Analysis of the MSS51 region on chromosome XII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have localized gene MSS51 on chromosome XII of Saccharomyces cerevisiae between the RDN1 and CDC42 loci. 'Head to head' with MSS51 is another gene, QRI5, the function of which is unknown. However, the proximity of these genes, the structure of the intergenic region and the presence of an ABF1 binding site right in the middle of this region suggest that the MSS51 and QRI5 expressions are submitted to a common regulatory process.     

EEG‐based brain source localization using visual stimuli

Electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used in variety of research and clinical applications which includes the localization of active brain sources. Brain source localization provides useful information to understand the brain's behavior and cognitive analysis. Various source localization algorithms have been developed to determine the exact locations of the active brain sources due to which electromagnetic activity is generated in brain. These algorithms are based on digital filtering, 3D imaging, array signal processing and Bayesian approaches. According to the spatial resolution provided, the algorithms are categorized as either low resolution methods or high resolution methods. In this research study, EEG data is collected by providing visual stimulus to healthy subjects. FDM is used for head modelling to solve forward problem. The low‐resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (LORETA) and standardized LORETA (sLORETA) have been used as inverse modelling methods to localize the active regions in the brain during the stimulus provided. The results are produced in the form of MRI images. The tables are also provided to describe the intensity levels for estimated current level for the inverse methods used. The higher current value or intensity level shows the higher electromagnetic activity for a particular source at certain time instant. Thus, the results obtained demonstrate that standardized method which is based on second order Laplacian (sLORETA) in conjunction with finite difference method (FDM) as head modelling technique outperforms other methods in terms of source estimation as it has higher current level and thus, current density (J) for an area as compared to others.     

Viable Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis isolated from calf milk replacer

When advising farmers on how to control Johne's disease in an infected herd, one of the main recommendations is to avoid feeding waste milk to calves and instead feed calf milk replacer (CMR). This advice is based on the assumption that CMR is free of viable Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) cells, an assumption that has not previously been challenged. We tested commercial CMR products (n = 83) obtained from dairy farms around the United States by the peptide-mediated magnetic separation (PMS)-phage assay, PMS followed by liquid culture (PMS-culture), and direct IS900 quantitative PCR (qPCR). Conventional microbiological analyses for total mesophilic bacterial counts, coliforms, Salmonella, coagulase-negative staphylococci, streptococci, nonhemolytic Corynebacterium spp., and Bacillus spp. were also performed to assess the overall microbiological quality of the CMR. Twenty-six (31.3%) of the 83 CMR samples showed evidence of the presence of MAP. Seventeen (20.5%) tested positive for viable MAP by the PMS-phage assay, with plaque counts ranging from 6 to 1,212 pfu/50 mL of reconstituted CMR (average 248.5 pfu/50 mL). Twelve (14.5%) CMR samples tested positive for viable MAP by PMS-culture; isolates from all 12 of these samples were subsequently confirmed by whole-genome sequencing to be different cattle strains of MAP. Seven (8.4%) CMR samples tested positive for MAP DNA by IS900 qPCR. Four CMR samples tested positive by both PMS-based tests and 5 CMR samples tested positive by IS900 qPCR plus one or other of the PMS-based tests, but only one CMR sample tested positive by all 3 MAP detection tests applied. All conventional microbiology results were within current standards for whole milk powders. A significant association existed between higher total bacterial counts and presence of viable MAP indicated by either of the PMS-based assays. This represents the first published report of the isolation of viable MAP from CMR. Our findings raise concerns about the potential ability of MAP to survive manufacture of dried milk-based products.     

Malaria in the southern sanitary district of Dakar (Senegal). 2. Entomologic data]

This study aimed to investigate the cause of persistently increased serum gastrin concentration seen in some Graves' disease patients even when euthyroid during antithyroid drug treatment. The subjects studied consisted of three groups: 33 patients with a common-type of Graves' disease, 14 with triiodothyronine (T3)-predominant Graves' disease (characterized from previous studies as having potent immunologic abnormalities including greater concentrations of thyroid-stimulating antibodies together with larger goiter size), and a group of 20 normal subjects. Fasting serum gastrin concentrations in common Graves' disease patients were significantly higher than those of normal subjects (58.4 +/- 38.9 pmol/L vs. 37.8 +/- 18.9 pmol/L [mean +/- SD], p < 0.05). The serum gastrin concentrations were even greater in T3-predominant Graves' disease patients than common Graves' disease patients (162.9 +/- 224.0 pmol/L vs. 58.4 +/- 38.9 pmol/L, p < .05). Serum pepsinogen I (PGI) concentrations were significantly lower in the T3-predominant patient group than the common Graves' group (24.0 +/- 12.9 ng/mL vs. 39.7 +/- 19.6 ng/mL, p < .05). Serum ratios of PG I to PG II were significantly lower in the T3-predominant Graves' disease patients than normal subjects (3.59 +/- 2.66 vs. 5.97 +/- 1.56, p < .01). The ratios also had a significant (p < .05) inverse correlation with serum gastrin concentrations in T3-predominant Graves' disease patients. The results suggest that autoimmune gastritis is associated with Graves' disease, particularly in patients with potent thyroid-autoimmunity.     

Psychographic measures and sensory consumer tests: When emotional experience and feeling-based judgments account for preferences

The aim of this study is to explore psychological and psychosocial individual differences in order to understand heterogeneous sensory preference clusters identified in consumer tests. We conducted two studies with 100 participants in each. Six seat car fabrics were rated on liking items. A questionnaire composed of the Affect Intensity Measure (AIM) [Larsen, R. J. (1984). Theory and measurement of affect intensity as an individual difference characteristic. Dissertation Abstracts International, 85, 2297B], the Rational-Experiential Inventory (REI), the Iowa–Netherlands Comparison Orientation Scale, (INCOM) [Gibbons, F. X., & Buunk, B. P. (1999). Individual differences in social comparison: Development of a scale of social comparison orientation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 76, 129–142], and the Centrality of Visual Products Aesthetics (CVPA) [Bloch, P. H., Brunel, F. F., & Arnold, T. J. (2003). Individual differences in the centrality of visual product aesthetics: Concept and measurement. Journal of Consumer Research, 29, 551–565] was used. Two clusters of preferences were characterized by the AIM and REI measures. One group, “the velvet fabrics likers”, experienced emotions more intensely than the “non-velvet likers” who in turn, appeared to rely mostly on feelings in the judgment process. We discuss the possible influence of these psychological factors on the significance of sensory input used in the evaluation process.     

Drug use and validity of substance use self-reports in veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The present study assessed drug use and the validity of self–reports of substance use among help–seeking veterans referred to a specialty clinic for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients (n?=?341) were asked to provide a urine sample for use in drug screening as part of an evaluation of PTSD. Self–reports of substance use were compared with same–day supervised urine samples for 317 patients who volunteered to participate in a drug screening. Results suggested that self–reports were generally quite valid. Only 8% of the cases involved patients not reporting substance use detected by urine screens. A total of 42% of the participants were identified as using drugs of abuse (excluding alcohol) through self–report and urine drug screens. Among participants using drugs, PTSD diagnosis was significantly associated with greater marijuana and depressant use as compared with stimulant (cocaine and amphetamines) use. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)