Summary of the Status of Harvest Mice, Cricetidae: Reithrodontomys, in Arkansas

Although four species of harvest mice, Reithrodoniomyx, are known to occur in Arkansas, the distributional status of the genus in the state is poorly understood. Recent museum specimens significantly extend the range of R. megalotix and R. fulvescens in the state. R. megalotis is shown to range south through Phillips Co. in eastern Arkansas, and R. fulvescens is shown to range throughout most of the state, now including most of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. A new specimen of R. humulis from Delaware Co., Oklahoma, suggests that this species probably ranges throughout northwestern Arkansas. R montanus remains known only from Washington Co. in northwestern Arkansas

Formation of o-Tyrosine and Dityrosine in Proteins during Radiolytic and Metal-catalyzed Oxidation

To evaluate their usefulness as chemical indicators of cumulative oxidative damage to proteins, we studied the kinetics and extent of formation of ortho-tyrosine (0-Tyr), dityrosine (DT), and dityrosine-like fluorescence (Ex = 3 17 nm, E,,, = 407 nm) in the model proteins RNase and lysozyme exposed to radiolytic and metalcatalyzed (H20z/Cu2+) oxidation (MCO). Although there were protein-dependent differences, o-Tyr, DT, and fluorescence increased coordinately during oxidation of the proteins in both oxidation systems. The contribution of DT to total dityrosine-like fluorescence in oxidized proteins varied from 2-10070, depending on the protein, type of oxidation, and extent of oxidative damage. In proteins exposed to MCO, DT typically accounted for \u3e50% of the fluorescence at DT wavelengths. These studies indicate that o-Tyr and DT should be useful chemical markers of cumulative exposure of proteins to MCO in vitro and in vivo

Oxidized Amino Acids in Lens Protein with Age: Measurement of o-Tyrosine and Dityrosine in the Aging Human Lens

The concentrations of ortho-tyrosine (o-Tyr) and dityrosine (DT) were measured in noncataractous human lenses in order to assess the role of proteinoxidation reactions in the aging of lens proteins. The measurements were conducted by selected ion monitoring-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using deuterium-labeled internal standards, which provided both high sensitivity and specificity for the quantitation of o-Tyr and DT. Between ages 1 and 78 years, the o-Tyr concentration in lens proteins varied from 0.3 to 0.9 mmol of o-Tyr/mol of Phe (n = 19), while DT ranged from 1 to 3 mumol of DT/mol of Tyr (n = 30). There were no significant changes in levels of o-Tyr with lens age. There was a statistically significant, but only slight, increase in DT in lens proteins with age (approximately 33% increases between ages 1 and 78, r = 0.5, p \u3c 0.01). At the same time, totalprotein fluorescence, measured at DT wavelengths (Ex = 317 nm, Em = 407 nm), increased 11-fold between ages 1 and 78 and correlated strongly with age (r = 0.82, p \u3c 0.0001). Although the fluorescence maxima of lens proteins were similar to those of DT, DT accounted for less than 1% of the DT-like fluorescence in lens protein at all ages. These observations indicate that oxidation of Phe and Tyr plays a limited role in the normal aging of lens proteins in vivo

The development of a program analysis environment for Ada

A unit level, Ada software module testing system, called Query Utility Environment for Software Testing of Ada (QUEST/Ada), is described. The project calls for the design and development of a prototype system. QUEST/Ada design began with a definition of the overall system structure and a description of component dependencies. The project team was divided into three groups to resolve the preliminary designs of the parser/scanner: the test data generator, and the test coverage analyzer. The Phase 1 report is a working document from which the system documentation will evolve. It provides history, a guide to report sections, a literature review, the definition of the system structure and high level interfaces, descriptions of the prototype scope, the three major components, and the plan for the remainder of the project. The appendices include specifications, statistics, two papers derived from the current research, a preliminary users' manual, and the proposal and work plan for Phase 2

Interferon-β 1a and SARS Coronavirus Replication

A global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by a novel coronavirus began in March 2003. The rapid emergence of SARS and the substantial illness and death it caused have made it a critical public health issue. Because no effective treatments are available, an intensive effort is under way to identify and test promising antiviral drugs. Here, we report that recombinant human interferon (IFN)-β 1a potently inhibits SARS coronavirus replication in vitro

Communication Research

Contains reports on five research projects.Rand Corporatio

Relationship Between Climatic Factors and Distribution of Pratylenchus spp. in the Dryland Wheat-Production Areas of Eastern Washington

Field surveys were conducted by collecting soil samples to estimate nematode densities in soil from winter wheat, spring wheat, spring barley, and spring legumes (lentil, chickpea, and pea) fields during 2010 and 2011. Pratylenchus spp. were observed in 60% of sampled fields. However, nematodes were detected in nearly all of the survey fields in high numbers where crops were grown every year. To identify climatic variables associated with density of Pratylenchus spp. in soil, correlation and regression analyses were performed using climate data of survey sites from 1979 to 2010. Fifty-seven climate variables were significantly correlated with densities of Pratylenchus spp. All precipitation variables were significantly positively correlated with nematode abundance. Summer maximum air temperature was negatively correlated and winter minimum air temperature was positively correlated with nematode densities. In addition, both years’ nematode densities were significantly correlated with cropping intensity. Five multivariate regression models for 2010 and seven models for 2011 nematode abundance levels were developed. The majority of the climate variables selected in the models were related to precipitation. Knowledge of root-lesion nematode distribution in the dryland region of eastern Washington and associated climate variables may be helpful to determine risk and apply management practices to minimize crop damage

Communication Research

Contains reports on six research projects.Rand Corporatio