Functional analysis of ssaJ and the ssaK/U operon, 13 genes encoding components of the type III secretion apparatus of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2.
We have investigated the structure and transcriptional organization of 13 genes of Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 (SPI2) that encode components of the second type III secretion apparatus of Salmonella typhimurium. ssaK, L, M, V, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U constitute one operon of 10 kb. ssaJ lles upstream of ssaK and is the terminal gene of another operon. The deduced products of ssaJ, ssaK, ssaV, ssaN, ssaO, ssaQ, ssaR, ssaS, ssaT, and ssaU show greatest similarity to the Yersinia spp. genes yscJ, yscL, lcrD, yscN, yscO, yscQ, yscR, yscS, yscT, and yscU, respectively. The products of the ssaL, ssaM and ssaP genes do not have significant similarity to products of other type III secretion systems, and might be important for the specific function of the SPI2 type III secretion system. Bacterial strains carrying different ssa mutations display minor alterations in terms of serum sensitivity when compared with the wild-type strain, but none are defective in replication within macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells. However, some of the ssa mutant strains invade HEp2 cells less efficiently and are less cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 macrophages than the wild-type strain. We show that the invasion defect is correlated with a lack of SipC in culture supernatants of these mutant strains. SipC is a product of the SPI1 type III secretion system of S. typhimurium, and is important for epithelial cell invasion. Therefore, mutations in SPI2 can affect the SPI1 secretion system, which raises the possibility of an interaction between the two type III secretion systems.


Proposal to change Recommendation 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes.
We propose changing Recommendation 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes to clarify the ways species and subspecies can be named to honour persons.


[Incidence of postpartum depression in Trabzon province and risk factors at gestation].
Risk of depression increases in some periods of the women's life and postpartum period is one of these periods. Women in the risk group should be followed-up both prenatally and postnatally. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence and risk factors of postpartum depression in Trabzon province. Among all pregnants in the third trimester of gestation attending to six primary health care centers belonging to Trabzon province and the Hospital of Obstetrics and Pediatrics were informed about the study and of these 316 person who accepted to attend the study were applied Sociodemographic Questionnary, General Health Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory. Of these 192 women (75%) were reached at the first visit. At sixth-eighth weeks of postpartum, above mentioned inventories, excluding Sociodemographic Questionnary but additionally Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, were applied to 152 of these women (79%). All tests were re-applied to 132 (68.7%) women at their sixth month after delivery. Incidence of DSD according to Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was found 28.1% in Trabzon province. Reported depression after previous pregnancies, scores equal or above five in General Health Inventory in pregnancy and high scores in Beck Anxiety Inventory were determined as predictors of postpartum depression in the study population. As being the first follow up study of investigating the incidence of postpartum depression by a scale prepared to used this area, these findings are important to guide the further studies in connected with matter.


An approach to the radiosensitization of human tumors.
The use of biochemical modifiers of nucleotidc metabolism as clinical radiosensitizers holds renewed interest in the oncology community in light of the recently reported positive clinical trials cited in this article. In general, this approach to radiosensitization attempts to limit the effect of tumor repopulation and to reduce the efficiency of radiation damage repair in tumors during treatment. Since these drug-radiation interactions lack tumor specificity, further improvements in the therapeutic gain can only result by identifying exploitable differecnces in the biologic properties of tumors and dose-limiting normal tissues. The rapid evolution of our understanding of differences in cell cycle regulation in rumors and normal tissues is clearly one area that will likely provide new strategies for these combined modality approaches.


