No evidence for enhanced parvalbumin concentration in light muscle of transgenic coho salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus kisutch</Emphasis>)

The expression of parvalbumin, a major allergenic protein of fish muscle, was determined in rapidly growing transgenic coho salmon (Oncorhynchus mykiss) containing the growth hormone (GH) gene construct OnMTGH1. Three different methods for parvalbumin analysis were used: (1) measurement of the mRNA concentration by real-time RT-PCR; (2) isoelectric focusing of sarcoplasmic proteins; (3) assessment of amount of heat-stable, Ca²⁺-binding sarcoplasmic proteins by measuring absorbance spectra of “stains-all”–protein complexes. Compared to non-transgenic coho salmon, no indication for enhanced expression of parvalbumin in transgenic fish was found either at the mRNA or at the protein level.     

Major anion effects on the kinetics and reactivity of granular iron in glass-encased magnet batch reactor experiments

The relative effects of sulfate (SO4(2-)), chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-), and bicarbonate (HCO3-) (8 mM ionic strength solutions, adjusted to pH 10) on the reactivity of Master Builders iron was investigated using a low-abrasion batch reactor with a glass-encased magnet (GEM). Reactivity of the granular iron surface was assessed by measuring the reduction rate of 4-chloronitrobenzene (4ClNB) as a function of initial 4CINB concentration and anion type. Relative to a similarly prepared perchlorate (ClO4-) solution, in which perchlorate was assumed not to interact with the iron surface, nitrate and bicarbonate inhibited the reduction of the probe compound (4ClNB). Chloride and sulfate enhanced reactivity. Thus, the anions were ranked SO4(2-) > Cl- > or = ClO4- > NO3- > HCO3 (from most enhanced to most inhibited) in their influence on granular iron reactivity toward 4ClNB. Kinetic studies of 4CINB were conducted under conditions that caused the iron surface to saturate with the reacting compound (saturation kinetic studies). These experiments, conducted in the various anion solutions indicated above, showed that the gains in reactivity that occurred in the presence of Cl- and SO4(2-) were due to either increased surface reactivity or sorption capacity. The losses in reactivity that occurred in the presence of NO3- were due to decreases in one or both of these same two factors. However, reactivity declines in the presence of CO3(2-) appear to have been due, in large part, to a reduced affinity of 4ClNB for the iron surface.     

Detection of Transgenic Atlantic and Coho Salmon by Real-time PCR

Genetic modifications (GM) have been applied to salmon to generate fast-growing strains for potential use in aquaculture. In November 2015, the first transgenic salmon (AquAdvantage® Atlantic salmon) was accepted for commercialization in the USA under defined conditions. The presence of GM food products in the marketplace stimulates the need for detection methods to allow screening for the presence of genetic modifications in seafood products. This paper first shows that it is possible to obtain amplifiable DNA from raw and processed products containing salmon. Detection methods by real-time PCR are proposed in this work. An endogenous gene target was designed to detect salmonid species DNA in samples. In addition, detection methods using real-time PCR were developed for two GM salmon possessing growth hormone transgenes: the AquAdvantage® Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) developed by AquaBounty for commercial purposes, and the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) developed for research purposes by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The methods are able to detect at least 20 copies of the target. It was found however that one of the construct-specific methods for the AquAdvantage® salmon detection did not work on AquAdvantage® genomic DNA even though it works on the sequence published in GenBank. The other assay however was found to reliably detect AquAdvantage® transgenic sequences in genomic DNA.     

A distinct strategy to generate high-affinity peptide binders to receptor tyrosine kinases

We describe a novel and general way of generating high affinity peptide (HAP) binders to receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), using a multi-step process comprising phage-display selection, identification of peptide pairs suitable for hetero-dimerization (non-competitive and synergistic) and chemical synthesis of heterodimers. Using this strategy, we generated HAPs with K(D)s below 1 nM for VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and c-Met. VEGFR-2 HAPs bound significantly better (6- to 500-fold) than either of the individual peptides that were used for heterodimer synthesis. Most significantly, HAPs were much better (150- to 800-fold) competitors than monomers of the natural ligand (VEGF) in various competitive binding and functional assays. In addition, we also found the binding of HAPs to be less sensitive to serum than their component peptides. We believe that this method may be applied to any protein for generating high affinity peptide (HAP) binders.     

