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Psittacosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the transmission of Chlamydia psittaci; it often presents as a pulmonary infection but rarely as disseminated disease. Because diagnoses of psittacosis are often underreported due to infrequent pathogen-specific testing, clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing may be helpful to diagnose such an uncommon syndrome., Psittacosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the transmission of Chlamydia psittaci, which is often empirically treated and underreported. However, clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) may be helpful to diagnose C psittaciinfections when presenting as an uncommon syndrome.

Phylogenetic analysis can be conducted using a variety of methods, generally classified as distancebased or character-based approaches. Patterns found through phylogenetic analysis of human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences have revealed a wealth of information in such disparate fields as the human evolution; the movement of human lineages throughout history (phylogeography); and the susceptibility of certain groups to devastating diseases. Forensic mtDNA analysis has also benefited from the use of these methods. Phylogenetic assessment of forensic mtDNA databases has revealed a consistency with published data at a depth of analysis that is not attainable with basic population genetic methods. The detailed characteristics of specific sites within a mtDNA sequence are best assessed using phylogenetic methods. These studies have identified the most informative sites for individual differentiation, while also providing quality assurance metrics to apply to individual mtDNA profiles or entire databases. Such a level of evaluation and understanding enhances the interpretation of forensic casework.

Gymnasts' bone mineral characteristics are generally not known before starting their sport. Prepubertal females who enrolled in beginning artistic gymnastics (n = 65) had lower bone mineral than controls (n = 78). However, 2 years of gymnastics participation versus no participation led to a significantly greater accrual of forearm bone area and lumbar spine areal BMD. Introduction: The skeletal response to exercise in children compared with adults is heightened because of the high bone turnover rate and the ability of bone to change its size and shape. Whereas child gymnasts generally have greater rates of bone mineral accrual compared with nongymnasts, it is unknown if some of these skeletal advantages are present before the onset of training or are caused entirely by training. Materials and Methods: Changes in bone area (BA; cm2), BMC (g), and areal BMD (aBMD; g/cm2) over 24 months were examined in prepubertal females, 4–8 years of age, who selected to perform recreational gymnastics (GYM; n = 65), nongymnastic activities, or no organized activity (CON; n = 78). Participants had essentially no lifetime history of organized athletic participation (

This paper discusses participate concentration and size distribution data gathered using the University of Missouri-Rolla Mobile Aerosol Sampling System (UMR-MASS), and used to investigate the southern extent of the eastern end of the North Atlantic Flight Corridor (NAFC) during project Pollution From Aircraft Emissions in the North Atlantic Flight Corridor/Subsonic Assessment (SASS) Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide Experiment (POLINAT 2/SONEX) from September 19 to October 23, 1997. The analysis presented in this paper focuses on “the corridor effect,” or enhancement of pollutants by jet aircraft combustion events. To investigate the phenomena, both vertical and horizontal profiles of the corridor, and regions immediately adjacent to the corridor, were performed. The profiles showed a time-dependent enhancement of particulates within the corridor, and a nonvolatile (with respect to thermal volatilization at 300°C) aerosol enhancement at corridor altitudes by a factor of 3.6. The southern extent of the North Atlantic Flight Corridor was established from a four flight average of the particulate data and yielded a boundary near 42.5°N during the study period. A size distribution analysis of the nonvolatile particulates revealed an enhancement in the

Thin, coherently strained, films of SiGe were deposited on Si(001) in the Stranski-Krastanow (SK) growth mode to form small, faceted, dislocation-free-three-dimensional (3D) islands. The number density of these islands was determined as functions of SiGe alloy composition, growth rate, and substrate temperature during growth. From these experiments, the classical model of 3D island nucleation and growth yields an approximate activation energy for diffusion of Ge dimers on a Ge covered Si(001) surface of 0.70 eV. The dependence of the 3D-island number density on growth rate cannot be understood without modifying the classical model to account for the wetting layer present in SK systems. Heteroepitaxial strain is not included in the classical model of island nucleation and growth. A simple linear elastic model that fits the data is developed that predicts the island number density is proportional to the inverse square of the Ge mole fraction in the alloy plus a constant.

