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The CatWISE2020 Catalog consists of 1,890,715,640 sources over the entire sky selected from Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) and NEOWISE survey data at 3.4 and 4.6 μm (W1 and W2) collected from 2010 January 7 to 2018 December 13. This data set adds two years to that used for the CatWISE Preliminary Catalog, bringing the total to six times as many exposures spanning over 16 times as large a time baseline as the AllWISE catalog. The other major change from the CatWISE Preliminary Catalog is that the detection list for the CatWISE2020 Catalog was generated using crowdsource from Schlafly et al., while the CatWISE Preliminary Catalog used the detection software used for AllWISE. These two factors result in roughly twice as many sources in the CatWISE2020 Catalog. The scatter with respect to Spitzer photometry at faint magnitudes in the COSMOS field, which is out of the Galactic Plane and at low ecliptic latitude (corresponding to lower WISE coverage depth) is similar to that for the CatWISE Preliminary Catalog. The 90% completeness depth for the CatWISE2020 Catalog is at W1 = 17.7 mag and W2 = 17.5 mag, 1.7 mag deeper than in the CatWISE Preliminary Catalog. In comparison to Gaia, CatWISE2020 motions are accurate at the 20 mas yr-1 level for W1∼15 mag sources and at the ∼100 mas yr-1 level for W1∼17 mag sources. This level of accuracy represents a 12 improvement over AllWISE. The CatWISE catalogs are available in the WISE/NEOWISE Enhanced and Contributed Products area of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive.

CatWISE is a program to catalog sources selected from combined WISE and NEOWISE all-sky survey data at 3.4 and 4.6 μm (W1 and W2). The CatWISE Preliminary Catalog consists of 900,849,014 sources measured in data collected from 2010 to 2016. This data set represents four times as many exposures and spans over 10 times as large a time baseline as that used for the AllWISE Catalog. CatWISE adapts AllWISE software to measure the sources in coadded images created from six-month subsets of these data, each representing one coverage of the inertial sky, or epoch. The catalog includes the measured motion of sources in eight epochs over the 6.5 yr span of the data. From comparison to Spitzer, signal-to-noise ratio = 5 limits in magnitudes in the Vega system are W1 = 17.67 and W2 = 16.47, compared to W1 = 16.96 and W2 = 16.02 for AllWISE. From comparison to Gaia, CatWISE positions have typical accuracies of 50 mas for stars at W1 = 10 mag and 275 mas for stars at W1 = 15.5 mag. Proper motions have typical accuracies of 10 mas yr-1 and 30 mas yr-1 for stars with these brightnesses, an order of magnitude better than from AllWISE. The catalog is available in the WISE/NEOWISE Enhanced and Contributed Products area of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive.

We present the discovery of an extremely cold, nearby brown dwarf in the solar neighborhood, found in the CatWISE catalog. Photometric follow-up with Spitzer reveals that the object, CWISEP J193518.59-154620.3, has ch1-ch2 = 3.24 ±0.31 mag, making it one of the reddest brown dwarfs known. Using the Spitzer photometry and the polynomial relations from Kirkpatrick et al. we estimate an effective temperature in the ∼270-360 K range, and a distance estimate in the 5.6-10.9 pc range. We combined the WISE, NEOWISE, and Spitzer data to measure a proper motion of mas yr-1, μ δ = -50 ±97 mas yr-1, which implies a relatively low tangential velocity in the range 7-22 km s-1.

© 2019. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. We present the Massive and Distant Clusters of WISE Survey (MaDCoWS), a search for galaxy clusters at 0.7 ≲ z ≲ 1.5 based upon data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. MaDCoWS is the first cluster survey capable of discovering massive clusters at these redshifts over the full extragalactic sky. The search is divided into two regions - the region of the extragalactic sky covered by Pan-STARRS (δ > -30°) and the remainder of the southern extragalactic sky at δ < -30° for which shallower optical data from the SuperCOSMOS Sky Survey is available. In this paper, we describe the search algorithm, characterize the sample, and present the first MaDCoWS data release - catalogs of the 2433 highest amplitude detections in the WISE-Pan-STARRS region and the 250 highest amplitude detections in the WISE-SuperCOSMOS region. A total of 1723 of the detections from the WISE-Pan-STARRS sample have also been observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope, providing photometric redshifts and richnesses, and an additional 64 detections within the WISE-SuperCOSMOS region also have photometric redshifts and richnesses. Spectroscopic redshifts for 38 MaDCoWS clusters with IRAC photometry demonstrate that the photometric redshifts have an uncertainty of σ z /(1 + z) ≃ 0.036. Combining the richness measurements with Sunyaev-Zel'dovich observations of MaDCoWS clusters, we also present a preliminary mass-richness relation that can be used to infer the approximate mass distribution of the full sample. The estimated median mass for the WISE-Pan-STARRS catalog is , with the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich data confirming that we detect clusters with masses up to M 500 ∼ 5 ×10 14 M (M 200 ∼ 10 15 M ).

