Alcohol Advertising in Sport and Non-Sport TV in Australia,during Children’s Viewing Times

Estimate the amount of alcohol advertising in sport vs. non-sport programming in Australian free-to-air TV and identify children’s viewing audience composition at different times of the day. Alcohol advertising and TV viewing audience data were purchased for free-to-air sport and non-sport TV in Australia for 2012. We counted alcohol advertisements in sport and non-sport TV in daytime (6am-8.29pm) and evening periods (8.30pm-11.59pm) and estimated viewing audiences for children and young adults (0–4 years, 5–13 years, 14–17 years, 18–29 years). During the daytime, most of the alcohol advertising (87%) was on sport TV. In the evening, most alcohol advertising (86%) was in non-sport TV. There was little difference in the mean number of children (0–17 years) viewing TV in the evening (N = 273,989), compared with the daytime (N = 235,233). In programs containing alcohol advertising, sport TV had a greater mean number of alcohol adverts per hour (mean 1.74, SD = 1.1) than non-sport TV (mean 1.35, SD = .94). Alcohol advertising during the daytime, when large numbers of children are watching TV, is predominantly in free-to-air sport TV. By permitting day-time advertising in sport programs and in any programs from 8.30pm when many children are still watching TV, current regulations are not protecting children from exposure to alcohol advertising.     

Evaluation of envelope vaccines derived from the South African subtype C human immunodeficiency virus type 1 TV1 strain

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C infections are on the rise in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Therefore, there is a need to develop an HIV vaccine capable of eliciting broadly reactive immune responses against members of this subtype. We show here that modified HIV envelope (env) DNA vaccines derived from the South African subtype C TV1 strain are able to prime for humoral responses in rabbits and rhesus macaques. Priming rabbits with DNA plasmids encoding V2-deleted TV1 gp140 (gp140TV1DeltaV2), followed by boosting with oligomeric protein (o-gp140TV1DeltaV2) in MF59 adjuvant, elicited higher titers of env-binding and autologous neutralizing antibodies than priming with DNA vaccines encoding the full-length TV1 env (gp160) or the intact TV1 gp140. Immunization with V2-deleted subtype B SF162 env and V2-deleted TV1 env together using a multivalent vaccine approach induced high titers of oligomeric env-binding antibodies and autologous neutralizing antibodies against both the subtypes B and C vaccine strains, HIV-1 SF162 and TV1, respectively. Low-level neutralizing activity against the heterologous South African subtype C TV2 strain, as well as a small subset of viruses in a panel of 13 heterologous primary isolates, was observed in some rabbits immunized with the V2-deleted vaccines. Immunization of rhesus macaques with the V2-deleted TV1 DNA prime/protein boost also elicited high titers of env-binding antibodies and moderate titers of autologous TV1 neutralizing antibodies. The pilot-scale production of the various TV1 DNA vaccine constructs and env proteins described here should provide an initial platform upon which to improve the immunogenicity of these subtype C HIV envelope vaccines.     

Television viewing and long-term weight maintenance: results from the National Weight Control Registry

Objective: To examine the role of television (TV) viewing in long‐term maintenance of weight loss. Research Methods and Procedures: All subjects (N = 1422) were enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), a national sample of adults who have maintained a minimum weight loss of 13.6 kg for at least 1 year. Participants self‐reported the average number of hours of weekly TV viewing at entry into the NWCR and at a 1‐year follow‐up. Cross‐sectional and prospective analyses were performed to determine the frequency of TV viewing and the extent to which TV viewing was independently associated with weight regain over the 1‐year of follow‐up. Results: A relatively high proportion (62.3%) of participants reported watching 10 or fewer hours of TV per week on entry in the NWCR. More than one third of the sample (36.1%) reported watching <5 h/wk, whereas only 12.4% watched ≥21 h/wk, which contrasts markedly from the national average of 28 hours of TV viewing per week reported by American adults. Both baseline TV viewing (p ≤ 0.02) and increases in TV viewing (p ≤ 0.001) over the follow‐up were significant predictors of 1‐year weight regain, independent of physical activity and dietary behaviors. Discussion: Individuals who are successful at maintaining weight loss over the long term are likely to spend a relatively minimal amount of time watching TV.     

