Season of birth is associated with anthropometric and neurocognitive outcomes during infancy and childhood in a general population birth cohort

The 'season of birth' effect is one of the most consistently replicated associations in schizophrenia epidemiology. In contrast, the association between season of birth and development in the general Population is relatively poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of season of birth on various anthropometric and neurocognitive variables from birth to age seven in a large, community-based birth cohort. A sample of white singleton infants born after 37 weeks gestation (n =22,123) was drawn from the US Collaborative Perinatal Project. Anthropometric variables (weight, head circumference, length/height) and various measures of neurocognitive development, were assessed at birth, 8 months, 4 and 7 years of age. Compared to surnmer/autumn born infants, winter/spring born infants were significantly longer at birth, and at age seven were significantly heavier, taller and had larger head circumference. Winter/spring born infants were achieving significantly higher scores on the Bayley Motor Score at 8 months, the Graham-Ernhart Block Test at age 4, the Wechsler Intelligence Performance and Full Scale scores at age 7, but had significantly lower scores on the Bender-Gestalt Test at age 7 years. Winter/spring birth, while associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, is generally associated with superior outcomes with respect to physical and cognitive development. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Turbulent Time and Length Scale Measurements in High-Velocity Open Channel Flows

In high-velocity open channel flows, the measurements of air-water flow properties are complicated by the strong interactions between the flow turbulence and the entrained air. In the present study, an advanced signal processing of traditional single- and dual-tip conductivity probe signals is developed to provide further details on the air-water turbulent level, time and length scales. The technique is applied to turbulent open channel flows on a stepped chute conducted in a large-size facility with flow Reynolds numbers ranging from 3.8 E+5 to 7.1 E+5. The air water flow properties presented some basic characteristics that were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to previous skimming flow studies. Some self-similar relationships were observed systematically at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. These included the distributions of void fraction, bubble count rate, interfacial velocity and turbulence level at a macroscopic scale, and the auto- and cross-correlation functions at the microscopic level. New correlation analyses yielded a characterisation of the large eddies advecting the bubbles. Basic results included the integral turbulent length and time scales. The turbulent length scales characterised some measure of the size of large vortical structures advecting air bubbles in the skimming flows, and the data were closely related to the characteristic air-water depth Y90. In the spray region, present results highlighted the existence of an upper spray region for C > 0.95 to 0.97 in which the distributions of droplet chord sizes and integral advection scales presented some marked differences with the rest of the flow.

Optics of the developing fish eye: comparisons of Matthiessen's ratio and the focal length of the lens in the black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Sparidae, Teleostei)

Matthiessen's ratio (distance from centre of lens to retina: lens radius) was measured in developing black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri (Sparidae, Teleostei). The value decreased over the first 10 days post-hatch from 3.6 to 2.3 along the nasal and from four to 2.6 along temporal axis. Coincidentally, there was a decrease in the focal ratio of the lens (focal length:lens radius). Morphologically, the accommodatory retractor lentis muscle appeared to become functional between 10-12 days post-hatch. The results suggest that a higher focal ratio compensates for the relatively high Matthiessen's ratio brought about by constraints of small eye size during early development. Combined with differences in axial length, this provides a means for larval fish to focus images from different distances prior to the ability to accommodate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Remotely sensed estimates of vegetation structural characteristics in restored wetlands, Southern California

Traditional field sampling approaches for ecological studies of restored habitat can only cover small areas in detail, con be time consuming, and are often invasive and destructive. Spatially extensive and non-invasive remotely sensed data can make field sampling more focused and efficient. The objective of this work was to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of hand-held and airborne remotely sensed data to estimate vegetation structural parameters for an indicator plant species in a restored wetland. High spatial resolution, digital, multispectral camera images were captured from an aircraft over Sweetwater Marsh (San Diego County, California) during each growing season between 1992-1996. Field data were collected concurrently, which included plant heights, proportional ground cover and canopy architecture type, and spectral radiometer measurements. Spartina foliosa (Pacific cordgrass) is the indicator species for the restoration monitoring. A conceptual model summarizing the controls on the spectral reflectance properties of Pacific cordgrass was established. Empirical models were developed relating the stem length, density, and canopy architecture of cordgrass to normalized-difference-vegetation-index values. The most promising results were obtained from empirical estimates of total ground cover using image data that had been stratified into high, middle, and low marsh zones. As part of on-going restoration monitoring activities, this model is being used to provide maps of estimated vegetation cover.