Hot, dust-obscured galaxies, or "Hot DOGs," are a rare, dusty, hyperluminous galaxy population discovered by the WISE mission. Predominantly at redshifts 2-3, they include the most luminous known galaxies in the universe. Their high luminosities likely come from accretion onto highly obscured supermassive black holes (SMBHs). We have conducted a pilot survey to measure the SMBH masses of five z ∼ 2 Hot DOGs via broad Hα emission lines, using Keck/MOSFIRE and Gemini/FLAMINGOS-2. We detect broad Hα emission in all five Hot DOGs. We find substantial corresponding SMBH masses for these Hot DOGs (∼ 109 M⊙), and their derived Eddington ratios are close to unity. These z ∼ 2 Hot DOGs are the most luminous active galactic nuclei for their BH masses, suggesting that they are accreting at the maximum rates for their BHs. A similar property is found for known z ∼ 6 quasars. Our results are consistent with scenarios in which Hot DOGs represent a transitional, high-accretion phase between obscured and unobscured quasars. Hot DOGs may mark a special evolutionary stage before the red quasar and optical quasar phases, and they may be present at other cosmic epochs.

We use the multi-epoch, mid-infrared Spitzer Deep Wide-Field Survey to investigate the variability of objects in 8.1 deg2 of the NOAO Deep Wide Field Survey Boötes field. We perform a Difference Image Analysis of the four available epochs between 2004 and 2008, focusing on the deeper 3.6 and 4.5 μm bands. Out of 474, 179 analyzed sources, 1.1% meet our standard variability selection criteria that the two light curves are strongly correlated (r>0.8) and that their joint variance (σ12) exceeds that for all sources with the same magnitude by 2σ. We then examine the mid-IR colors of the variable sources and match them with X-ray sources from the XBoötes survey, radio catalogs, 24 μm selected active galactic nucleus (AGN) candidates, and spectroscopically identified AGNs from the AGN and Galaxy Evolution Survey (AGES). Based on their mid-IR colors, most of the variable sources are AGNs (76%), with smaller contributions from stars (11%), galaxies (6%), and unclassified objects, although most of the stellar, galaxy, and unclassified sources are false positives. For our standard selection criteria, 11%-12% of the mid-IR counterparts to X-ray sources, 24 μm AGN candidates, and spectroscopically identified AGNs show variability. The exact fractions depend on both the search depth and the selection criteria. For example, 12% of the 1131 known z>1 AGNs in the field and 14%-17% of the known AGNs with well-measured fluxes in all four Infrared Array Camera bands meet our standard selection criteria. The mid-IR AGN variability can be well described by a single power-law structure function with an index of γ ≈ 0.5 at both 3.6 and 4.5 μm, and an amplitude of S 0 ≃ 0.1 mag on rest-frame timescales of 2 yr. The variability amplitude is higher for shorter rest-frame wavelengths and lower luminosities. © 2010. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

The Spitzer Deep, Wide-Field Survey (SDWFS) is a four-epoch infrared survey of 10 deg2 in the Boötes field of the NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey using the IRAC instrument on the Spitzer Space Telescope. SDWFS, a Spitzer Cycle 4 Legacy project, occupies a unique position in the area-depth survey space defined by other Spitzer surveys. The four epochs that make up SDWFS permit - for the first time - the selection of infrared-variable and high proper motion objects over a wide field on timescales of years. Because of its large survey volume, SDWFS is sensitive to galaxies out to z ∼ 3 with relatively little impact from cosmic variance for all but the richest systems. The SDWFS data sets will thus be especially useful for characterizing galaxy evolution beyond z ∼ 1.5. This paper explains the SDWFS observing strategy and data processing, presents the SDWFS mosaics and source catalogs, and discusses some early scientific findings. The publicly released, full-depth catalogs contain 6.78, 5.23, 1.20, and 0.96 × 105 distinct sources detected to the average 5σ, 4″-diameter, aperture-corrected limits of 19.77, 18.83, 16.50, and 15.82 Vega mag at 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0μm, respectively. The SDWFS number counts and color-color distribution are consistent with other, earlier Spitzer surveys. At the 6 minute integration time of the SDWFS IRAC imaging, >50% of isolated Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm radio sources and >80% of on-axis XBoötes sources are detected out to 8.0μm. Finally, we present the four highest proper motion IRAC-selected sources identified from the multi-epoch imaging, two of which are likely field brown dwarfs of mid-T spectral class. © 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

