Population and molecular evolution studies on the Melanocortin 1 receptor locus implicate its role in human pigmentation variation

Human pigmentation is a complex trait with the observed variation caused by the varied production of eumelanin (brown/black melanins) and phaeomelanin (red/yellow melanins) by the melanocytes. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), a G protein-coupled receptor expressed in the melanocytes, is a regulator eu- and phaeomelanin synthesis, and MC1R mutations causing skin and coat color changes are known in many mammals. To understand the role of MC1R in human pigmentation variation, I have sequenced the MC1R gene in 121 individuals sampled from world populations. In addition, I have sequenced the MC1R gene in common and pygmy chimpanzees, gorilla, orangutan, and baboon to study the evolution of MC1R and to infer the ancestral human MC1R sequence. The ancestral MC1R sequence is observed in all 25 African individuals studied, but at lower frequencies in the other populations examined, especially in East and Southeast Asians. The Arg163Gln variant is absent in the Africans studied, almost absent in Europeans, and at a low frequency in Indians, but is at an exceptionally high frequency (70%) in East and Southeast Asians. To further evaluate the role of MC1R variants in human pigmentation variation, I have combined these molecular evolution and population studies with functional assays on MC1R variants and primate MC1Rs. ^

Assessment of smoking behaviour in a dental setting: a 1-year follow-up study using self-reported questionnaire data and exhaled carbon monoxide levels.

OBJECTIVES This study analyses the changes in smoking habits over the course of 1 year in a group of patients referred to an oral medicine unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS Smoking history and behaviour were analysed at baseline and after 1 year based on a self-reported questionnaire and on exhaled carbon monoxide levels [in parts per million (ppm)]. During the initial examination, all smokers underwent tobacco use prevention and cessation counselling. RESULTS Of the initial group of 121 patients, 98 were examined at the follow-up visit. At the baseline examination, 33 patients (33.67 %) indicated that they were current smokers. One year later, 14 patients (42.24 % out of the 33 smokers of the initial examination) indicated that they had attempted to stop smoking at least once over the follow-up period and 15.15 % (5 patients) had quit smoking. The mean number of cigarettes smoked per day by current smokers decreased from 13.10 to 12.18 (p = 0.04). The exhaled CO level measurements showed very good correlation with a Spearman's coefficient 0.9880 for the initial visit, and 0.9909 for the follow-up examination. For current smokers, the consumption of one additional cigarette per day elevated the CO measurements by 0.77 ppm (p < 0.0001) at the baseline examination and by 0.84 ppm (p < 0.0001) at the 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS In oral health care, where smoking cessation is an important aspect of the treatment strategy, the measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide shows a very good correlation with a self-reported smoking habit. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Measurement of exhaled carbon monoxide is a non-invasive, simple and objective measurement technique for documenting and monitoring smoking cessation and reduction.

Comparative assessment of ELISAs using recombinant saposin-like protein 2 and recombinant cathepsin L-1 from Fasciola hepatica for the serodiagnosis of human Fasciolosis.

Two recombinant Fasciola hepatica antigens, saposin-like protein-2 (recSAP2) and cathepsin L-1 (recCL1), were assessed individually and in combination in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the specific serodiagnosis of human fasciolosis in areas of low endemicity as encountered in Central Europe. Antibody detection was conducted using ProteinA/ProteinG (PAG) conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. Test characteristics as well as agreement with results from an ELISA using excretory-secretory products (FhES) from adult stage liver flukes was assessed by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis, specificity, sensitivity, Youdens J and overall accuracy. Cross-reactivity was assessed using three different groups of serum samples from healthy individuals (n=20), patients with other parasitic infections (n=87) and patients with malignancies (n=121). The best combined diagnostic results for recombinant antigens were obtained using the recSAP2-ELISA (87% sensitivity, 99% specificity and 97% overall accuracy) employing the threshold (cut-off) to discriminate between positive and negative reactions that maximized Youdens J. The findings showed that recSAP2-ELISA can be used for the routine serodiagnosis of chronic fasciolosis in clinical laboratories; the use of the PAG-conjugate offers the opportunity to employ, for example, rabbit hyperimmune serum for the standardization of positive controls.

A new model construction by making a detour via intuitionistic theories I: Operational set theory without choice is Π1-equivalent to KP

We introduce a version of operational set theory, OST−, without a choice operation, which has a machinery for Δ0Δ0 separation based on truth functions and the separation operator, and a new kind of applicative set theory, so-called weak explicit set theory WEST, based on Gödel operations. We show that both the theories and Kripke–Platek set theory KPKP with infinity are pairwise Π1Π1 equivalent. We also show analogous assertions for subtheories with ∈-induction restricted in various ways and for supertheories extended by powerset, beta, limit and Mahlo operations. Whereas the upper bound is given by a refinement of inductive definition in KPKP, the lower bound is by a combination, in a specific way, of realisability, (intuitionistic) forcing and negative interpretations. Thus, despite interpretability between classical theories, we make “a detour via intuitionistic theories”. The combined interpretation, seen as a model construction in the sense of Visser's miniature model theory, is a new way of construction for classical theories and could be said the third kind of model construction ever used which is non-trivial on the logical connective level, after generic extension à la Cohen and Krivine's classical realisability model.

Erwiderung: In der Beilage zu Nr. 121 der neuen Hessischen Zeitung wird im Interesse der Landbewohner und Gewerbtreibenden auf dem Lande ...

Welsch (Projektbearbeiter): Zurückweisung der irrigen Auffassung, der Paragraph 51 der vom Frankfurter Gewerbekongreß beschlossenen Gewerbeordnung bedeute, daß auf dem Lande nur Wagner und Schmiede ihr Handwerk ausüben dürften. Plädoyer im Interesse der Stadthandwerker gegen die uneingeschränkt freie Ausübung städtischer Gewerbe durch Landbewohner. Replik des Kasselaner Schreinermeisters Eckell auf einen Beitrag in der Beilage zu Nr. 121 (1848) der 'Neuen Hessischen Zeitung'

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 20 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Katharina von Hirsch (p. I 10, 251-461)

57 Briefe zwischen Katharina von Hirsch und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1941; 5 Briefe zwischen dem United States Committee for the Care of European Children New York und Max Horkheimer, 1940; 2 Briefe von Alfred Haas an Felix Weil, 1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an M. A. Warren, 18.07.1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an den American Consulate General London, 05.07.1940; 1 Brief von Juilette Favez an Katharina von Hirsch, 31.05.1937; 46 Briefe zwischen Trude Hirschberg und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1945; 4 Briefe zwischen Leo Hochberger und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1946, 26.04.1946; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an George L. Warren; 1 Lebenslauf von Siegfried Höxter; 4 Briefe zwischen Paul Hofmann und Max Horkheimer, 1937, 14.10.1937; 4 Briefe zwischen Albert Hofstadter und Max Horkheimer, 1941, 27.10.1941; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Hajo Holborn, 03.05.1940; 2 Briefe zwischen W. Holden und Max Horkheimer, 01.11.1938, 09.12.1938; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Ernest V. Hollis, 04.06.1940;

Na 50 Nachlass Arthur Schopenhauer - 'Schopenhauer-Archiv', 121 - Antwortschreiben mit Hervorhebung der langen und guten Freundschaft zu Schopenhauer

u.a.: Erlebnisse nach Rückkehr in Frankreich;

Ms.Ff.F.Stoltze 3. 121 - Brief von Karl Hermann an Friedrich Stoltze

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