Mutations in the large subunit of U2AF disrupt pre-mRNA splicing, cell cycle progression and nuclear structure

The prp2 gene of fission yeast has previously been shown to encode the large subunit of the splicing factor spU2AF. SpU2AF(59) is an evolutionarily conserved protein that has an arginine/serine-rich region and three RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). We have sequenced three temperature-sensitive alleles of prp2 and determined that the mutations result in single amino acid changes within one of the RRMs or between RRMs. All mutant alleles of prp2 have pre-mRNA splicing defects at the non-permissive temperature. Although the mutant strains are growth-arrested at 37 degrees C, they do not elongate like typical fission yeast cell cycle mutants. The DNA of the prp2(-) strains stains more intensely than a wild-type strain, suggesting that the chromatin may be condensed. Ultrastructural studies show differences in the mutant nuclei including a prominent distinction between the chromatin- and non-chromatin-enriched regions compared to the more homogenous wild-type nucleus. Two-hybrid assays indicate that some of the wild-type protein interactions are altered in the mutant strains. These results suggest that normal functioning of spU2AF(59) may be essential not only for pre-mRNA splicing but also for the maintenance of proper nuclear structure and normal cell cycle progression.     

Visible spectrometric indices of hematite (Hm) and goethite (Gt) content in lateritic soils: The application of a Thematic Mapper (TM) image for soil-mapping in Brasilia,Brazil

Data on mineralogy and diffuse reflectance spectra, obtained from 56 samples of Brazilian lateritic soils, were used to establish quantitative relationships between spectral parameters and iron oxides contents (hematite and goethite). A redness index RI H calculated from Helmholtz chromatic co-ordinates ( lambda d, P e, Y) and correlated to hematite content is found. A good estimate of the ratio Hematite/ (Hematite + Goethite) is given by the dominant wavelength lambda which takes into account a large proportion of the tint detected on the soil sample. Based on these laboratory results, radiometric indices were elaborated by combining only those parts of the visible spectrum that correspond to Thematic Mapper (TM) channels: (i) a hematite index I Hm to estimate hematite concentration; and (ii) a ferric index I Fe to estimate the ratio hematite/(hematite goethite). The hematite index, applied to a TM image of the area around Brasilia, allowed hematite contents in the surface horizons of lateritic soils to be mapped accurately.     

Validity of alternative self-report indices of smoking among adolescents.

The convergent validity of popularly used open-ended and closed-ended self-report measures of smoking was examined. Carbon monoxide (CO) samples were obtained from 11th-grade Canadian students as an independent method of assessing recent smoking. In addition to CO, 5 known psychosocial correlates of smoking (attitude, subjective norm, risk taking, best friend's smoking, and other friends' smoking) were used to estimate convergence with the self-report smoking indices. Results indicate that both simple closed-ended scales, with only a few response options, and more continuous, open-ended measures performed about equally as well as correlates of CO and the psychosocial measures, but only if the open-ended scales were subjected to a normalizing transformation to optimize their convergence. After this transformation was performed, convergence depended more on the time-span covered by the self-report indices than on the open-ended/closed-ended distinction. Implications of these results for different assessment goals were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Consistent boundary conditions for flows within the atmospheric boundary layer

In computational wind engineering the neutrally stable atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) is often simulated using the standard k-ε model. The application of boundary conditions that are inconsistent with the profiles used at the inflow boundary causes streamwise gradients in the solution and prevents the simulation of a horizontally homogeneous boundary layer. In the present work these problems are overcome by applying a simple extension of the shear stress boundary condition at the top of the domain and by using one-dimensional models to generate inflow profiles in equilibrium with the ground boundary condition. This procedure allows the impact of the inconsistent boundary conditions to be quantitatively assessed. It is shown that inconsistent boundary conditions at the top of the domain result in erroneous streamwise gradients throughout the domain. These errors are reduced by enlarging the domain in the vertical direction but are not removed. The errors are also found in simulations with idealised and real topography included in the domain. A brief discussion of the impact of the errors on simulations of wind energy projects is given.     

