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Concentrated animal feeding operations, row crops, and their relationship to nitrate in eastern Iowa Rivers.

Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) and fertilizer application to row crops may contribute to poor water quality in surface waters. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated nutrient concentrations and fluxes in four Eastern Iowa watersheds sampled between 1996 and 2004. We found that these watersheds contribute nearly 10% of annual nitrate flux entering the Gulf of Mexico, while representing only 1.5% of the contributing drainage basin. Mass budget analysis shows streamflow to be a major loss of nitrogen (18% of total N output), second only to crop harvest (63%). The major watershed inputs of nitrogen include applied fertilizer for corn (54% of total N input) and nitrogen fixation by soybeans (26%). Despite the relatively small input from animal manure (approximately 5%), the results of spatial analysis indicate that row crop and CAFO densities are significantly and independently correlated to higher nitrate concentration in streams. Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.59 and 0.89 were found between nitrate concentration and row crop and CAFO density, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis produced a correlation for nitrate concentration with an R2 value of 85%. High spatial density of row crops and CAFOs are linked to the highest river nitrate concentrations (up to 15 mg/L normalized over five years).

Agriculture↗

Diagnostic value of computerized EEG topographic analysis in epilepsy (preliminary data).

A computerized EEG topographic analysis (CETA) was carried out in 69 epileptics in order to evaluate the diagnostic value of such an investigation compared to that of the routine interictal EEG. The spectral frequency analysis of the bioelectrical activity in these patients was accomplished both by the fast Fourier transform and by the autoregression method. The obtained data were used for the spatial analysis of the electrical activity which was performed both by the interhemispheric coherence technique and by the color-coded topographic mapping in frequency bands. The data analysis showed that in 58 (84.1%) of the epileptics in whom routine EEG evidenced focal interictal bioelectrical abnormalities CETA also showed such abnormalities. However, CETA revealed focal abnormalities also in 8 (72.7%) out of the 11 epileptics in whom interictal EEG was interpreted as normal. The data analysis also showed that CETA was more efficient than EEG in the detection of focal abnormalities in the epilepsy with slow graphic elements, in the partial epilepsy, in the epilepsy with late onset and in the therapy-resistant epilepsy. The focal abnormalities evidenced by CETA were more expanded than those evidenced by routine EEG and the topographic maps indicated the focal involvement of a significant number of frequency bands. Considering the results, the authors make some appreciation regarding the diagnostic values of CETA in epilepsy.

Adolescent↗

Visualization of agonist-induced sequestration and down-regulation of a green fluorescent protein-tagged beta2-adrenergic receptor.

To date, the visualization of beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) trafficking has been largely limited to immunocytochemical analyses of acute internalization events of epitope-tagged receptors in various transfection systems. The development of a beta2AR conjugated with green fluorescent protein (beta2AR-GFP) provides the opportunity for a more extensive optical analysis of beta2AR sequestration, down-regulation, and recycling in cells. Here we demonstrate that stable expression of beta2AR-GFP in HeLa cells enables a detailed temporal and spatial analysis of these events. Time-dependent colocalization of beta2AR-GFP with rhodamine-labeled transferrin and rhodamine-labeled dextran following agonist exposure demonstrates receptor distribution to early endosomes (sequestration) and lysosomes (down-regulation), respectively. The observed temporal distribution of beta2AR-GFP was consistent with measures of receptor sequestration and down-regulation generated by radioligand-receptor binding assays. Cells stimulated with different beta-agonists revealed time courses of beta2AR-GFP redistribution reflective of the intrinsic activity of each agonist.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

[Malaria and schistosomiasis: 2 examples using systems of geographical information and teledetection in Madagascar].

Schistosomiasis and malaria constitute major health problems in Madagascar. The main objectives of the national schistosomiasis control programme--launched in 1998--are to improve knowledge about the modes of transmission of the disease and conduct mass treatment in hyperendemic areas, so as to lower incidence rates. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was established aiming to conduct a series of remote sensing studies based on digital image processing and analysis from Landsat TM and panchromatic Spot. The importance of local environmental and geographic characteristics in the Ihosy region such as proximity to roads and water were assessed by spatial analysis in order to construct a predictive model of Schistosoma mansoni endemicity. Unstable transmission in the Central Highlands of Madagascar caused severe outbreaks of malaria in the 1980s. Attempts to prevent such events reoccurring have been highlighted in the national malaria control programme. Thanks to intense vector control measures introduced in the area over a five-year period, a marked decrease in incidence of malaria was observed. This region borders on the Highlands as well as southern areas, allowing for vector control evaluation. The GIS and remote sensing system were applied to analyse ricefield areas, where the main vector are Anopheles funestus. Rice-field surfaces were statistically linked with abundance of vectors evaluated by entomological parametres.

