An extended HLA-DQ-DR haplotype rather than DRB1 alone contributes to RA predisposition

A family with 1 case of retinitis pigmentosa (III-1) and 2 cases of Oguchi's disease (III-2, 3) was examined in terms of electrophysiology as well as molecular biology. The proband (III-3), a 42-year-old female, and 2 older brothers (III-1, 2, aged 52 and 45 years) and 2 unaffected members in the same family participated in this study. Corrected visual acuities of the individuals with Oguchi's disease (III-2, 3) were 1.2. On funduscopy, blood vessels stood out in relief against a metallic-appearing background and a Mizuo-Nakamura phenomenon was evident. Full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) recorded from the proband were indicative of rod dystrophy, but results of other electrophysiological examinations (multifocal ERG, pattern ERG and visual-evoked cortical potential recordings) were within normal limits. Patient III-1 had corrected visual acuities of RE 20 cm/m.m. and LE 30 cm/n.d., severe chorioretinal atrophy in both fundi, and full-field ERG revealed rod-cone dystrophy. Mutation of the arrestin gene (1147de1A) was detected in all 3 patients. Visual function in each patient coincides with that of retinitis pigmentosa or Oguchi's disease, respectively.     

Muscle mass and fat mass in relation to bone mineral density in very old men and women: the Framingham Heart Study

Aim of the study was investigate the cross-sectional relationship between body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) in very old men and women. The study sample consisted of 504 women and 285 men, aged 72-93 yr, participating in examination 22 (1992-1993) of the Framingham Heart Study. Total body BMD, regional BMD, and soft-tissue body composition was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Both muscle mass and percentage body fat were positively associated with total body BMD in women. After adjustment for age, physical activity, smoking status, estrogen use, and thiazide use, BMD increased with increasing tertile of muscle mass (p = 0.007) and with increasing tertile of percentage body fat (p = 0.0001) in women. In men muscle mass, not percentage body fat, was positively associated with BMD. After adjustment for potential confounders, BMD remained associated with muscle mass only (p = 0.02). These results were similar for leg BMD and arm BMD. The study suggests that the influence of muscle and fat mass on bone mineral density is different between very old men and women.     

Designing the MPC105 PCI bridge/memory controller

The MPC105 peripheral component interconnection bridge/memory controller provides a platform-specification-compliant bridge between Power PC microprocessors and the PCI bus. With it, designers can create systems using peripherals already designed for a variety of standard PC interfaces. This bridge chip also integrates a secondary cache controller and high-performance memory controller that supports DRAM or synchronous DRAM and ROM or flash ROM     

Primary traits of Eysenck's P-E-N system: three- and five-factor solutions

The Eysenck Personality Profiler (EPP), a set of 21 scales measuring primary traits hypothesized to be definers of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Psychoticism factors, was administered to 229 adults together with the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire--Revised (H. J. Eysenck & S. B. G. Eysenck, 1991) and the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992b). Correlations of EPP scales with NEO-PI-R facet scales provided preliminary evidence supporting the convergent and discriminant validity of the EPP scales. However, varimax and targeted validimax factor analyses suggested that some EPP scales were misclassified and that EPP scales could better be understood in terms of the 5-factor model than the intended 3-factor model.     

Item bias in cognitive screening measures: comparisons of elderly white, Afro-American, Hispanic and high and low education subgroups

A study of item bias in standard cognitive screening measures was conducted in a sample of Afro-American, Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elderly respondents who were part of a dementia case registry study. The methods of item-response theory were applied to identify biased items. Both cross-cultural and high and low education groups were examined to determine which items were biased. Out of 50 cognitive items examined from six widely used cognitive screening measures, 16 were identified as biased for either high and low education groups or ethnic/racial group membership.     

A review of contractor selection practice in the U.K. construction industry

Background, prime influences upon present day methods and current trends in United Kingdom tendering practices are reviewed. Significant weaknesses are identified, confirming the need for some revision of existing contractor selection methods. The findings compliment recommendations of the recent government/industry review of the construction sector headed by Sir Michael Latham. Specifically, that tendering procedure should embrace investigation of contractors' potential to deliver a service of acceptable standard, on time, within budget. Present selection methods often fail in this objective, being inclined to discriminate predominantly on cost.