Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Distinct Areas (distinct + area)
Selected AbstractsThe Asset Pricing Palette: Cash Flows, Returns and Trading BehaviorFINANCIAL REVIEW, Issue 4 2001Andrea J. Heuson G12 Abstract Asset pricing is the topic of the 2001 Eastern Finance Association Symposium and the five papers selected for this collection, which are summarized below, span a broad range of subjects that fall under the umbrella of the determinants of market prices. For example, the Schwartz and Moon article that introduces the symposium uses real options methodology to value firms whose cash flows are subject to multiple sources of uncertainty while the Luders and Peisl and Mixon analytical models that close the selections incorporate dual stochastic processes to derive relationships between information flow, trading volume and price volatility that are consistent with empirical evidence. In between, Mishra and O'Brien present new evidence on the important of index and factor selection when estimating the required return on equity and Spahr and Schwebach revisit the issue of time diversification by reintroducing a statistical construct from earlier times. Each of the works included here makes an important contribution to our understanding of the asset pricing process in a distinct area and opens new doors onto avenues for future research. [source] Selective apoptosis of natural killer-cell tumours by l -asparaginaseBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2005Miki Ando Summary We examined the effectiveness of various anti-tumour agents to natural killer (NK)-cell tumour cell lines and samples, which are generally resistant to chemotherapy, using flow cytometric terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) assay. Although NK-YS and NK-92 were highly resistant to various anti-tumour agents, l -asparaginase induced apoptosis in these two NK-cell lines. NK-cell leukaemia/lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) samples were selectively sensitive to l -asparaginase and to doxorubicin (DXR) respectively. Samples of chronic NK lymphocytosis, an NK-cell disorder with an indolent clinical course, were resistant to both drugs. Our study clearly separated two major categories of NK-cell disorders and ALL according to the sensitivity to DXR and l -asparaginase. We examined asparagine synthetase levels by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) and immunostaining in these samples. At least in nasal-type NK-cell lymphoma, there was a good correlation among asparagine synthetase expression, in vitro sensitivity and clinical response to l -asparaginase. In aggressive NK-cell leukaemia, although asparagine synthetase expression was high at both mRNA and protein levels, l -asparaginase induced considerable apoptosis. Furthermore, samples of each disease entity occupied a distinct area in two-dimensional plotting with asparagine synthetase mRNA level (RQ-PCR) and in vitrol -asparaginase sensitivity (TUNEL assay). We confirmed rather specific anti-tumour activity of l -asparaginase against NK-cell tumours in vitro, which provides an experimental background to the clinical use of l -asparaginase for NK-cell tumours. [source] Three-dimensional study of the musculotendinous architecture of supraspinatus and its functional correlationsCLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 6 2007Soo Y. Kim Abstract The supraspinatus is most frequently involved in shoulder pathology. However, the musculotendinous architecture of the supraspinatus has not been well documented. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the detailed three-dimensional architecture of the supraspinatus throughout its volume. Ten male formalin embalmed cadaveric specimens (mean age 61.9 ± 16 years) without any evidence of rotator cuff pathology were used. Three-dimensional coordinates (x, y, and z) of the tendon and muscle fiber bundles were collected in situ, using serial dissection and digitization. The data was reconstructed into a three-dimensional model using MayaÔ. Fiber bundle lengths, pennation angles (PA), muscle volumes, and tendon dimensions for each architecturally distinct area were computed and then analyzed using paired t -tests and ANOVA (P < 0.05). The supraspinatus was found to consist of anterior and posterior regions, which were each further subdivided into superficial, middle, and deep parts. Mean PA were found to be significantly different between the distinct parts of the anterior region of the muscle. Medial PA was also found be significantly different between the superficial and middle, and superficial and deep parts of the posterior region. These results provide insight into the normal function of the muscle and its possible contribution to the initiation and progression of supraspinatus tendon tears. Clin. Anat. 20:648,655, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Semaphorin and neuropilin expression during early morphogenesis of Xenopus laevisDEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 12 2008Ulrich Koestner Abstract Semaphorins are major regulators of morphogenesis and are involved in a variety of processes ranging from the guidance of cell migration to the development of cancer. Since semaphorins were first characterized as repulsive neuronal guidance cues, their expression has been best documented in the nervous system. However, broader studies are lacking. Here, we describe the expression of 13 members of the semaphorin family and two neuropilin receptors during early Xenopus laevis development. No particular expression pattern defines any of the semaphorin classes, but many are dynamically expressed in distinct areas undergoing morphogenetic cell movements like the developing mesoderm and the migrating neural crest. Furthermore, the complementary expression patterns of Sema3A/Nrp1 and Sema3F/Nrp2 are maintained across hundreds of millions of years, possibly indicating a conserved role in the guidance of migrating neural crest