Analysis of the seasonality of acute intestinal diseases with regard to the detection of dysentery by antigen indication

Coincidence in the seasonal changes of the registered morbidity in dysentery and in other acute intestinal diseases is observed. The occurrence of Shigella antigens, detected with the use of erythrocyte diagnostic reagents, in the excreta of patients with the clinical diagnosis of dysentery and patients with other acute intestinal disease has a seasonal character, its peak coinciding with the period of increased morbidity in bacteriologically confirmed dysentery. The correction of monthly morbidity levels in dysentery and in other acute intestinal diseases with due regard for the proportion of Shigella antigens in the findings, made in the groups of patients with the clinical diagnosis of dysentery and with the diagnosis of other acute intestinal diseases for the corresponding month, has revealed that the actual morbidity in other acute intestinal diseases has a less pronounced seasonal character in comparison with the registered morbidity. This fact substantiates the statement that in the group of patients with other acute intestinal diseases a large proportion of such diseases is, actually, of a noninfectious nature.     

The unique locomotor apparatus of whirligig beetles of the tribe Orectochilini (Gyrinidae,Coleoptera)

Whirligig beetles, which are known for their rapid gliding on the water surface, have evolved a unique locomotor apparatus. External and internal thoracic structures of Orectochilus villosus (Orectochilini) are described in detail and documented with microcomputed tomography, computer‐based 3D reconstructions, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results are compared with conditions found in other genera of Gyrinidae and other groups of Coleoptera. The focus is on structures linked with locomotion, especially on the unusual flight apparatus, which differs strongly from that of other beetles. As in the other Orectochilini, the prothorax of Orectochilus displays characters typical for Gyrinidae, with triangular procoxae and forelegs transformed into elongated, sexually dimorphic grasping devices. The musculature of this segment is similar to the pattern found in other Coleoptera. Similar to all other extant Gyrinidae, the mesothorax is characterized by an extensive and flat mesoventrite, suitable for gliding on the water surface. As in Heterogyrinae and the other Gyrininae, the pterothoracic legs are transformed into paddle‐like structures, enabling the beetles to move with high speed on the surface film. The musculature of the mesothorax is reduced compared to other Coleoptera, but similar to what is found in the other Gyrininae. The metathoracic skeleton and musculature are simplified in Orectochilini compared to other Gyrininae and other groups of Coleoptera. In O. villosus, only 10 metathoracic muscles are preserved. 36 are present in an archostematan beetle, a condition probably close to the coleopteran ground plan. The metathoracic dorsal longitudinal bundles are absent in Gyrininae, muscles that play a role as indirect flight muscles in most other neopteran insects. The rest of the posteromotoric flight apparatus is distinctly modified, with a limited number of skeletomuscular elements taking over more functions. The large muscle M84 (IIIdvm7) M. noto–trochanteralis, for instance, functions as dominant wing levator, but is also responsible for the powerful and rapid backstroke of the hind legs. The presence of this muscle is a synapomorphy of Heterogyrinae and Gyrininae. The narrow metafurca in the latter group is likely linked to its large size. The elytra likely contribute to the control of the flight of the beetle, whereas they shield and inhibit the flight apparatus during swimming.     

Congenital defects of the upper lateral incisors (ULI): Condition and measurements of the other teeth,measurements of the superior arch,head and face

We surveyed a French male population for the incidence of missing or reduced upper lateral incisors (ULI). In 5,738 subjects, we observed an incidence of 1.59% with one or two reduced ULI (the other normal) and 1.90% with one or two missing ULI (the other normal or reduced), altogether, 3.49% affected subjects. Furthermore, 250 random controls were observed. Agenesis of other teeth is more frequent in propositi. Missing third molars were 12.4% in controls, 24.0% in propositi with reduced ULI and 39.6% in propositi with two missing ULI. Furthermore, agenesis of incisors, canines and premolars ranges from 0.4% in controls to 1.3% in propositi having reduced ULI and 5.0% in propositi with two missing ULI. So, propositi with reduced ULI are intermediate between the controls and the propositi with missing ULI with respect to the frequency of agenesis of other teeth. On the other hand, a different ranking is observed with respect to the teeth measurements: reduction of tooth size is more marked in propositi with reduced ULI than in propositi with missing ULI. The reduction mainly affects canines, incisors and to a lesser degree, premolars. Arch length and interpremolar diameters are smaller in propositi with missing ULI, compared with controls.     

