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While child anemia remains an uncontrolled health issue in developing and underdeveloped countries, the public health burden of child anemia is high in Madagascar. Using cross-sectional data from Madagascar Demographic and Health Survey 2021 (Madagascar DHS 2021), this study aims to examine the prevalence and risk factors of child anemia by region and socioeconomic status in the country. A total of 5,048 children aged 6-59 months with hemoglobin (Hb) concentration data were used for the study. First, the associations between child anemia (Hb< 11.0g/dl) and the household, parental, and child characteristics were tested by univariate logistic regression analysis. Variables with a p-value Key words: Anemia prevention, anemia control, Madagascar, child health, public health, INTRODUCTION Anemia is a deficiency in red blood cells, or hemoglobin, which results in a decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of blood to human body [1]. Anemia leads to serious impacts on [...]

Bullying victimization is a prevalent concern for neurodivergent (e.g., autistic, ADHD) youth. Bullying assessment methods vary widely and there is currently no questionnaire specific to neurodivergent youth. The Assessment of Bullying Experiences (ABE) was created to fill this gap. The ABE questionnaire was completed by 335 parents of school-age youth characterized as autistic, having ADHD, or community comparison. Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis identified a four-factor solution, aligning with verbal, physical, relational, and cyber victimization. Construct validity analyses indicate the ABE converges with an existing bullying questionnaire and diverges from disruptive behavior or internalizing symptoms. The ABE questionnaire is a valid measure of bullying that furthers understanding of nuance in peer victimization for neurodivergent youth and informs group-specific intervention., Author(s): Hannah E. Morton [sup.1] , Jennifer M. Gillis [sup.1] , Emily L. Zale [sup.1] , Kim C. Brimhall [sup.2] , Raymond G. Romanczyk [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.264260.4, 0000 [...]

Author(s): Kathryn S. Hensley, Marlou J. Jongkees, Daryl Geers, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel, Yvonne M. Mueller, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm, Grigorios Papageorgiou, Hanka Steggink, Alicja Gorska, Susanne Bogers, Jan G. [...]

Background Vaccines can be less immunogenic in people living with HIV (PLWH), but for SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations this is unknown. In this study we set out to investigate, for the vaccines currently approved in the Netherlands, the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations in PLWH. Methods and findings We conducted a prospective cohort study to examine the immunogenicity of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, ChAdOx1-S, and Ad26.COV2.S vaccines in adult PLWH without prior COVID-19, and compared to HIV-negative controls. The primary endpoint was the anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 IgG response after mRNA vaccination. Secondary endpoints included the serological response after vector vaccination, anti-SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response, and reactogenicity. Between 14 February and 7 September 2021, 1,154 PLWH (median age 53 [IQR 44-60] years, 85.5% male) and 440 controls (median age 43 [IQR 33-53] years, 28.6% male) were included in the final analysis. Of the PLWH, 884 received BNT162b2, 100 received mRNA-1273, 150 received ChAdOx1-S, and 20 received Ad26.COV2.S. In the group of PLWH, 99% were on antiretroviral therapy, 97.7% were virally suppressed, and the median CD4+ T-cell count was 710 cells/[mu]L (IQR 520-913). Of the controls, 247 received mRNA-1273, 94 received BNT162b2, 26 received ChAdOx1-S, and 73 received Ad26.COV2.S. After mRNA vaccination, geometric mean antibody concentration was 1,418 BAU/mL in PLWH (95% CI 1322-1523), and after adjustment for age, sex, and vaccine type, HIV status remained associated with a decreased response (0.607, 95% CI 0.508-0.725, p 300 BAU/mL, whilst in PLWH this response rate was 93.6%. In PLWH vaccinated with mRNA-based vaccines, higher antibody responses were predicted by CD4+ T-cell count 250-500 cells/[mu]L (2.845, 95% CI 1.876-4.314, p 500 cells/[mu]L (2.936, 95% CI 1.961-4.394, p 50 copies/mL was associated with a reduced response (0.454, 95% CI 0.286-0.720, p = 0.001). Increased IFN-[gamma], CD4+ T-cell, and CD8+ T-cell responses were observed after stimulation with SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides in ELISpot and activation-induced marker assays, comparable to controls. Reactogenicity was generally mild, without vaccine-related serious adverse events. Due to the control of vaccine provision by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, there were some differences between vaccine groups in the age, sex, and CD4+ T-cell counts of recipients. Conclusions After vaccination with BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273, anti-spike SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels were reduced in PLWH compared to HIV-negative controls. To reach and maintain the same serological responses as HIV-negative controls, additional vaccinations are probably required. Trial registration The trial was registered in the Netherlands Trial Register (NL9214). https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/9214., Author(s): Kathryn S. Hensley 1, Marlou J. Jongkees 1, Daryl Geers 2, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel 2, Yvonne M. Mueller 3, Virgil A. S. H. Dalm 3,4, Grigorios Papageorgiou 5, Hanka [...]

