Non-monotonicity on a spatio-temporally defined cyclic task: evidence of two movement types?

We tested 23 healthy participants who performed rhythmic horizontal movements of the elbow. The required amplitude and frequency ranges of the movements were specified to the participants using a closed shape on a phase-plane display, showing angular velocity versus angular position, such that participants had to continuously control both the speed and the displacement of their forearm. We found that the combined accuracy in velocity and position throughout the movement was not a monotonic function of movement speed. Our findings suggest that specific combinations of required movement frequency and amplitude give rise to two distinct types of movements: one of a more rhythmic nature, and the other of a more discrete nature

Fine mapping of a linkage peak with integration of lipid traits identifies novel coronary artery disease genes on chromosome 5

Coronary artery disease (CAD), and one of its intermediate risk factors, dyslipidemia, possess a demonstrable genetic component, although the genetic architecture is incompletely defined. We previously reported a linkage peak on chromosome 5q31-33 for early-onset CAD where the strength of evidence for linkage was increased in families with higher mean low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Therefore, we sought to fine-map the peak using association mapping of LDL-C as an intermediate disease-related trait to further define the etiology of this linkage peak. The study populations consisted of 1908 individuals from the CATHGEN biorepository of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization; 254 families (N = 827 individuals) from the GENECARD familial study of early-onset CAD; and 162 aorta samples harvested from deceased donors. Linkage disequilibrium-tagged SNPs were selected with an average of one SNP per 20 kb for 126.6-160.2 MB (region of highest linkage) and less dense spacing (one SNP per 50 kb) for the flanking regions (117.7-126.6 and 160.2-167.5 MB) and genotyped on all samples using a custom Illumina array. Association analysis of each SNP with LDL-C was performed using multivariable linear regression (CATHGEN) and the quantitative trait transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT; GENECARD). SNPs associated with the intermediate quantitative trait, LDL-C, were then assessed for association with CAD (i.e., a qualitative phenotype) using linkage and association in the presence of linkage (APL; GENECARD) and logistic regression (CATHGEN and aortas)

When Ears Drive Hands: The Influence of Contact Sound on Reaching to Grasp

Background Most research on the roles of auditory information and its interaction with vision has focused on perceptual performance. Little is known on the effects of sound cues on visually-guided hand movements. Methodology/Principal Findings We recorded the sound produced by the fingers upon contact as participants grasped stimulus objects which were covered with different materials. Then, in a further session the pre-recorded contact sounds were delivered to participants via headphones before or following the initiation of reach-to-grasp movements towards the stimulus objects. Reach-to-grasp movement kinematics were measured under the following conditions: (i) congruent, in which the presented contact sound and the contact sound elicited by the to-be-grasped stimulus corresponded; (ii) incongruent, in which the presented contact sound was different to that generated by the stimulus upon contact; (iii) control, in which a synthetic sound, not associated with a real event, was presented. Facilitation effects were found for congruent trials; interference effects were found for incongruent trials. In a second experiment, the upper and the lower parts of the stimulus were covered with different materials. The presented sound was always congruent with the material covering either the upper or the lower half of the stimulus. Participants consistently placed their fingers on the half of the stimulus that corresponded to the presented contact sound. Conclusions/Significance Altogether these findings offer a substantial contribution to the current debate about the type of object representations elicited by auditory stimuli and on the multisensory nature of the sensorimotor transformations underlying action

Acquisition and Evolution of Plant Pathogenesis–Associated Gene Clusters and Candidate Determinants of Tissue-Specificity in Xanthomonas

is a large genus of plant-associated and plant-pathogenic bacteria. Collectively, members cause diseases on over 392 plant species. Individually, they exhibit marked host- and tissue-specificity. The determinants of this specificity are unknown. lineage. genome and indicate that differentiation with respect to host- and tissue-specificity involved not major modifications or wholesale exchange of clusters, but subtle changes in a small number of genes or in non-coding sequences, and/or differences outside the clusters, potentially among regulatory targets or secretory substrates

Comparative genomics reveals diversity among xanthomonads infecting tomato and pepper

