Analysis of the p53 gene in patients with isochromosome 17q and Ph1-positive or -negative myeloid leukemia

Increased incidence of p53 gene aberrations or chromosome 17p monosomy resulting from an isochromosome 17q [i(17q)] has been observed with transition of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) to myeloid blast crisis (BC), and in some patients with poor risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) progressing from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). These data suggested that disease progression may be linked to bi-allelic inactivation of p53. Here, we report on p53 gene analyses of nine patients with CML-BC and AML who showed an i(17q) as characteristic cytogenetic anomaly. Using Southern blots, agarose gel electrophoresis and single-strand conformation polymorphism analyses of PCR products from genomic DNA and cDNA, spanning exons 4 through 9, we did not detect any structural abnormalities of the remaining p53 allele. These findings question the hypothesis that p53 gene alterations are the principal molecular event responsible for progression of CML chronic phase or MDS to i(17q)-positive CML-BC or AML, respectively.     

Tailoring plasmonic and electrostatic field effects to maximize solar energy conversion by bacteriorhodopsin, the other natural photosynthetic system

We have explored the plasmonic field enhancement of current production from bacteriorhodopsin (bR) by maximizing the blue light effect, where the influx of blue photons absorbed by the long-lived M intermediate drastically shortens the time scale of the bR photocycle, leading to current enhancement. To this end, we used three approaches in our solution-based cell: (1) We improved the charge carrier separation in solution through the use of a proton-selective Nafion membrane. (2) We maximized the plasmonic surface field effects by selecting the capping polymer with minimum surface field screening and best nanoparticle stability. (3) We selected the plasmonic nanoparticle with the strongest plasmonic field whose surface plasmon resonance has the largest spectral overlap with the blue light absorbing M-intermediate. Theoretical models are used to explain experimental results, which show a 40 nm cuboidal nanoparticle capped with 55k PVP polymer to give the best photocurrent enhancement. Enhanced by this particle, bR in our Nafion membrane solution cell gave a photocurrent of 0.21 μA/cm(3), which is 5000 times larger than the published results for thin film bR electrochemical cells even with an applied bias. Additional possible enhancements are proposed.     

An Internet measure of the value of citations

A new method for computing the value of citations is introduced and compared with the PageRank algorithm for author ranking. In our proposed approach, the value of each publication is expressed in CENTs (sCientific currENcy Tokens). The publication’s value is then divided by the number of citations made by that publication to yield a value for each citation. As citations are the acknowledgements of the work by authors other than oneself (indicating that it has been useful), self-citations count as zero in acknowledged citation value. Circular citations, a generalized type of self-citation, are considered to have a reduced acknowledged citation value. Finally, we propose a modification of the h-index to define it as the largest integer such that the i-th publication (on the list of publications sorted by their value in CENTs) is worth more than i CENTs. This new index, termed the i-index or i² in short, appears to be a more precise measure of the impact of publications and their authors’ productivity than the h-index.     

Unidirectional voltage converter for battery electric vehicle ultrafast charger

Microsystem Technologies - This paper proposes the use of a frequency converter used in the AC motor drives to build a fast charging battery converter for electric vehicles (EV). The possibility of...     

The “model minority myth”: Internalized racialism of positive stereotypes as correlates of psychological distress, and attitudes toward help-seeking.

Stereotypes associated with Asian Americans (model minority group) are, at times, positive. Endorsement of these stereotypes (i.e., internalized racialism) might contribute to Asian's distress and their attitudes toward seeking services. The purpose of this study was to use the theory of “status-based rejection sensitivity” as a way to examine the relationship between internalized racialism (i.e., endorsement and/or internalization of positive Asian stereotypes) and psychological distress, and attitudes toward help-seeking among 291 Asian Americans. Results indicated that higher levels of endorsement of positive Asian stereotypes were related to higher levels of psychological distress and more negative attitudes toward help-seeking. No evidence was found for the moderating roles of internalized racialism in the endorsement of positive Asian stereotypes–distress/help-seeking links. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Well-distributed SIFT features

A method to enhance the recognition of spatially distributed features, based on the scale invariant feature transform (SIFT), is reported. The key idea is to modify the way in which the selection of a set of contender interest points from each input image is carried out, using a non-maximal suppression approach in the different scale spaces.     

Mass spectrometry-based glycomics strategy for exploring N-linked glycosylation in eukaryotes and bacteria

N-Glycosylation of proteins is recognized as one of the most common posttranslational modifications in eukaryotes. To date, most glycomics techniques are limited to examining eukaryotic pathways. Technologies capable of characterizing newly described N-linked glycosylation systems in bacteria from biologically relevant samples in an accurate, rapid, and cost-effective manner are needed. In this paper, a new glycomics strategy, based on the combination of nonspecific proteolytic digestion and permethylation, was devised that can be used for both eukaryotic and bacterial glycoproteins. Eukaryotic glycoproteins were digested with Pronase E with a higher ratio (enzyme/protein, 2:1-3:1) and a longer reaction time (48-72 h). The Asn-glycans were then purified using porous graphitic carbon cartridges followed by permethylation. The mass spectrometric data indicated that hydroxyl groups were methylated, while the amino group in asparagine underwent beta-elimination. Both modifications were evident from an increase of 111 Da in the molecular masses of permethylated Asn-glycans compared to the corresponding free oligosaccharides. NMR spectroscopy corroborated these results by showing that the mass difference resulted from beta-elimination of the free amino group in the asparagine residue. The method was validated with the characterization of the N-linked glycoproteins in total protein extracts from the bacterium Campylobacter jejuni 11168H. In addition to detecting the Asn-linked bacterial heptasaccharide, we also observed an unexpected free heptasaccharide intermediate that required a functional glycosylation pathway. These results demonstrate the usefulness of this method for screening N-linked glycans expressed by eukaryotes and bacteria and for detecting novel intermediates of N-linked glycosylation pathways.     

Space charge and dielectric response in polar fluids

The assumption of "low signal" response is important in relation to the interpretation of the interaction of the electrical field (dc and ac) with mobile charge carriers. The existence of such a response is assumed in linear samples under the condition of absence of space charge. Experimental evidence as well as theoretical arguments of formation of hetero-charge in liquid-like materials have been reported. The materials, of course, are of low electrical conductivity. It has been demonstrated that the existence of space charge field is not always followed by sample nonlinearity. It is the case, where space charge field acts as a macrodipole with particular time or frequency response function. In principle, dc and ac sample responses should be the same because of the lack of nonlinearities. However, there is experimental evidence that this statement is not always true. The important problem seems to be the detection of space charge effects, which is particularly difficult in the case of ac measurements. There is a proposal to use dc combined with ac or dc measurements     

Oxidation studies on coking coal related to weathering. 3. The influence of acidic hydroxyl groups,created during oxidation,on the plasticity and dilatation of the weathered coking coal

A high-volatile bituminous coal possessing a high Gieseler fluidity and large dilatation was subjected to slight oxidation in air under chosen conditions. The resultant ‘oxycoal’ was treated with various chemical reagents in order to determine to what extent the original caking properties of this coal, as measured by Gieseler fluidity and dilatation, could be restored. Treatment with aqueous barium hydroxide or barium acetate solutions succeeded in doing so to a considerable degree. It is tentatively concluded that certain acidic hydroxyl groups formed in the course of oxidation are indirectly responsible for the deterioration of fluidity and dilatation — possibly via condensation reactions involving the hydroxyl groups — during subsequent pyrolysis of oxycoal. The presence of carboxyl groups appears to have no effect.