Evolution of gypsy-group retrotransposons: phylogenetic analysis of domains included in the pol-polyprotein

Transposons of gypsy group are assigned to LTR-containing retrotransposons present in the genomes of invertebrates, fungi, and plants. In this work, a theoretical analysis of the potential products of ORFs of these retrotranposons was conducted. Alignments were obtained and trees of similarity were constructed for domains of the POL region. On the basis of the obtained data, two hypothetically monophyletic subgroups of transposons were distinguished within the framework of the gypsy group, settling the genomes of taxonomically related organisms (the subgroup of "true" gypsy of insects and the subgroup of gypsy-like transposons of plants and fungi). A number of peculiarities of the topology of these trees hypothetically indicate cases of genetic conversion and recombination of domains accompanying the evolution of this group. The amino acid substitution fixation rate was evaluated on the basis of comparison of sequences of the protein products of ORFs. Estimates of the time of divergence of subgroups of gypsy-group transposons are significantly less than estimates of the times of divergence of their host species. One explanation for this discrepancy might be the hypothesis of settlement by transposons of the genomes of isolated host species.     

Body thiamine level in acute alcohol psychoses

PURPOSE: To compare admission data and academic performances of medical students younger and older than 25, and to qualify older students' experiences and perceptions in medical school. METHOD: The authors reviewed 1988-1991 data for applications to the McGill University Faculty of Medicine. Data included GPAs and MCAT scores, as well as ratings for reference letters, autobiographical statements, and interviews. For those same years, the authors measured students' academic performances in the preclinical and clinical years. The authors compared the data by students' age: "younger" students, aged 17 to 24; and "older" students, aged 25 and above. All enrolled students took the Derogatis Stress Profile, and the older students participated in focus groups. RESULTS: The older applicants had lower GPAs and MCAT scores, but higher interview and reference letter ratings. For older accepted students, basic science course scores were lower than those of younger students, but clinical scores did not differ significantly between the groups. The two groups had similar stress levels, although older students tested lower in driven behavior, relaxation potential, attitude posture, and hostility. In focus groups, the older students spoke of learning style differences, loss of social support, and loss of professional identity. CONCLUSION: Different scores in admission criteria suggest that McGill uses different standards to select older medical students. Older students admitted under different criteria, however, do just as well as do younger students by their clinical years. A broad-based study of admission criteria and outcomes for the older student population is warranted.     

Integrated information resource system of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a technology for developing digital libraries

Problems of developing digital libraries are considered. An analysis of this class of distributed information systems is given. The main effort is focused on the formalization of properties of the stored objects and operations, which makes it possible to construct a formal model of digital libraries. This model can serve as a basis for designing development tools. Systems based on this approach are called integrated information resource systems (IIRS). In particular, the information retrieval system of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IIRS RAS) is based on these principles. The paper is organized as follows. First, the aim of the paper is outlined. Then, the definition of a digital library is given (as it is understood by the authors), basic concepts are discussed, and IIRS is considered as a digital library. The notion of the resource is introduced as the basic object to be processed. Metadata and their role in the system of digital libraries are considered, as well as the role of relationships and data organization. Then, the architecture and functional capabilities of IIRS are considered, and, in particular, a metamodel of the system, data search, and the implementation of data distribution. The current implementation of IIRS RAS is briefly outlined.     

Action of levorin on glucose transport in the rat small intestine

The technique of accumulating preparation of the mucosa and "turned out sac" was used to show that levorin, a polyenic antibiotic in a concentration of 10(-6) M, lowered the transport rate and accumulation of glucose by the epithelial cells of the rat thin intestine under conditions of oxygenation. Suppression of the glucose transport in the first stages resulted in partial inhibition of the transmembrane transfer. It is suggested that levorin suppression of the glucose transport through the erythrocyte apical membrane in the thin intestine is associated with a decrease in the electrochemical gradient of Na+.     

