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This article reports on a case of a 39-year-old woman who was referred to a fetal cardiac program in Toronto, Canada, after a fetal cardiac mass was discovered during a second-trimester anatomy scan. The mass was identified as a cardiac tumor called rhabdomyoma, and further testing was done to determine if it was associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS). Treatment with sirolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, was initiated to relieve symptoms and prevent further deterioration. The tumor responded well to treatment, and the patient delivered a healthy baby. This case suggests that transplacental therapy with sirolimus can be effective for non-TS rhabdomyomas, and further research is needed to understand the molecular mechanisms involved. [Extracted from the article]

This article, titled "OC01.02: Effect of aspirin on placental biomarkers profile in high-risk women for pre-eclampsia," examines the differences in biomarker levels between high-risk women with and without pre-eclampsia (PE) and low-risk women throughout pregnancy. The study involved 2,007 women with singleton pregnancies who participated in a screening program for PE. The results showed that high-risk women with PE had higher levels of certain biomarkers, such as MAP, UtA-PI, and sFlt-1, and lower levels of PlGF compared to unaffected high-risk and low-risk women. These differences were primarily observed in the third trimester. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: To determine the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities, submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities and RASopathy-disorder (RD) pathogenic variants in a cohort of pregnancies with nuchal translucency thickness (NT) ≥ 3.5 mm, and to propose a clinical protocol for surveillance of this group of patients.Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of patients referred to The Prenatal Diagnosis and Medical Genetics Program at Mount Sinai Hospital between January 2013 and December 2015, due to NT ≥ 3.5 mm, who underwent chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Patients underwent extensive genetic counseling prior to invasive procedures and testing. Quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) was performed as the first-line test for aneuploidy. If the result was negative, patients underwent karyotyping and/or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), and if the findings were normal, they had testing for RD pathogenic variants, which included nine known genes. Patients also underwent detailed fetal ultrasound examinations and echocardiography, performed by expert operators.Results: A total of 226 eligible patients were identified. In 116/226 (51.3%) patients, QF-PCR identified a chromosomal aneuploidy. The remaining 110/226 (48.7%) patients had further genetic testing. Karyotyping/CMA detected an abnormal/pathogenic cytogenetic result in 9/110 (8.2%) patients, as well as five variants of unknown significance (VOUS). RD testing yielded three pathogenic variants (3/103), giving a detection rate of 2.9%, and one VOUS. The optimal NT cut-off for RD screening was 7.9 mm in this population. In 92/110 (83.6%) patients, the genetic investigations were normal. Of these pregnancies, an early (14-16 weeks' gestation) detailed fetal ultrasound examination identified a structural abnormality in 24 (26.1%), 15 (16.3%) had an abnormal detailed ultrasound examination at 18-22 weeks' gestation and fetal echocardiography showed a cardiac abnormality in nine (9.8%). The birth outcome in the 83 pregnancies that had normal genetic investigations and known outcome included seven (8.4%) cases of termination of pregnancy, seven (8.4%) cases of intrauterine fetal death and 69 (83.1%) cases of live birth. Nine (9.8%) patients were lost to follow-up.Conclusions: Both CMA and molecular testing for RD are important investigations in pregnancies with NT ≥ 3.5 mm. The use of genetic testing combined with fetal ultrasound examination provides valuable information that can influence pregnancy outcome, and provide recurrence risks, in this patient population. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Aggressive meningioma remains incurable with neither chemo‐ nor targeted therapies proven effective, largely due to unidentified genetic alterations and/or aberrant oncogenic pathways driving the disease progression. In this study, we examined the expression and function of Forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor during meningioma progression. Methods: Human meningioma samples (n = 101) were collected, followed by Western blotting, quantitative PCR, immunohistochemical and progression‐free survival (PFS) analyses. For in vitro assays, FOXM1 was overexpressed or knocked‐down in benign (SF4433 and SF4068) or malignant (SF3061 and IOMM‐Lee) human meningioma cell lines respectively. For in vivo studies, siomycin A (a FOXM1 inhibitor)‐pretreated or control IOMM‐Lee cells were implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. Results: FOXM1 expression was increased in higher grades of meningioma and correlated with the mitotic index in the tumour tissue. Moreover, FOXM1 was increased in recurrent meningioma compared with the matched primary lesions. The patients who had higher FOXM1 expression had shorter PFS. In the subsequent in vitro assays, knockdown of FOXM1 in malignant meningioma cell lines resulted in decreased tumour cell proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion, potentially via regulation of β‐catenin, cyclin D1, p21, interleukin‐8, vascular endothelial growth factor‐A, PLAU, and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition‐related genes, whereas overexpression of FOXM1 in benign meningioma cell lines had the opposite effects. Last, suppression of FOXM1 using a pharmacological inhibitor, siomycin A, decreased tumour growth in an in vivo mouse model. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that FOXM1 is a key transcription factor regulating oncogenic signalling pathways in meningioma progression, and a promising therapeutic target for aggressive meningioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a real macroeconomic model, it is well established that a balanced‐budget rule based on consumption tax can rule out indeterminacy. The present paper shows, both analytically and numerically, that such a balanced‐budget rule induces indeterminacy and, hence, aggregate instability in a standard one‐sector cash‐in‐advance economy. From a policy perspective, our results raise possible concerns that balanced‐budget rules with endogenous consumption tax could have destabilizing effects under the current over‐easy monetary environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elimination diets required for the management of food allergies increase the risk for poor growth in children. Currently, no worldwide data exist on this topic and limited published data exist on the impact of atopic comorbidity, type of allergy and foods eliminated on growth. We therefore set out to perform a worldwide survey on growth and impacting factors in food allergic children. Methods: A prospective growth survey was performed of children (aged 0–16 years) on an elimination diet with confirmed immunoglobulin (Ig)E and non‐IgE mediated food allergies. Data collected included: weight‐for‐age, weight‐for‐height, height‐for‐age, head circumference, body mass index, type of food allergy and eliminated foods, allergic comorbidities and replacement milk/breast milk. Multivariable regression analysis was used to establish factors that affected growth. Results: Data from 430 patients from twelve allergy centres were analysed: median age at diagnosis and data collection was 8 months and 23 months, respectively. Pooled data indicated that 6% were underweight, 9% were stunted, 5% were undernourished and 8% were overweight. Cow's milk elimination lead to a lower weight‐for‐height Z‐scores than other food eliminations and mixed IgE and non‐IgE mediated allergy had lower height‐for‐age Z‐scores than IgE mediated allergy. Children with only non‐IgE mediated allergies had lower weight‐for‐height and body mass index. Atopic comorbidities did not impact on growth. Conclusions: Stunting is more common in children with food allergies than low weight. Children particularly at risk of poor growth are those with non‐IgE and mixed IgE and non‐IgE mediated allergies, as well as those with cow's milk allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The Ages and Stages Questionnaires Edition 3 (ASQ-3) are a well-validated international screen for developmental delays in young children. However, previous studies demonstrate variable scores between children eligible to take the same ASQ-3 interval. This study aimed to determine a relationship between age and ASQ-3 score for each screening interval. Methods This was a baseline exploratory cross-sectional study of infants under 2 years old evaluated for the Peruvian social programme Cuna Más. Participants were included in Cuna Más if they lived in districts with fewer than 2000 inhabitants or 400 homes, indicating a predominantly rural population. The appropriate ASQ-3 screening interval was administered to each subject. Subjects were divided into four 2-week chronological subgroups based on age within each 2-month screening window and aggregated across all 12 screening intervals. Fisher's exact test, analysis of variance and Bonferonni post hoc test were used to compare differences between age subgroups. Linear regression was performed to assess the relationship between ASQ-3 score and both aggregated and disaggregated age subgroup. Results A total of 5850 Peruvian infants were evaluated in 2013. Mean age was 13 ± 6.6 months, 50.7% were male and mean maternal education was 6.6 ± 4.0 years; 34.8% infants were stunted, 7.8% were underweight, 0.9% were wasted and 2% had age adjusted greater than 35 days for prematurity for ASQ-3 interval assignment. Mean total ASQ-3 was 42.2 ± 8.2. The ASQ-3 allocated 49.6% with suspected delay in one or more developmental areas. Before and after adjusting for wealth quintile, maternal education level, infant nutritional status and prematurity adjustment, age subgroup remained significantly associated with total ASQ-3 score ( β = 1.8, CI: 1.7-2.0, P < 0.001), sectional ASQ-3 score (all P < 0.001) and inversely associated with one or more scores indicating suspected developmental delay ( P < 0.001). Conclusions The ASQ-3 may underestimate the sensitivity of child development to small differences in age in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies demonstrated the usefulness of whole-exome sequencing (WES) in prenatal diagnosis. WGS has the potential of replacing sequential prenatal genetic investigations, including microarray analysis, gene panels, and WES, and provides the most comprehensive and rapid analysis. