Influenza A subtype H3N2 is associated with an increased risk of hospital dissemination - an observational study over six influenza seasons.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies on hospital-acquired influenza (HAI) have not systematically evaluated the possible impact of different influenza subtypes. HAI has historically been associated with high mortality, but clinical consequences may be less severe in a modern hospital setting. AIMS: To identify and quantify HAI for each season, investigate possible associations with varying influenza subtypes, and to determine HAI-associated mortality. METHODS: All influenza-PCR-positive adult patients (>18 years old) hospitalized in Skåne County during 2013-2019, were prospectively included in the study. Positive influenza samples were subtyped. Medical records of patients with suspected HAI were examined to confirm a nosocomial origin and to determine 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Of 4110 hospitalized patients with a positive influenza PCR, 430 (10.5%) were HAI. Influenza A(H3N2) infections were more often HAI (15.1%) than influenza A(H1N1)pdm09, and influenza B (6.3% and 6.8% respectively, P<0.001). The majority of HAI caused by H3N2 were clustered (73.3 %) and were the cause of all 20 hospital outbreaks consisting of ≥4 affected patients. In contrast, the majority of HAI caused by influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and influenza B were solitary cases (60% and 63.2%, respectively, P<0.001). Mortality associated with HAI was 9.3% and similar between subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: HAI caused by influenza A(H3N2) was associated with an increased risk of hospital dissemination. Our study is relevant for future seasonal influenza infection control preparedness and shows that subtyping of influenza may help to define relevant infection control measures. Mortality in HAI remains substantial in a modern hospital setting.

Interactive proteogenomic exploration of response to Fusarium head blight in oat varieties with different resistance.

Fusarium species are cereal pathogens that cause the Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) disease. FHB can reduce yield, cause mycotoxin accumulation in the grain and reduce germination efficiency of the harvested seeds. Understanding the biochemical interactions between the host plants and the pathogen is crucial for controlling the disease and for the development of cultivars with improved tolerance to FHB. Here, we studied morphological and proteomic differences between the susceptible oat variety Belinda and the more resistant variety Argamak using variety-specific transcriptome assemblies as references. Measurements of deoxynivalenol toxin levels confirmed the partial resistance in Argamak and the susceptibility in Belinda. To jointly investigate the proteomics- and sequence data, we developed an RShiny-based interface for interactive exploration of the dataset using univariate and multivariate statistics. When applying this interface to the dataset, quantitative protein differences between Belinda and Argamak were detected, and eighteen peptides were found uniquely in Argamak during infection, among them several lipoxygenases. Such proteins can be developed as markers for Fusarium resistance breeding. In conclusion, this study provides the first proteogenomic insight on molecular Fusarium-oat interactions at both morphological and molecular levels and the data are openly available through an interactive interface for further inspection. SIGNIFICANCE: Fusarium head blight causes widespread damage to crops, and chronic and acute toxicity to human and livestock due to the accumulation of toxins during infection. In the present study, two oat varieties with differing resistance were challenged with Fusarium to understand the disease better, and studied both at morphological and molecular levels, identifying proteins which could play a role in the defense mechanism. Furthermore, a proteogenomics approach allows joint profiling of expression and sequence level differences to identify potentially functionally differing mutations. Here such analysis is made openly available through an interactive interface which allows other scientists to draw further findings from the data. This study may both serve as a basis for understanding oat disease response and developing breeding markers for Fusarium resistant oat and future proteogenomic studies using the interactive approach described.

The role of irradiation source setups and indirect phototransformation: Kinetic aspects and the formation of transformation products of weakly sunlight-absorbing pesticides.

In this study, emission spectra of three different commonly used xenon irradiation sources were analyzed and compared for the first time to ascertain the most suitable setup to simulate natural solar radiation. In order to demonstrate setup differences, absolute photon fluxes of irradiation sources were received by actinometry. Verification was done by measuring quantum yields of the model compounds Penconazole, Terbutryn, and Mecoprop in every setup. Differences regarding kinetic aspects and the formation of transformation products (TPs) was evaluated by analyzing direct phototransformation and additionally photolysis in presence of Nitrate as a photosensitizer in one irradiation setup (optical bench). Results showed that a precise setup characterization is needed to estimate whether irradiation sources are suitable to simulate terrestrial sunlight. This was found to be especially important for weakly sunlight-absorbing substances. In comparison with direct photolysis, indirect photolysis led to an enhancement of degradation rate constants for all substances and in case of Mecoprop to different types of TPs that were formed during irradiation. This study underlined that there are big knowledge gaps regarding irradiation sources setups and conditions. It is therefore absolutely necessary to consider those factors while simulating substance degradation and the TP formation under environmental conditions.

