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Showing papers by "University of Liverpool published in 1998"



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is shown that 2D:4D in right and left hands has a sexually dimorphic pattern and is probably established in utero, which raises the possibility that patterns of digit formation may relate to spermatogenesis and hormonal concentrations.
Abstract: The differentiation of the urinogenital system and the appendicular skeleton in vertebrates is under the control of Hox genes. The common control of digit and gonad differentiation raises the possibility that patterns of digit formation may relate to spermatogenesis and hormonal concentrations. This work was concerned with the ratio between the length of the 2nd and 4th digit (2D:4D) in humans. We showed that (i) 2D:4D in right and left hands has a sexually dimorphic pattern; in males mean 2D:4D = 0.98, i.e. the 4th digit tended to be longer than the 2nd and in females mean 2D:4D = 1.00, i.e. the 2nd and 4th digits tended to be of equal length. The dimorphism is present from at least age 2 years and 2D:4D is probably established in utero; (ii) high 2D:4D ratio in right hands was associated with germ cell failure in men (P = 0.04); (iii) sperm number was negatively related to 2D:4D in the right hand (P = 0.004); (iv) in men testosterone concentrations were negatively related to right hand 2D:4D and in women and men LH (right hand), oestrogen (right and left hands) and prolactin (right hand) concentrations were positively correlated with 2D:4D ratio and (v) 2D:4D ratio in right hands remained positively related to luteinizing hormone and oestrogen after controlling for sex, age, height and weight.

1,322 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
05 Sep 1998-BMJ
TL;DR: Better access to diagnostic laboratories is needed, as well as improved surveillance of the emergence of resistance, better regulation of antibiotics' use, and better education of the public, physicians, and veterinarians in the appropriate use of drugs.
Abstract: In 1990 it was estimated that 4123 million of the world's 5267 million population—78%—lived in developing countries. Of the 39.5 million deaths in the developing world, 9.2 million were estimated to have been caused by infectious and parasitic disease; infections of the lower respiratory tract were the third most common cause of death worldwide, and diarrhoeal diseases were the fourth.1 Ninety eight per cent of deaths in children occur in the developing world, mostly as a result of infections. Projections of disability adjusted life years (that is, the years of life without disability) for the year 2020 show great improvement in developing regions: people are living longer without disabilities.2 However, even the most pessimistic model analysed did not take into account the possibility that the development of new antimicrobial drugs might slow or cease, and that rates of drug resistance in bacteria such as pneumococci, Mycobacterium tuberculosis , or Staphylococcus aureus might increase. We chart the progress and impact of bacterial resistance to antimicrobial drugs in the developing world. The information in this review has been assembled from searches of the computerised databases Medline and Bath Information and Data Services, discussions with colleagues, and personal knowledge. #### Summary points Although even the most potent and recently developed antimicrobial drugs are available throughout the world, …

809 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review provides an outline of the main methods used in molecular microbial ecology, and their limitations, with reference to morphologically distinctive, uncultivated bacteria; an important biotechnological process (wastewater treatment); and symbiotic relationships between Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya.
Abstract: The application of molecular biological methods to study the diversity and ecology of microorganisms in natural environments has been practiced since the mid-1980s Since that time many new insights into the composition of uncultivated microbial communities have been gained Whole groups of organisms that are only known from molecular sequences are now believed to be quantitatively significant in many environments Molecular methods have also allowed characterization of many long-recognized but poorly understood organisms These organisms have eluded laboratory cultivation and, hence, have remained enigmatic This review provides an outline of the main methods used in molecular microbial ecology, and their limitations Some discoveries, made through the application of molecular biological methods, are highlighted, with reference to morphologically distinctive, uncultivated bacteria; an important biotechnological process (wastewater treatment); and symbiotic relationships between Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

