Reflex impairment as a measure of vitality and survival potential of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

A ssur ing the v itality and survival potential of live-caught Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is important for improving the sorting of fish before net penning operations designed to hold fish for growth and later market. When Atlantic cod are captured by Danish seine, the most commonly used fishing gear for live-caught fish, they undergo stressors such as forced swimming, net abrasion, and air exposure. Laboratory experiments (at an air temperature of 9°C and water temperature of 8°C) were conducted with the aim of constructing a RAMP (reflex action mortality predictor) curve for prediction of vitality and survival potential in Atlantic cod captured in Danish seines, by varying the levels of these stressors. Atlantic cod exposed to increased duration in air (5–20 min) showed increased reflex impairment and mortality, with 75% mortality at 10 minutes of air exposure. Forced swimming in combination with net abrasion and air exposure did not increase reflex impairment or mortality above that associated with air exposure alone. The Atlantic cod RAMP curves indicated that fish with reflex impairment less than 50% would not show mortality and would likely recover from capture stress

Perceptions about screening for prostate cancer using genetic lifetime risk assessment: a qualitative study

Background Most health authorities do not recommend screening for prostate cancer with PSA tests in asymptomatic patients who are not at increased risk. However, opportunistic screening for prostate cancer is still wanted by many patients and it is widely used in primary care clinics, with potential for overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Better tools for risk assessment have been called for, to better target such opportunistic screening. Our aim was to explore perceptions about prostate cancer risk and subsequent opportunistic screening among patients who were not at increased risk of prostate cancer after a first PSA test plus a genetic lifetime risk assessment. Methods We undertook semi-structured patient interviews with recording and verbatim transcription of interviews. Data were analysed thematically. Results Three themes were identified: uncertainty of the nature of prostate cancer; perceived benefits of testing; and conflicting public health recommendations. Prostate cancer was spoken of as an inescapable risk in older age. The aphorism “you die with it, not from it” was prominent in the interviews but patients focused on the benefits of testing now rather than the future risks associated with treatment relating to potential overdiagnosis. Many expressed frustration with perceived mixed messages about early detection of cancer, in which on one side men feel that they are encouraged to seek medical testing to act responsibly regarding the most common cancer disease in men, and on the other side they are asked to refrain from opportunistic testing for prostate cancer. Taken together, personal risks of prostate cancer were perceived as high in spite of a normal PSA test and a genetic lifetime risk assessment showing no increased risk. Conclusion Patients saw prostate cancer risk as high and increasing with age. They focused on the perceived benefit of early detection using PSA testing. It was also commonly acknowledged that most cases are indolent causing no symptoms and not shortening life expectancy. There was a frustration with mixed messages about the benefit of early detection and risk of overdiagnosis. These men’s genetic lifetime risk assessment showing no increased risk did not appear to influence current intentions to get PSA testing in the future

Prediction and diagnosis of bladder cancer recurrence based on urinary content of hTERT, SENP1, PPP1CA, and MCM5 transcripts

Abstract Background Identification of urinary biomarkers for detection of bladder cancer recurrence would be beneficial to minimize the frequency of cystoscopy. Our objective was to determine the usability of urine content of mRNA in the detection and prediction of bladder cancer recurrence. Methods We analyzed 123 prospectively cross-sectional collected urine samples from 117 patients with bladder cancer (12 incident cancers and 111 control visits). We used biopsies from cystoscopies as diagnostic criteria for recurrence, and followed the patients for a median time of 28.5 months (range 0-44 months). We measured the levels of hTERT, SENP1, PPP1CA, and MCM5 mRNA in urine by q-RT- PCR. Results We found significant differences in urinary content of hTERT (p &lt; 0.001), SENP1 (p &lt; 0.001), MCM5 (p &lt; 0.001), and PPP1CA (p &lt; 0.001) transcripts, when comparing urine samples from patients with and without tumor present in the bladder. We obtained sensitivity and specificity values for hTERT: 63/73, SENP1: 56/78, MCM5: 63/66, and PPP1CA: 69/63, respectively. Including follow-up data resulted in sensitivity and specificity values for hTERT: 62/84, SENP1:53/84, MCM5: 61/73, and PPP1CA: 65/66. Interestingly, at non-tumor visits the urinary content of especially hTERT (p = 0.0001) and MCM5 (p = 0.02) were significantly associated with subsequent tumour recurrence. Combining the markers with cytology improved the detection. The best combination was hTERT and cytology with a sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 86% after follow-up. Further prospective validation or registration studies needs to be carried out before clinical use. Conclusions We could use the urinary content of hTERT, SENP1, PPP1CA, and MCM5 to detect bladder cancer recurrence. All markers showed a higher sensitivity than cytology. The detection rate improved when including cytology results, but also the combination of hTERT and MCM5 increased the detection rate. Furthermore, hTERT and MCM5 levels predicted subsequent tumor recurrences. </jats:sec

Dynamic Equilibrium between Coupled and Uncoupled Modes of a Neuronal Glutamate Transporter

In the brain, the neurotransmitter glutamate is removed from the synaptic cleft by (Na+ + K+)-coupled transporters by an electrogenic process. Moreover, these transporters mediate a sodium- and glutamate-dependent uncoupled chloride conductance. In contrast to the wild type, the uptake of radiolabeled substrate by the I421C mutant is inhibited by the membrane-impermeant [2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl]methanethiosulfonate and also by other sulfhydryl reagents. In the wild-type and the unmodified mutant, substrate-induced currents are inwardly rectifying and reflect the sum of the coupled electrogenic flux and the anion conductance. Remarkably, the I421C mutant modified by sulfhydryl reagents exhibits currents that are non-rectifying and reverse at the equilibrium potential for chloride. Strikingly, almost 10-fold higher concentrations ofd-aspartate are required to activate the currents in the modified mutant as compared with untreated I421C. Under conditions in which only the coupled currents are observed, the modified mutant does not exhibit any currents. However, when the uncoupled current is dominant, sulfhydryl reagents cause \u3e4-fold stimulation of this current. Thus, the modification of the cysteine introduced at position 421 impacts the coupled but not the uncoupled fluxes. Although both fluxes are activated by substrate, they behave as independent processes that are in dynamic equilibrium

Stability and control characteristics of the Navion aircraft

The following report describes a graduate project which focused on developing two Fortran programs to be used in the dynamic stability analysis of aircraft. This report begins by discussing the two types of stability necessary for aircraft flight, static and dynamic stability. The report concentrates on the evaluation of static and dynamic stability criteria rather than their derivations from aerodynamic theory. Therefore, step-by-step theoretical derivations are only outlined, and the reader is referred to sources where more detailed derivations can be found. The two Fortran programs are then described, one for longitudinal dynamic stability analysis, and one for lateral-directional stability analysis. Code and sample computer runs are provided for each program in an appendix. The report ends with a stability analysis of the Navion airplane. The Navion was chosen because it is representative of a general aviation aircraft and complete stability data was available. The two computer programs were used in the analysis of the Navion, and a design modification was recommended which would improve the Dutch roll stability of the aircraft.California State University, Northridge. Department of Engineering.Includes bibliographical references (leaf 42