A comparison of the nature and abundance of microsatellites in 14 fungal genomes

An overview of the character of microsatellites in 14 fungal genomes was obtained by analyzing databases containing complete or nearly complete genome sequences. Low GC content, rather than genome size, was the best predictor of high microsatellite density, although very long iterations of tandem repeats were less common in small genomes. Motif type correlated with %GC in that low-GC genomes were more likely to be dominated by A/T-rich motifs, and vice versa, although some exceptions were noted. The experimentally useful dinucleotide and trinucleotide arrays were analyzed in greater detail. Although these varied in sequence and length among fungal species, some that are likely to be universally useful were identified. This information will be useful for researchers wanting to identify the most useful microsatellites to analyze for the fungi included in this survey and provides a platform for choosing microsatellites to target in fungi that are not yet sequenced.     

Regeneration Ecology of the Useful Flora of the Putu Range Rainforest, Liberia

Regeneration Ecology of the Useful Flora of the Putu Range Rainforest, Liberia. We test the hypothesis that useful plants in general, and medicines in particular, are more likely to be pioneer and herbaceous species than any other guild or habit, using data from six communities in southeastern Liberia. Of 624 surveyed species from seven locally defined vegetation classes, 228 species (36 %) were found to be useful in the categories of food, medicine, materials, and social use. Five habits account for 98 % of surveyed species: Trees, treelets (including two palm species), lianes (including root climbers), shrubs, and herbs. Four guilds account for 93 % of the surveyed species: Swamp, shade–bearer, pioneer, and non–pioneer light demander (NPLD) species. A significantly higher proportion of pioneers is found to be useful overall (55 %) and useful medicinally (69 %) than for any other guild. However, the shade–bearing guild provides the greatest number of useful species (92 species) and the greatest number of medicinal species (55 species). Fifteen species were shortlisted by the communities for their particular importance, of which only one is a pioneer species. A similar proportion of species of each habit (about one–third of species) was found to be useful overall. In the case of medicinal use in particular, a significantly larger proportion of herbs (63 %) is medicinal than for any other habit. Our study from West Africa supports the findings of others working in the neotropics that disturbed and secondary vegetation classes are important sources of useful plants, particularly medicines. However, the greatest number of useful species are shade–bearing, which are most abundant in primary forest. Familiarity with and accessibility of old–growth forests to the communities of our study site due to Liberia’s recent history is likely responsible for their usefulness.     

Olfactory Assays for Mouse Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

In many neurodegenerative diseases and particularly in Parkinson’s disease, deficits in olfaction are reported to occur early in the disease process and may be a useful behavioral marker for early detection. Earlier detection in neurodegenerative disease is a major goal in the field because this is when neuroprotective therapies have the best potential to be effective. Therefore, in preclinical studies testing novel neuroprotective strategies in rodent models of neurodegenerative disease, olfactory assessment could be highly useful in determining therapeutic potential of compounds and translation to the clinic. In the present study we describe a battery of olfactory assays that are useful in measuring olfactory function in mice. The tests presented in this study were chosen because they measure olfaction abilities in mice related to food odors, social odors, and non-social odors. These tests have proven useful in characterizing novel genetic mouse models of Parkinson’s disease as well as in testing potential disease-modifying therapies.     

Solvation studies of DMP323 and A76928 bound to HIV protease: analysis of water sites using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations.

We examine the water solvation of the complex of the inhibitors DMP323 and A76928 bound to HIV-1 protease through grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, and demonstrate the ability of this method to reproduce crystal waters and effectively predict water positions not seen in the DMP323 or A76928 structures. The simulation method is useful for identifying structurally important waters that may not be resolved in the crystal structures. It can also be used to identify water positions around a putative drug candidate docked into a binding pocket. Knowledge of these water positions may be useful in designing drugs to utilize them as bridging groups or displace them in the binding pocket. In addition, the method should be useful in finding water sites in homology models of enzymes for which crystal structures are unavailable.     

Platelet kinetics--1975.

Studies of platelet kinetics have provided useful information regarding the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and related disorders. Additionally, platelet survival studies have been useful in evaluating the efficacy of drugs that may be useful as platelet inhibitors. Many questions remain, however, and answers are needed before much of the kinetic data can be confidently applied to clinical problems in thrombosis.     

Physiological and Behavioral Responses of Horses to Wither Scratching and Patting the Neck When Under Saddle

Riding is considered to be an arousing activity for horses. It has been suggested that wither scratching may be a more useful tool for relaxation compared with the common practice of neck patting. In the current study, 18 horses were exposed to 3 treatments, including control or no interaction, neck patting, and wither scratching, for 1 min each following a short obstacle course. Heart rate, heart rate variability, and a variety of behaviors were measured in the horses. Wither scratching produced a significantly longer duration of relaxed-type behaviors. Wither scratching could be a useful tool to help a horse relax while under saddle. Additionally, the study identified 2 ear positions that may be useful for future research in horse behavior.     

