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Introduction Hennekam syndrome (OMIM #235510 and #616006) is an autosomal-recessive disorder characterized by congenital lymphedema and lymphangiectasia, unusual facial morphology, attributed at least in part to intrauterine facial lymphedema, and [...], The atypical cadherin FAT4 has established roles in the regulation of planar cell polarity and Hippo pathway signaling that are cell context dependent. The recent identification of FAT4 mutations in Hennekam syndrome, features of which include lymphedema, lymphangiectasia, and mental retardation, uncovered an important role for FAT4 in the lymphatic vasculature. Hennekam syndrome is also caused by mutations in collagen and calcium binding EGF domains 1 (CCBE1) and ADAM metallopeptidase with thrombospondin type 1 motif 3 (ADAMTS3), encoding a matrix protein and protease, respectively, that regulate activity of the key prolymphangiogenic VEGF-C/VEGFR3 signaling axis by facilitating the proteolytic cleavage and activation of VEGF-C. The fact that FAT4, CCBE1, and ADAMTS3 mutations underlie Hennekam syndrome suggested that all 3 genes might function in a common pathway. We identified FAT4 as a target gene of GATA-binding protein 2 (GATA2), a key transcriptional regulator of lymphatic vascular development and, in particular, lymphatic vessel valve development. Here, we demonstrate that FAT4 functions in a lymphatic endothelial cell-autonomous manner to control cell polarity in response to flow and is required for lymphatic vessel morphogenesis throughout development. Our data reveal a crucial role for FAT4 in lymphangiogenesis and shed light on the mechanistic basis by which FAT4 mutations underlie a human lymphedema syndrome.

Introduction The discovery that GATA2 mutations underlie Emberger syndrome--a condition characterized by primary lymphedema and predisposition to myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML) (1)--revealed key roles for this zinc finger transcription [...], Heterozygous germline mutations in the zinc finger transcription factor GATA2 have recently been shown to underlie a range of clinical phenotypes, including Emberger syndrome, a disorder characterized by lymphedema and predisposition to myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (MDS/AML). Despite well-defined roles in hematopoiesis, the functions of GATA2 in the lymphatic vasculature and the mechanisms by which GATA2 mutations result in lymphedema have not been characterized. Here, we have provided a molecular explanation for lymphedema predisposition in a subset of patients with germline GATA2 mutations. Specifically, we demonstrated that Emberger-associated GATA2 missense mutations result in complete loss of GATA2 function, with respect to the capacity to regulate the transcription of genes that are important for lymphatic vessel valve development. We identified a putative enhancer element upstream of the key lymphatic transcriptional regulator PROX1 that is bound by GATA2, and the transcription factors FOXC2 and NFATC1. Emberger GATA2 missense mutants had a profoundly reduced capacity to bind this element. Conditional Gata2 deletion in mice revealed that GATA2 is required for both development and maintenance of lymphovenous and lymphatic vessel valves. Together, our data unveil essential roles for GATA2 in the lymphatic vasculature and explain why a select catalogue of human GATA2 mutations results in lymphedema.

