Negative regulation ofUltrabithorax expression byengrailed is required for proper specification of wing development in Drosophila melanogaster

In both vertebrates and invertebrates, homeotic selector genes confer morphological differences along the antero-posterior axis. However, insect wing development is independent of all homeotic gene functions, reflecting the ground plan of an ancestral pterygote, which bore wings on all segments. Dipteran insects such asDrosophila are characterized by a pair of wings in the mesothoracic segment. In all other segments, wing development is essentially repressed by different homeotic genes, although in the metathorax they are modified into a pair of halteres. This necessitates that during development all homeotic genes are to be maintained in a repressed state in wing imaginal discs. In this report we show that (i) the function of the segment polarity geneengrailed (en) is critical to keep the homeotic selector geneUltrabithorax (Ubx) repressed in wing imaginal discs, (ii) normal levels of En in the posterior compartment of haltere discs, however, are not enough to completely repressUbx, and (iii) the repression ofUbx byen is independent of Hedgehog signalling through which the long-range signalling ofen is mediated during wing development. Finally we provide evidence for a possible mechanism by whichen repressesUbx. On the basis of these results we propose thaten has acquired two independent functions during the evolution of dorsal appendages. In addition to its well-known function of conferring posterior fate and inducing long-range signalling to pattern the developing appendages, it maintains wing fate by keepingUbx repressed

Beneficial hemodynamic effects of intravenous and oral diltiazem in severe congestive heart failure

Concern persists about the potential negative inotropic effects of calcium channel blockers in patients with severely depressed myocardial function. Therefore, intravenous diltiazem (100 to 200 ltg/kg per min infusion) was administered for 40 minutes followed by oral diltiazem (90 to 120 mg/8 hours) for 24 hours to patients with advanced congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class III to IV, mean ejection fraction 26 ± 4 [SD]). Intravenous diltiazem (eight patients) increased cardiac index 20% (2.05 ± 0.8 to 2.47 ± 0.8 liters/min per MZ, p < 0.01), stroke volume index 50% (22 ± 9 to 33 ± 12 MI/M2, p < 0.001) and stroke work index 27% (19 ± 10 to 24 ± 10 g-m/MZ, p < 0.05); while reducing heart rate 23% (97 ± 18 to 75 ± 11 beats/min, p < 0.01), mean arterial pressure 18% (95 ± 13 to 78 ± 7 mm Hg) and pulmonary wedge pressure 34% (29 ± 9 to 19 ± 7 mm Hg), without altering maximal first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax). Oral diltiazem (seven patients) produced equivalent hemodynamic effects. Transient junctional arrhythmias were observed in three of eight patients with intravenous diltiazem and one of seven patients with oral diltiazem.It is concluded that intravenous and short-term oral diltiazem improve left ventricular performance and reduce myocardial oxygen demand by heart rate and afterload reduction without significantly depressing contractile function in severe congestive heart failure. Caution should be exercised to avoid potential adverse, druginduced electrophysiologic effects in such patients

Swift captures the spectrally evolving prompt emission of GRB 070616

The origins of Gamma-ray Burst prompt emission are currently not well understood and in this context long, well-observed events are particularly important to study. We present the case of GRB 070616, analysing the exceptionally long-duration multipeaked prompt emission, and later afterglow, captured by all the instruments on-board Swift and by Suzaku WAM. The high energy light curve remained generally flat for several hundred seconds before going into a steep decline. Spectral evolution from hard to soft is clearly taking place throughout the prompt emission, beginning at 285 s after the trigger and extending to 1200 s. We track the movement of the spectral peak energy, whilst observing a softening of the low energy spectral slope. The steep decline in flux may be caused by a combination of this strong spectral evolution and the curvature effect. We investigate origins for the spectral evolution, ruling out a superposition of two power laws and considering instead an additional component dominant during the late prompt emission. We also discuss origins for the early optical emission and the physics of the afterglow. The case of GRB 070616 clearly demonstrates that both broadband coverage and good time resolution are crucial to pin down the origins of the complex prompt emission in GRBs.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures (2 in colour), MNRAS accepte

Correspondence

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. "Let Them Eat Stocks," which suggested that laid-off workers be given stock options in lieu of severance pay in the U.S.; "Huddled Excesses," which argued that immigration restriction laid the groundwork for labor's gains in 1920 to 1960 in the U.S.; "Econ 2," which offered views on the issue of minimum wage increase

Characterization of AGN from the XMM–Newton Slew Survey

We present optical spectroscopy of candidate active galactic nuclei (AGN) pinpointed by a Swift follow-up campaign on unidentified transients in the XMM-Newton Slew Survey, increasing the completeness of the identifications of AGN in the Survey. Our Swift follow-up campaign identified 17 X-ray Telescope-detected candidate AGN, of which 9 were selected for optical follow-up and a further two were confirmed as AGN elsewhere. Using data obtained at the William Herschel Telescope, Very Large Telescope and New Technology Telescope, we find AGN features in seven of the candidates. We classify six as Seyfert types 1.0-1.5, with broad-line region velocities spanning 2000-12000 km s-1, and identify one as a possible type II AGN, consistent with the lack of a soft band X-ray detection in the Slew Survey. The virial black hole mass estimates for the sample lie between 1 × 108 and 3 × 109 M☉, with one source likely emitting close to its Eddington rate, LBol/LEdd ~ 0.9. We find a wide redshift range 0.08 < z < 0.9 for the nine now confirmed AGN drawn from the unidentified Slew Survey sample. One source remaining unclassified shows outbursts rarely seen before in AGN. We conclude that AGN discovered in this way are consistent with the largely non-varying, Slew-selected, known AGN population. We also find parallels with XMM-Newton Bright Serendipitous Survey AGN selected from pointed observations, and postulate that shallow X-ray surveys select AGN drawn from the same populations that have been characterized in deeper X-ray-selected samples

