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To compare the operative time and presence of air voids on Class II restorations fabricated by dental practitioners with 1 to 5 years of experience using incremental and bulk-filling techniques.Four techniques were evaluated: incremental, bulk-filling, bulk-filling with heated composite, and snowplow technique. Standardized mandibular first molars with a MOD (mesial, occlusal, and distal) cavity were used. Voluntary operators made two restorations using each technique and the time required for each restoration was recorded. The restorations were scanned by micro-computed tomography to calculate the volume of the restoration occupied by air voids. The "operative time" and "volume of air voids" were analyzed individually by two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc (α = .05) for the factors operator and insertion technique. A correlation between "operative time" and "volume of air voids" was evaluated using Pearson coefficient (α = .05).The incremental technique required significantly longer time, yet no differences were observed between the bulk-filling techniques. There were no significant differences between techniques regarding the volume of air voids. A significant, but weak, and inverse linear correlation (P = .0059; r = -.29; r2 = 8.41%) was found between the operative time and volume of air voids.There were no significant differences in the volume of air voids among the evaluated techniques, although bulk-filling techniques required a shorter operative time. Hence, implementing bulk-filling techniques by dental schools and restorative dental practitioners with different levels of expertise may reduce chair time and produce a volume of air voids similar to the incremental technique.

Objectives: Platyrrhines constitute a diverse clade, with the modern Atelidae exhibiting the most variation in cranial and endocast morphology. The processes responsible for this diversification are not well understood. Here, we present a geometric morphometric study describing variation in cranial and endocranial shape of 14 species of Alouatta, Ateles, Brachyteles, and Lagothrix and two extinct taxa, Cartelles and Caipora. Methods: We examined cranial and endocranial shape variation among species using images reconstructed from CT scans and geometric morphometric techniques based on three-dimensional landmarks and semilandmarks. Principal components analyses were used to explore variation, including the Procrustes shape coordinates, summing the logarithm of the Centroid Size, the common allometric component, and residual shape components. Results: Differences in endocranial shape are related to a relative increase or decrease in the volume of the neocortex region with respect to brainstem and cerebellum regions. The relative position of the brainstem varies from a posterior position in Alouatta to a more ventral position in Ateles. The shape of both the cranium and endocast of Caipora is within the observed variation of Brachyteles. Cartelles occupies the most differentiated position relative to the extant taxa, especially in regards to its endocranial shape. Conclusions: The pattern of variation in the extant species in endocranial shape is similar to the variation observed in previous cranial studies, with Alouatta as an outlier. The similarities between Caipora and Brachyteles were unexpected and intriguing given the frugivorous adaptations inferred from the fossil's dentition. Our study shows the importance of considering both extant and fossil species when studying diversification of complex traits. Fil: Arístide, Leandro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Antropología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina Fil: Strauss, André. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen.; Alemania Fil: Halenar Price, Lauren B.. University of New York; Estados Unidos Fil: Gilissen, Emmanuel. Université Libre de Bruxelles; Bélgica Fil: Cruz, Francisco W.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Cartelle, Castor. Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Minas Gerais.; Brasil Fil: Rosenberger, Alfred L.. City of New York Graduate Cente; Estados Unidos. New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology; Estados Unidos Fil: Lopes, Ricardo T.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil Fil: dos Reis, Sergio F.. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasil Fil: Perez, Sergio Ivan. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Departamento Científico de Antropología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasil

OBJECTIVES Fossils have been linked to Alouatta based on shared cranial morphology and small brain size. However, the relationship between endocranial volume and cranial shape is unclear; it is possible that any platyrrhine with a small brain may exhibit "Alouatta-like" features due to being "de-encephalized." We test two hypotheses: (a) there are aspects of cranial shape related to encephalization common to all platyrrhines; (b) it is these cranial traits that unite the small-brained "Alouatta-like" fossils. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three-dimensional cranial shape and endocranial volume (ECV) were measured on 350+ extant platyrrhine crania, Cartelles, Paralouatta, and Antillothrix. Encephalization quotient (EQ) was calculated using regressions of ECV on cranial centroid size. Multivariate regressions were performed using the shape coordinates and EQ and shape changes associated with EQ were visualized. Cranial shape was predicted for a hypothetical primate with an EQ matching the fossils and this shape was compared to the Alouatta mean. RESULTS There is a significant proportion of cranial shape variation explained by EQ in some taxa. The aspects of shape that are correlated with EQ are shared by several taxa and some have parallel regression vectors, but there is no overall pattern of shape change common to all platyrrhines. However, all taxa look more similar to Alouatta when their EQ is decreased, particularly Pithecia. DISCUSSION Given that a decrease in encephalization can cause a more Alouatta-like cranial shape in many extant platyrrhines, it should not be automatically assumed that Alouatta-like cranial traits in a small-brained fossil are evidence of a phylogenetic link to the alouattin clade.