Genomic patenting and the utility requirement

This paper analyses the ways in which genomic knowledge is portrayed as useful knowledge in gene patenting in order to fulfil the 'utility'/'industrial applicability' requirement for patentability. It gives examples of utility claims in gene patents and asks whether genomics (as opposed to genetics) changes our ideas about what is useful and what can be patented. It puts forward a provisional classification of different types of utility and argues that merely identifying the physiological function of a gene diverges radically from our commonsense understanding of what it is for an invention to be useful. Furthermore, social, political and ethical issues inevitably arise when discussing the utility requirement, because an invention cannot be useful in isolation from a social context.     

Radioactive Marking of Small Mammals

The literature on the use of radioactive materials in various kinds of ecological work on small mammals is reviewed under three main headings–inert implants used as markers for tracing movements, external radioactive tags used for similar purposes, and metabolizable radionuclides introduced into the animals' bodies not only for direct tracing of movements of the marked individuals, but for indirect tracing by detecting radioactive excreta, and by automatic marking of offspring and ectoparasites, which can in turn be identified and traced. A comprehensive table summarizes the literature reviewed, and summarizes also the characteristics of the various radioactive isotopes used or suggested for use.
Tests were carried out on various possible methods of using iodine-131 as a marker for small mammals. Intraperitoneal injection of 131-iodide as silver iodide or bound to an ion-exchange resin gave an unsatisfactorily short biological half-life for direct tracing but might be useful for detecting excreta. Silver 131-iodide incorporated in epoxy resin and encapsulated in metal or plastic could prove to be a useful implant.
Silver 131 -iodide paint was quickly removed from the animals' fur by grooming, but might be useful for insects.
Silver-131-iodide–Araldite mixture on a leg ring proved useful, despite the inherent disadvantages of leg rings.     

Accumulation of Nepsilon-(Hexanoyl)lysine, an oxidative stress biomarker, in rice seeds during storage

Nepsilon-(hexanoyl)lysine (HEL) is a potentially useful marker of oxidative stress in animals. We investigated whether HEL might be useful as a marker in rice seeds damaged by oxidative stress during storage, as well as in animals. The germination ability of rice decreased with lipid peroxidation during storage at 40 degrees C for three months. Moreover, we observed accumulation of HEL in the damaged rice. In addition, the activities of antioxidative enzymes, catalase and superoxide dismutase, significantly decreased in the rice seeds during storage at 40 degrees C. These results suggest that HEL might be a useful marker of oxidative stress in rice.     

Genomic patenting and the utility requirement

This paper analyses the ways in which genomic knowledge is portrayed as useful knowledge in gene patenting in order to fulfil the ‘utility’/‘industrial applicability’ requirement for patentability. It gives examples of utility claims in gene patents and asks whether genomics (as opposed to genetics) changes our ideas about what is useful and what can be patented. It puts forward a provisional classification of different types of utility and argues that merely identifying the physiological function of a gene diverges radically from our commonsense understanding of what it is for an invention to be useful. Furthermore, social, political and ethical issues inevitably arise when discussing the utility requirement, because an invention cannot be useful in isolation from a social context.     

Design and Evaluation of a Specific Primer Pair for the Diagnosis and Identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthamoeba polyphaga</Emphasis>

Random amplified polymorphism DNA (RAPD) is a useful tool for species identification. The obtained band patterns can be used for specific primer pair design that may be useful for species diagnosis. In this study, a distinctive a 962-bp band in A. polyphaga band patterns was found, by using the OPC20 primer (ACTTCGCCAC). The DNA fragment was used to design a specific primer pair that was useful for the identification of different isolates as A. polyphaga species. A case of A. polyphaga in disseminated acanthamoebiasis affecting mesenteric nodes is also reported.     

A new electrophoretic-autoradiographic method for the visual detection of phosphotransferases

In this paper we present the details of a slab acrylamide, lanthanum precipitation, autoradiographic technique and show it to be useful for the visualization of at least four different enzymes. We believe that with appropriate separation conditions and reaction mixtures this technique could be extended to a larger number of enzymes, theoretically all those whose isotopically labeled product could be specifically precipitated within the matrix of a polyacrylamide gel. It will be interesting to use this technique with other gel buffer systems, particularly those with a lower pH that have recently been reported (21). In addition, it might be useful to combine it with isoelectric focusing in slab gels (10). The technique would appear to be particularly useful for phosphotransferases and, to date, it has been applied to thymidine kinase and adenosine kinase with encouraging results. Work with other enzymes, and adapting the technique to starch gels, is also in progress.     

