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Two separate sets (Bio. 1.5/H and Bio. 82.73/H) of Syrian hamster lines congenic at the NAT2 gene locus were constructed. In both sets, N-acetylation capacity was NAT2-dependent in vivo and in vitro, with highest levels in homozygous rapid acetylators, intermediate levels in heterozygous acetylators and lowest levels in homozygous slow acetylators. NAT1 and NAT2 acetyltransferase isozymes from liver and colon cytosols activated N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AF) to DNA adducts. NAT2-catalyzed metabolic activation of N-OH-AF was acetylator genotype-dependent. NAT1-catalyzed metabolic activation of N-OH-AF was independent of acetylator genotype. Hamster NAT1 and NAT2 were cloned, sequenced, and expressed. Recombinant NAT1 from rapid and slow acetylators activated N-OH-AF at equivalent rates, but rapid acetylator recombinant NAT2 activated N-OH-AF at rates over 750-fold higher than slow acetylator recombinant NAT2. These results provide clear evidence for metabolic activation of arylamine carcinoge...

Recombinant human NAT1 and polymorphic NAT2 wild-type and mutant N-acetyltransferases (encoded by NAT2 alleles with mutations at 282/857, 191, 282/590, 341/803, 341/481/803, and 341/481) were expressed in Escherichia coli strains XA90 and/or JM105, and tested for their capacity to catalyze the metabolic activation (via O-acetylation) of the N-hydroxy (N-OH) derivatives of 2-aminofluorene (AF), and the heterocyclic arylamine mutagens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,4-dimethyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). Both NAT1 and NAT2 (including all mutant human NAT2s tested) catalyzed the metabolic activation of each of the N-hydroxyarylamines to products that bound to DNA. Metabolic activation of N-OH-AF was greater than that of the heterocyclic N-hydroxyarylamines. The relative capacity of NAT1 versus NAT2 to catalyze activation varied with N-hydroxyarylamine substrate. N-OH-MeIQx and N-OH-PhIP exhibited a relative specificity for NAT2. These results provide mechanistic support for a role of the genetic acetylation polymorphism in the metabolic activation of heterocyclic amine mutagens and carcinogens.

Congenic Bio. l.5/H-NAT2 Syrian hamster lines were constructed by introducing the NAT2r gene from MHA/SsLak inbred hamsters into a background BIO 1.5 Syrian inbred hamster line. Genetic identity of the Bio. 1.5/H-NAT2 congenic lines and nonidentity with the previously constructed Bio. 82.73/H-Pat congenic lines were determined by "DNA fingerprints" of genomic DNA derived from the different hamster lines. The N-acetylation capacity of the Bio. 1.5/H-NAT2 congenic hamster lines was clearly NAT2-dependent both in vivo and in vitro, with highest levels expressed in Bio. 1.5/H-NAT2r homozygous rapid acetylators, intermediate levels in Bio. l.5/H-NAT2r/ NAT2s heterozygous acetylators, and lowest levels in Bio. 1.5/ H-NAT2s homozygous slow acetylators. The NAT2-dependent expression of N-acetyltransferase activity was evident toward p-aminobenzoic acid, 4-aminophenol, 2-aminofluorene, 4-aminobiphenyl, β-naphthylamine, and 3,2′-dimethyl-4-amino-biphenyl in liver, kidney, colon, lung, and urinary bladder cytosols. The polymorphic acetyltransferase (NAT2) and the monomorphic acetyltransferase (NAT1) were isolated from hepatic cytosols and tested separately for their ability to catalyze arylamine N-acetyltransferase and N-hydroxyarylamine O-acetyltransferase activities. Both arylamine N-acetylation and N-hydroxyarylamine O-acetylation were clearly acetylator genotype-dependent when catalyzed by NAT2, and both were clearly acetylator genotype-independent when catalyzed by NAT1. NAT2/NAT1 activity ratios varied with the particular arylamine substrate acetylated. These studies show an important role for NAT2 acetylator genotype in Syrian hamster carcinogenic arylamine metabolism and confirm its role in the metabolic activation of N-hydroxyarylamines. The Bio. 1.5/H-NAT2 congenic lines provide a new model for investigating the preciserole of the NAT2 gene locus in arylamine metabolism and toxicity.