Background: Evidence suggests that adults and adolescents throughout the United States are at risk of poor vitamin D status. However, vitamin D concentrations in young American children have not been assessed. Objective: The relations between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and bone were examined in prepubertal girls. Design: In the present cross-sectional study, serum 25(OH)D concentrationwasassessedin168prepubertalgirlsaged4–8ylivingin the southeastern United States with the use of radioimmunoassay. Bone area, bone mineral content, and areal bone mineral density were measured from total body, lumbar spine, proximal femur, and forearm with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, stepwise multiple regression, and partial correlations. Results:Themean(SD)serum25(OH)Dwas93.828.1nmol/L (range: 31.1–181.4 nmol/L). In a multiple regression analysis, race and season were the strongest predictors of vitamin D status. The black girls had lower mean 25(OH)D values than did the white girls (P 0.01), and 25(OH)D values were significantly different in the total sample between the seasons (P 0.001), ranging from 74.4 nmol/Lduringthewintermonthsto107nmol/Lduringthesummer. After adjustment for season, age, race, and body mass index, 25(OH)Dvalueswerenegativelycorrelatedwithforearmbonemineral content (r 0.18; P 0.02). Conclusions:Unlikepriorreportsofadultsandadolescentslivingin the southeastern United States, vitamin D status was adequate in the children of the present study. 25(OH)D concentrations were not positively associated with higher bone mineral. Am J Clin Nutr 2006;83:75–81.

The transcriptional enhancer (E(mu)3') of the IgH locus of the channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, shows strong B cell-specific activity and differs from the mammalian E(mu) enhancer in both location and structure. It occurs between the mu and delta genes and contains numerous transcription factor binding sites, predominantly octamer and muE5 motifs of consensus and variant sequences. It lacks the classical muA-muE3(CBF)-muB core array of binding motifs seen within mammalian IgH E(mu) enhancers. To determine the functionally important motifs, a series of mutant enhancers was created using sequence-targeted polymerase chain reaction. Whereas the mutation of consensus and variant octamer motifs (individually or in multiples) decreased enhancer function, mutation of a single consensus muE5 motif destroyed the function of this enhancer in mammalian plasmacytomas. Mutation of this consensus muE5 site, combined with mutations of certain octamer sites, destroyed function in catfish B cells. Experiments using artificial enhancers containing multimers of motifs or short regions of the native enhancer suggested that the minimal E(mu)3' enhancer (a) contains a consensus muE5 site and two octamer sites, (b) is B cell-specific, and (c) is active across species. The dependence of an Ig enhancer on sites that bind basic helix-loop-helix and Oct transcription factors has not previously been observed and confirms large differences in structure and function between fish and mammalian IgH enhancers.

The clusterin gene encodes a multi-functional protein that has been identified in different tissues, including a number of different eye tissues, primarily in the mouse and to a much lesser extent in humans. Clusterin has been implicated in a number of cellular processes such as lipid transport, membrane integrity, apoptosis, and neurodegeneration, all of which could be important to the biology of the eye. In the current communication, we provide data that confirms the expression of clusterin in a number of different human eye tissues and establishes the expression profile of this gene in monkey derived eye tissues. The issue that we sought to examine is whether a broad profile of clusterin expression in the eye is consistent in primates (monkey and human).The majority of our study was done using monkey eye tissues. Where possible, we have used human tissues in order to confirm published findings. Northern and western analysis was performed using tissues derived from monkey eyes. In situ hybridization and immunochemistry were carried out on human eye sections.Clusterin mRNA is expressed in primate lens, cornea, limbus, sclera, orbital muscle, ciliary body, retina, RPE/choroid, and RPE cells in culture. Western analysis revealed that two major groups of clusterin exist in the eye, a high molecular weight group (100 kDa) and a second group consisting of at least five clusterin species that are all approximately 80 kDa. Analysis of conditioned media from RPE cells cultured on permeable supports suggests that different forms of clusterin display alternative patterns of secretion.Clusterin is expressed in a broad range of eye tissues in both human and monkey, suggesting that this is a characteristic feature in primates. We demonstrate for the first time that a diverse number of clusterin isoforms were observed in monkey eye tissues by western analysis. Meanwhile, the molecular size of clusterin mRNA detected in the array of tissues are identical in size, suggesting that the nature of the diversity in clusterin forms is due to post-translational modifications. In addition, new insights were made in defining clusterin expression in ciliary body, cornea, and the retinal pigment epithelium.

