The nonhomologous end joining factor Artemis suppresses multi-tissue tumor formation and prevents loss of heterozygosity.

Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is a critical DNA repair pathway, with proposed tumor suppression functions in many tissues. Mutations in the NHEJ factor ARTEMIS cause radiation-sensitive severe combined immunodeficiency in humans and may increase susceptibility to lymphoma in some settings. We now report that deficiency for Artemis (encoded by Dclre1c/Art in mouse) accelerates tumorigenesis in several tissues in a Trp53 heterozygous setting, revealing tumor suppression roles for NHEJ in lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells. We also show that B-lineage lymphomas in these mice undergo loss of Trp53 heterozygosity by allele replacement, but arise by mechanisms distinct from those in Art Trp53 double null mice. These findings demonstrate a general tumor suppression function for NHEJ, and reveal that interplay between NHEJ and Trp53 loss of heterozygosity influences the sequence of multi-hit oncogenesis. We present a model where p53 status at the time of tumor initiation is a key determinant of subsequent oncogenic mechanisms. Because Art deficient mice represent a model for radiation-sensitive severe combined immunodeficiency, our findings suggest that these patients may be at risk for both lymphoid and non-lymphoid cancers.

Is facial skin tone sufficient to produce a cross-racial identification effect?

Research clearly supports the existence of an other race effect for human faces whereby own-race faces are more accurately perceived and recognized. Why this occurs remains unclear. A computerized program (Mac-a-Mug Pro) for face composition was used to create pairs of target and distractor faces that differed only in skin tone. The six target faces were rated on honesty and aggressiveness by 72 university students, with just one 'Black' and one 'White' face viewed by each student. One week later, they attempted to identify these faces in four lineups: two with target-present and two with target-absent. The order of presentation of targets, lineups, and faces within lineups was varied. Own-race identification was slightly better than cross-racial identification. There was no significant difference in the confidence of responses to own- versus other-race faces. These results indicate that neither morphological variation nor differential confidence is necessary for a cross-racial identification effect.

Sex-linked carrying styles and the attribution of homosexuality.

We used pairs of slides showing 3 women and 3 men displaying 2 sex linked carrying styles to examine differences in the attribution of homosexuality as a consequence of behavioral displays that are either sex typical or sex atypical. We hypothesized that the participants would be less likely to view targets displaying sex-typical behaviors as gay men or as lesbians. Each of 2 groups of U.S. university students rated targets in 6 slides on homosexuality and 3 other traits. The mean difference in rated homosexuality for typical versus atypical carrying styles was small but statistically significant. Thus, the results provide some empirical support for the common belief that effeminate men and masculine women are more likely to be seen as homosexual, at least by U.S. university students.

A laser-based technique for measuring accuracy and distortion in judgments of linear dimensions.

A new technique is described that permits precise measurement of accuracy and distortion in judgments of linear dimensions based on either perception or memory. This technique involves the use of a single laser beam and a reference line placed on a projection surface. By rotating a laser device, the distance between the reference line and the point created by the beam may be continuously varied. This procedure avoids unintentional distortion from misjudgment of standard metrics, while the semicircular movement required by this technique eliminates body-referenced estimation and some other potential confounds. Potential applications to research in visual perception, spatial memory, and body image are discussed.

The influence of physical state and color on perceived sweetness.

Smell, texture, temperature, and other variables can influence the evaluation of foods and beverages. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of physical state and color on perceived sweetness. Fifty junior high school students were given 10 samples of an aqueous sucrose solution in liquid and solid (gelatin) form in random order and were asked to rate their sweetness on a 10-point scale. For each state (liquid and solid), there were 4 colors (red, blue, yellow, and green) plus a colorless control. It was hypothesized that the liquid samples would be perceived as sweeter than the solid samples. The mean rating of the 5 liquid samples (7.61) was more that twice as high as the mean rating of the 5 solid samples (3.11). To determine whether this main effect for physical state held for each color, the mean difference in perceived sweetness between the liquid and solid samples by color was computed. A series of t tests revealed that the mean differences were significant at the .001 level in the expected direction for each color and the colorless control. There was no significant effect of color. These results strongly support the hypothesis that liquid samples are perceived as sweeter than solid samples.

Genomic structure of PIR-B, the inhibitory member of the paired immunoglobulin-like receptor genes in mice.