Many businesses are now using Internet websites as a competitive tool to attract new customers, improve service quality, and boost overall financial performance. Recent studies have identified a number of website development and evaluation guidelines required to enhance the effectiveness of these new technologies in achieving these goals. One of these guidelines relates to the importance of website usability in improving business performance. To achieve this goal, a unified measure of web usability is developed using a number of relevant guidelines, which were initially proposed by Nielsen and Tahir (2002), and then the estimated index is used to measure its impact on community bank performance. Results based on a multiple regression model show that banks with higher usability score perform significantly better than those with lower score.

Polymorphic expression of arylamine N-acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.5) may be a differential risk factor in metabolic activation of arylamine carcinogens and susceptibility to cancers related to arylamine exposures. Human epidemiological studies suggest that rapid acetylator phenotype may be associated with higher incidences of colorectal cancer. We used restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to determine acetylator genotypes of 44 subjects with colorectal cancer and 28 non-cancer subjects of similar ethnic background (i.e., approximately 25% Black and 75% White). The polymorphic N-acetyltransferase gene (NAT2) was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction from DNA templates derived from human colons of colorectal and non-cancer subjects. No significant differences inNAT2 allelic frequencies (i.e., WT, M1, M2, M3 alleles) or in acetylator genotypes were found between the colorectal cancer and non-cancer groups. No significant differences inNAT2 allelic frequencies were observed between Whites and Blacks or between males and females. Cytosolic preparations from the human colons were tested for expression of arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. Although N-acetyltransferase activity was expressed for each of the arylamines tested (i.e., p-aminobenzoic acid, 4-aminobiphenyl, 2-aminofluorene, β-naphthylamine), no correlation was observed between acetylator genotype and expression of human colon arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. Similarly, no correlation was observed between subject age and expression of human colon arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity. These results suggest that arylamine N-acetyltransferase activity expressed in human colon is catalyzed predominantly by NAT1, an arylamine N-acetyltransferase that is not regulated byNAT2 acetylator genotype. The ability to determine acetylator genotype from DNA derived from human surgical samples should facilitate further epidemiological studies to assess the role of acetylator genotype in various cancers.

A genetic polymorphism at the NAT2 gene locus, encoding for polymorphic N-acetyltransferase (NAT2), segregates individuals into rapid, intermediate or slow acetylator phenotypes. Both rapid and slow acetylator phenotypes have been associated with increased incidence of cancer in certain target organs related to arylamine exposure, suggesting a role for acetylation in both the activation and deactivation of arylamine carcinogens. A second gene (NAT1) encodes for a different acetyltransferase isozyme (NAT1) that is not subject to the classical acetylation polymorphism. In order to assess the relative ability of NAT1 and NAT2 to activate and deactivate arylamine carcinogens, we tested the capacity of recombinant human NAT1 and NAT2, expressed in Escherichia coli XA90 strains DMG100 and DMG200 respectively, to catalyze the N-acetylation (deactivation) and O-acetylation (activation) of a variety of carbocyclic and heterocyclic arylamine carcinogens. Both NAT1 and NAT2 catalyzed the N-acetylation of each of the 17 arylamines tested. Rates of N-acetylation by NAT1 and NAT2 were considerably lower for heterocyclic arylamines such as 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), particularly those (e.g. IQ) with steric hindrance to the exocyclic amino group. For carbocyclic arylamines such as 4-aminobiphenyl and beta-naphthylamine, the apparent affinity was significantly (P < 0.05) higher for NAT2 than NAT1. NAT1/NAT2 activity ratios and clearance calculations suggest a significant role for the polymorphic NAT2 in the N-acetylation of carbocyclic arylamine carcinogens. Both NAT1 and NAT2 catalyzed acetyl coenzyme A-dependent O-acetylation of N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl to yield DNA adducts. NAT1 catalyzed paraoxon-resistant, intramolecular N,O-acetyltransferase-mediated activation of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl at low rates; catalysis by NAT2 was not readily detectable in the presence of paraoxon. In summary these studies strongly suggest that the human acetylation polymorphism influences both the metabolic activation (O-acetylation) and deactivation (N-acetylation) of arylamine carcinogens via polymorphic expression of NAT2. These findings lend mechanistic support for human epidemiological studies suggesting associations between both rapid and slow acetylator phenotype and cancers related to arylamine exposure.