The use of chemicals, biological and toxin agents, and radiological materials as military weapons does not fall under conventional weapons. These materials, used in war and in terrorism, are often referred to as weapons of mass destruction (WMD). In many cases, this is a misnomer and in fact these weapons do not destroy as much as they cause fear, require extensive and intensive medical treatment that ties up civilian and military medical facilities and material, limit the use of areas contaminated with these agents (denial of material and terrain), and require careful time-consuming decontamination. These WMD, especially radioactive agents, are sometimes more aptly referred to as weapons of mass disruption because, although they can kill many people, their biggest effect is disruption of operations. This chapter updates the information from the previous edition.

The fecal indicator bacterial species Escherichia coli is an important measure of water quality and a leading cause of impaired surface waters. We investigated the impact of the filter-feeding metazooplankton Daphnia magna on the inactivation of E. coli. The E. coli clearance rates of these daphnids were calculated from a series of batch experiments conducted under variable environmental conditions. Batch system experiments of 24 to 48 h in duration were completed to test the impacts of bacterial concentration, organism density, temperature, and water type. The maximum clearance rate for adult D. magna organisms was 2 ml h(−1) organism(−1). Less than 5% of E. coli removed from water by daphnids was recoverable from excretions. Sorption of E. coli on daphnid carapaces was not observed. As a comparison, the clearance rates of the freshwater rotifer Branchionus calyciflorus were also calculated for select conditions. The maximum clearance rate for B. calyciflorus was 6 × 10(−4 )ml h(−1) organism(−1). This research furthers our understanding of the impacts of metazooplankton predation on E. coli inactivation and the effects of environmental variables on filter feeding. Based on our results, metazooplankton can play an important role in the reduction of E. coli in natural treatment systems under environmentally relevant conditions. IMPORTANCE Escherichia coli is a fecal indicator bacterial species monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to assess microbial water quality. Due to the potential human health implications linked to high levels of E. coli, it is important to understand the inactivation or reduction mechanisms in surface waters. Our research examines the capacities of two types of widespread filter-feeding freshwater metazooplankton, Daphnia magna and Brachionus calyciflorus, to reduce E. coli concentrations. We examine the impacts of different environmentally relevant conditions on the clearance rates. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the importance of metazooplankton in controlling E. coli concentrations and what conditions will reduce or increase grazing. These results provide baseline data to support future efforts to develop a quantitative model relating zooplankton uptake rates to relevant environmental variables.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is shown to be an effective dispersant for single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), enabling uniform aqueous suspensions to be obtained at weight loadings of up to 0.23 mg/ml (>1% by weight relative to PEDOT:PSS) without recourse to additional surfactants. Thin films spin-coated from PEDOT:PSS/SWNT suspensions exhibited sheet resistances of 90 Ω/sq. at 80 % transmittance, slightly higher than equivalent films of pure PEDOT:PSS which exhibited sheet resistances of 70 Ω/sq. at the same transmittance.

Brain edema and the associated increase in intracranial pressure are major consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that accounts for most early deaths after TBI. We recently showed that acute severe trauma to cultured astrocytes results in cell swelling. We further examined whether trauma induces cell swelling in neurons and microglia. We found that severe trauma also caused cell swelling in cultured neurons, whereas no swelling was observed in microglia. While severe trauma caused cell swelling in both astrocytes and neurons, mild trauma to astrocytes, neurons, and microglia failed to cell swelling. Since extracellular levels of glutamate are increased in brain post-TBI and microglia are known to release cytokine, and direct exposure of astrocytes to these molecules are known to stimulate cell swelling, we examined whether glutamate or cytokines have any additive effect on trauma-induced cell swelling. Exposure of cultured astrocytes to trauma caused cell swelling, and such swelling was potentiated by the exposure of traumatized astrocytes to glutamate and cytokines. Conditioned medium (CM) from traumatized astrocytes had no effect on neuronal swelling post-trauma, while CM from traumatized neurons and microglia potentiated the effect of trauma on astrocyte swelling. Further, trauma significantly increased the Na-K-Cl co-transporter (NKCC) activity in neurons, and that inhibition of NKCC activity diminished the trauma-induced neuronal swelling. Our results indicate that a differential sensitivity to trauma-induced cell swelling exists in neural cells and that neurons and microglia are likely to be involved in the potentiation of the astrocyte swelling post-trauma.