Improving the quality of the undergraduate experience is a complex issue that may best be addressed through the reduction of silos and an increase in cooperation and coordination by student and academic affairs (Banta & Kuh, 1998; Reger & Hyman, 1989). The purpose of this study was to develop a meaningful classification of collaboration, based on a national survey of chief student affairs officers, in order to better describe what collaboration represents on today's college campus and provide a strong and rich foundation for future research and for application to practice., Introduction Throughout the research on higher education, concern about the quality of undergraduate education is a recurring theme (Kellogg, 1999). One way to enhance the connection between student learning and [...]

Purpose: Evidence exists that changes in language performance may be an early indicator of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a harbinger of dementing disease. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of language performance in individuals at risk for MCI by virtue of age and self-concern and its relation to performance on tests of memory, visuospatial function, and mental status. Method: Eighty-three individuals 55 years or older were administered the Arizona Battery for Communication Disorders of Dementia (Bayles & Tomoeda, 1993), a standardized battery with normative data from 86 healthy older adults (HOAs) and 86 individuals with Alzheimer's dementia, the most common dementing disease. A performance criterion of 1-1.5 SDs below the mean of HOAs defined MCI, as recommended in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. We hypothesized that (a) the majority of at-risk participants would score 1 SD or more below the mean of HOAs on 1 or more subtests and (b) language performance tests would present a greater challenge than memory, mental status, and visuospatial construction tests. Results: Both hypotheses were confirmed. Sixty-two participants (74.6%) met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Menta Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria on at least 1 subtest. Moreover, language subtests were those most likely to elicit a performance 1 SD or more below the mean of HOAs. Conclusions: Language performance deficits can appear early before impairment in episodic memory, visuospatial construction ability, or mental status in individuals at risk for MCI. Speech-language pathologists are uniquely qualified to identify subtle changes in language, and standardized language tests with normative data should be used when testing for MCI., A challenge to clinicians and researchers worldwide is early identification of individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), often a harbinger of dementia-producing diseases (Bruscoli & Lovestone, 2004; Sachdev et al., [...]

Author(s): Sebastian Schafer [1, 2]; Sivakumar Viswanathan [2]; Anissa A. Widjaja [2]; Wei-Wen Lim [1]; Aida Moreno-Moral [2]; Daniel M. DeLaughter [3]; Benjamin Ng [1]; Giannino Patone [4]; Kingsley Chow [...]

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a tickborne virus (genus Phlebovirus, family Phenuiviridae) that can cause a mild to severe febrile illness similar to hemorrhagic fever (1). Phleboviruses [...]

Little research has examined the role of acculturation in the determination of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Chinese immigrants in the United States. Data on 166 IPV Chinese immigrant couples obtained from a Chinese American community organization were analyzed for this study. Findings show that the level of acculturation and socioeconomic status were associated with severity, frequency, length, and type of abuse committed by Chinese immigrant men although not all factors played an equally important role in explaining IPV. Certain Chinese immigrant victim characteristics, such as having social networks, were also related to the experience of IPV., Author(s): C. Kim[sup.1] , H. E. Sung[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Department of Criminal Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, The Graduate Center: CUNY, 524 West 59th Street, 10019, New [...]

Higher education in the United States is facing increasing demands for colleges and universities to demonstrate what students learn and that they are providing a high-quality education experience during the undergraduate years (Pascarealla et al. in Chang Mag High Learn 42(1):16-22, 2010). Despite evidence of the elevation of grades in higher education dating back to the 1970s, attempts to rein in this phenomenon have been largely unsuccessful (Nikolakakos et al. in Coll Univ 87(3):2-14 2012). It is our contention that attempts to reform grading have not succeeded because their focus is too narrow. After providing background information on the extent and causes of grade inflation, we will propose a synergistic approach to dealing with the problem of grade inflation. Keywords Institutional change * Grade inflation * Educational reform * Student learning * Academic standards, Colleges and universities around the world face a myriad of challenges, a number of which have undermined public confidence in these institutions (Calderon and Mathies 2013; Gumport 2000; Thompson-Whiteside 2013). [...]

