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The Green Bank North Celestial Cap (GBNCC) pulsar survey will cover the entire northern sky (δ > −40°) at 350 MHz, and is one of the most uniform and sensitive all-sky pulsar surveys to date. We have created a pipeline to reanalyze GBNCC survey data to take a 350 MHz census of all pulsars detected by the survey, regardless of their discovery survey. Of the 1413 pulsars in the survey region, we were able to recover 670. For these we present measured signal-to-noise ratios (S/N), flux densities, pulse widths, profiles, and where appropriate, refined measurements of dispersion measures (DMs) (656 out of 670) and new or improved spectral indices (339 out of 670 total, 47 new, 292 improved). We also measure the period-pulse width relation at 350 MHz to scale as W ∝ P-0.27. Detection scans for several hundred sources were reanalyzed in order to inspect pulsars' single pulse behavior and 223 were found to exhibit evidence of nulling. With a detailed analysis of measured and expected S/N values and the evolving radio frequency interference environment at 350 MHz, we assess the GBNCC survey's sensitivity as a function of spin period, DM, and sky position. We find the sky-averaged limiting flux density of the survey to be 0.74 mJy. Combining this analysis with PsrPopPy pulsar population simulations, we predict 60/5 nonrecycled/MSP discoveries in the survey's remaining 21,000 pointings, and we begin to place constraints on population model parameters.

The Green Bank North Celestial Cap survey is a 350 MHz all-sky survey for pulsars and fast radio transients using the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. To date, the survey has discovered over 190 pulsars, including 33 millisecond pulsars and 24 rotating radio transients. Several exotic pulsars have been discovered in the survey, including PSR J1759+5036, a binary pulsar with a 176 ms spin period in an orbit with a period of 2.04 days, an eccentricity of 0.3, and a projected semi-major axis of 6.8 light seconds. Using seven years of timing data, we are able to measure one post–Keplerian parameter, advance of periastron, which has allowed us to constrain the total system mass to 2.62 ± 0.03 M ⊙. This constraint, along with the spin period and orbital parameters, suggests that this is a double neutron star system, although we cannot entirely rule out a pulsar-white dwarf binary. This pulsar is only detectable in roughly 45% of observations, most likely due to scintillation. However, additional observations are required to determine whether there may be other contributing effects.

We report the first discovery of a fast radio burst (FRB), FRB 20200125A, by the Green Bank Northern Celestial Cap (GBNCC) Pulsar Survey conducted with the Green Bank Telescope at 350 MHz. FRB 20200125A was detected at a Galactic latitude of 58.43 degrees with a dispersion measure of 179 pc cm$^{-3}$, while electron density models predict a maximum Galactic contribution of 25 pc cm$^{-3}$ along this line of sight. Moreover, no apparent Galactic foreground sources of ionized gas that could account for the excess DM are visible in multi-wavelength surveys of this region. This argues that the source is extragalactic. The maximum redshift for the host galaxy is $z_{max}=0.17$, corresponding to a maximum comoving distance of approximately 750 Mpc. The measured peak flux density for FRB 20200125A is 0.37 Jy, and we measure a pulse width of 3.7 ms, consistent with the distribution of FRB widths observed at higher frequencies. Based on this detection and assuming an Euclidean flux density distribution of FRBs, we calculate an all-sky rate at 350 MHz of $3.4^{+15.4}_{-3.3} \times 10^3$ FRBs sky$^{-1}$ day$^{-1}$ above a peak flux density of 0.42 Jy for an unscattered pulse having an intrinsic width of 5 ms, consistent with rates reported at higher frequencies. Given the recent improvements in our single-pulse search pipeline, we also revisit the GBNCC survey sensitivity to various burst properties. Finally, we find no evidence of interstellar scattering in FRB 20200125A, adding to the growing evidence that some FRBs have circumburst environments where free-free absorption and scattering are not significant., Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, Submitted to ApJ

Backprojection of cross-correlated array data, using algorithms such as coherent interferometric imaging (Borcea, et al., 2006), has been advanced as a method to improve the statistical stability of images of targets in an inhomogeneous medium. Recently, the Windowed Beamforming Energy (WBE) function algorithm has been introduced as a functionally equivalent approach, which is significantly less computationally burdensome (Borcea, et al., 2011). WBE produces similar results through the use of a quadratic function summing signals after beamforming in transmission and reception, and windowing in the time domain. We investigate the application of WBE to improve the detection of buried targets with forward looking ground penetrating MIMO radar (FLGPR) data. The formulation of WBE as well the software implementation of WBE for the FLGPR data collection will be discussed. WBE imaging results are compared to standard backprojection and Coherence Factor imaging. Additionally, the effectiveness of WBE on field-collected data is demonstrated qualitatively through images and quantitatively through the use of a CFAR statistic on buried targets of a variety of contrast levels.