805 citations


Book ChapterDOI
01 Jan 1998
TL;DR: The chapter focuses on how a male allocates sperm among different ejaculates and summarizes a model framework for the analysis of this problem and illustrates, whether the female has a strong influence on the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, depending on how much control she can exercise on an ejaculate within her reproductive tract.
Abstract: The chapter focuses on how a male allocates sperm among different ejaculates and summarizes a model framework for the analysis of this problem. It consolidates a prospective theory base for empirical advances. Since the sperm competition involves sexual conflict, the interests of male and female differ. However, it is clear that the mating or ejaculatory strategy, which is best for a male need not be best for the female. Moreover, the resolution of mating conflict depends on the circumstances, and that either sex can exert a strong or even overriding influence. It also illustrates, whether the female has a strong influence on the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, depending on how much control she can exercise on an ejaculate within her reproductive tract. In many cases, there are no conflicts between the male strategy and female interests, and thus, the present models serve a fair approximation of the selective forces shaping ejaculate characteristics. There is now ample evidence, particularly from heterospermic inseminations (females inseminated with ejaculates from different males) in domestic mammals that genetic variation among males is correlated with differences in paternity prospects.

769 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
11 Sep 1998-Science
TL;DR: A continuous record of atmospheric lead since 12,370 carbon-14 years before the present (14C yr BP) is preserved in a Swiss peat bog, indicating the beginning of lead pollution from mining and smelting, and anthropogenic sources have dominated lead emissions ever since.
Abstract: A continuous record of atmospheric lead since 12,370 carbon-14 years before the present (14C yr BP) is preserved in a Swiss peat bog. Enhanced fluxes caused by climate changes reached their maxima 10,590 14C yr BP (Younger Dryas) and 823014C yr BP. Soil erosion caused by forest clearing and agricultural tillage increased lead deposition after 532014C yr BP. Increasing lead/scandium and decreasing lead-206/lead-207 beginning 3000 14C yr BP indicate the beginning of lead pollution from mining and smelting, and anthropogenic sources have dominated lead emissions ever since. The greatest lead flux (15.7 milligrams per square meter per year in A.D. 1979) was 1570 times the natural, background value (0.01 milligram per square meter per year from 8030 to 5320 14C yr BP).

710 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Key features of the histologic phenotypes of breast cancers in carriers of mutant BRCA1 and BRCa2 genes are identified and this information may improve the classification of breast cancer in individuals with a family history of the disease and may ultimately aid in the clinical management of patients.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: We have previously demonstrated that breast cancers associated with inherited BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations differ from each other in their histopathologic appearances and that each of these types differs from breast cancers in patients unselected for family history (i.e., sporadic cancers). We have now conducted a more detailed examination of cytologic and architectural features of these tumors. METHODS: Specimens of tumor tissue (5-microm-thick sections) were examined independently by two pathologists, who were unaware of the case or control subject status, for the presence of cell mitosis, lymphocytic infiltration, continuous pushing margins, and solid sheets of cancer cells; cell nuclei, cell nucleoli, cell necrosis, and cell borders were also evaluated. The resulting data were combined with previously available information on tumor type and tumor grade and further evaluated by multifactorial analysis. All statistical tests are two-sided. RESULTS: Cancers associated with BRCA1 mutations exhibited higher mitotic counts (P = .001), a greater proportion of the tumor with a continuous pushing margin (P<.0001), and more lymphocytic infiltration (P = .002) than sporadic (i.e., control) cancers. Cancers associated with BRCA2 mutations exhibited a higher score for tubule formation (fewer tubules) (P = .0002), a higher proportion of the tumor perimeter with a continuous pushing margin (P<.0001), and a lower mitotic count (P = .003) than control cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study has identified key features of the histologic phenotypes of breast cancers in carriers of mutant BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This information may improve the classification of breast cancers in individuals with a family history of the disease and may ultimately aid in the clinical management of patients.

