AID-driven deletion causes immunoglobulin heavy chain locus suicide recombination in B cells

Remodeling of immunoglobulin genes by activation-induced deaminase (AID) is required for affinity maturation and class-switch recombination in mature B lymphocytes. In the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus, these processes are predominantly controlled by the 3' cis-regulatory region. We now show that this region is transcribed and undergoes AID-mediated mutation and recombination around phylogenetically conserved switchlike DNA repeats. Such recombination, which we term locus suicide recombination, deletes the whole constant region gene cluster and thus stops expression of the immunoglobulin of the B cell surface, which is critical for B cell survival. The frequency of this event is approaching that of class switching and makes it a potential regulator of B cell homeostasis.     

Anticancer Effects of Different Seaweeds on Human Colon and Breast Cancers

Seafoods and seaweeds represent some of the most important reservoirs of new therapeutic compounds for humans. Seaweed has been shown to have several biological activities, including anticancer activity. This review focuses on colorectal and breast cancers, which are major causes of cancer-related mortality in men and women. It also describes various compounds extracted from a range of seaweeds that have been shown to eradicate or slow the progression of cancer. Fucoidan extracted from the brown algae Fucus spp. has shown activity against both colorectal and breast cancers. Furthermore, we review the mechanisms through which these compounds can induce apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. By considering the ability of compounds present in seaweeds to act against colorectal and breast cancers, this review highlights the potential use of seaweeds as anticancer agents.     

Comparison of a new device for blood sampling in cats with a vacuum tube collection system - plasma biochemistry, haematology and practical usage assessment

Using paediatric devices to collect venous blood from a cephalic vein in cats offers numerous practical advantages over traditional jugular venepuncture and vacuum closed systems: minimal restraint is required; there is minimal risk of serious injury to the cat; the discomfort associated with venepuncture is reduced by the use of small diameter (25 gauge) needles; very small volumes (200 microl) of blood are extracted; and the risk of vein collapse or haematoma is low. The aim of this study was to compare the haematological and plasma chemistry results obtained from six healthy cats using the two sampling techniques. Five plasma biochemical analytes were measured and a complete haematological examination was performed on each specimen. No clinically relevant difference between the two blood sampling techniques was observed for any variable, indicating that paediatric devices provide a useful alternative to vacuum tubes for venous blood collection in the cat.     

Influence of abiotic factors,inoculum source,and cultivar susceptibility on the potato tuber blemish diseases black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) and silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani)

Black dot and silver scurf are potato blemish diseases whose economic impact has increased in recent years. Because their symptomatology on tubers is visually similar, disease assessment does not usually differentiate between the two pathogens, which share the same ecological niche. The epidemiology of black dot has been extensively studied, especially in the UK, but the factors that influence silver scurf have been less investigated. In this study, the influence of cultivar, source of inoculum, and environmental conditions on both diseases was studied in field trials over a three-year period (2016–2018) in Switzerland. Planting minitubers did not prevent either disease in daughter tubers, indicating the contribution of soil as an inoculum reservoir. An arbitrary threshold of Colletotrichum coccodes soil inoculum could be set to discriminate between low and high disease risk. For the first time, Helminthosporium solani DNA was detected in stolons, and infections appeared earlier in stolons than in tubers. H. solani stolon and tuber infections usually appeared later in the season than those of C. coccodes. Black dot severity correlated positively with precipitation, while silver scurf severity correlated positively with temperature. Table potato cultivars commonly grown in Switzerland exhibited significant differences in susceptibility to both diseases, and cultivars with low susceptibility to both silver scurf and black dot were identified. These results gave new insights into understanding the factors driving the epidemiology of potato blemish diseases and may contribute to building a risk assessment scheme to manage both diseases simultaneously.     

Toxicity of dimethoate and fenoxycarb to honey bee brood (Apis mellifera), using a new in vitro standardized feeding method

A new in vitro method was devised to assess the effects of pesticides on honey bee brood. The method allowed the quantification of doses ingested by larvae and the assessment of larval and pupal mortality. Larval mortality in control samples was lower than 10%. Two active substances were tested: dimethoate and fenoxycarb. The LD(50) of dimethoate was 1.9 microg larva(-1) 48 h after oral exposure of larvae at day 4. Additional dose-related effects on pupal mortality were noted. After a chronic intoxication, the NOAEC (No Observed Adverse Effect Concentration) for larval mortality at day 7 was 2.5 mg kg(-1), whereas a NOAEC of 5 mg kg(-1) was found at day 22 for delayed effects on the reduction of adult emergence. Fenoxycarb applied at day 4 showed no effect on larvae, whereas emergence of adults was affected at doses higher than 6 ng larva(-1).     

The EPRI state-of-the-art cooling water treatment research project a tailored collaboration program

The EPRI Tailored Collaboration State-of-the-Art Cooling Water Treatment Research Program has been initiated with several electric utility participants. Started in January 1995, the program will provide O&M cost reduction through improved cooling water system reliability and operation. This effort is discussed along with the objectives and goals, the participants and project timetable. The program will provide three (3) main results to the participating utilities: cost effective optimization of cooling water treatment, production of a new Cooling Water Treatment Manual and updating of two (2) EPRI software products — SEQUIL and COOLADD. A review of the specific objectives, project timetable and results to date will be presented.     

Folk perception of sexual dimorphism,sex ratio,and spatial repartition: implications for population dynamics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerocarya birrea</Emphasis> [(A. Rich) Hochst] populations in Benin,West Africa

In Sub-Saharan Africa, indigenous fruit trees play vital roles in nutrition and food security particularly, in food shortage times. Sclerocarya birrea subsp. birrea, an indigenous dioecious fruit tree is such a resource with strong multipurpose use characteristics in semi-arid zones of West Africa. We assessed sex ratio, spatial distribution among male and female adult trees using second-order spatial statistics and assessed folk perception of dioecism among the natural populations in protected areas and surrounding agroforestry systems. A field survey showed that 55% of interviewees were aware of sex separation in the species. Some used bark appearance to make distinction between sexes, but this morphological criterion was not consistent with statistical results. The sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 0.5 in any of the districts or land use types. Bivariate spatial analysis with pair correlation function revealed no spatial association between male and female individuals. Moreover, a strict spatial segregation of sexes was not observed even though some individuals of the same sex could sometimes be found together. Results confirmed the functional dioecy of the species and showed that the species did not display any apparent sex-specific dimorphism outside the reproduction period or any apparent sex-specific requirement for environment conditions.     

Neural systems underlying the suppression of unwanted memories

Over a century ago, Freud proposed that unwanted memories can be excluded from awareness, a process called repression. It is unknown, however, how repression occurs in the brain. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to identify the neural systems involved in keeping unwanted memories out of awareness. Controlling unwanted memories was associated with increased dorsolateral prefrontal activation, reduced hippocampal activation, and impaired retention of those memories. Both prefrontal cortical and right hippocampal activations predicted the magnitude of forgetting. These results confirm the existence of an active forgetting process and establish a neurobiological model for guiding inquiry into motivated forgetting.     

Synthesis and Electronic Transport of Single Crystal K3C60

Sizable single crystals of C(6O) have been synthesized and doped with potassium. Above the superconducting transition temperature T(c), the electrical resistivity p(T) displays a classic metal-like temperature dependence. The transition to the superconducting state at T(c) = 19.8 K is extremely sharp, with a transition width DeltaT < 200 mK. In contrast to transport behavior of doped polycrystalline and granular thin films, no anomalous fluctuations are observed near T(c) in single crystal specimens.