cells. Developmental Dynamics 237:3853,3863, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A Community Intervention by Firefighters to Increase 911 Calls and Aspirin Use for Chest PainACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 4 2006Hendrika Meischke PhD Abstract Objectives: To test the effectiveness of an intervention, delivered face-to-face by local firefighters, designed to increase utilization of 911 and self-administration of aspirin for seniors experiencing chest pain. Methods: King County, Washington was divided into 126 geographically distinct areas that were randomized to intervention and control areas. A mailing list identified households of seniors within these areas. More than 20,000 homes in the intervention areas were contacted by local firefighters. Data on all 911 calls for chest pain and self-administration of aspirin were collected from the medical incident report form (MIRF). The unit of analysis was the area. Firefighters delivered a heart attack survival kit (that included an aspirin) and counseled participants on the importance of aspirin and 911 use for chest pain. Main outcome measures were 911 calls for chest pain and aspirin ingestion for a chest pain event, obtained from the MIRFs that are collected by emergency medical services personnel for 2 years after the intervention. Results: There were significantly more calls (16%) among seniors on the mailing list in the intervention than control areas in the first year after the intervention. Among the seniors who were not on the mailing list, there was little difference in the intervention and control areas. The results were somewhat sensitive to the analytical model used and to an outlier in the treatment group. Conclusions: A community-based firefighter intervention can be effective in increasing appropriate response to symptoms of a heart attack among elders. [source] Comparison of four groups of substance-abusing in-patients with different psychiatric comorbidityACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2001J. Hättenschwiler Objective: ,Comparisons of different groups of dual patients are rare, yet potential differences could have therapeutic implications. In this study, four groups of psychiatric in-patients with substance use disorder were compared to each other: patients with no psychiatric comorbidity, patients with comorbid schizophrenia and patients with affective and personality disorder. Method: ,Apart from sociodemographic, therapy-related variables and a detailed survey of their substance use, all subjects were assessed with BPRS and SCL-90-R. Results: ,No differences were found in the patients' demography, psychosocial adjustment and substance consumption career. Significant differences were found in regard to some therapy variables reflecting adherence to treatment and global outcome and to the level of psychopathology. Conclusion: ,Both substance use and comorbid psychiatric disorder have a variable impact on distinct areas of patients' general condition and functioning. The group with comorbid affective disorder appeared to be the most difficult to treat and the therapeutic approach to this disorder deserves reconsideration. [source] A novel brain receptor is expressed in a distinct population of olfactory sensory neuronsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2000Sidonie Conzelmann Abstract Three novel G-protein-coupled receptor genes related to the previously described RA1c gene have been isolated from the mouse genome. Expression of these genes has been detected in distinct areas of the brain and also in the olfactory epithelium of the nose. Developmental studies revealed a differential onset of expression: in the brain at embryonic stage 17, in the olfactory system at stage E12. In order to determine which cell type in the olfactory epithelium expresses this unique receptor type, a transgenic approach was employed which allowed a coexpression of histological markers together with the receptor and thus visualization of the appropriate cell population. It was found that the receptor-expressing cells were located very close to the basal membrane of the epithelium; however, the cells extended a dendritic process to the epithelial surface and their axons projected into the main olfactory bulb where they converged onto two or three glomeruli in the dorsal and posterior region of the bulb. Thus, these data provide evidence that this unique type of receptor is expressed in mature olfactory neurons and suggests that it may be involved in the detection of special odour molecules. [source] THE EVOLUTION OF SEXUAL SIZE DIMORPHISM IN THE HOUSE FINCH.EVOLUTION, Issue 6 2000Abstract Recent colonization of ecologically distinct areas in North America by the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) was accompanied by strong population divergence in sexual size dimorphism. Here we examined whether this divergence was produced by population differences in local selection pressures acting on each sex. In a long-term study of recently established populations in Alabama, Michigan, and Montana, we examined three selection episodes for each sex: selection for pairing success, overwinter survival, and within-season fecundity. Populations varied in intensity of these selection episodes, the contribution of each episode to the net selection, and in the targets of selection. Direction and intensity of selection strongly differed between sexes, and different selection episodes often favored opposite changes in morphological traits. In each population, current net selection for sexual dimorphism was highly concordant with observed sexual dimorphism,in each population, selection for dimorphism was the strongest on the most dimorphic traits. Strong directional selection on sexually dimorphic traits, and similar intensities of selection in both sexes, suggest that in each of the recently established populations, both males and females are far from their local fitness optimum, and that sexual