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial spot of tomato and pepper is caused by four <it>Xanthomonas </it>species and is a major plant disease in warm humid climates. The four species are distinct from each other based on physiological and molecular characteristics. The genome sequence of strain 85-10, a member of one of the species, <it>Xanthomonas euvesicatoria </it>(<it>Xcv</it>) has been previously reported. To determine the relationship of the four species at the genome level and to investigate the molecular basis of their virulence and differing host ranges, draft genomic sequences of members of the other three species were determined and compared to strain 85-10.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We sequenced the genomes of <it>X. vesicatoria </it>(<it>Xv</it>) strain 1111 (ATCC 35937), <it>X. perforans </it>(<it>Xp</it>) strain 91-118 and <it>X. gardneri </it>(<it>Xg</it>) strain 101 (ATCC 19865). The genomes were compared with each other and with the previously sequenced <it>Xcv </it>strain 85-10. In addition, the molecular features were predicted that may be required for pathogenicity including the type III secretion apparatus, type III effectors, other secretion systems, quorum sensing systems, adhesins, extracellular polysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide determinants. Several novel type III effectors from <it>Xg </it>strain 101 and <it>Xv </it>strain 1111 genomes were computationally identified and their translocation was validated using a reporter gene assay. A homolog to Ax21, the elicitor of XA21-mediated resistance in rice, and a functional Ax21 sulfation system were identified in <it>Xcv</it>. Genes encoding proteins with functions mediated by type II and type IV secretion systems have also been compared, including enzymes involved in cell wall deconstruction, as contributors to pathogenicity.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Comparative genomic analyses revealed considerable diversity among bacterial spot pathogens, providing new insights into differences and similarities that may explain the diverse nature of these strains. Genes specific to pepper pathogens, such as the O-antigen of the lipopolysaccharide cluster, and genes unique to individual strains, such as novel type III effectors and bacteriocin genes, have been identified providing new clues for our understanding of pathogen virulence, aggressiveness, and host preference. These analyses will aid in efforts towards breeding for broad and durable resistance in economically important tomato and pepper cultivars.</p

Dependência da prática de exercícios físicos: estudo com maratonistas brasileiros Exercise dependence: a study with Brazilian marathon runners

O presente estudo teve como objetivo testar, numa amostra de maratonistas brasileiros, a versão em português da adaptação da Escala de Dependência de Corrida proposta por Hailey e Bailey (1982). Métodos e resultados:59 maratonistas de uma equipe da cidade de São Paulo foram abordados e orientados a preencher a Escala de Dependência de Corrida (EDC). A amostra foi composta, na sua maior parte, por homens (72%) com média de 34 ± 7 anos, sendo que 77% corriam habitualmente havia cerca de dois a oito anos; 42,5% corriam de quatro a cinco vezes/semana e 81% dedicavam-se de uma a duas horas/dia em média para seus treinos. A média na pontuação total da EDC foi de 5 ± 2,5 pontos (escala 0-14 pontos). A correlação entre a pontuação total da EDC com cada uma das 23 questões que compõem o instrumento revelou que 10 questões apresentaram níveis de correlação significativos. As respostas positivas que apresentaram maior sensibilidade foram: "Sinto que me falta algo quando não corro" (r = 0,61); "A corrida tem influenciado meu estilo de vida" (r = 0,58) e "Experimento grande prazer quando corro" (r = 0,56). Conclusão: Observamos na amostra brasileira níveis médios de pontuação na escala semelhantes aos descritos pelos autores do instrumento original, sugerindo que a tradução não alterou a sensibilidade da escala e que este instrumento possa ser útil no estudo da dependência da prática de corrida (ou exercícios físicos) em desportistas brasileiros.<br>This study aimed at testing, in a sample of Brazilian marathon runners, the Brazilian adaptation of the Negative Addiction Scale (Haley & Bailey, 1982). Methods: 59 marathon runners of a team from São Paulo were asked to fill out the Brazilian version of the Negative Addiction Scale. Most of the sample was made up by men (72%) aged 34 ± 7; 77% of whom had been running four to five times a week (42.5%) for two to eight years; 81% spent one to two hours a day training. The average score in the Negative Addiction Scale was 5.2 ± 2.5 (the scale scores from 0 to 14). The correlation between total score in the scale and each of the 23 questions was significant in 10 of them. The positive answers which presented higher sensitivity were: "I feel something is missing when I don't run" (r = 0.61); "Running has influenced my lifestyle" (r = 0.58), and "I experience a great pleasure when I run" (r = 0.56). Conclusion: The mean score in the Brazilian sample was similar to that described by the authors of the original instrument, suggesting that the translation did not affect the sensitivity of the instrument and that it can be useful in the study of running or physical activity dependence in Brazilian athletes