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.12.026 Byline: Ann L. Rypstra (a)(b), Ann M. Schlosser (c)(d), Patrick L. Sutton (c)(d), Matthew H. Persons (e) Abstract: Many animal signals, especially those important to finding and attracting mates, are multimodal, which means they involve two or more sensory modalities. Among other sensory modalities, the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina (Araneae, Lycosidae), uses a variety of chemical and visual information in reproductive activities. Here we report the results of four laboratory experiments in which we explored the effects of visual and chemical information on the behaviour of males. First we established that chemical cues enabled males to find females and that visual cues kept the males' attention focused in the area of the females. Subsequently, we examined the separate and combined effects of visual and chemical cues on the interactions between males competing for virgin or mated females. The behaviour of interacting males revealed that either chemical or visual information was sufficient for them to discriminate between mated and virgin females. Chemical cues elicited more courtship activity and more intense aggressive interactions between males than visual cues. When males were able to see live mated females but were in contact with chemical cues from virgins, aggression was lower and, conversely, when males were able to see live virgin females but were in contact with chemical cues from mated females, aggression increased. We conclude that chemical cues provided males with the most critical discriminatory information. Although the two types of signals are largely redundant, there are some circumstances where they enhance the response of the males and there is an intersignal interaction that allows males to adjust their behaviour when presented with a receptive female. Author Affiliation: (a) Center for Animal Behavior, Miami University, Hamilton, OH, U.S.A. (b) Department of Zoology, Miami University, Hamilton, OH, U.S.A. (c) Center for Animal Behavior, Miami University, Oxford, OH, U.S.A. (d) Department of Zoology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, U.S.A. (e) Department of Biology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, U.S.A. Article History: Received 21 July 2008; Revised 22 September 2008; Accepted 18 December 2008 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A08-00477

Byline: Katherine A. Karl (1), Cynthia L. Sutton (1) Abstract: Fairness perceptions regarding several workplace romance policies (i.e., no action, counsel, verbal reprimand, written warning, transfer, terminate) applied to different types of couples (e.g., lateral vs. hierarchical) in a variety of situations (e.g., couple's performance improves vs. declines) were examined. We found the counsel policy was perceived more fair than any other policy. Stricter workplace romance policies (verbal reprimand, written warning, transfer) were perceived fair when the couple's performance declined or the romance was highly visible. Taking no action was perceived more fair than any other policy when the couple's performance improved. These results and others are discussed. Author Affiliation: (1) Indiana University South Bend, USA Article History: Registration Date: 30/09/2004

Addition of locust bean gum to ice cream leads to a fall in the rate at which ice crystals grow, both during heat shock and during storage at constant temperatures. This research aimed to assess the impact of ice phase volume, stabilizer type and concentration to determine whether such effects on model solutions were applicable in ice cream. Boosting the concentration of locust bean gum or guar led to a fall in rate of recrystallization. Recrystallization during heat shock was not affected by ice phase volume.

The efficacy of stabilizers as recrystallization inhibitors was examined. It was found that both guar and locust bean gum inhibited ice recrystallization. The effects depended on stabilizer concentration, with an initial reduction in recrystallization rates. Enzyme modified guars restricted recrystallization, although with a less marked effect.

ABBREVIATIONS. CPM, central pontine myelinolysis; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NS, normal saline; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; ADEM, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. Acute gastroenteritis is one of the most common childhood illnesses encountered [...]

Recrystallization rates of ice in aqueous fructose solutions decline with a decrease in ice phase volumes and temperature rates. The dominant status of migratory and accretive recrystallization depends on the size of ice crystals. Migratory recrystallization dominates in the late stages when the crystals are few and large in size. The effect of temperature is similar to that observed in Williams-Landell-Ferry kinetics. This indicates that recrystallization rates correspond to the difference between the storage and glass transition temperature.