The objectives of this study were to isolate several rat liver epithelial cell clones containing the human bcl-2 and myc/bcl-2 genes in order to study their potential cooperative effect on neoplastic transformation and gap junction-mediated intercellular communication (GJIC) and to test the hypothesis that the loss of GJIC leads to tumorigenesis. Using anchorage-independent growth as a surrogate marker for neoplastic transformation, we transfected both normal rat liver epithelial cells, WB-F344, and a WB-F344 cell line overexpressing v-myc with human bcl-2 cDNA. Those cell lines that only expressed v-myc or human bcl-2 were unable to form colonies in soft agar. However, those cell lines that overexpressed both v-myc and human bcl-2 showed varying ability to form colonies in soft agar, which did not correlate with their human bcl-2 expression level. In order to test if there was a correlation between cell line growth in soft agar and the ability to communicate through gap junctions, we performed scrape load dye transfer and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays. Our results show that v-myc and human bcl-2 can cooperate in the transformation of normal cells, but the degree to which the cells are transformed is dependent on the cells' ability to communicate through gap junctions.

Increased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is associated with colon cancer metastases. We hypothesized that inhibition of VEGF receptor activity could inhibit colon cancer liver metastases. BALB/c mice underwent splenic injection with CT-26 colon cancer cells to generate metastases. Mice received daily i.p. injections of vehicle, tyrosine kinase inhibitor for Flk-1/KDR (SU5416) or tyrosine kinase inhibitor for VEGF, basic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (SU6668). SU5416 and SU6668 respectively inhibited metastases (48.1% and 55.3%), microvessel formation (42.0% and 36.2%), and cell proliferation (24.4% and 27.3%) and increased tumor cell (by 2.6- and 4.3-fold) and endothelial cell (by 18.6- and 81.4-fold) apoptosis (P0.001). VEGF receptor inhibitors increased endothelial cell apoptosis, suggesting that VEGF may serve as an endothelial survival factor.

We report analyses obtained from 135 implant cases retrieved from humans and submitted to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry Research Foundation--Medical College of Georgia Implant Retrieval Center. The undecalcified samples were embedded in polymethyl-methacrylate and examined with scanning electron microscopy and with routine light via polarized or Nomarski microscopy. Cases included both orthopedic and dental implants as well as entire mandibles obtained at autopsy. Significant numbers of submitted implants had substantial amounts of adhered bone, which permitted evaluation of human bone remodeling to osseointegrated implants. These implants failed because of implant fracture. As has been observed in animal studies, an interdigitating canaliculi network provided communication between interfacial osteocytes and osteocytes deeper within the remodeled osteonal and trabecular bone. Significant numbers of osseointegrated fractured hydroxyapatite-coated dental implants demonstrated the adequate serviceability of these implants prior to biomaterial fracture. In contrast, the hydroxyapatite coating was dissociated from retrieved orthopedic implants, leading to extensive cup loosening and case failure. Caution is advised for the use of hydroxyapatite-coated acetabular implants. This study therefore underscores the need for evaluation of failed human dental and orthopedic implants. Correlations can be drawn between human retrieval and experimental animal studies.

We examined the influence of glaucomatous visual field defects on vision-targeted and generic health-related quality of life. Vision-targeted and generic health status were assessed across 5 glaucoma treatment categories and a normal reference group from 5 tertiary care ophthalmology practices during regularly scheduled eye care visits. The sample consisted of 147 patients who were members of specific glaucoma treatment categories and 44 reference group patients. For patients with glaucoma, eligibility included a diagnosis of glaucoma at least 1 year prior to enrollment and no evidence of other eye disease. Participants completed 2 vision-targeted surveys, the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire and the VF-14, and a generic health-related quality of life measure, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form. Data from automated perimetry (Humphrey Field Analyzer 24-2, Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, Calif) were used to generate Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study scores for all participants. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form scores from glaucoma and reference group participants collected on a random half of the sample were similar. However, comparisons of the vision-targeted surveys demonstrated significant mean differences on 7 of 11 National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire scales, and a trend toward significant differences for the VF-14 (P < .07 by linear regression). Greater visual field defects in the better eye were significantly associated with poorer National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire scores (P < .05), as well as with worse VF-14 scores. These findings were most dramatic for patients with the most severe field loss in the better eye. Vision-targeted questionnaires were more sensitive than a generic health-related quality of life measure to differences between glaucoma and normal reference participants. Our findings indicate that self-reports of vision-targeted health-related quality of life are sensitive to visual field loss and may be useful in tandem with the clinical examination to fully understand outcomes of treatment for glaucoma.