The genes encoding the murine paired immunoglobulin-like receptors PIR-A and PIR-B are members of a novel gene family which encode cell-surface receptors bearing immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (ITIMs) and their non-inhibitory/activatory counterparts. PIR-A and PIR-B have highly homologous extracellular domains but distinct transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. A charged arginine in the transmembrane region of PIR-A suggests its potential association with other transmembrane proteins to form a signal transducing unit. PIR-B, in contrast, has an uncharged transmembrane region and several ITIMs in its cytoplasmic tail. These characteristics suggest that PIR-A and PIR-B which are coordinately expressed by B cells and myeloid cells, serve counter-regulatory roles in humoral and inflammatory responses. In the present study we have determined the genomic structure of the single copy PIR-B gene. The gene consists of 15 exons and spans approximately 8 kilobases. The first exon contains the 5' untranslated region, the ATG translation start site, and approximately half of the leader peptide sequence. The remainder of the leader peptide sequence is encoded by exon 2. Exons 3-8 encode the six extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains and exons 9 and 10 code for the extracellular membrane proximal and transmembrane regions. The final five exons (exons 11-15) encode for the ITIM-bearing cytoplasmic tail and the 3' untranslated region. The intron/exon boundaries of PIR-B obey the GT-AG rule and are in phase I, with the notable exception of the three boundaries determined for ITIM-containing exons. A microsatellite composed of the trinucleotide repeat AAG in the intron between exons 9 and 10 provides a useful marker for studying population genetics.

Visualization of the nonlinear optical space-charge region of bulk thermally poled fused-silica glass.

We etched thermally poled fused-silica coverslips in 49% HF for 30 s transverse to the poling direction to reveal structural details of the nonlinear region. A peaked ridge below the anode surface, corresponding to a slower etch rate than that of the bulk SiO(2) , was located approximately 5 microm below the anode surface for a poling time of 30 s. The ridge moved deeper into the glass logarithmically with poling time. This trend is qualitatively consistent with a recent model for the formation of the space-charge region that includes injection of hydrogen ions at the anode surface.

Physical mapping of the chromosome 7 breakpoint region in an SLOS patient with t(7;20) (q32.1;q13.2).

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation. SLOS has an associated defect in cholesterol biosynthesis, but the molecular genetic basis of this condition has not yet been elucidated. Previously our group reported a patient with a de novo balanced translocation [t(7;20)(q32.1;q13.2)] fitting the clinical and biochemical profile of SLOS. Employing fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), a 1.8 Mb chromosome 7-specific yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) was identified which spanned the translocation breakpoint in the reported patient. The following is an update of the on-going pursuit to physically and genetically map the region further, as well as the establishment of candidate genes in the 7q32.1 breakpoint region.

Planar geometry thin-film all-optical programmable switch.

We describe an all-optical programmable switch that can perform logic gate functions. This switch consists of a planar geometry germanium-doped silica waveguide, a Q-switched and mode-locked Nd:YAG laser, and the means of coupling laser light into different waveguiding modes of the thin film at the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies. By the application of the appropriate optical programming sequence, the film-generated second-harmonic light can be made to perform the functionalities of various gates. In particular, a single waveguide was optically programmed to perform the Or function and was then made to perform the And function with little change to the experimental arrangement.

Identification of a yeast artificial chromosome clone spanning a translocation breakpoint at 7q32.1 in a Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome patient.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a mental retardation/multiple congenital anomaly syndrome. The gene(s) involved has not been mapped or cloned, but, recently, a biochemical abnormality in cholesterol biosynthesis has been shown to occur in most SLOS patients. The defect is suspected to occur in the penultimate step of the cholesterol pathway, involving the enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase, which has not been isolated. On the basis of the hypothesis that a de novo balanced translocation [t(7;20)(q32.1;q13.2)] in an SLOS patient directly interrupts the SLOS gene, positional cloning techniques are being employed to localize and identify the SLOS gene. We report the identification of a chromosome 7-specific YAC that spans the translocation breakpoint, as detected by FISH. This is the first study narrowing a candidate SLOS region and placing it on physical and genetic maps of the human genome.

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome in a female with a de novo, balanced translocation involving 7q32: probable disruption of an SLOS gene.

A 3-month-old infant girl had manifestations of the Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) including typical positional anomalies of the limbs, apparent Hirschsprung disease, cataracts, ptosis, anteverted nares, cleft of the posterior palate, small tongue, broad maxillary alveolar ridges, and abnormally low serum cholesterol levels. Chromosomal analysis showed a de novo balanced translocation interpreted as 46,XX,t(7;20)(q32.1;q13.2). We hypothesize that the translocation breakpoint in this case interrupts one SLOS allele and that the other allele at the same locus has a more subtle mutation that was inherited from the other parent. This case, as well as cytogenetic observations in other SLOS cases, suggests that SLOS could be due to autosomal recessive mutation at a gene in 7q32.

Visual detection of body weight change in young women.

To assess whether small changes in body weight can be visually detected, college students (58 women and 42 men) were asked to select the less heavy person shown in two photographs for each of 33 young women. All of these women had been photographed twice in a standardized pose and attire, separated by an 8-wk. interval during which most of them lost weight. These pairs were presented in varying orders to control for the order and side of presentation. One photograph was reliably selected as the lighter person for 64% of the pairs, but the picture selected was in fact lighter only 57% of the time. The accuracy of selecting the lighter photograph was not correlated with the percent weight change for the person shown in the pairs of photographs. The results suggest that small changes in women's weight may not have a significant perceptual effect, particularly for male perceivers.

Efficacy of intramammary treatment in unbred and primigravid dairy heifers.