Intentional interpersonal injury appears to be the most common cause of injury in African Americans in western Philadelphia, PA. Emergency department records from 1987 through 1990 were reviewed from hospitals in a predominantly African-American neighborhood in Philadelphia. A total of 46,260 injuries occurred during the four-year study. There were 403 deaths and 2,796 hospital admissions. Slightly more than 23% of all injuries were intentional interpersonal injuries. Almost 41% of men between 20 and 29 years old visited a hospital emergency room at least once as a result of an intentional interpersonal injury. Slightly more than 21% of the women in the same age group visited an emergency room because of an intentional interpersonal injury. During the course of the study intentional gun-related injuries increased by 179%., Objective. - To improve understanding of the patterns of injury morbidity and mortality in an urban African-American population. Design. - Prospective survey of emergency department records for a geographically defined population from 1987 through 1990. Setting. - Eleven hospital emergency departments in Philadelphia, Pa. Participants. - The approximately 6 8000 people living in 17 census tracts in western Philadelphia. Results. - A total of 46 260 injury events were identified in the survey (168.8 events per 1000 population annually). Half of the population made an emergency department visit for one or more injuries during the 4 years of study. There were 2796 hospital admissions (10.2/1000 population) and 403 deaths (1.5/1000 population) as a result of these injuries. Although in 1987 falls were the most frequent type of injury resulting in an emergency department visit, by 1989 the number of interpersonal intentional injury events exceeded the number of falls. Interpersonal intentional injuries accounted for 31.2% of hospital admissions and 42.7% of deaths. Of men 20 through 29 years old, 94.3% visited an emergency department at least once in the 4 years because of an injury, and 40.9% of men in this age group sought treatment for one or more interpersonal intentional injuries. The likelihood of future interpersonal intentional injury-related visits increased with the number of previous injuries of this type. Conclusions. - Interpersonal intentional injury occurs frequently in this population. More attention needs to be paid to prevention and intervention to reduce the toll of this violence. The high prevalence of injury in certain age strata may make general, population-based efforts for injury prevention more efficient than efforts targeted to subgroups.

Livestock and poultry producers are considering the manure management system in their operations seriously today for two reasons: the need for efficiency of operation to increase profitability and the need [...]

Alkylation of a cysteine residue and site-directed mutagenesis using 5-iodoacetamido-1,10-phenanthroline results in the conversion of the Escherichia coli Trp repressor into an efficient and site-specific DNA scission reagment. The derivative mutant Trp repressor delivers and regulates the chemical nucleolytic reactivity of 1,10-phenanthroline-copper to the minor groove. This compound is responsible for the cleavage of operator fragments of DNA through an oxidative mechanism, necessitating the presence of cupric ion, thiol and hydrogen peroxide. The lambda phage cro protein or wild wild type Trp repressor is employed as a regulator of gel cleavage experiment after pretreatment with 5-iodo acetamido-1,10-phenanthroline.

Applications of analytical techniques for the characterization of crude oil and shale oil are reviewed. This involves the bulk characterization of crude oil by chromatographic, rheological and spectroscopic methods, elemental analyses of crude oil and the determination of compound classes in crude oil by biomarkers, sulfur compounds and hydrocarbon types. A comparatively brief account on shale oil applications is provided.

The Greater Antillean Pewee (Contopus caribaeus) has mutually exclusive dawn songs in Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas. In Hispaniola, dawn songs are fast, emphatic, and loud, with one single and three paired syllables rising in pitch from ca 1.9-3.0 kHz. In Jamaica, dawn songs are weaker, having two and three syllable phrases, usually given alternately, and ranging from ca 2-4 kHz. In Cuba and the Bahamas, dawn songs are high-pitched, squeaky whistles, ascending and descending, and ranging from ca 3.0-5.5 kHz. These differences readily are discerned by ear and in sonograms. None of the vocalizations in the Bahama-Cuba region, Jamaica, or Hispaniola was duplicated in either of the other two populations. Most plumage differences among these populations are subtle, but birds in Cuba and the Bahamas have a striking, white, crescent-shaped 'post-ocular spot' not found on pewees in Jamaica or Hispaniola. Pewees in Jamaica have smaller masses, and shorter tails, tarsi, wings, and exposed culmen than birds in Cuba. Dawn songs and measurements indicate that these populations of the Greater Antillean Pewee are sufficiently different to be recognized as separate species.