Animals↗

Antisense hippocampal knockdown of NMDA-NR1 by HVJ-liposome vector induces deficit of prepulse inhibition but not of spatial memory.

Considerable evidence suggests that an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor plays a crucial role in memory and cognitive function. To identify the role of this receptor in higher functions of the brain, we delivered antisense oligonucleotides against an NMDA-NR1 subunit (NR1) to the hippocampus in rats using the HVJ-liposome-mediated gene-transfer method. NR1 hippocampal knockdown was performed by the focal injection of the NR1 antisense-HVJ-liposome complex into the bilateral hippocampus. The blocking effect of NR1-antisense on the expression of NR1 was confirmed by Western blot analysis. Spatial memory was tested by a water maze task, and sensorimotor gating was examined by prepulse inhibition (PPI). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the NR1-antisense treatment specifically provided the down-regulation (about 30%) of NR1 protein levels in the hippocampus. The water maze task showed that the antisense treatment did not affect spatial memory, while the PPI test revealed that NR1 hippocampal knockdown caused a deficit in sensorimotor gating. We conclude that mild dysfunction of hippocampal NMDA receptor causes sensorimotor gating deficit and relatively intact in spatial memory.

Animals↗

Driving donation: a geographic analysis of potential organ donors in the state of Ohio, USA.

For many years, researchers of organ transplantation have primarily studied the differences in ethnic, cultural and religious characteristics of organ donors across the United States. Unfortunately, this work has failed to include a spatial parameter. Spatial analysis can play an important role in helping researchers better understand these characteristics across diverse landscapes. Using basic statistical techniques, a geographic information system (GIS) and data acquired from actual drivers license records, this study examines the demographic, socioeconomic, religious and electoral landscapes as they relate to potential organ donorship rates across the state of Ohio. Results indicate that income and education are important factors, and political affiliation, race and proximity to organ procurement organizations can also affect one's potential to donate.

Cultural Characteristics↗

The pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum, its symbionts and helminths as bioindicators of chemical pollution in Campeche Sound, Mexico.

The pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum may acquire pollutants, helminths and symbionts from their environment. Statistical associations were studied between the symbionts and helminths of F. duorarum and pollutants in sediments, water and shrimps in Campeche Sound, Mexico. The study area spatially overlapped between offshore oil platforms and natural shrimp mating grounds. Spatial autocorrelation of data was controlled with spatial analysis using distance indices (SADIE) which identifies parasite or pollutant patches (high levels) and gaps (low levels), expressing them as clustering indices compared at each point to produce a measure of spatial association. Symbionts included the peritrich ciliates Epistylis sp. and Zoothamnium penaei and all symbionts were pooled. Helminths included Hysterothylacium sp., Opecoeloides fimbriatus, Prochristianella penaei and an unidentified cestode. Thirty-five pollutants were identified, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and heavy metals. The PAHs (2-3 ring) in water, unresolved complex mixture (UCM), Ni and V in sediments, and Zn, Cr and heptachlor in shrimps were significantly clustered. The remaining pollutants were randomly distributed in the study area. Juvenile shrimps acquired pesticides, PAHs (2-3 rings) and Zn, while adults acquired PAHs (4-5 rings), Cu and V. Results suggest natural PAH spillovers, and continental runoff of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), PCBs and PAHs (2-3 ring). There were no significant associations between pollutants and helminths. However, there were significant negative associations of pesticides, UCM and PCBs with symbiont numbers after controlling shrimp size and spatial autocorrelation. Shrimps and their symbionts appear to be promising bioindicators of organic chemical pollution in Campeche Sound.

Animals↗

Spatial normalization of diffusion tensor MRI using multiple channels.