Refining the link between psychopathy, antisocial behavior, and empathy: A meta-analytical approach across different conceptual frameworks.
The current meta-analysis includes 477 records (N = 142,692) and comprehensively explores the complex interplay between psychopathy, antisocial behavior, and empathy. First, empathy domains (cognitive and affective) were used to dissociate antisocial behavior from psychopathy. Cognitive empathy was more impaired in antisocial groups (gcognitive = -0.43; gaffective = -0.11), while samples scoring higher in psychopathy displayed larger deficits in affective empathy (gaffective = -0.40; gcognitive = -0.22). Secondly, the specific associations between empathy domains and psychopathy dimensions were evaluated. Most effect sizes pertaining to psychopathy traits closely related to antisocial behavior were mild for both empathy domains (r = -0.03 to -0.21). Callous-affective traits were largely correlated with affective empathy (r = -0.34 to -0.46) and moderately correlated to cognitive empathy (r = -0.26 to -0.27). Diverging results were found for the interpersonal dimension, as boldness-adaptive manifestations were unrelated to cognitive empathy (r = 0.03), while non-adaptive interpersonal traits were negatively associated with both empathy domains (rcognitive = -0.16; raffective = -0.25). Overall, these findings suggest that: (1) psychopathy and antisocial behavior display distinct empathic profiles; (2) psychopathy dimensions are differentially associated with cognitive and affective empathy; (3) the interaction between interpersonal traits and empathy domains is different across the conceptual models of psychopathy.


Note: Design and fabrication of a simple versatile microelectrochemical cell and its accessories.
A microelectrochemical cell housed in an optical microscope and custom-made accessories have been designed and fabricated, which allows performing spatially resolved corrosion measurements. The cell assembly was designed to directly integrate the reference electrode close to the capillary tip to avoid air bubbles. A hard disk along with an old optical microscope was re-engineered into a microgrinder, which made the vertical grinding of glass capillary tips very easy. A stepper motor was customized into a microsyringe pump to dispense a controlled volume of electrolyte through the capillary. A force sensitive resistor was used to achieve constant wetting area. The functionality of the developed instrument is demonstrated by studying μ-electrochemical behavior of worn surface on AA2014-T6 alloy.


The roles of renal catabolism and uremia in modifying the clearance of fibrinogen and its degradative fragments D and E.
Elevated levels of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation products (FDP) occur in uremia, and have been thought to be in part related to intravascular coagulation in the kidney. More recent data indicated that delayed catabolism of fibrinogen fragment D occurred in anephric animals. To further evaluate FDP catabolism in the kidney, turnover studies of purified dog 131I-Fg-D and 125I-Fg-E were performed on dogs before and after acute subtotal nephrectomies, and later during chronic uremia. 131I-fibrinogen clearances were also perfomed. Slowed catabolism of Fg-D and Fg-E was observed in both the acute and chronic uremic stages. Altered urinary excretion was not a factor as only minimal amounts of Fg-D and Fg-E were excreted in the urine of the control animals. In the 131I-fibrinogen studies, there were significant changes in plasma volume, fibrinogen t 1/2, and intravascular/extravascular distribution, but not in fractional catabolic rate. To differentiate fully, the effects of uremia from those of loss of catabolic renal tissue, the Fg-D and Fg-E turnover studies were repeated on other animals with intact kidneys whose ureters were diverted into the peritoneum and compared to subsequent studies after total nephrectomy. The control and ureter-severed studies had the same clearance pattern, whereas decreased catabolism occurred in the nephrectomized dogs. The results demonstrate uremia per se does not have a major effect upon the catabolism of fibrinogen, Fg-D, and Fg-E. Loss of renal tissue does impair the clearance of Fg-D and Fg-E, indicating these proteins are normally catabolized in part by the kidneys. Thus elevated plasma FRA in uremic patients may reflect decreased Fg-D and Fg-E catabolism rather than increased FDP production from primary or secondary fibrinolysis.


