Effect of 60 Hz magnetic field exposure on c-fos expression in stimulated PC12 cells

Chromatid breaks are thought to result from DNA double-strand breaks (dsb) but the mechanisms are not yet understood. The early (but still prevailing) 'breakage-first' hypothesis fails to explain the large size of chromatid breaks; many of which are estimated to represent the apparent loss of between 15 and 45 Mbp (up to 30% of an average chromatid). The alternative 'exchange' hypothesis of Revell has potential for explaining the large sizes of deletions, but assumes the interaction of two lesions which therefore predicts a quadratic dependence of chromatid breaks on radiation dose. The exchange hypothesis is not tenable for mammalian cells since chromatid breaks are observed to be induced linearly with dose in both human and rodent cells. An alternative 'signal' model of chromatid breaks is outlined whereby a single dsb, occurring within a large looped chromatin domain, is signalled (possibly by molecules such as DNAPK or ATM protein) and triggers the cell to undergo a recombinational exchange, either within a chromatid or between sister chromatids. If incomplete, such recombinational exchanges would appear as chromatid breaks at metaphase. It is suggested that the large looped chromatin domains could be equivalent to one or more likely several replication 'factories' in which the DNA processing enzymes required for exchange formation would be located.     

Neural responses to facial and vocal expressions of fear and disgust

Neuropsychological studies report more impaired responses to facial expressions of fear than disgust in people with amygdala lesions, and vice versa in people with Huntington's disease. Experiments using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) have confirmed the role of the amygdala in the response to fearful faces and have implicated the anterior insula in the response to facial expressions of disgust. We used fMRI to extend these studies to the perception of fear and disgust from both facial and vocal expressions. Consistent with neuropsychological findings, both types of fearful stimuli activated the amygdala. Facial expressions of disgust activated the anterior insula and the caudate-putamen; vocal expressions of disgust did not significantly activate either of these regions. All four types of stimuli activated the superior temporal gyrus. Our findings therefore (i) support the differential localization of the neural substrates of fear and disgust; (ii) confirm the involvement of the amygdala in the emotion of fear, whether evoked by facial or vocal expressions; (iii) confirm the involvement of the anterior insula and the striatum in reactions to facial expressions of disgust; and (iv) suggest a possible general role for the perception of emotional expressions for the superior temporal gyrus.     

Hyperspectral mapping-combining cathodoluminescence and X-ray collection in an electron microprobe

An optical spectrometer has been integrated into a JEOL 8900R electron microprobe, which allows simultaneous collection of light, X-ray, and electron signals. The cathodoluminescence signal is collected from a monocular eyepiece, which is integrated into the electron optics of the electron microprobe. The optical acquisition is synchronized with the stage motion. X-ray lines of major elements are collected using an energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray lines of minor elements are collected using wavelength dispersive spectrometers, and the secondary and backscattered electron signals are collected using standard detectors. In mapping mode of operation the different signals are collected at each pixel with map sizes typically ranging from 1 million to 10 million pixels. This represents a significant amount of data from which the major correlations and associations in the map can be determined. Summing over a small number of channels and examining only a subset of the complete wavelength range are the strategies that have been developed to reduce the size of the data handled. The application of this mapping technique is demonstrated with two examples, zircons and refractory bricks. Zircons with various degrees of metamictization have been characterized, and inclusions differentiated using a combination of cathodoluminescence and X-ray maps. Examination of refractory bricks reveals subtle chemical changes in the spinel grains.     

Prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes subtypes in bulk milk of the Pacific Northwest

The prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in bulk milk from three Pacific Northwest states was assessed for 474 herds at three time points. For samples collected in November 2000 and June 2001, the L. monocytogenes prevalence levels were 4.9 and 7.0%, respectively. All isolates were subtyped by serotyping and by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Forty-nine of the 55 isolates belonged to serogroup 1/2a, while 6 belonged to serogroup 4. Subtyping by PFGE revealed that isolates from 31 herds shared 10 patterns; there was a weak but significant association between PFGE subtype and geographical distance. Six herds were positive for L. monocytogenes at both time points. Of these six herds, four had indistinguishable PFGE patterns at both time points. Twenty-five of the 33 herds that were positive in June 2001 were sampled again in June 2002. L. monocytogenes was recovered from 17 of these 25 herds (68%), with the ApaI restriction enzyme digestion profiles (REDP) for 8 herds being identical to those of isolates recovered from these herds the previous year. The ApaI REDP for the bulk milk isolates were compared with those for isolates recovered from environmental and human samples that were collected by the Washington Department of Health (n = 23). Analysis of ApaI digestion profiles revealed that only two of the Washington Department of Health isolates had digestion profiles similar to those for isolates from bulk milk; however, further analysis with the use of a second enzyme (AscI) was capable of discriminating between isolates from the two sources. Thus, we found no direct REDP matches between bulk milk and clinical isolates.     

The influence of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors on the probability of sustaining an injury

This study was designed to quantify the relative contributions of extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors to the probability of an injury event. A case-control design was used with data collected from injured patients at an emergency department (n=797) and a community sample matched on area of residence and time of injury (n=797). Principal components analysis was used to develop scales for the measurement of 'intrinsic' risk taking tendencies that were slightly modified versions of previously published measures. Two principal components were identified: 'health risk taking' (HRT) and 'adventurous risk taking' (ART). Logistic regression analysis identified variables that significantly predicted membership of the group of injured cases. The main hypothesis was supported by the results: that 'extrinsic' factors such as location, activity, drug and alcohol use and the type of people present at the time of the injury were related to a greater risk of injury than 'intrinsic' variables (health and adventurous risk taking tendencies). The results suggest that injury research and prevention efforts should continue to focus on the identification and modification of situational risk factors for injury rather developing programs that focus on high-risk individuals. High-risk alcohol use, use of prescribed drugs and aspects of work and recreational environments were identified as warranting particular attention.     

Model-based optimal design of polymer-coated chemical sensors

A model-based methodology for optimal design of polymer-coated chemical sensors is developed and is illustrated for the example of infrared evanescent field chemical sensors. The methodology is based on rigorous and computationally efficient modeling of combined fluid mechanics and mass transfer, including transport of multiple analytes. A simple algebraic equation for the optimal size of the sensor flow cell is developed to guide sensor design and validated by extensive CFD simulations. Based upon these calculations, optimized geometries of the sensor flow cell are proposed to further improve the response time of chemical sensors.     

Compact effector optics for processing in limited physical access situations

A major advantage of fiber-optic beam delivery in laser materials processing is the ability to guide the laser power to the location where it is needed, leaving the laser itself remote and protected from the process. This is of special importance if the processing is to be performed in a hazardous environment. Particular problems are faced by the nuclear industry where weld repair and surface treatment work are required inside radioactive installations. By use of fiber beam delivery, only part of the delivery system and effector optics become contaminated, but the expensive laser system does not. However, in many cases the region where repair is required is not only radioactive but has only limited physical access, e.g., inside tubes or into corners, which prevents use of standard effector optics. We present a new design to deal with such constraints of a 2-mm outer diameter employing a hollow waveguide and gas shielding. This design is optically characterized and its performance assessed in welding and surface treatment applications. The potential of this compact effector optics in limited physical access situations is clearly demonstrated.