RESEARCH NOTE: Ozone Degradation Of Selected Non-Agricultural Herbicides

This research note investigates the efficiency of ozone for the degradation of threeherbicides, imazapyr[2-(4-isopropyl-4-methyl-S-oxo-2-imidazolin-2-yl)-nicotinic acid], triclopyr (3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinyloxyacetic acid) and diuron [3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea] under controlled laboratory conditions. Experiments were conducted at pH 7.5, in a bubble contactor column, with a raw lowland surface water spiked with initial active ingredient concentrations of 2 μgL^?1. The ozone doses applied and consumed were 4.79 and 2.9 mg O₃L^?1 respectively, and resulted in removals of 53%, 48% and 90% of imazapyr, triclopyr and diuron, respectively.     

Patterns of prehistoric human mobility in polynesia indicated by mtDNA from the Pacific rat

Human settlement of Polynesia was a major event in world prehistory. Despite the vastness of the distances covered, research suggests that prehistoric Polynesian populations maintained spheres of continuing interaction for at least some period of time in some regions. A low level of genetic variation in ancestral Polynesian populations, genetic admixture (both prehistoric and post-European contact), and severe population crashes resulting from introduction of European diseases make it difficult to trace prehistoric human mobility in the region by using only human genetic and morphological markers. We focus instead on an animal that accompanied the ancestral Polynesians on their voyages. DNA phylogenies derived from mitochondrial control-region sequences of Pacific rats (Rattus exulans) from east Polynesia are presented. A range of specific hypotheses regarding the degree of interaction within Polynesia are tested. These include the issues of multiple contacts between central east Polynesia and the geographically distinct archipelagos of New Zealand and Hawaii. Results are inconsistent with models of Pacific settlement involving substantial isolation after colonization and confirm the value of genetic studies on commensal species for elucidating the history of human settlement.     

A comparison of two murine monoclonal antibodies humanized by CDR-grafting and variable domain resurfacing

The variable domain resurfacing and CDR-grafting approaches to antibody humanization were compared directly on the two murine monoclonal antibodies N901 (anti-CD56) and anti-B4 (anti-CD19). Resurfacing replaces the set of surface residues of a rodent variable region with a human set of surface residues. The method of CDR-grafting conceptually consists of transferring the CDRs from a rodent antibody onto the Fv framework of a human antibody. Computer-aided molecular modeling was used to design the initial CDR-grafted and resurfaced versions of these two antibodies. The initial versions of resurfaced N901 and resurfaced anti-B4 maintained the full binding affinity of the original murine parent antibodies and further refinements to these versions described herein generated five new resurfaced antibodies that contain fewer murine residues at surface positions, four of which also have the full parental binding affinity. A mutational study of three surface positions within 5 A of the CDRs of resurfaced anti-B4 revealed a remarkable ability of the resurfaced antibodies to maintain binding affinity despite dramatic changes of charges near their antigen recognition surfaces, suggesting that the resurfacing approach can be used with a high degree of confidence to design humanized antibodies that maintain the full parental binding affinity. By comparison CDR-grafted anti-B4 antibodies with parental affinity were produced only after seventeen versions were attempted using two different strategies for selecting the human acceptor frameworks. For both the CDR-grafted anti-B4 and N901 antibodies, full restoration of antigen binding affinity was achieved when the most identical human acceptor frameworks were selected. The CDR-grafted anti-B4 antibodies that maintained high affinity binding for CD19 had more murine residues at surface positions than any of the three versions of the resurfaced anti-B4 antibody. This observation suggests that the resurfacing approach can be used to produce humanized antibodies with reduced antigenic potential relative to their corresponding CDR-grafted versions.     

Education reform: Challenges for psychology and psychologists.

National, state, and local education reform agendas have been on a fast track for more than a decade. Although some psychologists have been active in promoting psychology and psychological services in education reform initiatives, knowledge about their efforts is fragmented. In order to educate psychologists about education reform, this article highlights the impetus for the recent education reform movement, briefly reviews the latest waves of education reform, and discusses the development of the National Education Goals. Then, an argument is made for the integration of education, health, and social reform initiatives; state-level education reform principles and initiatives are highlighted, illustrated by the systemic education reform mandate in Kentucky. Next, progress toward the development and implementation of an APA-sponsored response to the National Education Goals is discussed. Finally, objectives and roles for psychologists in advancing education reform are presented, and guidelines for the education and training of future psychologists are introduced. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Carbachol-induced increase of Na+/H+ antiport and recruitment of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in rabbit lacrimal acini