Droperidol has been an efficacious, inexpensive butyrophenone used since the early 1970s to prevent or treat postoperative nausea and vomiting. Because of reports of sudden cardiac death in patients receiving droperidol, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently placed significant restrictions on its administration. These restrictions have essentially removed droperidol from use. Haloperidol is another butyrophenone with antiemetic properties but without the FDA restrictions. This article reviews the literature regarding haloperidol and supports its use as a safe substitute for haloperidol in the prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background While musculoskeletal problems are leading sources of disability, there has been little research on measuring the number of functionally limiting musculoskeletal problems for use as predictor of outcome in studies of chronic disease. This paper reports on the development and preliminary validation of a self administered musculoskeletal functional limitations index. Methods We developed a summary musculoskeletal functional limitations index based upon a six-item self administered questionnaire in which subjects indicate whether they are limited a lot, a little or not at all because of problems in six anatomic regions (knees, hips, ankles and feet, back, neck, upper extremities). Responses are summed into an index score. The index was completed by a sample of total knee replacement recipients from four US states. Our analyses examined convergent validity at the item and at the index level as well as discriminant validity and the independence of the index from other correlates of quality of life. Results 782 subjects completed all items of the musculoskeletal functional limitations index and were included in the analyses. The mean age of the sample was 75 years and 64% were female. The index demonstrated anticipated associations with self-reported quality of life, activities of daily living, WOMAC functional status score, use of walking support, frequency of usual exercise, frequency of falls and dependence upon another person for assistance with chores. The index was strongly and independently associated with self-reported overall health. Conclusion The self-reported musculoskeletal functional limitations index appears to be a valid measure of musculoskeletal functional limitations, in the aspects of validity assessed in this study. It is useful for outcome studies following TKR and shows promise as a covariate in studies of chronic disease outcomes.

Abstract Background Electron micrographs of bacteriophage T7 reveal a tail shorter than needed to reach host cytoplasm during infection-initiating injection of a T7 DNA molecule through the tail and cell envelope. However, recent data indicate that internal T7 proteins are injected before the DNA molecule is injected. Thus, bacteriophage/host adsorption potentially causes internal proteins to become external and lengthen the tail for DNA injection. But, the proposed adsorption-induced tail lengthening has never been visualized. Findings In the present study, electron microscopy of particles in T7 lysates reveals a needle-like capsid extension that attaches partially emptied bacteriophage T7 capsids to non-capsid vesicles and sometimes enters an attached vesicle. This extension is 40–55 nm long, 1.7–2.4× longer than the T7 tail and likely to be the proposed lengthened tail. The extension is 8–11 nm in diameter, thinner than most of the tail, with an axial hole 3–4 nm in diameter. Though the bound vesicles are not identified by microscopy, these vesicles resemble the major vesicles in T7 lysates, found to be E. coli outer membrane vesicles by non-denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis, followed by mass spectrometry. Conclusion The observed lengthened tail is long enough to reach host cytoplasm during DNA injection. Its channel is wide enough to be a conduit for DNA injection and narrow enough to clamp DNA during a previously observed stalling/re-starting of injection. However, its outer diameter is too large to explain formation by passing of an intact assembly through any known capsid hole unless the hole is widened.

Methionine synthase deficiency (cblG complementation group) is a rare inborn error of metabolism affecting the homocysteine re-methylation pathway. It leads to a biochemical phenotype of hyperhomocysteinemia and hypomethioninemia. The clinical presentation of cblG is variable, ranging from seizures, encephalopathy, macrocytic anemia, hypotonia, and feeding difficulties in the neonatal period to onset of psychiatric symptoms or acute neurologic changes in adolescence or adulthood. Given the variable and nonspecific symptoms seen in cblG, the diagnosis of affected patients is often delayed. Medical management of cblG includes the use of hydroxocobalamin, betaine, folinic acid, and in some cases methionine supplementation. Treatment has been shown to lead to improvement in the biochemical profile of affected patients, with lowering of total homocysteine levels and increasing methionine levels. However, the published literature contains differing conclusions on whether treatment is effective in changing the natural history of the disease. Herein, we present five patients with cblG who have shown substantial clinical benefit from treatment with objective improvement in their neurologic outcomes. We demonstrate more favorable outcomes in our patients who were treated early in life, especially those who were treated before neurologic symptoms manifested. Given improved outcomes from treatment of presymptomatic patients, cblG warrants inclusion in newborn screening., (© 2021 SSIEM.)