Photolysis of mixtures of UV filters octocrylene and ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate leads to formation of mixed transformation products and different kinetics.

The treatment with ultraviolet (UV) light is a well-known technique for water disinfection. Photodegradation by UV light is in discussion as measure for advanced water treatment that could provide a potential removal option for micropollutants. Micropollutants such as ingredients from personal care products are also present in grey water. Grey water gets increasingly attention as a source for water reuse. For that purpose it has to be treated. UV-treatment is an option. However, the knowledge on the fate of micropollutants within such a treatment is little. Therefore, we investigated the fate of the UV filters ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC), and octocrylene (OCR) as for both UV filters the presence in grey water was reported. OCR as a single compound was investigated with regard to its degradation kinetics and possible photo-transformation products (photo-TPs). These results were compared with those of EHMC previously reported in literature. The mixture of the two UV filters was also investigated to reveal if mixture effects occur regarding the elimination of the UV filters and the formation of TPs. A medium pressure mercury vapor lamp (200-400 nm) was employed for photolysis. This study shows that OCR itself was eliminated below the limit of detection after 256 min and that photo-TPs were formed. The photolysis of the mixture demonstrated alterations of the degradation rates and patterns. Additional TPs were formed by the reaction of the UV filters or TPs with each other. The study shows that more attention should be paid to mixture-effects and mixture-TPs that may cause further follow-up effects.

High rate of latent tuberculosis treatment completion in immigrants seeking asylum in Sweden.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Treatment of latently infected individuals at increased risk of reactivation is a cornerstone in tuberculosis control. Although asylum seekers without residence permit in Sweden are offered screening for both active tuberculosis and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), treatment for LTBI is often not initiated due to anticipated low rates of treatment completion. We aimed to compare completion rates for LTBI treatment between asylum seekers and other patients, and between asylum seekers with and without residence permit. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from tuberculosis clinic registers and medical records. For comparison of treatment completion rates, relative risks (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Predictors of completion were assessed by logistic regression multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Treatment completion was achieved in 506/606 subjects (83%). RR of non-completion for asylum seekers (n = 297) compared to other subjects (n = 309) was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.79-1.61; p = .51), and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.53-1.56; p = .72) for asylum seekers without residence permit (n = 217) compared to asylum seekers with residence permit (n = 80). Completion rates increased from 53% in 2008 to 92% in 2015-2016. The following factors were associated with completion: scheduled interpreter-assisted appointments throughout the course of therapy, shorter treatment duration (6 vs. 9 months), and being treated in connection with immunosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION: Treatment completion rates were similar between asylum seekers and other subjects, supporting initiation of latent tuberculosis treatment in immigrants with recent arrival to low-endemic countries.

Photodegradation of the UV filter ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate under ultraviolet light: Identification and in silico assessment of photo-transformation products in the context of grey water reuse.

To prevent water shortages in the future and to reduce domestic water consumption, decentralized grey water (GW) reuse has become increasingly important. This water has, however, to be free of pollutants. Conventional treatment of GW does not fully eliminate micropollutants such as the UV filter substance ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate (EHMC). EHMC, which is commonly used in sunscreens and personal care products, is an endocrine disruptor and shows potential to bioaccumulation, which is also reflected in its low water solubility. Photolysis has been proposed as an alternative treatment method for other micropollutants, but it is not clear yet whether it can also be used to eliminate EHMC. One goal of this study was to better understand the basic pathways involved in this process. It aimed to identify photo-transformation products (photo-TPs) by using, in the test conditions, an initial concentration of EHMC higher than those expected in the environment. Acetonitrile (ACN) was added in low concentrations to the aqueous solution to overcome the low aquatic solubility of EHMC. The influence of this co-solvent on the degradation kinetics was studied. The photolysis experiments were carried out using a medium pressure mercury lamp, which emits UV light in the range of 200-400nm. The quantum yield of the photolysis of EHMC was 0.0042 and 0.0023mol·Einstein-1 (for 0.2 and 0.5% ACN (v/v), respectively), and the relative and absolute UV photon fluxes were determined. HPLC was used to monitor the elimination kinetics of EHMC, which followed first-order kinetics. The results of LC-MSn analyses revealed that beside others, several oxidized and hydroxylized EHMC isomers were formed as photo-TPs in aqueous solution. Using a set of in silico quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models, this study also offered new insights concerning the environmental fate and toxicity of the TPs of EHMC.