dimorphism has arisen from adaptive responses in both sexes. Population differences in patterns of selection on dimorphism, combined with both low levels of ontogenetic integration in heritable sexually dimorphic traits and sexual dimorphism in growth patterns, may account for the close correspondence between dimorphism in selection and observed dimorphism in morphology across house finch populations. [source] SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN RELATION TO CURRENT SELECTION IN THE HOUSE FINCHEVOLUTION, Issue 3 2000Alexander V. Badyaev Abstract., Sexual dimorphism is thought to have evolved in response to selection pressures that differ between males and females. Our aim in this study was to determine the role of current net selection in shaping and maintaining contemporary sexual dimorphism in a recently established population of the house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) in Montana. We found strong differences between sexes in direction of selection on sexually dimorphic traits, significant heritabilities of these traits, and a close congruence between current selection and observed sexual dimorphism in Montana house finches. Strong directional selection on sexually dimorphic traits and similar intensities of selection in each sex suggested that sexual dimorphism arises from adaptive responses in males and females, with both sexes being far from their local fitness optimum. This pattern is expected when a recently established population experiences continuous immigration from ecologically distinct areas of a species range or as a result of widely fluctuating selection pressures, as found in our study. Strong and sexually dimorphic selection pressures on heritable morphological traits, in combination with low phenotypic and genetic covariation among these traits during growth, may have accounted for close congruence between current selection and observed sexual dimorphism in the house finch. This conclusion is consistent with the profound adaptive population divergence in sexual dimorphism that accompanied very successful colonization of most of the North America by the house finch over the last 50 years. [source] Early development and segment formation in the centipede, Strigamia maritima (Geophilomorpha)EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 2 2004Ariel D. Chipman Summary Geophilomorph centipedes exhibit a number of unique characteristics that make them of particular developmental and evolutionary interest. Segment numbers in geophilomorphs are higher than in any other centipedes, ranging from 27 to 191. They may be constant within a species, presenting in extreme form the "counting" problem in development, or they may vary,a situation that provides us with the opportunity to study naturally occurring variation in segment numbers. All their segments are generated during embryogenesis, a situation unlike that in the more basal centipede orders, which generate only a fraction of their 15 trunk segments in the embryo and develop the rest postembryonically. Here we provide a foundation for further developmental studies of the Geophilomorpha, building on the one study that has been conducted to date, on the coastal species Strigamia maritima. Development begins with the migration of nuclei to the surface of the egg, which then condense to form an embryonic rudiment of more than 20,000 cells, covering an entire hemisphere. During early development, the embryo can be divided into two distinct areas: a large terminal disc of apparently undifferentiated tissue and the germ-band, which has a clear anteroposterior axis and differentiated segments. The germ-band forms from the anterior of the terminal disc and extends anteriorly as the disc contracts. New segments are formed at the posterior margin of the germ-band. Once the process of segmentation ends, the germ-band folds and sinks into the yolk. We note that the classic description of centipede development, by Heymons more than a century ago, contains a fundamental error in the identification of the axes and hence in the interpretation of early segmentation. [source] The ABCA1 cholesterol transporter associates with one of two distinct dystrophin-based scaffolds in Schwann cellsGLIA, Issue 6 2008Douglas E. Albrecht Abstract Cytoskeletal scaffolding complexes help organize specialized membrane domains with unique functions on the surface of cells. In this study, we define the scaffolding potential of the Schwann cell dystrophin glycoprotein complex (DGC) by establishing the presence of four syntrophin isoforms, (,1, ,1, ,2, and ,2), and one dystrobrevin isoform, (,-dystrobrevin-1), in the abaxonal membrane. Furthermore, we demonstrate the existence of two separate DGCs in Schwann cells that divide the abaxonal membrane into spatially distinct domains, the DRP2/periaxin rich plaques and the Cajal bands that contain Dp116, utrophin, ,-dystrobrevin-1 and four syntrophin isoforms. Finally, we show that the two different DGCs can scaffold unique accessory molecules in distinct areas of the Schwann cell membrane. Specifically, the cholesterol transporter ABCA1, associates with the Dp116/syntrophin complex in Cajal bands and is excluded from the DRP2/periaxin rich plaques. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast arising within complex sclerosing lesion: a report of five casesHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Denley Aims This study presents a series of five cases in which metaplastic carcinoma, predominantly low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma, of the breast is seen arising within a background of a complex sclerosing lesion. This association has been recognized previously but has not been documented in detail. This study describes the characteristics of the components present in each case and discusses the existing literature. This observation adds further evidence to support an association between some types of invasive breast carcinoma and sclerosing lesions of the breast. Methods and results Four of these cases were received as referral cases for opinion. The fifth was received as part of the routine surgical workload within our own institution. Two patients presented following mammographic screening and three symptomatically; their mean age was 62 years (range 49,68). The mean lesion size was 16 mm (range 7,24). All five lesions showed features of a complex sclerosing lesion/radial scar in the form of central sclerosis with elastosis and radiating benign entrapped tubules. One had associated benign papillary structures and two had focal benign squamous mletaplasia. Four cases showed coexisting but distinct areas of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma with glandular and squamous epithelial differentiation in a spindle cell background. One case had associated undifferentiated spindle cell carcinoma. Detailed immunophenotypic characteristics of two cases are presented. Conclusions This series illustrates a postulated but previously unconfirmed association between an unusual form of metaplastic breast carcinoma (adenosquamous carcinoma) and complex sclerosing lesions. The mechanisms of induction of breast carcinoma are poorly understood but these observations further emphasize the potential for sclerosing lesion of the breast to be associated with, and possibly give rise to, invasive carcinoma of different types. The precise nature of the interaction between the pathological processes remains unclear. [source] Feeding area specialization of chick-rearing Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae in a fast sea-ice areaIBIS, Issue 4 2003Yutaka Watanuki Individual feeding area specialization has been reported for several seabird species. Researchers suspect that this behaviour results in feeding and/or reproductive advantages. Adélie Penguins Pygoscelis adeliae feed in small predictable open waters in a fast sea-ice area near Syowa Station, Antarctica. Their feeding sites were determined by radiotracking both members of 20 pairs rearing chicks. Twenty-five birds repeatedly fed in distinct areas more frequently than expected by chance, while the remaining 15 birds had no significant feeding area specialization. Birds seemed to feed at sites that were closer to their most recent feeding sites than they were to earlier feeding sites. Variation in specialized area, degree of feeding area fidelity and distance to feeding sites had no significant effect on the number of feeds that a bird brought to chicks per day. Neither did the estimated mass of feeds brought per day per pair depend on feeding area specialization. [source] Towards a distinctive body of knowledge for Information Systems experts: coding ISD process knowledge in two IS journalsINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2004Juhani Iivari Abstract., This paper introduces the idea of coding a practically relevant body of knowledge (BoK) in Information Systems (IS) that could have major benefits for the field. In its main part, the paper focuses on the question if and how an underlying body of action-oriented knowledge for IS experts could be distilled from the IS research literature. For this purpose the paper identifies five knowledge areas as the most important parts for an IS expert's BoK. Two of these are claimed as distinct areas of competence for IS experts: IS application knowledge and IS development (ISD) process knowledge. The paper focuses particularly on ISD process knowledge because it allows the organizing of practically relevant IS knowledge in an action-oriented way. The paper presents some evidence for the claim that a considerable body of practically relevant IS process knowledge might, indeed, exist, but also notes that it is highly dispersed in the IS literature. It then argues that the IS research community should take stock of this knowledge and organize it in an action-oriented way. Based on results from prior work it proposes a four-level hierarchical coding scheme for this purpose. In order to test the idea of coding action-oriented knowledge for IS experts, the paper reports the results of a coded literature analysis of ISD research articles published from 1996 to 2000 in two leading IS journals , Information Systems Journal and MIS Quarterly. The results suggest that ISD approaches form a useful framework for organizing practically relevant IS knowledge. [source] Different structural components of conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma display mostly identical BRAF statusINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2007Alexander Abrosimov Abstract Activating BRAFT1799A mutation is closely associated with a papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) histotype. The transversion is frequently detected in the conventional type, Warthin-like and tall cell variants, but is rare in the follicular variant of PTC. Conventional PTC is often presented with tumors of mixed architecture, which besides the papillary structures also contain areas with follicular and solid morphology in which the details of BRAF mutational status are unknown. We set out to differentially investigate the presence of mutated BRAF in the individual structural components microdissected from 44 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded PTC tissues from 40 patients. The mutation was detected in at least 1 structural component in 23 tumors (52%). Different structural components of the same tumor had identical BRAF status in 41/44 tumors (93%). In 3 tumors the BRAFT1799A mutation was found only in the papillary, but not in the follicular component. Mutational patterns identical to those in the primary tumors were found in 11/12 lymph node metastases (92%, including both BRAFT1799A -positive and -negative cases). The high concordance of the BRAF mutational status in structurally distinct areas suggests a rather homogeneous distribution of neoplastic epithelial cells in a conventional PTC tumor in most cases. These results imply the reliability of preoperative molecular diagnosis of PTC regardless of the type of tumor component at the site of biopsy sampling and suggest that the majority of patients with BRAF mutation-positive PTC may benefit from the targeted pharmacotherapy. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Climate of the seasonal cycle in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceansINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Igor M. Yashayaev Abstract Time series of monthly sea-surface temperature (SST), air temperature (AT) and sea level pressure (SLP) were constructed from merged releases of the Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (COADS). The time series were decomposed into seasonal and non-seasonal (short and long-term) components. The contribution of the seasonal cycle to the total variance of SST and AT exceeds 80% in the mid and in some high latitude locations and reaches its peak (>95%) in the centres of subtropical gyres. In most cases, a combination of annual and semiannual harmonics accounts for more than 95% of the seasonal variability. Amplitudes of SST and AT annual cycles are highest near the western boundaries of the oceans; annual phases of SST and AT increase toward the eastern tropical oceans, revealing a southeastern propagation of the annual cycle over the Northern Hemisphere oceans. The annual cycle of AT leads that of SST by 1,3 weeks. The largest phase differences are observed in the regions of western boundary currents in the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans. This is consistent with spatial patterns of integral air,sea heat fluxes. Annual phases of SST increase along the Gulf Stream and the Kuroshio Current. This points to the importance of signal transport by the major ocean currents. The lowest annual amplitudes of SLP are observed along the equator (0°,10°N) in both oceans. There are three distinct areas of high annual amplitudes of SLP in the North Pacific Ocean: Asian, Aleutian and Californian. Unlike the North Pacific, only one such area exists in the North Atlantic centred to the west of Iceland. A remarkable feature in the climate of the North Pacific is a maximum of semiannual SLP amplitudes, centred near 40°N and 170°W. It is also an absolute maximum in the entire Northern Hemisphere. Analysis of phases of harmonics of SLP seasonal cycle has revealed the trajectories of propagation of the annual and semiannual cycles. Analysis of semiannual to annual amplitudes ratio has revealed the regions of semiannual cycle dominance. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society [source] The Effect of International Terrorism on EU Intelligence Co-operationJCMS: JOURNAL OF COMMON MARKET STUDIES, Issue 1 2008BJÖRN MÜLLER-WILLE While the US has revamped its intelligence community by creating the Department of Homeland Security, little seems to have happened at the European level. The article seeks to explain why some intelligence co-operation takes place within the EU and why the bulk does not. It uses a new model, the ,intelligence cube', to develop a discussion on co-operation in distinct areas. Following a functionalist approach, suggesting that collaboration is utility driven, it proposes that efficiency considerations offer the most convincing explanation why no new European Intelligence Agency has been created and why so little co-operation takes place within EU structures. [source] Can low densities of carnivores result in genetic depletion?JOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 3 2006An investigation within French polecat populations Summary Carnivores as top predators are commonly found in relatively low densities even in optimal habitats. Despite a lack of empirical studies, it could be suspected that long-term low density could result in genetic depletion. The genetic structure of European polecat Mustela putorius natural populations was investigated by allozyme electrophoresis in five distinct areas. Density estimates significantly differed among sites from 0.17 to 0.83 individuals/km2 with an average of 0.56 individuals per km2, resulting in a scattered distribution. Genetic structure varied among distinct populations both in number of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity. Polecats from Brittany revealed a very low observed heterozygosity (HO = 0.028) whereas mean heterozygosity reached HO = 0.072 in Brière. That the lowest heterozygosity levels and highest inbreeding coefficient FIS were significantly associated with the lowest densities suggests that low densities may affect populations of carnivores. Both the loss of polymorphic loci and the reduction in heterozygosity rates suggest a density-dependent effect and population density can be arguably regarded as a factor affecting genetic diversity in top carnivores. [source] Gingival blood flow changes following periodontal access flap surgery using laser Doppler flowmetryJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 5 2007M. Retzepi Abstract Aim: To investigate the pattern of gingival blood flow changes following periodontal access flap surgery by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). Material and methods: Fourteen patients with chronic periodontitis presenting upper anterior sites with pocket depth 5 mm after initial treatment were included in the study. Periodontal access flap surgery was performed on the experimental areas and LDF recordings were taken at baseline, following anaesthesia, immediately postoperatively and on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 15, 30 and 60 of healing, at nine predetermined sites per flap. Results: Significant ischaemia was observed at all flap sites following anaesthesia and immediately postoperatively. At the alveolar mucosal sites, a peak increase of the gingival blood flow was observed on postoperative day 1 (p<0.001), which persisted until day 7 (p=0.012) and resolved by day 15. The mucosal sites close to the flap periphery presented higher blood