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has the potential of overcoming these deficiencies as well as identifying submicroscopic deletions/duplications. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: To determine the frequency of clinically significant chromosomal abnormalities identified by chromosomal microarray in pregnancy losses at any gestational age and to compare microarray performance with that of traditional cytogenetic analysis when testing pregnancy losses.Methods: Among 535 fetal demise specimens of any gestational age, clinical microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed successfully on 515, and a subset of 107 specimens underwent additional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis.Results: Overall, clinically significant abnormalities were identified in 12.8% (64/499) of specimens referred with normal or unknown karyotypes. Detection rates were significantly higher with earlier gestational age. In the subset with normal karyotype, clinically significant abnormalities were identified in 6.9% (20/288). This detection rate did not vary significantly with gestational age, suggesting that, unlike aneuploidy, the contribution of submicroscopic chromosomal abnormalities to fetal demise does not vary with gestational age. In the 107 specimens that underwent aCGH and SNP analysis, seven cases (6.5%) had abnormalities of potential clinical significance detected by the SNP component, including female triploidy. aCGH failed to yield fetal results in 8.3%, which is an improvement over traditional cytogenetic analysis of fetal demise specimens.Conclusions: Both the provision of results in cases in which karyotype fails and the detection of abnormalities in the presence of a normal karyotype demonstrate the increased diagnostic utility of microarray in pregnancy loss. Thus, chromosomal microarray testing is a preferable, robust method of analyzing cases of pregnancy loss to better delineate possible genetic etiologies, regardless of gestational age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objectives Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is characterized by distinct facial features, growth retardation, upper limb reduction defects, hirsutism, and intellectual disability. NIPBL mutations have been identified in approximately 60% of patients with CdLS diagnosed postnatally. Prenatal ultrasound findings include upper limb reduction defects, intrauterine growth restriction, and micrognathia. CdLS has also been associated with decreased PAPP-A and increased nuchal translucency (NT). We reviewed NIPBL sequence analysis results for 12 prenatal samples in our laboratory to determine the frequency of mutations in our cohort. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from all 12 prenatal cases with suspected CdLS, which were received by The University of Chicago Genetic Services Laboratories. Diagnostic NIPBL sequencing was performed for all samples. Clinical information was collected from referring physicians. Results NIPBL mutations were identified in 9 out of the 12 cases prenatally (75%). Amongst the NIPBL mutation-positive cases with clinical information available, the most common findings were upper limb malformations and micrognathia. Five patients had NT measurements in the first trimester, of which four were noted to be increased. Conclusion We demonstrate that prenatally-detected phenotypes of CdLS, particularly severe micrognathia and bilateral upper limb defects, are associated with an increased frequency of NIPBL mutations. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To assess factors influencing glycaemic control following gastric bypass surgery in patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI< 30 kg/m2. Methods Prospective longitudinal study of 103 patients with inadequate glycaemic control who underwent gastric bypass surgery at Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea ( n = 66) and Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan ( n = 37). Procedures were performed August 2009 to January 2011. Key outcome measures were excellent glycaemic control of Type 2 diabetes defined as HbA1c < 42 mmol/mol (≤6%); inadequate response defined as HbA1c > 53 mmol/mol (> 7%). Analysis was conducted using binary logistic regression, and cut-points obtained from receiver operator characteristics. Results Excellent glycaemic control was achieved in 31 (30%) at 1 year. Diabetes duration of < 7 years and BMI > 27 kg/m2 provided independent predictors and useful cut-points. Likelihood of excellent glycaemic control for an individual could be estimated using loge (Odds) = -6.7 + (0.26 × BMI) + (-1.2 × diabetes duration). Baseline BMI of < 27 kg/m2 and baseline C-peptide of < 2.0ng/ml, best predicted a poor glycaemic response. In those with favourable baseline characteristics percentage weight loss (% WL) had a dominant influence on glycaemic outcomes. Baseline C-peptide (> 2.4 ng/ml) and subsequent percentage weight loss (> 16%) were associated with excellent glycaemic control. Higher BMI was associated with greater percentage weight loss. Conclusion In patients with Type 2 diabetes and BMI < 30 kg/m2, glycaemic response to gastric bypass is predicted by higher baseline BMI, shorter disease duration and higher fasting C-peptide. Post-surgery weight loss has a dominant effect. Baseline BMI and weight loss have a major influence on outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel inoculation and assessment methods for Ganoderma boninense infection of oil palm are reported. The involvement of phenolic acids in the interaction was examined. HPLC was used to monitor changes in the concentrations of three specific phenolics: syringic acid (SA), caffeic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, identified as the main compounds that accumulated. The work reported here focuses on SA, the most antifungal of the molecules detected. The oil palm cv. AVROS, reported by local planters to be less susceptible than others, showed higher accumulation of SA than cvs Ekona and Calabar. Accumulation was promoted by addition of chitosan to the plant growing medium. By the end of the time-course, the concentration of SA decreased in the oil palm tissues inoculated with G. boninense, suggesting possible metabolism by the pathogen. This loss was, however, not detected in tissues treated with chitosan alone and was greatly reduced when G. boninense was combined with this polymer. In vitro studies on antifungal activity of SA were done using concentrations ranging from 50 to 110 μg mL−1, those typically recorded in oil palm roots. SA was found to be antifungal (EC50 90-100 μg mL−1). The concentration of SA detected in root tissues, especially in the presence of chitosan, could inhibit growth of G. boninense. The pathogen was shown to degrade SA in vitro. However, at the highest concentration tested, metabolism was greatly delayed, only occurring after a lag phase in pathogen growth. Accumulation of phenolic acids, especially SA, may prove a useful trait in breeding resistant oil palm cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many of the genes and enzymes critical for assembly and biogenesis of yeast cell walls remain unidentified or poorly characterized. Therefore, we designed a high throughput genomic screen for defects in anchoring of GPI-cell wall proteins (GPI-CWPs), based on quantification of a secreted GFP-Sag1p fusion protein. Saccharomyces cerevisiae diploid deletion strains were transformed with a plasmid expressing the fusion protein under a GPD promoter, then GFP fluorescence was determined in culture supernatants after mid-exponential growth. Variability in the amount of fluorescent marker secreted into the medium was reduced by growth at 18 °C in buffered defined medium in the presence of sorbitol. Secondary screens included immunoblotting for GFP, fluorescence emission spectra, cell surface fluorescence, and cell integrity. Of 167 mutants deleted for genes affecting cell wall biogenesis or structure, eight showed consistent hyper-secretion of GFP relative to parental strain BY4743: tdh3 (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), gda1 (guanosine diphosphatase), gpi13 and mcd4 (both ethanolamine phosphate-GPI-transferases), kre5 and kre1 (involved in synthesis of β1,6 glucan), dcw1(implicated in GPI-CWP cross-linking to cell wall glucan), and cwp1 (a major cell wall protein). In addition, deletion of a number of genes caused decreased secretion of GFP. These results elucidate specific roles for specific genes in cell wall biogenesis, including differentiating among paralogous genes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to develop and refine a decision rule on when to undertake brain imaging (BI) in neurologically normal children with headaches. Methods: From the literature and a questionnaire study, a list of red flags (RFs) was drawn-up. During the prospective 4-year period, consecutive children with headache were classified according to RFs and the headache diagnosis. Result: Three of 709 (0.4%) neurologically normal children had significant brain abnormalities. BI was carried out in 389 of 498 (78%) children with RFs. Significant abnormalities were found in three of 389 children (0.8%), all had unclassified headache (UH). BI was not arranged for the 211 children with no RFs. None of these developed RFs or abnormal signs on follow-up for a mean of 13 months. Conclusion: In addition to BI for those with neurological signs, we think BI should be considered for neurologically normal patients with UH and RFs. This would have saved imaging children needlessly: only 101 of 709 (14%) would have had scans arranged, instead of 389 of 709. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the use of artificial larynx as an in-vitro device in assessing biofilm mediated voice prosthesis (VP) leakage. It notes that a microbial biofilm impairs the function of the silicone valve, necessitating frequent prosthesis replacement which may result in complications such as stenosis, inhalation pneumonia and scar tissue formation. It stresses the significant development of VP as a valuable resource for evaluating treatment regimes for improving VP lifetime in situ.

Autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) is the commonest form of RP worldwide. To date 22 loci have been implicated in the pathogenesis of this disease; however none of these loci independently account for a significant proportion of recessive RP. Linkage studies of arRP in consanguineous families have been mainly based on homozygosity mapping, but this strategy cannot be applied in the case of non-consanguineous families. Therefore, we implemented a systematic approach for identifying the disease locus in three non-consanguineous Chinese families with arRP. Initially, linkage analysis using SNPs/microsatellite markers or mutation screening of known arRP genes excluded all loci/genes except RP25 on chromosome 6. Subsequently a whole genome scan for the three families using the 10K GeneChip Mapping Array was performed, in order to identify the possible disease locus. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the utilisation of the 10K GeneChip to study linkage in non-consanguineous Chinese arRP. This analysis indicates that the studied families are probably linked to the RP25 locus, a well defined arRP locus in other populations. The identification of another ethnic group linked to RP25 is highly suggestive that this represents a major locus for arRP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is already known about this subject • Genetic variability of the FcγRIIIa 176 F/V polymorphism has been widely studied in patients with systemic lupus erythomatosus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the general population of various White groups. • Its implications in disease pathogenesis and response to therapeutics have been well documented. • This study aimed to profile its polymorphism pattern in the Asian population, thus it serves as useful reference controls in disease association studies and tailoring therapy to ethnic-specific populations. What this study adds • In this study, we have established the genetic variability profile of the FcγRIIIa 176 F/V polymorphism in three distinct Asian groups (Chinese, Malays and Indians) and also supplemented existing data based on ethnic-specific healthy controls. • The polymorphism pattern of Malays was found to differ significantly from Chinese and Indians, which was also extended to almost all other healthy controls of various ethnic groups published elsewhere. • Such differences could have implications in disease susceptibility and pathogenesis, as well as response to drug therapeutics. Aims To determine and compare the distribution of the FcγRIIIa 176 F/V polymorphism across three ethnically distinct populations (Chinese, Asian Indians and Malays) in Singapore. Methods The FcγRIIIa 176 F/V polymorphism was genotyped by direct sequencing from genomic DNA samples obtained from normal healthy Chinese, Asian Indians and Malays ( n = 192 from each population). Results The allelic frequencies of the high binding affinity FcγRIIIa 176 V allele for Chinese, Asian Indians and Malays were 35%, 33% and 46%, respectively (F allele frequencies were 65%, 67% and 54%, respectively). Genotype distributions were found to conform to the Hardy–Weinberg law ( P > 0.05) in each group. χ2 comparisons revealed significant differences in the genotype distributions of the FcγRIIIa 176 V/F polymorphism of Malays from the other two populations (Chinese and Asian Indians). However, no significant difference in the genotype distributions of the FcγRIIIa 176 V/F polymorphism was observed between Chinese and Asian Indian populations. Conclusions The genotype distributions of the FcγRIIIa 176 V/F polymorphism in healthy Malays are significantly different from both Chinese and Indians. These observations provide the fundamentals on which future disease associations may be built and also present important implications for the design of therapeutic regimens amongst various ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To describe prenatal ultrasound and autopsy findings in fetuses with OEIS (omphalocele, bladder exstrophy, imperforate anus, spina bifida) complex. Methods This was a retrospective study of the nine cases with OEIS complex diagnosed at our center using detailed fetal ultrasound during the last 10 years. We summarized the fetal ultrasound findings that led to the diagnosis and compared them with the autopsy results. Results All affected fetuses were diagnosed using detailed fetal ultrasound after 16 weeks' gestation. The main prenatal findings were omphalocele, skin-covered lumbosacral neural tube defect, non-visualized bladder and limb defects. Prenatal sonography failed to detect the abnormal genitalia, bladder exstrophy and anal atresia. All cases had abnormalities in a ‘diaper distribution’, which helped in making the prenatal diagnosis. Eight of the nine couples chose to terminate the pregnancies following multidisciplinary counseling. The pregnancy that was continued was a case with dizygotic twins discordant for OEIS, and the affected fetus died in utero. Conclusions The combination of the following ultrasound findings: ventral wall defect, spinal defect and a non-visualized bladder with or without limb defects, are characteristic of OEIS complex. Diagnosis can be made with confidence as early as 16 weeks' gestation, although earlier diagnosis may be possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arf (ADP-ribosylation factor) proteins, which mediate vesicular transport, have little or no intrinsic GTPase activity. They rely on the action of GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) and guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for their function. In the present study theOsAGAPgene in rice, which encoded a protein with predicted structure similar to ArfGAP, was identified. The purified OsAGAP-GST fusion protein was able to stimulate the GTPase activity of rice Arf. Furthermore, OsAGAP can rescue the defect of vesicular transport in the yeastgcs1Δ glo3Δ double-mutant cells. TransgenicArabidopsiswithOsAGAPconstitutively expression showed reduced apical dominance, shorter primary roots, increasing number of longer adventitious roots. Many of the phenotypes can be phenocopied by treatment of exogenous indoleacetic acid level (IAA) in wild-type plants. Determination of whole-plant IAA level showed that there is a sharp increase of free IAA inOsAGAPtransgenicArabidopsisseedlings. In addition, removal of the 4-day-old shoot apex could inhibit the adventitious root formation in the transgenic seedlings. These results suggest OsAGAP, anARF-GAPof rice, may be involved in the mediation of plant root development by regulating auxin level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the welfare effects of a customs union on a small monetary economy. Role of money; Reduction of welfare through trade creation; Improvement of welfare through trade diversion.

