Extremely barophilic bacteria isolated from the Mariana Trench, Challenger Deep, at a depth of 11,000 meters

Two strains of obligately barophilic bacteria were isolated from a sample of the world's deepest sediment, which was obtained by the unmanned deep-sea submersible Kaiko in the Mariana Trench, Challenger Deep, at a depth of 10,898 m. From the results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, DNA-DNA relatedness study, and analysis of fatty acid composition, the first strain (DB21MT-2) appears to be most highly similar to Shewanella benthica and close relatives, and the second strain (DB21MT-5) appears to be closely related to the genus Moritella. The optimal pressure conditions for growth of these isolates were 70 MPa for strain DB21MT-2 and 80 MPa for strain DB21MT-5, and no growth was detected at pressures of less than 50 MPa with either strain. This is the first evidence of the existence of an extreme-barophile bacterium of the genus Moritella isolated from the deep-sea environment.     

Evaluation of the risk of decompression disease during hypobaric decompression from the standpoint of the probability theory

Dentistry is a profession that enables us to combine adventure with the useful. By using our skill and knowledge we can, at least on a limited level, contribute to improving the health of people in third world countries. This article relates a dental volunteer trip into the heart of Africa. The rewards of this type of volunteer dentistry are lifelong memories and great satisfaction.     

Changes in the number of stem cells during mouse bone marrow cultivation on a sublayer of fibroblast-like cells

A determination was made of the number of colonies in the spleen of irradiated mice after administration to them of a culture of mouse bone marrow cells. Colony-forming units proved to persist in the culture only for a short time. Use of preliminarily grown underlayer of fibroblasts of bone marrow origin had no effect on the perservation and dynamics of the changes in the number oc colony-forming units.     

Establishment of new genetic traits in a microbial biofilm community

Conjugational transfer of the TOL plasmid (pWWO) was analyzed in a flow chamber biofilm community engaged in benzyl alcohol degradation. The community consisted of three species, Pseudomonas putida RI, Acinetobacter sp. strain C6, and an unidentified isolate, D8. Only P. putida RI could act as a recipient for the TOL plasmid. Cells carrying a chromosomally integrated lacIq gene and a lacp-gfp-tagged version of the TOL plasmid were introduced as donor strains in the biofilm community after its formation. The occurrence of plasmid-carrying cells was analyzed by viable-count-based enumeration of donors and transconjugants. Upon transfer of the plasmids to the recipient cells, expression of green fluorescence was activated as a result of zygotic induction of the gfp gene. This allowed a direct in situ identification of cells receiving the gfp-tagged version of the TOL plasmid. Our data suggest that the frequency of horizontal plasmid transfer was low, and growth (vertical transfer) of the recipient strain was the major cause of plasmid establishment in the biofilm community. Employment of scanning confocal laser microscopy on fixed biofilms, combined with simultaneous identification of P. putida cells and transconjugants by 16S rRNA hybridization and expression of green fluorescence, showed that transconjugants were always associated with noninfected P. putida RI recipient microcolonies. Pure colonies of transconjugants were never observed, indicating that proliferation of transconjugant cells preferentially took place on preexisting P. putida RI microcolonies in the biofilm.     

Changes in mandibular morphology from the Jomon to modern periods in eastern Japan

Metric characteristics of the mandibles of modern and various historical populations from the Kanto region (east-central Japan) were compared with those of their possible ancestral populations, i.e., the Jomon population from Kanto and the Yayoi population from northern Kyushu and Yamaguchi (western Japan). The Jomon people were aboriginal Holocene inhabitants of Japan, while the Yoyoi skeletal series are considered to largely represent immigrants from the Asian continent. Compared to the presumed ancestral morphology, the mandibles of the modern and pre-modern peoples of Kanto showed a marked narrowing, as well as reduction in the regions of major masticatory muscle attachments. The main cause of this underdevelopment is likely to be a diminished chewing stress, resulting in insufficient stimulation for proper growth of the jaw bone. In contrast, symphyseal height increased compared to the earlier Kanto populations. This may be a reflection of the existence of significant Yayoi genetic contribution in the formation of the modern and pre-modern Kanto populations. On the other hand, the mandibles of the protohistoric to medieval populations of the Kanto region are morphologically closer to Jomon. Therefore, they seem to have been genealogically continuous from the native Jomon people with some degree of gene flow stemming from the immigrants.     

