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Child labor and the division of labor in the early English cotton mills.

"The share of children employed in English cotton factories fell significantly before the introduction of effective child labor legislation in the early 1830s. The early factories employed predominantly children because adults without factory experience were relatively unproductive factory workers. The subsequent growth of the cotton industry fostered the development of a labor market for productive adult factory workers. This effect helps account for the shift toward adults in the cotton factory workforce."

Age Factors↗

Sensitivity of wild cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) to the immunotoxic effects of low-level arsenic exposure.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous contaminant of many toxic waste sites around the country and experimental animal trials have indicated that arsenic may be immunotoxic to laboratory rodents. Because wild rodents such as the herbivorous cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) reside on many of these toxic waste sites, we explored the sensitivity of their immune systems to oral exposures of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic arsenic. We exposed adult male cotton rats (n = 36) to either 0 (controls), 5 (low dose), or 10 (high dose) ppm sodium arsenite in drinking water for 6 weeks. Daily food intake decreased in a dose-dependent manner, ranging from an average of 10.03 +/- 0.45 in the high-dose group to 11.27 +/- 0.42 (SE) g/animal/day in the control group. Mass of testes in the low-dose group increased significantly compared to controls, but there was no difference between the high-dose and control groups. Masses of liver, kidney, adrenals, popliteal lymph nodes, spleen, epididymides, and seminal vesicles and selected hematological parameters were unaffected by arsenic exposure. In vivo cell-mediated immunity, as measured by a phytohemagglutinin-hypersensitivity response to an intradermal challenge, was suppressed 30% in the low-dose group compared to controls; however, responses of those receiving a high dose of arsenic were similar to controls. Arsenic treatment did not have a measurable impact on lymphoproliferative responses of cultured splenocytes to the mitogens Concanavalin A and Pokeweed mitogen, or to the lymphokine interleukin-2. We also observed no impact of low-level arsenic exposure on macrophage phagocytic activity and tumoricidal activity of lymphokine-activated killer cells in vitro. It is possible that malnutrition caused by decreased food intake may eventually lead to atrophy of lymphoid organs and render animals more susceptible to environmental pathogens. However, direct effects of low-level arsenic exposure on immune function of cotton rats was minimal (a moderate depression in the in vivo cell-mediated immunity assay) and may not be clinically relevant with regard to susceptibility to disease in the wild.

Animals↗

Cotton rat Sihi-M3 is a minimally oligomorphic Mhc I-b molecule that binds the chemotactic peptide fMLF under stringent conditions. Evidence that positive selection drives inter-species diversity of residues interacting with the termini of short peptides.

The leading model for class I-b evolution suggests non-polymorphic I-b genes evolve by gene duplication from polymorphic I-a genes. We recently found N-formyl peptide-specific orthologs of the class I-b gene H2-M3 in the rodent subfamily Sigmodontinae. To test if sigmodont M3 is a I-b gene, we sequenced M3 from wild cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidus) diverse at the class II locus, Sihi-DQA. These haplotypes carry a single allele of M3 that closely resembles H2-M3. However, peptide-binding assays showed that cotton rat M3 bound the chemotactic N-formylpeptide fMLF better than did rat or mouse M3. The Ala116-->Lys substitution in cotton rat M3 might enhance binding of fMLF and is one of eight residues of M3 that interact with ligand residues P3 and P4 and that are positively selected, with a d(N) /d(S) ratio of 1.8. Thus, M3 is a class I-b gene in both sigmodontine and murine murids, but positive selection operates on a small subset of residues in the traditionally defined antigen recognition site.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The T-cell receptor beta chain-encoding gene repertoire of a New World primate species, the cotton-top tamarin.

The New World primate, the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus), expresses major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules with limited diversity. The uniqueness of the cotton-top tamarin MHC class I loci may contribute to this species' unusual susceptibility to viral infections and high incidence of ulcerative colitis. As a prelude to examining the effect of this limited MHC class I diversity on the tamarin CD8(+) T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, we identified expressed tamarin TCR beta chain (TCRB) cDNAs by anchored and inverse polymerase chain reaction. Sequence alignments and phylogenetic comparisons with human and rhesus macaque sequences identified homologues of 21 human variable (V) gene families. Only single variable region genes were identified in each of these tamarin VB families, with the exception of the VB 5, 9, and 13 families which were comprised of two or three distinct members. The multiple genes within these three VB families do not appear to have separate human homologues, but rather aligned equally well to a single human gene from their respective VB families. These genes appear to have arisen, therefore, by duplication of certain VB genes in the tamarin ancestors following their divergence from the lineage leading to Old World primates and hominoids. Homologues of 12 of the 13 human joining (J) region genes were also identified in the tamarin. Comparison of the proportion of nonsynonymous (pN) and synonymous (pS) substitutions occurring per site within tamarin variable region genes demonstrated a reduction in pN in the framework regions compared with pN in the presumed MHC contact regions (CDR1 and CDR2). Taken together, these findings illustrate that the TCR beta chain-encoding genes of the cotton-top tamarin are similar in structure and degree of complexity compared with their Old World primate and human counterparts.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Evaluation of haemoglobin (erythrogen): for improved somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. SVPR 2).

