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In the world of weapons safety, we can't make mistakes. We deal with things that are designed to explode. The most important part of our job is avoiding disaster. We [...]

I. INTRODUCTION In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the arrest rates of juveniles for violence and homicide surged dramatically. (1) The escalation of homicide, especially among young African-American males [...]

Walleyes Sander vitreusare extensively cultured across Michigan, with highly variable success resulting in substantial differences in growth and survival. The present study was undertaken in 2005 and 2006 to determine the relationship between abiotic components (temperature, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient levels), prey (zooplankton and benthic macroinvertebrate) availability, and stocking density in ponds in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan and the growth and survival of walleyes in these ponds. Besides fertilization of some of the ponds, there was no management of the ponds until harvest. Ponds were grouped by similarity of abiotic and biotic factors. Correlations among walleye length, weight, and stocking density, as well as between walleye percent survival and stocking density, provided contradictory results between years. Walleye growth and survival were correlated with planktonic prey densities and nutrient levels. Although these interactions among abiotic variables, prey availability, and walleye growth and survival exemplify the complexity of walleye culture at multiple geographic locations, nutrient and prey availability determine growth and survival across sites.

ABSTRACTFactors accounting for long-term nonprogression may include infection with an attenuated strain of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), genetic polymorphisms in the host, and virus-specific immune responses. In this study, we examined eight individuals with nonprogressing or slowly progressing HIV-1 infection, none of whom were homozygous for host-specific polymorphisms (CCR5-?32, CCR2-64I, andSDF-1-3'A) which have been associated with slower disease progression. HIV-1 was recovered from seven of the eight, and recovered virus was used for sequencing the full-length HIV-1 genome; full-length HIV-1 genome sequences from the eighth were determined following amplification of viral sequences directly from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Longitudinal studies of one individual with HIV-1 that consistently exhibited a slow/low growth phenotype revealed a single amino acid deletion in a conserved region of the gp41 transmembrane protein that was not seen in any of 131 envelope sequences in the Los Alamos HIV-1 sequence database. Genetic analysis also revealed that five of the eight individuals harbored HIV-1 with unusual 1- or 2-amino-acid deletions in the Gag sequence compared to subgroup B Gag consensus sequences. These deletions in Gag have either never been observed previously or are extremely rare in the database. Three individuals had deletions in Nef, and one had a 4-amino-acid insertion in Vpu. The unusual polymorphisms in Gag, Env, and Nef described here were also found in stored PBMC samples taken 3 to 11 years prior to, or in one case 4 years subsequent to, the time of sampling for the original sequencing. In all, seven of the eight individuals exhibited one or more unusual polymorphisms; a total of 13 unusual polymorphisms were documented in these seven individuals. These polymorphisms may have been present from the time of initial infection or may have appeared in response to immune surveillance or other selective pressures. Our results indicate that unusual, difficult-to-revert polymorphisms in HIV-1 can be found associated with slow progression or nonprogression in a majority of such cases.

ABSTRACTThe primary sequence of the long unique region L-DNA (L for low GC) of rhesus monkey rhadinovirus (RRV) isolate 26-95 was determined. The L-DNA consists of 130,733 bp that contain 84 open reading frames (ORFs). The overall organization of the RRV26-95 genome was found to be very similar to that of human Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). BLAST search analysis revealed that in almost all cases RRV26-95 coding sequences have a greater degree of similarity to corresponding KSHV sequences than to other herpesviruses. All of the ORFs present in KSHV have at least one homologue in RRV26-95 except K3 and K5 (bovine herpesvirus-4 immediate-early protein homologues), K7 (nut-1), and K12 (Kaposin). RRV26-95 contains one MIP-1 and eight interferon regulatory factor (vIRF) homologues compared to three MIP-1 and four vIRF homologues in KSHV. All homologues are correspondingly located in KSHV and RRV with the exception of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). DHFR is correspondingly located near the left end of the genome in RRV26-95 and herpesvirus saimiri (HVS), but in KSHV the DHFR gene is displaced 16,069 nucleotides in a rightward direction in the genome. DHFR is also unusual in that the RRV26-95 DHFR more closely resembles HVS DHFR (74% similarity) than KSHV DHFR (55% similarity). Of the 84 ORFs in RRV26-95, 83 contain sequences similar to the recently determined sequences of the independent RRV isolate 17577. RRV26-95 and RRV17577 sequences differ in that ORF 67.5 sequences contained in RRV26-95 were not found in RRV17577. In addition, ORF 4 is significantly shorter in RRV26-95 than was reported for RRV17577 (395 versus 645 amino acids). Only four of the corresponding ORFs between RRV26-95 and RRV17577 exhibited less than 95% sequence identity: glycoproteins H and L, uracil DNA glucosidase, and a tegument protein (ORF 67). Both RRV26-95 and RRV17577 have unique ORFs between positions 21444 to 21752 and 110910 to 114899 in a rightward direction and from positions 116524 to 111082 in a leftward direction that are not found in KSHV. Our analysis indicates that RRV26-95 and RRV17577 are clearly independent isolates of the same virus species and that both are closely related in structural organization and overall sequence to KSHV. The availability of detailed sequence information, the ability to grow RRV lytically in cell culture, and the ability to infect monkeys experimentally with RRV will facilitate the construction of mutant strains of virus for evaluating the contribution of individual genes to biological properties.