Estimating the Transition/Transversion Ratio from Independent Pairwise Comparisons with an Assumed Phylogeny

A method is presented for estimating the transition/transversion ratio (TI/TV), based on phylogenetically independent comparisons. TI/TV is a parameter of some models used in phylogeny estimation intended to reflect the fact that nucleotide substitutions are not all equally likely. Previous attempts to estimate TI/TV have commonly faced three problems: (1) few taxa; (2) nonindependence among pairwise comparisons; and (3) multiple hits make the apparent TI/TV between two sequences decrease over time since their divergence, giving a misleading impression of relative substitution probabilities. We have made use of the time dependency, modeling how the observed TI/TV changes over time and extrapolating to estimate the ``instantaneous' TI/TV—the relevant parameter for phylogenetic inference. To illustrate our method, TI/TV was estimated for two mammalian mitochondrial genes. For 26 pairs of cytochrome b sequences, the estimate of TI/TV was 5.5; 16 pairs of 12s rRNA yielded an estimate of 9.5. These estimates are higher than those given by the maximum likelihood method and than those obtained by averaging all possible pairwise comparisons (with or without a two-parameter correction for multiple substitutions). We discuss strengths, weaknesses, and further uses of our method. Received: 22 August 1995 / Accepted: 26 July 1996     

Cryo-EM Structure of a Novel Calicivirus,Tulane Virus

Tulane virus (TV) is a newly isolated cultivatable calicivirus that infects juvenile rhesus macaques. Here we report a 6.3 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy structure of the TV virion. The TV virion is about 400 Å in diameter and consists of a T = 3 icosahedral protein capsid enclosing the RNA genome. 180 copies of the major capsid protein VP1 (∼57 KDa) are organized into two types of dimers A/B and C/C and form a thin, smooth shell studded with 90 dimeric protrusions. The overall capsid organization and the capsid protein fold of TV closely resemble that of other caliciviruses, especially of human Norwalk virus, the prototype human norovirus. These close structural similarities support TV as an attractive surrogate for the non-cultivatable human noroviruses. The most distinctive feature of TV is that its C/C dimers are in a highly flexible conformation with significantly reduced interactions between the shell (S) domain and the protruding (P) domain of VP1. A comparative structural analysis indicated that the P domains of TV C/C dimers were much more flexible than those of other caliciviruses. These observations, combined with previous studies on other caliciviruses, led us to hypothesize that the enhanced flexibility of C/C dimer P domains are likely required for efficient calicivirus-host cell interactions and the consequent uncoating and genome release. Residues in the S-P1 hinge between the S and P domain may play a critical role in the flexibility of P domains of C/C dimers.     

Local Climate Experts: The Influence of Local TV Weather Information on Climate Change Perceptions

Individuals who identify changes in their local climate are also more likely to report that they have personally experienced global climate change. One way that people may come to recognize that their local climate is changing is through information provided by local TV weather forecasters. Using random digit dialing, 2,000 adult local TV news viewers in Virginia were surveyed to determine whether routine exposure to local TV weather forecasts influences their perceptions of extreme weather in Virginia, and their perceptions about climate change more generally. Results indicate that paying attention to TV weather forecasts is associated with beliefs that extreme weather is becoming more frequent in Virginia, which in turn is associated with stronger beliefs and concerns about climate change. These associations were strongest for individuals who trust their local TV weathercaster as a source of information about climate change, and for those who identify as politically conservative or moderate. The findings add support to the literature suggesting that TV weathercasters can play an important role in educating the public about climate change.     

The possible mutagenic effect of the occupation of TV announcer

In a group of TV announcers, a significant increase in the number of classical aberrations was detected in peripheral blood: 7.5 +/- 3.477% in comparison with 3 control groups (A - 7 healthy women matched for sex, age and place of residence, B - 9 members of TV technical staff, C - 9 actors and actresses) with a mean aberration level of 2.96 +/- 1.136. SCE numbers were not increased in the TV announcers compared to controls. An increased frequency of reproduction failure has also been noticed in TV announcers (females). A decrease in the level of aberrant cells was noticed when the announcer had been on holiday, although this was not statistically significant. The possible mutagens in the working environment of TV announcers are discussed; there is a suspicion that azodyes, present in cosmetics or other chemicals, may be the mutagenic factor.     

