The effect(s) of dose and dose-rate of ionising radiation on early lens epithelial cell response and cataractogenesis

The lens of the eye is thought to be one of the most radiosensitive tissues. Cataracts were one of the first observed biological effects following ionising radiation exposure. The recent change in regulations for eye lens dose limits has led to the urgent need to make sure our biological understanding is sufficient. The anterior of the lens is covered by lens epithelial cells (LEC), that are critical to maintaining normal lens function and producing fibre cells. Damage or disruption to LECs can have detrimental consequences to the lens. Low dose (<500 mGy) radiation-induced DNA damage and repair, cell proliferation and lens opacity were investigated post-exposure in or amongst four mouse strains (C57BL/6,129S2, BALB/c and CBA/Ca). Mice were sacrificed up to 24 hours post-exposure and lenses removed and epithelia isolated for analyses. Immunofluorescent staining for DNA double strand break (DSB) repair (53BP1) and cell proliferation (Ki67) were performed. Dose, dose-rates were varied during exposures to seek experimental evidence to support the epidemiological studies. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were collected for comparison with LEC. 120 female mice were irradiated and their lenses analysed for opacity at monthly intervals over 18 months. An inverse dose-rate effect was observed in the DSB repair response, as well as slower repair at low IR doses and a significant strain dependency. A nonlinear response to IR was observed for LEC proliferation that was bimodal; inhibition at low dose (<50 mGy), and a significant interaction effect between dose-rate and region. Lens opacity also increased over time. These results give the first biological evidence for an inverse dose-rate response in the lens. They highlight the importance of dose-rate in low-dose cataract formation represent the first evidence that LECs process radiation damage differently to blood lymphocytes. More work is needed to support lens dose limits

Integration of New Biological and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry Methods Into EU Emergency Response Plans – Joint RENEB and EURADOS Inter-Laboratory Comparisons

RENEB, \u27Realising the European Network of Biodosimetry and Physical Retrospective Dosimetry,\u27 is a network for research and emergency response mutual assistance in biodosimetry within the EU. Within this extremely active network, a number of new dosimetry methods have recently been proposed or developed. There is a requirement to test and/or validate these candidate techniques and inter-comparison exercises are a well-established method for such validation

The second gamma-H2AX assay inter-comparison exercise carried out in the framework of the European biodosimetry network (RENEB)

Purpose: Within the EU RENEB project, seven laboratories have taken part in training and harmonisation activities to strengthen triage gamma H2AX-based radiation exposure assessment. This has culminated in a second triage biodosimetry exercise. Materials and methods: Whole blood and separated lymphocyte samples were homogenously irradiated with 60Co gamma rays at 0.5, 2.5 (blind samples), 0 and 2 Gy (reference samples). Following post-exposure incubations of 4 and 24 h, 16 samples were shipped on ice packs to each partner. The samples were stained and scored for gamma-H2AX foci, using manual and/or automated fluorescence microscope scoring strategies. Dose estimates were obtained and used to assign triage categories to the samples. Results: Average dose estimates across all the laboratories correlated well with true doses. The most accurate assignment of triage category was achieved by manual scoring of the 4-h blood and lymphocyte samples. Only three samples out of a total of 46 were miscategorized in a way that could have adversely effected the clinical management of a radiation casualty. Conclusions: This inter-comparison exercise has demonstrated that following a recent acute radiation exposure, the gamma-H2AX assay could be a useful triage tool that can be successfully applied across a network of laboratories

Crooked coverage: a study of (de)racialized texts in print media

The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file.Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on January 3, 2008)Vita.Includes bibliographical references.Thesis (M.A.) University of Missouri-Columbia 2007.Dissertations, Academic -- University of Missouri--Columbia -- Sociology.On top of the intense history of racism in America, recent research has shown the increasing importance of color-blind racism and its impact on our society. While many studies have shown that racism exists in the media, few have been able to explain how media providers institutionalize racism. Thus, while media outlets have been proven to display racist sentiments, few studies have shown how racism is operationalized (and executed) within a given media institution. The goal of this study is to explore the possibility of such practices. By taking a purposive sample of news articles from both the Columbia Daily Tribune and the New York Times, I conduct a content analysis to explore how these two newspapers treat race issues. Do journalistic models (such as the inverted pyramid style of reporting) function as injectors of racial bias? Additionally, what role do indirect racial codes have in coverage of race issues? Answers to these questions will yield important results in explaining whether or not media outlets institutionalize racism (and if so, how). Given the vast amount of research showing the immense effect media can have on public opinion, the understanding of how the media perpetuates racism is imperative to develop a comprehensive understanding of contemporary racism

