Partial development of the corpus callosum

PURPOSE: To determine whether the MR findings of callosal dysgenesis suggest that the partially formed corpus callosum in humans is the result of arrested growth or delayed continued development. METHODS: The MR scans of 25 patients with callosal dysgenesis were reviewed to determine whether the observed corpus callosum corresponded to the form and position of a portion of a normal corpus callosum, as suggested by a theory of arrested growth. RESULTS: In 10 of the 25 cases, the partially formed corpus callosum corresponded to a portion of a normal corpus callosum. In the remaining 15 cases, the partially formed corpus callosum was located posterior to the expected location of a normal genu and inferior to the expected location of a normal body. CONCLUSIONS: Corpus callosum dysgenesis in humans may be caused by arrested growth in some cases; in other cases it is most likely caused by delayed continued development that attempts to compensate for earlier abnormalities in the evolution of midline structures.     

Development of a model angiography informed consent form based on a multiinstitutional survey of current forms

PURPOSE: To develop an informative consent form for angiography that can be read and understood by a patient with an eighth-grade level of education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consent forms from 125 medical centers were evaluated with RightWriter 4.0 software. The readability index, a measure of educational grade level needed to understand a document, was determined for each form. Features of forms and discussion of complications were evaluated. A model consent form was developed. RESULTS: Analysis of 27 consent forms revealed a mean readability index of 14.2; to adequately understand the documents, an average of 2.2 years of college were required. Alternatives to the procedure were listed in 14 forms (52%). All consent forms listed potential complications, but only 15 (56%) identified specific numeric risks, and attempts to classify complications according to severity were made in only five (18%). CONCLUSION: An angiography consent form has been developed that can be understood with an eight-grade level of education. It should allow patients to more easily understand the procedure and its risks, benefits, and alternatives. It remains the obligation of the physician to tailor the discussion for each procedure to meet the needs of each patient.     

Antibody selection for immunohistochemical survey of equine tissue

A membrane-bound protease induced by sulfur mustard in cultured normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) was purified and partially characterized. Maximum enzyme stimulation occurred at 16 hr after normal human epidermal keratinocytes were exposed to 300 microM sulfur mustard. Purification to homogeneity of the protease was accomplished by Triton X-100 solubilization, ultracentrifugation, and dialysis, followed by ion-exchange chromatography through DEAE-cellulose and finally hydrophobic column chromatography through phenyl Sepharose. Analysis of the purified enzyme by SDS-PAGE revealed a single polypeptide at the 80 kDa region. Further investigation of biochemical properties showed that a synthetic serine-specific Chromozym TRY peptide and the physiological protein laminin were good substrates for this enzyme. Moreover, this enzyme was inhibited mostly by the serine-protease inhibitors leupeptin and di-isopropyl fluorophosphate and not by the cysteine protease inhibitor E-64 or the metalloprotease inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline (Component H, CH), indicating the serine protease nature of this enzyme. This enzyme had a pH optimum in the range of 7.0 to 8.0. Amino acid sequencing of the purified enzyme revealed that this enzyme belongs to the endopeptidase family (serine protease), and is homologous with a mammalian-type bacterial serine endopeptidase that can preferentially cleave K-X, including K-P. These results suggest that serine-protease stimulation may be one of the mechanisms of mustard-induced skin blister formation, and that some specific serine-protease inhibitors may be useful for the treatment of this sulfur mustard toxicity.     

Incentives for energy efficiency in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme

This paper explores the incentives for energy efficiency induced by the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for installations in the energy and industry sectors. Our analysis of the National Allocation Plans for 27 EU Member States for phase 2 of the EU ETS (2008–2012) suggests that the price and cost effects for improvements in carbon and energy efficiency in the energy and industry sectors will be stronger than in phase 1 (2005–2007), but only because the European Commission has substantially reduced the number of allowances to be allocated by the Member States. To the extent that companies from these sectors (notably power producers) pass through the extra costs for carbon, higher prices for allowances translate into stronger incentives for the demand-side energy efficiency. With the cuts in allocation to energy and industry sectors, these will be forced to greater reductions; thus, the non-ET sectors like household, tertiary, and transport will have to reduce less, which is more in line with the cost-efficient share of emission reductions. The findings also imply that domestic efficiency improvements in the energy and industry sectors may remain limited since companies can make substantial use of credits from the Kyoto Mechanisms. The analysis of the rules for existing installations, new projects, and closures suggests that incentives for energy efficiency are higher in phase 2 than in phase 1 because of the increased application of benchmarking to new and existing installations and because a lower share of allowances will be allocated for free. Nevertheless, there is still ample scope to further improve the EU ETS so that the full potential for energy efficiency can be realized.