The physical performance characteristics of a prototype scanning digital mammography (DM) system have been investigated. The I-ImaS system utilises CMOS MAPS technology promoting on-chip data processing; consequently statistical analysis is therefore achievable in real-time for the purpose of exposure modulation via a feedback mechanism during the image acquisition procedure. The imager employs a dual array of twenty CMOS APS sensing devices each individually coupled to a 100 mum thick thallium doped structured CsI scintillator. The X-ray performance of the sensors was characterised where the presampled modulation transfer function (MTF), normalised noise power spectrum (NNPS), and the detective quantum efficiency (DQE) was determined. The presampled MTF was measured utilising the slit technique and was found to be 0.1 at 6 lp/mm. The NNPS measured utilising a W/Al target/filter combination hardened with 38 mm PMMA was seen to decrease with increasing exposure as expected and the manifesting DQE was 0.30 at close to zero spatial frequency at an exposure of 1.75 mR. Preliminary image stitching of the individual steps acquired from the scanning system is presented. A conventionally acquired image that is without the implementation of beam modulation or off-line intelligence is compared and contrasted to an intelligently off-line processed image. Results indicate the implementation of real-time intelligence into the image acquisition phase of digital mammography is foreseeable.

Objectives This is a retrospective study over 12 years reporting the healing rates of leg ulcers at a specialist vein unit. All patients presented with active chronic venous leg ulcers (clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological elements [CEAP]: C6) and had previously been advised elsewhere that their ulcers were amenable to conservative measures only. Method Seventy-two patients (84 limbs) were treated between March 1999 and June 2011. Patients were contacted in August 2011 by questionnaire and telephone. Of 72 patients, two were deceased and two had moved location at follow-up, so were not contactable. Fifty patients replied and 18 did not (response rate 74%), representing a mean follow-up time of 3.1 years. Results Ulcer healing occurred in 85% (44 of 52 limbs) of which 52% (27) limbs were no longer confined to compression. Clinical improvement was achieved in 98% of limbs. Conclusions This study shows that a significant proportion of ulcers currently managed conservatively can be healed by surgical intervention.

Iron-intercalated and tetradecyl-edge-functionalized graphene nanoribbon stacks (Fe@TD-GNRs) can be made from commercially available carbon nanotubes by a facile synthesis. The physical properties of the Fe@TD-GNRs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, evolved gas analysis, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. By the intercalation of iron, the alignment of the Fe@TD-GNRs in a magnetic field was enabled. The aligned structures enhanced electrical percolation at given concentrations in previously nonconductive solvents.

Our objective was to compare the effects of feeding steam-flaked, high-oil corn with normal steam-flaked corn to which yellow grease was added to equalize dietary fat on performance and carcass characteristics of finishing beef steers, and palatability, retail case life, and fatty acid composition of strip loins. Angus steers (n = 120; initial BW = 288 kg) were allotted to dietary treatments consisting of 1) normal mill-run, steam-flaked corn plus added fat (NMR) or 2) high-oil, steam-flaked corn (HOC) and assigned randomly to pens (12 pens/treatment with 5 steers/pen). Performance (ADG, DMI, and G:F) was measured over time, and cattle were shipped to a commercial abattoir for collection of carcass data after 165 d on feed. Carcass data were collected at 48 h postmortem on all carcasses, and 2 carcasses from each pen were selected randomly for collection of strip loins (IMPS #180A). At 14 d postmortem, 4 steaks (2.54 cm thick) were removed for retail display, trained sensory panel analysis, Warner-Bratzler shear force determination, and fatty acid analysis. Daily BW gain was greater (P = 0.03) and G:F was increased 8.4% (P = 0.01) for steers fed NMR compared with HOC, but DMI was not affected (P > 0.10) by treatment. No treatment differences were observed (P > 0.10) for HCW, 12th-rib fat, KPH, and yield grade. Marbling scores were greater (P = 0.01) for NMR than for HOC, and LM area tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in NMR than in HOC carcasses. The proportion of carcasses grading USDA Choice did not differ (P = 0.77) between treatments, but a greater (P = 0.04) proportion of carcasses graded in the upper two-thirds of Choice for NMR vs. HOC. Trained sensory panel traits and Warner-Bratzler shear force values did not differ between treatments (P > 0.10), and no differences (P > 0.10) were detected for purge loss or fatty acid composition. Overall, ADG and G:F were less and marbling score was decreased, but there were no differences between treatments in beef palatability, retail case life, or concentrations of fatty acids in strip loins.

