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Research beginning 40 years ago suggested that semi-arid lands of the USA have higher unit discharges for a given recurrence interval than occur in other areas. Convincing documentation and arguments for this suspicion, however, were not presented. Thus, records of measured rainfall intensities for specified durations and recurrence intervals, and theoretical depths of probable maximum precipitation for specified recurrence intervals and areal scales are considered here for comparing extreme rainfalls of semi-arid areas with those of other climatic areas. Runoff from semi-arid lands, as peaks of rare floods, is compared with that of other areas using various published records. Relative to humid areas, semi-arid parts of the conterminous USA have lower 100-year, 6-h rainfall intensities and smaller depths of 100-yearprobable maximum precipitation for 26-km2 areas. Nonetheless, maximum flood peaks, flash-flood potentials, and runoff potentials are generally larger in semi-arid areas than in more humid parts of the nation. Causes of this disparity between rainfall and runoff appear to be results of soil and vegetation that in humid areas absorb and intercept rainfall and attenuate runoff, but in semi-arid areas limit infiltration and enhance runoff from bare, crusted surfaces. These differences in soil and vegetation conditions are indicated by therelatively high curve numbers and drainage densities that are typical of semi-arid areas. Owing to soil and vegetation conditions, rare floods in semi-arid areas are more likely to cause landform change than are floods of similar magnitude elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate distinguishing features between bipolar I, II and unipolar depression, and impulsivity/aggression traits in particular. Methods Six hundred and eighty-five ( n = 685) patients in a major depressive episode with lifetime Unipolar (UP) depression ( n = 455), Bipolar I (BP-I) disorder ( n = 151), and Bipolar II (BP-II) ( n = 79) disorder were compared in terms of their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Results Compared to unipolar patients, BP-I and BP-II depressed patients were significantly younger at onset of their first depressive episode, and were more likely to experience their first depressive episode before/at age of 15. They also had more previous affective episodes, more first- and second-degree relatives with history of mania, more current psychotic and subsyndromal manic symptoms, and received psychopharmacological and psychotherapy treatment at an earlier age. Furthermore, BP-I and BP-II depressed patients had higher lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and hostility scores. With regard to bipolar subtypes, BP-I patients had more trait-impulsivity and lifetime aggression than BP-II patients whereas the latter had more hostility than BP-I patients. As for co-morbid disorders, Cluster A and B Personality Disorders, alcohol and substance abuse/dependence and anxiety disorders were more prevalent in BP-I and BP-II than in unipolar patients. Whereas the three groups did not differ on other socio-demographic variables, BP-I patients were significantly more often unemployed that UP patients. Conclusion Our findings comport with major previous findings on differences between bipolar and unipolar depression. As for trait characteristics, bipolar I and II depressed patients had more life-time impulsivity and aggression/hostility than unipolar patients. In addition, bipolar I and II patients also differed on these trait characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Accelerometers can detect mass changes associated with flower and foliar phenology. • Accelerometers can measure phenophases not captured by imagery-based analysis. • Accelerometers complement data streams such as direct or image-based observations. • Accelerometers alleviate cost or privacy barriers to monitoring trees (e.g. urban). • Accelerometers could facilitate real-time data acquisition on tree health or services. Trees are bioindicators of global climate change and regional urbanization, but available monitoring tools are ineffective for fine-scale observation of many species. Using six accelerometers mounted on two urban ash trees (Fraxinus americana), we looked at high-frequency tree vibrations, or change in periodicity of tree sway as a proxy for mass changes, to infer seasonal patterns of flowering and foliage (phenophases). We compared accelerometer-estimated phenophases to those derived from digital repeat photography using Green Chromatic Coordinates (GCC) and visual observation of phenophases defined by the USA National Phenology Network (NPN). We also drew comparisons between two commercial accelerometers and assessed how placement height influenced the ability to extract seasonal transition dates. Most notably, tree sway data showed a greenness signal in an urban environment and produced a clear flowering time-series and peak flowering signal (PF), marking the first observations of a flower phenophase using accelerometer data. Estimated start of spring (SOS) from accelerometers and time-lapse GCC were more similar than start of autumn (SOA); accelerometers lagged behind the time-lapse camera dates by three and four days for SOS and 13 and 14 days for SOA for each tree. Estimates for SOS and SOA from accelerometers and time-lapse cameras aligned closely with different NPN phenophases. The two commercial accelerometers produced similar season onset: a difference of 2.4 to 3.8 days for SOS, 2.1 days for SOA, and 0.5 to 2.0 days for PF. Accelerometers placed at the main crown branch point versus higher in the canopy showed a difference of 0.2 to 4.9 days for SOS and -1.5 to 1.7 days for PF. Our results suggest accelerometers present a novel opportunity to objectively monitor reproductive tree biology and fill gaps in phenology observations. Furthermore, widely available accelerometers show promise for scaling up from individual trees to the landscape level to aid forest management and assessing climate change impacts to tree phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2005, the Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) Workshop: Evaluation of Genetic and Epigenetic Risks Associated with Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Infertility was convened to evaluate current data on genetic and epigenetic risks to offspring conceived after a period of infertility and/or via ARTs. Formal presentations and workshop breakout groups reviewed the information from a broad range of disciplines and discussed issues regarding study design, molecular approaches, animal model systems, clinical outcomes, and ethical, legal, and psychosocial issues. The key recommendations of the workshop are that: [1] ART research and education should flow from clinical and basic science studies of the fundamental biology of early mammalian embryonic development, with a focus on how infertility and/or ART might disrupt such processes; [2] such research should include the emerging area of epigenetics and its potential role in reproductive health outcomes; [3] methods for the standardization of data collection and for handling and analysis should be employed, including precise definitions of obstetric and perinatal terminology; [4] much greater awareness and ongoing evaluation of the psychosocial impact of ART and ART research on women, their partners, and their offspring are required; and [5] effective methods of knowledge transfer need to be developed and delivered to healthcare providers and to the general public regarding reproductive planning, infertility, and ART, including the potential risks associated with each. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies have argued that genetic testing will provide limited information for predicting the probability of common diseases, because of the incomplete penetrance of genotypes and the low magnitude of associated risks for the general population. Such studies, however, have usually examined the effect of one gene at time. We argue that disease prediction for common multifactorial diseases is greatly improved by considering multiple predisposing genetic and environmental factors concurrently, provided that the model correctly reflects the underlying disease etiology. We show how likelihood ratios can be used to combine information from several genetic tests to compute the probability of developing a multifactorial disease. To show how concurrent use of multiple genetic tests improves the prediction of a multifactorial disease, we compute likelihood ratios by logistic regression with simulated case-control data for a hypothetical disease influenced by multiple genetic and environmental risk factors. As a practical example, we also apply this approach to venous thrombosis, a multifactorial disease influenced by multiple genetic and nongenetic risk factors. Under reasonable conditions, the concurrent use of multiple genetic tests markedly improves prediction of disease. For example, the concurrent use of a panel of three genetic tests (factor V Leiden, prothrombin variant G20210A, and protein C deficiency) increases the positive predictive value of testing for venous thrombosis at least eightfold. Multiplex genetic testing has the potential to improve the clinical validity of predictive testing for common multifactorial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Depletion of Fidgetin-like 2 From Cavernous Nerve Injury Sites Promotes Neural Regeneration and Recovery of Erectile Function in a Rodent Model of Radical Prostatectomy" by L. Baker and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article “Targeting the Microtubule Cytoskeleton to Promote Neural Regeneration and Improve Erectile Function Outcomes After Cavernous Nerve Injury in A Rat Model of RadicalProstatectomy" by L. Baker and colleagues is presented.