A review of Australian animal welfare legislation, regulation, codes of practice, and policy, and their influence on stakeholders caring for wildlife and the animals for whom they care

The Australian constitution makes no mention of native animals. Responsibility for animal welfare is largely retained by the states and territories via a fragmented, complex, contradictory, inconsistent system of regulatory management. Given that most jurisdictions have expressly made the possession of wildlife unlawful, the action of taking and possessing an animal, to rehabilitate it, defies the regulatory process. In most jurisdictions, it is illegal to microchip, band, or mark an animal, meaning that no reliable method is available to monitor an animal. Each year, a minimum of 50,000 rehabilitated native animals are released back to the wild, with little post-release monitoring. Where required, the assessments of behavioural and health requirements to confirm suitability for release may be undertaken by people with either negligible or questionable qualifications. Whilst it can be appropriate to rehabilitate and release injured native animals back to the wild, there may be moral, ethical, and practical reasons for not releasing hand-reared orphan native animals. This article examines the evolution, and explains the consequences, of decentralised regulation on wildlife carers and rehabilitating animals. It recommends that the practice of placing hand-reared native animals into the wild, and the regulatory framework that provides for it, should be reviewed

Risk Assessment and Comparative Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Device and Medical Management in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients The ROADMAP Study 2-Year Results

OBJECTIVES The authors sought to provide the pre-specified primary endpoint of the ROADMAP (Risk Assessment and Comparative Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Device and Medical Management in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients) trial at 2 years. BACKGROUND The ROADMAP trial was a prospective nonrandomized observational study of 200 patients (97 with a left ventricular assist device [LVAD], 103 on optimal medical management [OMM]) that showed that survival with improved functional status at 1 year was better with LVADs compared with OMM in a patient population of ambulatory New York Heart Association functional class IIIb/IV patients. METHODS The primary composite endpoint was survival on original therapy with improvement in 6-min walk distance \u3e= 75 m. RESULTS Patients receiving LVAD versus OMM had lower baseline health-related quality of life, reduced Seattle Heart Failure Model 1-year survival (78% vs. 84%; p = 0.012), and were predominantly INTERMACS (Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support) profile 4 (65% vs. 34%; p \u3c 0.001) versus profiles 5 to 7. More LVAD patients met the primary endpoint at 2 years: 30% LVAD versus 12% OMM (odds ratio: 3.2 [95% confidence interval: 1.3 to 7.7]; p = 0.012). Survival as treated on original therapy at 2 years was greater for LVAD versus OMM (70 +/- 5% vs. 41 +/- 5%; p \u3c 0.001), but there was no difference in intent-to-treat survival (70 +/- 5% vs. 63 +/- 5%; p = 0.307). In the OMM arm, 23 of 103 (22%) received delayed LVADs (18 within 12 months; 5 from 12 to 24 months). LVAD adverse events declined after year 1 for bleeding (primarily gastrointestinal) and arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS Survival on original therapy with improvement in 6-min walk distance was superior with LVAD compared with OMM at 2 years. Reduction in key adverse events beyond 1 year was observed in the LVAD group. The ROADMAP trial provides risk-benefit information to guide patient- and physician-shared decision making for elective LVAD therapy as a treatment for heart failure. (Risk Assessment and Comparative Effectiveness of Left Ventricular Assist Device and Medical Management in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients [ROADMAP]; NCT01452802

Avaliação das respostas fisiológicas de bezerros zebuínos puros e cruzados nascidos em clima subtropical.

Estudou-se a influência de fatores climáticos sobre as respostas fisiológicas de bezerros, puros e cruzados, filhos de vacas da raça Nelore ou de alta mestiçagem de Nelore acasaladas com touros das raças Aberdeen Angus (AN), Simental (SN), Canchim (CN) e Nelore (NI e NR). Os bezerros AN, SN, CN e NI foram mantidos em sistema rotacionado intensivo, enquanto o grupo NR foi mantido em sistema extensivo. Os bezerros foram observados de forma direta desde o nascimento até a primeira mamada, medindo-se a latência para a primeira mamada (LM). Aproximadamente 24 horas após o parto, coletaram-se amostras de sangue do bezerro para as dosagens de proteina total (PT), glicose (Gli), triiodotironina (T 3)' tiroxina (T 4)' relação T 4:T 3' cortisol (Cort) e imunoglobulina G (IgGb), além das medidas de temperatura retal do bezerro (TR) e dos pesos de vacas e bezerros. Para análise dos efeitos de clima, foram tomadas no dia do nascimento as medidas de temperatura do ar (Temp), umidade do ar (UR) e precipitação (PRE). Os parâmetros fisiológicos foram estudados pelo método dos quadrados minimos com modelos que incluiram os efeitos de ano e mês de nascimento, grupo e sexo do bezerro, categoria da vaca e hora do parto e das interações ano x grupo e ano x mês de nascimento, além das covariáveis peso do bezerro, PRE, Temp, UR e LM. Temp mostrou efeito significativo para as concentrações de T 3 T 4' T 4:T 3 e de Corto Quanto maior Temp, menores as concentrações de T 3 e de Corte maiores as de T4 e de T4:T 3. LM influenciou os níveis de Cort, PT e IgGb, de modo que, quanto maior LM, maior a concentração de Cort e menor as de IgGb e PT. Também houve efeito significativo de grupo do bezerro sobre PT, que foi maior nos bezerros NR que nos bezerros NI