Alden T. Vaughan and Virginia Mason Vaughan. Shakespeare in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Pp. xii + 220 + [20 b/w illus.] $75.00 cloth; $27.95 paper. Shakespeare in America [...]

The disparity between the potential for latent oak dominance within a stand and their region-wide decline in importance value raises questions about the competitiveness of oaks in early stand dynamics. We reconstructed tree height growth dynamics in mixed-species neighborhoods to determine if currently dominant oaks were ever shorter than their competitors and at what age currently subordinate oaks fell behind. In 23-36 year old mixed-oak stands in two physiographic provinces of Pennsylvania, we identified dominant and subordinate northern red oaks (Quercus rubra L.) and chestnut oaks (Quercus prinus L.) competing with adjacent non-oaks (red maple (Acer rubrum L.), sweet birch (Betula lenta L.), and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.)) of equal crown class. In each stand, we randomly selected 20 tree neighborhoods and collected stem cross sections every metre from the base to the tip of each tree. In the Allegheny Plateau province, dominant northern red oaks never averaged more than 2 m shorter than their competitors, while by age 20, subordinate oaks were commonly more than 2 m behind. Dominant chestnut oaks in the Ridge and Valley province were never more than 1 m shorter than their competitors; subordinate oaks, however, were generally always at least a metre behind. In both regions, growth dynamics of currently subordinate trees were indistinguishable from those of currently dominant trees during their first decade. Because oaks that were considerably behind at age 15 were likely to be subordinate by age 30, the window of opportunity for release to prevent oaks from becoming permanently overtopped and unable to recover may thus be relatively early (age 10-20). Resume: L'ecart entre le potentiel de dominance latente du chene dans un peuplement et son declin en importance a l'e-chelle regionale suscite des questions a propos de la competitivite des chenes au debut de la dynamique des peuplements. Nous avons reconstitue la dynamique de croissance en hauteur des arbres dans des milieux regroupant plusieurs especes pour determiner si les chenes presentement dominants ont deja ete plus petits que leurs competiteurs et a quel age les chenes presentement domines ont perdu leur dominance. Dans des peuplements melanges de chenes ages de 23 a 36 ans et situes dans deux provinces physiographiques de la Pennsylvanie, nous avons identifie des chenes rouges (Quercus rubra L.) et des chenes chataigniers (Quercus prinus L.) dominants et domines en competition avec des especes adjacentes autres que des chenes (erable rouge (Acer rubrum L.), bouleau flexible (Betula lenta L.) et cerisier tardif (Prunus serotina Ehrh.)) dont la classe de cime etait equivalente. Dans chaque peuplement, nous avons selectionne aleatoirement 20 arbres voisins et recolte des disques de bois a chaque metre le long du tronc a partir de la souche jusqu'au sommet de chaque arbre. Dans la pro-vince du plateau Allegheny, les chenes rouges dominants n'etaient jamais, en moyenne, plus de deux metres plus courts que leurs competiteurs alors qu'a l'age de 20 ans les chenes domines etaient generalement plus de deux metres plus petits que leurs competiteurs. Les chenes de montagne dominants de la province Ridge and Valley n'etaient jamais plus d'un metre plus courts que leurs competiteurs, mais les chenes domines etaient generalement au moins un metre plus petits que leurs competiteurs. Dans les deux regions, on ne pouvait distinguer la dynamique de croissance des arbres presentement domines de celle des arbres presentement dominants au cours des 10 premieres annees. Parce que les chenes qui etaient considerablement plus petits a 15 ans etaient generalement domines a 30 ans, la fenetre d'opportunite pour degager les chenes avant qu'ils ne deviennent irremediablement domines peut donc survenir assez tot (a l'age de 10 a 20 ans). [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The apparent oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration crisis, a 'paradox of a species that is dominant on the landscape, yet difficult to regenerate' at the stand level (Crow 1988), has [...]

A major challenge of biology is understanding the relationship between molecular genetic variation and variation in quantitative traits, including fitness. This relationship determines our ability to predict phenotypes from genotypes and to understand how evolutionary forces shape variation within and between species. Previous efforts to dissect the genotype-phenotype map were based on incomplete genotypic information. Here, we describe the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP), a community resource for analysis of population genomics and quantitative traits. The DGRP consists of fully sequenced inbred lines derived from a natural population. Population genomic analyses reveal reduced polymorphism in centromeric autosomal regions and the X chromosome, evidence for positive and negative selection, and rapid evolution of the X chromosome. Many variants in novel genes, most at low frequency, are associated with quantitative traits and explain a large fraction of the phenotypic variance. The DGRP facilitates genotype-phenotype mapping using the power of Drosophila genetics., Understanding how molecular variation maps to phenotypic variation for quantitative traits is central for understanding evolution, animal and plant breeding, and personalized medicine (1,2). The principles of mapping quantitative trait [...]