679 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Dec 1998-Nature
TL;DR: In this article, it was shown that alkanethiol-derivatized gold nanocrystals of different, well defined sizes organize themselves spontaneously into complex, ordered two-dimensional arrays that are structurally related to both colloidal crystals and alloys between metals of different atomic radii.
Abstract: The controlled fabrication of very small structures at scales beyond the current limits of lithographic techniques is a technological goal of great practical and fundamental interest. Important progress has been made over the past few years in the preparation of ordered ensembles of metal and semiconductor nanocrystals1,2,3,4,5,6,7. For example, monodisperse fractions of thiol-stabilized gold nanoparticles8 have been crystallized into two- and three-dimensional superlattices5. Metal particles stabilized by quaternary ammonium salts can also self-assemble into superlattice structures9,10. Gold particle preparations with quite broad (polydisperse) size distributions also show some tendency to form ordered structures by a process involving spontaneous size segregation11,12. Here we report that alkanethiol-derivatized gold nanocrystals of different, well defined sizes organize themselves spontaneously into complex, ordered two-dimensional arrays that are structurally related to both colloidal crystals and alloys between metals of different atomic radii. We observe three types of organization: first, different-sized particles intimately mixed, forming an ordered bimodal array (Fig. 1); second, size-segregated regions, each containing hexagonal-close-packed monodisperse particles (Fig. 2); and third, a structure in which particles of several different sizes occupy random positions in a pseudo-hexagonal lattice (Fig. 3).

668 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
21 Aug 1998-Langmuir
TL;DR: In this article, self-assembled multilayer thin films consisting of alternating layers of ∼6-nm Au nanoparticles and α,ω-dithiols have been prepared on glass substrates.
Abstract: Self-assembled multilayer thin films consisting of alternating layers of ∼6-nm Au nanoparticles and α,ω-dithiols have been prepared on glass substrates. They have been studied by UV/Vis spectroscopy, ellipsometry, scanning tunneling microscopy, and temperature-dependent conductivity measurements. The electronic and optical properties of the thin film material are nonmetallic, and the Au particles maintain their individual character without fusion to larger units. Electronic conduction within the films occurs via activated electron hopping.

595 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review on the properties of the new materials reports some of their biocompatibility and characterization aspects based on findings from studies conducted on the ethyl and benzyl hyaluronan esters, and is intended to arouse interest in the potential of other, as yet unexplored derivatives.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review article focuses on the roles in peripheral nerve regeneration of Schwann cells and of the neurotrophin family, CNTF and GDNF, and the relationship between these and what remains to be understood about the possible clinical use of neurotrophic factors.
Abstract: The peripheral nervous system retains a considerable capacity for regeneration. However, functional recovery rarely returns to the preinjury level no matter how accurate the nerve repair is, and the more proximal the injury the worse the recovery. Among a variety of approaches being used to enhance peripheral nerve regeneration are the manipulation of Schwann cells and the use of neurotrophic factors. Such factors include, first, nerve growth factor (NGF) and the other recently identified members of the neurotrophin family, namely, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5); second, the neurokines ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF); and third, the transforming growth factors (TGFs)-β and their distant relative, glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). In this review article we focus on the roles in peripheral nerve regeneration of Schwann cells and of the neurotrophin family, CNTF and GDNF, and the relationship between these. Finally, we discuss what remains to be understood about the possible clinical use of neurotrophic factors. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 18:397–405, 1998

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is tentatively predicted that sexual conflict will typically result in a higher rate of speciation in ' female-win' clades, that females will be responsible for premating isolation through reinforcement, and that 'female- win' populations will be less genetically diverse.
Abstract: We review the significance of two forms of sexual conflict (different evolutionary interests of the two sexes) for genetic differentiation of populations and the evolution of reproductive isolation. Conflicting selection on the alleles at a single locus can occur in males and females if the sexes have different optima for a trait, and there are pleiotropic genetic correlations between the sexes for it. There will then be selection for sex limitation and hence sexual dimorphism. This sex limitation could break down in hybrids and reduce their fitness. Pleiotropic genetic correlations between the sexes could also affect the likelihood of mating in interpopulation encounters. Conflict can also occur between (sex-limited) loci that determine behaviour in males and those that determine behaviour in females. Reproductive isolation may occur by rapid coevolution of male trait and female mating preference. This would tend to generate assortative mating on secondary contact, hence promoting speciation. Sexual conflict resulting from sensory exploitation, polyspermy and the cost of mating could result in high levels of interpopulation mating. If females evolve resistance to make pre- and postmating manipulation, males from one population could be more successful with females from the other, because females would have evolved resistance to their own (but not to the allopatric) males. Between-locus sexual conflict could also occur as a result of conflict between males and females of different populations over the production of unfit hybrids. We develop models which show that females are in general selected to resist such matings and males to persist, and this could have a bearing on both the initial level of interpopulation matings and the likelihood that reinforcement will occur. In effect, selection on males usually acts to promote gene flow and to restrict premating isolation, whereas selection on females usually acts in the reverse direction. We review theoretical models relevant to resolution of this conflict. The winning role depends on a balance between the 'value of winning' and 'power' (relating to contest or armament costs): the winning role is likely to correlate with high value of winning and low costs. Sperm-ovum (or sperm-female tract) conflicts (and their plant parallels) are likely to obey the same principles. Males may typically have higher values of winning, but it is difficult to quantify 'power', and females may often be able to resist mating more cheaply than males can force it. We tentatively predict that sexual conflict will typically result in a higher rate of speciation in 'female-win' clades, that females will be responsible for premating isolation through reinforcement, and that 'female-win' populations will be less genetically diverse.