ABSTRACT Many abiotic environmental factors elicit the production of stress-ethylene in higher plants. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of stress-ethylene production and the physiological roles played by stress-ethylene in stress responses of plants, we studied the gene expression of ACC synthase in tobacco plants that had been subjected to environmental stresses. Four new tobacco ACC synthase cDNA fragments, NT-ACS2, NT-ACS3, NT-ACS4 and NT-ACS5, were identified and sequenced. It was found that NT-ACS2 could be induced by wounding, cold temperature and, especially, sunlight. NT-ACS4 was induced at a faster kinetics by wounding. The multiple environmental stress-responsive (MESR) NT-ACS2 gene was found to contain three introns and four exons and encode a polypeptide of 484 amino acids, 54·6 kDa and pI 6·87. Computer analysis of the 3·4 kb 5′ flanking region upstream of the ACS coding region revealed the existence of a group of putative cis-acting regulatory elements potentially conferring wounding, chilling, and UV light inducibility. Phylogenetic analysis of ACC synthase genes of different plant origins indicated that the chill-inducible NT-ACS2 gene is closely related to a chilling-inducible citrus ACS gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancies conceived by I in vitro i fertilisation (IVF) have increased risk of placental associated complications (PACs). The objective of this study is to evaluate maternal BP and UtA-PI profiles in IVF pregnancies with and without PACs. Conclusions Women with IVF pregnancies who subsequently develop PACs have higher maternal BP, but not UtA-PI, than those without complications. [Extracted from the article]