Red maple (Acer rubrum L.) is becoming increasingly dominant in forest stands throughout the eastern United States. To investigate the reasons for the increase, we examined the development of red maple and oak (Quercus spp.) seedlings and stump sprouts following the harvest of oak-dominated stands. Within 7 years after harvest, red maple seedlings were present in far greater numbers and captured more growing space than all oaks combined. Growing space occupied by red maple stump sprouts exceeded oak sprouts by a ratio of 3.5:1. Through stump sprouts alone, red maple fully recaptured the amount of growing space it had previously occupied in the overstory 7 years after harvest. Results from similar but older stands show that red maple dominance is sustained into the third decade of stand development. Red maple surpassed all oaks combined in rapid site capture through both seed-origin and sprout-origin regeneration. Red maple's superior ability to regenerate by sprouts is particularly favored by timber harvesting following a history of management and disturbance regimes that permit the accumulation of suppressed small-diameter red maple stems. Among the events and processes that promote stand conversion, timber harvesting may be the major proximal cause of the widespread, increasing dominance of red maple. L'erable rouge (Acer rubrum L.) devient de plus en plus dominant dans les peuplements forestiers de l'est des Etats-Unis. Pour determiner les raisons de cette augmentation, nous avons etudie le developpement de semis et de rejets de souche d'erable rouge et de chenes (Quercus spp.) apres la coupe de peuplements domines par le chene. Au cours des sept premieres annees apres la coupe, les semis d'erable rouge etaient beaucoup plus nombreux et occupaient plus d'espace de croissance que tous les chenes regroupes. L'espace de croissance utilise par les rejets de souche d'erable rouge etait 3,5 fois superieur a celui qu'occupaient les rejets de souche de chene. Au cours des sept premieres annees apres la coupe, l'erable rouge a completement reoccupe l'espace de croissance qu'il occupait precedemment dans le couvert dominant seulement a partir des rejets de souche. Les resultats provenant de peuplements de composition similaire, mais plus ages, montrent que l'erable rouge est toujours dominant au cours de la troisieme decennie du developpement du peuplement. L'erable rouge surpasse tous les chenes combines par sa rapidite a occuper l'espace de croissance avec sa regeneration issue de graines et de rejets de souche. La capacite superieure de l'erable rouge a se regenerer par rejets de souche est particulierement favorisee par la recolte forestiere effectuee a la suite d'un historique de regimes d'amenagement et de perturbations qui ont permis l'accumulation d'erables rouges opprimes et de petits diametres. Parmi les evenements et les processus qui favorisent la conversion des peuplements, la recolte forestiere constitue probablement la principale cause rapprochee de la dominance frequente et croissante de l'erable rouge. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Increases in red maple (Acer rubrum L.) abundance have been widely documented in eastern North America (Lorimer 1984; Abrams 1998; Fei and Steiner 2007). Red maple's increase often appears [...]

To understand the biology and evolution of ruminants, the cattle genome was sequenced to about sevenfold coverage. The cattle genome contains a minimum of 22,000 genes, with a core set of 14,345 orthologs shared among seven mammalian species of which 1217 are absent or undetected in noneutherian (marsupial or monotreme) genomes. Cattle-specific evolutionary breakpoint regions in chromosomes have a higher density of segmental duplications, enrichment of repetitive elements, and species-specific variations in genes associated with lactation and immune responsiveness. Genes involved in metabolism are generally highly conserved, although five metabolic genes are deleted or extensively diverged from their human orthologs. The cattle genome sequence thus provides a resource for understanding mammalian evolution and accelerating livestock genetic improvement for milk and meat production.

The chaplins are a family of eight secreted proteins that are critical for raising aerial hyphae in Streptomyces coelicolor. These eight chaplins can be separated into two main groups: the long chaplins (ChpA to -C) and the short chaplins (ChpD to -H). The short chaplins can be further subdivided on the basis of their abilities to form intramolecular disulfide bonds: ChpD, -F, -G, and -H contain two Cys residues, while ChpE has none. A 'minimal chaplin strain' containing only chpC, chpE, and chpH was constructed and was found to raise a substantial aerial mycelium. This strain was used to examine the roles of specific chaplins. Within this strain, the Cys-containing ChpH was identified as the major polymerization unit contributing to aerial hypha formation and assembly of an intricate rodlet ultrastructure on the aerial surfaces, and the two Cys residues were determined to be critical for its function. ChpC augmented aerial hypha formation and rodlet assembly, likely by anchoring the short chaplins to the cell surface, while ChpE was essential for the viability of wild-type S. coelicolor. Interestingly, the lethal effects of a chpE null mutation could be suppressed by the loss of the other chaplins, the inactivation of the twin arginine translocation (Tat) secretion pathway, or the loss of the rodlins.