Introduction Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after varicose vein surgery is well recognised. Less well documented is endovenous heat-induced thrombosis (EHIT), thrombus extension into a deep vein after superficial venous thermoablation. We examined the rates of DVT in our unit after radiofrequency (RFA) and endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) with specific attention to thrombus type. Method Retrospective analysis of all cases of RFA under general anaesthesia and EVLA under local anaesthesia was performed. Cases of DVT were identified from the unit database and analysed for procedural details. Results In total, 2470 cases of RFA and 350 of EVLA were performed. Post-RFA, DVT was identified in 17 limbs (0.7%); 4 were EHIT (0.2%). Concomitant small saphenous vein (SSV) ligation and stripping was a risk factor for calf-DVT (OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.2–9.7, P =0.036), possibly due to an older patient group with more severe disease. Post-EVLA, 4 DVTs were identified (1%), of which 3 were EHIT (0.9%). Conclusion The DVT rate including EHIT was similar in patients treated with RFA and EVLA and was low. Routine post-operative duplex ultrasound scanning is recommended until the significance of EHIT is better understood, in accordance with consensus guidelines. DVT rates for both techniques compare favourably with those published for saphenous vein stripping.

Many new drugs have low aqueous solubility and high therapeutic efficacy. Paclitaxel (PTX) is a classic example of this type of compound. Here we show that extremely small (

A alta irradiância e diferentes espectros de luz emitidos por fontes de luz podem causar danos oculares. Este estudo avaliou a capacidade de 15 filtros de proteção ocular em bloquear a luz azul e violeta de duas fontes de luz: convencional (HP-3M ESPE) e de largo espectro (Valo, Ultradent) utilizando sensor anterior do MARC-Patient Simulator (BlueLight Analytics inc.) A irradiância transmitida através dos filtros protetores foi mensurada em triplicata para cada filtro. Os valores médios da irradiância que passaram pelos filtros foram analisados usando Análise de variância fatorial (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey (a 0.05). O espetro emitido através dos filtros foi obtido. A interação entre os filtros protetores e fontes de luz influenciou significantemente a quantidade de luz transmitida (p

We have developed a novel phantom material: a solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVAL) in ethanol and water, freeze-thawed to produce a solid yet elastically compressible gel. The x-ray attenuation and mechanical properties of these gels are compared with published measurements of breast tissue. Gels with PVAL concentrations from 5 to 20% w/v were produced. The linear x-ray attenuation coefficients of these gels range from 0.76 to 0.86 cm(-1) at 17.5 keV, increasing with PVAL concentration. These values are very similar to the published values of breast tissue at this energy, 0.8-0.9 cm(-1). Under compression cancerous breast tissue is approximately ten times stiffer than healthy breast tissue. The Young's moduli of the gels increase with PVAL concentration. Varying the PVAL concentration from 7.5 to 20% w/v produces gels with Young's moduli from 20 to 220 kPa at 15% strain. These values are characteristic of normal and cancerous breast tissue, respectively.

Objectives Mounting evidence suggests that pelvic vein reflux is an important contributing factor to recurrent varicose veins. We compared the incidence in our specialist private unit (Unit A) with that of a District General Hospital (Unit B). Methods Results of all female patient lower limb duplex ultrasound (LLDUS) and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound (TVUS) scans performed over a one-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with refluxing veins emanating from the abdomen or pelvis on LLDUS (non-saphenous reflux) routinely proceeded to TVUS in Unit A. Results In Unit A, non-saphenous reflux on LLDUS was present in 90–462 female patients (19.5%). In 81.1% of these, TVUS confirmed reflux in truncal pelvic veins (incidence 15.8%). In Unit B, non-saphenous reflux was present in 60–279 female patients (21.5%). Conclusion One in five women presenting with varicose veins have reflux of non-saphenous origin. This is the case in specialist and non-specialist units. One in six has associated pelvic vein reflux.

In 2000, we developed a percutaneous method of treating incompetent perforator veins (IPV) using ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which we termed TRansluminal Occlusion of Perforator (TRLOP). Objective To audit the five-year outcome of the TRLOP technique as indicated by the rate of IPV closure on duplex ultrasound (DUS). Methods Patients underwent DUS five years post-TRLOP. Experienced vascular technologists documented the presence of IPVs using a two co-ordinate system, blinded to previous results. Results were then compared with preoperative scans. IPVs were classified as: closed; not closed/reopened; or de novo. Closed IPVs were defined as the absence of any IPV at or within 5 cm of a previous IPV in the vertical and horizontal plane. Any IPVs found outside the delineated area were defined as de novo IPVs. Results Of 67 patients invited, 37 attended DUS (55% participation rate; men to women ratio of 14:23, age 40–84; mean 64). Preoperative clinical, aetiological, anatomical and pathological classification: C2, 36.2%; C3, 27.6%; C4, 34.5%; C6, 1.7%. From 125 IPVs analysed, 101 were closed (81%), 24 were not closed/reopened (19%) and 14 de novo IPVs were found. Discussion Despite these results representing our learning curve for the procedure, we found TRLOP to be an effective treatment for IPVs. The closure rates described are comparable with the published clinical series data for subfascial endoscopic perforator surgery.