People Bouncing on Trampolines: Dramatic Energy Transfer,a Table-Top Demonstration,Complex Dynamics and a Zero Sum Game

Jumping on trampolines is a popular backyard recreation. In some trampoline games (e.g., “seat drop war”), when two people land on the trampoline with only a small time-lag, one person bounces much higher than the other, as if energy has been transferred from one to the other. First, we illustrate this energy-transfer in a table-top demonstration, consisting of two balls dropped onto a mini-trampoline, landing almost simultaneously, sometimes resulting in one ball bouncing much higher than the other. Next, using a simple mathematical model of two masses bouncing passively on a massless trampoline with no dissipation, we show that with specific landing conditions, it is possible to transfer all the kinetic energy of one mass to the other through the trampoline – in a single bounce. For human-like parameters, starting with equal energy, the energy transfer is maximal when one person lands approximately when the other is at the bottom of her bounce. The energy transfer persists even for very stiff surfaces. The energy-conservative mathematical model exhibits complex non-periodic long-term motions. To complement this passive bouncing model, we also performed a game-theoretic analysis, appropriate when both players are acting strategically to steal the other player''s energy. We consider a zero-sum game in which each player''s goal is to gain the other player''s kinetic energy during a single bounce, by extending her leg during flight. For high initial energy and a symmetric situation, the best strategy for both subjects (minimax strategy and Nash equilibrium) is to use the shortest available leg length and not extend their legs. On the other hand, an asymmetry in initial heights allows the player with more energy to gain even more energy in the next bounce. Thus synchronous bouncing unstable is unstable both for passive bouncing and when leg lengths are controlled as in game-theoretic equilibria.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MITOSIS AND CYTOKINESIS IN THE MULTINUCLEATE GREEN ALGA ACROSIPHONIA

The processes of mitosis and cytokinesis in the multinucleate green alga Acrosiphonia have been examined in the light and electron microscopes. The course of events in division includes thickening of the chloroplast and migration of numerous nuclei and other cytoplasmic incusions to form a band in which mitosis occurs, while other nuclei in the same cell but not in the band do not divide. Centrioles and microtubules are associated with migrated and dividing nuclei but not with nonmigrated, nondividing nuclei. Cytokinesis is accomplished in the region of the band, by means of an annular furrow which is preceded by a hoop of microtubules. No other microtubules are associated with the furrow. Characteristics of nuclear and cell division in Acrosiphonia are compared with those of other multinucleate cells and with those of other green algae.     

Pair association between lambs of different breeds born to Jacob and Dalesbred ewes after embryo transplantation

Seven pairs of lambs, each pair consisting of one Dalesbred and one Jacob lamb born to either a Dalesbred or a Jacob ewe following embryo transplant, were observed for 5 weeks in a field. The association of the lambs with their sibling and with other sheep in the field was recorded. The lambs were seen to be with their dam 53% of the time at 10 weeks and this fell to 42% in weeks 11 and 12. They spent more than twice the amount of time near to a sibling than with any other lamb (54% and 25%). When the ewes were removed from the field, the lambs bunched together and the association with siblings and with other lambs increased. There was no breed identity amongst the lambs, but the Jacob ewes mixed more with other Jacobs and Dalesbred ewes mixed more with other Dalesbreds. Comparisons were made with pairs of genetically related Jacob lambs. It is concluded that association between lambs born to the same ewe is the result of that birth and subsequent upbringing and not due to genetic inheritance.     

Dynamin isoform-specific interaction with the shank/ProSAP scaffolding proteins of the postsynaptic density and actin cytoskeleton

Dynamin is a GTPase involved in endocytosis and other aspects of membrane trafficking. A critical function in the presynaptic compartment attributed to the brain-specific dynamin isoform, dynamin-1, is in synaptic vesicle recycling. We report that dynamin-2 specifically interacts with members of the Shank/ProSAP family of postsynaptic density scaffolding proteins and present evidence that dynamin-2 is specifically associated with the postsynaptic density. These data are consistent with a role for this otherwise broadly distributed form of dynamin in glutamate receptor down-regulation and other aspects of postsynaptic membrane turnover.     

