Contract Workers in Japan's Nuclear Utility Industry: Can We Maintain Safety and Health Standards at Nuclear Power Plants?

: Many small contracting firms are used to maintain nuclear power plants in Japan. The accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant raised the serious question as to whether safety standards can be upheld with this system. A review of regulations governing Japan's nuclear utility industry derived two imperfect information models that implied opposing incentives for utility companies to use contract workers rather than hire employees. We then analyzed the dataset of nuclear plant worker's exposure to radiation in the power generation industry. The results suggest that using contract workers enables the utility companies to implement lower standards than those imposed by regulations and to reduce costs by circumventing responsibilities legally imposed on employers

Tissue-specific expression of histone H3 variants diversified after species separation

Additional file 3: Predicted CDS of human histone H3/H4 variants, contains Table S2, which lists the CDS locus information of the predicted human histone H3 and H4 variants in an Excel file

Plant regeneration from long-term callus culture of AAA-group dessert banana

A bananeira é uma das plantas mais cultivadas no mundo. Porém, o melhoramento genético de bananeira tem sido um processo vagaroso, em virtude das baixas taxas de formação e germinação de sementes. São técnicas promissoras a seleção de variações somaclonais úteis e a transformação genética em células e calos, para acelerar o processo de melhoramento. Realizou-se a cultura de calos, com o objetivo de estabelecer um protocolo de regeneração de plantas, para ser usado no programa de melhoramento genético de bananeira. Discos de bainha foliar da banana cv. Nanicão (Musa sp., grupo AAA, subgrupo Cavendish) foram cultivados no meio básico de Murashige e Skoog (MS) suplementado com carvão ativado (0,2%), MES (ácido 2 [N-morfolino] etanesulfônico) (15,3 mM), arginina (300 mM), Picloram (414 mM) e 2ip (2-isopentenil adenina) (492 mM). Calos globulares surgidos nos tecidos foliares foram subcultivados no mesmo meio, e obteve-se uma aparência friável e translúcida após um ano e meio de cultura. Os calos friáveis foram transferidos para meio sem reguladores de crescimento e arginina, e suplementado com caseina hidrolisada (0,05%), onde formaram estruturas semelhantes a embriões após transferência à luz. A partir destas estruturas, foram obtidos brotos com raízes, dos quais se originaram plântulas. O protocolo da regeneração de plantas apresentado aqui poderá ser útil para o melhoramento genético de bananeira via variação somaclonal.The banana plant is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. However, banana breeding has been a slow process, due to the low seed set and low germination rates. Selection of useful somaclonal variations and genetic transformation in cells or calluses are promising techniques to accelerate the breeding process. Therefore, callus culture was carried out, aiming the establishment of one protocol for plant regeneration, to be used in banana breeding program. Leaf sheath disks of 'Nanicão' banana (Musa sp., AAA group, Cavendish subgroup) were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with activated charcoal (0.2 %), MES (2 [N-morpholino] ethanesulfonic acid) (15.3 mM), arginine (300 mM), Picloram (414 mM) and 2iP (2-isopentenyl adenine) (492 mM). Globular calluses developed on the leaf tissue were subcultured in the same medium, acquiring a friable and translucid appearance after one and a half year of culture. The friable calluses were transferred to the medium without growth regulators and arginine, and supplemented with casein hydrolysate (0.05%), where they formed embryo-like structures after transference to light. From these structures, shoots with roots were obtained and plantlets developed. The plant regeneration protocol shown here may be useful to banana breeding via somaclonal variation