Purpose: Neonatal macrosomia is a known complication of maternal obesity and gestational diabetes, and it is a risk factor for obesity and diabetes in offspring. Amino acids and acylcarnitines are biomarkers for obesity in children and adults. These analytes, which are also routinely obtained on the newborn screen, have not been well-characterized in macrosomic newborns. The impact of macrosomia on rates of false-positive results in the newborn screen has also not been well-studied. We test the hypothesis that macrosomia is an interfering factor for amino acids and/or acylcarnitines on the newborn screen., Methods: Newborn screening analytes determined by tandem mass spectroscopy were obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment archives (2016-2018). This included metabolite concentrations obtained at 24-72 hours of life from newborns with birth weight 2500 to 3999 g (nonmacrosomic, n = 131 896) versus 4000 to 8000 g (macrosomic, n = 7806). Mother/infant phenotypic data were limited to information provided on the newborn screening dried blood spot card. Data were analyzed using Student t-test and chi-squared analysis., Results: Macrosomic newborns had elevations in C2, C3, dicarboxylic, and long-chain acylcarnitines (specifically C16 and C18 species). C3 and C18:1 were 2 to 3 times more likely to be above predetermined state cutoffs in macrosomic versus nonmacrosomic newborns (both male and female)., Main Conclusions: Macrosomia is an interfering factor for the analytes C3 and C18:1, leading to higher risk of false-positive results for methylmalonic/propionic acidemia and carnitine palmitoyl transferase type 2 deficiency, respectively. Analyte patterns found in macrosomic neonates correspond with similar analyte patterns in obese children and adults., (© Endocrine Society 2020. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background and Purpose: The purpose of this study was to collect information regarding healthcare worker (HCW) vaccination policies in Utah family practice clinics., Methods: The study was conducted in Utah family practice clinics in the most densely populated counties in the state and was a cross-sectional descriptive design. Data were collected from 91 family practice clinic managers. Descriptive statistics were performed, as well as a content analysis for open-ended items., Conclusions: HCWs are employed in environments where infectious diseases can be easily spread from person to person, thus, vaccinations can be instrumental in protecting the health of HCWs and patients alike. In Utah, 56.8% of family practice clinics had either no vaccination policy for HCWs or had a policy with no consequences for noncompliance. Utah family practice clinics need to implement changes to create and maintain HCW vaccination policies., Implications for Practice: Nurse practitioners can be leaders and change agents by working with their county and state health departments to create state-wide policies that mirror the position statements from the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners., (©2016 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.)

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has a long history of providing peer support for its members with substance use disorder (SUD). The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Peer Assistance Advisors Committee (PAAC) is a group of certified registered nurse anesthetist volunteers who strive to promote the awareness of SUD through education and research and provide support to certified registered nurse anesthetists and students with this disease. During the committee's 33-year history, educational outreach to nurse anesthesia educational programs and anesthesia workplaces has expanded, the peer support network has been strengthened, resources and guidelines have been developed, and research related to SUD has been conducted in an effort to accomplish these goals. Although faced with challenges along the way, the PAAC's dedication and commitment to the association and members have helped overcome these challenges as well as strengthen the program. Through its generous catalog of online resources, peer support network, and helpline, the PAAC continues to provide help to those in need.

This qualitative inquiry explored factors that protect recovering anesthetic opioid-dependent nurse anesthetists from relapse after their return to anesthesia practice. Practicing nurse anesthetists in recovery from potent opioids were recruited through online advertising and individually interviewed over the telephone. The interview consisted of open-ended questions that aided description of personal experience of individual factors. Content analysis of the interviews revealed an overarching theme of a commitment to the recovery process, which provided the foundational protective element against relapse. Within this context, two major thematic factors emerged: personal factors and external factors. Personal factors came from within the individual and included such features as removing the obsession to use, self-realization, inner strength, and seeing the future. External factors were external to the individual and described as time away from practice, state regulatory agency involvement, and talking with significant others. Although the Twelve-Step process was not a factor per se, it was credited by all participants as the structure on which their recovery was built. This process provided mechanisms for developing the motivation and learning the tools necessary to maintain their sobriety.

Tropical peatlands play an important role in the global storage and cycling of carbon (C) but information on carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from these systems is sparse, particularly in the Neotropics. We quantified short and long-term temporal and small scale spatial variation in CO2 and CH4 fluxes from three contrasting vegetation communities in a domed ombrotrophic peatland in Panama. There was significant variation in CO2 fluxes among vegetation communities in the order Campnosperma panamensis > Raphia taedigera > Cyperus. There was no consistent variation among sites and no discernible seasonal pattern of CH4 flux despite the considerable range of values recorded (e.g. -1.0 to 12.6 mg m(-2) h(-1) in 2007). CO2 fluxes varied seasonally in 2007, being greatest in drier periods (300-400 mg m(-2) h(-1)) and lowest during the wet period (60-132 mg m(-2) h(-1)) while very high emissions were found during the 2009 wet period, suggesting that peak CO2 fluxes may occur following both low and high rainfall. In contrast, only weak relationships between CH4 flux and rainfall (positive at the C. panamensis site) and solar radiation (negative at the C. panamensis and Cyperus sites) was found. CO2 fluxes showed a diurnal pattern across sites and at the Cyperus sp. site CO2 and CH4 fluxes were positively correlated. The amount of dissolved carbon and nutrients were strong predictors of small scale within-site variability in gas release but the effect was site-specific. We conclude that (i) temporal variability in CO2 was greater than variation among vegetation communities; (ii) rainfall may be a good predictor of CO2 emissions from tropical peatlands but temporal variation in CH4 does not follow seasonal rainfall patterns; and (iii) diurnal variation in CO2 fluxes across different vegetation communities can be described by a Fourier model., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Unresolved anisotropies of the cosmic near-infrared background radiation are expected to have contributions from the earliest galaxies during the epoch of reionization and from faint, dwarf galaxies at intermediate redshifts. Previous measurements were unable to pinpoint conclusively the dominant origin because they did not sample spatial scales that were sufficiently large to distinguish between these two possibilities. Here we report a measurement of the anisotropy power spectrum from subarcminute to one-degree angular scales, and find the clustering amplitude to be larger than predicted by the models based on the two existing explanations. As the shot-noise level of the power spectrum is consistent with that expected from faint galaxies, a new source population on the sky is not necessary to explain the observations. However, a physical mechanism that increases the clustering amplitude is needed. Motivated by recent results related to the extended stellar light profile in dark-matter haloes, we consider the possibility that the fluctuations originate from intrahalo stars of all galaxies. We find that the measured power spectrum can be explained by an intrahalo light fraction of 0.07 to 0.2 per cent relative to the total luminosity in dark-matter haloes of 10(9) to 10(12) solar masses at redshifts of about 1 to 4.