Diffusion Tensor MRI (DT-MRI) can provide important in vivo information for the detection of brain abnormalities in diseases characterized by compromised neural connectivity. To quantify diffusion tensor abnormalities based on voxel-based statistical analysis, spatial normalization is required to minimize the anatomical variability between studied brain structures. In this article, we used a multiple input channel registration algorithm based on a demons algorithm and evaluated the spatial normalization of diffusion tensor image in terms of the input information used for registration. Registration was performed on 16 DT-MRI data sets using different combinations of the channels, including a channel of T2-weighted intensity, a channel of the fractional anisotropy, a channel of the difference of the first and second eigenvalues, two channels of the fractional anisotropy and the trace of tensor, three channels of the eigenvalues of the tensor, and the six channel tensor components. To evaluate the registration of tensor data, we defined two similarity measures, i.e., the endpoint divergence and the mean square error, which we applied to the fiber bundles of target images and registered images at the same seed points in white matter segmentation. We also evaluated the tensor registration by examining the voxel-by-voxel alignment of tensors in a sample of 15 normalized DT-MRIs. In all evaluations, nonlinear warping using six independent tensor components as input channels showed the best performance in effectively normalizing the tract morphology and tensor orientation. We also present a nonlinear method for creating a group diffusion tensor atlas using the average tensor field and the average deformation field, which we believe is a better approach than a strict linear one for representing both tensor distribution and morphological distribution of the population.

Adult↗

[Methodology of epidemiologic studies of endogenous psychoses].

The author suggests that a chronoepidemiological approach and the method of phasic-spatial analysis should be used a sa main orientation and tool of the study into the causes and conditions of a mass character of endogenic psychoses. This method involves a wide range of temporal, spatial, quantitative, qualitative, empirical and theoretical epidemiological parameters of the disease. The method makes it possible to elucidate different forms of cause-and-effect relationships of synchronous and diachronous nature. The efficacy of the method was assessed in a retrospective study of schizophrenic patients in the city of Andizhan. This study revealed an action of an unknown factor in the early ontogenesis of patients. On the basis of phasograms of the distribution of schizophrenia a conclusion is drawn that the unknown factor has a physical nature and cyclically varying force characteristics with a period of about 10 years.

Epidemiologic Methods↗

Laser capture microdissection for the analysis of gene expression during embryogenesis of Arabidopsis.

It is during embryogenesis that the body plan of the developing plant is established. Analysis of gene expression during embryogenesis has been limited due to the technical difficulty of accessing the developing embryo. Here we demonstrate that laser capture microdissection can be applied to the analysis of embryogenesis. We show how this technique can be used in concert with DNA microarray for the large-scale analysis of gene expression in apical and basal domains of the globular-stage and heart-stage embryo, respectively, when critical events of polarity, symmetry and biochemical differentiation are established. This high resolution spatial analysis shows that up to approximately 65% of the genome is expressed in the developing embryo, and that differential expression of a number of gene classes can be detected. We discuss the validity of this approach for the functional analysis of both published and previously uncharacterized essential genes.

Arabidopsis↗

Cellular patterns in the inner retina of adult zebrafish: quantitative analyses and a computational model of their formation.

The mechanisms that control cellular pattern formation in the growing vertebrate central nervous system are poorly understood. In an effort to reveal mechanistic rules of cellular pattern formation in the central nervous system, quantitative spatial analysis and computational modeling techniques were applied to cellular patterns in the inner retina of the adult zebrafish. All the analyzed cell types were arrayed in nonrandom patterns tending toward regularity; specifically, they were locally anticlustered. Over relatively large spatial scales, only one cell type exhibited consistent evidence for pattern regularity, suggesting that cellular pattern formation in the inner retina is dominated by local anticlustering mechanisms. Cross-correlation analyses revealed independence between the patterns of different cell types, suggesting that cellular pattern formation may involve multiple, independent, homotypic anticlustering mechanisms. A computational model of cellular pattern formation in the growing zebrafish retina was developed, which featured an inhibitory, homotypic signaling mechanism, arising from differentiated cells, that controlled the spatial profile of cell fate decisions. By adjusting the spatial profile of this decaying-exponential signal, the model provided good estimates of all the cellular patterns that were observed in vivo, as objectively judged by quantitative spatial pattern analyses. The results support the hypothesis that cellular pattern formation in the inner retina of zebrafish is dominated by a set of anticlustering mechanisms that may control events at, or near, the spatiotemporal point of cell fate decision.

Animals↗

Modelling the spatial distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in foxes.