Assessment of changes in microbial community structure during operation of an ammonia biofilter with molecular tools

Biofiltration has been used for two decades to remove odors and various volatile organic and inorganic compounds in contaminated off-gas streams. Although biofiltration is widely practiced, there have been few studies of the bacteria responsible for the removal of air contaminants in biofilters. In this study, molecular techniques were used to identify bacteria in a laboratory-scale ammonia biofilter. Both 16S rRNA and ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) genes were used to characterize the heterotrophic and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria collected from the biofilter during a 102-day experiment. The overall diversity of the heterotrophic microbial population appeared to decrease by 38% at the end of the experiment. The community structure of the heterotrophic population also shifted from predominantly members of two subdivisions of the Proteobacteria (the beta and gamma subdivisions) to members of one subdivision (the gamma subdivision). An overall decrease in the diversity of ammonia monooxygenase genes was not observed. However, a shift from groups dominated by organisms containing Nitrosomonas-like and Nitrosospira-like amoA genes to groups dominated by organisms containing only Nitrosospira-like amoA genes was observed. In addition, a new amoA gene was discovered. This new gene is the first freshwater amoA gene that is closely affiliated with Nitrosococcus oceanus and the particulate methane monooxygenase gene from the methane oxidizers belonging to the gamma subdivision of the Proteobacteria.     

Prevalence and correlates of major depressive episode among the elderly in a community in Japan

A random sample of 205 persons from a community of about 45,500 residents, aged 65 years or older, in a city in Japan, was surveyed using an interview schedule including a structured psychiatric interview to analyze prevalence of major depressive episode (DSM-III-R). A total of 157 (77%) participated in the study. Results were as follows: 1) The Prevalence of major depressive episode during the past 6 months was 2.1% for males and 3.7% for females among the 155 respondents who completed the psychiatric interview. 2) Significantly higher prevalence during the past 6 months was observed in those who were physically inactive in the past year than in those physically active (p < 0.05). 3) Levels of satisfaction with available social support were significantly lower in those who experienced major depressive episode during the past six months than in those who experienced no depressive episode (p < 0.05). 4) Levels of life satisfaction (PGC scale score) and cognitive functioning were significantly lower in those experienced major depressive episode during the past six months than in those who experienced no depressive episode (p < 0.05).     

Changes in the language of a schizophrenic patient during psychotherapy.

A method of linguistic analysis (Bousfield et al, 1958) is applied to the speech of a schizophrenic patient to demonstrate the changes that have occurred in the course of psychotherapy. The analysis showed that as the patient's behavior became less disorganized, so did his speech; however, the content of his speech revealed constriction of ideation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in the surgical treatment of gallstones during a 10 year period

OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in the surgical treatment of gallstones during a 10 year period. DESIGN: A retrospective study of medical records. SETTING: A community hospital serving a population of 108,000 inhabitants. SUBJECTS: All patients having their first operation for gallstones during the periods 1976-1978 and 1986-1988. RESULTS: The annual frequency of operations for gallstones decreased from 2.01 to 1.13/1,000 inhabitants, and the corresponding frequency of operations on the common duct decreased from 0.39 to 0.28. The percentage of urgent operations increased from 19 to 47. CONCLUSION: A decline in the prevalence of cholelithiasis or a more restrictive attitude of elective operations for gallstones, or both, would explain the overall reduction in surgery for gallstones. The introduction of endoscopic sphincterotomy has considerably changed the treatment of cholelithiasis. The increased age of the patients and higher percentage of urgent operations has not resulted in any increase in postoperative morbidity and mortality.     

