Creation of a reversible on/off system for site-specific in vivo control of exogenous gene activity in the renal glomerulus.

Using genetically engineered glomerular mesangial cells, an in vivo gene transfer approach was developed that specifically targets the renal glomerulus. By combining this system with a tetracycline (Tc)-responsive promoter, the present study aimed to create a reversible on/off system for site-specific in vivo control of exogenous gene activity within the glomerulus. In the Tc regulatory system, a Tc-controlled transactivator (tTA) encoded by a regulator plasmid induces target gene transcription by binding to a tTA-responsive promoter located in a response plasmid. Tc inhibits this tTA-dependent transactivation via its affinity for tTA. In double-transfected cells, therefore, the activity of a transgene can be controlled by Tc. Cultured rat mesangial cells were cotransfected with a regulator plasmid and a response plasmid that introduces a beta-galactosidase gene. In vitro, stable double-transfectant MtTAG cells exhibited no beta-galactosidase activity in the presence of Tc. However, following withdrawal of Tc from culture media, expression of beta-galactosidase was induced within 24 h. When Tc was again added, the expression was rapidly resuppressed. Low concentrations of Tc were sufficient to maintain the silent state of tTA-dependent promoter. MtTAG cells were then transferred into the rat glomeruli via renal artery injection. In the isolated chimeric glomeruli, expression of beta-galactosidase was induced ex vivo in the absence of Tc, whereas it was repressed in its presence. When Tc-pretreated MtTAG cells were transferred into the glomeruli of untreated rats, beta-galactosidase expression was induced in vivo within 3 days. Oral administration of Tc dramatically suppressed this induction. These data demonstrate the feasibility of using mesangial cell vectors combined with the Tc regulatory system for site-specific in vivo control of exogenous gene expression in the glomerulus.

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of νµ in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic νµ beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector SuperKamiokande, 295 km away, where the νµ survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a dataset corresponding to 4.01×10²⁰ protons on target, 34 fully contained µ-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are sin²(θ₂₃) = 0.45 and |∆m^2_32| = 2.51 × 10⁻³ eV² with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38 - 0.64 and 2.26 - 2.80 ×10⁻³ eV² respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the νµ disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

Should energy efficiency be traded off for other product attributes? : an analysis of air-conditioner regulation in Japan

This paper examines the functioning of energy efficiency standards and labeling policies for air conditioners in Japan. The results of our empirical analysis suggest that consumers respond more to label information, which benchmarks the energy efficiency performance of each product to a pre-specified target, than to direct performance measures. This finding provides justification for the setting, and regular updating, of target standards as well as their use in calculating relative performance measures. We also find, through graphical analysis, that air conditioner manufacturers face a tradeoff between energy efficiency and product compactness when they develop their products. This tradeoff, combined with the semi-regular upward revision of minimum energy efficiency standards, has led to the growth in indoor unit size of air conditioners in recent years. In the face of this phenomenon, regulatory rules were revised so that manufacturers could adhere to less stringent standards if the indoor unit size of their product remains below a certain size. Our demand estimates provide no evidence that larger indoor unit size causes disutility to consumers. It is therefore possible that the regulatory change was not warranted from a consumer welfare point of view.

Oversight of Veterans' Administration target system : hearings before the Subcommittee on Special Investigations of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, House of Representatives, Ninety-sixth Congress, first session, June 20, September 11 [i.e. July 13] and September 11, 1979.

Mode of access: Internet.

Prosorhynchoides lamprelli n. sp (Digenea : Bucephalidae) from the brassy trevally, Caranx papuensis (Teleostei : Carangidae), from off Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Prosorhynchoides lamprelli n. sp. ( Digenea: Bucephalidae) is described from the intestine of the brassy trevally, Caranx papuensis (Carangidae) from off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The new species is differentiated from other species of Prosorhynchoides Dollfus, 1929 by the shape and distribution of its vitelline follicles, the shape and extent of its uterus and the configuration of its digestive system. This is the first bucephalid to be described from Caranx papuensis; we have not encountered this species from other carangids or from over 1,500 individuals of other teleosts species we have found to be infected with bucephalids from the Great Barrier Reef.

Gorgocephalus yaaji n. sp (Digenea : Gorgocephalidae) from the brassy chub Kyphosus vaigiensis (Perciformes : Kyphosidae) off Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef and further records of G-kyphosi

A new species Gorgocephalus yaaji is described in the intestine of Kyphosus vaigiensis from the waters off Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. It differs from Gorgocephalus kyphosi by its broader body shape, the extension of the vitellarium into the forebody, a relatively longer forebody, cirrus-sac and post-caecal region, and a shorter distance between the ventral sucker and the ovary. It differs from Gorgocephalus manteri in its size, its tandem testes, and the ratios of width, ventral sucker to ovary distance and ovary to testes distance to body-length. Gorgocephalus kyphosi is reported in the pyloric caeca of K. vaigiensis from waters off Moorea, French Polynesia, and Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia. Measurements and an illustration are given of the latter species.