The impact of the EU ETS on the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies – Findings for Germany

This paper provides an overview of early changes in the sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies which have been triggered by the European Emission Trading System (EU ETS). Based on a broad definition of the sector, our research analyses the impact of the EU ETS on the four building blocks ‘knowledge and technologies’, ‘actors and networks’, ‘institutions’, and ‘demand’ by combining two streams of literature, namely systems of innovation and environmental economics. Our analysis for Germany is based on 42 exploratory interviews with experts in the field of the EU ETS, the power sector, and technological innovation. We find that the EU ETS mainly affects the rate and direction of technological change of power generation technologies within the large-scale, coal-based power generation technological regime, to which carbon capture technologies are added as a new technological trajectory. While this impact can be interpreted as the defensive behaviour of incumbents, the observed changes should not be underestimated. We argue that the EU ETS’ impact on corporate CO₂ culture and routines may prepare the ground for the transition to a low-carbon sectoral innovation system for power generation technologies.     

TEL gene rearrangements in myeloid malignancy

The TEL gene is a recently described, "promiscuous" gene with a role in both myeloid and lymphoid malignancy. It is unusual since there may be more than one mechanism by which its rearrangement through chromosomal translocation is leukemogenic. This article discusses the four potential mechanisms of TEL-mediated transformation. It is conceivable that the TEL gene is the common target for various translocations precisely because of this pleiotropy of pathogenic mechanisms by which TEL gene rearrangements can lead to cell transformation.     

Major groove binding of the tRNA/mRNA complex to the 16 S ribosomal RNA decoding site

We propose a detailed three-dimensional model, with atomic detail, for the structure of the Escherichia coli 16 S rRNA decoding site in a complex with mRNA and the A and P-site tRNAs. Model building began with four primary assumptions: (1) A and P-site tRNA conformations are identical with those seen in the tRNA crystal structure; (2) A and P-site tRNAs adopt an S-type orientation upon binding mRNA in the ribosome; (3) A1492 and A1493 bind non-specifically to the mRNA through a series of hydrogen bonds; and (4) C1400 lies in close proximity to the P-site tRNA wobble base in order to satisfy a UV-induced photocrosslink formed between the two residues. We have models with both major groove and minor groove binding of the tRNA/mRNA complex to the decoding site RNA, and conclude that major groove binding is more likely. Both classes of models maintain structural features reported in the NMR structure of the A-site region of the decoding site RNA with bound paromomycin. We also present models for the tRNA/mRNA complex bound to the decoding site RNA in the presence of the aminoglycoside paromomycin. We discuss possible mechanisms for ribosomal proof reading and antibiotic disruption of this proofreading.     

A role for RNA helicase A in post-transcriptional regulation of HIV type 1

Retroviruses must bypass the tight coupling of splicing and nuclear export of mRNA in their replication cycle because unspliced genomic RNA and incompletely spliced mRNA must be exported to the cytoplasm for packaging or translation. This process is mediated by a cis-acting constitutive transport element (CTE) for simple retroviruses and by the trans-acting viral protein Rev in concert with its response element (RRE) for complex retroviruses (e.g., HIV). Recently, we identified RNA helicase A (RHA) as a potential cellular cofactor for CTE. Here, we report that RHA also plays a role in Rev/RRE-mediated gene expression and HIV replication. RHA binds weakly to HIV-1 RRE independently of Rev. Overexpression of RHA, but not of an RHA mutant lacking helicase activity, increased both Rev/RRE- and CTE-dependent gene expression and the levels of unspliced HIV mRNA. Microinjection of antibodies to RHA into nuclei dramatically inhibited both CTE- and Rev-dependent gene expression in human cells. Exogenous RHA cDNA, but not the mutant RHA, rescued this inhibition. We propose that RHA is required to release both CTE- and RRE-containing mRNA from spliceosomes before completion of splicing, thus freeing them for nuclear export.     

聚乙烯管的压力测试方法

(ASTMD2 83 7,ISOTR 90 80 )1　概要以测量压力管使用寿命为目的的压力测试系统可以在内部压力下测量出压力管的长期性能。测试方法有两种:一种为ASTMD2 837(StandardTestMethodforObtainingHydrostaticDesignBasisforThermoplasticPipeMaterials) ,另外一种为ISOTR90 80 (Ther