We describe the construction of a database of extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars in the Galaxy. Our database contains detailed elemental abundances, reported equivalent widths, atmospheric parameters, photometry, and binarity status, compiled from papers in the literature that report on studies of EMP halo stars with [Fe=H] Ä 2.5. The compilation procedures for this database were designed to assemble data effectively from electronic tables available from online journals. We have also developed a data retrieval system that enables data searches by various criteria and illustrations to explore relationships between stored variables. Currently, our sample includes 1212 unique stars (many of which are studied by more than one group) with more than 15000 individual reported elemental abundances, covering relevant papers published by 2007 December. We discuss the global characteristics of the present database, as revealed by the EMP stars observed to date. For stars with [Fe=H] Ä 2.5, the number of giants with reported abundances is larger than that of dwarfs by a factor of two. The fraction of carbon-rich stars (among the sample for which the carbon abundance is reported) amounts to 30% for [Fe=H] Ä 2.5. We find that known binaries exhibit different distributions of the orbital period, according to whether they are giants or dwarfs, and also as a function of the metallicity, although the total sample of such stars is still quite small.

Because sampling of the paired lobes (ventral, dorsal, lateral, and anterior) of the mouse prostate has often been inconsistent , comparisons among different investigations have lacked validity. The absence of site identi cation for prostatic lesions has made reported incidences relatively nonspeci c. We present here the lobe-speci c incidences and degree of severity of spontaneou s lesions in prostate, coagulating gland (anterior prostatic lobe), seminal vesicles, and ampullary glands in 612 control B6C3F 1 mice from 12 recent National Toxicology Program 2-year carcinogenicity and toxicity studies conducted in 1 of 4 different laboratories. Lymphocyti c in ltration, in ammation, epithelial hyperplasia, mucinous cyst, and mucinous metaplasia were observed in the dorsolateral lobes. Lymphocytic in ltration, in ammation, epithelial hyperplasia, and edema were present in the ventral lobes. Lymphocytic in ltration, acinar dilatation, in ammation, epithelial hyperplasia, and atrophy occurred in the coagulating glands. No neoplastic lesions were observed in the prostate or coagulating gland. Lymphocytic in ltration, acinar dilatation, in ammation, atrophy, adenoma, adenocarcinoma , and a granular cell tumor were observed in the seminal vesicles. Lymphocytic in ltration was also present in the ampullary glands. The results of our survey indicate that the amounts of glandular tissues were not present consistently in slides from the different laboratories. Landmarks for uniform tissue trimming are needed. We therefore suggest an optimal trimming and embedding method for mouse prostate and seminal vesicles to ensure adequate, consistent sampling.

Because the paired lobes (ventral, dorsal, lateral, and anterior) of the rat prostate have not been consistently sampled in many carcinogenicity and toxicity studies, comparison among different investigations has been compromised. The lack of specific site identification for prostatic lesions further lessens the value of incidences reported. We present here the lobe-specific incidences and degree of severity of background prostatic, seminal vesicular, and ampullary glandular lesions in 1768 control Fischer-344 rats from 35 recent National Toxicology Program 2-year carcinogenicity and toxicity studies conducted in 4 laboratories. The dorsal and lateral lobes were combined and considered the dorsolateral lobe where inflammation, epithelial degeneration, mucinous cysts, and edema were observed. Inflammation in the dorsolateral lobes was significantly associated with pituitary gland adenoma whose prolactin was suggested to play an important role in pathogenesis of prostatic inflammation. Epithelial degeneration, epithelial hyperplasia, inflammation, edema, and adenoma were conspicuous in the ventral lobes. Inflammation and edema occurred in the anterior lobes (coagulating glands). Inflammation, dilatation, epithelial hyperplasia, edema, and adenoma were observed in the seminal vesicles. Inflammation was also present in the ampullary glands. We suggest an optimal embedment and trimming method in rat prostate and seminal vesicle to ensure adequate, consistent sampling.

SUMMARYThe TK-5803 strain of an agent which induces chicken anaemia was propagated and titrated in cultures of the MDCC-MSB1 cell line. When the isolates (tentatively designated MSBI-TK-5803 strain) from the original material were inoculated into 1-day-old susceptible chicks, they showed a severe pathogenicity, inducing anaemia with aplasia of the bone marrow and atrophy of the lymphoid organs. On density gradient separation, the peak of their infectivity titre appeared at a density of 1.35 to 1.36 g/cm 3 and numerous virus particles were demonstrated in the same fraction. The agent was resistant to heating for 30 min at 60°C and 50% chloroform for 15 min at 4°C, and passed through a 25 nm membrane filter, but it was completely inactivated after heating for 30 min at 70°C or more. The purified virus particles were spherical or hexagonal in shape and 19.1 ± 0.2 nm in diameter.