Somatic embryogenesis in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is accelerated when the plant regeneration medium is supplemented with haemoglobin (erythrogen). In cotton SVPR 2 lines, a higher frequency of embryoid formation was observed when the medium contained 400 mg/l haemoglobin. Fresh weight of the callus, rate of embryoid induction, number of embryoids formed and the percentage of plant regeneration from somatic embryos were increased. Among the two different cultivars tested, MCU 11 showed no response to the presence of haemoglobin when compared to SVPR 2, and embryogenic callus formation was completely absent in the former. Medium containing MS salts, 100 mg/l myo-inositol , 0.3 mg/l thiamine-HCL, 0.3 mg/l Picloram (PIC), 0.1 mg/l kinetin and 400 mg/l haemoglobin effected a better response with respect to embryogenic callus induction. After 8 weeks of culture, a high frequency of embryoid induction was observed on medium containing MS basal salts, 100 mg/l myo-inositol, 0.3 mg/l PIC , 0.1 mg/l isopentenyl adenine, 1.0 g/l NH4NO3 and 400 mg/l haemoglobin. Plant regeneration was observed in 75.8% of the mature somatic embryos, and whole plant regeneration was achieved within 6-7 months of culture. The regenerated plantlets were fertile and similar to in vivo-grown, seed-derived plants except that they were phenotypically smaller. A positive influence of haemoglobin was observed at concentrations up to 400 mg/l at all stages of somatic embryogenesis. The increase in the levels of antioxidant enzyme activities, for example superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, indicated the presence of excess oxygen uptake and the stressed condition of the plant tissues that arose from haemoglobin supplementation. This increased oxygen uptake and haemoglobin-mediated stress appeared to accelerate somatic embryogenesis in cotton.

Antioxidants↗

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration from different wild diploid cotton (Gossypium) species.

Calli were successfully induced from hypocotyls of eight wild diploid cotton species (Gossypium) on MSB (MS salts and B(5) vitamins) medium supplemented with 0.09 microM 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2.32 microM KT (kinetin). Plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations, adding GA(3) (Gibberellic acid), high inorganic salt stress, and PGR-free media were used to induce embryogenic calli from nonembryogenic calli. Embryogenic cultures were induced from G. aridum S. (D(4) genome), G. davidsonii K. (D(3)-d genome), G. klotzschianum A. (D(3)-k genome), G. raimondii U. (D(5) genome), and G. stocksii M. (E(1) genome). We then observed somatic embryogenesis in the five species while calli of G. africanum V. (A(1)-2 genome), G. anomalum W. (B(1) genome), and G. bickii P. (G genome) remained nonembryogenic. Somatic embryogenesis was adjusted by changing sugar sources, regulating combinations of PGRs, and using cell suspension culture. Embryos at various developmental stages produced mature and germinating embryos when cultured on filter paper placed on the media containing different sugar sources. The utility of different sugar sources promoted globular embryos developing into cotyledonary stage and increased the frequency of cotyledonary embryos developing into normal plants. Normal plantlets were regenerated from G. davidsonii, G. klotzschianum, G. raimondii, and G. stocksii. Only abnormal plantlets were obtained in G. aridum. This work will contribute to broadening the number of regenerable cotton species and provide foundations for somatic hybridization in cotton to create new germplasm.

Culture Media↗

Isolation and characterization of drought-related trehalose 6-phosphate-synthase gene from cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.).