Arylamine chemicals inflict a number of toxicities including cancer. Metabolic activation (i.e., oxidation) is required in order to elicit the toxic actions. Acetylation is an important step in the metabolic activation and deactivation of arylamines. N-acetylation forms the amide derivative which is often nontoxic. However, O-acetylation of the N-hydroxyarylamine (following oxidation) yields an acetoxy arylamine derivative which breaks down spontaneously to a highly reactive arylnitrenium ion, the ultimate metabolite responsible for mutagenic and carcinogenic lesions. Human capacity to acetylate arylamine chemicals is subject to a genetic polymorphism. Individuals segregate into rapid, intermediate, or slow acetylator phenotypes by Mendelian inheritance regulated by a single gene encoding for a polymorphic acetyltransferase isozyme (NAT2). Individuals homozygous for mutant alleles are deficient in the polymorphic acetyltransferase and are slow acetylators. A second acetyltransferase isozyme (NAT1) is monomorphic and is not regulated by the acetylator genotype. Several human epidemiological studies suggest an association between slow acetylator phenotype and urinary bladder cancer. In contrast, a few studies suggest a relationship between rapid acetylator phenotype and colorectal cancer The basis for this paradox may relate to the relative importance of N- versus O-acetylation in the etiology of these cancers. Conclusions drawn from human epidemiological data are often compromised by uncontrolled environmental and other genetic factors. Our laboratory recently completed construction of homozygous rapid, heterozygous intermediate, and homozygous slow acetylator congenic Syrian hamsters to be homologous in greater than 99.975% of their genomes. The availability of these acetylator congenic lines should eliminate genetic variability in virtually all aspects of arylamine carcinogenesis except at the acetylator gene locus. Ongoing studies in these congenic hamster lines should provide unequivocal information regarding the role of genetic acetylator phenotype in susceptibility to arylamine-related cancers.

Proudhon got it all wrong. Property is not theft—it is fraud. Few other legal notions operate such gross or systematic deception. Before long I will have sold you a piece of thin air and you will have called it property. But the ultimate fact about property is that it does not really exist: it is mere illusion. It is a vacant concept—oddly enough rather like thin air.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes that at the beginning of the 1990s, the Korean labor movement was faced with a new challenge in the form of the double transition to democracy and neo-liberalism. Under authoritarianism, the labor movement had been a central pillar of a relatively unproblematic pro-democracy movement. By the beginning of the 1990s, however, increased government repression of militant unionism combined with new opportunities for participation posed a fundamental challenge to the continued viability of militant unionism. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) crisis, while in many ways represented a heightened form of processes of neo-liberalization already underway, provoked an intense internal debate within the labor movement over what the relationship between labor and the democratic political institutions should be. The failure of the Korean labor movement to devise a coherent unified strategy vis-a-vis neo-liberal restructuring reflects the nature of the dilemma posed. Many of the problems that have been faced by the labor movement are out of the movement's control and are global processes. This chapter discusses the key tasks that would have to be taken up by the labor movement if it has to retain relevance in the post-IMF era.

We analyzed the role of the range of variation in training exemplars as a contextual variable influencing the effects of in vivo versus simulation training in producing generalized responding. Four mentally retarded adults received single case instruction, followed by general case instruction, on washing machine and dryer use; one task was taught using actual appliances (in vivo) and the other using simulation. In vivo and simulation training were counterbalanced across the two tasks for the 2 subject pairs, using a within-subjects Latin square design. With both paradigms, more errors were made after single case than after general case instruction during probe sessions with untrained washing machines and dryers. These results suggest that generalization errors were affected by the range of training exemplars and not by the use of simulated versus natural training stimuli. Although both general case simulation and general case in vivo training facilitated generalized performance of laundry skills, an analysis of training time and costs indicated that the former approach was more efficient. The study illustrates a methodology for studying complex interactions and guiding decisions on the optimal use of instructional alternatives.