Epidemiology of intra- and peri-articular structural injuries in traumatic knee joint hemarthrosis - data from 1145 consecutive knees with subacute MRI.

OBJECTIVE: In patients with traumatic knee distorsion and hemarthrosis, to investigate the panorama of structural injury, as visualized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). DESIGN: Cohort study of 1145 consecutive patients with traumatic knee distorsion who underwent MRI within median 8 days after injury. We present structural injury as visualized on MRI in relation to age, sex and activity at injury. Population based gender specific annual incidences of common structural injuries were calculated. RESULTS: The majority of injuries (72%) occurred during sports. Overall, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture was the most common structural injury (52%), followed by meniscal tear (41%) and lateral patella dislocation (LPD, 17%). Only 12% of ACL tears were isolated with meniscal tear being the most common associated injury (55%). The annual incidence of ACL injury was 77 (70-85, 95% CI) per 100,000 inhabitants with significant differences between men (91, 80-103) and women (63, 53-73). In those aged 16 years and younger, LPD was the most frequent structural injury, both in boys (39%) and girls (43%). In this age group, the annual incidence of LPD was 88 (68-113) and higher in boys (113, 81-154) than in girls (62, 39-95). CONCLUSIONS: ACL injury occurs in one out of two knees with traumatic hemarthrosis but only 12% are without concomitant structural injury. The overall rate of traumatic knee hemarthrosis and ACL injury is higher in men. In those aged 10-19 years, ACL rupture is more common among girls than boys whereas in those 16 years and younger, LPD is more common among boys than girls.

Physico-chemical characteristics affect the spatial distribution of pesticide and transformation product loss to an agricultural brook.

Diffuse entry of pesticide residues from agriculture into rivers is spatially unevenly distributed. Therefore, the identification of critical source areas (CSAs) may support water quality management in agricultural catchments. In contrast to former studies, we followed the hypothesis that not only hydrological and topographical characteristics but also physico-chemical properties of pesticide residues have a major influence on their loss to rivers and on corresponding formation of CSAs. We designed a virtual experiment, i.e. a numerical experiment as close as possible to environmental conditions, in a headwater catchment where pronounced spatial differences in hydrological transport processes were identified in the past. 144 scenarios with different combinations of adsorption coefficients (KOC = 10-1000 ml/g) and transformation half-lives (DT50 = 3-60 days) for pesticide parent compounds (PCs) and their transformation products (TPs) were simulated using the catchment-scale spatially distributed reactive transport model ZIN-AgriTra. Export fractions of substances in the virtual experiment ranged from 0.001-15% for pesticides and 0.001-1.8% for TPs. The results of the scenario investigations suggest that more of the calculated export mass variability could be attributed to KOC than to DT50 for both PCs and TPs. CSAs for TPs were spatially more equally distributed in the catchment than for PC export which was likely an effect of changing physico-chemical properties during transformation. The ranking of highest export fields was different between PCs and TPs for most of the investigated scenarios but six fields appeared among the top ten export fields in 95% of the scenarios, which shows the influence of site characteristics such as tile drains or soil properties in the catchment. Thus, the highest export fields were determined by a combination of site characteristics and substance characteristics. Therefore, despite the challenge of widely differing physico-chemical characteristics of pesticides on the market, these characteristics are an important consideration when delineating pesticide residue CSAs.

A biomechanical study on fixation stability with twin hook or lag screw in artificial cancellous bone.

The twin hook has been developed as an alternative to the conventional lag screw to be combined with a barrelled side-plate in the treatment of trochanteric hip fractures. With two oppositely directed apical hooks introduced into the subchondral bone of the femoral head, the twin hook provides different stabilising properties to the lag screw. The femoral head purchase of the twin hook and the lag screw were compared in a biomechanical study using artificial cancellous bone, and responses to axial and torsional loading was determined. A distinct yield point in load and torque was noted for the lag screw, representing failure of the laminas supporting the threads. For the twin hook, gradual increase of load and torque occurred during impaction of the bone supporting the hooks. The peak loads and torques were higher for the lag screw, but were similar for both devices after 8 mm deformation. The stiffness was higher for the lag screw, but in counter-clockwise rotation the stiffness for the lag screw was negligible. The twin hook appeared to provide fixation stability comparable to that offered by the lag screw, but with conceivable advantages in terms of a deformation response involving bone impaction and gradually increasing stability.