Due to the important role of cotton drought-tolerant varieties and the reported involvement in this trait of trehalose-6-phosphate-synthase, the respective gene (TPS) was isolated and characterized from cultivated cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (ZETA 2 cultivar), using a chromosome-walking technique. TPS has three exons comprising the coding region. Southern blot analysis indicated that the Gossypium genomes (A and D) contain a single copy of TPS per genome. In addition, the expression of this gene was studied in different plant tissues. Plants of the Australian cotton variety Siokra L23, known for its drought tolerance, were subjected to drought stress (using PEG 6,000 solution, for 4 h during the dark period of the day and for four consecutive days); leaves, stems and roots were collected after the end of the stress period. Total extracted RNA was examined for the presence of transcripts, in the above-mentioned tissues of stressed and well-watered plants, by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression levels, determined semi-quantitatively, indicated that the gene was expressed in all plant tissues under both water availability conditions. However, increased expression levels of TPS were observed mainly in stressed leaves and roots compared to those of the well-watered control. This finding is in agreement with the fact that TPS participates in trehalose biosynthesis, known for its participation in stress signal transduction in higher plants.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Systemic induction of volatile release in cotton: how specific is the signal to herbivory?

Plants attacked by herbivorous insects release chemical signals that attract natural enemies of the herbivores to the damaged plants. Feeding of Spodoptera exigua larvae on the lower leaves of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) for multiple feeding periods of 9-12 h with a 12 h, interval in between when the caterpillars are removed overnight, will induce a systemic release of volatile compounds that is comparable to the volatiles released in response to continuous feeding damage on the lower leaves for several days. The systemic volatile release in response to herbivory can be mimicked by mechanically damaging the lower leaves and applying caterpillar oral secretion to the injured leaves over 4 days. Cotton plants that are only mechanically damaged systemically release significantly less beta-pinene, myrcene, (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, (E)-beta-farnesene and (E,E)-alpha-farnesene after 4 days compared to plants damaged mechanically with application of caterpillar regurgitant. However, multiple 9-12 h mechanical damage alone induces a significantly higher systemic release of (Z)-3-hexenyl acetate, myrcene, (E)-beta-ocimene, and (E)-beta-farnesene after 4 days compared to undamaged control plants. This indicates that multiple mechanical damage alone cannot mimic completely the response induced by mechanically injuring the leaves and applying caterpillar regurgitant. A specific elicitor in the regurgitant of the caterpillar enhances the amount of several systemically released volatiles. Thus, the systemic release of volatile compounds by herbivore-damaged cotton plants appears to be regulated by at least two different mechanisms.

Animals↗

Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings expressing a tobacco glutathione S-transferase fail to provide improved stress tolerance.

Transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lines expressing the tobacco glutathione S-transferase (GST) Nt107 were evaluated for tolerance to chilling, salinity, and herbicides, antioxidant enzyme activity, antioxidant compound levels, and lipid peroxidation. Although transgenic seedlings exhibited ten-fold and five-fold higher GST activity under normal and salt-stress conditions, respectively, germinating seedlings did not show improved tolerance to salinity, chilling conditions, or herbicides. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in transgenic seedlings was 30% to 60% higher under normal conditions, but was not different than GPX activity in wild-type seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase activities were not increased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions, while dehydroascorbate reductase activity was decreased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Transgenic seedlings had 50% more oxidized glutathione when exposed to salt stress. Ascorbate levels were not increased in transgenic seedlings under salt-stress conditions. Malondialdehyde content in transgenic seedlings was nearly double that of wild-type seedlings under normal conditions and did not increase under salt-stress conditions. These results show that expression of Nt107 in cotton does not provide adequate protection against oxidative stress and suggests that the endogenous antioxidant system in cotton may be disrupted by the expression of the tobacco GST.

Antioxidants↗

Cotton genome mapping with new microsatellites from Acala 'Maxxa' BAC-ends.

Fine mapping and positional cloning will eventually improve with the anchoring of additional markers derived from genomic clones such as BACs. From 2,603 new BAC-end genomic sequences from Gossypium hirsutum Acala 'Maxxa', 1,316 PCR primer pairs (designated as MUSB) were designed to flank microsatellite or simple sequence repeat motif sequences. Most (1164 or 88%) MUSB primer pairs successfully amplified DNA from three species of cotton with an average of three amplicons per marker and 365 markers (21%) were polymorphic between G. hirsutum and G. barbadense. An interspecific RIL population developed from the above two entries was used to map 433 marker loci and 46 linkage groups with a genetic distance of 2,126.3 cM covering approximately 45% of the cotton genome and an average distance between two loci of 4.9 cM. Based on genome-specific chromosomes identified in G. hirsutum tetraploid (A and D), 56.9% of the coverage was located on the A subgenome while 39.7% was assigned to the D subgenome in the genetic map, suggesting that the A subgenome may be more polymorphic and recombinationally active than originally thought. The linkage groups were assigned to 23 of the 26 chromosomes. This is the first genetic map in which the linkage groups A01 and A02/D03 have been assigned to specific chromosomes. In addition the MUSB-derived markers from BAC-end sequences markers allows fine genetic and QTL mapping of important traits and for the first time provides reconciliation of the genetic and physical maps. Limited QTL analyses suggested that loci on chromosomes 2, 3, 12, 15 and 18 may affect variation in fiber quality traits. The original BAC clones containing the newly mapped MUSB that tag the QTLs provide critical DNA regions for the discovery of gene sequences involved in biological processes such as fiber development and pest resistance in cotton.