We describe the results of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) in four patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type VI (MPS VI, McKusick 253200) – Maroteaux–Lamy disease. The indications for transplantation were cardiomyopathy in three patients and severe obstructive sleep apnoea in one. The follow-up period ranges between 1 and 9 years, and three of the patients are at mainstream schools. In all of the patients the facial features have become less coarse and the cardiac manifestations have improved or remained stable. However, skeletal changes have persisted or even progressed, although posture and joint mobility have improved and all the patients have remained ambulatory and active. BMT appears to prolong survival and improve the quality of life in MPS VI patients, but careful selection of patients is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an econometric model to help reconcile findings in the growth-inflation literature. Level of risk appetite among financial intermediaries; Effect of their behavior on economic growth and inflation; Consequences of government spending.

Focuses on a study which analyzed the relationship between economic growth, industrialization and international trade in a two-sector endogenous growth model. Features and properties of a closed economy; Analysis of an economy under free trade; Information on a economy which is completely specialized in the production of the agricultural good.

Introduces the household interactive variable input-output model (HIVIO) to measure the effect of cost variation on industrial outputs in Korean transactions. Design of the model; Advantages of the input-output model; Information on the regional application of the HIVIO model.

Examines the introduction of Multiregional Variable Input-Output model to measure the development impact of a transportation system in the U.S. Failure to respond to the substitution behavior of firms; Economic loss associated with the abandonment of a rail system; Industrial growth and trade expansion resulting from a decrease in transportation cost.

Opinion. Comments on the effect of import quotas on national welfare in the United States. Replies to the arguments put forward by Omer Gokcekus and Edward Towers that paying interest on cash is better that differential taxation.

Focuses on the welfare effects of import quotas for a small monetary economy. Information on a two sector trade model of a small open economy; How to determine the optimal level of the import quota; Details on the possibility of immiserizing growth.

Examines the macroeconomic dynamics of tariffs using a symmetric two-country analysis. Discussion of the adverse microeconomic effects of tariffs; Effects of tariffs on domestic and foreign aggregates; Macroeconomic effects of permanent tariffs.

Focuses on the macroeconomic effects of factor taxation with endogenous human capital evolution. Differences in distortionary effects between capital income and labor taxation; Construction of a dynamic general equilibrium model; Development of a growth model; Welfare comparison of factor taxes.

Discusses the government purchases and real interest rates with endogenous labor supply. Effects of temporary productive government spending on the real interest rate; Prediction of the neoclassical optimal growth model; Introduction of productive public services and labor-leisure choice.

Examines the effects of free trade on a small open economy within a dynamic generalized cash-in-advance model. Characterization for the possibility of harmful trade; Alternative policies that can convert the loss associated with free trade into a gain; Importance of different effects behind the possibility of harmful trade for a monetary economy.