Children with congenital spastic hemiplegia obey Fitts' Law in a visually guided tapping task.

Contains fulltext : 53281.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Fitts' Law is commonly found to apply to motor tasks involving precise aiming movements. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have severe difficulties in such tasks and it is unknown whether they obey Fitts' Law despite their motor difficulties. If Fitts' Law still does apply to these children, this would indicate that this law is extremely robust and that even performance of children with damaged central nervous systems can adhere to it. The integrity of motor control processes in spastic CP is usually tested in complex motor tasks, making it difficult to determine whether poor performance is due to a motor output deficit or to problems related to cognitive processes since both affect movement precision. In the present study a simple task was designed to evaluate Fitts' Law. Tapping movements were evaluated in 22 children with congenital spastic hemiplegia (CSH) and 22 typically developing children. Targets (2.5 and 5 cm in width) were placed at distances of 10 and 20 cm from each other in order to provide Indices of Difficulty (ID) of 2-4 bits. Using this Fitts' aiming task, prolonged reaction and movement time (MT) were found in the affected hand under all conditions in children with CSH as compared to controls. Like in the control group, MT in children with CSH was related to ID. The intercept 'a', corresponding to the time required to realize a tapping movement, was higher in the affected hand of the children in the CSH group. Although, the slope b (which reflects the sensitivity of the motor system to a change in difficulty of the task) and the reciprocal of slope (that represents the cognitive information processing capacity, expressed in bits/s) were similar in both groups. In conclusion, children with CSH obey Fitts' Law despite very obvious limitations in fine motor control

Genetic and functional association of FAM5C with myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND: We previously identified a 40 Mb region of linkage on chromosome 1q in our early onset coronary artery disease (CAD) genome-wide linkage scan (GENECARD) with modest evidence for linkage (n = 420, LOD 0.95). When the data are stratified by acute coronary syndrome (ACS), this modest maximum in the overall group became a well-defined LOD peak (maximum LOD of 2.17, D1S1589/D1S518). This peak overlaps a recently identified inflammatory biomarker (MCP-1) linkage region from the Framingham Heart Study (maximum LOD of 4.27, D1S1589) and a region of linkage to metabolic syndrome from the IRAS study (maximum LOD of 2.59, D1S1589/D1S518). The overlap of genetic screens in independent data sets provides evidence for the existence of a gene or genes for CAD in this region. METHODS: A peak-wide association screen (457 SNPs) was conducted of a region 1 LOD score down from the peak marker (168–198 Mb) in a linkage peak for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) on chromosome 1, within a family-based early onset coronary artery disease (CAD) sample(GENECARD).RESULTS:Polymorphisms were identified within the 'family with sequence similarity 5, member C' gene (FAM5C) that show genetic linkage to and are associated with myocardial infarction (MI) in GENECARD. The association was confirmed in an independent CAD case-control sample (CATHGEN) and strong association with MI was identified with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3' end of FAM5C. FAM5C genotypes were also correlated with expression of the gene in human aorta. Expression levels of FAM5C decreased with increasing passage of proliferating aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) suggesting a role for this molecule in smooth muscle cell proliferation and senescence. CONCLUSION:These data implicate FAM5C alleles in the risk of myocardial infarction and suggest further functional studies of FAM5C are required to identify the gene's contribution to atherosclerosis