The current study measured forgetting in a time-based, naturalistic prospective memory (PM) task. In Experiment 1, younger and older participants were asked to mail a stamped postcard on a date that was delayed 1, 2, 5, 14, or 28 days in the future. In Experiment 2, a different sample of older participants completed the same task with similar delays to replicate results for the older sample in Experiment 1. Overall, older participants were more likely than younger participants to mail the postcard on time. In addition, delay affected on-time return rates more for the younger participants than the older participants. Younger participants' return rates illustrated the typical forgetting curve seen in numerous retrospective memory studies (i.e., rapid decline at shorter delays and slower decline for longer delays). However, older participants' return rates only declined at the longest delays. These results indicate that time-based PM performance declines with an increase in delay, but the form of the decline may differ across age groups.

This study reports on the integration of the J2K model (an object-oriented, hydrological system for fully distributed simulation of the water balance in large watersheds) under the Object Modeling System (OMS) environmental modeling framework and subsequent evaluation of OMS-J2K performance in the Cedar Creek watershed (CCW) in northeastern Indiana. The CCW is one of 14 benchmark watersheds in the USDA-ARS Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) watershed assessment study. Two input parameter sets were developed for OMS-J2K evaluation: (1) a "base parameter set" with parameter values taken from previous simulation studies where J2K was applied to watersheds with characteristics similar to the CCW, and (2) an "adjusted parameter set" with modifications to input parameters related to evapotranspiration, soil water storage, and soil water lateral flow. Comparisons of daily, average monthly, and annual average simulated and observed flows for the 1997-2005 simulation period using the base parameter set resulted in Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (E NS ), root mean square deviation (RMSD), and relative error (PBIAS) coefficients of 0.34 to 0.48 for E NS , 1.50 to 8.79 m 3 s -1 for RMSD, and -18.43% for PBIAS. All statistical evaluation coefficients improved for the adjusted parameter set (e.g., 0.44 to 0.59 for E NS , 0.87 to 7.73 m 3 s -1 for RMSD, and -8.59% for PBIAS). The ranges of E NS and PBIAS values for uncalibrated or manually adjusted streamflow predictions in this study (using both parameter sets) were similar to others reported in the literature for various watershed models. This study represents the first attempt to develop and apply a complex natural resource system model under the OMS. The results indicate that the OMS-J2K watershed model was able to reproduce the hydrological dynamics of the CCW and should serve as a foundation on which to build a more comprehensive model to better quantify water quantity and quality at the watershed scale. In particular, the topological routing scheme employed by OMS-J2K (thus allowing the simulation of lateral processes vital for the modeling of runoff concentration dynamics) is much more robust than the quasi-distributed routing schemes used by other watershed-scale natural resource models and represents a noteworthy advancement in hydrological modeling toward deriving suitable conservation management scenarios.

The integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and hydrologic models provides the user with the ability to simulate watershed-scale processes within a spatially digitized computer-based environment. Soil type and land use data are essential GIS data layers used in a wide array of government and private sector activities, including resource inventory, land management, landscape ecology, and hydrologic modeling. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the use of different combinations of Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) and State Soil Geographic (STATSGO) soil classification systems and the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and national Gap Analysis Project (GAP) land use data sets and their effects on modeled stream flow using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT2005). Performance of the model was tested on the Cedar Creek Watershed in northeastern Indiana, one of 14 benchmark watersheds in the USDA Agricultural Research Service Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) watershed assessment component. CEAP comprises two main components: (1) a national assessment that provides model estimates of conservation benefits for annual reporting and (2) a watershed assessment component aimed at quantifying the environmental benefits from specific conservation practices at the watershed scale. Model performance for daily, monthly, and annual uncalibrated stream flow responses in SWAT was assessed using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (ENS), coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), ratio of RMSE to the standard deviation of measured data (RSR), and percent bias (PBIAS). We found that the range of relative error (e.g., PBIAS) and ENS values for uncalibrated stream flow predictions in this study were similar to others that have been reported in the literature. Simulated stream flow values ranged from slight overestimations of approximately 5%, to underestimating stream flow by 25% to 41% depending on the combination of soil and land use input data sets. Overall, the NASS SSURGO data sets gave the best model performance for monthly stream flow having an ENS value of 0.58, R2 of 0.66, RSR of 0.65, and PBIAS equal to 21.93. The poorest model performance results were obtained using the GAP SSURGO data sets that had an ENS value of -2.58, R2 of 0.49, RSR of 1.89, and a PBIAS value of 27.92. The results of this study indicate that in using the SWAT model, several factors regarding GIS input data sets may affect stream flow simulations and, consequently, water quality assessment studies. In addition to the effect of GIS source data on model output (e.g., SSURGO, STATSGO, NASS, GAP), there is evidence shown in this study that the interaction, pre-processing, and aggregation of unique combinations of GIS input layers within SWAT also influence simulated stream flow output. Overall, results of the study indicate that the use of different land use GIS layers has a greater effect on stream flow estimates than different soil data layers.