Examines the welfare implications of macroeconomic policy coordination by a coalition of countries. Coordination by at least some countries as better than zero coordination; Model of a dynamic general equilibrium of international coordination; Properties of a partial coordination scheme; Presence of Pareto superior coordination; Problems which arise in partial coordination schemes.

There are conflicting reports in the literature of the possible rote of the ureides, allantoin and. allantoic acid, in the nitrogen economy of Arachis species. Therefore, xylem sap composition in food peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), and two forage peanuts (A. pintoi L. and A. glabrata Benth.) has been studied in detail. Xylem saps were collected from peanuts grown under different nutritional regimes and environmental conditions in the glasshouse and field in Australia, Malaysia and indonesia, and the N-containing solutes analysed. The relative amounts and concentrations of ureides in these peanut exudates were compared with those of soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) - a species known to export ureides in its xylem stream as the major product of N2 fixation. Xylem concentrations of ureides in soybean were high in N2-fixing plants (2.9 to 3.7 μmol ml-1), representing 60 to 88% of xylem solute nitrogen, but it contributed only 9% (0.7 μmol ml-1) if plants were unnodulated and supplied nitrate. In all species of peanut, concentrations of ureides measured in xylem sap were generally inch smaller (0.02 to 0.37 μmol ml-1; 1-7% of xylem nitrogen) and were unaffected by peanut species or cultivar, rhizobial strain, plant size, growth rate, or stage of development, and were not related to N2, fixation (less than 0.1% of currently fixed nitrogen exported as ureides) or the assimilation, of nitrate. Apparently high levels of ureides in sap from some field-grown plants were shown to he due to in reference with the ureide colorimetric assay by some contaminating compound rather than represent increased ureides per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although variation in finishing techniques has been shown to affect microleakage, little research has been published on the influence of finishing time on the marginal sealing ability of new generation composite bonding systems. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of finishing time on the enamel and dentine marginal sealing ability of four new generation composite systems. Two class V preparations, which were solely in enamel or dentine, were made on the buccal surfaces of 96 freshly extracted molar teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into four groups of 24 and restored with composite resin (Silux Plus®) utilizing the following bonding systems: Scotchbond Multi-purpose®, Fuji Bond LC®, Prime & Bond 2·0® and Bisco One-step®. Half of the restorations in each group were finished immediately after light polymerization and stored for 1 week. For the remaining restorations, finishing was delayed for 1 week. The storage medium was isotonic saline at 37°C throughout the experiment. All restorations were then thermocycled, subjected to dye penetration testing, sectioned and scored. The results suggest that the finishing of composite restorations, bonded with the bonding systems evaluated, should be carried out immediately after light polymerization. Delayed finishing does not improve but instead can be detrimental to the marginal seal of the restorations. The effects of delayed finishing are, however, both bonding system and tissue specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of various tax policies on economic growth are reox amined on the basis of the recently developed endogenous growth theory. The assertion of Henry George that the structure of taxation is more important than the level of taxation in explaining economic growth is elaborated and verified. Annual data for Taiwan from 1954 to 1986 shows that the aggregate tax rate does not have significant effect on the long run growth rates of private output, consumption and production factor inputs. This result is due to the positive effect of consumption taxation offsetting the negative effect of factor taxation on economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces two data distortion methods: Frequency-imposed Distortion and Frequency-imposed Probability Distortion. This paper compares the performance of these distortion methods with that of other distortion method by using a Monte Carlo study. The study indicates that the data generated by these two methods not only produce accurate statistics but also protect the privacy of individuals involved in the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the Oklahoma econometric model. Components of the model; Ways by which the model can allow the economy to respond to outside forces; Role of the model in forecasting the economic conditions of the state; Criteria for evaluating the performance of ex post forecasting and ex post simulation methods; Simulation of the model.