Parallel arrays of Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- antiporters are believed to catalyze the first step of transepithelial electrolyte secretion in lacrimal glands by coupling Na+ and Cl- influxes across acinar cell basolateral membranes. Tracer uptake methods were used to confirm the presence of Na+/H+ antiport activity in membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit lacrimal gland fragments. Outwardly-directed H+ gradients accelerated 22Na+ uptake, and amiloride inhibited 96% of the H+ gradient-dependent 22Na+ flux. Amiloride-sensitive 22Na+ influx was half-maximal at an extravesicular Na+ concentration of 14 mM. In vitro stimulation of isolated lacrimal acini with 10 microM carbachol for 30 min increased Na+/H+ antiport activity of a subsequently isolated basolateral membrane sample 2.5-fold, but it did not significantly affect Na+/H+ antiport activity measured in intracellular membrane samples. The same treatment increased basolateral membrane Na+,K(+)-ATPase activity 1.4-fold; this increase could be accounted for by decreases in the Na+,K(+)-ATPase activities of intracellular membranes. Thus, it appears that cholinergic stimulation causes recruitment of additional Na+,K(+)-ATPase pump units to the acinar cell basolateral plasma membrane. The mechanistic basis of the increase in basolateral membrane Na+/H+ antiport activity remains unclear.     

Inhibitory effects of candesartan on responses to angiotensin peptides in the hindquarters vascular bed of the cat

Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS) has been shown to have potent anti-tumour and anti-metastatic effects on transplantable tumour cells and to suppress chemically-induced carcinogenesis in rodents. In particular, intrapleural (i.pl.) administration of LcS into tumour-bearing mice has been shown to effectively inhibit the growth of tumour cells in the thoracic cavity and to significantly prolong survival time. Also, i.pl. administration of LcS has been shown to induce the production of several cytokines, such as IFN-gamma, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, in the thoracic cavity of mice, resulting in the inhibition of tumour growth and increased survival. On the other hand, oral administration of LcS has been shown to inhibit the growth of implantable tumour cells in rodents, and to restore the decreased mitogenic response of tumour-bearing mice. Administration of LcS has also been shown to inhibit chemically-induced bladder cancer in rodents. These findings suggest that treatment with LcS has the potential to ameliorate or prevent a variety of diseases through modulation of the host's immune system, specifically cellular immune responses.     

The impact of Helicobacter pylori eradication on peptic ulcer healing

OBJECTIVE: Current literature was reviewed analyzing the outcome of peptic ulcer healing in relation to the results of the posttherapeutic Helicobacter pylori (HP) status. METHODS: Literature was reviewed along with an analysis of 60 studies, comprising a total of 4329 patients. RESULTS: Successful Helicobacter pylori eradication was found to induce a better response in peptic ulcer healing, regardless of diagnosis: gastric ulcer 88% vs 73% (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, p < 0.01), duodenal ulcer 95% vs 76% (OR 5.6, p < 0.0001), and peptic ulcer 95% vs 76% (OR 6.6, p < 0.0001), for patients having their HP infection successfully cured versus those remaining HP-positive, respectively (Fisher's exact test). For all evaluated time points (< or = 6, 7-8, and 10-12 wk after beginning treatment), HP-negative patients had higher healing rates than HP-positive patients (95% vs 82%, 94% vs 69%, and 96% vs 78% with corresponding OR of 4.2, 6.5, and 7.4, all p < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). The use of concomitant acid suppression therapy during initial HP eradication provided a benefit on peptic ulcer healing only for patients with persistent HP infection (improved healing rates of 78% vs 67%; otherwise rates were 94-96%). Likewise, prolonged acid inhibition in HP treatment failures after the initial HP treatment phase resulted in 7-20% improved healing rates, whereas patients becoming HP-negative did not profit. CONCLUSION: Successful HP eradication therapy accelerates peptic ulcer healing even without concomitant acid suppression.     

Gonadotrophin heterogeneity and biopotency: implications for assisted reproduction

The extensive heterogeneity of the gonadotrophin hormones, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), is due primarily to the heterogeneous nature of their carbohydrate side-chains, in particular sialic acid residues. In this review, we discuss the role of carbohydrate chains in receptor binding and activation, biological activity, and metabolic half-life. The synthesis and secretion of the various glycoforms of both FSH and LH appear to be under endocrine control with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), oestradiol and testosterone playing important roles. Evidence for different glycoforms having variable biopotency or different encoded functions is increasing, and the production and secretion of more or less acidic gonadotrophin species in different physiological states may represent an important mechanism whereby the pituitary regulates gonadal cell and organ function. This has potential importance for the development of new pharmaceutical reagents and new therapeutic regimens in assisted reproduction. It is envisaged that the use of existing and new forms of FSH/LH will allow patients to be treated in a more controlled and physiological manner, with treatment regimens individualized to the needs of the patient.