Although considerable attention has been directed in the field of gene therapy toward elucidating the mechanism by which a transduced cell could kill a bystander cell, little is known about how bystander cells may affect transduced cells. We hypothesized that bystander cells, particularly if they were capable of gap junctional communication, could protect cells transduced with the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK) from ganciclovir (GCV)-induced cytotoxicity. To test this hypothesis, we used a rat hepatocyte cell line (WB) that can carry out efficient gap junctional communication, a WB clone transduced with HSV-TK (WB-TK), and a communication-incompetent subclone of WB cells (aB1). We cocultured WB-TK cells with either WB or aB1 cells, treated them with GCV, and then plated the cells into selective media that permitted us to quantify independently the surviving fraction of WB-TK cells or bystander cells. We found that WB bystander cells conferred up to a 1000-fold protection on WB-TK cells treated with GCV. aB1 cells conferred detectable, but significantly less, protection. These findings demonstrate that herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase-transduced cells can be significantly protected by bystander cells, particularly those that can carry out gap junctional communication. Whether this "Good Samaritan" effect improves the overall efficacy of gene therapy, by prolonging the survival of the source of toxic metabolites, or decreases effectiveness by increasing the survival of transduced cells will need to be determined in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the implantation of human prostate cancer cells into the prostates of nude mice and their subsequent growth there can be used to select variants with increasing metastatic potential. PC-3M and LNCaP cells were injected into the prostates of athymic mice. Tumors from the prostate or lymph nodes were harvested, and cells were reinjected into the prostate. This cycle was repeated three to five times to yield cell lines PC-3M-Pro4, PC-3M-LN4, LNCaP-Pro3-5, and LNCaP-LN3-4. Parental and variant cells were injected into the prostates of nude mice. PC-3M-LN4 cells produced enhanced regional lymph node and distant organ metastasis as compared to PC-3M-Pro4 or PC-3M cells. After i.v. or intracardiac inoculation, PC-3M-LN4 cells produced a higher incidence of lung metastasis and bone metastasis, respectively, than PC-3M or PC-3M-Pro4 cells. Subsequent to implantation into the prostate, LNCaP-LN3 cells produced a higher incidence of regional lymph node metastases than LNCaP-Pro5 or LNCaP cells. After intrasplenic implantation, LNCaP-LN3 cells also yielded experimental liver metastases. The metastatic LNCaP-LN3 cells exhibited clonal karyotypic abnormalities, were less sensitive to androgen (in vitro and in vivo), and produced high levels of prostate-specific antigen. Collectively, the data show that the orthotopic implantation of human prostate cancer cell lines in nude mice is a relevant model with which to study the biology of prostate cancer metastasis and to select variant cell lines with enhanced metastatic potential.

Techniques have been developed for extracting, amplifying and directly sequencing mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from human hair shafts. The hair shaft is ground in a glass micro-tissue grinder, and the DNA is extracted with organic solvent and purified by filtration. The filtrate subsequently provides the mtDNA template for the PCR. The two hypervariable segments of the mtDNA control region are amplified in four separate reactions. After a purification step to remove unincorporated PCR primers, amplified products are quantitated by capillary electrophoresis and subjected to cycle sequencing. The products are separated and analyzed on an automated DNA sequencer. The mtDNA sequences from the hair shaft match the mtDNA sequences from blood samples taken from the same donor.

The present study evaluated the in vivo biological activity of synthetic muramyl tripeptide, CGP 19835A, when encapsulated into phosphatidylcholine liposomes (POPC-19835A) and administered as an p.o. immunomodulator to BALB/c mice. Liposomes were rapidly absorbed in the intestine and reached the systemic circulation within 4 h. Alveolar macrophages harvested from the lungs of mice 24 h after a single p.o. feeding of POPC-19835A were tumoricidal toward syngeneic murine renal cell carcinoma target cells. Repeated daily feedings with POPC-19835A generated sustained activation of the alveolar macrophages. Activation of peritoneal macrophages to the tumoricidal state required at least three daily feedings of POPC-19835A. In vitro studies demonstrated the release of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 by macrophages activated by POPC-19835A in the presence of gamma-interferon. Interleukin 1 and nitric oxide were not induced in macrophages by this liposomal preparation. Daily administration of POPC-19835A after i.v. injection of renal cell carcinoma tumor in BALB/c mice inhibited the development of experimental lung metastasis and confirmed the potential role of long-term therapy with this new p.o. immunomodulator.