Agricultural nutrient losses contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico and eutrophication in the Great Lakes. Our objective was to assess effects of topography, geomorphology, climate, cropping systems and land use and conservation practices on hydrology and nutrient fate and transport in the St. Joseph River watershed. We monitored five sites (298 to 4,300 ha [736 to 10,600 ac]) on two drainage ditches within the St. Joseph River watershed in northeastern Indiana. Row crop agriculture, primarily corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), is the dominant land use (~60%) in this pothole or closed depression landscape. The hydrology is dominated by subsurface tile drainage supplemented with surface drainage of remote potholes. Vegetative buffer strips have been implemented along >60% of the agricultural drainage ditches. The vegetative buffer strips play an invaluable role protecting water quality though by acting as natural setbacks during fertilizer and pesticide applications. Multiple regressions indicated land cropped to corn and areas with direct drainage or potholes are highly sensitive to nutrient losses. Future conservation assessment efforts in this and similar watersheds should focus on management of potholes in cropped fields and the subsequent effect of those practices on tile drainage water.

This study evaluated the performance of two water quality models in accordance to specific tasks designated in the USDA Agricultural Research Service Conservation Effects Assessment Project. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) models were applied uncalibrated to the Cedar Creek watershed within the St. Joseph River watershed in northeastern Indiana to predict streamflow and atrazine losses. In order to ultimately assess the benefits of conservation practices in agricultural watersheds (which is one of the major goals of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project), proper application of the SWAT and AnnAGNPS models is essential including baseline comparisons made in an uncalibrated mode aimed at eliminating bias due to parameter optimization. Streamflow prediction results show that SWAT model performance was superior to AnnAGNPS, with SWAT model efficiency values ranging from 0.66 to 0.25 and AnnAGNPS model efficiency values ranging from 0.13 to -2.06 for monthly and annual streamflow, respectively. For uncalibrated conditions, neither model was able to adequately simulate atrazine loss concentrations. Overall results suggest that for Conservation Effects Assessment Project modeling applications at the Cedar Creek watershed scale in this study, the use of the SWAT model would be preferable to AnnAGNPS in terms of overall model performance and model support technology (e.g., model interface and documentation).

Although the incidence of HIV each year remains steady, prevention funding is increasingly competitive. Programs need to justify costs in terms of evaluation outcomes, including economic ones. Threshold analyses set performance standards to determine program effectiveness relative to that threshold. This method was used to evaluate the potential cost savings of a national capacity–building program for HIV prevention organizations. Program costs were compared with the lifetime treatment costs of HIV, yielding an estimate of the HIV infections that would have to be prevented for the program to be cost saving. The 136 persons who completed the capacity–building program between 2000 and 2003 would have to avert 41 cases of HIV for the program to be considered cost saving. These figures represent less than one tenth of 1% of the 40,000 new HIV infections that occur in the United States annually and suggest a reasonable performance standard. These data underscore the resources needed to prevent HIV.