Book
11 Aug 1998
TL;DR: In this article, Castree and Braun discuss the nature as artifice and artifact and re-enchanting nature in the context of building survivable features in the urban environment.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION 1. The Construction of nature and the nature of construction: analytical and political tools for building survivable features Noel Castree and Bruce Braun CAPITALISING AND ENFRAMING NATURE Introduction 2. Whose nature, whose culture? Private productions of space and the 'preservation' of nature Cindi Katz 3. Fluid bodies, managed nature Emily Martin 4. Moving on from both state and consumer eugenics Hilary Rose 5. Reasserting nature: constructing urban environments after Fordism Roger Keil and John Graham 6. Environmentalism, Wise Use and the nature of accumulation in the rural west James McCarthy 7. The nature of decentralised consumption and everyday life Allan Pred ACTORS, NETWORKS AND THE POLITICS OF HYBRIDITY Introduction 8. Science, social constructivism and nature David Demeritt 9. Incorporating nature: environmental narratives and the reproduction of food Margaret Fitzsimmons and David Goodman 10. To modernise or ecologise? That is the question Bruno Latour (translated by Charis Cussins) 11. Nature as artifice and artifact Michael Watts AFTERWORD 12. Re-enchanting nature Neil Smith Index and

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a quaternary ammonium bromide salt (R4N+Br-) is specifically adsorbed on the colloidal gold solutions through the formation of surface ion pairs, probably with the Br- ion attached to the Au surface.
Abstract: “Naked” colloidal gold solutions have been prepared in toluene using a two-phase system The phase-transfer reagent used, a quaternary ammonium bromide salt (R4N+Br-), is specifically adsorbed on the clusters through the formation of surface ion pairs, probably with the Br- ion attached to the Au surface The separation between clusters for two-dimensional structures is dependent on the chain length in R4N+ When more than one layer is present, the nanosized particles show unusual self-organization properties: the occupancy of 2-fold saddle sites is preferred to that of 3-fold hollow sites, leading to linear and circular arrangements It is proposed that this is due to the balance between local electrostatic repulsion and dispersion forces between the particles

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1998-Blood
TL;DR: Observations by Western blotting provide the first evidence implicating a Bcl-2 family member in the regulation of neutrophil survival and provides a potential mechanism whereby cytokine-regulated gene expression regulates the functional lifespan of neutrophic neutrophils and hence their ability to function for extended time periods during acute inflammation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluate the selectivity and rank the order of potency of a range of iso-form-selective CYP inhibitors and compare directly the effects of these inhibitors in human and rat hepatic microsomes.
Abstract: Aims Chemical inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP) are a useful tool in defining the role of individual CYPs involved in drug metabolism. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the selectivity and rank the order of potency of a range of isoform-selective CYP inhibitors and to compare directly the effects of these inhibitors in human and rat hepatic microsomes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Face processing and facial emotion recognition were investigated in five post-encephalitic people with extensive damage in the region of the amygdala, showing impaired recognition of fear following bilateral temporal lobe damage when this included the amygdala.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A chemically inducible plant gene expression system, with negligible background activity, that obviates the problem of marked phenotype appears in developing leaves that is absent from leaves that developed before induction or after it has ceased is described.
Abstract: Many transgenic plant studies use constitutive promoters to express transgenes. For certain genes, deleterious effects arise from constant expression in all tissues throughout development. We describe a chemically inducible plant gene expression system, with negligible background activity, that obviates this problem. We demonstrate its potential by showing inducible manipulation of carbon metabolism in transgenic plants. Upon rapid induction of yeast cytosolic invertase, a marked phenotype appears in developing leaves that is absent from leaves that developed before induction or after it has ceased.

