Opportunities for student physical activity in elementary schools: a cross-sectional survey of frequency and correlates.

The objectives of this study were to describe opportunities for student physical activity (PA) in elementary schools and to identify factors in the school environment associated with higher PA opportunity. Self-report questionnaires were completed by school principals and physical education teachers in 277 schools (88% response) in metropolitan Montreal. Correlates of opportunity were identified using ordinal logistic regression.

Finite-element analysis of geometrical factors in micro-indentation of pollen tubes.

Micro-indentation is a new experimental approach to assess physical cellular properties. Here we attempt to quantify the contribution of geometrical parameters to a cylindrical plant cell's resistance to lateral deformation. This information is important to correctly interpret data obtained from experiments using the device, such as the local cellular stiffness in pollen tubes.

Glial cells in synaptic plasticity.

Plasticity of synaptic transmission is believed to be the cellular basis for learning and memory, and depends upon different pre- and post-synaptic neuronal mechanisms. Recently, however, an increasing number of studies have implicated a third element in plasticity; the perisynaptic glial cell. Originally glial cells were thought to be important for metabolic maintenance and support of the nervous system.

Transcriptome of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi within macrophages revealed through the selective capture of transcribed sequences.

The cDNA obtained by selective capture of transcribed sequences is a complex mixture that can be used in conjunction with microarrays to determine global gene expression by a pathogen during infection. We used this method to study genes expressed by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, the etiological agent of typhoid fever, within human macrophages. Global expression profiles of Typhi grown in vitro and within macrophages at different time points were obtained and compared.

The reliability of the time to execute various forms of the finger-to-nose test in healthy subjects.

The objective of this study was to establish reliability estimates of different versions of the Finger-to-Nose test (FNT) using the generalisability theory. Generalizability theory was used to estimate the relative contribution of trials and occasions to the total measurement error and to generate reliability coefficients. Forty-two healthy adults (aged 20-63 yrs old) free of arm pain or other pathology participated.

Older women's experiences of psychological violence in their marital relationships.

Violence within older couples is a reality, not a myth. In this study, qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 women ages 60 to 81 who had suffered marital psychological violence. Husbands' psychologically violent behaviors were grouped into 14 categories: control, denigration, deprivation, intimidation, threats, abdication of responsibility, manipulation, blame, harassment, negation of reality, indifference, making the wife feel guilty, sulking, and infantilization.

Secretion of soluble leptin receptors by exocrine and endocrine cells of the gastric mucosa.

Leptin is a hormone secreted by the gastric mucosa into the lumen of the stomach. It is present in its intact form in the intestine where it regulates nutrient absorption and intestinal mucosa integrity. We have identified the binding protein that protects leptin from the harsh conditions of the gastric juice.

Selective capture of Salmonella enterica serovar typhi genes expressed in macrophages that are absent from the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genome.

Thirty-six Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi-specific genes, absent from the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium genome, that were expressed in human macrophages were identified by selective capture of transcribed sequences. These genes are located on 15 unique loci of the serovar Typhi genome, including Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPI-7, SPI-8, and SPI-10) and bacteriophages (ST15, ST18, and ST35).

Homoserine-derived cyclic sulfamidate as chiral educt for the diversity-oriented synthesis of lactam-bridged dipeptides.

Introduction of structural constraint into peptides is an effective way for studying their conformation-activity relationships. Conformationally restrained dipeptidyl lactams, important building blocks for the synthesis of peptidomimetics, have now been synthesized from N-[9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)]-L-aspartic acid alpha-cumyl beta-methyl diester as an inexpensive chiral educt. After selective reduction of the beta-methyl ester with diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H), homoserine was treated with thionyl chloride, imidazole, and triethylamine to give sulfamidites.

Real-time monitoring of ubiquitination in living cells by BRET.

Ubiquitin has emerged as an important regulator of protein stability and function in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. The ability to detect in situ changes in protein ubiquitination without perturbing the physiological environment of cells would be a major step forward in understanding the ubiquitination process and its consequences. Here, we describe a new method to study this dynamic post-translational modification in intact human embryonic kidney cells.

Socioeconomic inequalities in early childhood malnutrition and morbidity: modification of the household-level effects by the community SES.

This paper examines variations among communities in childhood malnutrition and diarrhea morbidity, explores the influences of socioeconomic status (SES) on child health, and investigates how the SES of families and that of communities interact in this process. Using multilevel modelling and data from Demographic and Health Surveys of five African countries, it shows evidence of contextual effects and a strong patterning in childhood malnutrition and morbidity along SES lines, with community SES having an independent effect in some instances. It also reveals that living in poorest conditions increases the odds of suffering from both malnutrition and diarrhea, as opposed to experiencing only one of the two outcomes.

Functional rescue of the constitutively internalized V2 vasopressin receptor mutant R137H by the pharmacological chaperone action of SR49059.