Femoral shortening in intertrochanteric fractures. A comparison between the Medoff sliding plate and the compression hip screw.

We compared 54 patients treated by a Medoff sliding plate (MSP) with 60 stabilised by a compression hip screw (CHS) in a prospective, randomised study of the management of intertrochanteric femoral fractures. Four months after the operation femoral shortening was determined from radiographs of both femora. In unstable fractures the mean femoral shortening was 15 mm with the MSP and 11 mm with the CHS (p = 0.03). A subgroup in which shortening was classified as large, comprising one-third of the patients in each group, had a similar extent of shortening, but more medialisation of the femoral shaft occurred in the CHS (26%) than in the MSP (12%) group (p = 0.03). Five postoperative failures of fixation occurred with the CHS and none with the MSP (p = 0.03). The marginally greater femoral shortening seen with the MSP compared with the CHS appeared to be justified by the improved control of impaction of the fracture. Biaxial dynamisation in unstable intertrochanteric fractures is a safe principle of treatment, which minimises the rate of postoperative failure of fixation.

Alternative techniques in trochanteric hip fracture surgery. Clinical and biomechanical studies on the Medoff sliding plate and the Twin hook.

In allowing compression along the femoral shaft (uniaxial dynamization) and optional compression along the femoral neck (biaxial dynamization), the Medoff sliding plate (MSP) represents a new principle in the fixation of trochanteric hip fractures. The Twin hook with 2 apical hooks was designed as an alternative to the lag screw. In 3 prospective consecutive case series and 1 prospective randomized study together comprising 342 trochanteric fractures, these alternative techniques were investigated. 3 postoperative fixation failures occurred in the unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with biaxial dynamization with the MSP (n = 194), and 5 in those treated with the sliding hip screw (n = 62) (p = 0.04). A mean femoral shortening of 15 mm with the MSP and 11 mm with the sliding hip screw was found (p = 0.03). More medialization of the femoral shaft occurred with the sliding hip screw (26%) than with the MSP (12%) in patients with marked femoral shortening (p = 0.03). 3 postoperative fixation failures occurred in subtrochanteric fractures treated with uniaxial dynamization (n = 29) and 2 in those treated with biaxial dynamization (n = 19). Medialization of the femoral shaft occurred in 9 of the 19 biaxially dynamized fractures. The Twin hook was used in 50 patients and appeared to provide similar fixation stability as the lag screw. Biomechanical tests confirmed improved stress transmission over the fracture area with the MSP compared to the sliding hip screw in intertrochanteric fractures, and similar fixation stability with the MSP and the Intramedullary Hip Screw in subtrochanteric fractures. In axial and torsional loading, the Twin hook demonstrated gradually increasing resistance to migration. With the lag screw, the peak load was higher, but after migration with failure of the support by the threads, the loads were similar. Biaxial dynamization with the MSP appears to control fracture impaction effectively and minimizes the rate of postoperative fixation failure in intertrochanteric fractures. In subtrochanteric fractures, uniaxial dynamization prevents medialization of the femoral shaft and is therefore preferred to biaxial dynamization. The Twin hook appears to provide adequate fixation stability, and with potential for simplified intraoperative handling and reduced dissection, the Twin hook may pose advantages compared to the lag screw.

Daily foraging routines and feeding effort of a small bird feeding on a predictable resource.

According to theory, a small diurnal bird living in a predictable environment should have the highest feeding effort as late as possible in the day in order to minimize the time it carries large and costly reserves. The feeding effort should also decline with increasing food availability. We tested both these ideas with the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor). For most of the year, this bird feeds on wood-living insects in dead tree branches. This food supply is likely to be highly predictable on a daily scale. Our results corroborated the theory. We found that the proportion of time spent actively feeding was lower in the mornings (before noon) than in the afternoons. We also found that woodpeckers spent less time feeding the higher their food availability However, for a given food availability they spent more time feeding in the afternoons. This supports the idea that feeding is less and other activities are more valuable in the mornings given a predictable food resource. This is the first demonstration of daily routines in small birds concordant with a predictable environment. In spring, males but not females reduced their feeding time. This difference between the sexes may be related to their sex-specific reproductive effort.

Transgenic tobacco plants co-expressing Agrobacterium iaa and ipt genes have wild-type hormone levels but display both auxin- and cytokinin-overproducing phenotypes.