Introduction: 3-Methyl CoA carboxylase (3-MCC) deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism in the catabolism of the amino acid leucine. Original reports suggested this disorder was associated with significant neurological and biochemical effects. However newborn screening has identified a higher than expected incidence of this disorder with apparent normal outcome in most cases., Method: A retrospective analysis of thirty-five cases of 3-MCC deficiency identified by newborn screening and diagnosed by enzyme or molecular analysis., Results: There was a strong inverse correlation between initial C5OH level and residual enzyme activity. A few reports of hypoglycemia, ketosis, poor feeding/failure to thrive or fasting intolerance were reported, but there was no clear relationship between symptoms and residual enzyme activity. Developmental outcome included several children with mental retardation (including one with Down syndrome and one with schizencephaly) and two with Autism Spectrum disorders but there was no apparent relationship to residual enzyme activity. Free carnitine deficiency was relatively common., Discussion: Although residual enzyme activity was clearly related to metabolite elevation, there was no apparent relationship with other measures of outcome. The number of reports of neurologic abnormalities or metabolic symptoms (poor feeding, hypoglycemia, fasting intolerance, etc.) is concerning, but the significance is unclear in this retrospective sample., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Abuse and dependency on potent opioids have long been recognized as problems among nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists. Research has provided insight into the incidence of abuse, risk factors associated with this type of dependency, identification of an impaired provider, treatment for abuse and dependency, and prevention strategies. Although several factors influence the development of abuse and dependency, access to potent opioids likely has a large role. This access also makes returning to practice while in recovery extremely difficult because the temptation for relapse continually surrounds a recovering anesthesia provider. There is research supporting successful reentry of anesthesia providers into the practice of anesthesia; however, research also reveals high relapse rates among anesthesia providers who return to the practice of anesthesia. This article reviews the literature regarding opioid abuse and dependency among nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists and offers implications for future research.

Purpose: This article presents the rationale and design of the Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center's Metabolic Newborn Screening Long-Term Follow-up Study., Methods: This study is a collaboration of multi-site metabolic providers throughout the Mountain States region investigating the long-term outcomes of individuals with metabolic conditions detected by newborn screening., Results: The Mountain States Genetics Regional Collaborative Center's Metabolic Consortium developed disease-specific care plans that included baseline and follow-up datasets for all metabolic disorders detected by both standard and tandem mass spectrometry newborn screening., Conclusion: These disease-specific care plans are used at multiple metabolic clinics throughout the Mountain States region. The shared datasets consisting of both performance and outcome indicators will be used to explore questions related to the treatment and outcome of these rare metabolic disorders. They will be used to assess the impact of newborn screening by comparing those individuals detected by newborn screening with those individuals diagnosed clinically, therefore allowing the systematic investigation of factors that impact long-term outcome.

Discovered in 1898 by British chemists, xenon is a rare gas belonging to the noble gases of the periodic table. Xenon is used in many different ways, from high-intensity lamps to jet propellant, and in 1939, its anesthetic properties were discovered. Xenon exerts its anesthetic properties, in part, through the noncompetitive inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Currently, xenon is being used primarily throughout Europe; however, the high price of manufacturing and scavenging the noble gas has discouraged more widespread use. As technology in anesthetic delivery improves, xenon is being investigated further as a possible replacement for nitrous oxide as an inhalational agent. This article reviews the anesthetic properties of xenon and current and potential research about the gas.

The Arabidopsis genome contains seven genes that belong to the RecQ family of ATP-dependent DNA helicases. RecQ members in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SGS1) and man (WRN, BLM and RecQL4) are involved in DNA recombination, repair and genome stability maintenance, but little is known about the function of their plant counterparts. The Arabidopsis thaliana RecQsim gene is remarkably different from the other RecQ-like genes due to an insertion in its helicase domain. We isolated the AtRecQsim orthologues from rice and rape and established the presence of a similar insertion in their helicase domain, which suggests a plant specific function for the insert. The expression pattern of the AtRecQsim gene was compared with the other Arabidopsis RecQ-like members in different tissues and in response to stress. The transcripts of the AtRecQsim gene were found in all plant organs and its accumulation was higher in roots and seedlings, as compared to the other AtRecQ-like members. In contrast to most AtRecQ-like genes, the examined environmental cues did not have a detectable effect on the accumulation of the AtRecQsim transcripts. The budding yeast sgs1 mutant, which is known to be hypersensitive to the DNA-damaging drug MMS, was transformed with the AtRecQsim cDNA. The AtRecQsim gene suppressed the MMS hypersensitivity phenotype of the sgs1 cells. We propose that the Arabidopsis RecQsim gene, despite its unusual structure, exhibits an evolutionary conserved function.

