Detection of monosomy 7 in interphase cells of patients with myeloid disorders

Six patients, five with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and one with a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), were found to have monosomy 7 by conventional cytogenetics at diagnosis. Repetitive DNA sequences from the heterochromatic region of human chromosomes 1 and 7 were used as probes for in situ hybridization experiments on interphase cells of these patients. A double hybridization protocol was used to reveal the particular chromosomes as distinct spots or clusters of signals within interphase nuclei. The chromosome 1 sequence served as an internal control. Simultaneous detection of the sequences showed the presence of two normal number 1 chromosomes and a missing 7 chromosome from individual cells. While cytogenetic preparations showed only -7 metaphases in 3 AML and 1 MDS patients, in situ hybridization of interphase cells showed many normal cells as well as the presence of -7 in fully mature granulocytes. One AML patient studied in remission showed only normal metaphases yet had 9% interphase cells with a missing 7 and relapsed within 3 months. We conclude that examination of interphase cells by in situ hybridization provides clinically useful data since every cell including mature granulocytes can be examined, the lineage of a cell can be determined, and efficacy of differentiation therapy can be evaluated

The potential contributions of concept maps for learning website to assessment for learning practices

The purpose of this paper is to examine the promising contributions of the Concept Maps for Learning (CMfL) website to assessment for learning practices. The CMfL website generates concept maps from relatedness degree of concepts pairs through the Pathfinder Scaling Algorithm. This website also confirms the established principles of effective assessment for learning, for it is capable of automatically assessing students’ higher order knowledge, simultaneously identifying strengths and weaknesses, immediately providing useful feedback and being user-friendly. According to the default assessment plan, students first create concept maps on a particular subject and then they are given individualized visual feedback followed by associated instructional material (e.g., videos, website links, examples, problems, etc.) based on a comparison of their concept map and a subject matter expert’s map. After studying the feedback and instructional material, teachers can monitor their students’ progress by having them create revised concept maps. Therefore, we claim that the CMfL website may reduce the workload of teachers as well as provide immediate and delayed feedback on the weaknesses of students in different forms such as graphical and multimedia. For the following study, we will examine whether these promising contributions to assessment for learning are valid in a variety of subjects

A Parallel Tabu Search Algorithm for Optimizing Multiobjective VLSI Placement

Abstract. In this paper, we present a parallel tabu search (TS) algorithm for efficient optimization of a constrained multiobjective VLSI standard cell placement problem. The primary purpose is to accelerate TS algorithm to reach near optimal placement solutions for large circuits. The proposed technique employs a candidate list partitioning strategy based on distribution of mutually disjoint set of moves among the slave processes. The implementation is carried out on a dedicated cluster of workstations. Experimental results using ISCAS-85/89 benchmark circuits illustrating quality and speedup trends are presented. A comparison of the obtained results is made with the results of a parallel genetic algorithm (GA) implementation

Measuring sustainable employability:psychometric properties of the capability set for work questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The capability set for work questionnaire (CSWQ) is being used to measure the new model of sustainable employability building on the capability approach. However, previous studies on the psychometric properties of the instrument are limited and cross-sectional. This two-way study aimed to (1) evaluate the convergent validity of the CSWQ with the theoretically related constructs person-job fit, strengths use, and opportunity to craft and (2) test the predictive and incremental validity of the questionnaire for the well-established work outcomes, including work ability, work engagement, job satisfaction, and task performance. METHODS: A representative sample of 303 Dutch workers, chosen with probably random sampling, were surveyed using a one-month follow-up, cross-lagged design via the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences panel. The convergent validity was assessed by exploring the strength of associations between the capability set for work questionnaire and the theoretically related constructs using Pearson’s correlations. The predictive and incremental validity was evaluated by performing a series of linear hierarchical regression analyses. RESULTS: We found evidence of the convergent validity of the capability set score by moderate correlations with person-job fit, strengths use, and opportunity to craft (r = 0.51–0.52). A series of multiple regression analyses showed that Time 1 capability set score and its constituents (i.e., importance, ability, and enablement) generally had predictive and incremental validity for work ability, work engagement, job satisfaction, and task performance measured at Time 2. However, the incremental power of the CSWQ over and above conceptually related constructs was modest. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the convergent, predictive, and incremental validity of the capability set for work questionnaire with not previously investigated work constructs. This provided further evidence to support its utility for assessing a worker’s sustainable employability for future research and practical interventions

Applying Decision-Theory Framework to Landscape Planning for Biodiversity: Follow-up to Watson et al

Because socioeconomic factors drive conservation planning, we believe that to be relevant to on-the-ground projects, conservation science should be focused more on formulating problems explicitly and showing how the broad variety of decision-making tools can be used to deliver solutions. Conservation biology cannot operate outside the reality of financial limitations

Australian Energy Resource Assessment

This national assessment of Australia's energy resources examines Australia's identified and potential energy resources ranging from fossil fuels and uranium to renewables. It reviews and assesses the factors likely to influence the use of Australia's energy resources to 2030 including the technologies being developed to extract energy more efficiently and cleanly from existing and new energy sources. Australia has an abundance and diversity of energy resources. Australia has more than one third of the world's known economic uranium resources, very large coal (black and brown) resources that underpin exports and low-cost domestic electricity production, and substantial conventional gas and coal seam gas resources. This globally significant resource base is capable of meeting both domestic and increased export demand for coal and gas, and uranium exports, over the next 20 years and beyond. There is good potential for further growth of the resource base through new discoveries. Identified resources of crude oil, condensate and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are more limited and Australia is increasingly reliant on imports for transport fuels

Thermotomaculum hydrothermale gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel heterotrophic thermophile within the phylum Acidobacteria from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney in the Southern Okinawa Trough

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/natsushima/nt08-13/

Cardiovascular mortality and exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields: a cohort study of Swiss railway workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to intermittent magnetic fields of 16 Hz has been shown to reduce heart rate variability, and decreased heart rate variability predicts cardiovascular mortality. We examined mortality from cardiovascular causes in railway workers exposed to varying degrees to intermittent 16.7 Hz magnetic fields.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied a cohort of 20,141 Swiss railway employees between 1972 and 2002, including highly exposed train drivers (median lifetime exposure 120.5 μT-years), and less or little exposed shunting yard engineers (42.1 μT-years), train attendants (13.3 μT-years) and station masters (5.7 μT-years). During 464,129 person-years of follow up, 5,413 deaths were recorded and 3,594 deaths were attributed to cardio-vascular diseases. We analyzed data using Cox proportional hazards models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For all cardiovascular mortality the hazard ratio compared to station masters was 0.99 (95%CI: 0.91, 1.08) in train drivers, 1.13 (95%CI: 0.98, 1.30) in shunting yard engineers, and 1.09 (95%CI: 1.00, 1.19) in train attendants.Corresponding hazard ratios for arrhythmia related deaths were 1.04 (95%CI: 0.68, 1.59), 0.58 (95%CI: 0.24, 1.37) and 1.30 (95%CI: 0.87, 1.93) and for acute myocardial infarction 1.00 (95%CI: 0.73, 1.36), 1.56 (95%CI: 1.04, 2.32), and 1.14 (95%CI: 0.85, 1.53). The hazard ratio for arrhythmia related deaths per 100 μT-years of cumulative exposure was 0.94 (95%CI: 0.71, 1.24) and 0.91 (95%CI: 0.75, 1.11) for acute myocardial infarction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study provides evidence against an association between long-term occupational exposure to intermittent 16.7 Hz magnetic fields and cardiovascular mortality.</p

T-REX: software for the processing and analysis of T-RFLP data

Softwar