Berkeley Madonna Version 10-A simulation package for solving mathematical models.

Berkeley Madonna is a software program that provides an easy and intuitive environment for graphically building and numerically solving mathematical equations. Our users range from college undergraduates with little or no mathematical experience to academic researchers and professionals building and simulating sophisticated mathematical models that represent complex systems in the biological, chemical, and engineering fields. Here we briefly describe our recent advances including a new Java-based user interface introduced in Version 9 and our transition from a 32- to 64-bit architecture with the release of Version 10.

Male and female germline specific expression of an EGFP reporter gene in a unique strain of transgenic rats.

A rat line was generated in which genomic integration of a ROSA-EGFP transgene resulted in exclusive expression of EGFP in the germ cells of both sexes. EGFP expression was uniform and robust in cleavage stage embryos beginning at the late 2-cell stage and continuing through blastocyst development where expression became restricted to cells of the inner cell mass. Subsequent analysis showed high EGFP expression exclusively in primordial, embryonic, and adult germ cells.

Intragenic single nucleotide polymorphism haplotype analysis of SUR1 mutations in familial hyperinsulinism.

Familial hyperinsulinism (HI; MIM# 256450) is an autosomal recessive disorder of pancreatic beta-cell function, characterized by inadequate suppression of insulin secretion despite severe recurrent fasting hypoglycemia. Subtotal pancreatectomy is frequently required to prevent permanent neurologic sequelae. The incidence of HI in the Caucasian population is estimated at 1:50,000, however an apparent increased incidence among Ashkenazi Jews and Saudi Arabian Arabs has been reported.

Antioxidants stimulate transcriptional activation of the c-fos gene by multiple pathways in human fetal lung fibroblasts (WI-38).

We have examined the effects of three structurally distinct antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine [NAC], Trolox C [a water-soluble vitamin E derivative], and nordihydroguaiaretic acid [NGA]) on the expression of the c-fos gene over a 2-hour period. Determination of cellular glutathione concentration (the primary determinant of the cellular redox state) over the same time-course verifies that all the compounds studied cause an increase in cellular reduction potential. The level of c-fos messenger RNA increased rapidly in response to micromolar concentrations of these compounds, reaching a peak in 30-60 minutes.

Abundance of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen and p21 mRNAs in fibroblasts cultured from fetal and postnatal dermis.

The steady-state abundance of alpha 1(I) and alpha 1(III) procollagen mRNAs, p21Sdi1 mRNA, and beta-actin mRNA was determined in 29 skin fibroblast lines established from fetal, young and old donors. Donor ages ranged from 12 gestational weeks to nonagenarian. Adult donors were members of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.