Journal ArticleDOI
Koji Abe1, T. Akagi2, P.L. Anthony2, R. Antonov3, R. G. Arnold4, T. Averett5, T. Averett6, H. R. Band7, J. M. Bauer8, J. M. Bauer9, H. Borel, P. E. Bosted4, Vincent Breton, J. Button-Shafer9, J. P. Chen10, J. P. Chen6, Timothy Chupp10, J. Clendenin2, C. Comptour, K. P. Coulter10, G. Court2, G. Court11, D. Crabb6, M. Daoudi2, Donal Day6, F. S. Dietrich12, J. A. Dunne4, J. A. Dunne13, H. Dutz14, H. Dutz2, R. Erbacher2, J. Fellbaum4, A. Feltham15, H. Fonvieille, Emil Frlez6, D. Garvey16, R. Gearhart2, J. Gomez13, P. Grenier, K. A. Griffioen17, K. A. Griffioen3, S. Hoibraten6, E. W. Hughes5, E. W. Hughes2, Ch. Hyde-Wright18, J. R. Johnson7, D. Kawall2, Avraham Klein18, S. E. Kuhn18, M. Kuriki1, R. A. Lindgren6, T. J. Liu6, R. M. Lombard-Nelsen, J. Marroncle, T. Maruyama2, X.K. Maruyama16, J. S. McCarthy6, W. Meyer14, W. Meyer2, Z. E. Meziani19, Z. E. Meziani2, R. C. Minehart6, John C. Mitchell13, J. Morgenstern, G. G. Petratos20, G. G. Petratos2, R. Pitthan2, Dinko Pocanic6, C. Y. Prescott2, R. Prepost7, P. Raines3, B. Raue18, B. Raue21, D. Reyna4, A. Rijllart2, A. Rijllart22, Y. Roblin, L. S. Rochester2, S. E. Rock4, O. Rondon6, Ingo Sick15, L. C. Smith6, Timothy B. Smith10, M. Spengos4, M. Spengos3, F. Staley, Pascal Steiner15, S.St. Lorant2, L. M. Stuart2, F. Suekane, Z. M. Szalata4, H. Tang2, Y. Terrien, T. L. Usher2, D. Walz2, F.R. Wesselmann18, James L. White2, James L. White4, K. Witte2, C. C. Young2, B. Youngman2, H. Yuta, G. H. Zapalac7, B. Zihlmann15, D. Zimmermann6 
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors reported measurements of the proton and deuteron spin structure functions at beam energies of 29.1, 16.2, and 9.7 GeV.
Abstract: Measurements are reported of the proton and deuteron spin structure functions ${g}_{1}^{p}$ and ${g}_{1}^{d}$ at beam energies of 29.1, 16.2, and 9.7 GeV, and ${g}_{2}^{p}$ and ${g}_{2}^{d}$ at a beam energy of 29.1 GeV. The integrals ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{p}={\ensuremath{\int}}_{0}^{1}{g}_{1}^{p}{(x,Q}^{2})dx$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{d}={\ensuremath{\int}}_{0}^{1}{g}_{1}^{d}{(x,Q}^{2})dx$ were evaluated at fixed ${Q}^{2}=3(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^{2}$ using the full data set to yield ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{p}=0.132\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003(\mathrm{stat})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.009(\mathrm{syst})$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{d}=0.047\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006.$ The ${Q}^{2}$ dependence of the ratio ${g}_{1}{/F}_{1}$ was studied and found to be small for ${Q}^{2}g1(\mathrm{GeV}{/c)}^{2}.$ Within experimental precision the ${g}_{2}$ data are well described by the twist-2 contribution, ${g}_{2}^{\mathrm{WW}}.$ Twist-3 matrix elements were extracted and compared to theoretical predictions. The asymmetry ${A}_{2}$ was measured and found to be significantly smaller than the positivity limit $\sqrt{R}$ for both proton and deuteron targets. ${A}_{2}^{p}$ is found to be positive and inconsistent with zero. Measurements of ${g}_{1}$ in the resonance region show strong variations with $x$ and ${Q}^{2},$ consistent with resonant amplitudes extracted from unpolarized data. These data allow us to study the ${Q}^{2}$ dependence of the integrals ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{p}$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{n}$ below the scaling region.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Oct 1998-Heart
TL;DR: Quality of life assessment and a six minute walk test are reproducible and responsive measures of cardiac status in frail, very elderly patients with heart failure.
Abstract: Objective—To examine the reproducibility and responsiveness to change of a six minute walk test and a quality of life measure in elderly patients with heart failure. Design—Longitudinal within patient study. Subjects—60 patients with heart failure (mean age 82 years) attending a geriatric outpatient clinic, 45 of whom underwent a repeat assessment three to eight weeks later. Main outcome measures—Subjects underwent a standardised six minute walk test and completed the chronic heart failure questionnaire (CHQ), a heart failure specific quality of life questionnaire. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated using a random effects one way analysis of variance as a measure of reproducibility. Guyatt's responsiveness coefficient and effect sizes were calculated as measures of responsiveness to change. Results—24 patients reported no major change in cardiac status, while seven had deteriorated and 14 had improved between the two clinic visits. Reproducibility was satisfactory (ICC > 0.75) for the six minute walk test, for the total CHQ score, and for the dyspnoea, fatigue, and emotion domains of the CHQ. Effect sizes for all measures were large (> 0.8), and responsiveness coefficients were very satisfactory (> 0.7). Effect sizes for detecting deterioration were greater than those for detecting improvement. Conclusions—Quality of life assessment and a six minute walk test are reproducible and responsive measures of cardiac status in frail, very elderly patients with heart failure. Keywords: six minute walk; elderly people; heart failure; quality of life

