Molecular analysis of a mutant Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) shows an interruption of an inhibitor of apoptosis gene (iap-3) by a new class-II piggyBac-related insect transposon

A new piggyBac-related transposable element (TE) was found in the genome of a mutant Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus interrupting an inhibitor of apoptosis gene. This mutant virus induces apoptosis upon infection of an Anticarsia gemmatalis cell line, but not in a Trichoplusia ni cell line. The sequence of the new TE (which was named IDT for iap disruptor transposon) has 2531 bp with two DNA sequences flanking a putative Transposase (Tpase) ORF of 1719 bp coding for a protein with 572 amino acids. These structural features are similar to the piggyBac TE, also reported for the first time in the genome of a baculovirus. We have also isolated variants of this new TE from different lepidopteran insect cells and compared their Tpase sequences.

Artificial molecular quantum rings under magnetic field influence

The ground states of a few electrons confined in two vertically coupled quantum rings in the presence of an external magnetic field are studied systematically within the current spin-density functional theory. Electron-electron interactions combined with inter-ring tunneling affect the electronic structure and the persistent current. For small values of the external magnetic field, we recover the zero magnetic field molecular quantum ring ground state configurations. Increasing the magnetic field many angular momentum, spin, and isospin transitions are predicted to occur in the ground state. We show that these transitions follow certain rules, which are governed by the parity of the number of electrons, the single-particle picture, Hund's rules, and many-body effects. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3223360]

Control of the persistent currents in two interacting quantum rings through the Coulomb interaction and interring tunneling

The persistent current in two vertically coupled quantum rings containing few electrons is studied. We find that the Coulomb interaction between the rings in the absence of tunneling affects the persistent current in each ring and the ground-state configurations. Quantum tunneling between the rings alters significantly the ground state and the persistent current in the system.

CFTR Polymorphisms in Patients with Alcoholic Chronic Pancreatitis

Introduction: Pancreas susceptibility to alcohol is variable and only 5-10% of chronic alcohol abusers develop chronic pancreatitis; the role of genetic factors in this process is unknown. The CFTR gene encodes a protein that acts on epithelial cells and plays a key role in normal exocrine pancreatic function. Methods: This study investigated the frequency of polymorphisms in intron 8 of the CFTR gene in patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis. Three groups of patients were studied: group A-68 adult alcoholics with a diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis; group B-68 adult alcoholics without pancreatic disease or liver cirrhosis and group C-104 healthy nonalcoholic adults. Results: T5/T7 genotype was more frequent in group A (11.8%) than in group B (2.9%) (p = 0.0481), and there was no statistical difference when groups A and C (5.8%) were compared (p = 0.1317). The haplotype combination (TG) 10-T7/(TG) 11-T7 was more frequent in groups B (23.5%) and C (20.2%) than in group A (7.3%) (p = 0.0080 and 0.0162). Conclusion: There are differences when these three groups are compared and individuals with T5/T7 genotype might have a greater risk of developing chronic pancreatitis when they become chronic alcoholics. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP

Cardiopulmonary Effects of Matching Positive End-Expiratory Pressure to Abdominal Pressure in Concomitant Abdominal Hypertension and Acute Lung Injury

Background: To evaluate the cardiopulmonary effects of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) equalization to intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) in an experimental model of intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and acute lung injury (ALI). Methods: Eight anesthetized pigs were submitted to IAH of 20 mm Hg with a carbon dioxide insufflator for 30 minutes and then submitted to lung lavage with saline and Tween (2.5%). Pressure x volume curves of the respiratory system were performed by a low flow method during IAH and ALI, and PEEP was subsequently adjusted to 27 cm center dot H(2)O for 30 minutes. Results: IAH decreases pulmonary and respiratory system static compliances and increases airway resistance, alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient, and respiratory dead space. The presence of concomitant ALI exacerbates these findings. PEEP identical to AP moderately improved oxygenation and respiratory mechanics; however, an important decline in stroke index and right ventricle ejection fraction was observed. Conclusions: Simultaneous IAH and ALI produce important impairments in the respiratory physiology. PEEP equalization to AP may improve the respiratory performance, nevertheless with a secondary hemodynamic derangement.

Do the Effects of Pentoxifylline on the Inflammatory Process and Pancreatic Infection Justify Its Use in Acute Pancreatitis?

Severe acute pancreatitis is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. At the present time, no specific therapy has been shown to be uniformly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pentoxifylline on the pancreatic and systemic inflammatory process, pancreatic infection, and mortality rate in severe acute pancreatitis in rats. Methods: One hundred and twenty male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: sham, pancreatitis, and pentoxifylline (acute pancreatitis induction plus administration of 25 mg/kg pentoxifylline). Inflammatory response was measured by histological studies, inflammatory cytokine production (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha), and mortality rate. Pancreatic infection was evaluated by bacterial cultures expressed in colony-forming units per gram. Results: Pentoxifylline-treated animals had a statistically significant reduction of inflammatory cytokine levels, pancreatic histological damage, occurrence of bacterial translocation and pancreatic infection (p < 0.05), associated with a significant reduction in mortality rate. Conclusions: Pentoxifylline administration in this experimental model of acute pancreatitis reduces local and systemic inflammatory responses and decreases the pancreatic infection and the mortality rate. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel and IAP

Inferential Implications of Over-Parametrization: A Case Study in Incomplete Categorical Data

P>In the context of either Bayesian or classical sensitivity analyses of over-parametrized models for incomplete categorical data, it is well known that prior-dependence on posterior inferences of nonidentifiable parameters or that too parsimonious over-parametrized models may lead to erroneous conclusions. Nevertheless, some authors either pay no attention to which parameters are nonidentifiable or do not appropriately account for possible prior-dependence. We review the literature on this topic and consider simple examples to emphasize that in both inferential frameworks, the subjective components can influence results in nontrivial ways, irrespectively of the sample size. Specifically, we show that prior distributions commonly regarded as slightly informative or noninformative may actually be too informative for nonidentifiable parameters, and that the choice of over-parametrized models may drastically impact the results, suggesting that a careful examination of their effects should be considered before drawing conclusions.Resume Que ce soit dans un cadre Bayesien ou classique, il est bien connu que la surparametrisation, dans les modeles pour donnees categorielles incompletes, peut conduire a des conclusions erronees. Cependant, certains auteurs persistent a negliger les problemes lies a la presence de parametres non identifies. Nous passons en revue la litterature dans ce domaine, et considerons quelques exemples surparametres simples dans lesquels les elements subjectifs influencent de facon non negligeable les resultats, independamment de la taille des echantillons. Plus precisement, nous montrons comment des a priori consideres comme peu ou non-informatifs peuvent se reveler extremement informatifs en ce qui concerne les parametres non identifies, et que le recours a des modeles surparametres peut avoir sur les conclusions finales un impact considerable. Ceci suggere un examen tres attentif de l`impact potentiel des a priori.