perfusion compared with the sites located centrally in the flap. The microcirculatory perfusion of the buccal and palatal papillae was maximum on postoperative day 7 (p=0.013 and <0.001, respectively) and returned to baseline by day 15. Conclusion: Topographically distinct areas of the periodontal access flap consistently present different patterns of microvascular blood flow alterations during the wound-healing period. [source] Congenital myofibroma of the skin mimicking a piloleiomyomaJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Takuya Inoue Myofibroma is an uncommon benign soft tissue disorder, which is usually congenital or present in early infancy. Myofibroma usually manifests as a single mass. When there are multiple lesions, the term myofibromatosis is used. The characteristic histopathological feature of the myofibroma is the coexistence of two distinct areas. One area mainly contains plump spindle cells with thin blunt-ended nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm, thus indicating myoid characteristics. The other area contains either round or polygonal cells with slightly pleomorphic, hyperchromatic nuclei or small spindle cells typically arranged around a distinct hemangiopericytoma-like vascular pattern. In the present case, the majority of the tumor was composed of the plump myoid spindle cells. This led to an initial diagnosis of a piloleiomyoma. However, the tumor cells were not immunohistochemically positive for desmin. Moreover, careful examination revealed a hemangiopericytoma-like vascular pattern characterized by the presence of high cellular areas with irregular vascular spaces. These features led to the final diagnosis of the myofibroma. It is therefore important to recognize the leiomyoma-like variants of myofibromas. Inoue T, Sada A, Mori T, Misago N, Narisawa Y. Congenital myofibroma of the skin mimicking a piloleiomyoma. [source] Morphological variation among populations of Aphanius fasciatus Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae) from the MediterraneanJOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007V. Ferrito The amount of osteological variation among 11 Italian killifish Aphanius fasciatus populations was examined by the univariate and multivariate analysis of 40 morphometric and meristic variables of the skull and vertebral column. Populations were sampled in three geographically distinct areas (the Adriatic, Sardinia and Sicily). The statistical analysis confirmed that several populations were well differentiated. In particular, discriminant analysis revealed a strong discriminating power of the morphometric variables. Morphometrics of the vertebrae, bony elements of the pharyngeal jaws, supraoccipital and parasphenoid were the most important in discriminating populations. The dendrogram obtained by UPGMA cluster analysis shows the separation of the south-eastern Sicilian populations, that of the Sardinian populations and that of the central-northern Sicilian plus Adriatic populations, as well as the isolation of the Sicilian population from Pantano Viruca and of the Sardinian populations from Pauli Figu from all the others. The significance of the observed differentiation pattern is discussed. [source] Correlation of norovirus variants with epidemics of acute viral gastroenteritis in Hong KongJOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 11 2006Eric C.M. Ho Abstract Norovirus (NV) (formerly called Norwalk-like virus) is the most common etiological agent of acute viral gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Recent reports have shown that two new GII.4 variants caused epidemics in Europe. To investigate if it is also the case in Hong Kong, a molecular epidemiological study was undertaken between January 2002 and June 2005. During this period, there was a substantial increase in acute cases of gastroenteritis caused by NV. Phylogenetic analysis showed that GII.2 and GII.4 are the major circulating genotypes. Two new GII.4 variants (variants C and D) were identified in 2002 and 2004, which quickly became the predominant strains. They were almost identical to the variants causing epidemics in Europe recently. Since geographically distinct areas were involved within a short period of time, it is possible that GII.4 has a particular propensity for causing pandemics. J. Med. Virol. 78:1473,1479, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] HYDROCARBON SEEPAGE AND CARBONATE MOUND FORMATION: A BASIN MODELLING STUDY FROM THE PORCUPINE BASIN (OFFSHORE IRELAND)JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 2 2005J. Naeth This study assesses whether the growth of deep water carbonate mounds on the continental slope of the north Atlantic may be associated with active hydrocarbon leakage. The carbonate mounds studied occur in two distinct areas of the Porcupine Basin, 200 km offshore Ireland, known as the Hovland-Magellan and the Belgica areas. To evaluate the possible link between hydrocarbon leakage and mound growth, we used two dimensional cross-section and map-based basin modelling. Geological information was derived from interpretation of five seismic lines across the province as well as the Connemara oilfield. Calibration data was available from the northern part of the study area and included vitrinite reflectance, temperature and apatite fission track data. Modelling results indicate that the main Jurassic source rocks are mature to overmature for hydrocarbon generation throughout the basin. Hydrocarbon generation and migration started in the Late Cretaceous. Based on our stratigraphic and lithologic model definitions, hydrocarbon migration is modelled to be mainly vertical, with only Aptian and Tertiary deltaic strata directing hydrocarbon flow laterally out of the basin. Gas chimneys observed in the Connemara field were reproduced using flow modelling and are related to leakage at the apices of rotated Jurassic fault blocks. The model predicts significant focussing of gas migration towards the