Chromosomes, Artificial, Bacterial↗

Predator-induced transgenerational phenotypic plasticity in the cotton aphid.

Transgenerational phenotypic changes, whereby offspring have an altered trait or a distinct alternate phenotype, frequently occur in response to increased maternal predation risk. The cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Glover), is unique, however, as offspring consist of four distinct phenotypes ("normal" light green apterae, "normal" dark green apterae, "dwarf" yellow apterae, and alatae), all with divergent life history patterns and resulting population dynamics. Here, we show that increased predation risk induces transgenerational phenotypic changes in cotton aphids. When exposed to search tracks from larval or adult convergent ladybird beetles, Hippodamia convergens Guerin-Meneville, cotton aphids produced greater numbers of winged offspring. In a subsequent experiment, apterous and alate individuals on clean plants were found to have primarily normal and dwarf offspring, respectively. We suggest that elevated predation risk may cause phenotypic changes in aphids over multiple generations, resulting in a more precipitous decline in herbivore populations than could be explained solely by increased predation rates.

Analysis of Variance↗

Within-plant variation in induced defence in developing leaves of cotton plants.

According to optimal defence theory (ODT) plants should invest in stronger defence in the most valuable parts, such as reproductive or young tissue. Cotton plants are known to express high resistance to herbivore feeding in the developing leaves at the top of the plant after herbivore-damage. Cotton plants also have developing leaves on side shoots from the nodes all along the plant. This allowed us to investigate within-plant distribution of defence between younger tissues at different locations on the plant. We found that all developing leaves showed increased resistance to feeding by larvae of the generalist moth Spodoptera littoralis after herbivore damage to leaves of the plant. An increase in the concentration of secondary compounds, terpenoid aldehydes, was found in developing leaves both at the top of the plant and on the side shoots. However, the resistance was stronger in the top leaves than in the side shoot leaves, showing that there is intra-plant variation in the induced response between different leaves of the same age. After the initial damage, larval feeding mainly occurred on the older, fully developed true leaves. Furthermore, the herbivore-induced resistance in the developing leaves reduced upward movement of feeding larvae on the plant and reduced the feeding on the upper parts of the plant over a period of at least 6 days. The plant thus benefits from defending all developing leaves by directing feeding to older, less valuable leaves and lower parts of the plant. The observed distribution of defence within cotton plants supports ODT.

Age Factors↗

Meta-analysis of standard mortality ratio in cotton textile workers.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary function tests may reveal obstructive lung disease with altered forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) in cotton textile workers. Since 1930, many cohort studies have been performed to assess the disease mortality rate in cotton textile workers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors performed a meta-analysis of the SMR results of these studies. RESULTS: From the meta-analysis, the SMRs were as follows: for all deaths, 0.792 in males and 0.873 in females; for cancers, 0.705 in males and 0.829 in females. DISCUSSION: The male cotton textile workers were healthier than the general population. The healthy-worker effect may be one of the causes, in general workers in industry have a better mortality patterns than those not working.

Adolescent↗

Isolation of the promoter of a cotton beta-galactosidase gene (GhGal1) and its expression in transgenic tobacco plants.

Beta-galactosidases (EC 3.2.1.23) constitute a widespread family of glycosyl hydrolases in plants and are thought to be involved in metabolism of cell wall polysaccharides. A cDNA of the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) beta-galactosidase gene, designated GhGal1, has previously been identified and its transcripts are highly abundant at the elongation stage of the cotton fiber. To examine the temporal and spatial control of GhGal1 expression, a transcriptional fusion of the GhGal1 promoter region (1770 bp) with the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was introduced into tobacco plants by the Agrobacterium infection method. The resulting transgenic plants showed higher GUS activity of fruit in the transgenic plants than that in the negative and positive controls. Histochemical localization of GUS activity demonstrated that the expression of the GUS gene could be found in the meristem zones of roots, cotyledons, vascular tissues, fruit and trichomes in transgenic tobacco plants. Additionally, sequence analysis of the regulatory region also revealed several conserved motifs among which some were shared with previously reported fruit/seed-specific elements and the others were related with trichome expression. These results indicated the temporal and spatial expression characterization of the GhGal1 promoter in transgenic tobacco plants and provided an important insight into the roles of GhGal1 in cotton fiber development.