A total of 73 breeding-age and primigravid Jersey heifers in 4 herds was randomly allotted to treatment and control groups according to expected calving date. Thirty-five heifers were injected intramammarily with a nonlactating cow product containing penicillin/streptomycin. Thirty-eight heifers served as untreated controls. Of the 35 treated heifers, 34 (97.1%) were infected at time of treatment. In the untreated control group, all 38 heifers (100%) were infected at treatment time. At parturition, prevalence of intramammary infection in treated heifers decreased to 40%, whereas in the control group, prevalence remained about the same (97.4% of heifers). Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in treated heifers was reduced from 17.1% to 2.9% after treatment. In the control group, prevalence of S aureus mastitis decreased from 26.3% to 15.8%. Heifers treated during the second trimester of pregnancy had the greatest reduction in prevalence of mastitis and in somatic cell count at parturition, compared with controls. Findings indicated that intramammary treatment during pregnancy in primigravid heifers was effective in reducing prevalence of mastitis and somatic cell counts at parturition.

Prevalence of intramammary infection and teat canal colonization in unbred and primigravid dairy heifers.

Teat canal keratin (n = 461) and mammary gland secretions (n = 370) were collected from 31 unbred and 85 primigravid Jersey heifers from one research and three commercial dairy herds. Of 97 heifers from which secretion samples were obtained, 96.9% had intramammary infections and 29% showed clinical symptoms. Seventy-five percent of quarters were infected. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 36 (37.1%) heifers and 55 (14.9%) quarters. One hundred and eight (93.1%) heifers and 326 (70.7%) quarters had teat canals colonized with mastitis pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from teat canal keratin samples from 36 (31%) heifers and 57 (12.3%) quarters. The three most common species isolated from secretion and teat canal keratin samples were Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus hyicus, and S. aureus. Secretions from infected (n = 240) and uninfected (n = 85) quarters had SCC of 13.6 X 10(6)/ml and 5.7 X 10(6)/ml. Macrophages were the most numerous cell type in secretions of infected and uninfected quarters. Quarters with teat canal colonization, but with no intramammary infections, exhibited higher SCC in secretion (9.3 X 10(6)/ml) than quarters without both teat canal colonizations and intramammary infections (4.9 X 10(6)/ml). Data indicated that intramammary infections and teat canal colonizations were more prevalent and SCC higher than previously realized in dairy heifers.

Single-pass imaging through a thick dynamic distorter using four-wave mixing.

We have reconstructed images after a single pass through a thick, turbulent aberrator. The reconstructed image's resolution was independent of the presence, severity, and length of a hot-air aberrator (at least 50 times the collecting optics' depth of field). The slowly responding four-wave mixing medium, fluorescein-doped boric acid glass, averaged out rapidly varying intensity apodizations, which would otherwise degrade the reconstructed image quality.

Effects of thick aberrators in one-way imaging schemes.

The ability of one-way imaging schemes to correct for the effects of thick aberrators is examined. These schemes correct an image for the influence of an intervening aberrator in a single pass. Single-pass image correction is observed for thick aberrators that change in times that are short compared with the nonlinear response time of the four-wave mixing material. Image degradation is observed for static aberrators.

Psychological gender, hand preferences, and sex differences in book-carrying styles.

Individuals with stronger sex-role identities may be expected to show greater conformity to sex-typed behaviors. Proceeding from this assumption, the sex-role status and sex of students using different styles of carrying books were compared. This study also examined whether over-all hand preference or age were related to carrying styles or sex-role status. Subjects completed a questionnaire comprised of the 24-item Personal Attributes Questionnaire of Spence and Helmreich, a 6-item scale of hand preference and a self-rating of sex-role identity. Afterwards, each subject's carrying style was covertly observed and recorded. Most subjects carried their materials in a sex-typical way or in book bags (for which no sex-typed carrying styles were discovered). As in previous studies, men in this study scored higher than women on masculinity and androgyny and lower on femininity. Hand preference was not related to sex-role status. Carrying style was not significantly correlated with any of the predictor variables for men, perhaps because almost no variance in carrying style was observed among them. Women who used masculine carrying styles tended to be older, have greater instrumentality, and a more masculine identity.

Young adults' caregiving and the age level of a potential recipient.

The hypothesis that two caregiving tendencies are affected by the age of potential recipients was investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, two matched groups of 40 young adults selected from 16 pairs of either facial profile drawings or age-labels (e.g., "2-year-old") those individuals that they would feel most compelled to protect (i.e., the most "defense-provoking" in each pair). Both groups tended to select younger and more elderly individuals over more middle-aged ones. In Experiment 2, two more matched groups of 40 adults rated the defense-provokingness or the cuddliness of a series of facial profile drawings showing a male at eight ages, from newborn to 70 years old. Although rated cuddliness decreased as portrayed age increased from age 6 months onward, rated defense-provokingness decreased with age from birth to 35 years, but increased thereafter. These results are generally consistent with the expectation that adults' tendency to protect or cuddle others varies in accordance with the typical neediness of individuals of different age levels for these forms of care.