Objectives. Injury is a major US public health problem, particularly in urban minority communities. This paper evaluates the impact of the Safe Block Project, a comprehensive injury prevention trial, on home hazards and injury prevention knowledge in a poor urban African-American community. Methods. Nine census tracts in the community were allocated to either the intervention area or the control area. The intervention, carried out by trained community outreach workers, consisted of (1) home modification for simple prevention measures, (2) home inspection accompanied by information about home hazards, and (3) education about selected injury prevention practices. Approximately 12 months after the intervention, random samples of control and intervention homes were assessed for home hazards and injury prevention knowledge. Results. A significantly larger proportion of intervention homes than control homes had functioning smoke detectors, syrup of ipecac, safely stored medications, and reduced electrical and tripping hazards. No consistent differences were observed between control and intervention homes on home hazards requiring major effort to correct. Conclusions. There was a distinct difference between control and intervention homes with respect to safety knowledge and home hazards requiring minimal to moderate effort to correct. The Safe Block Project could serve as a model for future urban injury prevention efforts. (Am J Public Health. 1993;83:675-680), Accidents in the home can be reduced through community-based intervention consisting of an assessment of hazards in the home and discussion of ways to alleviate the dangers. Members of the intervention team were recruited from an urban, primarily African-American neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA, and trained in injury prevention techniques. Community liaisons were responsible for ensuring community involvement in the area selected to receive safety intervention. Team members visited 3,004 homes and pointed out potential hazard areas to residents. They also provided minor safety remedies such as bath thermometers to prevent scalds, batteries for smoke detectors and syrup of ipecac as a remedy for accidental poisoning. Follow-up in the homes found that homes that received intervention were more likely to have corrected potential safety hazards that required minimal to moderate intervention. Residents also had better knowledge of home injury prevention.

The Trp repressor of Escherichia coli was transformed to a operator-specific nuclease by site-directed mutagenesis to alkylate cysteine-49. A high cleavage activity was observed in the presence of copper ion and thiol. The nearness of cysteine-49 to the minor groove and the target of oxidative nuclease activity conferred high enzymatic efficiency. The enzyme exerts its action with operator DNA close to the binding site of the protein and three binding sites for the repressor were discovered. These 1,10 phenanthroline-derived proteins will be useful for studies on high molecular weight DNA.

Madam C. J. Walker was a businesswoman, inventor, and philanthropist. Born to former slaves, she suffered many personal losses early in her life. Driven to provide for her daughter and [...]

It has been possible to identify further indirect evidence for the surface absorption hypothesis that has been put forward to explain the inhibition of recrystallization by stabilizers. This research involved measuring ice recrystallization rates in simple aqueous solutions containing fructose and a hydrocolloid stabilizer. Attention was given to the concentration dependence of the recrystallization inhibition shown by a stabilizer obtained from guar gum which was enzymically altered to have a similar galactose content to locust bean gum (LBG). The enzyme-modified guar showed similar recrystallization behaviour to LBG.

Incorporation of locust bean gum (LBG) to aqueous fructose solutions reduces the recrystallization rates of ice. This effect is observed only for 0.2% to 0.3% of LBG concentrations. The recyrstallization rates increase with an increase in ice phase volume, and decline with a decrease in temperature. There is a lack of correlation between the recrystallization rates and the solution viscosity of the unfrozen phase. A weak absorbtion of the polysaccharide to the ice crystals may be responsible for this LBG action.

From a walk in the woods to ice skating, there is much to do in Indiana during the winter. Bundle up and get out there. This central-Indiana creek was photographed [...]

Sports enthusiasts turn their thoughts to football come autumn. The students pictured here at Indiana's Culver Military Academy in 1927 were no different. The background is occupied by the Riding [...]

Populations of three selected moth species found in Leeds, England,are examined, with declines noted in the postindustrial era. It is posited that selective predation may account for the declines.

The relationships between early ligand binding/receptor processing events and cellular responses for the N-formyl peptide receptor system on human neutrophilis as a model of a GPCR system in a physiologically relevant context is examined.

The following is the final installment of a two-part interview with Mr. John Selky who was the President of I/N Tek / I/N Kote (I/N) from its inception in 1989 [...]

During the past two decades, inspired by the apparent success of Japanese work and production systems, many U.S. firms have been experimenting with new forms of work organization. These work […]

`TAM 302' hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Reg. no. CV-870, PI 605910) was developed by the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES) and was released in 1998. The experimental [...]