Ocular complications from diabetes represent a significant public health problem. Diabetic retinopathy alone represents a leading cause of new blindness each year in the United States. Neovascular glaucoma from diabetes, although not nearly as common, inflicts devastating consequences on vision. Together with the more frequent occurrence of other ocular disorders that cause visual impairment, the visual toll of diabetes is staggering. Much of this blindness is preventable with early detection and timely treatment.

Objective To develop a brief symptom survey specific for persons with glaucoma, the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Design Cross-sectional study of symptoms, functional impairment, and vision-targeted health-related quality of life among persons with glaucoma. Patients A sample of 147 persons with glaucoma among a broad range of treatment categories from 4 tertiary care glaucoma centers and 44 persons without eye disease enrolled from the same 4 centers. Main Outcome Measures Participants completed a modified version of the Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study 10-item symptom checklist. Participants also completed 2 vision-specific measures, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire and the VF-14. Participants underwent a clinical evaluation, including ocular and medical history, dilated ophthalmic examination, and Humphrey 24-2 automated visual field testing. Results The GSS has 2 underlying domains that demonstrate sufficient internal consistency reliability for between-group comparisons. The GSS discriminates well between persons with and without glaucoma. Additionally, tests of association with clinical markers of glaucoma severity support the clinical validity of the measure and tests of association with established vision-targeted measures provide evidence of construct validity. Conclusion The simplicity, brevity, and psychometric properties of the GSS support its use in clinical practice and research to quantify symptoms in patients with glaucoma and to assist in investigations concerning the effect of glaucoma and treatments.

Uraniferous granites occur in several different geological settings in the Swedish Precambrian and represent a variety of granite types and ages. Granites with > 10 ppm U are highly differentiated leucocratic alkali granites with initial87Sr/86Sr ratios over 0.708. They commonly show enrichment in F, Sn, W, and/or Mo, while mineralization of these dements may, in some cases, be found in the nearby country rock. Radiogenic heat from the granites may have assisted hydrothermal circulation. In only one case, Hotagen, is important U mineralization thought to be directly related to a U-rich granite, while the majority of epigenetic U mineralizations with economic potential are related to hydrothermal processes in areas where the bedrock is regionally enhanced in U.

The role of female oviposition behaviour in determining the food plant preferences of phytophagous insects observed in the field is reviewed. Complex patterns of food plant relationships in leafhoppers associated with trees in Britain are discussed. Some species are polyphagous, others are oligophagous and most are monophagous. Experiments on feeding of nymphs and oviposition behaviour of adult leafhoppers give little support for theories which invoke the nymphal conditioning of food preferences and adult oviposition. Distinctive patterns of oviposition behaviour are important factors in the ecology and evolution of these insects. RESUME LE COMPORTEMENT DE PONTE, FACTEUR ECOLOGIQUE CHEZ LES CICADELLES DES SOMMETS DES ARBRES Lors de la ponte, les insectes phytophages font generalement une distinction entre les differentes plantes qui s'offrent a eux sur le terrain. Les cicadelles associees aux arbres ont souvent des systemes de ponte specifiques sur leur plantes-hotes. Des experiences avec les cicadelles oligophages se nourrissant de mesophylle, Aguriahana stellulata, Edwardsiana rosae, Lindbergina aurovittata et Ribautiana tenerrima, et les monophages R. scalaris et R. ulmi montrent que les nymphes de toutes ces especes peuvent se nourrir et survivre sur des especes vegetales plus nombreuses que celles sur lesquelles on les trouve sur le terrain. Les nymphes de R. ulmi ont montre une preference marquee pour les feuilles de Carpinus lorsqu'elles leur ont ete presentees avec celles de leur hote habituel, Ulmus, dans des conditions experimentales. Il n'y a pas de preuve que la nourriture absorbee par les nymphes les conditionnent quant a leurs preferences alimentaires on leurs preferences de ponte ulterieures. On en conclut que les comportements de ponte hereditaires, chez les cicadelles et chez beaucoup d'autres insectes phytophages, sont importants dans l'ecologie et dans l'evolution des interactions insecte/plante-hote.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase has been purified from the post-microsomal supernatant of cocoa seeds using differential ammonium sulfate solubility along with anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Chromatofocusing and isoelectric focusing revealed a series of proteins with acyltransferase activity having isoelectric points close to 5.2. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 in 500 mM NaCl, along with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (denaturing and non-denaturing) and immunochemical analysis, gave evidence that the native enzyme has a molecular weight of 2 X 10(5) and consists of an aggregate of 10 Mr 20,000 subunits. The highly purified enzyme carries an acyl donor, probably acyl-CoA, although this is not firmly established. The hydrophobic nature of the purified enzyme was demonstrated by its firm binding to octyl-Sepharose. Mass spectrometric analysis of reaction products revealed the presence of both palmitic and stearic acids. Considering that 1) the fatty acids were derived from the purified enzyme; 2) they were found exclusively in the 1-position of glycerol 3-phosphate; 3) the fatty acid positioning and composition is consistent with that found in cocoa butter, the major storage product of cocoa seeds; and 4) the enzyme is found in the post-microsomal supernatant, it seems reasonable to conclude that the first step in cocoa butter biosynthesis is catalyzed by glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase in the cytoplasm of cocoa cotyledon cells.