Base Sequence↗

The diagnostic value of history, physical examination, and the Q-tip cotton swab test in women with urinary incontinence.

One hundred six consecutive women who came to our clinic complaining of urinary incontinence underwent complete urodynamic evaluation. Urologic questions, pelvic examination findings, and the Q-tip cotton swab test results were examined to determine their ability to predict genuine stress incontinence (N = 59) versus other urologic disorders (N = 47). The symptom of stress incontinence, moderate to severe cystocele, and Q-tip cotton swab test result greater than or equal to 30 degrees were more common in women with genuine stress incontinence. Of the other urologic symptoms, only sensory urgency and enuresis were significantly associated with overactive detrusor function and voiding disorders. The combined findings of stress incontinence, cystocele, and no sensory urgency correctly identified 22% of women with genuine stress incontinence and eliminated 96% of women with other urologic disorders. Stress incontinence, moderate to severe cystocele, and no sensory urgency had a positive predictive value of 100%, but a sensitivity of only 10%. When used in series, the Q-tip cotton swab test contributed no additional information to that found by history taking and physical examination.

Aged↗

The characteristic negative Cotton effect of ganglioside lactones observed by circular dichroism spectrometry.

Circular dichroism spectrometry was applied to gangliosides and their lactones and revealed that the lactones have a characteristic strong negative Cotton effect around 235 nm. Four monolactones and two dilactones, which were formed from GM4, GD3, and GD1b, gave molar ellipticities at the wavelength in magnitude of 10(4), while their parent gangliosides, along with other gangliosides such as GM3, GM1, GD1a, GT1b, and GQ1b, showed no distinct feature. Two ganglioside esters, GM4-methyl ester and O-Ac-GT1b did not show the Cotton effect. The molar ellipticities had an additivity with respect to the number of lactone rings. The Cotton effect was attributed to the carbonyl group on the lactone ring.

Animals↗

Coordinate accumulation of homeologous transcripts of seven cotton Lea gene families during embryogenesis and germination.

One of two related patterns of total transcript accumulation are seen during embryogenesis for 18 cotton Lea (Late embryogenesis-abundant) gene families in the allotetraploid cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. cv Coker 201. Coordinate accumulation in each class is complex, suggesting that Lea mRNA abundance is regulated by several events. Each of the Lea gene families probably contains two active homeologous genes (alloalleles), one in each of cotton's two subgenomes. It is of interest whether both transcripts of a Lea family are regulated the same or whether the complexity of total transcript accumulation is due to different regulation of the two transcripts. The two polypeptides encoded by the homeologous transcripts of 7 Lea families can be distinguished on two-dimensional gels. The majority of Lea transcripts in total RNAs is shown to be functional in vitro throughout development; thus in vitro translation should faithfully measure their relative abundance. The ratio of the two transcripts of each was followed during embryo maturation when Lea transcript concentration increases an average of 70-fold and during the first 12 hr of germination when Lea transcripts decline in concentration an average of 50-fold. For 6 of the Lea families, the relative level of the two transcripts is invariant throughout this period. The two constituent transcripts of the seventh, Lea9, change 5-fold in relative concentration during late maturation and 3-fold during germination. Both transcripts still follow the same temporal pattern of accumulation; only their rates of change are somewhat different. These Lea families are a random sample of the 18 described. If multiple events affect the mRNA abundance of each Lea family, such events then each affect their individual transcripts in a similar way.

Alleles↗

In vitro alternative and classical activation of complement by extracts of cotton mill dust: a possible mechanism in the pathogenesis of byssinosis.

Extracts of cotton mill dust (CDE) were shown to activate complement by the classical and alternative pathways. Activation of the classical pathway, presented in this study for the first time, was verified by C1 consumption, C2 destruction, and C4 conversion tests. The component of cotton dust that causes complement activation precipitated in the presence of 20% saturated ammonium sulfate. The data presented suggest that endotoxin is not the principal complement-activating component, as complement activation could not be correlated to endotoxin concentrations of extracts of various parts of the cotton plant. Proteolytic enzymes were also eliminated as possible causative agents of complement cleavage since CDE did not cleave purified C3 in the absence of other complement components. Polyvinylpolypyrrolidone failed to remove the complement-activating component in CDE demonstrating that polyphenolic tannins are not the causative agents. Involvement of complement activation in the pathogenesis of byssinosis could explain in part the mechanism and symptoms of the acute byssinotic reaction.

Byssinosis↗