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The west European subspecies of house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) has gained much of its current widespread distribution through commensalism with humans. This means that the phylogeography of M. m. domesticus should reflect patterns of human movements. We studied restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and DNA sequence variations in mouse mitochondrial (mt) DNA throughout the British Isles (328 mice from 105 localities, including previously published data). There is a major mtDNA lineage revealed by both RFLP and sequence analyses, which is restricted to the northern and western peripheries of the British Isles, and also occurs in Norway. This distribution of the 'Orkney' lineage fits well with the sphere of influence of the Norwegian Vikings and was probably generated through inadvertent transport by them. To form viable populations, house mice would have required large human settlements such as the Norwegian Vikings founded. The other parts of the British Isles (essentially most of mainland Britain) are characterized by house mice with different mtDNA sequences, some of which are also found in Germany, and which probably reflect both Iron Age movements of people and mice and earlier development of large human settlements. MtDNA studies on house mice have the potential to reveal novel aspects of human history.

Major depression is a common and treatable mental disorder; a study conducted during 2001-2002 estimated that 6.6% of the U.S. adult population had experienced a major depressive disorder during the preceding 12 months. Depressive disorders are more common among persons with chronic conditions (e.g., obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, and cancer) and among those with unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking, physical inactivity, and binge drinking). To estimate the prevalence of current depression, CDC analyzed Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey data from 2006 and 2008. Current depression was defined as meeting BRFSS criteria for either major depression or \"other depression\" during the 2 weeks preceding the survey. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, among 235,067 adults (in 45 states, the District of Columbia [DC], Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), 9.0 % met the criteria for current depression, including 3.4% who met the criteria for major depression. By state, age-standardized estimates for current depression ranged from 4.8% in North Dakota to 14.8% in Mississippi. State health departments that include depression measures in their BRFSS surveys can track prevalence, set health goals for prevention and control, and monitor the effectiveness of relevant programs and policies.

With the introduction of a protein milk payment system in New Zealand in 1988, there was an influx of North American (NA) Holstein-Friesian (HF) genetics into New Zealand (NZ) dairy herds, leading to an increase in the average percentage of NA genetics in NZ HF cows—from 2% in 1980 to 38% in 1999. Of interest has been the effect this change has had on farm profitability and on the management required for these animals, as well as the phenotypic changes that have occurred within the national herd under the breeding programs operated in NZ from 1970 to 1990. The objective of this study was to quantify differences in body dimensions, body weights, and puberty-related parameters among 3 strains of HF, representing animals of NZ origin representative of the genetics present in 1970 and 1990 and of NA origin with 1990s genetics. A total of 172 animals born in 1999 were compared. The strains were 1) NZ70, a strain of NZ Friesian (average 7% NA genetics) equivalent to high-genetic-merit (high Breeding Worth) cows farmed in the 1970s; 2) NZ90, a strain of HF of NZ origin (average 24% NA genetics) typical of the animals present in the 1990s; and 3) NA90, a strain of HF of NA origin (average of 91% NA genetics) typical of animals present in the 1990s. The differences in BW among all strains were significant at 6 and 12 mo of age. At 15 and 24 mo, the 2 NZ strains were significantly lighter than the NA90 animals. At 24 mo of age (i.e., prior to first calving), the NA90 strain animals (BW=515kg) were 22 and 34kg heavier than the NZ90 and NZ70 strains. The body length of the NA90 strain was greater than either of the 2 NZ strains; the differences among the NA90 strain and the 2 NZ strains varied from 2 to 6cm, with the differences generally being greater at older ages. The trend in heart girth difference among strains was similar to that observed for body length. The wither height of the NA90 animals was greater than that of the NZ strains by 1 to 7cm, although there was no significant difference between the NA90 and NZ90 strains at birth. At puberty the NA90 heifers were 20 d older and 20kg heavier than the NZ90 heifers, which in turn were 25kg and 25 d older than the NZ70 heifers. The NA90 strain had a heavier mature body weight, and their older age at puberty suggested either that they mature later or that, under pastoral conditions, their growth rate is limited by their inability to consume sufficient metabolizable energy as grazed pasture, with a consequent delay in puberty. Results from this study will be useful in revising target BW in growing heifers of different germplasm.

