On interpreting the several standard errors of the WAIS-R: Some further tables.

Discusses the significance of confidence intervals around IQ scores based on a misleading interpretation of the standard error of measurement terms provided in the WAIS-R manual. Further standard error values that can be used to define the intervals around predicted true scores are given, together with a table for determining the abnormality of WAIS-R Verbal and Performance IQ discrepancies. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An iterative algorithm for correcting sequencing errors in DNA coding regions

Insertion and deletion (indel) sequencing errors in DNA coding regions disrupt DNA-to-protein translation frames, and hence make most frame-sensitive coding recognition approaches fail. This paper extends the authors' previous work on indel detection and "correction" algorithms, and presents a more effective algorithm for localizing indels that appear in DNA coding regions and "correcting" the located indels by inserting or deleting DNA bases. The algorithm localizes indels by discovering changes of the preferred translation frames within presumed coding regions, and then "corrects" them to restore a consistent translation frame within each coding region. An iterative strategy is exploited to repeatedly localize and "correct" indels until no more indels can be found. Test results have shown that this improved algorithm can detect and "correct" more indels while not worsening the rate of introduction of false indels when compared to the authors' previous work.     

Sources of DNA for detecting B cell monoclonality using PCR

AIMS: To evaluate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) demonstration of clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements using routinely prepared, unstained, and stained formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded tissue samples. METHODS: Extracts from (a) fresh frozen tissue samples, (b) unstained, and (c) haematoxylin and eosin stained formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded 5 microns tissue sections from 42 cases of low grade B cell lymphoma, all shown to be monoclonal by Southern blot analysis, were analysed using PCR. Two regions of the variable segment of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene were amplified (framework 2 to joining region [Fr2/JH] and framework 3 to joining region [Fr3/JH]). Twelve samples of reactive lymphoid tissue were studied as controls. Products from each case were directly compared on polyacrylamide gels. RESULTS: Using both primer combinations, monoclonality was detected in 38 of 42 (90%) cases using fresh material, 37 of 42 (88%) using unstained paraffin wax embedded samples, and in 35 of 42 (83%) cases using haematoxylin and eosin stained sections. No false positive results attributable to fixation, processing, or staining were identified, although the efficiency of amplification using the Fr2/JH primers was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: PCR determination of B cell clonality using paraffin wax embedded material is sufficiently sensitive and reliable for use as a routine diagnostic adjunct to conventional morphological and immunocytochemical assessment of lymphoproliferative disease.     

Sources of gain in psychotherapy.

Insight is not a cause of change but a possible result of change. "It is not a source of therapeutic gain but one among a number of possible consequences of gain." 5 "major sources of gain, five kinds of experiences that are the well-springs of personality reorganization" are specified. Psychotherapy is a unique life situation designed to maximize these sources of gain: (a) a sustaining experience of intimacy with another human without getting hurt; (b) divesting verbal and other symbols of their anxiety producing potential; (c) the transference relationship; (d) client opportunities to practice decision making, to learn to be responsible for himself, to develop an improved self-concept; and (e) insight which facilitates repression and symptom elimination, and involves cognitive structure modifications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Carnitine deficiency in inborn errors of metabolism

Several conditions, considered as inborn errors of metabolism, involve severe deficiencies in carnitine in both plasma and muscle. In the absence of evidence suggesting primary carnitine deficiency due to a biosynthetic enzymatic defect in the liver, the various diseases with carnitine deficiency are related to genetic defects in organic acid metabolism leading to blocked mitochondrial beta oxidation. We describe a 4.5-year-old boy and 2 female infants with glutaric aciduria type I, isovaleric acidemia, and long-chain acid dehydrogenase deficiency, in whom severe carnitine deficiency was apparent. In all 3, long-term carnitine treatment proved to be vital and eliminated most of the symptoms.     

Comprehensive study of several general and type-specific primer pairs for detection of human papillomavirus DNA by PCR in paraffin-embedded cervical carcinomas

We have compared the efficacies of three general primer pairs for the detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded carcinomas. The use of these primer pairs leads to underestimates of the HPV prevalence (GP5/6, 61.1%; CPI/IIG, 57.4%; MY09/11, 46.9%; combined, 72.8%). The efficacy of each primer pair seemed to be inversely correlated to the length of the amplimer produced. By using newly developed type-specific primer pairs (amplimer length, approximately 100 bp), an increase in HPV DNA detection (87.6%) was found.     

Location errors in tachistoscopic recognition: Guesses, probe errors, or spatial confusions?

Examined whether location errors in tachistoscopic visual probe tasks reflect (1) uncertainty about the actual position of items, (2) inappropriate guesses, encouraged by a requirement to respond, or (3) confusion about the position being tested. 46 undergraduates completed probe tasks in which they provided confidence ratings on each trial and tasks that substituted a color cue for a visual pointer or used a double bar probe. Results suggest that location errors on visual probe tasks reflect confusion about the spatial position of target items. Findings are consistent with data questioning the concept of iconic memory and imply that the bar-probe task cannot be used to study precategorical visual memory. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sources of information in word perception.

Disyllabic words were presented tachistoscopically to a total of 16 undergraduates in 2 experiments, and report of the words was required. In Exp I, word frequency was varied but the frequencies of the constituent syllables were held constant. In Exp II, syllable frequency varied while word frequency remained constant. The prime determinant of perceptual accuracy was word frequency, but an analysis of partial errors showed that some discriminability effects at both the word and the syllable level were present. There was a slight advantage for the 1st syllable over the 2nd within a word. There was no overall improvement with practice, but errors on high frequency words became fewer and on low frequency words correspondingly more frequent. Results suggest that word perception involves extraction and resynthesis of information about components of several different sizes within a word. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sources of variability in grain boundary segregation

This paper considers the sources of variability in segregation to random high angle grain boundaries. The variation in segregation to most grain boundaries is within ±30% of an average value. However, the composition of some boundaries is even farther away from the average. Although deviation in fracture path, bulk chemical inhomogeneities, and a lack of equilibrium can contribute to the variation, analysis of the data clearly shows that differences in grain boundary structure must play a role. The cause of the relationship between structure and segregation is discussed in terms of chemical bonds that are formed between the segregant and the metal atoms comprising the boundary. Finally, it is shown that variation in segregation in a single boundary is not as great as the variation among grain boundaries.