Association of Family Environment with Children's Television Viewing and with Low Level of Physical Activity

Objective: This study examined associations between the family environment and children's television (TV) viewing and likelihood of being low‐active. Research Methods and Procedures: In 2001, children were recruited from 19 primary schools in Melbourne, Australia. Parents completed a questionnaire about their child's TV viewing and the family environment. Children also completed a questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for 8 days. Movement counts were used to identify low‐active children (lowest quartile). Data were analyzed in May 2004. Results: The sample consisted of 878 children (mean age = 11.5 ± 0.6 yrs). Multiple logistic regression revealed that socioeconomic status [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 0.4 boys], frequency families watched TV together (AOR = 2.0 boys), mothers’ (AOR = 1.8 boys; AOR = 2.5 girls) and fathers’ (AOR = 2.6 boys; AOR = 2.8 girls) TV viewing, and rules prohibiting TV during mealtimes (AOR = 0.6 boys; AOR = 0.6 girls) related to children watching TV ≥2 h/d. Variables associated with low‐level physical activity included self‐reported enjoyment of Internet use (AOR = 1.7 boys) and preference for watching TV (AOR = 2.3 girls), perception that mother uses computer a lot (AOR = 1.9 boys) and likes using the computer (AOR = 0.6 girls), fathers’ reported computer/electronic games use (AOR = 1.7 girls), frequency families used computer together (AOR = 0.4 girls), rules that TV viewing must be supervised (AOR = 1.9 boys; AOR = 0.6 girls), and having pay TV (AOR = 0.6 boys) and electronic games at home (AOR = 2.6 boys). Discussion: These findings suggest that the relationships between the family environment and TV viewing and low‐level activity are complex and that these behaviors are distinct.     

Availability of a diversely avid CD8+ T cell repertoire specific for the subdominant HLA-A2-restricted HIV-1 Gag p2419-27 epitope

HLA-A2-restricted CTL responses to immunodominant HIV-1 epitopes do not appear to be very effective in the control of viral replication in vivo. In this study, we studied human CD8+ T cell responses to the subdominant HLA-A2-restricted epitope TV9 (Gag p24(19-27), TLNAWVKVV) to explore the possibility of increasing its immune recognition. We confirmed in a cohort of 313 patients, infected by clade B or clade C viruses, that TV9 is rarely recognized. Of interest, the functional sensitivity of the TV9 response can be relatively high. The potential T cell repertoires for TV9 and the characteristics of constituent clonotypes were assessed by ex vivo priming of circulating CD8+ T cells from healthy seronegative donors. TV9-specific CTLs capable of suppressing viral replication in vitro were readily generated, suggesting that the cognate T cell repertoire is not limiting. However, these cultures contained multiple discrete populations with a range of binding avidities for the TV9 tetramer and correspondingly distinct functional dependencies on the CD8 coreceptor. The lack of dominant clonotypes was not affected by the stage of maturation of the priming dendritic cells. Cultures primed by dendritic cells transduced to present endogenous TV9 were also incapable of clonal maturation. Thus, a diffuse TCR repertoire appeared to be an intrinsic characteristic of TV9-specific responses. These data indicate that subdominance is not a function of poor immunogenicity, cognate TCR repertoire availability, or the potential avidity properties thereof, but rather suggest that useful responses to this epitope are suppressed by competing CD8+ T cell populations during HIV-1 infection.     

Television epilepsy and pattern sensitivity.

Properly functioning domestic television sets may induce seizures in epileptic patients (TV epilepsy). We investigated the effects of different types of visual stimuli on paroxysmal electroencephalographic (EEG) activity in 32 patients known to be sensitive to intermittent photic stimulation (stroboscopic light). We monitored sensitivity to patterns of horizontal and vertical lines, both stationary and vibrated (pattern sensitivity), and to normal broadcasts on a domestic, black and white (405- or 625-line) TV receiver (TV sensitivity). Twenty-three of the 32 patients were sensitive to pattern. Twenty-two were sensitive to vibrated patterns, and 11 to static patterns (P less than 0-01), All patients sensitive to pattern were also sensitive to TV; The association between sensitivity to pattern and to TV was significant. Clinical history of TV epilepsy (16 out of 32 patients) and laboratory evidence of pattern or TV sensitivity were not significantly associated. The high incidence of pattern sensitivity among flicker-sensitive patients and its association with TV sensitivity suggests that linear patterns produced by the raster of a black and white set as it scans, or "line-jitter" produced by the raster in areas of low TV-signal strength may contribute to the epileptogenic effect of TV.     