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but fatal disease in humans and is caused by the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. The densities of fox and grassland rodent populations and the interactions between them influence E. multilocularis transmission rates in Europe. Successful rabies control has caused fox populations and E. multilocularis prevalence rates to increase in many European countries. The potential increase of the infection pressure on the human population motivates the monitoring of the infection status of foxes over space and time. Detection of E. multilocularis antigen levels in fox faecal samples collected in the field might provide a pragmatic methodology for epidemiological surveillance of the infection status in wildlife hosts across large areas, as well as providing an indication of the spatial distribution of infected faeces contaminating the environment. In this paper, a spatial analysis of antigen levels detected in faeces collected in the Franche-Comté region of eastern France is presented. In Franche-Comté, rodent outbreaks have been observed to originate in areas rich in grassland. Spatial trends in fox infection levels were modelled here as a function of the composition ratio of grassland in the landscape derived from the CORINE land-cover map. Kriging models incorporating the grassland trend term were compared to a variety of models in which five alternative trend expressions were used: the alternative trend expressions included linear and quadratic polynomials on the x and y coordinates with and without a grassland term, and a constant mean model. Leave-one-out cross-validation indicated that the estimation errors of kriging with a trend models were significantly lower when the trend expression contained the grassland index term only. The relationship between observed and predicted antigen levels was strongest when the estimated range of autocorrelation was within the home range size of a single fox. The over-dispersion of E. multilocularis in foxes may therefore account for the majority of spatial autocorrelation locally, while regional trends can be successfully modelled as a function of habitat availability for intermediate hosts.

Animals↗

The effects of habitat fragmentation via forestry plantation establishment on spatial genotypic structure in the small marsupial carnivore, Antechinus agilis.

Dispersal is an important influence on species' distributions, patch colonization and population persistence in fragmented habitat. We studied the impacts of habitat fragmentation resulting from establishment of an exotic pine plantation on dispersal of the marsupial carnivore, Antechinus agilis. We applied spatial analyses of individual multilocus microsatellite genotypes and mitochondrial haplotypes to study patterns of gene flow in fragmented habitat and natural habitat 'control' areas, and how this is affected by the spatial dispersion of habitat patches, the presence of corridors and a 'mainland' source of migrants. Spatial analysis of molecular variance and partial Mantel tests confirmed the absence of cryptic barriers to gene flow in continuous habitat, which if present would confound the comparison of genetic structures in fragmented vs. unfragmented habitats. Spatial genotypic structure suggested that although dispersal was male-biased in both habitat types, fragmentation restricted dispersal of males more than that of females and the degree of restriction of male dispersal was dependent on the geographical isolation of the patch. The scale of positive genotypic structure in fragmented habitat was restricted to the two closest patches for females and the three closest patches for males. Our results provide evidence for significantly increased gene flow through habitat corridors relative to that across the matrix and for significantly lower gene flow between 'mainland' unfragmented habitat and habitat patches relative to that within either habitat type, suggesting a behavioural barrier to crossing habitat interfaces.

Animals↗

Centrality in networks of urban streets.

Centrality has revealed crucial for understanding the structural properties of complex relational networks. Centrality is also relevant for various spatial factors affecting human life and behaviors in cities. Here, we present a comprehensive study of centrality distributions over geographic networks of urban streets. Five different measures of centrality, namely degree, closeness, betweenness, straightness and information, are compared over 18 1-square-mile samples of different world cities. Samples are represented by primal geographic graphs, i.e., valued graphs defined by metric rather than topologic distance where intersections are turned into nodes and streets into edges. The spatial behavior of centrality indices over the networks is investigated graphically by means of color-coded maps. The results indicate that a spatial analysis, that we term multiple centrality assessment, grounded not on a single but on a set of different centrality indices, allows an extended comprehension of the city structure, nicely capturing the skeleton of most central routes and subareas that so much impacts on spatial cognition and on collective dynamical behaviors. Statistically, closeness, straightness and betweenness turn out to follow similar functional distribution in all cases, despite the extreme diversity of the considered cities. Conversely, information is found to be exponential in planned cities and to follow a power-law scaling in self-organized cities. Hierarchical clustering analysis, based either on the Gini coefficients of the centrality distributions, or on the correlation between different centrality measures, is able to characterize classes of cities.