Immediate management of the airway during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a hospital without a resident anaesthesiologist

The effect of withdrawing the resident anaesthesiologist from the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) team was audited over a 1-year period in a 407-bed hospital in which nurses had been trained in the use of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) as a first response airway in CPR. The data were compared to those of the previous year, which are shown in parentheses. During the audit period, there were 115 (79) calls to 115 (79) patients; the immediate airway was secured using a mask bag valve assembly in 75 (49) episodes, the Laerdal pocket mask in 2 (2) episodes, the LMA in 64 (2) and the endotracheal tube in 20 (57). Return of spontaneous circulation occurred in 61% (36%). There were no instances of failure to maintain the immediate airway during the audit period. Initial results suggest that an anaesthesiologist may not be essential for the provision of an immediate airway in patients requiring CPR.     

Changes in the mineral phases during the processing of a copper sulfide concentrate

Mineralogical, granulometric, and phase compositions of the copper sulfide concentrate of the Erdenet deposit (Mongolia) have been studied. It is shown that the concentrate has a high chemical stability against the interaction with sulfuric solutions after both a preliminary oxidizing roasting and mechanoactivation in a planetary mill (in dry and wet regimes of milling).     

Effects of a long-term hypertension control program on stroke incidence and prevalence in a rural community in northeastern Japan

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of antihypertensive treatment in preventing stroke, the effectiveness of community-based programs is largely unknown. We investigated long-term community-based prevention activities. METHODS: In rural northeastern Japan, people aged > or = 30 years numbered 3219 in the full intervention community and 1468 in the minimal intervention community in 1965. Systematic blood pressure screening and health education began in 1963. Stroke was registered through 1987. RESULTS: More than 80% of people aged 40 to 69 years were screened in both communities in the 1960s. One community charged for screening services after 1968, whereas the other community intensified intervention; subsequently, screening rates and the follow-up of hypertensive individuals declined in the minimal intervention community, especially in men. In men, stroke incidence declined more (P < 0.001) in the full intervention (42% in the period 1970 to 1975, 53% in the period 1976 to 1981, and 75% in the period 1982 to 1987) than in the minimal intervention community (5% increase, 20% decrease, and 29% decrease, respectively); in women, the stroke incidence declined about 45% to 65% in both communities. Changes in stroke prevalence paralleled those in stroke incidence. Trends in systolic blood pressure levels tend to explain the differential stroke rates in men. CONCLUSIONS: Delivery of hypertension control services through intensive, free, community-wide screening and health education was effective in prevention of stroke for men in a community.     

Changes in the cortical electrical activity during the formation in man of a visual set

The EEG spectra were studied in 75 healthy adult patients during formation, actualization, and extinction of the visual set. In the group of subjects which had formed the stable set, the spectral power in the alpha band was higher and that in the delta and theta bands lower than in the group of subjects with unstable set. In the course of the experiment, such relationships remained basically the same. These findings suggest that the subjects who had the longer mismatch between the unconscious "internal image" and the real stimuli presented in a new situation (i.e., the subjects with the stable set) were closer to the state of physiological rest.     

Changes in inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate binding in microsomal fractions from the rat liver during sepsis

Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate has been proposed as a second messenger for calcium mobilization. The addition of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate at a low concentration has been shown to cause calcium release from intracellular microsomal stores in rat hepatocytes. The effects of sepsis on the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate binding from microsomal fractions of rat liver were investigated. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control rats were sham operated. Three microsomal fractions (rough, intermediate, and smooth I) were isolated from the rat liver. The study of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor binding was performed with tritium-labeled inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate. Our results showed that the Bmax of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate binding in early septic, late septic, and control groups was 14.9 +/- .9 fmol/mg, 9.8 +/- 1.0 fmol/mg, and 17.2 +/- 1.3 fmol/mg, respectively. The binding activity was unaffected during early sepsis but was significantly depressed by 40-50% (p < .05, vs. control) during late sepsis (18 h after CLP) in all three subfractions of endoplasmic reticulum. Because the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate binding plays an important role in the regulation of intra-cellular calcium homeostasis in hepatocytes, an impairment of the calcium release due to depressed inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate binding in the endoplasmic reticulum may have a pathophysiological significance in contributing to altered hepatic metabolism during septic shock.     

