Detection and identification of transgenic virus resistant papaya and squash by multiplex PCR

Two separate multiplex PCR assays were developed for the detection of transgenic papaya and transgenic squash. Papaya line 55-1 contains a genetic insertion consisting of the coat protein gene of Papaya ringspot virus strain p and is resistant to infection by this virus. A multiplex PCR was developed to specifically amplify the papaya ringspot virus coat protein transgene construct and an endogenous papaya gene sequence. A third primer set was designed to amplify the -glucuronidase gene construct, which can distinguish between the commercial and noncommercial papaya lines 55-1 and 63-1. Squash line ZW-20 contains genetic insertions of the coat protein genes from Watermelon mosaic virus II and Zucchini yellow mosaic virus and is resistant to these two viruses. Squash line CZW-3 is similar to ZW-20 but additionally confers resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus. A second multiplex assay was developed to detect and differentiate squash lines ZW-20 and CZW-3 in a single reaction.     

The registered dietitian in primary care: the Hamilton experience.

The Hamilton Health Service Organization Nutrition Program integrates nine registered dietitians (RDs) into the offices of 80 family physicians (FPs) at 50 sites in Hamilton, Ontario. The program is based on a shared care model, in which FPs and RDs work collaboratively to provide nutrition services aimed at prevention, treatment, and management of nutrition-related problems. In addition to their clinical role, dietitians in the program are involved in health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention strategies, interdisciplinary collaboration, building links with community services, and research. The RDs' specialized knowledge, skills, and experience allow them to provide a wide range of services that complement and augment those of the FP. This model is consistent with Canadian health care reform recommendations and offers significant benefits for both health care providers and consumers.     

Residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Elephant Island, Antarctica

Contamination of blubber tissues by organochlorine pesticides (OC) and PCBs was assessed in female and male pups and juveniles, as well as in adult females and subdominant adult males of the Southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, from Elephant Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. All residues of persistent organochlorine contaminants analyzed were found in blubber samples, except for beta-HCH, endosulfan II, endrin, heptachlor, and aldrin. The relative concentrations of the analytes detected were sigmaDDT > sigmaPCB > sigmachlordane > mirex > dieldrin > HCB> sigmaendosulfan > methoxychlor > sigmaHCHs > other OC pesticides. OC and PCBs concentrations were 1 or 2 orders of magnitude lower than those found in pinnipeds from northern hemisphere. The ratio sigmaDDT/sigmaPCB was higher in southern elephant seals. The relative importance of some OC residues indicates that pesticides used either currently or in the recent past in countries in the southern hemisphere are the sources of contamination in the Antarctic region. Data showed that concentrations of contaminants generally increased from pups < juveniles < adults and suggested that pups accumulated contaminants through transfer from the mother seals via transplacental and lactational routes.     

Lack of Glutamate Receptor Subunit Expression Changes in Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury in a Rodent Model of Depression

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects over 69 million people annually worldwide, and those with pre-existing depression have worse recovery. The molecular mechanisms that may contribute to poor recovery after TBI with co-morbid depression have not been established. TBI and depression have many commonalities including volume changes, myelin disruption, changes in proliferation, and changes in glutamatergic signaling. We used a well-established animal model of depression, the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat, to elucidate changes after TBI that may influence the recovery trajectory. We compared the histological and molecular outcomes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus after experimental TBI using the lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPI) in the WKY and the parent Wistar (WIS) strain. We showed that WKY had exaggerated myelin loss after LFPI and baseline deficits in proliferation. In addition, we showed that while after LFPI WIS rats exhibited glutamate receptor subunit changes, namely increased GluN2B, the WKY rats failed to show such injury-related changes. These differential responses to LFPI helped to elucidate the molecular characteristics that influence poor recovery after TBI in those with pre-existing depression and may lead to targets for future therapeutic interventions.     