Plant regeneration from long-term callus culture of AAA-group dessert banana

A bananeira é uma das plantas mais cultivadas no mundo. Porém, o melhoramento genético de bananeira tem sido um processo vagaroso, em virtude das baixas taxas de formação e germinação de sementes. São técnicas promissoras a seleção de variações somaclonais úteis e a transformação genética em células e calos, para acelerar o processo de melhoramento. Realizou-se a cultura de calos, com o objetivo de estabelecer um protocolo de regeneração de plantas, para ser usado no programa de melhoramento genético de bananeira. Discos de bainha foliar da banana cv. Nanicão (Musa sp., grupo AAA, subgrupo Cavendish) foram cultivados no meio básico de Murashige e Skoog (MS) suplementado com carvão ativado (0,2%), MES (ácido 2 [N-morfolino] etanesulfônico) (15,3 mM), arginina (300 mM), Picloram (414 mM) e 2ip (2-isopentenil adenina) (492 mM). Calos globulares surgidos nos tecidos foliares foram subcultivados no mesmo meio, e obteve-se uma aparência friável e translúcida após um ano e meio de cultura. Os calos friáveis foram transferidos para meio sem reguladores de crescimento e arginina, e suplementado com caseina hidrolisada (0,05%), onde formaram estruturas semelhantes a embriões após transferência à luz. A partir destas estruturas, foram obtidos brotos com raízes, dos quais se originaram plântulas. O protocolo da regeneração de plantas apresentado aqui poderá ser útil para o melhoramento genético de bananeira via variação somaclonal.The banana plant is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. However, banana breeding has been a slow process, due to the low seed set and low germination rates. Selection of useful somaclonal variations and genetic transformation in cells or calluses are promising techniques to accelerate the breeding process. Therefore, callus culture was carried out, aiming the establishment of one protocol for plant regeneration, to be used in banana breeding program. Leaf sheath disks of 'Nanicão' banana (Musa sp., AAA group, Cavendish subgroup) were cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with activated charcoal (0.2 %), MES (2 [N-morpholino] ethanesulfonic acid) (15.3 mM), arginine (300 mM), Picloram (414 mM) and 2iP (2-isopentenyl adenine) (492 mM). Globular calluses developed on the leaf tissue were subcultured in the same medium, acquiring a friable and translucid appearance after one and a half year of culture. The friable calluses were transferred to the medium without growth regulators and arginine, and supplemented with casein hydrolysate (0.05%), where they formed embryo-like structures after transference to light. From these structures, shoots with roots were obtained and plantlets developed. The plant regeneration protocol shown here may be useful to banana breeding via somaclonal variation

Cryopreservation and somatic embryogenesis of Dimocarpus longan calli

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar os efeitos de crioprotetores na criopreservação e da sacarose na embriogênise somática de calos de Dimocarpus longan. Após degelo os calos foram cultivados em meio de multiplicação, e a massa da matéria fresca foi determinada. Para se obter os embriões somáticos, calos e massas pro-embriônicas foram transferidos para meio de cultura contendo diferentes concentrações de sacarose. Entre os crioprotetores, a mistura de 5% de glicerol + 5% de dimetilsulfóxido proporcionou a maior quantidade de massa fresca dos calos. O maior número de embriões foi obtido no meio de cultura com 50 g L-1 de sacarose. Os resultados mostram que calos de Dimocarpus longan podem ser criopreservados e plântulas podem ser obtidas.Cryoprotectors on cryopreservation and sucrose on somatic embryogenesis of Dimocarpus longan calli were evaluated. The post-thaw calli were cultivated on multiplication medium, and the obtained fresh matter mass was measured. In order to obtain somatic embryos, calli and pro-embryonic masses were transferred into culture medium containing different concentrations of sucrose. Among the cryoprotectors, the mixture of 5% glycerol + 5% dimethylsulfoxide provided the largest quantity of calli fresh matter. The highest number of embryos was obtained on the culture medium with 50 g L-1 sucrose. The results show that Dimocarpus longan calli can be cryopreserved and plantlets be obtained