Children's exposure to magnetic fields produced by U.S. television sets used for viewing programs and playing video games

Two epidemiologic studies have reported increased risk of childhood leukemia associated with the length of time children watched television (TV) programs or played video games connected to TV sets. To evaluate magnetic field exposures resulting from these activities, the static, ELF, and VLF magnetic fields produced by 72 TV sets used by children to watch TV programs and 34 TV sets used to play video games were characterized in a field study conducted in Washington DC and its Maryland suburbs. The resulting TV-specific magnetic field data were combined with information collected through questionnaires to estimate the magnetic field exposure levels associated with TV watching and video game playing. The geometric means of the ELF and VLF exposure levels so calculated were 0.0091 and 0.0016 microT, respectively, for children watching TV programs and 0.023 and 0.0038 microT, respectively, for children playing video games. Geometric means of ambient ELF and VLF levels with TV sets turned off were 0.10 and 0.0027 microT, respectively. Summed over the ELF frequency range (6-3066 Hz), the exposure levels were small compared to ambient levels. However, in restricted ELF frequency ranges (120 Hz and 606-3066 Hz) and in the VLF band, TV exposure levels were comparable to or larger than normal ambient levels. Even so, the strengths of the 120 Hz or 606-3066 Hz components of TV fields were small relative to the overall ambient levels. Consequently, our results provide little support for a linkage between childhood leukemia and exposure to the ELF magnetic fields produced by TV sets. Our results do suggest that any future research on possible health effects of magnetic fields from television sets might focus on the VLF electric and magnetic fields produced by TV sets because of their enhanced ability relative to ELF fields to induce electric currents.     

黄钩尺蛾在四个茶树无性系品种上的生长和存活(英文)

在实验室条件下, 对食叶害虫黄钩尺蛾Hyposidra infixaria Walker在4个茶树Camellia sinensis无性系品种（TV1, TV9, TV25和Teen ali 17）上的生长和存活进行了研究, 以确定其最适合寄生的茶树无性系品种。结果表明： 在TV25上的黄钩尺蛾幼虫期 (15.78 d)比在TV1 (18.14 d), TV9 (18.00 d)和Teen ali 17 (17.00 d)上显著缩短。黄钩尺蛾按幼期龄数分为5龄型和6龄型两类。6龄型幼虫在TV25上的发生率显著高于其在其他3个无性系品种上的发生率。在TV25上黄钩尺蛾幼虫和蛹的体重也显著高于在其他3个无性系品种上的。同样地, 以TV25为食的黄钩尺蛾未成熟阶段的存活率显著高于其以其他3个无性系品种为食的存活率。基于生长参数和存活率, 我们发现TV25是黄钩尺蛾最适合寄生的茶树无性系品种。     

Experimental inoculation of juvenile rhesus macaques with primate enteric caliciviruses

BACKGROUND: Tissue culture-adapted Tulane virus (TV), a GI.1 rhesus enteric calicivirus (ReCV), and a mixture of GII.2 and GII.4 human norovirus (NoV)-containing stool sample were used to intrastomacheally inoculate juvenile rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in order to evaluate infection caused by these viruses. METHODOLOGY & FINDINGS: Two of the three TV-inoculated macaques developed diarrhea, fever, virus-shedding in stools, inflammation of duodenum and 16-fold increase of TV-neutralizing (VN) serum antibodies but no vomiting or viremia. No VN-antibody responses could be detected against a GI.2 ReCV strain FT285, suggesting that TV and FT285 represent different ReCV serotypes. Both NoV-inoculated macaques remained asymptomatic but with demonstrable virus shedding in one animal. Examination of duodenum biopsies of the TV-inoculated macaques showed lymphocytic infiltration of the lamina propria and villous blunting. TV antigen-positive (TV+) cells were detected in the lamina propria. In most of the TV+ cells TV co-localized perinuclearly with calnexin--an endoplasmic reticulum protein. A few CD20+TV+ double-positive B cells were also identified in duodenum. To corroborate the authenticity of CD20+TV+ B cells, in vitro cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy macaques were inoculated with TV. Multicolor flow cytometry confirmed the presence of TV antigen-containing B cells of predominantly CD20+HLA-DR+ phenotype. A 2-log increase of viral RNA by 6 days post inoculation (p<0.05) suggested active TV replication in cultured lymphocytes. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, our results show that ReCVs represent an alternative cell culture and animal model to study enteric calicivirus replication, pathogenesis and immunity.     