Transgenic tobacco lines simultaneously expressing the Agrobacterium iaaM, iaaH and ipt genes, obtained by crossing lines expressing ipt with lines expressing iaaM and iaaH, were used to study in planta interactions between auxin and cytokinins. All phenotypic traits of the respective parental lines characteristic of cytokinin and auxin overproduction were present in the cross. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and combined zeatin riboside (ZR) and zeatin riboside-5'-monophosphate (ZRMP) contents were analysed by mass spectrometry in young, developing leaves from the cross, the parental lines and the wild type. Unexpectedly, hormone levels in the cross were very similar to wild-type levels. Thus IAA levels in the cross were much lower throughout vegetative development than in the parental IAA overproducing line, although expression of the bacterial IAA biosynthesis genes was not reduced. The results suggest that effects on apical dominance, adventitious root formation, leaf morphology and other traits commonly +/- associated with IAA and cytokinin overproduction, and observed in the iaa E ipt cross, cannot be explained solely by analysis of auxin and cytokinin contents in individual organs. As traits associated with both hormones are expressed in close spatial and temporal proximity, it is likely that cellular resolution of hormone contents is essential to explain physiological responses to auxins and cytokinins.

Optimal Bayesian foraging policies and prey population dynamics-some comments on Rodriguez-Girones and Vasquez.

In this paper we show the density-dependent harvest rates of optimal Bayesian foragers exploiting prey occurring with clumped spatial distribution. Rodríguez-Gironés and Vásquez (1997) recently treated the issue, but they used a patch-leaving rule (current value assessment rule) that is not optimal for the case described here. An optimal Bayesian forager exploiting prey whose distribution follows the negative binomial distribution should leave a patch when the potential (and not instantaneous) gain rate in that patch equals the best long-term gain rate in the environment (potential value assessment rule). It follows that the instantaneous gain rate at which the patches are abandoned is an increasing function of the time spent searching in the patch. It also follows that the proportion of prey harvested in a patch is an increasing sigmoidal function of the number of prey initially present. In this paper we vary several parameters of the model to evaluate the effects on the forager's intake rate, the proportion of prey harvested per patch, and the prey's average mortality rate in the environment. In each case, we study an intake rate maximizing forager's optimal response to the parameter changes. For the potential value assessment rule we find that at a higher average prey density in the environment, a lower proportion of the prey is taken in a patch with a given initial prey density. The proportion of prey taken in a patch of a given prey density also decreases when the variance of the prey density distribution is increased and if the travel time between patches is reduced. We also evaluate the effect of using predation minimization, rather than rate maximization, as the currency. Then a higher proportion of the prey is taken for each given initial prey density. This is related to the assumption that traveling between patches is the most risky activity. Compared to the optimal potential value assessment rule, the current value assessment rule performs worse, in terms of long-term intake rate achieved. The difference in performance is amplified when prey density is high or highly aggregated. These results pertain to the foraging patch spatial scale and may have consequences for the spatial distribution of prey in the environment.

Increased gibberellin biosynthesis in transgenic trees promotes growth, biomass production and xylem fiber length.

In most tree-breeding programs worldwide, increasing the trees' growth rates and stem volumes and shortening their rotation times are important aims. Such trees would yield more biomass per unit area. Here we show that overexpressing a key regulatory gene in the biosynthesis of the plant hormone gibberellin (GA) in hybrid aspen (Populus tremula x P. tremuloides) improves growth rate and biomass. In addition, these transgenic trees have more numerous and longer xylem fibers than unmodified wild-type (wt) plants. Long fibers are desirable in the production of strong paper, but it has not as yet proved possible to influence this trait by traditional breeding techniques. We also show that GA has an antagonistic effect on root initiation, as the transgenic lines showed poorer rooting than the control plants when potted in soil. However, the negative effect on rooting efficiencies in the initial establishment of young plantlets in the growth chamber did not significantly affect root growth at later stages.

Cambial-region-specific expression of the Agrobacterium iaa genes in transgenic aspen visualized by a linked uidA reporter gene.

The level of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was locally modified in cambial tissues of transgenic aspen (Populus tremula L. x Populus tremuloides Michx.). We also demonstrate the use of a linked reporter gene to visualize the expression of the iaa genes. The rate-limiting bacterial IAA-biosynthetic gene iaaM and the reporter gene for beta-glucuronidase (GUS), uidA, were each fused to the cambial-region-specific Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolC promoter and linked on the same T-DNA. In situ hybridization of the iaaM gene confirmed that histochemical analysis of GUS activity could be used to predict iaaM gene expression. Moreover, quantitative fluorometric analysis of GUS activity allowed estimation of the level of de novo production of IAA in transgenic lines carrying a single-copy insert of the iaaM, uidA T-DNA. Microscale analysis of the IAA concentration across the cambial region tissues showed an increase in IAA concentration of about 35% to 40% in the two transgenic lines, but no changes in the radial distribution pattern of IAA compared with wild-type plants. This increase did not result in any changes in the developmental pattern of cambial derivatives or the cambial growth rate, which emphasizes the importance of the radial distribution pattern of IAA in controlling the development of secondary xylem, and suggests that a moderate increase in IAA concentration does not necessarily stimulate growth.