Season-specific directional movement in migratory Australian butterflies

Large numbers of adults of certain species of butterfly flying in an apparently 'purposeful' manner are often noted by entomologists and the general public. Occasionally, these are recorded in the literature. Using these records we summarise information regarding the direction of movement in Australian butterflies and test whether there are consistent patterns that could account for known seasonal shifts in geographical range. The data were analysed using contingency tables and directionality statistics. Vanessa itea, Vanessa kershawi, Danaus plexippus, Danaus chrysippus and Badamia exclamationis flew predominately south in the spring-summer and north in the autumn-winter. Tirumala hamata has a strong southern component to its flight in spring but, as in Euploea core, appears non-directional in the autumn. For many supposedly known migratory species, the number of literature records are few, particularly in one season (mainly autumn). Thus, for Appias paulina, four of seven records were south in the spring-summer, as were six of nine records for Catopsilia pomona, and three of five for Zizina labradus. For Belenois java, flight records were only available for the spring and these showed geographical differences; predominantly north-west in northern Australia (Queensland) and south-west in southern Australia (Victoria, New South Wales). There were too few records for Papilio demoleus in the literature (four only) to draw any conclusions. Major exceptions to the seasonal trend of south in the spring and north in the autumn were Junonia villida, which showed a predominant north-westward direction in both seasons, and Eurema smilax, with a predominant southern or western flight in both seasons. We discuss these species specific trends in migration direction in relation to seasonal shifts in suitable habitat conditions, possible cues used in orientation and in timing changes in direction.

Is there change over time in the season-of-birth effect for schizophrenia? Data from the southern hemisphere

The aim of this paper is to examine distributions of schizophrenia and general population births over time in order to determine whether (a) the pattern has changed over time, (b) any pattern was similar for both males and females, and (c) whether there is any indication that there is any relationship between the changes in pattern between schizophrenia and general population births. Birth month and year for 7807 individuals with ICD8/9 schizophrenia were gained from the Queensland Mental Health Statistical System for 1914-1975. Monthly births for the general population in Queensland for the same period were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. For each decade we obtained two comparisons, (1) between two 'seasons' (summer-autumn/winter-spring), and (2) between the third (coldest) quarter and the remaining quarters. Based on expected contrasts from general population proportions, odds ratios and their confidence intervals were used to analyse these comparisons for all subjects, and for males and females separately. The seasonality found in our previous studies was again evident (OR 1.09; 95% CI= 1.01-1.17). However there was no significant change in its pattern over time either for the total group or for males and females separately. When the general population births alone were examined using the same contrasts, seasonality was also observed, but here there were fluctuations over time. These results suggest that exposures linked to changes in general population births over time should be examined in disorders such as schizophrenia which demonstrate seasonality in births. The Stanley Foundation supported this project.

Dysmorphogenesis in psychosis: Quantitative and qualitative measures involving the head and face

In this study, we examined qualitative and quantitative measures involving the head and face in a sample of patients and well controls drawn from the Brisbane Psychosis Study. Patients with psychosis (n=310) and age and sex-matched controls (n=303) were drawn from a defined catchment area. Features assessed involved hair whorls (position, number, and direction), eyes (epicanthus), supraorbital ridge, ears (low set, protrusion, hypoplasia, ear lobe attachment, asymmetry, helix width), and mouth (palate height and shape, palate ridges, furrowed and bifid tongue). Quantitative measures related to skull size (circumference, width and length) selected facial heights and depths. The impact of selected risk factors (place and season of birth, fathers' occupation at time of birth, selfreported pregnancy and birth complications, family history) were examined in the entire group, while the association between age of onset and dysmorphology was assessed within the patient group. Significant group (cases versus controls) differences included: patients had smaller skull bases, smaller facial heights, larger facial depths, lower set and protruding ears, different palate shape and fewer palate ridges. In the entire sample significant associations included: (a) those with positive family history of mental illness bad smaller head circumference, cranial length and facial heights; (b) pregnancy and birth complications was associated with smaller facial beights: (c) larger head circumference was associated with higher ranked fathers' occupations at birth. Within the patient group, age of onset was significantly lower in those with more qualitative anomalies or with larger facial heights. The group differences were not due to outliers or distinct subgroups, suggesting that the factors responsible for the differences may be subtle and widely dispersed in the patient group. The Stanley Foundation supported this project.

Synthesis of silica films at the air/water interface: Effect of template chain length and ionic strength

We have grown surfactant-templated silicate films at the air-water interface using n-alkyltrimethylammonium bromide and chloride in an acid synthesis with tetraethyl orthosilicate as the silicate source. The films have been grown with and without added salt (sodium chloride, sodium bromide) and with n-alkyl chain lengths from 12 to 18, the growth process being monitored by X-ray reflectometry. Glassy, hexagonal, and lamellar structures have been produced in ways that are predictable from the pure surfactant-water phase diagrams. The synthesis appears to proceed initially through an induction period characterized by the accumulation of silica-coated spherical micelles near the surface. All syntheses, except those involving C(12)TACl, show a sudden transformation of the spherical micellar phase to a hexagonal phase. This occurs when the gradually increasing ionic strength and/or changing ethanol concentration is sufficient to change the position of boundaries within the phase diagram. A possible mechanism for this to occur may be to induce a sphere to rod transition in the micellar structure. This transformation, as predicted from the surfactant-water phase diagram, can be induced by addition of salts and is slower for chloride than bromide counteranions. The hexagonal materials change in cell dimension as the chain length is changed in a way consistent with theoretical model predictions. All the materials have sufficiently flexible silica frameworks that phase interconversion is observed both from glassy to hexagonal and from hexagonal, to lamellar and vice versa in those surfactant systems where multiple phases are found to exist.

