28897037
The synthesis of RNA by mammalian cells treated with the aminonucleoside of puromycin.
Abstract The aminonucleoside of puromycin will inhibit RNA synthesis in cultured hamster embryo cells with little effect on protein synthesis for several hours. In other systems, the drug-induced inhibition of RNA synthesis has been interpreted as a specific inhibition of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) synthesis with only a small effect on messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis. In contrast, no evidence was found in this system for such a selective inhibition, as the synthesis of rRNA, ‘heavy nuclear’ RNA, and polysomal mRNA were all inhibited to approximately equal extent by the drug. In addition, the results are consistent with the interpretation that rRNA synthesized in the presence of the drug is open to more than normal degradation during its maturation and incorporation into ribosomes.
28296194
Retrovirus Genome Replication: Priming Specificities of Plus-Strand DNA Synthesis
SUMMARY The retroviral reverse transcriptase is a multifunctional protein. Not only does it contain both RNA- and DNA-directed DNA synthesis activities but also it contains an endonuclease activity necessary for the integration of viral RNA and a RNase H. This latter activity can reduce to oligoribonucleotides viral RNA that has been reverse transcribed into minus-strand DNA. However, during avian retrovirus genome replication it does this in a highly specific manner so as to generate a specific 12-base primer for plus-strand DNA synthesis. Even though many other oligoribonucleotides are also made there is an efficient selection of the specific primer followed by its efficient utilization in plus-strand DNA synthesis, and subsequent removal. We have used a reconstructed system to gain an understanding of the factors that contribute towards these observed specificities.
11606238
Hepatitis delta virus.
Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a sub-viral agent that is dependent for its life cycle on hepatitis B virus (HBV). The help it obtains from HBV is limited to the sharing of envelope proteins. These proteins are needed to facilitate the assembly of the HDV genome into new virus particles, and in turn, to allow the attachment and entry of HDV into new host cells. In other respects, the replication of the small single-stranded circular RNA genome of HDV is independent of HBV. HDV genome replication produces two forms of a RNA-binding protein known as the long and small delta antigens (Ag). All other proteins needed for HDV genome replication, especially the RNA-directed RNA polymerase activity, are provided by the host cell. This mini-review article is a mixture of personal perspective and speculations about the future of HDV research. It starts with a brief overview of HDV and its replication, notes some of the major unresolved questions, and directs the interested reader to more detailed reviews.
27724235
Avian RNA tumor virus DNA before and after integration into the host genome.
12985098
A note on the incorporation of amino acids by hamster embryo cells in monolayer culture.
33501684
Tumor virus ribonucleic acid directed deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis: nucleotide sequence at the 5' terminus of nascent deoxyribonucleic acid.
36426650
Development of the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology disaster victim identification forensic odontology guide.
The need for documented procedures and protocols are important in every specialist group to ensure a consistent service to the community. They provide guidance to members of the specialist group about responsibilities and appropriate practices, and confidence to the community that the services are of the highest possible standard. In a Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) incident, by enabling the process to be audited, they also serve to ensure that identifications are reliable. Following the Bali Bombings of 2002 and the 2004 Asian Tsunami the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology recognised the need for a practice guide to assist the management of their members in DVI incidents. 31 members of the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology participated in the development of a guideline document for Disaster Victim Identification using a Delphi based model. The advantage of using the iterative Delphi process is that it encouraged participants to think about the processes used in the forensic odontology aspects of a DVI incident and their expectations of a guiding document. The document developed as a result of this project is comprehensive in coverage and places the Australian Society of Forensic Odontology at the vanguard of professionalism in the forensic odontology and DVI community.
16183837
The modifying effect of the building envelope on population exposure to PM2.5 from outdoor sources
A number of studies have estimated population exposure to PM2.5 by examining modeled or measured outdoor PM2.5 levels. However, few have taken into account the mediating effects of building characteristics on the ingress of PM2.5 from outdoor sources and its impact on population exposure in the indoor domestic environment. This study describes how building simulation can be used to determine the indoor concentration of outdoor-sourced pollution for different housing typologies and how the results can be mapped using building stock models and Geographical Information Systems software to demonstrate the modifying effect of dwellings on occupant exposure to PM2.5 across London. Building archetypes broadly representative of those in the Greater London Authority were simulated for pollution infiltration using EnergyPlus. In addition, the influence of occupant behavior on indoor levels of PM2.5 from outdoor sources was examined using a temperature-dependent window-opening scenario. Results demonstrate a range of I/O ratios of PM2.5, with detached and semi-detached dwellings most vulnerable to high levels of infiltration. When the results are mapped, central London shows lower I/O ratios of PM2.5 compared with outer London, an apparent inversion of exposure most likely caused by the prevalence of flats rather than detached or semi-detached properties.
21326002
Life events and peer substance use and their relation to substance use problems in college students.
Substance use disorders among college students are not well understood, and the present study examined the relationship of two environmental factors to alcohol and drug use problems in 616 (316 women) college students. Participants completed measures assessing substance use problems, life events, and substance use among peers. Alcohol use problems were significantly associated with higher drug use problems and regular use of illicit drugs among friends. Drug use problems were significantly associated with male gender, higher alcohol use problems, regular use of alcohol and drugs among friends, illicit drug use among romantic partners, and higher numbers of negative life events. Results extend previous research and suggest that college students who experience multiple negative life events and/or affiliate with substance using friends and romantic partners may be at risk for developing a substance use problem.
6962773
Heritability of Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and Stroop Color-Word Test performance in normal individuals: implications for the search for endophenotypes.
A surge in the search for endophenotypes for psychiatric disorders has occurred in the past several years. An important criterion of an endophenotype is that it is heritable. Two of the most widely used executive cognitive functioning measures are the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) and the Stroop Color-Word Test. Each has been considered as a possible endophenotype. However, research on the heritability of each of these measures is sparse, and in the case of the WCST, mixed. As part of a pilot twin study examining cognitive functioning and personality in adults, the WCST and the Stroop were administered to 80 monozygotic and 29 dizygotic twin pairs screened for absence of neurological disease and head injury. Results replicated and extended previous findings for moderate heritability of Stroop performance. However, the WCST showed little evidence of genetic influence, suggesting that it might not meet one of the criteria for an endophenotype.
31260021
Improving transfer of mental health care for rural and remote consumers in South Australia.
In Australia, it is commonplace for tertiary mental health care to be provided in large regional centres or metropolitan cities. Rural and remote consumers must be transferred long distances, and this inevitably results in difficulties with the integration of their care between primary and tertiary settings. Because of the need to address these issues, and improve the transfer process, a research project was commissioned by a national government department to be conducted in South Australia. The aim of the project was to document the experiences of mental health consumers travelling from the country to the city for acute care and to make policy recommendations to improve transitions of care. Six purposively sampled case studies were conducted collecting data through semistructured interviews with consumers, country professional and occupational groups and tertiary providers. Data were analysed to produce themes for consumers, and country and tertiary mental healthcare providers. The study found that consumers saw transfer to the city for mental health care as beneficial in spite of the challenges of being transferred over long distances, while being very unwell, and of being separated from family and friends. Country care providers noted that the disjointed nature of the mental health system caused problems with key aspects of transfer of care including transport and information flow, and achieving integration between the primary and tertiary settings. Improving transfer of care involves overcoming the systemic barriers to integration and moving to a primary care-led model of care. The distance consultation and liaison model provided by the Rural and Remote Mental Health Services, the major tertiary provider of services for country consumers, uses a primary care-led approach and was highly regarded by research participants. Extending the use of this model to other primary mental healthcare providers and tertiary facilities will improve transfer of care.