Diel changes in water chemistry in an arsenic-rich stream and treatment-pond system

Arsenic concentrations are elevated in surface waters of the Warm Springs Ponds Operable Unit (WSPOU), located at the head of the upper Clark Fork River Superfund site, Montana, USA. Arsenic is derived from historical deposition of smelter emissions (Mill and Willow Creeks) and historical mining and milling wastes (Silver Bow Creek). Although long-term monitoring has characterized the general seasonal and flow-related trends in As concentrations in these streams and the pond system used to treat Silver Bow Creek water, little is known about solubility controls and sorption processes that influence diel cycles in As concentrations. Diel (24-h) sampling was conducted in July 2004 and August 2005 at the outlet of the treatment ponds, at two locations along a nearby reconstructed stream channel that diverts tributary water around the ponds, and at Silver Bow Creek 2 km below the ponds. Dissolved As concentration increased up to 51% during the day at most of the stream sites, whereas little or no diel change was displayed at the treatment-pond outlet. The strong cycle in streams is explained by pH- and temperature-dependent sorption of As onto hydrous metal oxides or biofilms on the streambed. Concentrations of dissolved Ca(2+) and HCO(3)(-) at the stream sites showed a diel temporal pattern opposite to that of As, and geochemical modeling supports the hypothesis that the concentrations of Ca(2+) and HCO(3)(-) were controlled by precipitation of calcite during the warm afternoon hours when pH rose above 9.0. Nightly increases in dissolved Mn and Fe(II) concentrations were out of phase with concentrations of other divalent cations and are more likely explained by redox phenomena.     

Mechanistic principles of nanoparticle evolution to zeolite crystals

Precursor nanoparticles that form spontaneously on hydrolysis of tetraethylorthosilicate in aqueous solutions of tetrapropylammonium (TPA) hydroxide evolve to TPA-silicalite-1, a molecular-sieve crystal that serves as a model for the self-assembly of porous inorganic materials in the presence of organic structure-directing agents. The structure and role of these nanoparticles are of practical significance for the fabrication of hierarchically ordered porous materials and molecular-sieve films, but still remain elusive. Here we show experimental findings of nanoparticle and crystal evolution during room-temperature ageing of the aqueous suspensions that suggest growth by aggregation of nanoparticles. A kinetic mechanism suggests that the precursor nanoparticle population is distributed, and that the 5-nm building units contributing most to aggregation only exist as an intermediate small fraction. The proposed oriented-aggregation mechanism should lead to strategies for isolating or enhancing the concentration of crystal-like nanoparticles.     

DConfusion: a technique to allow cross study performance evaluation of fault prediction studies

There are many hundreds of fault prediction models published in the literature. The predictive performance of these models is often reported using a variety of different measures. Most performance measures are not directly comparable. This lack of comparability means that it is often difficult to evaluate the performance of one model against another. Our aim is to present an approach that allows other researchers and practitioners to transform many performance measures back into a confusion matrix. Once performance is expressed in a confusion matrix alternative preferred performance measures can then be derived. Our approach has enabled us to compare the performance of 600 models published in 42 studies. We demonstrate the application of our approach on 8 case studies, and discuss the advantages and implications of doing this.     

Effects of children's family structure status on the development of stereotypes by teachers.

The possibility that teacher ratings of children may indicate a stereotype on the part of teachers was investigated by showing 30 teachers a videotape that focused on the social interaction of an 8-yr-old boy. Half of the teachers were given a background information sheet indicating that he was from a divorced home, while the other half were told he was from an intact home. Ss rated the boy on a wide range of 11 personality traits and predicted what his behavior would be like in 5 different school situations (e.g., copes with stress and popularity). The Bonferroni multiple-comparisons procedure indicated that the teachers rated the divorced child more negatively on the following 3 variables reflecting affective state or relations: happiness, emotional adjustment, and copes with stress. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perfectionistic self-presentation in children and adolescents: Development and validation of the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale—Junior Form.

Research on adults indicates that perfectionistic self-presentation, the interpersonal expression of one's perfection, is associated with a variety of psychopathological outcomes independent of trait perfectionism and Big Five traits. The current article reports on the development and evidence for the validity of the subtest score interpretations of an 18-item self-report measure of perfectionistic self-presentation for children and adolescents. Analyses conducted on data from two clinical samples and one nonclinical sample of children and adolescents found that the Perfectionistic Self-Presentation Scale—Junior Form (PSPS–Jr) reflected a multidimensional model of perfectionistic self-presentation with three subscales: Perfectionistic Self Promotion, Nondisplay of Imperfection, and Nondisclosure of Imperfection. The subscale scores were found to demonstrate internal consistency, and there was good evidence supporting the validity of the interpretation of subscale scores based on this new measure. The subscales were associated with maladaptive outcomes, but were not influenced unduly by biases that included social desirability and differential item functioning by gender. Overall, the PSPS-Jr appears to be a useful measure of the expression of perfection among youths and an important tool in attempting to understand the nature and the consequences of perfectionistic self-presentation in children and adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)