Keywords: Pharmacokinetics; olanzapine; antipsychotic; schizophrenia; Alzheimer's disease; clinical antipsychotic trials of intervention effectiveness; CATIE 157 PharmacokineticsSex, Race, and Smoking Impact Olanzapine Exposure SAGE Publications, Inc.200810.1177/0091270007310385 Kristin L.Bigos PhD Department of [...]

Most of the articles in this issue assert that the growing public health problems of obesity and sedentary lifestyle will influence the nature of elementary school physical education and its place in the curriculum. There are, however, substantial reasons to exercise caution in speculating about the ultimate effect of such forces. Among the constraints on achieving significant progress are widespread use of underprepared classroom teachers; insufficient class time provided in the school schedule; the social and psychological complexity of health problems involving obesity, nutrition, and physical activity; and the absence of an adequate knowledge base for the design of programs that will influence subsequent lifestyle. The work of professional organizations in developing standards for defining sound programs offers a foundation for future progress. Development of reliable and valid measures for teacher performance and student achievement relative to those standards is under way but presently remains incomplete.

Elementary school physical education has repeatedly been shaped by the forces of history. Presently, concerns about the obesity epidemic and the low levels of physical activity in children are exerting a major influence on curriculum. Whereas building physical fitness has been a dominant influence during wartime, the focus today is on (a) providing students with ample opportunities for vigorous physical activity, (b) teaching basic motor skills, and (c) guiding children toward subsequent adoption of physically active lifestyles as adolescents and adults. The purpose here is to provide readers with information about the social context and present status of physical education in elementary schools. Attention is given to the effect of national recommendations from governmental and scientific health agencies, newly devised standards from professional organizations, recent legislative mandates, experimental trials of sustainable in-service education, and the role of research in shaping both pedagogy and curriculum.

Middle-infrared (mid-IR) laser sources operating over a "molecular fingerprint" 2-15 [micro]m spectral range are in great demand for a variety of applications including molecular spectroscopy, noninvasive medical diagnostics, industrial process […]

Despite the fact that evolutionary theory is the central and unifying theme in biology, it has not been well received by the general public in the United States. Several studies [...]

Author(s): The ENCODE Project Consortium; Analysis Coordination; Ewan Birney (corresponding author) [1]; John A. Stamatoyannopoulos (corresponding author) [2]; Anindya Dutta (corresponding author) [3]; Roderic Guigó (corresponding author) [4, 5]; Thomas [...]

Grounded within constructivist theory, the purpose of this investigation was to investigate knowledge acquisition and developing conceptions of high school-aged students during a unit of instruction in badminton. Six different [...]

The mapping of ice type concentrations in the Arctic is important for commercial operations and for climate-related research. Algorithms based on moderate-resolution passive microwave sensors for mapping first-year ice and multiyear ice concentrations suffer from a number of known problems. In this paper, it has been shown that QuikSCAT scatterometer data can add complimentary information to that available from passive microwave, which can assist in separating different ice classes. Specifically, we identify a class of ice that exhibits a passive microwave signature which is characteristic of first-year ice, but has a scatterometer signature which is typical of multiyear ice. We track the evolution and distribution of this new ice class throughout the Arctic during the winter season of 2003-2004 and compare the results against the U.S. National Ice Center (NIC) ice charts. It has been found that the new ice class is predominantly multiyear ice and is especially prevalent in the Fram Strait and the high Arctic regions north of the islands Franz Josef Land and Severnaya Zemlya. A simple algorithm has been proposed that enables a passive microwave-based partial ice concentration algorithm (for example, the NT algorithm based on Special Sensor Microwave/Imager data) to be adapted using QuikSCAT scatterometer data, so that the new ice class is corrected from the first-year ice class to the multiyear ice category. The algorithm performance is measured against the NIC ice charts. We provide a discussion regarding the possible physical causes of the effects that have been observed and described. Index Terms--Active microwave, ice concentration, passive microwave, QuikSCAT, scatterometer, sea ice, Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I), synergy.

Author(s): The Honeybee Genome Sequencing Consortium; Overall project leadership: ; George M. Weinstock [1, 2]; Gene E. Robinson [7, 9, 13, 14]; Principal investigators: ; Richard A. Gibbs [1, 2]; [...]

