Prevalence and analysis of t(14;18) and t(11;14) chromosomal translocations in healthy Indian population

Hematopoietic malignancies like leukemia and lymphoma are characteristically associated with various chromosomal translocations. Follicular lymphoma (FL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are two subtypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which possess t(14;18) and t(11;14) translocations, respectively. The incidence of FL and MCL is higher in the western countries as compared to India. Interestingly, the associated translocations are also found in healthy individuals in western population, which is 50-80% for t(14;18), whereas t(11;14) occurs at a very low frequency. However, there are no studies to explore thes translocations in healthy Indian population, which could explain the lower incidence of FL and MCL. We employed Southern hybridization following nested PCR to detect above translocations in healthy individuals from India. Our results suggest that this assay can detect one t(14;18) translocation event in up to 10(7) normal cells where as one t(11;14) in 10(8) normal cells. According to our results, 87 out of 253 individuals carry t(14;18) indicating 34% prevalence in the population. The presence of this translocation was also detectable at the transcript level. Although, no gender-based difference was observed, an age-dependent increase in the prevalence of translocation was found in adults. However, even after studying 210 people, we could not detect any t(11;14) translocation, indicating that it is uncommon in Indian population. These results suggest that lower incidence of FL and MCL in India could be attributed to lower prevalence of these translocations in healthy individuals.

Influence of tool rake angle on the quality of pure magnesium chip-consolidated product

Chips were produced by orthogonal Cutting of cast pure magnesium billet with three different tool rake angles viz., -15 degrees, -5 degrees and +15 degrees on a lathe. Chip consolidation by solid state recycling technique involved cold compaction followed by hot extrusion. The extruded products were characterized for microstructure and mechanical properties. Chip-consolidated products from -15 degrees rake angle tools showed 19% increase in tensile strength, 60% reduction ingrain size and 12% increase in hardness compared to +15 degrees rake chip-consolidated product indicating better chip bonding and grain refinement. Microstructure of the fracture specimen Supports the abovefinding. On the overall, the present work high lights the importance of tool take angle in determining the quality of the chip-consolidated products. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Semi-empirical procedures for estimation of residual velocity and ballistic limit for impact on mild steel plates by projectiles

This paper deals with the development of simplified semi-empirical relations for the prediction of residual velocities of small calibre projectiles impacting on mild steel target plates, normally or at an angle, and the ballistic limits for such plates. It has been shown, for several impact cases for which test results on perforation of mild steel plates are available, that most of the existing semi-empirical relations which are applicable only to normal projectile impact do not yield satisfactory estimations of residual velocity. Furthermore, it is difficult to quantify some of the empirical parameters present in these relations for a given problem. With an eye towards simplicity and ease of use, two new regression-based relations employing standard material parameters have been discussed here for predicting residual velocity and ballistic limit for both normal and oblique impact. The latter expressions differ in terms of usage of quasi-static or strain rate-dependent average plate material strength. Residual velocities yielded by the present semi-empirical models compare well with the experimental results. Additionally, ballistic limits from these relations show close correlation with the corresponding finite element-based predictions.

Impact of a new mandatory reporting law on reporting and identification of child sexual abuse: A seven year time trend analysis

Child sexual abuse is widespread and difficult to detect. To enhance case identification, many societies have enacted mandatory reporting laws requiring designated professionals, most often police, teachers, doctors and nurses, to report suspected cases to government child welfare agencies. Little research has explored the effects of introducing a reporting law on the number of reports made, and the outcomes of those reports. This study explored the impact of a new legislative mandatory reporting duty for child sexual abuse in the State of Western Australia over seven years. We analysed data about numbers and outcomes of reports by mandated reporters, for periods before the law (2006-08) and after the law (2009-12). Results indicate that the number of reports by mandated reporters of suspected child sexual abuse increased by a factor of 3.7, from an annual mean of 662 in the three year pre-law period to 2448 in the four year post-law period. The increase in the first two post-law years was contextually and statistically significant. Report numbers stabilised in 2010-12, at one report per 210 children. The number of investigated reports increased threefold, from an annual mean of 451 in the pre-law period to 1363 in the post-law period. Significant decline in the proportion of mandated reports that were investigated in the first two post-law years suggested the new level of reporting and investigative need exceeded what was anticipated. However, a subsequent significant increase restored the pre-law proportion, suggesting systemic adaptive capacity. The number of substantiated investigations doubled, from an annual mean of 160 in the pre-law period to 327 in the post-law period, indicating twice as many sexually abused children were being identified.