I-ImaS (Intelligent Imaging Sensors) is a European project aiming to produce real-time adaptive X-ray imaging systems using Monolithic Active Pixel Sensors (MAPS) to create images with maximum diagnostic information within given dose constraints. Initial systems concentrate on mammography and cephalography.In our system, the exposure in each image region is optimised and the beam intensity is a function of tissue thickness and attenuation, and also of local physical and statistical parameters in the image. Using a linear array of detectors, the system will perform on-line analysis of the image during the scan, followed by optimisation of the X-ray intensity to obtain the maximum diagnostic information from the region of interest while minimising exposure of diagnostically less important regions.This paper presents preliminary images obtained with a small area CMOS detector developed for this application. Wedge systems were used to modulate the beam intensity during breast and dental imaging using suitable X-ray spectra. The sensitive imaging area of the sensor is 512 × 32 pixels 32 × 32 μm2 in size. The sensors' X-ray sensitivity was increased by coupling to a structured CsI(Tl) scintillator. In order to develop the I-ImaS prototype, the on-line data analysis and data acquisition control are based on custom-developed electronics using multiple FPGAs.Images of both breast tissues and jaw samples were acquired and different exposure optimisation algorithms applied. Results are very promising since the average dose has been reduced to around 60% of the dose delivered by conventional imaging systems without decrease in the visibility of details.Keywords: X-ray imaging; Intelligent imaging; CMOS; Mammography; Adaptive imaging

A novel design of solid dynamic phantom with tissue-like optical properties is presented, which contains variable regions of contrast which are activated electrically. Reversible changes in absorption are produced by localized heating of targets impregnated with thermochromic pigment. A portable, battery-operated prototype has been constructed, and its optical and temporal characteristics have been investigated. The phantom has been developed as a means of assessing the performance of diffuse optical imaging systems, such as those used to monitor haemodynamic changes in the brain and other tissues. Images of the phantom have been reconstructed using data acquired with a continuous wave optical topography system.

A method has been developed for creating bulk quantities of water-soluble single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) that contain multifunctional, acid-sensitive addends. Utilizing aryl diazonium salts, the repetitive functionalization protocol can yield multifunctional SWNTs containing moieties that would not be stable to the harsh oleum functionalization conditions used previously. The presence of multifunctionality on the SWNTs has been confirmed using Raman spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

A recipe is presented for the manufacture of highly compressible phantoms for diffuse optical tomography. The recipe is based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) slime, a viscoelastic fluid which readily deforms under moderate pressure. Scattering particles and absorbing compounds can be added to provide a uniform material with stable and reproducible optical properties. A linear relationship between the concentration of scattering particles (either titanium dioxide or microspheres) and the transport scatter coefficient is demonstrated. Phantoms of an arbitrary size and shape may be produced by containing the slime within a thin latex shell, and a stability over a period of at least 3 months has been established. The deformable phantoms may be used to test and calibrate optical tomography systems designed for use on patients with irregular or variable geometries.

Nodamura virus (NoV) and Flock House virus (FHV) are members of the family Nodaviridae . The nodavirus genome is composed of two positive-sense RNA segments: RNA1 encodes the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA2 encodes the capsid protein precursor. A small subgenomic RNA3, which encodes nonstructural proteins B1 and B2, is transcribed from RNA1 during RNA replication. Previously, FHV was shown to replicate both of its genomic RNAs and to transcribe RNA3 in transiently transfected yeast cells. FHV RNAs and their derivatives could also be expressed from plasmids containing RNA polymerase II promoters. Here we show that all of these features can be recapitulated for NoV, the only nodavirus that productively infects mammals. Inducible plasmid-based systems were used to characterize the RNA replication requirements for NoV RNA1 and RNA2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Induced NoV RNA1 replication was robust. Three previously described NoV RNA1 mutants behaved in yeast as they had in mammalian cells. Yeast colonies were selected from cells expressing NoV RNA1, and RNA2 replicons that encoded yeast nutritional markers, from plasmids. Unexpectedly, these NoV RNA replication-dependent yeast colonies were recovered at frequencies 10 4 -fold lower than in the analogous FHV system. Molecular analysis revealed that some of the NoV RNA replication-dependent colonies contained mutations in the NoV B2 open reading frame in the replicating viral RNA. In addition, we found that NoV RNA1 could support limited replication of a deletion derivative of the heterologous FHV RNA2 that expressed the yeast HIS3 selectable marker, resulting in formation of HIS + colonies.