ABSTRACTAll members of the Herpesviridaefamily contain sequences for a highly conserved glycoprotein B (gB) gene. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships of gB sequences from eight independent rhadinovirus isolates obtained from three species: rhesus (Macaca mulatta), cynomologus (Macaca fasicularis), and pig-tailed (Macaca nemestrina) macaques. Samples were derived from monkeys housed at four separate facilities. Analysis of these eight independent gB sequences revealed five regions of heterogeneity within the 823- to 829-amino-acid polypeptides: residues 1 to 65, 120 to 185, 255 to 300, 352 to 393, and 412 to 457. The remaining regions of gB were highly conserved among the different macaque isolates. Overall divergence among these gene sequences ranged from 0.1 to 7.2% at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic trees constructed with our macaque rhadinovirus gB sequences and those derived from additional subfamilies or genera (alpha, beta, gamma-1, and gamma-2) revealed that the macaque gB sequences branched with other gamma-2 herpesvirus gB sequences and that within the gamma-2 genera, the macaque gB sequences clustered as a distinct branch. The eight macaque rhadinovirus gB sequences were all approximately equidistant from Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) gB sequences and had a shorter evolutionary distance to KSHV gB sequences than to any other herpesvirus, including the gamma-2 herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) of New World squirrel monkeys. The macaque gB sequences did not cluster according to the facility of origin, but did cluster according to the species of origin, displaying less intraspecies divergence (0.1 to 2.9%) than interspecies divergence (3.3 to 7.2%). These results demonstrate a close relatedness of rhadinovirus isolates from different macaque species.

The hypothesis tested is whether lesbianism implies psychopathology. The MMPI was given to 26 nonpatient lesbians who were professionally employed full time, and the results were compared to those for a group of 29 similarly employed heterosexual women. With the exception of the Sc scale, no difference was found on the clinical scales. The lesbian group achieved a significantly higher elevation than the nonlesbians on the Mf and Sc scales. Further analysis of the data on the Sc subscales indicated no difference on the pathological part of the scale, but rather a difference in degree of social alienation. Analysis of the data according to a second variable, living status, found significant differences and has important implications for future studies of the lesbian population. Single women, regardless of sexual orientation, scored significantly higher on scales K and Pa and on the Pa subscale naivete. A significant interaction between sexual orientation and living status was achieved on one scale, the F scale.

The high variability in reported lengths of larval yellow perch Perca flavescensat hatching, dietary shift, and morphometric transformation may be partly caused by shrinkage that occurs after preservation. Larval yellow perch were captured, randomly assigned to one of six preservative treatments (100%, 95%, 80%, and 50% ethyl alcohol and 5% and 10% formalin), and measured (before preservation) for total length (TL). Larval yellow perch total lengths were then recorded on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 after storage in each of the six preservatives. Significant reductions in TL (11.5–14.3%) occurred during the first 24 h after fixation and larvae continued to contract at a lesser rate through day 7 in all four ethyl alcohol treatments. Total length reductions of up to 2.5% also occurred during the first 24 h in each formalin concentration. Our findings report the total length reductions of larval yellow perch at a length range used by some biologists when indexing year-class strength and during studies of early life history. The length reductions of larval yellow perch that are associated with storage in different concentrations of preservative appear to be inconsistent with those noted for other species; therefore, our findings support the need to obtain species-specific data for larval shrinkage.

