Each perspective provides its own type of information, visualisation and support for validation. Combining these three perspectives in a single application provides a new and flexible way of modelling workflows

Correlation of CAG repeat length between the maternal and paternal allele of the Huntingtin gene: evidence for assortative mating

Triplet repeats contribute to normal variation in behavioral traits and when expanded, cause brain disorders. While Huntington's Disease is known to be caused by a CAG triplet repeat in the gene Huntingtin, the effect of CAG repeats on brain function below disease threshold has not been studied. The current study shows a significant correlation between the CAG repeat length of the maternal and paternal allele in the Huntingtin gene among healthy subjects, suggesting assortative mating

Surface Topographical and Compositional Characterization Using Backscattered Electron Methods

Two pairs of diametrically opposed Schottky surface barrier diodes in a modified scanning electron microscope (SEM) are used to reconstruct surface elevations and composition differences. An empirically determined function of difference of signals from opposing diodes is used to calculate slopes, which are then integrated to elevations by an efficient 2-dimensional Fast Fourier Transform. Composition differences are distinguished by variations in the overall backscattered electron (BSE) intensity estimated by the sum of the four diode signals. Arithmetic average roughness measurements from the BSE device are within 10% of stylus surface tracer measurements when surface slopes average less than 6 degrees and maximum slopes are less than 45°; shadowing effects for rough surfaces, aliasing, and averaging effects from Fourier integration are apparent. Composition measurements show distinction of high contrast phases; phase boundary-slope interactions are noted

Risk factors for behavior problems in cats presented to an Australian companion animal behavior clinic

Behavior problems in companion animals are common reasons for relinquishment or euthanasia. Insight into the risk factors for problem behaviors will facilitate the construction of strategies for solutions. We identified risk factors for behavior problems in domestic cats whose owners contacted a companion animal behavior clinic in Brisbane, Australia. Owners of 1,556 cats reported on their cats' behavior problem, breed, sex and age, and owner's postcodes and work routine were also recorded. Risk factors were determined from proportional morbidities for the behavior problem that each cat was reported as having. Breed effects were also assessed by comparing the numbers of cats in each breed group with the breeds of registered cats in a part of the catchment area. Behavior problems in domestic cats where the owners sought professional advice were mostly (71% of all cats) related to house soiling, usually urination, and aggression, especially to familiar people. Persian and similar breeds were at reduced risk of aggression to familiar cats but increased risk of house soiling, compared to other breed groups. Overall, Persian, Siamese, Burmese, and similar breeds had more behavior problems than companion cat breeds. Older cats showed increasing tolerance of familiar people but reduced tolerance of other cats. Males were more likely to present with excessive vocalization and house soiling with urine and less likely to present with aggression between familiar cats. We conclude that cat breed, age and sex, and social advantage of the area in which the cat lives are risk factors for specific behavior problems

4D, N = 1 Supersymmetry Genomics (I)

Presented in this paper the nature of the supersymmetrical representation theory behind 4D, N = 1 theories, as described by component fields, is investigated using the tools of Adinkras and Garden Algebras. A survey of familiar matter multiplets using these techniques reveals they are described by two fundamental valise Adinkras that are given the names of the cis-Valise (c-V) and the trans-Valise (t-V). A conjecture is made that all off-shell 4D, N = 1 component descriptions of supermultiplets are associated with two integers - the numbers of c-V and t-V Adinkras that occur in the representation.Comment: 53 pages, 19 figures, Report-II of SSTPRS 2008 Added another chapter for clarificatio

Multiple locus VNTR analysis highlights that geographical clustering and distribution of Dichelobacter nodosus, the causal agent of footrot in sheep, correlates with inter-country movements

Dichelobacter nodosus is a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium and the causal agent of footrot in sheep. Multiple locus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) is a portable technique that involves the identification and enumeration of polymorphic tandem repeats across the genome. The aims of this study were to develop an MLVA scheme for D. nodosus suitable for use as a molecular typing tool, and to apply it to a global collection of isolates. Seventy-seven isolates selected from regions with a long history of footrot (GB, Australia) and regions where footrot has recently been reported (India, Scandinavia), were characterised. From an initial 61 potential VNTR regions, four loci were identified as usable and in combination had the attributes required of a typing method for use in bacterial epidemiology: high discriminatory power (D > 0.95), typeability and reproducibility. Results from the analysis indicate that D. nodosus appears to have evolved via recombinational exchanges and clonal diversification. This has resulted in some clonal complexes that contain isolates from multiple countries and continents; and others that contain isolates from a single geographic location (country or region). The distribution of alleles between countries matches historical accounts of sheep movements, suggesting that the MLVA technique is sufficiently specific and sensitive for an epidemiological investigation of the global distribution of D. nodosus

