Association of a group I intron with its splice junction in 50S ribosomes: implications for intron toxicity

The effect of genetic context on splicing of group I introns is not well understood at present. The influence of ribosomal RNA conformation on splicing of rDNA introns in vivo was investigated using a heterologous system in which the Tetrahymena group I intron is inserted into the homologous position of the Escherichia coli 23S rRNA. Mutations that block splicing in E. coli result in accumulation of unspliced 23S rRNA that is assembled into 50S complexes, but not 70S ribosomes. The data indicate that accommodation of the intron structure on the surface of the 50S subunit inhibits interactions with the small ribosomal subunit. Spliced intron RNA also remains noncovalently bound to 50S subunits on sucrose gradients. This interaction appears to be mediated by base pairing between the intron guide sequence and the 23S rRNA, because the fraction of bound intron RNA is reduced by point mutations in the IGS or deletion of the P1 helix. Association of the intron with 50S subunits correlates with slow cell growth. The results suggest that group I introns have the potential to inhibit protein synthesis in prokaryotes by direct interactions with ribosomes.     

The specific hospital significantly affects red cell and component transfusion practice in coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a study of five hospitals

BACKGROUND: Interhospital differences in blood transfusion practice during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery have been noted, but the underlying issues have not been identified. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Records of 3217 consecutive CABG cases in five university teaching hospitals in 1992 and 1993 were stratified by hospital, type of revascularization conduit, patients' sex, and other factors. Statistical methods were used to compare patient characteristics, transfusion outcomes, and hospital outcomes. RESULTS: Forward two-step logistic regression using patient likelihood of red cell transfusion factors in the first step and the specific hospital in the second step revealed a significant effect of hospital on the delta odds ratios for red cell transfusion. This finding was confirmed by analyses of a highly stratified subset of cases, males in diagnosis-related group 107 (primary cases of coronary bypass without coronary catheterization) who underwent revascularization with venous and internal mammary artery grafts, revealing variations among hospitals from 109 to 457 units of red cells transfused per hundred cases. Corresponding variations in transfusions of all blood components were from 324 to 1019 units by hospital. Variation in red cell transfusion practice among surgeons in the same hospital was not responsible for these interhospital differences. CONCLUSION: The effect of the specific hospital on transfusion practice is attributed to institutional differences that, through reasons of training or hierarchy, become ingrained in hospitals.     

Inhibition of adenosine deaminase by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA) mimics the effect of inescapable shock on escape learning in rats.

Three experiments examined the role of adenosine neuroregulation in the production of shuttle-escape deficits caused by prior exposure to inescapable electric shock in rats (learned helplessness). Intracerebroventricular administration of erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine (EHNA), a selective adenosine deaminase inhibitor, mimicked the effect of earlier inescapable shock at a dose of 2.5 μM in previously restrained rats. Performance deficits produced by EHNA or by earlier exposure to inescapable shock were reversed by intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg caffeine, an adenosine receptor antagonist. Finally, preexposure to an ineffective number of shocks interacted in synergy with an ineffective pretest dose (1.0 μM) of EHNA to maximize shuttle-escape latencies. These data implicate endogenous adenosine neuroregulation as a proximate mechanism in learned helplessness and conservation-withdrawal. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A multisensor solid-state pressure manometer to identify the level of collapse in obstructive sleep apnea

The cause of failure after uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in idiopathic obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is poorly understood, but has been speculated to be due, in part, to persistent collapse in the lower oropharynx. In order to determine the specific level of upper airway obstruction during sleep, a multisensor pressure catheter has been developed with five solid-state ultraminiature sensors. Four sensors in the pharynx simultaneously measure multiple pressure levels, with no need to move the catheter during sleep. One distal esophageal port measures the respiratory effort. To evaluate the use of this catheter, manometry in twelve patients was reviewed and compared the use of this catheter, manometry in twelve patients was reviewed and compared to simultaneous videoendoscopy. The initial site of obstruction was the palate in nine patients (75%) and the tongue base in three (25%). Three patients with initial obstruction at the palate manometrically demonstrated distal obstruction on subsequent occluded breaths. Furthermore, simultaneous videoendoscopy in four patients with a palatal level of obstruction also identified marked near-total visual collapse without obstruction of the lower oropharynx that was not identified by pharyngeal manometry. The endoscopy revealed that at the initial site of obstruction, collapse appeared to have occurred passively during expiration and not on inspiration. Inferior to the site of manometric obstruction, collapse occurred during inspiration associated with increased negative inspiratory pressures. These results demonstrate that a multisensor pressure catheter can objectively identify the level of obstruction during sleep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Electromagnetic induction launchers