Ternary inclusion complex formation and stabilization of limaprost, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, in the presence of α- and β-cyclodextrins in the solid state.
Limaprost/α-cyclodextrin (CD)/β-CD ternary inclusion complex was prepared by freeze-drying a solution containing all three components. Under humid conditions, limaprost was more stable in the ternary α-/β-CD inclusion complex than in the binary α- or β-CD complex. Specifically, during storage at 30°C/75% relative humidity (R.H.) for 4 weeks, about 19% of limaprost degraded into 17S,20-dimethyl-trans-Δ(2)-prostaglandin A1 (referred as 11-deoxy-Δ(10)) in the β-CD complex, 8.1% degraded in the α-CD complex, and only 2.2% degraded in the α-/β-CD complex. The mechanism of limaprost stabilization in the presence of both CDs was investigated by Raman and solid-state NMR spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffractometry. The fast degradation of limaprost to 11-deoxy-Δ(10) in the β-CD complex was due to the rapid crystallization of β-CD from the complex, liberating the free amorphous drug, which is susceptible to degradation. The dissociation and crystallization of β-CD from the inclusion complex were suppressed by freeze-drying limaprost in the presence of both α- and β-CDs. In addition, the interaction between limaprost and the two CDs was reinforced by inclusion of different moieties of limaprost: α-CD predominantly included the alkyl ω-chain, whereas β-CD included the five-membered ring. Thus, a stable ternary inclusion complex was formed that included limaprost, maintaining the amorphous state of the complex and dramatically stabilizing the drug under humid conditions.


Evidence of metabolic transformations of amino acids into higher alcohols through (13)C NMR studies of wine alcoholic fermentation.
Because the metabolite transformations in wine fermentation processes play a crucial role in the organoleptic and hygienic quality of wines, the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique is presented as a significant tool to follow metabolic pathways. In this paper, we investigated the transformation of several amino acids into their corresponding higher alcohols during the alcoholic fermentation, showing that the amino acids are totally consumed in the first stages of the process.


Cloning and Characterization of ThSHRs and ThSCR Transcription Factors in Taxodium Hybrid 'Zhongshanshan 406'.
Among the GRAS family of transcription factors, SHORT ROOT (SHR) and SCARECROW (SCR) are key regulators of the formation of root tissues. In this study, we isolated and characterized two genes encoding SHR proteins and one gene encoding an SCR protein: ThSHR1 (Accession Number MF045148), ThSHR2 (Accession Number MF045149) and ThSCR (Accession Number MF045152) in the adventitious roots of Taxodium hybrid 'Zhongshanshan'. Gene structure analysis indicated that ThSHR1, ThSHR2 and ThSCR are all intron free. Multiple protein sequence alignments showed that each of the corresponding proteins, ThSHR1, ThSHR2 and ThSCR, contained five well-conserved domains: leucine heptad repeat I (LHRI), the VHIID motif, leucine heptad repeat II (LHR II), the PFYRE motif, and the SAW motif. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that ThSCR was positioned in the SCR clade with the SCR proteins from eight other species, while ThSHR1 and ThSHR2 were positioned in the SHR clade with the SHR proteins from six other species. Temporal expression patterns of these genes were profiled during the process of adventitious root development on stem cuttings. Whereas expression of both ThSHR2 and ThSCR increased up to primary root formation before declining, that of ThSHR1 increased steadily throughout adventitious root formation. Subcellular localization studies in transgenic poplar protoplasts revealed that ThSHR1, ThSHR2 and ThSCR were localized in the nucleus. Collectively, these results suggest that the three genes encode Taxodium GRAS family transcription factors, and the findings contribute to improving our understanding of the expression and function of SHR and SCR during adventitious root production, which may then be manipulated to achieve high rates of asexual propagation of valuable tree species.


RNA-binding proteins in human genetic disease.
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are key components in RNA metabolism, regulating the temporal, spatial and functional dynamics of RNAs. Altering the expression of RBPs has profound implications for cellular physiology, affecting RNA processes from pre-mRNA splicing to protein translation. Recent genetic and proteomic data and evidence from animal models reveal that RBPs are involved in many human diseases ranging from neurologic disorders to cancer. Here we review the emerging evidence showing the involvement of RBPs in many disease networks and conclude that defects in RNA metabolism caused by aberrations in RBPs might underlie a broader spectrum of complex human disorders.


