Generation, annotation, and analysis of an extensive Aspergillus niger EST collection.

Background: Aspergillus niger, a saprophyte commonly found on decaying vegetation, is widely used and studied for industrial purposes. Despite its place as one of the most important organisms for commercial applications, the lack of available information about its genetic makeup limits research with this filamentous fungus.

Results: We present here the analysis of 12,820 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated from A.

Molecular cloning, structural analysis, and expression of a human IRLB, MYC promoter-binding protein: new DENN domain-containing protein family emerges.

IRLB was originally identified as a partial cDNA clone, encoding a 191-aa protein binding the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) in the P2 promoter of human MYC. Here, we cloned the full-size IRLB using different bioinformatics tools and an RT-PCR approach. The full-size gene encompasses 131 kb within chromosome 15q22 and consists of 32 exons.

Alterations in TNF- and IL-related gene expression in space-flown WI38 human fibroblasts.

Spaceflight, just like aging, causes profound changes in musculoskeletal parameters, which result in decreased bone density and muscular weakness. As these conditions decrease our ability to conduct long-term manned space missions, and increase bone frailty in the elderly, the identification of genes responsible for the apparition of these physiological changes will be of great benefit. Thus, we developed and implemented a new microarray approach to investigate the changes in normal WI38 human fibroblast gene expression that arise as a consequence of space flight.

Microarray analysis of E-box binding-related gene expression in young and replicatively senescent human fibroblasts.

An E-box (CACGTG) designer microarray was developed to monitor a group of genes whose expressions share a particular regulatory mode. Sensitivity and specificity of microarray hybridization, as well as variability of microarray data, were evaluated. This designer microarray was used to generate expression profiles of E-box binding-related genes in WI-38 fibroblast cultures at three different growth states: low-passage replicating, low-passage contact-inhibited quiescent, and replicatively senescent.

[Features of DNA repair during chronic exposure to mutagenic factors].

Long-time in vivo influence of chemical mutagens in low doses can decrease the level of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) induced in human as well as in laboratory mammals. The phenomenon under investigation is not specific neither for chronically acting mutagens nor for challenging agent. A decrease in UV- and gamma-ray-induced UDS was registered after chronic irradiation in plant populations and also in Chernobyl ameliorators and inhabitants of radioactively contaminated regions.

[Changes in the rate and accuracy of information processing in the computer training of upper-grade pupils].

The basic activity of the student during the "computer training process" is the introduction and processing of information. In the dialogue regime of work, between student and computer, the velocity and accuracy of the information processing take important place. In this aspect, special attention is given to the changes in the indicated indices during the computer lesson, computer plays and the traditional training.

[Changes in the rate and accuracy of information processing in the computer training of middle-grade pupils].

The computer enters more and more quickly the new school. Therefore an important problem is the influence of computer training on the velocity and accuracy of information processing. For this purpose were examined 28 school-children from VI-VII class, participating in computer training, computer plays and traditional lesion.

[The effect of training with computer equipment on the visual analyzer of 1st-grade pupils].

Examination are carried out on 64 school children Ist class from school "104", town of Sofia where computer training on mathematics and mother tongue is introduced in the frames of pedagogic experiment. The studies are performed parallelly at traditional and computer lessons, realized in two variants (with one and two school hours daily). In order to establish the functional status of the visual analyzer during computer training the following methods are used: studying the distance of the nearest point for clear vision (punctum proximum), stability of clear vision, threshold of the electric eye sensitivity, critical frequency of fusing of the light flickerings.

[The evaluation of the adaptation of pupils starting instruction at 6 years old to new academic programs by using a computer analysis of cardiac variability].

Examination of the pulse variability of 6 years old (experimental group) and 7 years old control group schoolchildren is performed for establishing their adaptation capability to the educational process at the end of VI and VII class. 76 schoolchildren are comprised in the investigation. The analysis of the pulse variability is made on the basis of 10 min.

[The effect of instruction with computers on the functional state of first-graders].

A study is carried out on 64 first grade school children for establishing the effect of computer training on the functional status of principally engaged systems with the purpose to determine the optimum duration of work with video terminal during the school day. The examinations are performed before and after computer lessons in mathematics and Bulgarian language in days with one and two lessons, and with the same subjects taught in the traditional way (control group). Traced are the changes in the accommodation, the eye rheobase, critical frequency of fusing the light flickers, resistance, volume and accuracy of the visual perception, static tremor and excretion of sodium and potassium in the saliva.