In most cases, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus results from mutations in the V2 vasopressin receptor (V2R) gene that cause intracellular retention of improperly folded receptors. We previously reported that cell permeable V2R antagonists act as pharmacological chaperones that rescue folding, trafficking, and function of several V2R mutants. More recently, the vasopressin antagonist, SR49059, was found to be therapeutically active in nephrogenic diabetes insipidus patients.

Two-way interactions between music and language: evidence from priming recognition of tune and lyrics in familiar songs.

A priming technique was employed to study the relations between melody and lyrics in song memory. The procedure involved the auditory presentation of a prime and a target taken from the same song, or from unrelated but equally familiar songs. To promote access to memory representations of songs, we varied the format of primes and targets, which were either spoken or sung, using the syllable /1a/.

Cell viability and secretion of active proteins in Schizosaccharomyces pombe do not require the chaperone function of calnexin.

Folding of newly synthesized proteins within the ER (endoplasmic reticulum) is a rate-limiting step in protein secretion. Thus ER molecular chaperones and foldases have a major impact in determining the rate and yield of these crucial cellular processes. Calnexin is a key ER chaperone implicated in the folding, retention and targeting for degradation of proteins that go through the secretory pathway.

Basal cells of second trimester fetal breasts: immunohistochemical study of myoepithelial precursors.

The molecular characterization of human mammary myoepithelial cells is incomplete, hindering our understanding of its importance in breast physiology and pathology. Because data on the precursors of this cell lineage remain scarce and often contradictory, basal epithelial cells of second trimester fetal breasts were studied by light microscopy (LM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Up to 20 wk of gestational age, the mammary rudiments only comprised roundish primary outgrowths, "primary buds," more likely to represent immature nipples than true mammary tissue.

Mobility, sexual behavior, and HIV infection in an urban population in Cameroon.

Several studies, notably from rural areas, have shown an association between mobility and HIV infection. However, reasons for this association are poorly documented. In this study, we examined the relationship between mobility, sexual behavior, and HIV infection in an urban population of Cameroon.

Neuromotor effects of acute ethanol inhalation exposure in humans: a preliminary study.

Ethanol (ETOH) is added to unleaded gasoline to decrease environmental levels of carbon monoxide from automobiles emissions. Therefore, addition of ETOH in reformulated fuel will most likely increase and the involuntarily human exposure to this chemical will also increase. This preliminary study was undertaken to evaluate the possible neuromotor effects resulting from acute ETOH exposure by inhalation in humans.

Phosphorylation-independent desensitization of GABA(B) receptor by GRK4.

Agonist-promoted desensitization of the heterodimeric metabotropic GABA(B) receptor was investigated. Whereas no desensitization was observed in HEK293 cells heterologously expressing the receptor, GABA and the synthetic agonist baclofen induced a robust desensitization in cerebellar granule cells endogenously expressing the receptor. Taking advantage of this cell-specific desensitization phenotype, we identified GRK4 as the kinase involved in the neuronal desensitization.

Neural activity in primary motor and dorsal premotor cortex in reaching tasks with the contralateral versus ipsilateral arm.

To investigate the effector dependence of task-related neural activity in dorsal premotor (PMd) and primary motor cortex (M1), directional tuning functions were compared between instructed-delay reaching tasks performed separately with either the contralateral or the ipsilateral limb. During presentation of the instructional cue, the majority (55/90, 61%) of cells in PMd were tuned with both arms, and their dynamic range showed a trend for stronger discharge with the contralateral arm. Most strikingly, however, the preferred direction of most of these latter cells (41/55, 75%) was not significantly different between arms.

Organisation of truck-driver training for the transportation of dangerous goods in Europe and North America.

In Canada, as in several other countries, truck drivers involved in the transportation of dangerous goods must be trained. However, given the many differences in vehicles, substances transported and driving conditions, international guidelines are very open-ended. This article outlines the domestic training requirements in Canada, the United States, The Netherlands and Sweden, and examines the manner in which the training is provided.

Role of palmitoylation/depalmitoylation reactions in G-protein-coupled receptor function.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute one of the largest protein families in the human genome. They are subject to numerous post-translational modifications, including palmitoylation. This review highlights the dynamic nature of palmitoylation and its role in GPCR expression and function.

Ablation of solids under femtosecond laser pulses.

We study the basic mechanisms leading to ablation by femtosecond laser pulses using molecular dynamics and a simple two-dimensional Lennard-Jones model. We demonstrate that the ablation process involves three different mechanisms as a function of deposited energy. In particular, it can result from mechanical fragmentation, which does not require the system to cross any metastability or instability line.

Deployment of fingertip forces in tactile exploration.

The purpose of this study was to examine how contact forces normal to the skin surface and shear forces tangential to the skin surface are deployed during tactile exploration of a smooth surface in search of a tactile target. Six naive subjects participated in two experiments. In the first experiment, the subjects were asked to explore a series of unseen smooth plastic surfaces by using the index finger to search for either a raised or recessed target.