Fetal heart rate responses in chronic hypoxaemia with superimposed repeated hypoxaemia consistent with early labour: a controlled study in fetal sheep

Objective: Deceleration area (DA) and capacity (DC) of the fetal heart rate can help predict risk of intrapartum fetal compromise. However, their predictive value in higher risk pregnancies is unclear. We investigated whether they can predict the onset of hypotension during brief hypoxaemia repeated at a rate consistent with early labour in fetal sheep with pre-existing hypoxaemia. Design: Prospective, controlled study. Setting: Laboratory. Sample: Chronically instrumented, unanaesthetised near-term fetal sheep. Methods: One-minute complete umbilical cord occlusions (UCOs) were performed every 5 minutes in fetal sheep with baseline paO2 17 mmHg (normoxic, n = 11) for 4 hours or until arterial pressure fell <20 mmHg. Main outcome measures: DA, DC and arterial pressure. Results: Normoxic fetuses showed effective cardiovascular adaptation without hypotension and mild acidaemia (lowest arterial pressure 40.7 ± 2.8 mmHg, pH 7.35 ± 0.03). Hypoxaemic fetuses developed hypotension (lowest arterial pressure 20.8 ± 1.9 mmHg, P P = 0.04) and final (P = 0.012) 20 minutes of UCOs. DA was not different between groups. Conclusion: Chronically hypoxaemic fetuses had early onset of cardiovascular compromise during labour-like brief repeated UCOs. DA was unable to identify developing hypotension in this setting, while DC only showed modest differences between groups. These findings highlight that DA and DC thresholds need to be adjusted for antenatal risk factors, potentially limiting their clinical utility

Prevalence of footrot in Swedish slaughter lambs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Footrot is a world-wide contagious disease in sheep and goats. It is an infection of the epidermis of the interdigital skin, and the germinal layers of the horn tissue of the feet. The first case of footrot in Swedish sheep was diagnosed in 2004. Due to difficulties in distinguishing benign footrot from early cases of virulent footrot and because there is no possibility for virulence testing of strains of <it>Dichelobacter nodosus </it>in Sweden, the diagnosis is based of the presence or absence of clinical signs of footrot in sheep flocks. Ever since the first diagnosed case the Swedish Animal Health Service has worked intensively to stop the spread of infection and control the disease at flock level. However, to continue this work effectively it is important to have knowledge about the distribution of the disease both nationally and regionally. Therefore, the aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of footrot in Swedish lambs at abattoirs and to assess the geographical distribution of the disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A prevalence study on footrot in Swedish lambs was performed by visual examination of 2000 feet from 500 lambs submitted from six slaughter houses. Each foot was scored according to a 0 to 5 scoring system, where feet with score ≥2 were defined as having footrot. Moreover, samples from feet with footrot were examined for <it>Dichelobacter nodosus </it>by culture and PCR.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of footrot at the individual sheep level was 5.8%, and <it>Dichelobacter nodosus </it>was found by culture and PCR in 83% and 97% of the samples from feet with footrot, respectively. Some minor differences in geographical distribution of footrot were found in this study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In a national context, the findings indicate that footrot is fairly common in Swedish slaughter lambs, and should be regarded seriously.</p

Aldosterone, atherosclerosis and vascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease

AbstractBackground and aimsPlasma aldosterone has been associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in high-risk cardiovascular populations, including patients with heart failure, myocardial infarction and high-risk coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. In the present study, we evaluated the association of plasma aldosterone levels with vascular events in a large prospective cohort of stable CAD patients recruited in an outpatient setting. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between aldosterone and atherosclerotic burden.Methods and resultsBaseline plasma aldosterone levels were measured in 2699 subjects with CAD (mean age 60±10years, 82% male). During a median follow-up of 4.7years, 308 (11%) patients died, of which 203 were from a vascular cause. Vascular endpoints of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke or vascular death occurred in 355 (13%) patients. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed, adjusting for multiple confounders. Aldosterone (median 96pg/mL, interquartile range 70–138pg/mL, normal range 58–362pg/mL) was independently associated with major vascular events (hazard ratio (HR) 1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13–2.15) and vascular mortality (HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.27–3.00). By multivariable regression analysis, aldosterone was also associated with the presence of atherosclerosis in additional vascular territories (cerebrovascular disease and/or peripheral artery disease) (p=0.026).ConclusionsIn patients with stable coronary artery disease, plasma aldosterone is independently associated with the risk of major vascular events and vascular mortality and with atherosclerotic burden