During infection of both vertebrate and invertebrate cell lines, the alphanodavirus Nodamura virus (NoV) expresses two nonstructural proteins of different lengths from the B2 open reading frame. The functions of these proteins have yet to be determined, but B2 of the related Flock House virus suppresses RNA interference both in Drosophila cells and in transgenic plants. To examine whether the NoV B2 proteins had similar functions, we compared the replication of wild-type NoV RNA with that of mutants unable to make the B2 proteins. We observed a defect in the accumulation of mutant viral RNA that varied in extent from negligible in some cell lines (e.g., baby hamster kidney cells) to severe in others (e.g., human HeLa and Drosophila DL-1 cells). These results are consistent with the notion that the NoV B2 proteins act to circumvent an innate antiviral response such as RNA interference that differs in efficacy among different host cells.

This research investigated the contextual nature of decisions about racial exclusion by analyzing why individuals might be willing to accept members of other racial groups into some types of social relationships but nevertheless exclude them from other types of relationships. Our analysis examined the underlying reasoning processes used to make such decisions. We conducted two studies to test the types of reasoning used by young adults regarding cross-race interpersonal relationships. Study 1 (N = 292) demonstrated that racial exclusion is more likely to be condoned and justified as an issue of personal choice and less likely to be seen as an issue of overt racism in intimate than in nonintimate contexts. Study 2 (N = 196) demonstrated that participants viewed it as more wrong to exclude others from cross-race than samerace relationships and that when relationships were high (vs. low) in physical contact they were viewed as more likely to be issues of personal choice, regardless of whether they were same- or cross-race. The results help explain why there are substantial contextual differences in the extent to which exclusion of individuals based on racial group membership is perceived as acceptable.

Nodamura virus (NoV) was the first isolated member of the Nodaviridae, and is the type species of the alphanodavirus genus. The alphanodaviruses infect insects; NoV is unique in that it can also lethally infect mammals. Nodaviruses have bipartite positive-sense RNA genomes in which RNA1 encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and the smaller genome segment, RNA2, encodes the capsid protein precursor. To facilitate the study of NoV, we generated infectious cDNA clones of its two genomic RNAs. Transcription of these NoV1 and NoV2 cDNAs in mammalian cells led to viral RNA replication, protein synthesis, and production of infectious virus. Subgenomic RNA3 was produced during RNA replication and encodes nonstructural proteins B1 and B2 in overlapping ORFs. Site-directed mutagenesis of these ORFs, followed by SDS–PAGE and MALDI–TOF mass spectrometry analyses, showed synthesis of B1 and two forms of B2 (B2-134 and B2-137) during viral replication. We also characterized a point mutation in RNA1 far upstream of the RNA3 region that resulted in decreased RNA3 synthesis and RNA2 replication, and a reduced yield of infectious particles. The ability to reproduce the entire life cycle of this unusual nodavirus from cDNA clones will facilitate further analysis of NoV RNA replication and pathogenesis.

To date, the insect nodavirus flock house virus (FHV) is the only virus of a higher eukaryote that has been shown to undergo a full replicative cycle and produce infectious progeny in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The genome of FHV is composed of two positive-sense RNA segments: RNA1, encoding the RNA replicase, and RNA2, encoding the capsid protein precursor. When yeast cells expressing FHV RNA replicase were transfected with a chimeric RNA composed of a selectable gene flanked by the termini of RNA2, the chimeric RNA was replicated and transmitted to daughter cells indefinitely. In the work reported here, we developed a system in which a selectable chimeric RNA replicon was transcribed from an inducible RNA polymerase II ( polII ) promoter in vivo in yeast. To render marker gene expression absolutely dependent on RNA replication, the primary polII transcript was made negative in sense and contained an intron that blocked the translation of cryptic transcripts from the opposite DNA strand. The RNA products of DNA-templated transcription, processing, and RNA replication were characterized by Northern blot hybridization and primer extension analysis. Marker gene expression and colony growth under selective conditions depended strictly on FHV RNA replication, with background colonies arising at a frequency of fewer than 1 in 10 8 plated cells. The utility of the system was demonstrated by introducing a second chimeric replicon and showing that at least two different selectable markers could be simultaneously expressed by means of RNA replication. This is the first example of FHV RNA1-dependent selectable marker expression initiated in vivo and will greatly facilitate the identification and characterization of the requirements and inhibitors of RNA replication.