Significant elements of community involvement in participatory action research: evidence from a community project

Participatory action research (PAR) has been heralded as an important research methodology to address issues of research relevance, community involvement, democracy, emancipation and liberation. Increasingly, nurse researchers are turning to PAR as a method of choice. Although nursing interest in PAR is expanding little is known about how to successfully involve the community in research. This article attends to this dearth of information by presenting the results of a study investigating the significant elements of community involvement in PAR. Through the use of qualitative research methods, five themes emerged that describe the community participation process: (a) planning for participation, (b) the structural components of community participation, (c) living the philosophy, (d) enhancing the credibility, and (e) the type of leadership required to facilitate community participation. It is hoped that by sharing these results others may consider the knowledge gleaned from this project as they plan and proceed with the challenges and rewards inherent in PAR.     

Changes in GABAB modulation during a theta cycle may be analogous to the fall of temperature during annealing

Changes in GABA modulation may underlie experimentally observed changes in the strength of synaptic transmission at different phases of the theta rhythm (Wyble, Linster, & Hasselmo, 1997). Analysis demonstrates that these changes improve sequence disambiguation by a neural network model of CA3. We show that in the framework of Hopfield and Tank (1985), changes in GABA suppression correspond to changes in the effective temperature and the relative energy of data terms and constraints of an analog network. These results suggest that phasic changes in the activity of inhibitory interneurons during a theta cycle may produce dynamics that resemble annealing. These dynamics may underlie a role for the theta cycle in improving sequence retrieval for spatial navigation.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Shigella from a rural community in Bangladesh

Of the 63 Shigella strains isolated from stool cultures from 200 patients who attended a district hospital in Bangladesh with bloody diarrhoea, 37 (59%) were S. dysenteriae type 1, 25 (39%) were S. flexneri and only one (2%) was S. sonnei. Over half (54%) of the Shigella isolates came from children aged < 10 years. Most (89%) of the isolates of S. dysenteriae type 1 were resistant to ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, nalidixic acid, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. Although many (60%) of the isolates of S. flexneri were resistant to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole, only 4% of them were resistant to nalidixic acid. However, all of the S. dysenteriae and S. flexneri were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The need for periodic monitoring to determine the resistance pattern in remote areas is emphasised.     

Temperature determines the pattern of anaerobic microbial dechlorination of Aroclor 1260 primed by 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl in Woods Pond sediment

Reductive dechlorination of the Aroclor 1260 residue in Woods Pond (Lenox, Mass.) sediment samples was investigated for a year at incubation temperatures from 4 to 66 degrees C. Sediment slurries were incubated anaerobically with and without 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorobiphenyl (2346-CB; 350 microM) as a primer for dechlorination of the Aroclor 1260 residue. Dechlorination of the Aroclor residue occurred only in live samples primed with 2346-CB and only at 8 to 34 degrees C and 50 to 60 degrees C. The extent and pattern of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) dechlorination were temperature dependent. At 8 to 34 degrees C, the dechlorination resulted in 28 to 65% decreases of the hexathrough nonachlorobiphenyls and corresponding increases in the tri- and tetrachlorobiphenyls. At 12 to 30 degrees C, 30 to 40% of the hexa- through nonachlorobiphenyls were dechlorinated in just 3 months. The optimal temperature for overall chlorine removal was 20 to 27 degrees C. We observed four different microbial dechlorination processes with different but partially overlapping temperature ranges, i.e., Process N (flanked meta dechlorination) at 8 to 30 degrees C, Process P (flanked para dechlorination) at 12 to 34 degrees C, Process LP (unflanked para dechlorination) at 18 to 30 degrees C, and Process T (a very restricted meta dechlorination of specific hepta- and octachlorobiphenyls) at 50 to 60 degrees C. These temperature ranges should aid in the development of strategies for the enrichment and isolation of the microorganisms responsible for each dechlorination process. The incubation temperature determined the relative dominance of the four PCB dechlorination processes and the extent and products of dechlorination. Hence, understanding the effects of temperature on PCB dechlorination at contaminated sites should assist in predicting the environmental fate of PCBs or planning bioremediation strategies at those sites.