A Note on the Density Wave Model of the Galaxy

In this paper the general gas dynamical equations have been solved in the wave form and the general dispersion relation has been deduced. This dispersion relation has been used with simplifying assumptions plausible for special regions of the Galaxy, and results obtained have been shown to be able to interpret some observed dynamical behaviours as well as the distributional property of the gas in those special regions. For example, the analysis has yielded the interpretation of (a) the absence of any wave-pattern in the central region of the Galaxy, (b) the largescale deviation of the gas from the galactic plane in the outer regions of the Galaxy and (c) probably, the large-scale outflow of gas in the central region, as well as the large outward motion of the 3kpc arm. The analysis further indicates that in the solar neighbourhood the rotation curve of the Galaxy may possess a local maximum

ESBL, MBL AND AMP C-β LACTAMASES PRODUCED BY SUPERBUGS: AN EMERGING THREAT TO CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of multi drug resistant (MDR) and multiple β-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) patients at a tertiary care hospital in India.Methods: A total of 80 consecutive, non-duplicate isolates of P. aeruginosa were studied for the presence of class A or B β-lactamase. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and PCR amplification of genes encoding class A (PER-1 and CTX-M 1, 2, 9) and class B β-lactamases (blaVIM-2, blaIMP-1 and blaSIM-1) were performed.Results: Out of 80 P. aeruginosa isolates, 65% (52/80) of the isolates were MDR with 34 being Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers, 23 were extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers and 21 were positive for AmpC production. The cross-class resistance rates to other antibiotics was significantly higher in class A and B β-lactamase producers than in non-producers (P<0.05 for fluoroquinolone, aztreonam, ceftazidime and meropenem). Combined disk test (CDT) for MBL highest sensitivity and specificity compared to PCR. Combined disk method (CDM) for ESBL co-related well with PCR (sensitivity and specificity).Conclusion: This study reports the validation of a simple and accurate MBL and ESBL detection method which can be easily integrated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory.Â

Measurement of psychological entitlement in 28 countries

This article presents the cross-cultural validation of the Entitlement Attitudes Questionnaire, a tool designed to measure three facets of psychological entitlement: active, passive, and revenge entitlement. Active entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect individual rights based on self-worthiness. Passive entitlement was defined as the belief in obligations to and expectations toward other people and institutions for the fulfillment of the individual’s needs. Revenge entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect one’s individual rights when violated by others and the tendency to reciprocate insults. The 15-item EAQ was validated in a series of three studies: the first one on a general Polish sample (N = 1,900), the second one on a sample of Polish students (N = 199), and the third one on student samples from 28 countries (N = 5,979). A three-factor solution was confirmed across all samples. Examination of measurement equivalence indicated partial metric invariance of EAQ for all national samples. Discriminant and convergent validity of the EAQ was also confirmed

Human protein reference database—2006 update

Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD) () was developed to serve as a comprehensive collection of protein features, post-translational modifications (PTMs) and protein–protein interactions. Since the original report, this database has increased to >20 000 proteins entries and has become the largest database for literature-derived protein–protein interactions (>30 000) and PTMs (>8000) for human proteins. We have also introduced several new features in HPRD including: (i) protein isoforms, (ii) enhanced search options, (iii) linking of pathway annotations and (iv) integration of a novel browser, GenProt Viewer (), developed by us that allows integration of genomic and proteomic information. With the continued support and active participation by the biomedical community, we expect HPRD to become a unique source of curated information for the human proteome and spur biomedical discoveries based on integration of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data

Mutational patterns in chemotherapy resistant muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Despite continued widespread use, the genomic effects of cisplatin-based chemotherapy and implications for subsequent treatment are incompletely characterized. Here, we analyze whole exome sequencing of matched pre- and post-neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy primary bladder tumor samples from 30 muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients. We observe no overall increase in tumor mutational burden post-chemotherapy, though a significant proportion of subclonal mutations are unique to the matched pre- or post-treatment tumor, suggesting chemotherapy-induced and/or spatial heterogeneity. We subsequently identify and validate a novel mutational signature in post-treatment tumors consistent with known characteristics of cisplatin damage and repair. We find that post-treatment tumor heterogeneity predicts worse overall survival, and further observe alterations in cell-cycle and immune checkpoint regulation genes in post-treatment tumors. These results provide insight into the clinical and genomic dynamics of tumor evolution with cisplatin-based chemotherapy, suggest mechanisms of clinical resistance, and inform development of clinically relevant biomarkers and trials of combination therapies

Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Actionable Genomic Alterations in High-Grade Bladder Cancer

We sought to define the prevalence and co-occurrence of actionable genomic alterations in patients with high-grade bladder cancer to serve as a platform for therapeutic drug discovery

Mapping genomic loci prioritises genes and implicates synaptic biology in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has a heritability of 60–80%1, much of which is attributable to common risk alleles. Here, in a two-stage genome-wide association study of up to 76,755 individuals with schizophrenia and 243,649 control individuals, we report common variant associations at 287 distinct genomic loci. Associations were concentrated in genes that are expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons of the central nervous system, but not in other tissues or cell types. Using fine-mapping and functional genomic data, we identify 120 genes (106 protein-coding) that are likely to underpin associations at some of these loci, including 16 genes with credible causal non-synonymous or untranslated region variation. We also implicate fundamental processes related to neuronal function, including synaptic organization, differentiation and transmission. Fine-mapped candidates were enriched for genes associated with rare disruptive coding variants in people with schizophrenia, including the glutamate receptor subunit GRIN2A and transcription factor SP4, and were also enriched for genes implicated by such variants in neurodevelopmental disorders. We identify biological processes relevant to schizophrenia pathophysiology; show convergence of common and rare variant associations in schizophrenia and neurodevelopmental disorders; and provide a resource of prioritized genes and variants to advance mechanistic studies