[Health status of schoolchildren under five-day-week school program].

The effect of a five-day educative programme is studied with respect to the health status and morbidity of schoolchildren--from entering VIIth class in the Unified secondary professional school to completion Xth class. The data received are compared with the results from health exam on children, trained on six-day week. The results from the investigation show more favorable dynamics of the chronic, acute and neuro-psychic morbidity, the per cent of those frequently taken ill and is increased the number of healthy schoolchildren.

[Reactivity of the cardiovascular system of pupils from grades 1 to 3 to the new unified secondary vocational school].

A study is performed on the changes of the basic indices of hemodynamics in view to establish the capacity of children at earlier starting school age and show whether the age difference of one year plays an essential role for the psychoemotional effect of the education on the growing generation. The dynamics of the frequency of the heart activity, of the beating and minute volume show a good adaptation of the schoolchildren from the first classes to the educative work and the application of the new educative programmes. There is a rate difference in the effectiveness of the blood circulation in favour of the children, starting school at 7 years.

[Morphological characteristics of mucinous cancer of the breast containing endocrine cells].

It was established that mucus-forming mammary gland carcinoma containing endocrine cells may have a structure of an ordinary colloid mammary gland carcinoma or carcinoid carcinoma with mucus formation. The presence of amyloid in the stroma of colloid carcinoma containing endocrine cells may serve as an additional sign of the endocrine cell differentiation. Simultaneous observation in the tumour cells of both mucous inclusions and endocrine granules may be regarded as a proof of an origin of epithelial and endocrine cells of the mammary gland from a pluripotent stem cell.

[Amyloid-forming apudoma of the breast].

A peculiar mammary gland tumour is described. Histological structures typical for apudomas of various level of differentiation were combined in the tumour. Apart from highly differentiated carcinoid-like areas, there were zones of a small-cell carcinoma corresponding to a poorly differentiated variant of apudoma.

[Metastasis of one tumor into another in multiple primary neoplasms].

Eight patients had two tumours located in different organs: one of these tumours was carcinoma which metastasized into another, histologically benign neoplasm. Morphological characteristics of the two tumours, sources of metastases and metastasis "recipients", are described. The order of their clinical manifestations was followed up.

[Hygienic aspects of youth work brigades].

A comprehensive inquiry study was carried out on living conditions, labour and regime in youth brigades. Furthermore, a complex hygienic-physiological assessment was made of the work of the students gone on agricultural brigades on the base of studies on the changes in the cardiovascular system, energy expenditure, nervous-muscular and thermoregulatory apparatuses, as well as on the functional activity of sympathico-adrenal system. The work, done by the students-members of the brigades, is qualified as moderately heavy, and as heavy only in some labour operations.

[Age-related characteristics of reactivity of school children during mental processes].

An examination of 300 students was carried out, aged 9, 12 and 15, in the process of their training, aiming at the establishment of the characteristics of their reactivity to mental loading. Modern psychophysiological and biochemical methods were used in the dynamic follow up of the changes in CNS and neuroendocrine activity. Definite age and sex discrepancies were found, on the base of the analysis, in the CNS reactivity to mental loading.

[Hygienic and physiological evaluation of the instruction during a 5-day school week].

A longitudinal study of development, reactivity and health state of the students from the initial course, trained during five- and six-day school week was carried out under conditions of full-day organization of the training-educational work. Deviations in the hygienic norms of some moments of daily regime, some results from the dynamics of working capacity and high neurotic morbidity with both forms of organization of trainingeducational work, necessitate essential corrections for its rationalization. Apart from all that, the parallel between the results from the examination of the students, trained during five- and six-day school week in the course of three school years, definitely indicate the following: better working capacity towards the end of school day and week, circulation, realized on a more rational base, better strength indices, lower moment somatic affection and acute morbidity, low number of often-sick-students and more completely healthy students, twice lower neurotic morbidity in favour of the students with a five-day school regime.

[Cardiovascular system reactivity in children of primary schools studying by new academic programs].

A longitudinal study of cardiovascular reactivity is performed among school-children taught according to newly adopted educational programs. The experiment is conducted in a full day school with three-year duration of the elementary course. The daily and annual dynamics of the basic indicators under study: heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse, pressure, beat volume of the heart and a circulatory efficiency index display a noteworthy difference between working capacity of school-children beginning their education at the age of 6 and 7 years throughout the three school years.