Pre-adolescent children’s experiences of receiving diabetes-related support from friends and peers: a qualitative study

BackgroundWhile pre�adolescent children with type 1 diabetes receive most support from their parents/caregivers, others also contribute to their care. This study explored pre�adolescent children's experiences of receiving diabetes�related support from friends and peers. The objective was to identify how children could be better supported by their friends and peers to undertake diabetes self�management.MethodsIn�depth interviews with 24 children (aged 9�12 years) with type 1 diabetes. Data were analysed using an inductive, thematic approach.ResultsChildren gave mixed accounts of their experiences of speaking to their school/class about diabetes with some indicating that this had resulted in unwanted attention. Most individuals reported that other children had a limited understanding of diabetes and sometimes acted in insensitive ways or said things they found upsetting. Virtually all children described having a small number of close friends who were interested in learning about diabetes and provided them with support. These friends provided support in three overlapping ways, as �monitors and prompters,� �helpers� and �normalizers.� While some children described benefiting from meeting peers with type 1 diabetes, most indicated that they would prefer to develop friendships based on shared interests rather than a common disease status.Discussion and conclusionsFriends and peers provide several kinds of support to pre�adolescent children with diabetes. Health professionals could consider ways to assist small friendship groups to undertake monitoring and prompting, helping and normalizing roles. Parents, schools and health professionals could explore ways to normalize self�management practices to better support children with diabetes in school settings.</p

Targets for the MalI repressor at the divergent Escherichia coliK-12malX-malI promoters

Random mutagenesis has been used to identify the target DNA sites for the MalI repressor at the divergent Escherichia coli K-12 malX-malI promoters. The malX promoter is repressed by MalI binding to a DNA site located from position -24 to position -9, upstream of the malX promoter transcript start. The malI promoter is repressed by MalI binding from position +3 to position +18, downstream of the malI transcript start. MalI binding at the malI promoter target is not required for repression of the malX promoter. Similarly, MalI binding at the malX promoter target is not required for repression of the malI. Although the malX and malI promoters are regulated by a single DNA site for cyclic AMP receptor protein, they function independently and each is repressed by MalI binding to a different independent operator site

The Marine Nature of Nuwuk Lake and Small Ponds of the Peninsula of Point Barrow Alaska

Discusses a score or more ponds, some transient, some persistent, on this narrow gravel spit, their location, nature, salinity and temperature; their biotas, marine and fresh-water, are outlined. Nuwuk Lake, the largest water body of the locality, approx. 600 ft long, max. depth 18.5 ft, is treated in some detail: its bottom, its formation by converging currents of the Bering and Chukchi Seas, ice conditions, temperature, salinity and O2-content. The biotas: euryhaline, reduced shallow-sea fauna are dealt with and the organisms collected during 1952-1960 are tabulated. Comparison is made with the few halocline lakes known in northern Russia and Scandinavia, notably Mogil'noye on Kil'din Island

A new globular cluster black hole in NGC 4472

We discuss CXOU~1229410+075744, a new black hole candidate in a globular cluster in the elliptical galaxy NGC~4472. By comparing two Chandra observations of the galaxy, we find a source that varies by at least a factor of 4, and has a peak luminosity of at least $2\times10^{39}$ ergs/sec. As such, the source varies by significantly more than the Eddington luminosity for a single neutron star, and is a strong candidate for being a globular cluster black hole. The source's X-ray spectrum also evolves in a manner consistent with what would be expected from a single accreting stellar mass black hole. We consider the properties of the host cluster of this source and the six other strong black hole X-ray binary candidates, and find that there is suggestive evidence that black hole X-ray binary formation is favored in bright and metal rich clusters, just as is the case for bright X-ray sources in general.Comment: 6 pages, one 2-panel figure, 2 tables; accepted to MNRA