The aim of this study was to identify the transcriptome of the normal mouse uterus by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression method. mRNA was extracted from the uterus and also from the gastrocnemius muscle of mice. Short sequences (tags), each one usually corresponding to a distinct transcript, were isolated and concatemerized into long DNA molecules which were cloned and sequenced. We detected 44,484 tags for the uterus and 42,518 tags for the muscle, representing 14,543 and 14,958 potential transcript species, respectively. Seventy-five and sixty-nine genes were expressed at more than 0.1%, thus corresponding to 37 and 34% of the mRNA population detected in the respective tissues. In both cases, the most highly expressed genes are especially involved in muscle contraction, energy metabolism, and protein synthesis. Compared to skeletal muscle, some differentially expressed genes in the uterus are likely to correspond to its specific reproductive functions. The majority of these genes remain to be characterized. More than 70% of the different tags detected in the uterus did not match any sequence in the public databases and can represent novel or poorly identified genes. This study is the first quantitative description of the transcriptome of the uterus.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the research was to identify genes specially expressed in the obese state and potentially involved in the pathogenesis of obesity. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: We used the technique of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH), which combines subtractive hybridization with PCR, to generate a population of PCR fragments enriched for transcripts of high or low abundance from differentially expressed genes. PolyA+ mRNA was isolated from subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of five massively obese (>35 kg/m2) and five normal-weight (

Transgenic mice were generated with a transgene containing the 211-base pair (bp) enhancer and 0.4 kilobase pairs of 5'-flanking DNA of the uncoupling protein (ucp) gene. Expression of this transgene was restricted to brown adipose tissue and was inducible by cold exposure or treatment of transgenic mice by norepinephrine, retinoic acid (RA), or CL-316,243 beta3-adrenoreceptor agonist. A search for retinoic acid response elements in the ucp gene enhancer was undertaken using mutagenesis and transfection of cultured cells with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs. Deletion or mutations of several putative retinoic acid response elements were ineffective. Mutations of a TGAATCA region dramatically decreased the transcriptional activity in the presence of RA. In vitro this region was able to bind a complex containing proteins recognized by antibodies against Jun or Fos. Mutations of an adjacent region related to an inverted repeat of type 2 also markedly decreased RA effect. This region was able to bind in vitro retinoid X receptor alpha and retinoic acid receptor beta. The two regions form an activating region between bp -2421 and -2402 (referred to as the ucp gene-activating region), which has an enhancer activity but cannot confer RA response to a promoter. This response was obtained with a larger DNA fragment (bp -2489 to -2398) constituting a complex RA response domain.

Twenty-four outpatients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depression were assigned to group behavioural-cognitive therapy either with or without antidepressant medication (imipramine). Eighteen patients completed 15 weekly sessions of treatment. Equivalent improvement was observed in both regimens after treatment. The results essentially maintained at six months follow-up. This suggests that a group format of behavioural-cognitive therapy is a viable therapeutic intervention for outpatients diagnosed as suffering from major depression. However, the addition of imipramine to group behavioural-cognitive therapy did not enhance the outcome.

Previous studies of rat ucp (uncoupling protein) gene organization carried out in this laboratory identified regulatory sequences located in the 5'-flanking region. In this work, DNase I footprint analysis of the enhancer revealed two domains at base pairs (bp) -2444 to -2423 and bp -2352 to -2319. The former domain can bind in vitro, in a cooperative manner, factors related to nuclear factor 1 and Ets1; the latter domain contains a type 3 directly repeated sequence that was shown to be able to bind the retinoid X and triiodothyronine receptors. Moreover, a positive effect of retinoic acid on ucp mRNA levels in immortalized brown adipocytes was observed. DNase I footprint analysis identified two hypersensitive regions, A and B, at bp -509 to -472 and bp -403 to -350, respectively; region A contains a repeated CACCC box, and region B can bind protein related to Ets1. The A box differentially binds liver and brown adipose tissue nuclear proteins and could be involved in uncoupling protein induction. Further analysis showed three foot-printed boxes, C-E, at bp -182 to -159, -147 to -120, and -111 to -85, able to bind in vitro proteins related to nuclear factor 1, cAMP response element-binding protein, and Sp1, respectively.

Regulatory thermogenesis occurs upon exposure to the cold or during food intake. Among a variety of mechanisms leading to heat production, uncoupling of respiration in brown adipocyte mitochondria appears to be a major contributor to resistance to the cold in rodents. This uncoupling mechanism is due to the activity of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), a specific carrier present in the inner membrane of mitochondria. The recent identification of UCP-2 and UCP-3, two homologues of the brown fat UCP, suggested that respiration uncoupling could contribute to thermogenesis in most tissues. Activity and expression of the three UCP's are stimulated by several neuromediators and hormones such as noradrenaline, tri-iodothyronine and leptin.