Early experience of primary angioplasty at Waikato Hospital

AIM: Acute angioplasty for myocardial infarction without prior thrombolytic therapy (primary angioplasty) has been advocated as the preferred treatment for high risk infarct patients, however data is primarily from highly experienced units. This report describes the first year's experience of primary angioplasty at Waikato Hospital which is a moderate sized institution performing 300 elective angioplasty procedures per year. METHODS: Patients presenting with an acute infarction who were deemed to be either at high risk or who had a contraindication to streptokinase received primary angioplasty. The program operated 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with all procedural and clinical outcomes being prospectively recorded on a database. RESULTS: Fifty one patients underwent primary angioplasty in the first year. Vessel patency was achieved in 86%, with TIMI III flow present in 82%. Time from emergency room arrival to reperfusion averaged 95 minutes and median hospital length of stay was 5 days. Five (10%) patients died while in hospital: those in cardiogenic shock on presentation had a mortality of 33%, and the remainder 5%. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that primary angioplasty is logistically feasible in a moderate sized New Zealand hospital with clinical results similar to those reported by the large interventional centers in Europe and the USA.     

Evidential fusion of sensor data for activity recognition in smart homes

Advances in technology have provided the ability to equip the home environment with a layer of technology to provide a truly ‘Smart Home’. These homes offer improved living conditions and levels of independence for the population who require support with both physical and cognitive functions. At the core of the Smart Home is a collection of sensing technology which is used to monitor the behaviour of the inhabitant and their interactions with the environment. A variety of different sensors measuring light, sound, contact and motion provide sufficient multi-dimensional information about the inhabitant to support the inference of activity determination. A problem which impinges upon the success of any information analysis is the fact that sensors may not always provide reliable information due to either faults, operational tolerance levels or corrupted data. In this paper we address the fusion process of contextual information derived from uncertain sensor data. Based on a series of information handling techniques, most notably the Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence and the Equally Weighted Sum operator, evidential contextual information is represented, analysed and merged to achieve a consensus in automatically inferring activities of daily living for inhabitants in Smart Homes. Within the paper we introduce the framework within which uncertainty can be managed and demonstrate the effects that the number of sensors in conjunction with the reliability level of each sensor can have on the overall decision making process.     

Cardiovascular effects in patrol officers are associated with fine particulate matter from brake wear and engine emissions

Background  

Exposure to fine particulate matter air pollutants (PM_2.5) affects heart rate variability parameters, and levels of serum proteins associated with inflammation, hemostasis and thrombosis. This study investigated sources potentially responsible for cardiovascular and hematological effects in highway patrol troopers.     

Dependence of in vitro biocompatibility of ionomeric cements on ion release

The in vitro biocompatibility of a group of ionomeric cements (ICs) was evaluated with respect to their ion release properties. These ICs were made from a defined series of glasses with the general formula 1.5SiO20.5P2O5Al2O3(1.0-Z)CaO0.75CaF2 where Z was the mole fraction (ranging from 0–0.1) of an alkali metal oxide, either sodium or potassium or a mixture of both. For these alkali metal ICs, the amount of sodium released was directly related to the sodium content of the constituent glass. Similarly, the amount of potassium released was directly related to the potassium content. There was no correlation between the aluminum content of the glass and the aluminum ion release. Increasing the monovalent cation concentration, however, produced ICs with increased fluoride release. The biocompatibility of the ICs, as assessed by in vitro cell growth and viability measurements, was inversely proportional to aluminum ion release. Fluoride ion release, although important in terms of in vitro biocompatibility, would appear to be less important than aluminum ion release in determining the overall biocompatibility of the ICs studied. © 1998 Kluwer Academic Publishers