Anesthesia for the patient with a perforated globe can be complicated. Cognizance of the anatomy and physiology of the eye, including maintenance of intraocular pressure, is essential for the development of an anesthetic plan. Since the induction phase of anesthesia is the most critical period during which intraocular pressure is affected, understanding the pharmacology of the various anesthetic agents and their effects on the eye is important. To avoid increasing intraocular pressure, a smooth, atraumatic induction is desired. However, methods to achieve this end may place the patient at risk for aspiration. Various techniques that attempt to accomplish this goal are described, including the use of narcotics, lidocaine, nitroglycerin, alpha (alpha 2) agonism, beta (beta) adrenergic and calcium channel blockades, plus the laryngeal mask airway.

The authors have identified a fourth flagellin gene in a 21850 bp region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens C58C1 chromosome containing at least 20 genes concerned with flagellar structure, assembly and function. Three flagellin genes, flaA, flaB and flaC, orientated rightward, are positioned in a tandem array at the right end, with the fourth, substantially larger gene, flaD, in the opposite orientation, at the left end. Between these lie four apparent operons, two transcribed in each direction (motA, flhB leftward; flgF, flgB rightward) from a divergent position approx 7.5 kb from the left end. This unifies the previously published motA, flgB and flaABC sequences into a single region, also containing the homologues of flhB, flgF and fliI. Site-specific mutagenesis of fliI results in a non-flagellate phenotype, while a Tn5-induced flhB mutant possesses abnormal flagella. Mutagenesis and protein profiling demonstrate that all four flagellins contribute to flagellar structure: FlaA is the major protein, FlaB and FlaC are present in lesser amounts, and FlaD is a minor component. FlaA has anomolous electrophoretic mobility, possibly due to glycosylation.

We report the DNA sequence of a 9.6-kb region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens chromosome containing a putative 8-kb chemotaxis operon. The putative operon begins with orf1, whose predicted protein product shows strong sequence identity to methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins (MCPs), followed by orf2, cheY1, cheA, cheR, cheB, cheY2, orf9, orf10. All of the identified homologues show a high degree of sequence conservation with their counterparts in the che operons from Sinorhizobium meliloti and Rhodobacter sphaeroides, and are arranged in a similar order. Mutations in orf1 and cheA result in impaired chemotaxis, whereas deletion of orf10, appears to have no effect on chemotaxis or motility. Although the putative operon does not contain a cheW homologue, heterologous probing and PCR using consensus primers indicates that cheW maps elsewhere in the Agrobacterium genome.

Predictions from a structured cortical model led us to test the hypothesis that music training enhances young children's spatial-temporal reasoning. Seventy-eight preschool children participated in this study. Thirty-four children received private piano keyboard lessons, 20 children received private computer lessons, and 24 children provided other controls. Four standard, age-calibrated, spatial reasoning tests were given before and after training; one test assessed spatial-temporal reasoning and three tests assessed spatial recognition. Significant improvement on the spatial-temporal test was found for the keyboard group only. No group improved significantly on the spatial recognition tests. The magnitude of the spatial-temporal improvement from keyboard training was greater than one standard deviation of the standardized test and lasted at least one day, a duration traditionally classified as long term. This represents an increase in time by a factor of over 100 compared to a previous study in which listening to a Mozart piano sonata primed spatial-temporal reasoning in college students. This suggests that music training produces long-term modifications in underlying neural circuitry in regions not primarily concerned with music and might be investigated using EEG. We propose that an improvement of the magnitude reported may enhance the learning of standard curricula, such as mathematics and science, that draw heavily upon spatial-temporal reasoning.

Previous investigations have suggested that the biosynthesis of the Mycobacterium avium serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens involves initial steps that include the participation of lipopeptides. The prevailing assumption is that subsequent glycosylation of those lipopeptides results in the fully glycosylated form of the glycopeptidolipid components. In an effort to identify potential precursors in the biosynthetic pathway of glycopeptidolipid components, we have identified a unique lipopeptide from an M. avium rough variant (MAC702) that was isolated from a patient suffering from a chronic M. avium lung infection. Upon examination it was revealed that although the total lipid extract from MAC702 lacked serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens, it did contain a unique lipopeptide, possessing some amino acids identical to those found in the serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens. Initial examination of acid-hydrolyzed samples of the lipopeptide (lipopeptide-I) revealed the presence of phenylalanine, alanine, and isoleucine, but no carbohydrate. Subsequent mass spectrometric and 1H-NMR and 1H-13C-NMR correlation spectroscopy analysis confirmed the initial results and also revealed the presence of N-methylisoleucine. The following structure for lipopeptide-I was proposed: fatty acyl (C19 or C17)-Phe-N-methyl-Ile-Ile-Phe-Ala-Ile-Ala-Phe. Lipopeptide-I is unlike any heretofore identified compound, however, it does have similar features to lipopeptides previously reported in mycobacteria and fungi. Although its structure does not verify that it is a direct precursor in glycopeptidolipid biosynthesis, the presence of certain components in lipopeptide-I indicate that it may share at least some pathways associated with the biosynthesis of the M. avium serovar-specific glycopeptidolipids.

