Variation of nitrate reductase genes in selected grass species

In order to study the variation of nitrate reductase (NR) genes among grass species, gene number, intron size and number, and the heme-hinge fragment sequence of 25 grass species were compared. Genomic DNA cut with six restriction enzymes and hybridized with the barley NAD(P)H and NADH NR gene probes revealed a single NAD(P)H NR gene copy and two or more NADH NR gene copies per haploid genome in most of the species examined. Major exceptions were Hordeum vulgare, H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum, and Avena strigosa, which appeared to have a single NADH NR gene copy. The NADH NR gene intron number and lengths were examined by polymerase chain reaction amplification. Introns I and III appeared to be absent in at least one of the NADH NR genes in the grass species, while intron II varied from 0.8 to 2.4 kilobases in length. The NADH NR gene heme-hinge regions were amplified and sequenced. The estimated average overall nucleotide substitution rate in the sequenced region was 7.8 x 10(-10) substitutions/site per year. The synonymous substitution rate was 2.11 x 10(-9) substitutions/synonymous site per year and the nonsynonymous substitution rate was 4.10 x 10(-10) substitutions/nonsynonymous site per year. Phylogenetic analyses showed that all of the wild Hordeum species examined clustered in a group separate from H. vulgare and H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum.     

The theory, evaluation, and treatment of chronic pain: A selected bibliography, 1974–1983.

Presents a bibliography that includes approximately 250 publications on general body pain and low back pain gathered primarily from Psychological Abstracts and geared toward the health care psychologist. The bibliography spans the years 1974–1983 and encompasses 3 areas: general, evaluation, and treatment. The general section covers theoretical issues about pain, the evaluation section focuses on the assessment of pain, and the treatment portion is directed toward pain management. (1 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Caring and cancer nursing: framing the reality using selected social science theory

Leukotrienes (LT) are inflammatory mediators which can also exert regulatory effects on human myelopoiesis. We have studied the LT-producing capacity of freshly isolated leucocyte suspensions (containing blast cells in variable proportions) from 41 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) in blast crisis (CMLbc) at diagnosis or relapse/resistant disease. Leucocyte suspensions from 19/29 AML patients (66%), and 2/12 CMLbc patients (17%; P = 0.012) demonstrated deficient capacity to synthesize LT from endogenous substrate after ionophore A23187 stimulation. Thus, these cells produced < 8 pmol LTB4+LTC4/10(6) cells (< 20% of mean LT formation in leucocyte suspensions from 18 healthy subjects). Addition of exogenous arachidonic acid did not normalize the LT synthesis in poor-producing cell suspensions. Purified, morphologically mature granulocytes from two AML patients also failed to produce normal amounts of LT. In leucocyte suspensions from the remaining 20 AML/CMLbc patients A23187 provoked LT biosynthesis, with markedly increased production of LTC4, but decreased LTB4 formation. Furthermore, elevated conversion of exogenous LTA4 to LTC4 was noted in the patient samples, independent of their capacity to produce LT after A23187 stimulation. The percentage of blast cells in patient white blood cell differential counts correlated inversely with ionophore-induced LT synthesis, but positively with the conversion of exogenous LTA4 to LTC4. The results suggest elevated LTC4 synthase activity and suppressed 5-lipoxygenase activity as novel enzymatic features of myeloid leukaemia patients with immature phenotype.     

Deconstructing the myth of the neutral analyst: an alternative from intersubjective systems theory

A critique is offered of four conceptions of neutrality that have been prominent in the psychoanalytic literature: neutrality as (1) abstinence, (2) anonymity, (3) equidistance, and (4) empathy. It is argued that once the psychoanalytic situation is recognized as an intersubjective system of reciprocal mutual influence, the concept of neutrality is revealed to be an illusion. Hence, interpretations are always suggestions, transference is always contaminated, and analysis are never objective. An alternative to neutrality is found in the investigatory stance of empathic-introspective inquiry. This mode of inquiry is sharply distinguished from the prescribing of self-expressive behavior on the part of analysis, and the distinction is illustrated with a clinical vignette.     

The selected information sources on poisoning and toxicology

The third leading cause of unintentional injury death in 1993 was poisoning by solids and liquids, just behind motor vehicle accidents and falls. Poisoning and toxicology impacts all health care professionals. Physicians and emergency medicine professionals manage acute care, health educators address prevention and public education, and researchers focus on advancements. This article is an introduction to selected basic through advanced print and electronic information sources for anyone interested in poisoning and toxicology. All sources are available through the Hawaii Medical Library.     

Using jurors to determine significance and usefulness of selected books in consultation theory, research, and practice.

In this pilot study, the merit of using a jury approach for highlighting likely familiarity and significance of 26 books published in the consultation field was examined. Six surveys from recognized experts in consultation practice and consultant training and 16 surveys from individuals who participated in the 1995 Keystone Corporate Psychology Conference were examined. Significance was defined in terms of influence on the development of consultation theories or models, subsequent research, consultation practice, and graduate curricula. Results show that familiarity with specific books varied depending on each book's relevance to the jury member's professional work. Significance ratings of most books were remarkably similar between the 2 groups. Implications and limitations of the survey are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The microstructure of selected annealed vanadium-base alloys

The microstructures of three vanadium-base alloys in the referenced annealed state were investigated by analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction. The most common precipitates in all three alloys were particles of fcc TiN_1−x−yC_xO_y. In the alloy V-15Cr-5Ti, particles of type M₂₃C₆ were also found. Additional phases in the alloys V-3Ti-1Si and V-20Ti include Ti_1.7P- and Ti₈S₃-type precipitates. Precise lattice parameters of the matrices and the titanium carbonitrides were also measured. Weight percentages of the combined precipitates were determinedvia electrolytic extraction procedures.     

