Molecular genetics of inherited antithrombin III deficiencies

The cloning of antithrombin III (ATIII) complementary deoxyribonucleic acids and the determination of the ATIII gene structure have permitted a systematic evaluation of the molecular basis for inherited ATIII deficiencies. Sixteen kindreds with the most common form of the deficiency, in which plasma ATIII antigen levels and activity are proportionately reduced, were studied. Two polymorphic deoxyribonucleic acid markers were used to resolve parental ATIII alleles and to trace their inheritance patterns. In 15 of 16 cases, the structure of the affected ATIII allele was indistinguishable from normal, suggesting that relatively small mutations, resulting in gene inactivation, are responsible for the lower ATIII levels in these affected families. In the remaining kindred, complete deletion of one ATIII allele was seen. Also investigated was the molecular basis for a qualitative form of ATIII deficiency in a French-Canadian family with normal levels of immunoreactive protein but only half the expected levels of serine protease inhibitor activity. Using polymorphic markers, the abnormal allele was identified, cloned, and partially sequenced from the propositus. A single G --> A transition was seen in the first base of codon 382, resulting in an alanine --> threonine substitution in the defective protein. This mutation, together with others in this vicinity, defines a minimal length for a fully functional thrombin-binding domain.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/27759/1/0000152.pd

Increased Fitness of Rice Plants to Abiotic Stress Via Habitat Adapted Symbiosis: A Strategy for Mitigating Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change and catastrophic events have contributed to rice shortages in several regions due to decreased water availability and soil salinization. Although not adapted to salt or drought stress, two commercial rice varieties achieved tolerance to these stresses by colonizing them with Class 2 fungal endophytes isolated from plants growing across moisture and salinity gradients

Production of He-4 and (4) in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S=2.76 TeV at the LHC

Results on the production of He-4 and (4) nuclei in Pb-Pb collisions at root(NN)-N-S = 2.76 TeV in the rapidity range vertical bar y vertical bar <1, using the ALICE detector, are presented in this paper. The rapidity densities corresponding to 0-10% central events are found to be dN/dy4(He) = (0.8 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.3 (syst)) x 10(-6) and dN/dy4 = (1.1 +/- 0.4 (stat) +/- 0.2 (syst)) x 10(-6), respectively. This is in agreement with the statistical thermal model expectation assuming the same chemical freeze-out temperature (T-chem = 156 MeV) as for light hadrons. The measured ratio of (4)/He-4 is 1.4 +/- 0.8 (stat) +/- 0.5 (syst). (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier B.V.Peer reviewe

Effect of inflammation on the proliferation of human gingival epithelial cells in vitro

THE ADAPTIVE OR PATHOLOGIC RESPONSES of epithelial cells to inflammation are poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine if epithelial cells cultured from clinically healthy and inflamed human gingival tissues express differences in proliferation rate and viability. Briefly, the inflammation status of individual donor sites from 101 patients was visually assessed at the time of periodontal surgery and categorized as either non-to-slighty inflamed, moderately inflamed, or severely inflamed. Discarded gingival tissues were the processed to obtain primary cell cultures, for which proliferation rates were determined calculating the ratio of mean population doublings iv the number of days required for cultures io become confluent, In general, the cells in the minimally inflamed group exhibited characteristics different than cells in the moderately and severely inflamed groups. Specifically, the cells obtained from clinical sites which exhibited no-to-slight inflammation had a significantly higher mean proliferation rate than cells in either the moderate inflammation group or the severe inflammation group. Based an trypan blue exclusion, the cells obtained from clinical sites which exhibited no-to-slight inflammation also were more viable than cells obtained from sites with moderate inflammation or severe inflammation. Microscopic evaluation showed morphological changes associated with increased inflammation. Cell cycle analysis by fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FAGS) revealed a directly proportional relationship between the degree of inflammation and apoptosis, and a strong inversely proportional trend between the degree of inflammation and the numbers of cells undergoing mitosis. Taken together, these data suggest that epithelial cell proliferation and viability are inversely associated with the degree of gingival inflammation, once a putative ''adaptive threshold'' is exceeded. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms will likely lead to improvements in clinical diagnosis and treatment

Synch.Live: Collective problem-solving through flocking motion induces higher connectedness to others

Collective self-organising behaviour is ubiquitous in nature, whereby complex patterns emerge from the local interactions between individuals. Yet in humans, most group behaviour is often attributed to explicit central control or social norms, rather than to synergistic interplay between individuals. Here we introduce Synch.Live, a participatory behavioural science experiment for quantitatively studying collective motion in humans, framed as a game with an unspecified task and a group feedback mechanism, that can be solved through cooperation by 10 participants moving together. More than half of the groups participating in the experiment succeeded in achieving flocking motion, and winning players showed higher connectedness to others compared to those who failed. Furthermore, individuals with an awareness of working strategies were more likely to be part of winning groups, suggesting the importance of individual contributions to the collective task. This work demonstrates that solving an unspecified group challenge in response to group feedback is possible, and moreover, that flock-like collective movement has the potential to yield social benefits and well-being, suggesting new directions for exploring social aspects of consciousness and cognition