Recent reports indicate that polyclonal infections may play an important role in multiple drug resistance in Mycobacterium avium infections. We report here on the isolation of a single M. avium strain that appeared to have smooth colony morphology upon initial isolation on a Lowenstein-Jensen slant. Primary subculture onto Middlebrook 7H10, however, revealed three distinct morphotypes representing smooth opaque (SmO), smooth transparent (SmT), and rough (Rg) colony morphologies. All three morphotypes were identified as M. avium by standard biochemical procedures, Genprobe analysis, and mycolic acid patterns. Subsequent restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, using SalI- and PvuII-digested genomic DNA, revealed identical patterns for hybridization with the IS1245 probe. Thin-layer chromatographic analysis of lipids from the three morphotypes revealed that only the SmT morphotype possessed what appeared to be lipid components similar to, but unlike, previously described serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens. Further analysis of internally radiolabeled deacylated lipids from the SmT morphotype, by high-performance liquid chromatography and thin-layer chromatography, disclosed that some of these components can be internally radiolabeled with [14C] phenylalanine and [14C]mannose. These results suggest that these components are structurally similar to previously described glycopeptidolipid antigens. This is apparently the first report of a monoclonal infection involving a single strain of M. avium presenting with all three colony morphotypes, SmO, SmT, and Rg.

The Mono Mac 6 (MM6) human monocytic cell line was evaluated with the established J774 murine macrophage cell line to ascertain its effectiveness in determining the intracellular activities of antimycobacterial drugs. Cells were infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and treated with drug concentrations corresponding to the MICs, as well as to threefold higher than and threefold less than the MICs. Changes in CFU were compared after 7 days to determine significant differences between treated and nontreated groups. The results suggest that MM6 will make a useful model for testing the intracellular activities of antituberculosis drugs.

Lipid fractions obtained from Mycobacterium avium serovar 8 were assessed for the ability to affect various immune functions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). Lipids included a total lipid fraction and fractions eluted from silicic acid column separation of that total lipid fraction, using chloroform and chloroform-methanol combinations. Lipid fractions were assayed for total carbohydrate and total 6-deoxyhexose content and were assessed for the ability to influence human macrophage function and the capacity to induce secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha in PBM. The total lipid and serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) fractions both induced significant levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, as well as PGE2, in PBM exposed to a sublethal concentration of 100 micrograms lipid per 2 x 10(6) cells. In addition, the same concentrations of the 5 to 7% and GPL fractions induced significant levels of leukotriene B4 in PBM. Comparison of carbohydrate and 6-deoxyhexose contents of each fraction suggested a relationship to carbohydrate content and ability of fractions to induce immune modulator secretion. Analysis of GPL fractions from M. avium serovars 4 and 20 revealed that those GPL lacked the ability to induce PGE2. These results are explained by considering the difference in the carbohydrate residues of the oligosaccharide moieties.

Previously established radiometric techniques were used to assess the effectiveness of combined antimicrobial drug-inhibitory drug (drug-inhibitor) treatment on two clinical isolates of the Mycobacterium avium complex representing three colony variants: smooth opaque (dome) (SmO), smooth transparent (SmT), and rough (Rg). All variants were identified as members of the M. avium complex; however, only the SmT colony type of strain 373 possessed characteristic serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid (GPL) antigens. MICs, determined radiometrically, of drugs with the potential to inhibit the biosynthesis of GPL antigens or other cell envelope constituents were similar for all strains. These drugs included cerulenin, N-carbamyl-DL-phenylalanine, N-carbamyl-L-isoleucine, trans-cinnamic acid, ethambutol, 1-fluoro-1-deoxy-beta-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, and m-fluoro-phenylalanine. The MICs of the antimicrobial drugs amikacin, sparfloxacin, and clarithromycin varied, but overall the MICs for the SmO variant were the lowest. Radiometric assessment of drug-inhibitor combinations by using established x/y determinations revealed enhanced activity when either ethambutol or cerulenin were used in combination with all antimicrobial agents for all variants except the Rg variant of strain 424, for which ethambutol was not effective. Enhanced activity with amino acid analogs was observed with the Rg colony variants of strains 373 and 424. Two potential sites for drug targeting were identified: fatty acid synthesis, for all strains assayed, and peptide biosynthesis, particularly for Rg colony variants that possess previously identified phenylalanine-containing lipopeptides as potential targets for future drug development.