Background Numerous predictive factors for cutaneous melanoma metastases to sentinel lymph nodes have been identified; however, few have been found to be reproducibly significant. This study investigated the significance of factors for predicting regional nodal disease in cutaneous melanoma using a large multicenter database. Methods Seventeen institutions submitted retrospective and prospective data on 3463 patients undergoing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy for primary melanoma. Multiple demographic and tumor factors were analyzed for correlation with a positive SLN. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Results Of 3445 analyzable patients, 561 (16.3%) had a positive SLN biopsy. In multivariate analysis of 1526 patients with complete records for 10 variables, increasing Breslow thickness, lymphovascular invasion, ulceration, younger age, the absence of regression, and tumor location on the trunk were statistically significant predictors of a positive SLN. Conclusions These results confirm the predictive significance of the well-established variables of Breslow thickness, ulceration, age, and location, as well as consistently reported but less well-established variables such as lymphovascular invasion. In addition, the presence of regression was associated with a lower likelihood of a positive SLN. Consideration of multiple tumor parameters should influence the decision for SLN biopsy and the estimation of nodal metastatic disease risk.

2015 will see the first observations of Advanced LIGO and the start of the gravitational-wave (GW) advanced-detector era. One of the most promising sources for ground- based GW detectors are binary neutron-star (BNS) coalescences. In order to use any detections for astrophysics, we must understand the capabilities of our parameter-estimation analysis. By simulating the GWs from an astrophysically motivated population of BNSs, we examine the accuracy of parameter inferences in the early advanced-detector era. We find that sky location, which is important for electromagnetic follow-up, can be determined rapidly (∼ 5 s), but that sky areas may be hundreds of square degrees. The degeneracy between component mass and spin means there is significant uncertainty for measurements of the individual masses and spins; however, the chirp mass is well measured (typically better than 0.1%).

Stormwater catch basins are the primary source of mosquitoes targeted by the North Shore Mosquito Abatement District, in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Over a 17-wk period (June to September 2011), 3 clusters of catch basins located within a 0.7-km2 area were monitored weekly with dipper samples of immature mosquitoes. During the 2nd week of monitoring, Natular™ XRT tablets (6.25% spinosad) were applied to northernmost cluster and FourStar™ Briquets (6% Bacillus sphaericus, 1% Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) were applied to the southernmost cluster; the remaining middle cluster was kept untreated. Following 15 wk of monitoring in 20 basins in each cluster, both Natular and FourStar reduced immature numbers in treated catch basins for 8 consecutive weeks. These results suggest, if effectively timed, a single application of either larvicide may last an entire season.

Carotid augmentation index (AI) is used as a surrogate measure of arterial stiffness. Although arterial stiffness has been shown to either remain unchanged or increase with an increase in heart rate, AI decreases as heart rate increases. This study aimed to quantify this confounding effect of heart rate on AI. We investigated 873 hypertensives, mean age 72 ± 5 years, 44% men, mean brachial blood pressure 161 ± 21/82 ± 11 mm Hg. Carotid artery tonometry with simultaneous continuous wave Doppler measurement of ascending aortic blood flow was performed. AI was calculated from the carotid pressure waveform. Waveforms were decomposed into their forward and backward components and the time to reflection between the maxima of the forward and backward pressure waves was measured. AI showed a stronger ( P < .001) association with ejection time (r = 0.48, P < .001) than with heart rate (r = −0.28, P < .001). Although AI is strongly related to the time to reflection (r = −0.51, P < .001), only a weak association was seen between time to reflection and heart rate (r = 0.16, P < .001) or ejection time (r = −0.12, P < .001). Our analysis in an elderly cohort of patients with essential hypertension demonstrates that AI is related to the time to reflection. It also reiterates that AI is confounded by heart rate without any underlying heart rate-dependent change in wave reflection. In population-based studies the confounding effect of heart rate can potentially be corrected. AI remains strongly (r = −0.52) related to time to reflection after correction for the effects of ejection time on AI.