Mef2 induction of the immediate early gene Hr38/Nr4a is terminated by Sirt1 to promote ethanol tolerance.

Drug naïve animals given a single dose of ethanol show changed responses to subsequent doses, including the development of ethanol tolerance and ethanol preference. These simple forms of behavioral plasticity are due in part to changes in gene expression and neuronal properties. Surprisingly little is known about how ethanol initiates changes in gene expression or what the changes do. Here we demonstrate a role in ethanol plasticity for Hr38, the sole Drosophila homolog of the mammalian Nr4a1/2/3 class of immediate early response transcription factors. Acute ethanol exposure induces transient expression of Hr38 and other immediate early neuronal activity genes. Ethanol activates the Mef2 transcriptional activator to induce Hr38, and the Sirt1 histone/protein deacetylase is required to terminate Hr38 induction. Loss of Hr38 decreases ethanol tolerance and causes precocious but short-lasting ethanol preference. Similarly, reduced Mef2 activity in all neurons or specifically in the mushroom body α/β neurons decreases ethanol tolerance; Sirt1 promotes ethanol tolerance in these same neurons. Genetically decreasing Hr38 expression levels in Sirt1 null mutants restores ethanol tolerance, demonstrating that both induction and termination of Hr38 expression are important for behavioral plasticity to proceed. These data demonstrate that Hr38 functions as an immediate early transcription factor that promotes ethanol behavioral plasticity

Effect of gibberellin on seeded Vitis vinifera with special reference to induction of seedlessness

Application of GA (25-50 ppm) to Ana:b-e-Shahi at prebloom stage decreased the bunch weight and berry number but weight of the berries was increased and up to 29.6% seedless berries were induced. GA sprays (25-50 ppm) at 2-3 days after full lbloom increased the bunch and berry weights but few seedless berries were induced.GA application (50-150 ppm) to Bhokri grape at 10-11 days before full bloom formed more than 90% seedless berries but bunch weights and berry number were reduced. WitJh an additional second spray at 7- 8 days after full bloom, berry size was impmved but bunch weights were still reduced. At 4-5 days before full bloom application of GA, up to 41.4 % seedless berries were induced but bunch and berry weights were a,gain reduced. With another spray at postbloom stage bunch and berry weights were brought to the level of control.   In Gros Colman (Pusa) grape, GA application (50-100 ppm) at 5-6 days before full bloom and 2-3 days after full bloom also formed seedless berries but the bunch and berry weights were reduced. IFruit set was also improvP.d at boVh stages of spray. Prebloom GA application (50-150 ppm) to Alamwick grape, produced seedless berries up to 38.29% but ,bunch and berry weights were appreciably decreased. No effect on berry number was noticed.Application of GA (25-75 ppm) at prebloom + posbbloom and postbloom alone decreased the bunch and berry weights and berry number markedly of Bharat Early and Black Hamburg varieties. Toxic effects like shot berry formation and cracking of rachis were noticed. No seedless berries were observed. however, more berries with 1 or 2 seeds were formed at the expense of berries with 3 or 4 seeds. Even GA application at Jow concentrations to these varieties (5-25 ppm) reduced bunch weights and berry number.The differential response of these seeded varieties of Vitis vinifera is attributed to different amounts of growth factors and inhibitors present in them

Differential response of some seeded grape cultivars of Vitis vinifera to gibberellin application

Several seeded cultivar,s of Vitis vinifera varying in seed content and berry size were tested to see their response to GA application. Oultivars with high seed index number and low seed content like Bhokri, Anab-e-Shahi, Gros Colman (Pusa) and Alamwick did not show any toxic effects due to GA application but responded by producing seedless berries and increasing berry weight with prebloom and postbloom application respectively. Alamwick alone, with high seed index number did not respond to GA by increasing the berry weight but it responded by forming seedless berries. Oultivars like Bharat Early, Black Hamburg and Black Muscat with high seed content per berry and low seed index number did not respond to GA by producing seedless berries and increasing berry weight. This differential response of cultivars to exogenous GA is discussed on the basis of physiological differences in the two groups of cultivars

The impact of the Luton social prescribing programme on energy expenditure: a quantitative before-and-after study