Publisher Summary TranslEnergie operates a network of approximately 33,000 km of high-voltage powerlines in Quebec. Over 8,000 vegetation buffer zones are located in these rights-of-way, mainly to protect stream habitats. These riparian buffers are made up of woody vegetation strips about 10 m wide, which span the width of the right-of-way. The objective of this chapter is to compare wildlife activity in riparian vegetation buffer zones of transmission powerline rights-of-way to that of adjacent habitat in the southern Quebec deciduous forest. Fieldwork was conducted during the spring and summer of 2002 and 2003 in the Laurentians-Lanaudi6re regions. A total of 39 buffers located in rights-of-way were sampled for small mammals, birds, and anurans. Bird and anuran calls were sampled using automatic tape recorders. Small mammals and anurans were sampled using snap traps and pitfall traps. Vegetation in buffer zones consisted of a low stratum with a high stem density and small mean diameter at breast height (DBH). The herbaceous stratum in buffer zones was more developed than in the adjacent forest. The latter was characterized by a high vegetation stratum, lower stem density and a large mean DBH. Results tend to show higher bird species richness in buffers, but the occurrence probability is higher for species recorded in the adjacent forest. American toad and Northern spring peeper were heard in both habitats. The occurrence probability of the Northern spring peeper was higher in buffers compared to that in adjacent forest. A total of 690 specimens belonging to 13 species of small mammals were captured for a trapping effort of 8,256 trap-nights. Abundance of small mammals was similar in buffers and adjacent forest. Overall, results indicate a high species richness in buffer zones. These resultssuggest it would be appropriate to adopt a prudent management strategy, which promotes the conservation of shrubby and herbaceous strata in these riparian right-of-way habitats.

One of the major factors contributing to surface water contamination in agricultural areas is the use of pesticides. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a hydrologic model capable of simulating the fate and transport of pesticides in an agricultural watershed. The SWAT model was used in this study to estimate stream flow and atrazine (2-chloro-4-(ethylamino)-6-(isopropylamino)-s-triazine) losses to surface water in the Cedar Creek Watershed (CCW) within the St. Joseph River Basin in northeastern Indiana. Model calibration and validation periods consisted of five and two year periods, respectively. The National Agricultural Statistics Survey (NASS) 2001 land cover classification and the Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) database were used as model input data layers. Data from the St. Joseph River Watershed Initiative and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Allen, Dekalb, and Noble counties were used to represent agricultural practices in the watershed which included the type of crops grown, tillage practices, fertilizer, and pesticide application rates. Model results were evaluated based on efficiency coefficient values, standard statistical measures, and visual inspection of the measured and simulated hydrographs. The Nash and Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficients (E(NS)) for monthly and daily stream flow calibration and validation ranged from 0.51 to 0.66. The E(NS) values for atrazine calibration and validation ranged from 0.43 to 0.59. All E(NS) values were within the range of acceptable model performance standards. The results of this study indicate that the model is an effective tool in capturing the dynamics of stream flow and atrazine concentrations on a large-scale agricultural watershed in the midwestern USA.

Intra-abdominal fat accumulation is related to several diseases, especially diabetes and heart disease. Molecular mechanisms associated with this independent risk factor are not well established. Through the serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) strategy, we have studied the transcriptomic effects of castration and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in retroperitoneal adipose tissue of C57BL6 male mice. Approximately 50 000 SAGE tags were isolated in intact and gonadectomized mice, as well as 3 and 24 h after DHT administration. Transcripts involved in energy metabolism, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme supernatant, fatty acid synthase, lipoprotein lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase and monoglyceride lipase, were upregulated by DHT. Transcripts involved in adipogenesis, and cell cycle and cell shape organization, such as DDX5, C/EBPα, cyclin I, procollagen types I, III, IV, V and VI, SPARC and matrix metalloproteinase 2, were upregulated by DHT. Cell defense, division and signaling, protein expression and many novel transcripts were regulated by castration and DHT. The present results provide global genomic evidence for a stimulation of glycolysis, fatty acids and triacylglycerol production, lipolysis and cell shape reorganization, as well as cell proliferation and differentiation, by DHT. The novel transcripts regulated by DHT may contribute to identify new mechanisms involved in the action of sex hormones and their potential role in obesity.