Physical Activity,TV Viewing,and Weight in U.S. Youth: 1999 Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Objective: To examine the relationship between physical activity, TV watching, and weight in U.S. youth ages 14 to 18 years. Research Methods and Procedures: Data from a nationally representative sample of 15,143 U.S. high‐school students participating in the 1999 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Risk Behavior Survey were examined. Prevalence rates of participation in moderate physical activity (MPA), vigorous physical activity (VPA), and television watching (TV) were determined. The association between MPA, VPA, TV and the body mass index (BMI) and overweight status (BMI ≥85th percentile of age‐ and sex‐specific CDC/National Center for Health Statistics reference values) were examined by analysis of covariance and logistic regression. Results: Overall, 45% reported participating in MPA ≥3 d/wk, 65% reported participating in VPA ≥3 d/wk, and 25% reported watching TV ≥4 h/school day. Boys reporting six to seven bouts of MPA had a significantly lower BMI compared with boys reporting three to five or less than two. The mean BMI differed significantly between the lowest and highest levels of MPA groups in girls. The mean BMI was significantly lower in the highest VPA group compared with the other two groups in both sexes. There was a significant graded response for BMI across all levels of TV. Decreased levels of MPA and 3 to 4 days of VPA were significantly associated with an increased risk of overweight in boys when compared with those engaging in 6 to 7 d/wk (odds ratio = 1.26 to 1.37). A graded response existed between TV and overweight in both sexes. Boys and girls were ～20% to 25% less likely to be classified as overweight if they reported 2 to 3 hours of TV per day and ～40% less likely to be classified as overweight if they reported ≤1 hour of TV per day compared with those who watched ≥4 hours of TV. In general, youth who engaged in less physical activity watched more TV per week. Discussion: Increased levels of physical activity are associated with a lower BMI and less TV watching. However, the relationship between TV watching and weight status is more pronounced.     

Tetrazolium violet inhibits cell growth and induces cell death in C127 mouse breast tumor cells

Tetrazolium violet (TV), a tetrazolium salt, has been applied in several fields, including estimating respiration rate, as a redox indicator of microbial growth, and for estimating the number of viable animal cells. It has recently been found that TV is capable of inducing apoptosis in rat glioblastoma cells by way of an elusive mechanism. In this study, we demonstrated that TV also induced apoptosis in mouse breast tumor C127 cells as evidenced by nucleus condensation and nucleus fragmentation. Our data showed that TV caused activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8, but not caspase-9. An enhancement in Fas and its two ligands, membrane-bound Fas ligand (mFasL) and soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), might be responsible for the apoptotic effect induced by TV. Also, the results first reported that TV not only inhibited C127 cells proliferation but also blocked cell cycle progression in the G1 and G2 phase, determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. Immunofluorescence assay demonstrated that TV significantly increased the expression of p53 protein, which caused cell cycle arrest. Taken together, p53, Fas/FasL, and the caspase apoptotic system may participate in the antiproliferative activity of TV in C127 cells.     

Fungal populations on sunflower ( Helianthus annuus ) anthosphere and their relation to susceptibility or tolerance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum attack

Analysis of the fungal flora from different floret parts of various sunflower (Helianthus annuus) varieties showed that there are differences in both fungal species and frequency, depending on whether the sunflower variety is susceptible (SV) or tolerant (TV) to attack of the flower heads by the ascomycete pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The sunflower varieties analyzed were SV: HA 300 and Z 20028, and TV: HA 302, Z AV 8410 and Z 30629. The isolates showed different “in vitro” behavior as biocontrol agents. The most common types of interaction with Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were D2 and D2+ (hyphal contact) for isolates from SV and TV, while some of the isolates from TV displayed antibiosis. The microorganisms that colonize TV florets play a part in an indirect mechanism that protects flowers from ascospore germination and pathogen growth. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The relationship between ultrasonographically measured testicular volumes and cord blood inhibin B concentrations in healthy term male neonates

Serum inhibin B (INHB) concentrations are associated with testicular volumes (TV) in all periods of childhood. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between TV measured by ultrasonography (US) and cord blood inhibin B and total testosterone (TT) concentrations, stratified by mode of delivery. In total 90 male infants were included. Testes of healthy, term newborns were evaluated by US on the third day after delivery. TV were calculated using two formulae: The ellipsoid formula [length (mm) × width (mm²) × π/6] and Lambert formula [length (mm) x width (mm) x height (mm) x 0.71]. Cord blood was taken for the determination of total testosterone (TT) and INHB. TT and INHB concentrations were evaluated according to TV percentiles (<10th, 10th-90th, >90th). There was a strong positive correlation between mean TV calculated with both formulae by percentile group (r = 0.777, r = 0.804, r = 0.846; p < 0.001). Cord blood INHB, but not TT were significantly lower in newborns with TV < 10th percentile compared to those with TV between 10 and 90th percentile and > 90th percentile (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between left and right TV calculated by either formula, and cord blood INHB (r = 0.212, 0.313, 0.320, 0.246, p < 0.05), not TT. There was no significant difference between hormones and TV when grouped by mode of delivery (p > 0.05). The Lambert and ellipsoid formulas are equally reliable in calculating neonatal testicular by ultrasound. INHB concentration is high in cord blood and positively correlated with neonatal TV. Cord blood INHB concentration may be an indicator for early detection of testicular structure and function disorders in neonates.