Journal Article↗

Spatial associations among density of cattle, abundance of wild canids, and seroprevalence to Neospora caninum in a population of beef calves.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the epidemiologic plausibility of a sylvatic transmission cycle for Neospora caninum between wild canids and beef cattle. DESIGN: Spatial analysis study. ANIMALS: 1,009 weaned beef steers from 94 beef herds in Texas. PROCEDURE: Calves were grouped on the basis of seroprevalence for N caninum and ecologic region in Texas. The Morans I test was used to evaluate spatial interdependence for adjusted seroprevalence by ecologic region. Cattle density (Number of cattle/259 km2 [Number of cattle/100 mile2] of each ecologic region) and abundance indices for gray foxes and coyotes (Number of animals/161 spotlight-transect [census] km [Number of animals/100 census miles] of each ecologic region) were used as covariates in spatial regression models, with adjusted seroprevalence as the outcome variable. A geographic information system (GIS) that used similar covariate information for each county was used to validate spatial regression models. Results-Spatial interdependence was not detected for ecologic regions. Three spatial regression models were tested. Each model contained a variable for cattle density for the ecologic regions. Results for the 3 models revealed that seroprevalence was associated with cattle density and abundances of gray foxes, coyotes, or both. Abundances of gray foxes and coyotes were collinear. Results of a GIS-generated model validated these spatial models. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In Texas, beef cattle are at increased risk of exposure to N caninum as a result of the abundance of wild canids and the density of beef cattle. It is plausible that a sylvatic transmission cycle for neosporosis exists.

Animals↗

Disease mapping of stage-specific cancer incidence data.

We propose two approaches for the spatial analysis of cancer incidence data with additional information on the stage of the disease at time of diagnosis. The two formulations are extensions of commonly used models for multicategorical response data on an ordinal scale. We include spatial and age-group effects in both formulations, which we estimate in a nonparametric smooth way. More specifically, we adopt a fully Bayesian approach based on Gaussian pairwise difference priors where additional smoothing parameters are treated as unknown as well. We argue that the methods are useful in monitoring the effectiveness of mass cancer screening and illustrate this through an application to data on cervical cancer in the former German Democratic Republic. The results suggest that there are large spatial differences in the stage proportions, which indicate spatial variability with respect to the introduction and effectiveness of Pap smear screening programs.

Biometry↗

Event-related correlates of response suppression as indicators of novelty seeking in alcoholics.

Novelty Seeking including impulsive behaviour is a personality dimension which has been shown to be related to early-onset alcoholism and to high relapse rates. The cued Continuous Performance Test (CPT) is an experimental paradigm for active response control requiring a choice reaction between execution (Go) and inhibition (NoGo) of a prepared motor response. Metabolic functional methods have shown right frontal brain activation throughout the period of a CPT, and the spatial analysis of the associated event-related brain electrical (ERP) field potentials revealed that this right frontal activation was due to the NoGo subset of the task. The ERP fields allow distinction between the Go and NoGo conditions with one spatial parameter (NoGo-anteriorization) in single cases. and the magnitude of this parameter is thought to be related to inhibitory frontal lobe control. Twenty patients with severe alcohol dependence and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study and investigated with a 21-channel electroencephalogram while performing a cued CPT. Consistent with previous studies, NoGo-anteriorization was present in every case in both groups. The ERP field differed between alcoholics and controls in the Go condition (P < 0.05) and NoGo-anteriorization in alcoholics was correlated inversely with Novelty Seeking in Cloninger's Temperament and Character Inventory (r= 0.67, P < 0.01). This indicates a reduced frontal lobe contribution during response control in alcoholics with impulsive behaviour and identifies a possible biological marker for the clinical evaluation of the risk of relapse in alcoholism.

Adult↗

Statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of operons in the transcriptional regulation network of Escherichia coli.

We have performed a statistical analysis of the spatial distribution of operons along the DNA in the transcriptional regulation network of Escherichia coli. The analysis reveals that pairs of operons that regulate each other and those that are co-regulated tend to lie much closer to one another than would be expected for a random network. Moreover, these pairs of operons tend to be transcribed in diverging directions. This spatial arrangement of operons allows the upstream regulatory domains to overlap and interfere with each other and our analysis also demonstrates the statistical significance of this motif of overlapping operons. Overlapping operons afford additional regulatory control, such as the correlated or anticorrelated expression of operons. We show by a mean-field analysis of a feed-forward loop that overlapping operons can drastically enhance the performance of gene regulatory networks. Our results suggest that regulatory control can provide a selective pressure that drives operons together in the course of evolution.

DNA, Bacterial↗