Adolescent substance use continues to be a national problem in the United States. This chapter reviews treatment modalities tailored for adolescents with substance use disorders that have been studied in a controlled fashion comparing one or more modalities. Treatment modalities for substance use disorders consist of psychosocial therapies and pharmacotherapy. The psychosocial therapies may be applied to various forms of drug use. This chapter reviews therapies which target specific substance use disorders, and the few pharmacotherapy treatments that have been studied in a controlled fashion to treat substance use disorders in adolescents including psychosocial treatments of behavioral therapy; motivational enhancement therapy, combination therapies, family-based interventions, brief strategic family therapy, functional family therapy, multisystemic therapy, and multidimensional family therapy. The majority of the controlled studies represent psychotherapy treatments of various modalities, and family-based therapies have been most studied. As noted in this chapter, psychotherapies show great promise across various types of substances of abuse. Although the current literature suggests that pharmacotherapy for substance use disorders in adolescents may be promising, there is a paucity of studies. The psychosocial evidence-based treatments described in this chapter have been shown to be feasible, suitable, and efficacious in treating adolescents with substance use disorders.

Human polymorphic N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) catalyzes the N-acetylation of arylamine drugs and carcinogens. Human acetylator phenotype is regulated at the NAT2 locus and has been associated with differential risk to certain drug toxicities or cancer. We examined arylamine substrate and acetyl coenzyme A cofactor affinities, and the N-acetyltransferase catalytic activities of the wild-type and 14 different mutant or chimeric human NAT2 alleles expressed in an Escherichia coli JM105 expression system. NAT2 alleles contained nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191(G-->A; Arg64-->Gln), 282(C-->T; silent), 341(T-->C; Ile114-->Thr), 481(C-->T; silent), 590(G-->A; Arg197-->Gln), 803(A-->G; Lys268-->Arg), 857(G-->A; Gly286-->Glu) and various combinations (282/590; 282/803; 282/857; 341/481; 341/803; 341/481/803; 481/803) of the 870 base pair NAT2 coding region. Expression of all 15 NAT2 alleles produced immunoreactive NAT2 protein with N-acetylation activity. NAT2 proteins encoded by alleles with nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191, 341, 590, 282/590, 341/481, 341/803, and 341/481/803 exhibited arylamine N-acetyltransferase maximum velocities significantly (P < 0.001) lower than the wildtype NAT2. Thus, nucleic acid substitutions at positions 191, 341, and 590 either alone or in combination with other silent or conservative amino acid substitutions were sufficient to result in NAT2 proteins with significant reductions in N-acetylation activities. The recombinant NAT2 proteins also showed relative differences in intrinsic stability following incubation at 37 degrees C and 50 degrees C. NAT2 encoded by alleles with nucleotide substitutions at positions 191 and 857 were particularly unstable relative to the wild type.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tunneling in the unimolecular reactions H/sub 2/C/sub 2/ ..-->.. HC/sub 2/H, HNC ..-->.. HCN, and H/sub 2/CO ..-->.. H/sub 2/ + CO is studied with a classical Hamiltonian that allows the reaction coordinate and transverse vibrational modes to be considered directly. A combination of classical perturbation theory and the semiclassical WKB method allows tunneling probabilities to be obtained, and a statistical theory (RRKM) is used to construct rate constants for these reactions in the tunneling regime. In this fashion, it is found that tunneling may be important, particularly for low excitation energies. Nonadiabatic charge transfer in the reaction Na + I ..-->.. Na /sup +/ + I/sup -/ is treated with classical trajectories based on a classical Hamiltonian that is the analogue of a quantum matrix representation. The charge transfer cross section obtained is found to agree reasonably well with the exact quantum results. An approximate semiclassical formula, valid at high energies, is also obtained. The interaction of radiation and matter is treated from a classical viewpoint. The excitation of an HF molecule in a strong laser is described with classical trajectories. Quantum mechanical results are also obtained and compared to the classical results. Although the detailed structure of themore » pulse time averaged energy absorption cannot be reproduced classically, classical mechanics does predict the correct magnitude of energy absorption, as well as certain other qualitative features. The classical behavior of a nonrotating diatomic molecule in a strong laser field is considered further, by generating a period advance map that allows the solution over many periods of oscillation of the laser to be obtained with relative ease. Classical states are found to form beautiful spirals in phase space as time progresses. A simple pendulum model is found to describe the major qualitative features. (WHM)« less

This Handbook provides a state-of-the-art overview of the changing world of global production. Chapters cover the geography of why and where jobs are moving in both manufacturing and services. The authors discuss topics relating to the human and natural basis on which production rests, from the consequences of exploitation and marginalization on body and mind, to sex work, biotechnology, and the prospects for ecological re-balancing. This Handbook will appeal to academics at all levels interested in political economy, international studies and politics, as well as trade unionists and NGO activists.