Flock house virus (FHV), a positive-strand RNA animal virus, is the only higher eukaryotic virus shown to undergo complete replication in yeast, culminating in production of infectious virions. To facilitate studies of viral and host functions in FHV replication in Saccharomyces cerevisiae , yeast DNA plasmids were constructed to inducibly express wild-type FHV RNA1 in vivo. Subsequent translation of FHV replicase protein A initiated robust RNA1 replication, amplifying RNA1 to levels approaching those of rRNA, as in FHV-infected animal cells. The RNA1-derived subgenomic mRNA, RNA3, accumulated to even higher levels of >100,000 copies per yeast cell, compared to 10 copies or less per cell for 95% of yeast mRNAs. The time course of RNA1 replication and RNA3 synthesis in induced yeast paralleled that in yeast transfected with natural FHV virion RNA. As in animal cells, RNA1 replication and RNA3 synthesis depended on FHV RNA replicase protein A and 3′-terminal RNA1 sequences but not viral protein B2. Additional plasmids were engineered to inducibly express RNA1 derivatives with insertions of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene in subgenomic RNA3. These RNA1 derivatives were replicated, synthesized RNA3, and expressed GFP when provided FHV polymerase in either cis or trans , providing the first demonstration of reporter gene expression from FHV subgenomic RNA. Unexpectedly, fusing GFP to the protein A C terminus selectively inhibited production of positive- and negative-strand subgenomic RNA3 but not genomic RNA1 replication. Moreover, changing the first nucleotide of the subgenomic mRNA from G to T selectively inhibited production of positive-strand but not negative-strand RNA3, suggesting that synthesis of negative-strand subgenomic RNA3 may precede synthesis of positive-strand RNA3.

Graphene sheets were exfoliated and functionalized by grinding thermally converted graphene (TCG, obtained by thermally expansion of graphite oxide) in ionic liquid with various aryl-diazonium salts. This method results in the separation of graphene layers and addition of aryl groups on the sheets to obtain single layer-graphene; the number of functional groups on the graphene was determined to be roughly 1 in 60 carbons. This solvent-dispersible graphene material could prove desirable for use in composite scaffolds.

Surgical attention to major blood vessels has been necessary for as long as man has been involved in armed combat. A brief resume of the history of vascular surgery is outlined with special reference to the contribution made by the military surgeon in battle. The role of modern specialist techniques in vascular injuries in present day operations will be briefly discussed.

The medieval notion of the just price was an outcome of neither an exclusively economic analysis nor a completely ethical argument, but an amalgam of some features of each. At issue is the significance the medievals attached to the concepts of price and justice and how an integrated economics and ethics made for a mode of reasoning about price different from the endogenousty focused price theory and limited boundaries of modern economics. It is argued in 'The Justice of the Just Price' that the treatment of price in medieval economic thought cannot be grasped without a comprehensive approach to its determination. The argument will first focus separately on the description of the medieval notions of price (cost of production, need, etc.) and of justice (virtue/vice) as features of the medieval concept of the just price. It proposes that, by virtue of the fact that the premises of the medieval system of analysis assumed greed as a nefarious part of human economic behaviour and presupposed the necessity of j...

An extensive monitoring program was conducted to determine the occurrence of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in environmental compartments impacted by consumer waste disposal practices. Eight wastewater treatment plants, representative of those found in North America, were monitored to determine PDMS removal during wastewater treatment. Surface waters, sediments, and sludge-amended soils impacted by wastewater treatment plant effluents and sludges were also monitored for a more complete assessment of the environmental fate of PDMS. Newly developed GPC−ICP and/or HPLC−ICP analytical techniques were used to provide insight into the environmental fate of PDMS and anticipated PDMS degradation products. PDMS was found to be highly removed during wastewater treat ment with effluent concentrations, in most cases, below the quantitation limit of the analytical technique (

Here we describe the first instances to our knowledge of animal virus genome replication, and of de novo synthesis of infectious virions by a nonendogenous virus, in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, whose versatile genetics offers significant advantages for studying viral replication and virus-host interactions. Flock house virus (FHV) is the most extensively studied member of the Nodaviridae family of (+) strand RNA animal viruses. Transfection of yeast with FHV genomic RNA induced viral RNA replication, transcription, and assembly of infectious virions. Genome replication and virus synthesis were robust: all replicating FHV RNA species were readily detected in yeast by Northern blot analysis and yields of virions per cell were similar to those from Drosophila cells. We also describe in vivo expression and maintenance of a selectable yeast marker gene from an engineered FHV RNA derivative dependent on FHV-directed RNA replication. Use of these approaches with FHV and their possible extension to other viruses should facilitate identification and characterization of host factors required for genomic replication, gene expression, and virion assembly.