Variants of fractionation of irradiation in intracavitary gamma-therapy

Under study was the efficacy of three schedules of dose fractionation in intracavitary gamma-therapy in cervical cancer patients treated on the machine "AGAT-B". Single doses were 1000, 700 and 500 rad, while total dosage at point A depending on the stage of the disease was within the range of 4000-5000 rad. The survival during the first, second and third years following termination of the radiotherapy was found to be identical for patients of all the groups under examination. No differences were noted in them also in the character of early radiation reactions on the part of the adjacent organs. The frequency and severity of late radiation injuries of the urinary bladder, rectum and vagina were related to the dose fractionation regimen.     

Peculiarities of primary and secondary structure of phage FI-1 DNA

The composition of nitrous bases of phage FI-1 DNA was studied. As is evidenced from the values of buoyant density in CsCl (p=1,7093 g/cm(3)), melting temperature (T degrees m=86,05 degrees), spectral parameters and direct chromatographic determination, the DNA analysed contains 41,5 mole% pairs of guanine-cystosine. 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and other anomalous bases were not found. Chemical identification and jaxtposition of data of buoyant density in CsCl and Cs2SO4 (p=1,4466 g/cm(3)) and T degrees m. showed the presence of the extra-sugar component in DNA, most likely in the form of hentibiose. Spectral character of thermal denaturation of DNA in different solvents is indicative of the double helixity of its structure. DNA is characterized by enthalpies of conformational transitions "helix coil" (deltaH=12,3 kcal/g) and (deltaH=10 kcal/g) for the solvents, 1 x SSC, and 0,1 x SSC, correspondingly. The presence of extra-sugar in DNA with standard set of nitrous bases is discussed.     

对旋风机级间流场涡量和噪声分布规律的分析

利用LES（大涡模拟）方法对一台对旋风机进行全流场非定常的模拟计算,获得风机内部流场的数值模拟数据。在对旋风机级间流场设置若干监测面,并在监测面的轮毂、流道和机壳位置分别设置监测点,并将对旋风机两级叶轮中间区域的涡量分布情况进行分析,研究对旋风机两级叶轮中间流场涡量分布的特点;利用FW-H噪声模型对对旋风机气动噪声分布情况进行模拟;研究涡量分布与风机噪声特性之间的关系。研究结果可为对旋风机气动噪声分析提供参考。     

自动指纹识别系统中指纹图像分割方法的研究

在研究和分析传统的指纹分割方法：方差法和方向图法的基础上,介绍了一种基于最大类间方差的指纹图像分割方法,并将它和方向图法合理结合,然后提出了一种新的基于方向图和最大类间方差的复合分割方法。该复合分割方法的优点是不仅具有良好的分割效果,而且该方法在运算速度上比传统方法更快,更适合于实时处理。     

塑封电子器件负极端变色原因分析

利用X—RAY光电子能谱仪对125°下,通电15kV,96h后负极一端出现白色物质的塑封电容器进行分析。对比分析性氧化铝结发现,负极一端白色物质为氧化铝富集所致。造成该现象的原因是,环氧塑封料中含有活性氧化铝,由于固化不完全或吸潮导致环氧塑封料中残留水分,残留的水分与活合,在电应力的作用下,有向电源负极迁移的趋势;同时,由于温度效应的存在,塑封树脂软化,加速了水分与活性氧化铝向电源负极迁移的速度,形成了氧化铝在负极端富聚现象,使电容器负极端呈现白色。     

氨气预氮化制备超薄氮化硅薄膜及电学性能

为寻求制备性能良好的纳米厚度氮化硅(SiN_x)薄膜的方法,采用NH_3等离子体氮化、SiH_4/NH_3等离子增强化学淀积法及先氮化后淀积的方法制备了三种SiN_x薄膜,研究比较了三种薄膜的性质。用X射线光电子谱检测了NH_3等离子体氮化Si片得到的SiN_x薄膜的组分,利用椭圆偏振光谱仪测量薄膜厚度,估算了氮化速率。用NH_3和SiH_4作为反应气,分别在原始硅片和经过NH_3预氮化后的硅片上淀积厚度为5 nm、10 nm和50 nm的SiN_x薄膜。用电容-电压法研究了薄膜样品的电学性质,发现单纯用NH_3等离子体氮化的薄膜不适合做介质膜,而先用NH_3氮化再淀积SiN_x的样品比直接淀积SiN_x的样品界面性能明显改善,界面态密度降低到1～2×10~(11)eV~(-1) cm~(-2)。