Cryoproteins were isolated from the serum of 5 patients with essential cryoglobulinaemia 5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2 patients with Sjøgren's syndrome. These cryoprecipitates contained IgG, IgM, and IgA as well as complement proteins C1q, C4, C3, and factor B. The cryoprecipitates were analysed further for content of antibody and antigen, and were tested for their ability to activate complement. In the cryoprecipitates of 2 patients with Sjøgren's syndrome, nuclear antigen and antinuclear antibody characteristic of an immunological specificity found in Sjøgren's syndrome were shown. The cryoprecipitates of 6 other patients contained rheumatoid factor and antibody to a lymphocyte nuclear antigen. The solubilized cryoprecipitates were tested by in vitro assays for their ability to activate complement by the classical or alternative pathways. All 12 cryoprecipitates activated the classical pathway. 9 of the 12 cryoprecipitates also activated the alternative complement pathway under conditions which did not involve activation of C1 and C4. These studies show that a high percentage of cryoprecipitates consist at least in part of immune reactants. We discuss the relationship of these findings to pathogenetic mechanisms in disease.

The Key Lake unconformity-type uranium deposit occurs in a shear zone where it intersects the unconformity between Archean and Aphebian gneisses and the overlying Proterozoic Athabasca Group sandstones. The roots of the Key Lake and many other unconformity-type uranium deposits in the Athabasca basin are close to gneisses rich in graphite and most deposits have small amounts of carbonaceous materials (bitumen and hydrocarbon buttons) within and around altered basement and sandstone ore zones. In many Athabasca uranium deposits, hydrothermal fluids have destroyed graphite disseminated in the strongly altered gneisses in the vicinity of the deposits, prompting some to suggest that graphite was converted to CH4, which reduced and precipitated the uranium and partially condensed to form bitumen. The δ13C values of graphite collected from unaltered and altered gneisses around the Key Lake deposit have a limited range (−25 ± 5) and are not a function of distance from the mineralization or the intensity of alteration or deformation. The uniformity of these δ13C values suggests that the destruction of graphite was due predominantly to oxidation by basinal fluids from the sandstone and that the graphite near the deposits did not react to form substantial amounts of 12C-rich phases such as CH4. Most of the bitumen samples, which have higher H/C ratios than the graphite, have δ13C values identical to those of the graphite (−25 ± 5). The similarity in the isotopic compositions of carbon in the bitumen and in the graphite indicates that the bitumen formed from degradation of graphite as a result of reactions with no significant isotopic fractionations, such as ones involving radiolysis of graphite. The hydrocarbon buttons and a few samples of bitumen have petrographic relations and 13C/12C ratios (δ13C values less than −30) that are indicative of reduction of graphite by H2 produced from water by radiolysis. Graphite in these deposits did not play a central role as a reducing agent for uranium, rather it represents a critical structural factor by providing shear zones along which fluid flow can be focussed.

The Arjeplog-Arvidsjaur uranium province contains epigenetic uranium deposits formed at the culmination of Svecofennian orogenesis at about 1750 Ma ago, stratabound deposits in subsequent volcanics and enhanced uranium contents in a wide variety of rock types. The province is situated along the southern margin of an early Proterozoic continent and may have been underlain both by older basement and, more speculatively, by a subduction zone. The movement of uranium is clearly related to processes of magmatism and metamorphism during the Svecofennian orogenesis. Pre-Svecofennian basement is a potential source of uranium.

Psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum group organisms (PLV) have been isolated from the feces of normal sheep (Kawakami et al, 1958; Dungworth and Cordy, 1962; Wilson and Dungworth, 1963) and of normal cattle (York and Baker, 1951; Wilson and Dungworth, 1962). They have been shown to be the cause of enzootic abortion (Stamp et al, 1950), pneumonitis (McKercher, 1952), and polyarthritis (Mendlowski et al, 1960) in sheep, and of sporadic encephalomyelitis (Wenner et al, 1953), pneumonitis (Matumoto et al, 1955), and abortion (Schoop and Kauker, 1956) in cattle.

The blood glutathione peroxidase levels of one day old piglets from 22 litters were examined. Body weight and piglet survival were monitored in order to assess the relationship between these two factors and blood glutathione peroxidase activity. The mean blood glutathione peroxidase level of one day old piglets (65 mu/gHb) was significantly lower (p0.001) than the mean level (85 mu/gHb) at weaning. The mean blood glutathione peroxidase activity of one day old piglets was not related to the size of the litter, but was related (p less than 0.1) to the mean litter blood glutathione peroxidase level at weaning time. Piglet blood glutathione peroxidase was not related to piglet body weight. The blood glutathione peroxidase level of the sows at one-day post-farrowing was not related to the mean blood glutathione peroxidase activity of their litters at one day of age but was correlated (p less than 0.1) with the mean blood glutathione peroxidase levels of their litters at weaning. Piglet viability was shown to be strongly correlated (p less than 0.001) with body weight at one day of age. The blood glutathione peroxidase level of one day old piglets was weakly associated (p less than 0.1) with piglet survival. Further work is required to clarify this latter observation, which suggests that selenium supplementation to newborn piglets may be beneficial regardless of the dams nutritional status.

The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons for, the rate and the effect of sow culling on productivity. Sow removal or wastage was investigated by means of producer questionnaires and by detailed production data recorded on 30 swine farms for two years. The sow removal rate was high (mean = 44.2%) with a wide herd-to-herd variation (range = 16% to 100%), and correlated negatively with litter size. Reproductive failure was the most common cause of culling cited by producers. It was concluded that sows on many Ontario farms were being culled prior to reaching their reproductive potential.

Serum factors activating the alternative pathway of complement in vitro, independent of classical pathway activation was demonstrated in six of eleven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These serum factors were detected by lysis of gluthathione-sensitized human erythrocytes and by C3 and factor B conversion in the presence of EGTA (10 mM) and MgCl2 (0-3 mM), conditions which blocked activation of the classical pathway but permitted activation of the alternative pathway. In order to determine if in vivo activation of the alternative pathway of complement was present in SLE, highly-purified factor B was labelled with radioactive iodine (125I), and its metabolism studied in the eleven patients with SLE and in twelve control subjects. All six patients with serum factors capable of activating the alternative pathway in vitro, had in vivo evidence of alternative pathway activation as measured by increased fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of factor B. Two patients without demonstrable alternative pathway activating factors in their sera had an elevated FCR of factor B. Six of the patients with increased FCR of factor B had disease limited to skin or joint and one had lupus nephritis which was inactive at the time of study. One of the four patients who were in clinical remission had elevated FCR. This study demonstrates that a significant number of patients with SLE of relatively mild disease activity had evidence of alternative complement pathway activation. This activation did not appear to be limited to patients with lupus nephritis and raises the possibility that it could also be related to some of the extra-renal manifestations of SLE.

Two porcine strains of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, one possessing K88 antigen and one lacking K88, were orally inoculated into conventional neonatal piglets. Athough both strains caused severe diarrhea, only the K88-possessing strain was able to proliferate in the anterior small intestine. Both K88-possessing and K88-lacking strains were found in large numbers in the posterior small intestine and, using fluorescent antibodies and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, were found adhering to the epitheial surface in these regions. The presence of an unusual surface structure on the bacterial cell of the K88-lacking strain was described.

Lung fluids and leukocytes were obtained from unprimed C3H mice by transpleural lavage at intervals after infection with influenza A/Hong Kong/68 virus and were tested for interferon activity. Lavage fluid interferon titers correlated directly with lung virus titers and with initial increases in leukocyte yields from infected lungs. In contrast to cultured lymph node cells from infected animals or leukocytes from lungs of uninfected mice, washed leukocytes obtained from the lungs of mice infected 2 to 6 days earlier produced interferon spontaneously in culture. The physiochemical, biological, and antigenic properties of both the interferon in lavage fluids and that produced by lung lavage leukocytes were similar and characteristics of alpha interferon. Fractionation studies indicated that macrophages and T lymphocytes were primarily responsible for the interferon produced in culture. The early presence and significant numbers of interferon-producing leukocytes in infected lungs suggests that these cells have an early role in defense against influenza virus infection.

