Radon diffusion coefficients of vapour barrier membranes used in Canadian building construction.

Vapour barrier membranes are often used as soil gas retarder in building construction. While vapour permeance characteristics of these membranes are well known and specified in Canadian standards, their radon diffusion coefficients are yet not available. This study provides test results of radon diffusion coefficients for 10 vapour barrier membranes commonly used in Canadian building construction.

Role of the C-terminal RDEL motif of the myxoma virus M-T4 protein in terms of apoptosis regulation and viral pathogenesis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the significance of the C-terminal RDEL motif of the myxoma virus M-T4 protein in terms of apoptosis regulation and role in viral virulence. To accomplish this, a recombinant myxoma virus was created in which the C-terminal RDEL motif of M-T4 was deleted and a selectable marker (Ecogpt) was inserted immediately downstream. We hypothesized that removal of the RDEL motif from M-T4 would alter the subcellular localization of the protein and provide insight into its antiapoptotic role.

Immunomodulation by viruses: the myxoma virus story.

Myxoma virus is a poxvirus pathogen of rabbits that has evolved to replicate successfully in the presence of an active immune response by an infected host. To accomplish this, the virus has developed a variety of strategies to avoid detection by or obstruct specific aspects of the antiviral response whose consolidated action is antagonistic to virus survival. We describe two distinct viral strategies carried out by viral proteins with which myxoma virus subverts the host immune response.

The myxoma virus M-T4 gene encodes a novel RDEL-containing protein that is retained within the endoplasmic reticulum and is important for the productive infection of lymphocytes.

To investigate the contribution of the myxoma virus M-T4 gene to viral virulence, both copies of the M-T4 gene were inactivated by disruption and insertion of the Escherichia coli guanosine phosphoribosyltransferase gene. Infection of European rabbits with the recombinant M-T4-deleted virus, vMyxlacT4, resulted in disease attenuation. In contrast, infection of rabbits with vMyxlac elicited the classical features of lethal myxomatosis.

Experience sampling with elderly persons: an exploration of the method.

The daily lives of a sample of elderly widows (greater than 69 years of age) were studied using the method of experience sampling developed by Csikszentmihalyi and his colleagues. The purpose of the study was to investigate the response of elderly people to experience sampling as a means of collecting information about their activities, thoughts, and moods during the course of one week. The method proved acceptable to the majority of participants and yielded reliable, valid data about their home lives, particularly from among the younger, more physically able women.