The Role of Formin Tails in Actin Nucleation,Processive Elongation,and Filament Bundling

Formins are multidomain proteins that assemble actin in a wide variety of biological processes. They both nucleate and remain processively associated with growing filaments, in some cases accelerating filament growth. The well conserved formin homology 1 and 2 domains were originally thought to be solely responsible for these activities. Recently a role in nucleation was identified for the Diaphanous autoinhibitory domain (DAD), which is C-terminal to the formin homology 2 domain. The C-terminal tail of the Drosophila formin Cappuccino (Capu) is conserved among FMN formins but distinct from other formins. It does not have a DAD domain. Nevertheless, we find that Capu-tail plays a role in filament nucleation similar to that described for mDia1 and other formins. Building on this, replacement of Capu-tail with DADs from other formins tunes nucleation activity. Capu-tail has low-affinity interactions with both actin monomers and filaments. Removal of the tail reduces actin filament binding and bundling. Furthermore, when the tail is removed, we find that processivity is compromised. Despite decreased processivity, the elongation rate of filaments is unchanged. Again, replacement of Capu-tail with DADs from other formins tunes the processive association with the barbed end, indicating that this is a general role for formin tails. Our data show a role for the Capu-tail domain in assembling the actin cytoskeleton, largely mediated by electrostatic interactions. Because of its multifunctionality, the formin tail is a candidate for regulation by other proteins during cytoskeletal rearrangements.     

Sec2 is a highly efficient exchange factor for the Rab protein Sec4

Sec2 is a reversibly membrane associated multi-domain protein with guanine nucleotide exchange activity towards the yeast Rab-protein Sec4. Both proteins are localized to secretory vesicles destined for exocytosis. We have used transient kinetic methods to show that Sec2 is a highly active exchange factor, in contrast to other proteins previously characterized as Rab exchange factors. With a K(d) value for the Sec2:Sec4.GDP interaction of ca 70 microM and a maximal rate of GDP displacement of ca 15 s(-1), it is 100-1000-fold more effective than other proteins showing exchange activity towards Rabs (MSS4, DSS4, Vps9) and ca tenfold faster than Cdc25 as a Ras specific exchanger, although still 100-fold slower than the fastest systems studied so far, EF-Tu/Ef-Ts and Ran/RCC1. A comparison with other proteins showing Rab exchange activity shows that maximal rates of GDP dissociation catalyzed by Sec2 are orders of magnitude faster. When comparing Sec2 with DSS4, which also acts on Sec4, the difference was particularly dramatic. Another difference is seen in the kinetics of association of GTP with the Sec4:Sec2 complex, a process which is extremely slow for DSS4/MSS4 complexes with cognate Rabs but in the range observed for other GTPase:exchanger complexes for Sec4:Sec2., It is suggested that systems such as Ef-Tu/Ef-Ts and Ran/RCC1 have evolved for maximal possible activity for the interaction between two soluble proteins, whereas other evolutionary constraints which are connected to the spatial and temporal coordination of events in vesicular transport and other regulatory networks have determined the detailed kinetic properties of the other systems.     

The role of anidulafungin therapy in solid organ transplant recipients

Anidulafungin is a new echinocandin recently approved for the treatment of esophageal candidiasis, candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis, such as peritonitis and intra-abdominal abscesses in non-neutropenic patients. It is fungicidal against Candida spp. and fungistatic against Aspergillus spp. It is active against Pneumocystis jirovecii. In contrast, anidulafungin does not have activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, Zygomycetes or molds, other than Aspergillus spp. The drug is well tolerated, even in patients with renal or hepatic impairment. In contrast to other echinocandins, it does not significantly interfere with the cytochrome P450 pathway and has a low drug-drug interaction profile, including calcineurinic agents and other drugs used in transplant recipients. So far, anidulafungin appears to have an excellent safety profile with few adverse events and it promises a special consideration in the management of fungal infections happening in transplant recipients.     

PARSIMONY, HOMOLOGY AND THE ANALYSIS OF MULTISTATE CHARACTERS

Abstract— The order of states in a transformation series describes an internested set of synapomorphies. States adjacent to each other in the transformation series thus share a degree of homology not found in the other states. Whether the level of homology is relatively apomorphic is determined by rooting the order with outgroup comparison. The analysis of state order is a homology problem and is solved with a two-step process using similarity and congruence with other characters as criteria. Other methods that have been proposed (e.g. transformation series analysis, non-additive analysis, morphocline analysis, ontogenetic analysis) fail to apply both similarity and congruence, and thus cannot be used independently for determining character state order.     

