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Abstract??We investigated the use ofMinosas a vector for transgenesis in the silkworm,Bombyx mori. We first constructed a vector plasmid with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene fused with the silkworm cytoplasmic actin gene (A3) promoter, and a helper plasmid with theMinostransposase gene controlled by the same A3 promoter. Injection of the vector and helper plasmid DNA into silkworm eggs produced transgenic animals in the following generation. The efficiency of transgenic silkworm production using this method was much lower than that obtained usingpiggyBac-mediated germ line transformation. However, >40-fold increase in the efficiency of producing transgenic silkworms was obtained using an in vitro synthesized source ofMinostransposase mRNA. We conclude that theMinostransposon is a useful vector for construction of transgenic silkworms, particularly when in vitro synthesized mRNA is used. This is the first report showing thatMinoscan be used as a vector for germ-line transformation in lepidopteran insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer and HCV genotype are considered to be major determinants of the outcome of interferon monotherapy. To clarify whether interferon monotherapy is really effective in patients with the appropriate viral parameters, we prospectively examined these parameters and treated the patients with interferon monotherapy. Methods: Sixty-four patients with an HCV RNA titer <100 kIU/ml and/or HCV genotype 2 were enrolled in the study. Eighteen patients with an HCV RNA titer >100 kIU/ml and genotype 1 were also enrolled as controls. All patients were treated with 10 megaunits of interferon-α2b every day for 2 weeks and then 3 times a week for 24 weeks. Results: Of the 64 patients with either HCV RNA <100 kIU/ml and/or genotype 2, seven dropped out from the study. Of the remaining 57 who completed the treatment, 48 (84%) showed a virologic sustained response. In contrast, only 4 of the 18 patients (22%) with HCV RNA >100 kIU/ml and genotype 1 were virologic sustained responders (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Our current study showed that the patients with HCV RNA <100 kIU/ml and/or HCV genotype 2 are good candidates for interferon monotherapy.Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is a major public health problem worldwide. The infection does not induce any visible cytopathic effects or interfere with macromolecular synthesis in host cells. However, the hepatitis B and C viruses have recently been reported to activate intracellular signals. To clarify the effects of HAV infection on intracellular signalling, we examined the influence of 9 FLAG-tagged HAV proteins (VP2, VP3, VP1-2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3BC, 3C and 3D) on signal transduction pathways. Methods: Viral protein expression vectors were co-transfected into HeLa cells with reporter plasmids controlled by a synthetic promoter containing direct repeats of the cyclic AMP response element (CRE), serum response factor (SRF), activator protein 1 (AP-1), nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) or serum response element (SRE). Cells were harvested 42 h after transfection and luciferase assays were performed. Viral protein activation twice that of the control was defined as significant. Results: VP3 induced an SRE-associated signal 2.2 ± 0.3 times higher than that of control. VP3 did not activate CRE-, SRF-, AP-1- or NF-kB- associated signalling. The other HAV proteins tested also failed to induce these pathways. Conclusions: HAV interacts with the host signalling mechanism, and HAV VP3, different from HBX and hepatitis C core protein, may activate only SRE-associated intracellular signalling, a pathway associated with cell proliferation and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Router-to-router all-optical wavelength path rerouting using generalized multiprotocol label switching protocol has been successfully carried out including photonic cross-connect and dense wavelength-division-multiplexing equipment. The rerouting time was measured to be shorter than 7 s. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We introduce a mesoscopic model of pedestrian group behaviour, in which the internal group dynamics is modelled using a microscopic potential, while the effect of the environment is modelled using a harmonic term whose intensity depends on a macroscopic quantity, crowd density. We show that, in order to properly describe the behaviour of 2-person groups, the harmonic term is directed orthogonally to the walking direction, and its intensity grows linearly with density. We also show that, once calibrated on 2-person groups, the model correctly predicts the velocity and spatial extension of 3-person groups in the walking direction, while in order to describe properly also the abreast extension of 3-person groups a modification in the microscopic group dynamics has to be introduced. The model also correctly predicts the presence of a bifurcation phenomenon, namely the emergence of a stable 3-person Λ configuration at high densities, while only the V formation is stable at low densities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]