Effects of hypovolaemia or isoprenaline infusion on the sympathetic reflex response to PEEP ventilation in rats.
The aim of this investigation was to study vagally mediated sympathetic reflex responses to mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), during hypovolaemia or during high inotropic stimulation of the heart by isoprenaline infusion. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), heart rate and mean arterial pressure were studied during mechanical ventilation with zero end-expiratory pressure (ZEEP) and 5 and 10 cmH2O PEEP in chloralose anaesthetized Wistar rats. Experiments were performed on two groups of rats: eight animals were subjected to 10% blood volume depletion, and seven animals to infusion of isoprenaline. PEEP ventilation was applied during control conditions and during hypovolaemia or isoprenaline infusion before and after vagotomy. In the intact (control) situation, there was a significant increase in RSNA from ZEEP to 10 PEEP in both groups (+75%, +51%). During hypovolaemia or isoprenaline infusion, PEEP ventilation did not induce any significant increase in RSNA in both groups after vagotomy, 10 PEEP induced a significant increase in both groups (+56%, +54%). These results indicated that under conditions of hypovolaemia or increased cardiac inotropism, PEEP ventilation may elicit a vagally mediated reflex with an inhibitory action on sympathetic activity, in turn probably caused by an activation of left ventricular receptors.


The bacteriology of infected malignant ulcers.
Infected ulcerated malignant tumours are often foul smelling and covered with necrotic tissue. We have studied 70 patients with infected ulcers; 30 of the underlying lesions in these patients were carcinoma of the breast, and 19 were a variety of skin cancers. Anaerobes were the predominant organisms isolated from individual ulcers. Of the 179 anaerobes isolated, 37 were Bacteroides asaccharolyticus, 31 each were B melaninogenicus and anaerobic streptococci, 29 B fragilis, and 17 B ureolyticus. Among the facultative organisms Escherichia coli was the commonest and was isolated mainly from patients with carcinoma of the breast. Most infections were mixed, yielding both anaerobes and aerobes and this made interpretation of the role of individual pathogens difficult to assess.


Upper-Extremity Functional Performance Tests: Reference Values for Overhead Athletes.
This study aimed to provide an age, gender and sport-based normative database for three functional shoulder tests: Y Balance Test - Upper Quarter (YBT-UQ), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test (CKCUEST), and Seated Medicine Ball Throw (SMBT). A second aim was to discuss gender, age and sports differences. Finally, correlation between tests was evaluated. Overhead athletes (106 male, 100 female) between 18 and 50 years old and from three different sports (volleyball, tennis, handball) performed all functional tests. A linear mixed or regression model was applied to determine significant differences in test scores between gender, age and sports. Pearson correlation coefficients were analyzed to determine the relationship between tests. Normative values were established and divided by gender, sports and age. Results showed significant gender and age differences for all tests. For YBT-UQ, also significant side and sports differences were recorded. CKCUEST is moderately correlated with SMBT and YBT-UQ. Weak correlation was found between SMBT and YBT-UQ. In conclusion, this study provides normative data for YBT-UQ, CKCUEST and SMBT, which is clinically relevant for functionally screening overhead athletes and benchmark their performance to others from the same gender, age and sports. A combination of included tests is recommended.


[Nd-YAG laser photocoagulation of scrotal sebaceous cysts].
Scrotum's sebaceous cyst is an usual pathology, not life threatening, but susceptible of infection, producing abscess with their associated cosmetic and psychological disturbance. The classical management is the complete excision, under local anaesthesia, to prevent its recidive. Until today, the use of de Nd-YAG laser for the management of the scrotum's sebaceous cysts as not been reported. We report a case of a young man with several scrotum's sebaceous cysts, treated successfully with the use of a Nd-YAG laser.