Decompositions of complete multipartite graphs into cycles of even length

Necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an edge-disjoint decomposition of any complete multipartite graph into even length cycles are investigated. Necessary conditions are listed and sufficiency is shown for the cases when the cycle length is 4, 6 or 8. Further results concerning sufficiency, provided certain small decompositions exist, are also given for arbitrary even cycle lengths.

Cytokine-related genes identified from the RIKEN full-length mouse cDNA data set

To identify novel cytokine-related genes, we searched the set of 60,770 annotated RIKEN mouse cDNA clones (FANTOM2 clones), using keywords such as cytokine itself or cytokine names (such as interferon, interleukin, epidermal growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor). This search produced 108 known cytokines and cytokine-related products such as cytokine receptors, cytokine-associated genes, or their products (enhancers, accessory proteins, cytokine-induced genes). We found 15 clusters of FANTOM2 clones that are candidates for novel cytokine-related genes. These encoded products with strong sequence similarity to guanylate-binding protein (GBP-5), interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 2 (IRAK-2), interleukin 20 receptor alpha isoform 3, a member of the interferon-inducible proteins of the Ifi 200 cluster, four members of the membrane-associated family 1-8 of interferon-inducible proteins, one p27-like protein, and a hypothetical protein containing a Toll/Interleukin receptor domain. All four clones representing novel candidates of gene products from the family contain a novel highly conserved cross-species domain. Clones similar to growth factor-related products included transforming growth factor beta-inducible early growth response protein 2 (TIEG-2), TGFbeta-induced factor 2, integrin beta-like 1, latent TGF-binding protein 4S, and FGF receptor 4B. We performed a detailed sequence analysis of the candidate novel genes to elucidate their likely functional properties.

Identification of novel "pathologs" (human disease-related gene candidates) from the RIKEN full-length mouse cDNA data set

The majority of common diseases such as cancer, allergy, diabetes, or heart disease are characterized by complex genetic traits, in which genetic and environmental components contribute to disease susceptibility. Our knowledge of the genetic factors underlying most of such diseases is limited. A major goal in the post-genomic era is to identify and characterize disease susceptibility genes and to use this knowledge for disease treatment and prevention. More than 500 genes are conserved across the invertebrate and vertebrate genomes. Because of gene conservation, various organisms including yeast, fruitfly, zebrafish, rat, and mouse have been used as genetic models.

Late-season non-selective herbicide application reduces Lolium rigidum seed numbers, seed viability, and seedling fitness

Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Lolium rigidum (annual ryegrass) seed developmental stage and application rate of glyphosate and SpraySeed (paraquat 135 g/L+ diquat 115 g/L) on the number, germinability, and fitness of seeds produced. Glyphosate (450 g/L) was most effective when applied at a rate of 0.5-1 L/ha during heading and anthesis, reducing the number of filled seeds produced compared with unsprayed plants. Application post-anthesis, when seeds were at the milk to soft dough stage, was less effective. SpraySeed was most effective when applied post-anthesis, during the milk and early dough stages of seed development at a rate of 0.5-1L/ha, resulting in the production of few viable seeds. Although some filled seeds were produced, most of the seeds were dead. Application during anthesis or once the seeds reached soft dough stage was less effective. For both herbicides, those seeds that were capable of germinating were smaller and had slower radicle and coleoptile growth, resulting in slower early seedling growth and reduced biomass production within the first month of growth. Additionally, glyphosate application reduced the proportion of seeds exhibiting dormancy. The anticipated reduction in seed competitive ability and altered emergence timing resulting from late-season herbicide application, even when application timing is not optimal, could be exploited to reduce the likelihood of successful L. rigidum establishment in the following season.

Cognitive deficits, length of illness and symptom severity in schizophrenia

Background Research using neuropsychological testing has demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia show deficits in multiple neurocognitive domains. The aim of this study is to identify cognitive deficits that correlate with length of illness and symptom severity. Method Twenty clinically stable outpatients with chronic schizophrenia (18M : 2F) and 14 healthy controls (13M : 1F), matched on age, gender and parental education, were administered a neuropsychological battery consisting of the Hayling Sentence Completion Test (HSCT), WMS-III Verbal Paired Associates & Letter Number Sequencing, Modified Card Sort Test (MCST), Pyramids & Palm Trees Test, National Adult Reading Test (NART), Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT), and WAIS-III. Severity of symptoms was rated with the Structured Clinical Interview – Positive and Negative Syndromes Scale (SCI-PANSS). Results In comparison to controls, patients showed significant deficits on all of the neuropsychological tasks except for the COWAT. MCST total categories, NART, Verbal IQ and arithmetic, similarities & digit symbol of the WAIS-III had the largest effect size between the groups. The longer the illness duration, the poorer the performance on WAISIII block design and the lower the performance IQ score. The poorer the performance on WMS-III letter number sequencing, the greater the positive symptoms, negative symptoms and general psychopathology. Conclusion Compared to controls, patients showed large effect sizes on measures of executive functioning, intelligence, working memory, verbal comprehension and speed of processing. The findings suggest that impairment in executive functioning and performance IQ is associated with length of illness, while impairment in working memory is associated with heightened symptom severity.