BACKGROUND: The melanocortin system includes five receptors (MC1R to MC5R), and mouse and human MC4R has been shown to be involved in the regulation of feeding, and mouse MC3R in body composition. To verify a possible similar effect of MC3R in humans, we analyzed one insertion and one single nucleotide polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and a microsatellite (D20S32e) in relation to body composition and glucose metabolism. METHODS: Eight hundred twelve subjects of the Québec Family Study (QFS) cohort were analyzed for body composition, food intake, and energy metabolism phenotypes. Southern Blot with the complete MC3R cDNA was used to detect a new +2138InsCAGACC variant by Pst1 restriction. PCR-RFLP with BsaJ1 was used to type amino acid polymorphism V81I arising from a G241A nucleotide change. PCR and automatic DNA sequencers were used for the analysis of the TG dinucleotide repeat D20S32e located between -1933/-1892 of MC3R. In a covariance analysis among genotypes, phenotypes were adjusted for age and sex as covariates. Food intake and energy metabolism phenotypes were also adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and leptin and abdominal fat, as assessed by a computed tomography scan, for fatness using six skinfold thicknesses. RESULTS: An association between the +2138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism was observed with fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%FAT), and total abdominal fat (ATF). Homozygote subjects for the +2138 insertion variant allele in normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) and overweight (25 < or = BMI < 30 kg/m(2)) subjects showed a similar level of fatness despite the overall difference in BMI. In normal weight, homozygotes for the insertion allele showed higher mean values than heterozygotes and homozygotes for wild-type allele without insertion (%FAT: 24.0 +/- 1.1 versus 19.3 +/- 0.9 and 20.5 +/- 0.8, p = 0.0005; FM: 15.7 +/- 0.9 kg versus 11.7 +/- 0.7 kg and 12.6 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0003). In contrast, overweight subjects homozygote for the variant allele showed lower mean values (%FAT: 27.0 +/- 1.2 versus 31.4 +/- 0.8 and 30.9 +/- 0.7, p = 0.002; FM: 18.3 +/- 1.0 kg versus 22.8 +/- 0.8 kg and 22.0 +/- 0.6 kg, p = 0.0001). This resulted in a similar level of body fat between both BMI groups for subjects homozygote for the insertion allele versus wild-type allele carriers (%FAT: +/-2-3% versus +/-10-12%; FM: +/-2 kg versus +/-9-11 kg). In obese subjects (BMI > or = 30 kg/m(2) ), a lower level of ATF was seen (-15%, p = 0.002). Other polymorphisms and phenotypes tested showed no association. CONCLUSION: A new 12138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism is associated with the level of adiposity and with body fat partitioning in interaction with corpulence in humans.

Heat production by brown adipocytes is due to uncoupling of the mitochondrial respiratory chain by the uncoupling protein UCP, a nucleotide-inhibitable and free fatty acid-activable proton carrier in the inner membrane, unique to brown adipocyte mitochondria. Our laboratory is studying the mechanisms that restrict UCP gene transcription to brown adipocytes, and the functional organization of the UCP which belongs to the family of mitochondrial transporters. Using cell transfection and transgenic mice evidence was obtained that a region encompassing 3 kb of DNA upstream the transcription start site contains positive and negative elements controlling UCP gene transcription. Transfection experiments based on DNA-CAT constructs identified a strong enhancer at −2.4 kb. This enhancer as well as the proximal region of the promoter were analyzed in detail using DNAse I footprint analysis and band-shift experiments. To study UCP topological organization, antibodies directed against certain subsequences were selected and used. The orientation of 5 out of 6 predicted α-helices was determined and allowed to propose a membranous folding. In collaboration with E. Rial (Madrid), wild and mutated UCP was expressed in yeasts. This strategy was used to demonstrate that none cysteine is essential for UCP and that lysine 268 and glycine 269 are involved in its inhibition by nucleotides.

Previous studies of rat ucp (uncoupling protein) gene organization carried out in this laboratory identified regulatory sequences located in the 5'-flanking region. In this work, DNase I footprint analysis of the enhancer revealed two domains at base pairs (bp) -2444 to -2423 and bp -2352 to -2319. The former domain can bind in vitro, in a cooperative manner, factors related to nuclear factor 1 and Ets1; the latter domain contains a type 3 directly repeated sequence that was shown to be able to bind the retinoid X and triiodothyronine receptors. Moreover, a positive effect of retinoic acid on ucp mRNA levels in immortalized brown adipocytes was observed. DNase I footprint analysis identified two hypersensitive regions, A and B, at bp -509 to -472 and bp -403 to -350, respectively; region A contains a repeated CACCC box, and region B can bind protein related to Ets1. The A box differentially binds liver and brown adipose tissue nuclear proteins and could be involved in uncoupling protein induction. Further analysis showed three foot-printed boxes, C-E, at bp -182 to -159, -147 to -120, and -111 to -85, able to bind in vitro proteins related to nuclear factor 1, cAMP response element-binding protein, and Sp1, respectively.