Protein kinase C isoforms undergo quantitative variations during rat spermatogenesis and are selectively retained at specific spermatozoon sites.
Signal transduction elements, including protein kinase C, have been identified in mammalian spermatozoa. In order to evaluate the pattern of expression and the subcellular localization of nine different protein kinase C isoforms in the course of spermatogenesis, we utilized quantitative electron microscopy immunocytochemistry on thin sections of rat seminiferous tubules. The results indicate a progressive reduction of the protein kinase C isoforms present in the early stages of spermatogenesis, so that in late spermatids none of them is present in the nucleus, while the isoforms alpha, gamma and beta II are specifically retained in the acrosome, the isoforms beta I and zeta in the neck, and the isoform epsilon in the tail. These isoforms, except for beta II, are maintained at the same sites in spermatozoa. Western blotting analysis indicates the presence of alpha and gamma isoforms in the head subfraction, and of beta I, zeta and epsilon isoforms in the tail subfraction of spermatozoa. These findings suggest that specific protein kinase C isoforms may be functionally involved in some events of spermatozoa differentiation and, eventually, in the fertilization process.


The Effectiveness and Value of Oral Immunotherapy and Viaskin Peanut for Peanut Allergy.
Funding for this summary was contributed by Arnold Ventures, Commonwealth Fund, California Health Care Foundation, National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM), New England States Consortium Systems Organization, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, and Partners HealthCare to the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), an independent organization that evaluates the evidence on the value of health care interventions. ICER's annual policy summit is supported by dues from Aetna, America's Health Insurance Plans, Anthem, Allergan, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Blue Shield of CA, Cambia Health Services, CVS, Editas, Express Scripts, Genentech/Roche, GlaxoSmithKline, Harvard Pilgrim, Health Care Service Corporation, Health Partners, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), Kaiser Permanente, LEO Pharma, Mallinckrodt, Merck, Novartis, National Pharmaceutical Council, Premera, Prime Therapeutics, Regeneron, Sanofi, Spark Therapeutics, and United Healthcare. Herron-Smith and Pearson are employed by ICER, which has a contract with the University of California, San Francisco, to perform work for these analyses. Segal was employed by ICER at the time of this review. Tice and Walsh are employed by the University of California, San Francisco. Gazauskas and Hansen have nothing to disclose.


Validity of the Watzke-Allen test after a surgery for idiopathic full thickness macular hole.
To evaluate the role and validity of the Watzke-Allen test in following up patients after surgeries for an idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH). A prospective interventional analytical study Patients with idiopathic FTMH were consecutively recruited. A comparative analysis between preoperative and post operative visual acuity, macular hole status and Watzke-Allen slit beam test results was performed using a Chi-square test and a random intercept mixed model. Twenty-one patients with an average age of 65.90 +/- 6.05 years were included in the present study. Three months after surgery, macular holes were surgically closed in 13 eyes (61.9%) and still open in eight eyes (38.1%). An improvement in metamorphopsia, according to Watzke-Allen test results, was found in 61.53% of patients with closed holes and 87.5% of those with open holes. There was no statistically significant correlation between the Watzke-Allen test and the restorative status of a macular hole post surgery The Watzke-Allen test is a useful subjective assessment of visual function for diagnosis in patients with idiopathic FTMH. However the test is not beneficial in the post operative follow-up of patients.


Hemoglobin levels, cardiovascular disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with chronic kidney disease. Case study of the anemic patient.
Cardiovascular disease is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease. Anemia, a well-defined risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has been shown to contribute to the development of angina pectoris, ischemic events, and left ventricular hypertrophy. Data indicate that these cardiovascular-related disorders are often ameliorated or reversed in patients who maintain hemoglobin (Hb) levels in the 11 to 12 g/dL range recommended by NKF-K/DOQI. Conversely, Hb levels below 11 g/dL result in an increase in cardiovascular disorders and a 2.9-fold increased risk of death. Nephrology nurses should understand the interplay between Hb levels and cardiovascular disease, and how their efforts to maintain Hb levels > or = 11 g/dL can positively affect patient outcomes.