The gram-positive filamentous bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor has a complex developmental cycle with three distinct phases: growth of the substrate mycelium, development of reproductive structures called aerial hyphae, and differentiation of these aerial filaments into long chains of exospores. During a transposon mutagenesis screen, we identified a novel gene (devA) required for proper development. The devA mutant produced only rare aerial hyphae, and those that were produced developed aberrant spore chains that were much shorter than wild-type chains and had misplaced septa. devA encodes a member of the GntR superfamily, a class of transcriptional regulators that typically respond to metabolite effector molecules. devA forms an operon with the downstream gene devB, which encodes a putative hydrolase that is also required for aerial mycelium formation on R5 medium. S1 nuclease protection analysis showed that transcription from the single devA promoter was temporally associated with vegetative growth, and enhanced green fluorescent protein transcriptional fusions showed that transcription was spatially confined to the substrate hyphae in the wild type. In contrast, devAB transcript levels were dramatically upregulated in a devA mutant and the devA promoter was also active in aerial hyphae and spores in this background, suggesting that DevA might negatively regulate its own production. This suggestion was confirmed by gel mobility shift assays that showed that DevA binds its own promoter region in vitro.

Author(s): Donna M. Muzny [1]; Steven E. Scherer (corresponding author) [1]; Rajinder Kaul [2]; Jing Wang [3]; Jun Yu [3]; Ralf Sudbrak [4, 5]; Christian J. Buhay [1]; Rui Chen [...]

Author(s): Steven E. Scherer (corresponding author) [1]; Donna M. Muzny [1]; Christian J. Buhay [1]; Rui Chen [1]; Andrew Cree [1]; Yan Ding [1]; Shannon Dugan-Rocha [1]; Rachel Gill [1]; [...]

Abstract: Bud grafts, up to three series over 3 years, were made on seedling and tree rootstocks using scions from juvenile and mature northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). Serial [...]

To investigate the mechanism of small heat shock protein (sHsp) function, unbiased by current models of sHsp chaperone activity, we performed a screen for mutations of Synechocystis Hsp16.6 that reduced the ability of the protein to provide thermotolerance in vivo. Missense mutations at 17 positions throughout the protein and a C-terminal truncation of 5 aa were identified, representing the largest collection of sHsp mutants impaired in function in vivo. Ten mutant proteins were purified and tested for alterations in native oligomeric structure and in vitro chaperone activity. These biochemical assays separated the mutants into two groups. The C-terminal truncation and six mutations in the [alpha]-crystallin domain destabilized the sHsp oligomer and reduced in vitro chaperone activity. In contrast, the other three mutations had little effect on oligomer stability or chaperone activity in vitro. These mutations were clustered in the N terminus of Hsp16.6, pointing to a previously unrecognized, important function for this evolutionarily variable domain. Furthermore, the fact that the N-terminal mutations were impaired in function in vivo, but active as chaperones in vitro, indicates that current biochemical assays do not adequately measure essential features of the sHsp mechanism of action. crystallin | dimer | Synechocystis | thermotolerance | heat stress

The MYC protooncogene is frequently deregulated in human cancers. Here, by screening a kinase-directed library of small inhibitory RNAs, we identify glycogen synthase kinase 3 [beta] (GSK3 [BETA]) as a gene whose inactivation potentiates TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand death receptor-mediated apoptosis specifically in MYC-overexpressing cells. Small inhibitory RNA-induced silencing of GSK3[BETA] prevents phosphorylation of MYC on T58, thereby inhibiting recognition of MYC by the E3 ubiquitin ligase component FBW7. Attenuating the GSK3/[BETA]-FBW7 axis results in stabilization of MYC, up-regulation of surface levels of the TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand death receptor 5, and potentiation of death receptor 5-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. These results identify GSK3[BETA] and FBW7 as potential cancer therapeutic targets and MYC as a critical substrate in the GSK3[BETA] survival-signaling pathway. The results also demonstrate paradoxically that MYC-expressing tumors might be treatable by drug combinations that increase rather than decrease MYC oncoprotein function. FBW7 | MYC | TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand

Electromagnetic models are used as the basis for a least squares inversion technique to estimate the dry snow zone surface properties of the terrestrial ice sheets from active and passive microwave satellite data. Retrieved parameters include grain size, density, layer thickness, and accumulation rate. The prime motivation is to provide information of direct value to the Cryosat altimeter mission. The derived parameters can be used to convert from elevation change to snow mass change. They can also be used to predict geophysical retracking errors in altimeter data and to estimate the resulting uncertainty ill the altimeter elevation measurement. With this technique, snow accumulation rate can also be estimated using passive microwave data. These data can then be compared to historical European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellite altimeter data in order to assess the impact of interannual variability in accumulation rate on the significance of rates of elevation change. The technique is in the preliminary stages of assessment, but is demonstrated using ERS-2 altimeter data in conjunction with spatio-temporally colocated Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) and QuikSCAT data. It is planned to apply the technique ultimately to Cryosat. Index Terms--Ice sheets, inversion, microwave, radar, radar altimetry, radiometer, snow accumulation.