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma‐associated herpesvirus in Uganda occurs largely before puberty, in contrast to its sexual mode of transmission among homo/bisexual men and sexually transmitted diseases clinic attendees of Northern Europe and the US.
Abstract: We studied the seroprevalence and transmission of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV/HHV8), among 215 Ugandan children, adolescents and young adults. We measured antibodies to a latent nuclear antigen (LANA) and a lytic cycle protein encoded by open reading frame (orf) 65. Infection with KSHV/HHV8 occurred during early childhood and reached adult levels (approx. 50%) before the age of puberty. In children younger than 12 years of age, antibodies to LANA and the orf65 protein were independently associated with hepatitis B infection (p < 0.005). KSHV/HHV8 infection was not associated with antibodies to hepatitis A virus and hepatitis C virus, nor with the quality of the water supply, household size, previous blood transfusions, number of boy/girl friends or marital status. Antibodies to the orf65 protein, but not LANA, were weakly associated with a history of i.v. injections. Our results show that, in contrast to its sexual mode of transmission among homo/bisexual men and sexually transmitted diseases clinic attendees of Northern Europe and the US, transmission of KSHV in Uganda occurs largely before puberty. Among Ugandan children, KSHV transmission follows a horizontal pattern similar to other herpesviruses, in particular the related γ herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus. Transmission of KSHV may be facilitated by living conditions that also promote infection with hepatitis B virus. Int. J. Cancer 77:817–820, 1998.© 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The unique epidemiology of KSHV and its public health importance, especially to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, suggest that this virus be accorded an important priority in the development of techniques for its control and treatment.
Abstract: As epidemiologic evidence accumulates, it is becoming increasingly clear that Kaposi's sarcoma (KS)-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) (or human herpesvirus 8 [HHV-8]) is the likely infectious cause of KS and related neoplastic disorders. Immunosuppression is an important cofactor in KS pathogenesis, as shown by the occurrence of KS in post-transplant patients and its occasional regression after the reduction of iatrogenic immunosuppression. Whether KS is a hyperplastic process driven by cytokine dysregulation or represents the oligo-or monoclonal-expansion of virus-transformed endothelial cells remains controversial. Near-universal detection of KSKSHV DNA in all of the histologically indistinguishable forms of KS suggests that they share a common etiology. In addition to studies suggesting persistence of KSHV in prostate tissues from KS patients, one study has found that dorsal root ganglia may harbor viral DNA in patients with AIDS-KS. Cultivation of the virus in cells uninfected with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has led to the development of serologic tests and studies of KSHV gene expression during latency and lytic replication. The close correspondence between signal pathways activated by EBV infection and those activated by virus-encoded homologs during KSHV infection is seen for interleukin-6 (IL-6) signal transduction. DNA tumor viruses have been essential tools in dissecting out transformation pathways, and KSHV promises to provide a unique model for investigating virus-induced transformation. The unique epidemiology of KSHV and its public health importance, especially to parts of sub-Saharan Africa, suggest that this virus be accorded an important priority in the development of techniques for its control and treatment.