The control of microvascular permeability and blood pressure by neutral endopeptidase

Plasma extravasation from postcapillary venules is one of the earliest steps of inflammation. Substance P (SP) and bradykinin (BK) mediate extravasation and cause hypotension. The cell-surface enzyme neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inactivates both peptides. Thus, absence of NEP may predispose development of inflammation and hypotension. We examined these possibilities in mice in which the NEP gene was deleted by homologous recombination. There was widespread basal plasma extravasation in postcapillary venular endothelia in NEP-/- mice, which was reversed by recombinant NEP and antagonists of SP (NK1) and BK (B2) receptors. Mean arterial blood pressure was 20% lower in NEP-/- animals, but this was unaffected by reintroduction of recombinant NEP and the kinin receptor antagonists. The hypotension was also independent of nitric oxide (NO), because NEP-/- mice treated with a NO synthase inhibitor remained hypotensive relative to the wild type. Thus, NEP has important roles in regulating basal microvascular permeability by degrading SP and BK, and may regulate blood pressure set point through a mechanism that is independent of SP, BK and NO. The use of NEP antagonists as candidate drugs in cardiovascular disease is suggested by the blood pressure data reported herein.     

The double-bind theory and hemodialysis

A review of the literature on the psychosocial problems attending hemodialysis provides no coherent theory or approach to explain the high incidence of psychiatric morbidity in this medical population. The literature is characterized in the main by the assumption that the problems lie either in the patients or in the stresses consequent to the treatment. Little recognition is given the fact that hemodialysis patients, unlike patients in other medical categories, are involved in intense, ongoing, and in many cases permanent, interpersonal relationships with medical professionals. Instead of looking at the personalities, predispositions, or capacities of patients, or how these responded to handicap and stress, the focus here is on the structure or pattern of the staff-patient relationships in this context.     

Evidence for a major gene for type II diabetes and linkage analyses with selected candidate genes in Mexican-Americans

We have carried out two independent family studies in low-income Mexican-Americans from San Antonio, Texas. In the first study, probands were ascertained at random without regard to any medical condition (658 examined individuals from 50 families), and in the second study, probands were subjects with type II diabetes identified in a prior epidemiological survey (523 examined individuals from 29 families). Pedigrees ranging in size from 2 to 45 family members (median 11) in the first study and from 2 to 50 family members (median 12) in the second study were examined. Diabetes was diagnosed according to World Health Organization criteria. In both sets of families, segregation analyses revealed support for a major gene with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance influencing early age of onset of diabetes. Non-Mendelian inheritance was rejected in both data sets. Individuals with the early age of onset allele had a mean age of diabetes onset of 51 years in the first data set and 60 years in the second data set. In the first data set, the major gene accounted for approximately 70% of the phenotypic variance in age of onset of diabetes, and there were no residual family effects once the major gene effect was taken into account. In the second data set, the major gene accounted for approximately 50% of the phenotypic variance, and residual family effects were statistically significant. Linkage analyses were performed with 11 candidate genes, and tight linkage with diabetes was rejected for Rh blood group, glucose transporter 2, fatty acid-binding protein, tumor necrosis factor beta, glucokinase, and lipoprotein lipase. A logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 0.92 at a recombination fraction of 0.05 was observed for insulin receptor substrate 1. This LOD score corresponds to a chi2 of 4.24 (P = 0.039).     

The amount and pattern of DNA polymorphism under the neutral mutation hypothesis

The amount and pattern of DNA polymorphism can give useful information on the maintenance mechanism of genetic variation at the DNA level. In this note we have shown the amount and pattern of DNA polymorphism expected under the neutral theory. The amount of DNA polymorphism can be estimated from the average number of nucleotide differences per site, the proportion of segregating sites, and so on. We have shown how to estimate theta from these quantities, where theta = 4Nv, N is the effective population size and v is the mutation rate per site per generation. We have also shown the expectations of the nucleotide variation within and between allelic classes.     

弱磁性铁矿物的表面自磁化

利用菱铁矿和赤铁矿在酸性体系中的溶解特性,无需添加任何铁离子,只需调节矿浆的pH值,然后通过控制反应温度即可实现矿物表面的自磁化.实验考察了反应时间、铁离子浓度、过氧化氢添加量和反应温度等因素对菱铁矿在酸性体系中溶解行为的影响.在100℃条件下,通过表面自磁化反应,菱铁矿磁选回收率从53.8%提高到94.6%,因此可以确定反应温度是影响自磁化的重要因素.利用赤铁矿和菱铁矿的混合矿物重复菱铁矿单矿物的自磁化实验,混合矿物回收率从66.8%提高到了72.6%.最后利用含有赤铁矿和菱铁矿的实际矿石进行自磁化实验,结果与单矿物实验和混合矿物实验相一致,磁选回收率从46.3%提高到了63.1%,实现了样品的自磁化.