Author(s): Mark T. Ross (corresponding author) [1]; Darren V. Grafham [1]; Alison J. Coffey [1]; Steven Scherer [2]; Kirsten McLay [1]; Donna Muzny [2]; Matthias Platzer [3]; Gareth R. Howell [...]

The p53 tumor-suppressor protein is a critical mediator of cellular growth arrest and the induction of apoptosis. To identify proteins involved in the modulation of p53 transcriptional activity, a gain-of-function cellular screen was carried out with an arrayed matrix of [approximately equal to]20,000 cDNAs. Nine genes previously unknown to be involved in regulating p53 activity were identified. Overexpression of seven of these genes (Hey1, Hes1, TFAP4, Osr1, NR2F2, SFRS10, and FLJ11339) resulted in up-regulation of p53 activity; overexpression of two genes (M17S2 and cathepsin B) resulted in down-regulation of p53 activity in mammalian cells. HES1, HEY1, and TFAP4, which are members of the basic helix-loop-helix transcription family, and OSR1 were shown to activate p53 through repression of HDM2 transcription. Ectopic expression of these basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors in both zebrafish and avian developmental systems activated p53 and induced apoptosis in vivo, resulting in a phenotype similar to that of p53 overexpression. Furthermore, ras- and myc-mediated transformation of mouse embryonic fibroblasts was abrogated by expression of HEY1 in a p53-dependent manner. These results suggest that these transcription factors are members of an evolutionarily conserved network that governs p53 function.

Leptin is a powerful inhibitor of bone formation in vivo. This antiosteogenic function involves leptin binding to its receptors on ventromedial hypothalamic neurons, the autonomous nervous system and [beta]-adrenergic receptors on osteoblasts. However, the mechanisms whereby leptin controls the function of ventromedial hypothalamic antiosteogenic neurons remain unclear. In this study, we compared the ability of leptin to regulate body weight and bone mass and show that leptin antiosteogenic and anorexigenic functions are affected by similar amounts of leptin. Using a knock-in of LacZ in the leptin locus, we failed to detect any leptin synthesis in the central nervous system. However, increasing serum leptin level, even dramatically, reduced bone mass. Conversely, reducing serum-free leptin level by overexpressing a soluble receptor for leptin increased bone mass. Congruent with these results, the high bone mass of lipodystrophic mice could be corrected by restoring serum leptin level, suggesting that leptin is an adipocyte product both necessary and sufficient to control bone mass. Consistent with the high bone mass phenotype of lipodystrophic mice, we observed an advanced bone age, an indirect reflection of premature bone formation, in lipodystrophic patients. Taken together, these results indicate that adipocyte-derived circulating leptin is a determinant of bone formation and suggests that leptin antiosteogenic function is conserved in vertebrates.

The report studied the strengths of the F (sub 2) C1P-C1 (super -), POC1 (sub 3)-C1 (super -), and PSC1 (sub 3)-C1 (super -) bonds were determined by measuring thresholds for collision-induced dissociation in a flowing afterglow-tandem mass spectrometer. The effects of rearrangement energies made periodic trends in the thermochemistry difficult to predict.

As speech-language pathologists work more directly and in concert with educators to address reading problems in school-age children with language-based learning disabilities (LLD), knowledge of current methods in reading instruction [...]

Aims: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of membrane tube implant made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE, Gore-Tex) membrane and silicone tube in treating refractory glaucoma. Methods: A retrospective chart review was [...]

Author(s): Mouse Genome Sequencing Consortium ; Genome Sequencing Center: ; Asif T. Chinwalla [1, 47]; Lisa L. Cook [1]; Kimberly D. Delehaunty [1]; Ginger A. Fewell [1]; Lucinda A. Fulton [...]