The objective of this study was to assess the change in energy expenditure levels of service users after participation in the Luton social prescribing programme. Uncontrolled before-and-after study. This study was set in the East of England (Luton). Service users with complete covariate information and baseline measurements (n=146) were included in the analysis. Social prescribing, which is an initiative that aims to link patients in primary care with sources of support within the community sector to improve their health, well-being and care experience. Service users were referred to 12 sessions (free of charge), usually provided by third sector organisations. Energy expenditure measured as metabolic equivalent (MET) minutes per week. Using a Bayesian zero-inflated negative binomial model to account for a large number of observed zeros in the data, 95% posterior intervals show that energy expenditure from all levels of physical activities increased post intervention (walking 41.7% (40.31%, 43.11%); moderate 5.0% (2.94%, 7.09%); vigorous 107.3% (98.19%, 116.20%) and total 56.3% (54.77%, 57.69%)). The probability of engaging in physical activity post intervention increased, in three of four MET physical activity levels, for those individuals who were inactive at the start of the programme. Age has a negative effect on energy expenditure from any physical activity level. Similarly, working status has a negative effect on energy expenditure in all but one MET physical activity level. No consistent pattern was observed across physical activity levels in the association between gender and energy expenditure. This study shows that social prescribing may have the potential to increase the physical activity levels of service users and promote the uptake of physical activity in inactive patient groups. Results of this study can inform future research in the field, which could be of use for commissioners and policy makers

Implications of texture 4 zero lepton mass matrices for U_{e3}

Lepton mass matrices similar to texture 4 zero quark mass matrices, known to be quite successful in explaining the CKM phenomenology, have been considered for finding the mixing matrix element U_{e3} (\equiv s_{13}) respecting the CHOOZ constraint, with s_{12} and \Delta m_{12}^2 constrained by SNP and s_{23} and \Delta m_{23}^2 constrained by ANP. Taking charged lepton mass matrix M_l to be diagonal, we find that the ranges of s_{13} corresponding to different SNP solutions very well include the corresponding values of s_{13} found by Akhmedov et al. by considering neutrino mass matrix M_{\nu} with no texture zeros. Considering M_l and M_{\nu} both to be real and non-diagonal, s_{13} ranges for the four SNP solutions come out to be: \sim 0-0.19 (LMA), 0.038-0.093 (SMA), 0.042-0.095 (LOW), 0.038-0.096 (VO) which remain of the same order when M_l and M_{\nu} are considered to be complex and non-diagonal.Comment: 13 pages, LaTe

ACCISS study rationale and design: activating collaborative cancer information service support for cervical cancer screening

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High-quality cancer information resources are available but underutilized by the public. Despite greater awareness of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service among low-income African Americans and Hispanics compared with Caucasians, actual Cancer Information Service usage is lower than expected, paralleling excess cancer-related morbidity and mortality for these subgroups. The proposed research examines how to connect the Cancer Information Service to low-income African-American and Hispanic women and their health care providers. The study will examine whether targeted physician mailing to women scheduled for colposcopy to follow up an abnormal Pap test can increase calls to the Cancer Information Service, enhance appropriate medical follow-up, and improve satisfaction with provider-patient communication.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The study will be conducted in two clinics in ethnically diverse low-income communities in Chicago. During the formative phase, patients and providers will provide input regarding materials planned for use in the experimental phase of the study. The experimental phase will use a two-group prospective randomized controlled trial design. African American and Hispanic women with an abnormal Pap test will be randomized to Usual Care (routine colposcopy reminder letter) or Intervention (reminder plus provider recommendation to call the Cancer Information Service and sample questions to ask). Primary outcomes will be: 1) calls to the Cancer Information Service; 2) timely medical follow-up, operationalized by whether the patient keeps her colposcopy appointment within six months of the abnormal Pap; and 3) patient satisfaction with provider-patient communication at follow-up.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The study examines the effectiveness of a feasible, sustainable, and culturally sensitive strategy to increase awareness and use of the Cancer Information Service among an underserved population. The goal of linking a public service (the Cancer Information Service) with real-life settings of practice (the clinics), and considering input from patients, providers, and Cancer Information Service staff, is to ensure that the intervention, if proven effective, can be incorporated into existing care systems and sustained. The approach to study design and planning is aimed at bridging the gap between research and practice/service.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>NCT00873288</p

Hermitian quark mass matrices with four texture zeros

We provide a complete and systematic analysis of hermitian, hierarchical quark mass matrices with four texture zeros. Using triangular mass matrices, each pattern of texture zeros is readily shown to lead to a definite relation between the CKM parameters and the quark masses. Nineteen pairs are found to be consistent with present data, and one other is marginally acceptable. In particular, no parallel structure between the up and down mass matrices is found to be favorable with data.Comment: 18 pages, no figure, references [8] and [10] adde