Illicit substance use among adolescents: a matrix of prospective predictors

This paper reviews findings from 58 prospective studies of illicit substance use (ISU) among adolescents. It arranges 384 findings according to three types of influence (viz., social, attitudinal, and intrapersonal) and four levels of influence (viz., ultimate, distal, proximal, and immediate). The bulk of evidence reconfirms the importance of several predictors of ISU (e.g., intentions and prior substance-related behavior, friendship patterns and peer behaviors, absence of supportive parents, psychological temperament), reveals that a few variables thought to be well-established predictors may not be (e.g., parental behaviors, parental permissiveness, depression, low self-esteem), and uncovers several variables where findings were either sparse or inconsistent (e.g., the role of public policies concerning ISU, mass media depictions of ISU, certain parenting styles, affective states, perceptions of parental disapproval for ISU, and substance-specific refusal skills). Directions for future research are discussed.     

Identifying and predicting adolescent smokers' developmental trajectories.

Very few studies have defined trajectories of smoking. In the present study, we modeled growth in adolescent smoking and empirically identified prototypical trajectories. We conceptualized escalation of smoking as a growth process and modeled rates of change and heterogeneity of these patterns using latent growth mixture modeling. The analysis identified six trajectories with low ambiguity about group membership (early rapid escalators, late rapid escalators, late moderate escalators, late slow escalators-smokers, stable puffers, and late slow escalators-puffers). A trajectory of quitters was not identified. We also examined predictors of the smoking trajectories. The predictors were assessed across the adolescent years and included variables related to smoking and other substance use, as well as a range of variables related to sociodemographic factors and mental health. Observed change in the pattern of predictors across age has implications for the mechanism of effect of these variables in relation to smoking trajectories, including predictors that differentiated among daily smokers, variables that may determine the trajectory (e.g., friends smoking), and variables that may result from the trajectory (e.g., marijuana use, less attachment to friends).     

Psychosocial approaches to smoking prevention: A review of findings.

Reviewed 27 school-based studies of psychosocial approaches to smoking prevention. The social influences approach and the broader life/social skills approaches are represented. Reported results were fairly consistent, with each tested program seeming to reduce smoking onset by about 50%. However, none of the pilot or prototype studies considered alone provided easily interpreted results. The major contributions were improved programs and methods. The findings from studies primarily concerned with maximizing internal validity were more easily interpreted, although only 2 of the 6 studies in this group were interpreted with high confidence. It is concluded that psychosocial approaches to smoking prevention, particularly the social influences approach, seem to be effective, but at this time little is known about why, for whom, or under what conditions. (5 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Intraclass correlation estimates in a school-based smoking prevention study. Outcome and mediating variables, by sex and ethnicity

Most school-based smoking prevention studies employ designs in which schools or classrooms are assigned to different treatment conditions while observations are made on individual students. This design requires that the treatment effect be assessed against the between-school variance. However, the between-school variance is usually larger than the variance that would be obtained if students were individually randomized to different conditions. Consequently, the power of the test for a treatment effect is reduced, and it becomes difficult to detect important treatment effects. To assess the potential loss of power or to calculate appropriate sample sizes, investigators need good estimates of the intraclass correlations for the variables of interest. The authors calculated intraclass correlations for some common outcome variables in a school-based smoking prevention study, using a three-level model-i.e., students nested within classrooms and classrooms nested within schools. The authors present the intraclass correlation estimates for the entire data set, as well as separately by sex and ethnicity. They also illustrate the use of these estimates in the planning of future studies.     

Group self-identification and adolescent cigarette smoking: A 1-year prospective study.

As an extension of previous work, we analyzed the longitudinal relations between group self-identification and adolescent cigarette smoking. The predictive precedence of cigarette smoking and identification with 6 different types of peer groups was examined. Results indicated that 7th-grade group self-identification predicted 8th-grade cigarette smoking, whereas 7th-grade cigarette smoking did not predict 8th-grade group self-identification. Group self-identification also was compared with 7 other psychosocial variables as predictors of smoking 1 yr later. The pattern of results suggests that group self-identification is about as good a predictor of smoking as other psychosocial variables, and that group self-identification is more than a mere proxy of other psychosocial variables. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)