An assay for the detection and quantitation of immune complexes is described. Experimental immune complexes or aggregated human gamma globulin (AHG) were incubated with polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). After challenge of the PMN with opsonized zymosan, chemiluminescence was recorded in a scintillation spectrometer. A quantitative inhibition of chemiluminescence could be demonstrated by the interaction of PMN with immune complexes or AHG. Experimental immune complexes of bovine serum albumin-anti-bovine serum albumin were formed and tested by this assay, and immune complexes formed near antigen excess were best described by this technique. The technique was used to demonstrate immune complexes in the sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and vasculitis. Immune complexes were quantitated by reference to a standard curve using AHG. By this technique, normal human sera had < 10 micrograms of AHG per milliliter of serum. Immune complexes at levels above this were detected in 9/15 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 18/30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and 2/5 patients with vasculitis. Therefore, this assay is a sensitive, simple method for measurement of circulating immune complexes in the sera of patients with certain connective tissue diseases.

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase has been purified from the post-microsomal supernatant of cocoa seeds using differential ammonium sulfate solubility along with anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Chromatofocusing and isoelectric focusing revealed a series of proteins with acyltransferase activity having isoelectric points close to 5.2. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-300 in 500 mM NaCl, along with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (denaturing and non-denaturing) and immunochemical analysis, gave evidence that the native enzyme has a molecular weight of 2 X 10(5) and consists of an aggregate of 10 Mr 20,000 subunits. The highly purified enzyme carries an acyl donor, probably acyl-CoA, although this is not firmly established. The hydrophobic nature of the purified enzyme was demonstrated by its firm binding to octyl-Sepharose. Mass spectrometric analysis of reaction products revealed the presence of both palmitic and stearic acids. Considering that 1) the fatty acids were derived from the purified enzyme; 2) they were found exclusively in the 1-position of glycerol 3-phosphate; 3) the fatty acid positioning and composition is consistent with that found in cocoa butter, the major storage product of cocoa seeds; and 4) the enzyme is found in the post-microsomal supernatant, it seems reasonable to conclude that the first step in cocoa butter biosynthesis is catalyzed by glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase in the cytoplasm of cocoa cotyledon cells.

The life histories of two bivoltine mesophyll-feeding leafhoppers, Lindbergina aurovittata (Douglas) and Edwardsiana rosae (L.), in South Wales are described. L. aurovittata alternates between evergreen Rubus and Quercus in the first generation and various deciduous broad-leaved trees in the second. Experiments on nymphal food preferences and adult oviposition behaviour show that nymphs of both generations tend to prefer older to younger leaves, but show little species specificity. However, adults are discriminating in oviposition preferences, which change regularly and completely in alternating generations. Similar results were obtained with E. rosae. Such obligate seasonal changes in host preferences and utilization are well known amongst aphids, but previously have not been reported in leafhoppers.

The purposes of this study were to establish piglet preweaning mortality rates on representative Ontario pig farms and to examine possible relationships between preweaning mortality and various management and environmental factors. Thirty randomly sampled farrow-to-finish herds were surveyed over a two year period. Mean preweaning mortality in liveborn pigs of 18.5+/-5.8 and 18.7+/-5.4 was recorded in the first and second years of the survey, respectively. Preweaning mortality was correlated positively with still-birth rate (r(1)=0.31, p(1)0.1 (Year 1), and (r(2)=0.37, p(2)0.05 (Year 2)) and with weaner pig mortality in the second year (r(2)=0.37, p(2)0.05). Preweaning mortality was negatively correlated with herd size (r(1)=-0.30, p(1)0.1 and (r(2)=-0.31, p(2)0.1), crate utilization (r(1)=-0.52, p(1)0.01 and (r(2)=-0.53, p(2)0.01), and positively correlated with the number of farrowing crates per room (r(1) and r(2)=0.52, p0.05).There was no relationship observed between preweaning mortality and housing and management characteristics such as the use of bedding or no bedding, batch farrowing versus continuous farrowing and single-use compared to multi-use farrowing rooms.It was felt that stockmanship was an important modifier of environmental effects.