Established plants may facilitate the regeneration of closely related seedlings if they increase populations of mutualistic symbionts that would otherwise be limiting. In this study we examined the influence of ectomycorrhizal and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) trees on Quercus rubra seedlings to determine how trees influence mycorrhizal infection, nutrient uptake, and growth of seedlings. In two related experiments, we planted Q. rubra acorns adjacent to stump sprouts of Q. montana (= Near-Quercus) and Acer rubrum (= Near-Acer), and, in the second experiment, near Quercus spp. stumps that had not resprouted (= Near-Dead-Quercus). Congeneric Quercus were used to prevent root grafting; using stump sprouts minimized aboveground differences between treatments by limiting canopy size. In both experiments, Near-Quercus seedlings were infected by ectomycorrhizal fungi to a significantly greater extent than Near-Acer or Near-Dead-Quercus seedlings. Near-Quercus seedlings were also infected by a different and more diverse community of ectohaycorrhizal fungi. Cenococcum geophilum, the only ectomycorrhizal fungus more abundant on Near-Acer seedlings than on Near-Quercus seedlings, appears to be relatively ineffective at increasing seedling nutrient uptake. Near-Quercus seedlings had greater concentrations and contents of N and P than other seedlings in both experiments. In the first experiment, Near-Quercus seedlings had greater growth than Near-Acer seedlings, although it was not clear if this represented beneficial influences of Q. montana, or an undetermined negative influence of A. rubrum. No significant growth responses were found in the second experiment; severe drought may have prevented the expression of growth potential. The results demonstrate indirect facilitation of seedlings by established congeneric trees through increased seedling ectomycorrhizal infection. Key words: Acer rubrum L.; Cenococcum geophilum Fr.; ectomycorrhiza; facilitation; forest regeneration; Quercus montana WiUdenow (= Quercus prinus L.); Quercus rubra L.; vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Grouping genes by virtue of their sequence similarity, functional association, or spatiotemporal distribution is an important first step in investigating function. Given the recent identification of >30,000 human genes either by analyses of genomic sequence or by derivation/assembly of ESTs, automated means of discerning gene function and association with disease are critical for the efficient processing of this large volume of data. We have designed a series of computational tools to manipulate the EST sequence database (dbEST) to predict EST clusters likely representing genes expressed exclusively or preferentially in a specific tissue. We implemented this tool by extracting 40,000 human retinal ESTs and performing in silico subtraction against 1.4 million human ESTs. This process yielded 925 ESTs likely to be specifically or preferentially expressed in the retina. We mapped all retinal-specific/predominant sequences in the human genome and produced a web-based searchable map of the retina transcriptome, onto which we overlaid the positions of all mapped but uncloned retinopathy genes. This resource has provided positional candidates for 42 of 51 uncloned retinopathies and may expedite substantially the identification of disease-associated genes. More importantly, the ability to systematically group ESTs according to their predicted expression profile is likely to be an important resource for studying gene function in a wide range of tissues and physiological systems and to identify positional candidate genes for human disorders whose phenotypic manifestations are restricted to specific tissues/ organs/cell types.

Cytokines and other mediators whose induction in inflammatory lung disease is attenuated by glucocorticoids are potential targets for development of selective anti-inflammatory treatments. We refer to genes with these regulatory characteristics as glucocorticoid-attenuated response genes, or GARGs. Systematic identification of GARGs has not been attempted previously in vivo. Using an endotoxemia model in adrenalectomized mice, we constructed a subtracted lung library enriched in endotoxemia-induced genes and identified candidate GARGs by differential hybridization screening. Northern analysis confirmed induction in the lung during endotoxemia and attenuation by glucocorticoids of 36 genes of diverse types. The majority were genes of unknown function not previously implicated in the pulmonary response to inflammation, including a new member of a 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase-like family and a novel lung inducible Neuralized-related C3HC4 RING protein. Our results suggest that a full understanding of glucocorticoid effects on lung inflammation will require elucidation of the roles of an extensive network of glucocorticoid-modulated genes. gene expression; inflammation; lipopolysaccharide; molecular cloning; mouse model

The many regions of loss of heterozygosity in human cancer for which no tumor suppressor gene has been found may hold a large number of haplo-insufficient tumor suppressor genes never to be found in traditional ways. Most evidence showing that haplo-insufficiency is a widespread phenomenon in tumor suppressor genes is from mouse knockout studies. Results of human mutational analyses are consistent with the possibility. The tumor suppressor genes so far identified skew toward genes that show weak or no haplo-insufficiency. If it is true that haplo-insufficiency for tumor suppression is much more widespread than has been thought, the definition may be too narrow.

A new study investigates the effectiveness of electrolyzed oxidizing and acidified chlorinated water in killing pathogens on lettuce.