Application of the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction for the modification of phenylalanine peptides

We have demonstrated an exceptionally simple and a useful methodology for modification of unusual phenylalanine peptides by adapting the building block approach using the Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction as a key step. This strategy gave a good overall yield of various modified tri- and pentapeptides that may be useful to prepare various biologically active peptides in a short period of time.     

A survey of biochemical variants found in groundfish stocks from the North Pacific and Bering Sea

This report provides information on biochemical variants found in 17 species. These variants may be useful in answering some of the questions facing fisheries agencies concerning stock separation, hybridization, and life histories. Further studies should provide useful information in the areas of population biology of fishes in Alaskan waters.     

Paleontological completeness of the record of lower tertiary mollusks,U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains: Implications for phylogenetic studies

Choice of method in phylogenetic analysis should involve some consideration of the quality or completeness of the available fossil record. If it is poor, cladistic methods are preferable; if it is good, stratophenetic methods may be valid. A concept of paleontological completeness, defined herein, is useful for judging the quality of a given fossil record. This paper considers eight possible measures of paleontological completeness, and evaluates their value as phylogenetically useful estimates of the quality of the fossil record. Of the eight measures, Sadler‐Schindel type analysis of stratigraphic completeness and analysis of geographic ranges appear to be the most useful and reliable. The remaining six are useful only as rough approximations of the quality of the record, or as supporting evidence for conclusions based on other methods. Use of these eight measures on the lower Tertiary molluscan record of the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coastal plains indicates that this record is approximately 30–50% complete. This is probably not complete enough to trust purely stratophenetic approaches to phylogenetic analysis, but is too complete to ignore the record in favor of a purely atemporal, cladistic approach. The concept of paleontological completeness may be useful in estimating the quality of this and other fossil records for non‐phylogenetic purposes, such as studies of evolutionary rates and diversity and extinction patterns.     

Pregnancy diagnosis in squirrel monkeys: hemagglutination test, radioimmunoassay, and bioassay of chorionic gonadotropin.

The Nonhuman Primate Pregnancy Test may be useful for diagnosis of pregnancy in squirrel monkeys between 40 and 60 days in pregnancy. However, single determinations have an inherent 10% risk of false negative responses caused by low chorionic gonadotropin levels; thus, initial negative test responses should be followed within one week by an independent confirmatory test. Preliminary results with this hemagglutination inhibition test compare favorably with bioassay and may be useful, in conjunction with conventional uterine palpation, for diagnosis of pregnancy in squirrel monkeys.     

3-ethyl and 3-methyl ethers of 19-iodocholesterol as potential adrenal scanning agents

19-Iodocholesterol-¹³¹I, though useful as an adrenal scanning agent, was found to be unstable. However, the substitution of methoxyl and ethoxyl groups for the hydroxyl group in the 3 position rendered these derivatives much more stable in solid form than the parent compound. They showed concentration in the adrenals of dogs similar to that of 19-iodocholesterol itself and therefore may be useful as adrenal scanning agents.     

RAP—PCXR技术及其应用

RAP－PCXR是以PCR为基础构建RNA指纹图谱,研究基因差异表达的有效方法,所显示的种系特异性差异可用于对基因的遗传作图,所揭示的组织特异性可用于研究特异基因的表达。该法可检测各种情形下RNA群体间的差异。本简介其基本原理及在基因差异表达研究领域的最新应用。     

A method for the assay of fibrinopeptide in plasma

Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) levels have been assayed in 10 normal subjects using a radioimmunoassay (RIA-mat FPA Mallinckrodt). Mean values were 0,97 +/- 0,46 ng/ml. The variation coefficient of the test was 4,82%. The method is well standardized and seems to be useful in the diagnosis of venous thrombosis and in the control of heparin treatment. It seems to be also useful in the evidentiation of an activation af the coagulation system in some diseases (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes etc.)     

Quantitative analysis of immunoglobulin-containing cells in gastrointestinal pathology

The morphometric quantitative analysis of immunoglobulin-containing cells in gastrointestinal biopsies was explored as a possible additional parameter in making the histologic diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases. Determination of immunoglobulin-containing cells was useful in the differential diagnosis of small intestinal disorders and may be useful in inflammatory diseases of the colon. However, before its general application in diagnosing inflammatory diseases of the colon can be advocated, prospective studies are necessary to determine the specificity and sensitivity of the quantitative analysis of immunoglobulin-containing cells in individual cases of large bowel disease.