Mycobacterial fractions, some of which are associated with the cell envelope of Mycobacterium avium serovar 4, were assessed for their ability to affect various immunological functions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM). Treatment of PBM with a total lipid fraction derived from M. avium serovar 4 resulted in a significant suppression of lymphoproliferative responsiveness to phytohemagglutinin stimulation at concentrations not affecting cell viability. Although a similar suppression was not observed when PBM were treated with purified serovar 4-specific glycopeptidolipids (GPL), treatment with the beta-lipid fragment derived from the GPL did result in a significant suppression of phytohemagglutinin responsiveness. Further studies revealed that the total lipid fraction and the beta-lipid fragment were effective at significantly reducing the ability of human macrophages to restrict the intracellular growth of mycobacteria and at stimulating PBM to secrete prostaglandin E2. These same effects were not observed when purified GPL or the reduced oligosaccharide fragment of the GPL was used. Other studies revealed that the total lipid and purified GPL fractions were effective at stimulating tumor necrosis factor alpha release from human PBM, whereas the beta-lipid fragment was not. These results indicate that mycobacterial lipids have various immunomodulatory capabilities, depending upon their chemical nature and ability to interact with certain host cells.

It has been extremely difficult to quantify temporal aspects of higher level human brain function. We have found that mental rehearsals of musical performance of several minutes duration provide such a measure in that they can be highly reproducible, varying to less than 1%. These remarkable results pose fundamental neurophysiological problems. It is necessary to understand the underlying neuronal bases for this accuracy in the spatial-temporal activity of billions of neurons over minutes without sensory input. Further, they present a powerful constraint on neuronal models of brain function. Such highly reproducible (in duration) mental rehearsals might be used in conjunction with multielectrode EEG recordings to look for reproducible spatial-temporal patterns. Further, we suggest that our results may provide an extremely useful behavioural correlate for high level performance.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has flown the COBE satellite to observe the Big Bang and the subsequent formation of galaxies and large-scale structure. Data from the Far-Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) show that the spectrum of the cosmic microwave background is that of a black body of temperature T = 2.73 +/- 0.06 K, with no deviation from a black-body spectrum greater than 0.25% of the peak brightness. The data from the Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) show statistically significant cosmic microwave background anisotropy, consistent with a scale-invariant primordial density fluctuation spectrum. Measurements from the Diffuse Infrared Background Experiment (DIRBE) provide new conservative upper limits to the cosmic infrared background. Extensive modeling of solar system and galactic infrared foregrounds is required for further improvement in the cosmic infrared background limits.

Smooth- and rough-colony variants of Mycobacterium avium serovar 4 were treated with three classes of drugs. The drugs were chosen for their potential inhibitory effects on the biosynthesis of the cell envelope-associated serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens. Growth was monitored radiometrically with a BACTEC 460-TB instrument, and MICs were determined for each drug. Both variants were then treated with inhibitory drugs in combination with antimicrobial agents that have demonstrated effectiveness against M. avium. No growth inhibition was observed with 6-fluoro-6-deoxy-D-glucose or avidin. Inhibitors of glycosylation, i.e., 2-deoxy-D-glucose, bacitracin, and ethambutol, were inhibitory to smooth- and rough-colony variants, whereas drugs that inhibit peptide synthesis, i.e., N-carbamyl-L-isoleucine and m-fluoro-phenylalanine, were more inhibitory for the rough-colony variant. Cerulenin, which affects fatty acid synthesis, was inhibitory for both variants, but it appeared to be more effective at inhibiting the growth of the smooth-colony variant at equivalent concentrations. Generally, when inhibitors of glycosylation were used with sparfloxacin and amikacin, a synergistic effect was observed for only the smooth variant. When drugs that affect peptide synthesis were used in combination with amikacin, a synergistic effect was observed for the rough variant, and when cerulenin was used in combination with sparfloxacin or amikacin, a synergistic effect was observed for both variants. Lipid analysis revealed that although the rough variant lacks the serovar-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens, it does possess a group of phenylalanine-isoleucine-containing lipopeptides that may explain its different susceptibility patterns to m-fluoro-phenylalanine and N-carbamyl-L-isoleucine. The significance of these results is discussed with reference to various components in the cell envelope and their importance in cell wall permeability.

Growth of a Mycobacterium avium complex serotype 20 rough-colony variant in 1.0% Tween 80 resulted in a smooth-colony morphological conversion that was reversible upon removal of Tween and was not associated with the presence of serotype-specific glycopeptidolipid antigens. Electron microscopic examination suggested the role of an outer layer in the Tween-related morphological modification.

We have used the avidin/biotin system to construct soluble, cross-linked bispecific heteropolymers containing mAb to both the primate E C receptor and the DNP group. These heteropolymers facilitate in vitro binding of DNP-bovine gamma-globulin (DNP-BGG) to both human and squirrel monkey E. Intravenous injection in squirrel monkeys of DNP-BGG followed by heteropolymer leads to E binding and clearance from the circulation of a significant fraction of both heteropolymer and DNP-BGG, without lysis or clearance of the E. This methodology may potentially be used to treat a variety of infectious diseases and other syndromes associated with blood-borne pathogens.