Journal ArticleDOI
K. Ackerstaff, A. Airapetian1, N. Akopov1, M. Amarian1  +236 moreInstitutions (26)
TL;DR: The HERMES experiment as mentioned in this paper collects data on inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering of polarised positrons from polarised targets of H, D, and 3 He.
Abstract: The HERMES experiment is collecting data on inclusive and semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering of polarised positrons from polarised targets of H, D, and 3 He. These data give information on the spin structure of the nucleon. This paper describes the forward angle spectrometer built for this purpose. The spectrometer includes numerous tracking chambers (micro-strip gas chambers, drift and proportional chambers) in front of and behind a 1.3 T.m magnetic field, as well as an extensive set of detectors for particle identification (a lead-glass calorimeter, a pre-shower detector, a transition radiation detector, and a threshold Cherenkov detector). Two of the main features of the spectrometer are its good acceptance and identification of both positrons and hadrons, in particular pions. These characteristics, together with the purity of the targets, are allowing HERMES to make unique contributions to the understanding of how the spins of the quarks contribute to the spin of the nucleon.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article examined the relationship between attributional processes and theory-of-mind (ToM) deficits and found that ToM deficits were associated with an increased tendency to identify other individuals as responsible for negative social situations.
Abstract: The ability to understand and conceptualize the mental processes of other people is considered to play a vital role in social interactions. Deficits in this area, sometimes known as theory-of-mind (ToM) deficits, have been identified as playing a possible causal role in autism, Asperger's syndrome and schizophrenic disorders, particularly paranoia. Paranoia has also been associated with an abnormal attributional style, an observation that suggests that ToM and attributional processes may be related phenomena. This paper describes a study examining the relationship between attributional processes and ToM deficits. Seventy-seven undergraduate participants completed a ToM task and forty-six also completed the Internal, Personal and Situational Attributions Questionnaire (IPSAQ). ToM deficits were associated with an increased tendency to identify other individuals as responsible for negative social situations. The implications of the observed relationship between attributions and ToM deficits are discussed.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the Eysenck factors were used to measure the factorial similarity of psychoticism, extraversion, neuroticism, and social desire in 34 countries using gender specific data collected from 34 countries.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review describes structure-activity relationships for the 4-aminoquinolines, along with views on the mechanism of action and parasite resistance, and potential approaches to the design of new synthetic derivatives.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, an almost 300m thick eolian sequence of Late Cenozoic sediments, which includes 162.5m of Quaternary loess-paleosols and 126m of Late Tertiary eolians Red Clay from the central part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, was investigated to determine the magnetostratigraphy.
Abstract: An almost 300m thick eolian sequence of Late Cenozoic sediments, which includes 162.5m of Quaternary loess-paleosols and 126m of Late Tertiary eolian Red Clay from the central part of the Chinese Loess Plateau, was investigated to determine the magnetostratigraphy. The results show that eolian dust accumulation, and by inference the related East Asia paleomonsoon, had begun by 7.2Ma. As paleomonsoon are largely controlled by the Tibetan Plateau, this implies that the Plateau had reached some critical elevation by 7.2Ma. The section also documents a rapid increase in eolian dust accumulation in the Late Cenozoic at 3.2Ma that is probably due to the influence of global ice volume on the East Asian monsoon.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an adaptive genetic algorithm (AGA) was proposed for optimal reactive power dispatch and voltage control of power systems, where the probabilities of crossover and mutation were varied depending on the fitness values of the solutions and the normalized fitness distances between the solutions in the evolution process to prevent premature convergence and refine the convergence performance of GA.