Accounting for a decaying correlation structure in cluster randomized trials with continuous recruitment.
A requirement for calculating sample sizes for cluster randomized trials (CRTs) conducted over multiple periods of time is the specification of a form for the correlation between outcomes of subjects within the same cluster, encoded via the within-cluster correlation structure. Previously proposed within-cluster correlation structures have made strong assumptions; for example, the usual assumption is that correlations between the outcomes of all pairs of subjects are identical ("uniform correlation"). More recently, structures that allow for a decay in correlation between pairs of outcomes measured in different periods have been suggested. However, these structures are overly simple in settings with continuous recruitment and measurement. We propose a more realistic "continuous-time correlation decay" structure whereby correlations between subjects' outcomes decay as the time between these subjects' measurement times increases. We investigate the use of this structure on trial planning in the context of a primary care diabetes trial, where there is evidence of decaying correlation between pairs of patients' outcomes over time. In particular, for a range of different trial designs, we derive the variance of the treatment effect estimator under continuous-time correlation decay and compare this to the variance obtained under uniform correlation. For stepped wedge and cluster randomized crossover designs, incorrectly assuming uniform correlation will underestimate the required sample size under most trial configurations likely to occur in practice. Planning of CRTs requires consideration of the most appropriate within-cluster correlation structure to obtain a suitable sample size.


Super-resolution for a dispersive spectrometer using a tilted area sensor and spectrally varying blur kernel interpolation.
The grating, lens, and linear sensor determine a spectrometer's wavelength resolution and measurement range. While conventional methods have tried to improve the optical design to obtain a better resolution, they have a limitation caused by the physical property. To improve the resolution, we introduce a super-resolution method from the computer vision field. We propose tilting an area sensor to realize accurate subpixel shifting and recover a high-resolution spectrum using interpolated spectrally varying kernels. We experimentally validate that the proposed method achieved a high spectral resolution of 0.141nm in 400-800nm by just tilting the sensor in the spectrometer.


Neurogenesis in the cerebellum.
In the past few years, genetic fate mapping experiments have changed our vision of cerebellar development, particularly in redefining the origin of gabaergic and glutamatergic neurons of the cerebellar cortex and highlighting the precise spatio-temporal sequence of their generation. Here the authors review cerebellar neurogenesis and discuss the fate mapping studies with other new information stemming from transplantation experiments, in an effort to link the developmental potential of neural progenitor populations of the cerebellum with their spatio-temporal origin.


Spore coat is altered in modB glycosylation mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum.
The modB mutation eliminates specific carbohydrate epitopes from glycoproteins which are expressed primarily in prespore and spore cells of differentiating Dictyostelium discoideum. Spores formed by the mutant show several phenotypes. Whereas mutant spores germinate efficiently after heat activation, they germinate poorly after urea activation. Following germination, at least one glycosylation-defective glycoprotein is cleaved, and the larger fragment is released in soluble form from the spore coat. However, an earlier difference in the spore coat can be traced back to the nongerminated spore coat, as detected by the elutability of protein from intact spores by chemical extraction. An altered character of the pregermination spore coat is also suggested by increased labeling by a fluorescent lectin which binds to its interior. The findings are consistent with a change in the character of certain molecular contacts leading to altered characteristics of the mutant spore coat, which are specific because they are distinctive from changes observed in another glycosylation mutant which affects a different epitope.


Spinal cord injury without radiological abnormality (SCIWORA).
SCIWORA or Spinal Cord Injury Without Radiological Abnormality; is a pre-MRI term that includes injuries to the spinal cord in the absence of radiological (plain radiographs, tomographs and CT scans) evidence of injury to the spinal column or cord. It occurs in skeletally immature spines because of the inherent plasticity of the bony structures in this age group. The prognosis is dependent on the extent of cord damage, and the role of active management is limited. A high index of suspicion is needed to establish a diagnosis. This diagnostic accuracy can be improved with the free availability of MRI scanning for the spines. We describe three cases of SCIWORA with a minimum follow-up of three years and a review of current literature.