Two new hemiurine species (Digenea : Hemiuridae) from Spratelloides robustus Ogilby (Clupeiformes : Clupeidae) off south-western Australia and records of Parahemiurus merus (Linton, 1910) from Australian and New Caledonian waters

Two new species of hemiurine hemiurid are described from Spratelloides robustus off Woodman Point in southern Western Australia. Hemiurus lignator n. sp. differs from its congeners by a combination of similar-sized suckers, long sinus-sac, tandem testes, relatively elongate shape and unthickened seminal vesicle wall. Parahemiurus xylokopos n. sp. differs from its congeners in a combination of its squat form, its distinctly lobed vitellarium and the proximity of the gonads to the ventral sucker. P. merus (Linton, 1910) is reported from Acanthopagrus australis, Pomatomus saltatrix and Trachinotus coppingeri off northern New South Wales, Caranx sexfasciatus, Scorpis lineolata, Siganus nebulosus, Thunnus tonggol and T. coppingeri off southern Queensland, Cephalopholis boenak and Euthynnus affinis off Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef, P. saltatrix off southern Western Australia and Priacanthus hamrur off New Caledonia.

Overstreetia olsoni n.sp. (Digenea: Zoogonidae) from the Capricorn silverside Atherinomorus capricornensis (Woodland) (Atherindae) off Heron Island, southern Great Barrier Reef

A new species, Overstreetia olsoni, is described from Atherinomorus capricornensis off Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia. It differs from its only known congener in that the enlarged spines of the circum-oral rows are smaller (

Investigation of particle identification methods for the analysis of the photoproduction of neutral kaons on a liquid deuterium target

The Photoproduction of neutral kaons off a deuteron target has been investigated at the Tohoku University Laboratory of Nuclear Science. The PID methods investigated incorporated a combination of momentum, velocity (β=v/c), and energy deposition per unit length (dE/dx) measurements. The analysis demonstrates that energy deposition and time of flight are exceedingly useful. A higher signal to background ratio was achieved for hard cuts in combination. A probabilistic likelihood estimation approach (LE) as a method for PID was also explored. The probability of a particle being correctly identified by this LE method and the preliminary results denote the need for highly precise limitations on the distributions from which the parameters would be extracted. It was confirmed that these PID are applicable approaches to properly identify pions for the analysis of this experiment. However, the background evident in the mass spectra points to the need for a higher level of proton identification.

Adoption of catamaran fishing method for mukene (Rastrineobola argentea) in off shore waters of Lake Victoria

This report presents information on the development of a system for commercial harvesting of Rastrineobola argentea (Mukene) in Lake Victoria. The objective of this work is to develop a system for commercial Harvesting of Mukene with: •Targeted output above 1,000 kg per working night per boat. •Target area to be off shore waters of Lake Victoria. •Drying under hygienic conditions for production of high quality poultry and animal feeds. •Supply to be continuous with predicable prices

The epigenome as a therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterised by degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, aggregation of α-synuclein and motor symptoms. Current dopamine-replacement strategies provide symptomatic relief, however their effectiveness wear off over time and their prolonged use leads to disabling side-effects in PD patients. There is therefore a critical need to develop new drugs and drug targets to protect dopaminergic neurons and their axons from degeneration in PD. Over recent years, there has been robust evidence generated showing that epigenetic dysregulation occurs in PD patients, and that epigenetic modulation is a promising therapeutic approach for PD. This article first discusses the present evidence implicating global, and dopaminergic neuron-specific, alterations in the methylome in PD, and the therapeutic potential of pharmacologically targeting the methylome. It then focuses on another mechanism of epigenetic regulation, histone acetylation, and describes how the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) enzymes that mediate this process are attractive therapeutic targets for PD. It discusses the use of activators and/or inhibitors of HDACs and HATs in models of PD, and how these approaches for the selective modulation of histone acetylation elicit neuroprotective effects. Finally, it outlines the potential of employing small molecule epigenetic modulators as neuroprotective therapies for PD, and the future research that will be required to determine and realise this therapeutic potential.

Fate of discards from deep water crustacean trawl fishery off the south coast of Portugal

Trawling for crustaceans takes place on the south coast of Portugal at depths between 200 and 800 m. Large amounts of discards are released back to sea, reaching the bottom in the general area where trawling occurs. The objective of this work was to study the time taken for decomposition of the discards, to identify the most important scavenging species involved, and to evaluate the impact on the species targeted by the fishery. We conducted a series of 22 trials, using traps baited with samples of the discards. The time of immersion varied between 1 and 40 h. The amount of tissue removed from the discards was evaluated on a qualitative scale of 1–3, and quantitatively. The species caught in the traps were identified. Considerable consumption of the bait had occurred after 5 h of immersion. After 24 h of immersion only fish bones were left; past 40 h, consumption was complete. The conger eel (Conger conger) was the most common fish species present in the traps. Two species, the amphipod Scopelocheirus hopei and the isopod Natatolana (Cirolana) borealis, were identified as most important for the recycling of organic matter in the system. The stomach contents of a sample of species caught in trawls were analysed for the presence of small scavengers. Preliminary results show that S. hopei and N. (C.) borealis are part of the diet of some of the target species of this fishery, such as the Norway lobster, Nephrops norvegicus and the rose shrimp Parapenaeus longirostris.