Homologies of the flower and inflorescence in the early-divergent grass Anomochloa (Poaceae)

? Premise of the study: The grass subfamily Anomochlooideae is phylogenetically significant as the sister group to all other grasses. Thus, comparison of their structure with that of other grasses could provide clues to the evolutionary origin of these characters. ? Methods: We describe the structure, embryology, and development of the flower and partial inflorescence of the monotypic Brazilian grass Anomochloa marantoidea. We compare these features with those of other early-divergent grasses such as Pharus and Streptochaeta and closely related Poales such as Ecdeiocolea. ? Key results: Anomochloa possesses several features that are characteristic of Poaceae, notably a scutellum, a solid style, reduced stamen number, and an ovary with a single ovule that develops into a single indehiscent fruit. Interpretation of floral patterning in Anomochloa is problematic because the ramification pattern of the florets places the bracts and axes in unusual positions relative to the primary inflorescence axis. Our study indicates that there is a single abaxial carpel in Anomochloa, probably due to a cryptic type of pseudomonomery in Anomochloa that resembles the pseudomonomery of other grasses. On the other hand, the Anomochloa flower differs from the "typical" grass flower in lacking lodicules and possessing four stamens, in contrast with the tristaminate condition that characterizes many other grasses. ? Conclusions: Using the median part of the innermost bract as a locator, we tentatively homologize the inner bract of the Anomochloa partial inflorescence with the palea of other grasses. In this interpretation, the pattern of monosymmetry due to stamen suppression differs from that of Ecdeiocolea.     

Using LogitBoost classifier to predict protein structural classes

Prediction of protein classification is an important topic in molecular biology. This is because it is able to not only provide useful information from the viewpoint of structure itself, but also greatly stimulate the characterization of many other features of proteins that may be closely correlated with their biological functions. In this paper, the LogitBoost, one of the boosting algorithms developed recently, is introduced for predicting protein structural classes. It performs classification using a regression scheme as the base learner, which can handle multi-class problems and is particularly superior in coping with noisy data. It was demonstrated that the LogitBoost outperformed the support vector machines in predicting the structural classes for a given dataset, indicating that the new classifier is very promising. It is anticipated that the power in predicting protein structural classes as well as many other bio-macromolecular attributes will be further strengthened if the LogitBoost and some other existing algorithms can be effectively complemented with each other.     

Mutations in the paired domain of the human PAX3 gene cause Klein-Waardenburg syndrome (WS-III) as well as Waardenburg syndrome type I (WS-I).

Waardenburg syndrome type I (WS-I) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, dystopia canthorum, pigmentary disturbances, and other developmental defects. Klein-Waardenburg syndrome (WS-III) is a disorder with many of the same characteristics as WS-I and includes musculoskeletal abnormalities. We have recently reported the identification and characterization of one of the first gene defects, in the human PAX3 gene, which causes WS-I. PAX3 is a DNA-binding protein that contains a structural motif known as the paired domain and is believed to regulate the expression of other genes. In this report we describe two new mutations, in the human PAX3 gene, that are associated with WS. One mutation was found in a family with WS-I, while the other mutation was found in a family with WS-III. Both mutations were in the highly conserved paired domain of the human PAX3 gene and are similar to other mutations that cause WS. The results indicate that mutations in the PAX3 gene can cause both WS-I and WS-III.     

Floral development and floral phyllotaxis in Anaxagorea (Annonaceae)