A pilot study of anaerobic membrane digesters for concurrent thickening and digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS).
The increased interest in biomass energy provides incentive for the development of efficient and high throughput digesters such as anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) to stabilize waste activated sludge (WAS). This paper presents the results of a pilot and short term filtration study that was conducted to assess the performance of AnMBRs when treating WAS at a 15 day hydraulic retention time (HRT) and 30 day sludge retention time (SRT) in comparison to two conventional digesters running at 15 (BSR-15) and 30 days (BSR-30) HRT/SRT. At steady state, the AnMBR digester showed a slightly higher volatile solids (VS) destruction of 48% in comparison to 44% and 35.3% for BSR-30 and BSR-15, respectively. The corresponding values of specific methane production were 0.32, 0.28 and 0.21 m(3) CH(4)/kg of VS fed. Stable membrane operation at an average flux of 40+/-3.6 LM(-2 )H(-1) (LMH) was observed when the digester was fed with a polymer-dosed thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) and digester total suspended solids (TSS) concentrations were less than 15 gL(-1). Above this solids concentration a flux decline to 24.1+/-2.0 LM(-2) H(-1) was observed. Short term filtration tests conducted using sludge fractions of a 9.7 and 17.1 gL(-1) TSS sludge indicated 84 and 70% decline in filtration performance to be associated with the supernatant fraction of the sludge. At a higher sludge concentration, the introduction of unique fouling control strategy to tubular membranes, a relaxed mode of operation (i.e. 5 minutes permeation and 1 minute relaxation by) significantly increased the flux from 23.8+/-1.1 to 37.8+/-2.3 LMH for a neutral membrane and from 25.7+/-1.1 to 44.9+/-2.9 LMH for a negatively charged membrane. The study clearly indicates that it is technically feasible to employ AnMBRs to achieve a substantial reduction in digester volumes.


Effect of metronidazole on placental and fetal development in albino rats.
Metronidazole is an antiprotozoal and antibacterial used in gynecology and obstetrics for the treatment of parasitic infections. However, despite having clinical use for more than three decades, questions about the safety of its use during pregnancy is not well understood. Thus, the present study evaluated the effect of metronidazole on placental and fetal development in pregnant rats. Metronidazole was orally administered by gavage at a dosage of 130 mg/kg for 7 and 14 days. Morphological analysis, morphometry and immunohistochemistry were performed at the implantation sites and placentas with 14 days of development. The results showed that in the treated group there was a significant reduction in the number of implantation sites, total placental disc area and constituent elements of the labyrinth and spongiotrophoblast layers. Histochemical analysis revealed no significant changes in the content of collagen, elastic and reticular fibers. The TUNEL test showed apoptotic activity in the implantation sites and placentas with 14 days of development independent of the treatment. There was no evidence of malformation in the neonates. However, there was a significant reduction in the number and weight of neonates in the group treated with metronidazole when compared to the control group. Thus, it is concluded that the administration of 130 mg/kg of metronidazole during pregnancy in rats, in addition to interfering with the number of implanted embryos, promotes changes in placental structure and interferes with fetal development. This suggests that this drug should be used with caution during pregnancy.


Effect of mobility in partially occupied complex networks.
The collective dynamics of coupled oscillators has been well studied in fully occupied networks, but little attention has been paid to the case of partially occupied networks. We study this problem by a dynamic bipartite model and focus on the influence of population mobility. We find that when the density of occupied nodes is smaller than the percolation threshold rho(c), the order parameter will show an effect of mobility with optimal value at a medium moving probability. Its mechanism can be revealed through three factors, i.e., the size of the largest component, the mixing degree in individual components, and the frequency of exchange information among components. When the density of occupied nodes is larger than rho(c), the moving probability will act as a bifurcation parameter to synchronization. The effect of mobility also exists for other dynamics such as the epidemic spreading where the effect is shown through the number of infected agents.