Belgica mounds, where Cretaceous and Tertiary carrier layers pinch out. In the Hovland-Magellan area, no obvious focus of hydrocarbon flow was modelled from the 2D section, but drainage area analysis of Tertiary maps indicates a link between mound position and shallow Tertiary closures which may focus hydrocarbon flow towards the mounds. [source] Adaptation and ecological differentiation in wheat with special reference to geographical variation of growth habit and Vrn genotypePLANT BREEDING, Issue 2 2001K. Iwaki Abstract Geographical variation of growth habit was studied for 749 landraces from various parts of the world, with special reference to their adaptation and ecogeographical differentiation. The total frequency of spring-type landraces was 49.9%, and varied between localities. Spring-type landraces were frequent in two distinct areas where the average January temperature was either below -7°C or above 4°C, with winter-type landraces in areas from -7°C to 4°C. These results indicated that geographical variation of growth habit is closely related to the degree of winter coldness. An analysis of the Vrn genotype for 216 spring-type landraces demonstrated the uneven distribution of four Vrn genes, with Vrn4 being the least frequent. The adaptive Vrn genotype was different between localities. Genotypes carrying Vrn-A1 and additional Vrn gene(s) were frequent in two distinct areas where the average January temperature was either below -7°C or over 10°C, while genotypes with any of three Vrn genes, except Vrn-A1, adapted to areas with temperatures from 4°C to 10°C. Therefore, it was concluded that the adaptability of wheat landraces differed depending on their growth habit and Vrn genotype, and that ecotypes with different Vrn genotypes were allopatrically distributed as a result of adaptation to different winter temperature. However, the differential distribution of Vrn-B1, Vrn-D1 and Vrn4 could not be explained by their adaptability, and might reflect the polyphyletic origin of common wheat. [source] An effective system for detecting Iris yellow spot virus transmission by Thrips tabaciPLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2010T. Inoue A simple, effective and convenient laboratory leaf system was developed to detect transmission of Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) by thrips. It was shown that IYSV was transmitted highly efficiently by adults and also by larvae of five thelytokous populations of Thripstabaci from distinct areas in Japan: over all these populations, transmission efficiency of adults ranged from 20·4% (19/93) to 41·1% (76/185) and that of larvae from 17·3% (14/81) to 44·1% (67/152). Finally, it was demonstrated that IYSV infection was not detrimental to the development and fecundity of thrips until early adulthood. Larval mortalities of virus-exposed thrips were higher than in their unexposed counterparts in all three populations, but the differences were not significant. The results demonstrated that T. tabaci populations have considerable potential to cause outbreaks of IYSV and spread the disease because of their efficient transmission of the virus. [source] Ovarian cancer proteomics: Many technologies one goalPROTEOMICS - CLINICAL APPLICATIONS, Issue 2 2008Kothandaraman Narasimhan Abstract The last decade has seen major changes in the technologies used to identify markers for diagnosing cancer. This review focuses on recent developments on the evolving field of biomarker discovery, and validation techniques using proteomics platforms for ovarian cancer. It is possible now to diagnose various disease conditions using microliter quantities of body fluids. Currently the major developments were made in three distinct areas: (i) protein profiling, (ii) high-throughput validation techniques, and (iii) solid and liquid phase protein microarray platforms for analyzing candidate markers across subclasses and stages of cancers. The recent addition to the long list of technologies is metabolomics using metabolite profiling and informatics-based filtering of information for biomarker discovery of ovarian cancer. Emerging technologies need to address ways to eliminate the limitations posed by the complex dynamic nature of body fluids as well as ways to enrich low-abundance tumor markers if they were to become a successful biomarker discovery tool. These new technologies hold significant promise in identifying more robust markers for ovarian cancer. Since the prevalence of this disease in the population is low, the test must have a high specificity. [source] Immunohistochemical parcellation of the ferret (Mustela putorius) visual cortex reveals substantial homology with the cat (Felis catus)THE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 21 2010Jihane Homman-Ludiye Abstract Electrophysiological mapping of the adult ferret visual cortex has until now determined the existence of 12 retinotopically distinct areas; however, in the cat, another member of the Carnivora, 20 distinct visual areas have been identified by using retinotopic mapping and immunolabeling. In the present study, the immunohistochemical approach to demarcate the areal boundaries of the adult ferret visual cortex was applied in order to overcome the difficulties in accessing the sulcal surfaces of a small, gyrencephalic brain. Nonphosphorylated neurofilament (NNF) expression profiles were compared with another classical immunostain of cortical nuclei, Cat-301 chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). Together, these two markers reliably demarcated the borders of the 12 previously defined areas and revealed further arealization beyond those borders to a total of 19 areas: 21a and 21b; the anterolateral, posterolateral, dorsal, and ventral lateral suprasylvian areas (ALLS, PLLS, DLS, and VLS, respectively); and the splenial and cingulate visual areas (SVA and CVA). NNF expression profile and location of the newly defined areas correlate with previously defined areas in the cat. Moreover, NNF and Cat-301 together revealed discrete expression domains in the posteroparietal (PP) cortex, demarcating four subdivisions in the caudal lateral and medial domains (PPcL and PPcM) and rostral lateral and medial domains (PPrL and PPrM), where only two retinotopic maps have been previously identified (PPc and PPr). Taken together, these studies suggest that NNF and Cat-301 can illustrate the homology between cortical areas in different species and draw out the principles that have driven evolution of the visual cortex. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:4439,4462, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Allatostatin immunoreactivity in the honeybee brainTHE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 9 2010Sabine Kreissl Information transmission and processing in the brain is achieved through a small family of chemical neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and a very large family of neuropeptides. In order to understand neural networks in the brain it will be necessary, therefore, to understand the connectivity, morphology, and distribution of peptidergic neurons, and to elucidate their function in the brain. In this study we characterize the distribution of substances related to Dip-allatostatin I in the honeybee brain, which belongs to the allatostatin-A (AST) peptide family sharing the conserved c-terminal sequence -YXFGL-NH2. We found about 500 AST-immunoreactive (ASTir) neurons in the brain, scattered in 18 groups that varied in their precise location across individuals. Almost all areas of the brain were innervated by ASTir fibers. Most ASTir neurites formed networks within functionally distinct areas, e.g., the antennal lobes, the mushroom bodies, or the optic lobes, indicating local functions of the peptide. A small number of very large neurons had widespread arborizations and neurites were found in the corpora cardiaca and in the cervical connectives, suggesting that AST also has global functions. We double-stained AST and GABA and found that a subset of ASTir neurons were GABA-immunoreactive (GABAir). Double staining AST with backfills of olfactory receptor neurons or mass fills of neurons in the antennal lobes and in the mushroom bodies allowed a more fine-grained description of ASTir networks. Together, this first comprehensive description of AST in the bee brain suggests a diverse functional role of AST, including local and global computational tasks. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1391,1417, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Allatostatin immunoreactivity in the honeybee brainTHE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 9 2010Sabine Kreissl Abstract Information transmission and processing in the brain is achieved through a small family of chemical neurotransmitters and neuromodulators and a very large family of neuropeptides. In order to understand neural networks in the brain it will be necessary, therefore, to understand the connectivity, morphology, and distribution of peptidergic neurons, and to elucidate their function in the brain. In this study we characterize the distribution of substances related to Dip-allatostatin I in the honeybee brain, which belongs to the allatostatin-A (AST) peptide family sharing the conserved c-terminal sequence -YXFGL-NH2. We found about 500 AST-immunoreactive (ASTir) neurons in the brain, scattered in 18 groups that varied in their precise location across individuals. Almost all areas of the brain were innervated by ASTir fibers. Most ASTir neurites formed networks within functionally distinct areas, e.g., the antennal lobes, the mushroom bodies, or the optic lobes, indicating local functions of the peptide. A small number of very large neurons had widespread arborizations and neurites were found in the corpora cardiaca and in the cervical connectives, suggesting that AST also has global functions. We double-stained AST and GABA and found that a subset of ASTir neurons were GABA-immunoreactive (GABAir). Double staining AST with backfills of olfactory receptor neurons or mass fills of neurons in the antennal lobes and in the mushroom bodies allowed a more fine-grained description of ASTir networks. Together, this first comprehensive description of AST in the bee brain suggests a diverse functional role of AST, including local and global computational tasks. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:1391,1417, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Subzonal organization of olfactory sensory neurons projecting to distinct glomeruli within the mouse olfactory bulbTHE JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2003Olga Levai Abstract Olfactory sensory neurons located in the nasal neuroepithelium send their axons directly into the olfactory bulb, where they contact the dendrites of second-order neurons in specialized spherical structures called glomeruli; each sensory neuron projects to a single glomerulus. All neurons expressing the same odorant receptor gene are confined to distinct zones within the epithelium and converge their axons onto a small number of common glomeruli. In the present study, we analyzed transgenic mouse lines in which the projection of a neuron population expressing a particular receptor gene can be visualized as a result of axonal markers that are coexpressed. The target glomeruli could thus reproducibly be identified and allowed to deposit retrograde tracers precisely. After an appropriate incubation time, olfactory sensory neurons within distinct areas of the olfactory epithelium were labeled. The two subpopulations of neurons retrogradely stained by differently colored fluorescent dyes deposited at the dorsal and the dorsomedial glomerulus, respectively, were found to be segregated within distinct areas of the expression zone, where the cells expressing the same receptor type displayed a stochastic distribution. J. Comp. Neurol. 458:209,220, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||