Cell differentiation and plant regulators on banana

Altos custos de produção geralmente limitam o uso comercial da micropropagação. O uso de meios de cultura líquidos é considerado uma solução para a automação e redução de custos. Entretanto, dependendo da cultivar de bananeira, esse processo pode mostrar diferentes níveis de dificuldade, e adaptações nos protocolos são necessárias. Neste estudo, experimentos de diferenciação celular e regeneração de plantas foram desenvolvidos em células em suspensão de banana pela avaliação da densidade inicial de células, meios de cultura e sistemas de imersão temporária. Para tanto, uma sequência de três experimentos foi realizada: o primeiro avaliou os efeitos da densidade celular (0,5; 1 e 2 mL), meios de cultura (M1: 1/2MS, 0,1 g.L-1 de ácido ascórbico, 0,1 g.L-1 de L-prolina, 30 g.L-1 de sacarose e 10 µM de 2iP; M2: MS, 30 g.L-1 de sacarose, 2,2 µM de BAP e 11,4 µM de AIA) e períodos de diferenciação celular (40 e 130 dias); o segundo experimento analisou o efeito do tamanho dos propágulos diferenciados em meio líquido (aprox. 2,5; 5 e 10 mm em diâmetro) na formação de embriões somáticos ou na regeneração de plantas; finalmente, um terceiro experimento avaliou o efeito de sistemas de cultivo com papel-filtro cobrindo o meio de cultura semissólido e sistemas de imersão temporários na diferenciação dos propágulos e na regeneração de plantas. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os meios de diferenciação, porém as melhores diluições de células para a diferenciação foram de 1 e 2 mL/30mL de meio de cultura, enquanto diluições de 0,5 mL/30 mL de meio aumentaram a oxidação celular. A extensão do período de diferenciação de 40 para 130 dias foi importante para produzir maior número de calos/propágulos uniformes e com pelo menos de 10 mm de diâmetro, que puderam ser usados em sistemas de imersão temporária (biorreatores) para a diferenciação de embriões somáticos e regeneração de plantas. Considerando todos os sistemas de regeneração, verificou-se que o uso de meios de regeneração de consistência semissólida com papel-filtro na superfície do meio é o mais responsivo para a diferenciação de embriões somáticos e regeneração de plantas.High production costs generally limit the commercial use of the in vitro micropropagation. The use of liquid media is considered to be the ideal solution for the automation and the production costs reduction. However, depending on the variety, this process can show different levels of difficulty and adaptations in protocols are needed. In this study experiments on cell differentiation and plant regeneration were carried out from banana cell suspension culture, by evaluating the initial cell density, the culture media and the temporary immersion systems. A sequence of three experiments was performed: the first one evaluated the effects of cell density (0.5; 1 and 2), culture media (M1: 1/2MS, 100 g.L-1 ascorbic acid, 100 mg.L-1 L-proline, 30 g.L-1 sucrose and 10 µM 2iP; M2: MS, 30 g.L-1 sucrose, 2,2 µM BA and 11,4 µM IAA) and the period of cells differentiation (40 and 130 days). The second one analyzed the effect of propagules size differentiated in liquid media (approx. 2.5; 5 and 10 mm diameter) on somatic embryo formation or plant regeneration. Finally, a third experiment analyzed the effects of culture systems with filter-paper-covered medium and temporary immersion systems, on propagules differentiation or plant regeneration. The results showed that no differences were found between both differentiation media, and the better cells densities for differentiation were 1 ml and 2 mL/30 mL medium, whereas dilutions of 2 mL/30 mL medium increased cell oxidation. Extending the period in the differentiation medium from 40 to 130 days was important to produce a higher number of uniform embryogenic propagules with 10 mm diameter, which can be used in temporary immersion systems (bioreactors) for embryo and plant regeneration. Considering all the regeneration systems, the semi-solid regeneration medium covered by filter-paper significantly increased the somatic embryo differentiation and plants regeneration

Platelet derived growth factor regulates ABCA1 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells

AbstractThe ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) regulates lipid efflux from peripheral cells to High-density lipoprotein. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a potent mitogen that enables vascular smooth muscle cells to participate in atherosclerosis. In this report, we showed that PDGF suppressed endogenous expression of ABCA1 in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Exposure of CRL-208 cells to PDGF elicited a rapid phosphorylation of a kinase downstream from PI3-K, Akt. The constitutively active form of both p110, a subunit of PI3-K, and Akt inhibited activity of the ABCA1 promoter. In conclusion, PI3-K-Akt pathways participate in PDGF-suppression of ABCA1 expression

Effects of single therapeutic doses of promethazine, fexofenadine and olopatadine on psychomotor function and histamine-induced wheal- and flare-responses: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy volunteers

Since most first-generation antihistamines have undesirable sedative effects on the central nervous systems (CNS), newer (second-generation) antihistamines have been developed to improve patients’ quality of life. However, there are few reports that directly compare the antihistaminic efficacy and impairment of psychomotor functions. We designed a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover study to concurrently compare the clinical effectiveness of promethazine, a first-generation antihistamine, and fexofenadine and olopatadine, second-generation antihistamines, by measuring their potency as peripheral inhibitors of histamine-induced wheal and flare. Further, we investigated their sedative effects on the CNS using a battery of psychomotor tests. When single therapeutic doses of fexofenadine (60 mg), olopatadine (5 mg) and promethazine (25 mg) were given in a double-blind manner to 24 healthy volunteers, all antihistamines produced a significant reduction in the wheal and flare responses induced by histamine. In the comparison among antihistamines, olopatadine showed a rapid inhibitory effect compared with fexofenadine and promethazine, and had a potent effect compared with promethazine. In a battery of psychomotor assessments using critical flicker fusion, choice reaction time, compensatory tracking, rapid visual information processing and a line analogue rating scale as a subjective assessment of sedation, promethazine significantly impaired psychomotor function. Fexofenadine and olopatadine had no significant effect in any of the psychomotor tests. Promethazine, fexofenadine and olopatadine did not affect behavioral activity, as measured by wrist actigraphy. These results suggest that olopatadine at a therapeutic dose has greater antihistaminergic activity than promethazine, and olopatadine and fexofenadine did not cause cognitive or psychomotor impairment