An epidemiologic study of sudden death at work in an industrial county, 1979-1982.
The descriptive epidemiology of sudden death at work was studied in an urban, industrial county. County coroner's records were used to identify the 212 deaths that occurred at work among employed white males in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1979-1982. Occupations and industries with increased risks for either sudden natural deaths or fatal injuries at work were identified by comparison with the white male county employed population. Men employed in service occupations had the highest age-adjusted sudden natural death rate at work (27.0 per 100,000). This was 2.5 times as high as the overall county rate. Men employed in the construction industry had the highest age-adjusted rate of fatal injuries at work (24.3 per 100,000). This was 4.4 times as high as the overall county rate. Twenty-five per cent (17/68) of occupational fatalities involved multiple fatalities or injuries. Only 1 per cent (2/144) of natural deaths at work and 7 per cent (5/68) of fatal injuries had blood alcohol levels exceeding 0.1 mg/100 ml, the level of intoxication. Improvements in the prevention and surveillance of sudden deaths that occur at work are suggested. Coroner's records are suggested for use in future surveillance on sudden deaths at work because they identified more sudden deaths at work than death certificates did.


In-vivo studies on the cis-acting replication initiator protein of IncFII plasmid NR1.
Using segment-directed mutagenesis, a temperature-sensitive mutant of the gene that encodes the cis-acting RepA1 initiation protein of the IncFII plasmid NR1 was isolated. The mutant protein was unable to promote initiation of plasmid replication in vivo at 42 degrees C. Both the wild-type and the mutant repA1 genes were cloned separately into the high-expression vector plasmid pAS1. In these pAS1-repA1 derivatives, the transcription of the repA1 gene was under the control of the lambda PL promoter, which was regulated by the temperature-sensitive lambda cI857 repressor protein. The translation initiation of the repA1 mRNA from these derivatives was mediated by the lambda cII Shine-Dalgarno sequence and initiation codon. The yield of 33,000 Mr RepA1 protein detected on SDS/polyacrylamide gels from Escherichia coli cells containing the pAS1-repA1 derivatives was dependent upon whether the newly synthesized RepA1 was capable of interacting in cis with the downstream NR1 replication origin on the cloned DNA fragment. Mutations in the repA1 gene or deletions of the cis origin region dramatically increased the detectable yield of RepA1 protein. Deletion of the NR1 origin region from the pAS1 derivative containing the wild-type repA1 gene enabled the cis-acting RepA1 protein to complement partially the temperature-sensitive repA1 mutant in trans, to increase the copy number in trans of plasmids that contained the NR1 replicon, and to help NR1 derivatives overcome plasmid incompatibility. The trans effects of RepA1 provided by the pAS1-repA1 derivatives that retained the origin in cis were much less significant. RepA1 provided in trans also stimulated the replication of plasmids carrying cloned copies of the NR1 replication origin region regardless of whether the origin was transcribed from an upstream promoter.


Combination of CO2 and Q-switched Nd:YAG lasers is more effective than Q-switched Nd:YAG laser alone for eyebrow tattoo removal.
The eyebrow tattoo removal using Q-switched lasers is usually prolonged. Other modalities may be required to enhance the efficacy and shorten the treatment course. To compare the efficacy of Q-switched neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser alone versus combination of Q-switched Nd:YAG and Ultrapulse CO2 lasers for eyebrow tattoo removal after a single session. After local anesthesia, the right eyebrow of 20 patients was treated with Ultrapulse CO2 laser with the parameters of 4 J/cm(2) and 3.2 J/cm(2) for the first and the second passes. Both eyebrows were then treated with 1064-nm and 532-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. The spot size and pulse duration were 3 mm and 5 nanoseconds for both wavelengths, and the fluence was 7 J/cm(2) for 1064 nm and 3 J/cm (2) for 532 nm. The side treated with combination of Q-switched Nd:YAG and CO2 lasers improved 75-100% in 6 of 20 patients versus only 1 of 20 in the side treated with Q-switched Nd:YAG alone. Similarly, the right side in 13 of 20 patients showed more than 50% improvement with combination therapy versus the left side (the monotherapy side), where only 6 of 20 cases showed more than 50% improvement. The Mann-Whitney test was 2.85 for the right side and 1.95 for the left side (P value = 0.007). Using Ultra pulse CO2 laser enhances the efficacy of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser in eyebrow tattoo removal.