Anti-phospholipid autoantibodies (aPL) are associated with a clinical syndrome of hypercoagulability, thrombocytopenia, and fetal loss. Several groups have shown that the in vitro target of many aPL is not a pure phospholipid Ag, but is either a complex between anionic phospholipid and the plasma protein beta2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI) or the protein beta 2GPI alone. Anionic phospholipids are normally absent from the extracellular surface of cell membranes but redistribute from the inner to the outer leaflet during apoptosis. We show that aPL bind specifically to apoptotic, but not viable, thymocytes, and that binding is dependent upon the presence of beta 2GPI. Moreover, we show that beta 2GPI binds selectively to the surface of apoptotic thymocytes to generate an epitope for antiphospholipid autoantibodies. These findings suggest that apoptotic cells may be the natural immunogen and/or target for aPL. Moreover, we propose that the interaction of circulating beta 2GPI with redistributed anionic phospholipid may itself generate a novel ligand by which apoptotic cells are recognized directly for phagocytic clearance.

We report on a large field of view, laboratory-based X-ray phase-contrast imaging setup. The method is based upon the asymmetric mask design that enables the retrieval of the absorption, refraction and scattering properties of the sample without the need to move any component of the imaging system. This can be thought of as a periodic repetition of a group of three (or more) apertures arranged in such a way that each laminar beam, defined by the apertures, produces a different illumination level when analysed with a standard periodic set of apertures. The sample is scanned through the imaging system, also removing possible aliasing problems that might arise from partial sample illumination when using the edge illumination technique. This approach preserves the incoherence and achromatic properties of edge illumination, removes the problems related to aliasing and it naturally adapts to those situations in clinical, industrial and security imaging where the image is acquired by scanning the sample relative to the imaging system. These concepts were implemented for a large field-of-view set of masks (20 cm × 1.5 cm and 15 cm × 1.2 cm), designed to work with a tungsten anode X-ray source operated up to 80–100 kVp, from which preliminary experimental results are presented.

To assess the risk of ocular damage from 4 types of light curing units (LCUs) and to estimate the maximum permissible ocular exposure times from each LCU during an 8-hour workday.Extracted human maxillary teeth were mounted in a dentoform. Four types of LCUs (plasma arc, low-power and high-power light-emitting diode, and quartz-tungsten-halogen) were used to cure a simulated restoration in the maxillary central incisor from the facial and palatal aspects. To simulate ocular exposure, the spectral irradiance (W/[cm2 · nm]) from the LCUs was measured 5 times at each of 3 distances (30 cm, 50 cm and 100 cm) from the tooth, using a cosine-corrected probe attached, via a fibre optic cable, to a calibrated spectroradiometer. The weighted blue-light and effective ultraviolet (UV) irradiances that would be received by the eye from each LCU were calculated.The maximum permissible daily exposure limits for UV light exceeded 8 hours at all distances and orientations. The maximum permissible cumulative daily exposure time to blue light was as low as 6 seconds when curing from the palatal aspect with the plasma arc LCU and as high as 1.5 hours when the low-power light-emitting diode LCU was used from the facial aspect.The 4 LCUs tested did not pose a risk of UV-mediated ocular damage. The higher-powered lamps showed potential to cause blue-light-mediated ocular damage at shorter distances, with damage potentially occurring after cumulative viewing of only 6 seconds at the 30-cm distance during an 8-hour workday.

Here we report the discovery and characterization of the Drosophila tartan gene. tartan is transcribed in an unusual embryonic pattern of intersecting stripes which are generated in response to the anterior-posterior and dorsal-ventral regulatory systems. tartan encodes a putative transmembrane protein containing extracellular leucine-rich repeats characteristic of numerous cell surface receptors and adhesion proteins. Its expression is correlated with aspects of segmentation and neurogenesis, including the formation of neuroblasts, sensory mother cells, and peripheral nerves. Mutants homozygous for a recessive lethal tartan loss-function allele exhibit defects in the position and number of cells within peripheral sense organs, the routing of peripheral nerves, and the organization of commissures within the central nervous system. Mutants are also defective in muscle organization. These results suggest that tartan is required for cell surface interactions important for normal organization of epidermal and subepidermal structures.

Between 1977 and 1988 144 patients with tumours of testicular origin were referred to the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital at Woolwich. 140 of these were malignant and all but two were treated and followed. Three of the malignant lesions appeared to be extragonadal. During the 12 year period staging has become increasingly accurate and treatment protocols have improved. These changes are reflected in this series. Ten deaths from tumour occurred (6.9%) but only one of these in the last three years of the study period despite an increasing case load at the time. The clinical presentation, treatment, and results of treatment are presented and the advances of treatment and improvement of prognosis discussed.