The effect of uric acid as a photoprotective agent for buffered and unbuffered solutions of sulfathiazole sodium was investigated. Uric acid solution in glycerin was found to enhance the photostability of sulfathiazole sodium solutions. The higher the concentration of uric acid used, the greater was its photoprotective action within the concentration range studied. Uric acid was also found to demonstrate its photoprotective effect in the presence of either sodium sulfite or EDTA. Sodium sulfite alone in a concentration of 0.1% produced a detrimental effect on the photostability of sulfathiazole sodium in either borate or phosphate buffer of pH 9 ± 0.2. From the standpoint of the overall chemical stability of sodium sulfathiazole, uric acid appeared to be most effective when used alone in the borate buffer. However, the incorporation of 0.1% sodium sulfite in addition to uric acid contributed to the prevention of discoloration in either the borate or the phosphate buffer.

Energy storage and management systems require the best possible forecast regarding temperature behavior. Heating depends almost directly on outside temperature and cost to Canadian people as much as 20% of energy resources. The following paper presents the analysis done on 27 years of meteorologic datas provided by Environment Canada. By using extensive computer calculations, the following results are produced: typical curves of hourly average temperature given on a daily, monthly or yearly basis, spectral representations of daily average temperature and daily amplitude, and some observations about the lack of weather prediction using degree-days. The analysis show how a digital temperature generator can be implemented with a limited size data memory.

The melanocortin system includes five receptors (MC1R to MC5R), and mouse and human MC4R has been shown to be involved in the regulation of feeding, and mouse MC3R in body composition. To verify a possible similar effect of MC3R in humans, we analyzed one insertion and one single nucleotide polymorphism by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP), and a microsatellite (D20S32e) in relation to body composition and glucose metabolism. Eight hundred twelve subjects of the Quebec Family Study (QFS) cohort were analyzed for body composition, food intake, and energy metabolism phenotypes. Southern Blot with the complete MC3R cDNA was used to detect a new +2138InsCAGACC variant by Pst1 restriction. PCR-RFLP with BsaJ1 was used to type amino acid polymorphism V81I arising from a G241A nucleotide change. PCR and automatic DNA sequencers were used for the analysis of the TG dinucleotide repeat D20S32e located between −1933/ −1892 of MC3R. In a covariance analysis among genotypes, phenotypes were adjusted for age and sex as covariates. Food intake and energy metabolism phenotypes were also adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and leptin and abdominal fat, as assessed by a computed tomography scan, for fatness using six skinfold thicknesses. An association between the +2138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism was observed with fat mass (FM), percent body fat (%FAT), and total abdominal fat (ATF). Homozygote subjects for the + 2138 insertion variant allele in normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg/m2) subjects showed a similar level of fatness despite the overall difference in BMI. In normal weight, homozygotes for the insertion allele showed higher mean values than heterozygotes and homozygotes for wild-type allele without insertion (%FAT: 24.0 ± 1.1 versus 19.3 ± 0.9 and 20.5 ± 0.8, p = 0.0005; FM: 15.7 ± 0.9 kg versus 11.7 ± 0.7 kg and 12.6 ± 0.6 kg, p = 0.0003). In contrast, overweight subjects homozygote for the variant allele showed lower mean values (%FAT: 27.0 ± 1.2 versus 31.4 ± 0.8 and 30.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.002; FM: 18.3 ± 1.0 kg versus 22.8 ± 0.8 kg and 22.0 ± 0.6 kg, p = 0.0001). This resulted in a similar level of body fat between both BMI groups for subjects homozygote for the insertion allele versus wild-type allele carriers (%FAT: ±2–3% versus ±10–12%; FM: ±2 kg versus ±9–11 kg). In obese subjects (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2), a lower level of ATF was seen (−15%, p = 0.002). Other polymorphisms and phenotypes tested showed no association. A new +2138InsCAGACC MC3R polymorphism is associated with the level of adiposity and with body fat partitioning in interaction with corpulence in humans.