Extracapsular hip fractures: fixation with a twin hook or a lag screw?

The twin hook, which has 2 oppositely directed apical hooks, is an alternative to the lag screw for use with a 'dynamic plate' in the fixation of trochanteric hip fractures. In this prospective study lasting 1 year, 102 consecutive patients with trochanteric hip fractures were treated by 19 surgeons with either a twin hook or a lag screw combined with a conventional sliding hip screw plate or a Medoff sliding plate. Seven intraoperative errors were made with the twin hook but postoperative migration did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Postoperative fixation failures were equally distributed between the 2 groups. The twin hook provides adequate fixation, which is comparable to that produced by a lag screw.

Perceptual restoration of missing sounds in a group of hallucinating schizophrenics.

17 subjects diagnosed with schizophrenia and having auditory hallucinations in their case history were compared with 15 control subjects in an experiment on perceptual restoration. A tone pattern was presented, then interrupted by noise, under conditions such that the tone pattern could be heard as going on continuously (restoration). A series of 16 stimuli with a distractor of varying amplitude (noise) were presented. Healthy controls reliably reported restoration in Presentations 9 and 10. Four schizophrenics reported no restoration at all. Three of them reported restoration earlier than controls, and four others reported it later than controls and continued to report the phenomenon after a point at which no healthy controls did. Six other presented an irregular pattern of response to the phenomenon. The results are discussed with respect to the neurophysiological functioning of the auditory pathway and schizophrenic symptoms.

Molecular markers for UV-B stress in plants: alteration of the expression of four classes of genes in Pisum sativum and the formation of high molecular mass RNA adducts.

Sixteen ultraviolet-B radiation-regulated pea genes were identified. Functionally, the corresponding proteins were divided into four groups. (i) Chloroplast-localized proteins. Genes for these proteins were down-regulated, underlining the deleterious effects of UV-B on this organelle. A novel down-regulated photosystem I light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene (PsLhcA4), was cloned and sequenced. (ii) Protein turnover enzymes. Levels of mature mRNAs for the PU1 and PsUBC4 genes, encoding proteins of the ubiquitin protein degradation pathway, were up- and down-regulated, respectively, implying alteration of plant cell protein content by changes in both gene expression and protein degradation. (iii) Proteins involved in intracellular signalling. Expression of genes for small GTPases, rab and rho homologues, were altered. (iv) Phenylpropanoid or flavonoid biosynthesis. Expression of three genes encoding enzymes in these pathways were up-regulated and one of them, the novel PsC450R1, was cloned and sequenced. Moreover, unexpected high molecular mass psbA RNA adducts were found to appear after UV-B exposure. In addition, a large increase in corresponding high molecular mass adducts were also found for PsLhcA4, and PsUBC4 mRNA and 23S rRNA. These RNA species do not contain protein and probably appear due to cross-linking of two or more RNA molecules, or are the result of UV-B-induced failure of transcription termination.

Contralateral induction by frequency spectrum in hallucinating schizophrenics.

Seventeen schizophrenic patients who had all experienced auditory hallucinations were compared with 14 subjects of a reference group on a test of contralateral induction. Contralateral induction means that a sound is illusively heard as coming from a location where it belongs according to its spectral content. The phenomenon is connected with a simultaneous relative elimination of masking. The schizophrenic subjects deviated from the reference group in several aspects. Some of them did not hear the sound being induced to the contralateral side, which it was for all reference subjects. Another subgroup of the schizophrenics noticed the induction unusually early with a prolonged experience of it, and finally some of them experienced the induction now and then. The aberrations were interpreted as rigidity of adaptation on the one hand and as effects of an enhanced sensitivity on the other. Discontinuity, meaning that the fluency in mental processing is broken, was interpreted to cause the ratings of the third group of schizophrenics in this sample, who heard the contralateral induction now and then. These phenomena are clearly reminiscent of descriptions in research reports, and witnessed by clinical experience of the schizophrenic disturbance. The results represent another example of discontinuous neurophysiological functions between neural systems and between individuals suffering from schizophrenia.