The electromagnetic launcher consists of a system of stator coils producing a traveling field which accelerates an armature carrying currents induced by the traveling field (induction accelerator [1,2]) or persistent currents supplied from otner sources (synchronous accelerator [2,10]). The fact that their armature has no electrical contact with the stator, essentially riding on the crest of a traveling magnetic wave, makes induction accelerators very attractive for a large number of applications. This paper is devoted exclusively to the accelerator of the induction type. Efficiency considerations require that the traveling wave should accelerate at approximately the same rate as the projectile. This can be achieved either using variable (increasing) winding pitch or a continuously increasing power supply frequency or a combination of both. A new dimension was added to the induction coaxial accelerator technology with the definition at the Center for Electromechanics at The University of Texas at Austin (CEM-UT) of a new electrical machine, the Rising Frequency Generator (RFG) representing a more attractive integrated power source for induction accelerators which had previously been forced to conform to constant frequency power supplies. This paper outlines the principles of design and shows two applications of induction coaxial launchers; a half-scale aircraft launcher in which the system also acts as an electromagnetic brake, stopping the shuttle and driving it in the opposite direction, and a high performance, 18-m long launcher capable of accelerating a 1-kg aluminum projectile to a velocity of 10 km/s at an average acceleration of 250,000 G.     

Towards high-power,high-coherence,integrated photonic mm Wave platform with microcavity solitons

Millimetre-wave(mmWave)technology continues to draw great interest due to its broad applications in wireless communications,radar,and spectroscopy.Compared to pure electronic solutions,photonic-based mmWave generation provides wide bandwidth,low power dissipation,and remoting through low-loss fibres.However,at high frequencies,two major challenges exist for the photonic system:the power roll-off of the photodiode,and the large signal linewidth derived directly from the lasers.Here,we demonstrate a new photonic mmWave platform combining integrated microresonator solitons and high-speed photodiodes to address the challenges in both power and coherence.The solitons,being inherently mode-locked,are measured to provide 5.8 dB additional gain through constructive interference among mmWave beatnotes,and the absolute mmWave power approaches the theoretical limit of conventional heterodyne detection at 100 GHz.In our free-running system,the soliton is capable of reducing the mmWave linewidth by two orders of magnitude from that of the pump laser.Our work leverages microresonator solitons and high-speed modified uni-traveling carrier photodiodes to provide a viable path to chip-scale,high-power,low-noise,high-frequency sources for mmWave applications.     

The retroperitoneal incision. An evaluation of postoperative flank 'bulge'

OBJECTIVES: To determine if intercostal nerve injury is related to postoperative flank "bulge" and to determine whether the extent of the retroperitoneal incision is related to the incidence of flank bulge following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. DESIGN: Bilateral dissection of the 11th intercostal nerve on seven cadavers; neurophysiological evaluation of five patients, three with a flank bulge and two without; and retrospective analysis of the extent of retroperitoneal incision and incidence of postoperative flank bulge in 63 consecutive patients. SETTING: Urban academic medical center. PATIENTS: Sixty-three consecutive patients who underwent retroperitoneal repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm and neurophysiological evaluation of five volunteer patients. INTERVENTIONS: Retroperitoneal repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Reduction of injury to the 11th intercostal nerve by avoiding extension of the retroperitoneal incision into the intercostal space. RESULTS: Of 14 dissections of 11th intercostal nerves, there were bifurcations of the main trunk within the intercostal space in four, at the tip of the 11th rib in seven, and at least 2 cm distal to the tip of the rib in three. Neurophysiological evaluation revealed iterative discharges, polyphasia, fibrillation potentials, and altered recruitment patterns compatible with intercostal nerve injury in patients with a bulge but not in the opposite abdominal wall musculature or in patients without a bulge. Seven (11.11%) of 63 patients had a bulge. Thirty-one of 63 patients had incisions into the 11th intercostal space in which a bulge developed in six (19.35%). Thirty-two patients had incisions that avoided extension into the intercostal space; a bulge developed in one (0.03%) (P = .53). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative bulge is related to intercostal nerve injury with subsequent paralysis of abdominal wall musculature. Intercostal nerve injury can be reduced by avoiding extension of the incision into the 11th intercostal space.