Background and Aims Anaxagorea is the phylogenetically basalmost genus in the large tropical Annonaceae (custard apple family) of Magnoliales, but its floral structure is unknown in many respects. The aim of this study is to analyse evolutionarily interesting floral features in comparison with other genera of the Annonaceae and the sister family Eupomatiaceae. Methods Live flowers of Anaxagorea crassipetala were examined in the field with vital staining, liquid-fixed material was studied with scanning electron microscopy, and microtome section series were studied with light microscopy. In addition, herbarium material of two other Anaxagorea species was cursorily studied with the dissecting microscope. Key Results Floral phyllotaxis in Anaxagorea is regularly whorled (with complex whorls) as in all other Annonaceae with a low or medium number of floral organs studied so far (in those with numerous stamens and carpels, phyllotaxis becoming irregular in the androecium and gynoecium). The carpels are completely plicate as in almost all other Annonaceae. In these features Anaxagorea differs sharply from the sister family Eupomatiaceae, which has spiral floral phyllotaxis and ascidiate carpels. Flat stamens and the presence of inner staminodes differ from most other Annonaceae and may be plesiomorphic in Anaxagorea. However, the inner staminodes appear to be non-secretory in most Anaxagorea species, which differs from inner staminodes in other families of Magnoliales (Eupomatiaceae, Degeneriacae, Himantandraceae), which are secretory. Conclusions Floral phyllotaxis in Anaxagorea shows that there is no signature of a basal spiral pattern in Annonaceae and that complex whorls are an apomorphy not just for a part of the family but for the family in its entirety, and irregular phyllotaxis is derived. This and the presence of completely plicate carpels in Anaxagorea makes the family homogeneous and distinguishes it from the closest relatives in Magnoliales.     

The effects of anthropogenic sources of sound on fishes

There is increasing concern about the effects of pile driving and other anthropogenic (human-generated) sound on fishes. Although there is a growing body of reports examining this issue, little of the work is found in the peer-reviewed literature. This review critically examines both the peer-reviewed and 'grey' literature, with the goal of determining what is known and not known about effects on fish. A companion piece provides an analysis of the available data and applies it to estimate noise exposure criteria for pile driving and other impulsive sounds. The critical literature review concludes that very little is known about effects of pile driving and other anthropogenic sounds on fishes, and that it is not yet possible to extrapolate from one experiment to other signal parameters of the same sound, to other types of sounds, to other effects, or to other species.     

Tuberculosis and Alcoholism

Of 227 chronic alcoholics studied in jail, 20 (9%) had a previous diagnosis of tuberculosis. The chest radiographs of 202 of these inmates were compared with those of 187 inmates serving sentences for other offences. Significant findings compatible with tuberculosis were noted in 34 of 202 (16.8%) chronic alcoholics and in two of 187 (1.1%) other offenders. Tuberculin testing of 98 inmates revealed that 80.6% of the chronic alcoholics and 33.3% of the other offenders had positive skin tests. It is suggested that the mixing in jail of a potentially highly infectious group with susceptible individuals is undesirable and that other methods of management should be considered.     

Does artificial selection on diapause incidence cause correlational changes in other life‐history traits? Case study in a spider mite population

Theoretical studies suggest that the timing of entering hibernation by arthropods has large effects on long-term fitness, incurring strong selection pressure on diapause attributes every year. On the other hand, diapause attributes are often genetically correlated with other important life-history traits such as fecundity or development time. To understand the evolutionary process of life cycle formation, there is a need to investigate not only diapause attributes themselves but also their genetic association with other life-history traits. The Kanzawa spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai Kishida (Acari: Tetranychidae), is a small herbivore that lives on the undersurface of host plant leaves. This mite has been investigated for the mode of inheritance of diapause attributes, but scarcely for genetic correlations with other life-history traits. Here, I investigated whether diapause proneness, measured as the proportion of diapausing females under short-day conditions, is genetically correlated with fecundity or development time under long-day conditions using artificial selection experiments. Diapause incidence responded to the selection for both increasing and decreasing directions, suggesting that high genetic variance in diapause proneness is maintained in the study population. However, the change in proportion of diapausing females during the selection period was not associated with responses in fecundity or development time. These results suggest that diapause proneness and other life-history traits have different genetic backgrounds, and thus diapause proneness may freely evolve without being constrained by changes in other life-history traits.     

The estimation of sperm motility in semen, on a membrane slide, by measuring the area change frequency with an image analysing computer.

A simple slide is described in which the base is a permeable membrane so that a suspension of spermatozoa (or other cells) may be examined under controlled conditions with a microscope. An objective method of assessing the motility of spermatozoa in undiluted or diluted semen from a wide variety of species including cattle, horse, pig, rabbit, rat and sheep is described. It is shown to be well correlated with other methods of assessing motility and also with the non-return rate obtained with frozen cattle semen.