When the thermophilic mold Thermoascus aurantiacus var. levisporus was grown in a modified Czapek Dox medium containing casein the filtrate was found to contain proteolytic activity. The maximum production of activity occurred at 50 ° C in a medium containing 8% casein. The filtrate was subjected to ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Two proteases were separated. No further work was done on protease II. Protease I was further purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G 100–200. It showed a 40-fold purification with a final recovery of approximately 25%. It is a neutral protease with a pH optimum at 7.0. The optimal activity of the enzyme occurred in 0.02 M phosphate buffer but was completely inhibited at a concentration of 0.1 M. The optimum temperature for casein hydrolysis was found to be 55 ° C. The enzyme was inhibited by Hg++ but was greatly stimulated by Cu++ and mercaptoethanol. Metallo and sulfhydryl agents had no significant effect on enzyme activity.

A method (habituation test) for studying habituation of the palmar skin conductance response (SCR) during iterative photostimulation in mice is described. Twenty drugs known for their CNS stimulant activity and/or beneficial action on learning were tested for their antagonism toward habituation. With most of the drugs tested, the delay in SCR extinction was dose-dependent. From the corresponding regression equations, the standard delaying doses were computed and used for classification. Fenozolone was the most active product. In descending order follow dexamphetamine and piracetam, then other amphetamines.

An apparatus and a quantitative method for studying the spontaneous palmar conductivity (SPC) and the psychogalvanic reaction (PGR) in mice are described. Several psycholeptics (neuroleptics, tranquillizers, hypnotics) were tested. In order to assess the specificity of the method, several other pharmacological agents (muscle relaxants, neuromusclar blocking agents, anticholinergics, a-adrenolytics) were tested.

A new method for preparation of Human Menopausal Gonadotrophin involves successively alcoholic precipitation, kaolin adsorption and chromatography on ion exchangers. A highly active material is obtained which corresponds to 1 mg per litre of urine and has an activity of 1 mouse uterus unit at a dose of 0.003 mg. This gonadotrophin possesses both follicle stimulating and luteinizing activities in hypophysectomized female rats, by histological study. It contains 13 % hexose, 10% hexosamine and 8.5 % sialic acid.A further purification, by zone electrophoresis on starch, gives a final product, biologically active at 0.001 mg, which behaves as an homogenous substance in free electrophoresis with mobility -4.76 × 10-5at pH8.6.

We sought to determine if abundance of larval yellow perch Perca flavescenscould predict abundance of age-0 juvenile perch in late summer. Yellow perch larvae and juveniles were sampled from six eastern South Dakota glacial lakes in 1997. The number of age-0 yellow perch caught per seine haul in late summer was positively related to larval abundance in late May and early June (N= 6, r= 0.90, P= 0.01). When data collected from two eastern South Dakota lakes in 1995 and 1996 were added to this assessment, we also found a significant positive relation (N= 10, r= 0.88, P= 0.0009). Thus, biologists in eastern South Dakota can use larval yellow perch abundance as an early indicator to determine which water bodies are likely to have a weak naturally produced year-class and then can evaluate the success of fingerling perch stocking strategies.

Direct sequencing of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) following amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) [1]has found widespread use in population genetic and phylogenetic research over the past few years. Recently, nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes have been reported in diverse eukaryotic species, often confounding such research (reviewed in [2,3]). Under certain circumstances, nuclear pseudogenes can be amplified more efficiently than the intended mtDNA target, even when using as template mtDNA that has been purified by gradient centrifugation [4]. If the transfer of the gene copy to the nucleus happened recently, it can be difficult –  if not impossible –  to identify the legitimate mitochondrial sequence. Here, we present a simple method that can identify expressed mitochondrial genes, using the cytochrome bgene of the particularly problematical proboscis monkey as an example. Because mtDNA is transcribed and processed into polyadenylated mRNAs [5,6], reverse transcription coupled to PCR can be used to amplify the expressed mitochondrial version. This method produced an unambiguous sequence for the proboscis monkey mitochondrial cytochrome bgene; in contrast, traditional DNA-based PCR methods produced ambiguous sequence, because many nuclear pseudogenes were present. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytochrome bgene suggests that the proboscis monkey groups with the Asian langurs, rather than forming a sister taxon to all Asian and African colobines as was previously suggested [7]. Reverse transcriptase-coupled PCR should be applicable to many other cases of nuclear transfer of mtDNA, including those involving ribosomal genes.

In mice, iterative photostimulation results in habituation, detected in the palmar skin conductance response. Psychoanaleptics delay this habituation in proportion to the dose administered.