Raman spectra of single crystals of adipic and sebacic acids and a study of the hydrogen bond vibrations in carboxylic acid dimers

Raman spectra of single crystals of adipic and sebacic acids have been photographed for the first time using λ 2537 excitation. The spectra have been divided into four regions: (a) internal frequencies; (b) summations and overtones; (c) external vibrations; and (d) low-frequency hydrogen bond oscillations. Tentative correlations have been given for all the internal frequencies and summations and overtones. A series of diffuse weak bands observed in the spectra of both these acids in the not, vert, similar2400–2800 cm−1 have been explained as a superposition of O---H frequencies lowered due to hydrogen bond formation over the summations and overtones of fundamentals mainly in the not, vert, similar1000–1500 cm−1 region. Rotatory type of external oscillations of the two formula units of these molecules in their unit cells have been identified at 76, 99, 118 and 165 cm−1 in adipic acid and 66, 95, 117 and 177 cm−1 in the spectrum of sebacic acid. A brief discussion of the low frequency hydrogen bond vibrations in these acids has been made. Making use of the Lippincott—Schroeder potential and assuming a highly anharmonic potential curve for the hydrogen bond, the vibrational frequencies of the bond have been theoretically evaluated. There is very good agreement between these and the experimental values. The results for adipic acid in cm−1 are: 304 (0 → 1), 270 (1 → 2), 241 (2 → 3), 222 (3 → 4) 201 (4 → 5), 183 (5 → 6). In the case of sebacic acid some of the intermediate and higher transitions are absent in the spectrum recorded by the author. From the above data for adipic acid the dissociation energy of the hydrogen bond was evaluated as 5·9 kcal/mole in fair agreement with the values derived from conventional methods.

The proton magnetic resonance study of the structure of Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O

The proton magnetic resonance spectra of single crystals of Na2Zn(SO4)2·4H2O have been investigated and the orientations of the water molecules have been determined. Using the heavy atom structure determined by X-rays a system of hydrogen bonds between water and sulphate oxygens has been proposed.

Biosynthesis of valine and isoleucine in plants I. Formation of α-acetolactate in Phaseolus radiatus

1. 1. The presence of an enzyme system in plants catalyzing the formation of α-acetolactate from pyruvate has been demonstrated; the system in green gram (Phaseolus radiatus) has been partially purified and its characteristics have been studied.2. Free acetaldehyde is formed as a product of the reaction and so the reaction is mainly diverted towards the formation of acetoin. 3. The system requires thiamine pyrophosphate and a divalent metal ion (Mn2+ or Mg2+) for maximum activity. The optimum pH is around 6.0 and the optimum temperature is 60°. 4. The system is very labile in absence of pyruvate, Mn2+ and DPT. 5. The Km values for pyruvate, Mn2+, Mg2+ and DPT are 3·10−2 M. 5·10−5 M, 2·10−5 M, and e·10−6 M respectively. The activation energy is 3540 cal/mole. 6. The enzyme is strongly inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate and the inhibition can be reversed partially by 2-mercaptoethanol, BAL or cysteine. Heavy metals, such as Hg2+ and Ag+, are inhibitory but l-valine does not inhibit the reaction.

Proton magnetic resonance study of the structure of two tutton's salts

Proton magnetic resonance spectra of single crystals of two Tutton's salts, K2Zn (SO4)2.6H22O and K2Mg (SO4)2.6H2O, have been studied and the orientations of the water molecules in the structure have been determined. Using the heavy-atom structure of (NH4) 2Mgt(SO4)2.6H2O as determined by x-ray diffraction, a system of hydrogen bonds between the water and sulfate oxygens in Tutton's salts has been proposed. It appears that the x-ray structure needs considerable refinement.

Differential fluorescence of the chromocenters and nucleolar equivalents of the yeast nucleus in acridine orange

The nucleus with its limiting membrane and organelles was visible in the majority of the yeast cells stained vitally with the fluorochrome, acridine orange, at a dilution of 1 in 40,000. The intra-nuclear structures could be distinguished by their differential fluorescence. The chromocenters were green while the nucleolar equivalents were orange. The vacuole showed no fluorescence.

The Evolving Roles of the Human Resource Function: Understanding Role Changes in the Context of Large-Scale Mergers

The human resource (HR) function is under pressure both to change roles and to play a large variety of roles. Questions of change and development in the HR function become particularly interesting in the context of mergers and acquisitions when two corporations are integrated. The purpose of the thesis is to examine the roles played by the HR function in the context of large-scale mergers and thus to understand what happens to the HR function in such change environments, and to shed light on the underlying factors that influence changes in the HR function. To achieve this goal, the study seeks first to identify the roles played by the HR function before and after the merger, and second, to identify the factors that affect the roles played by the HR function. It adopts a qualitative case study approach including ten focal case organisations (mergers) and four matching cases (non-mergers). The sample consists of large corporations originating from either Finland or Sweden. HR directors and members of the top management teams within the case organisations were interviewed. The study suggests that changes occur within the HR function, and that the trend is for the HR function to become increasingly strategic. However, the HR function was found to play strategic roles only when the HR administration ran smoothly. The study also suggests that the HR function has become more versatile. An HR function that was perceived to be mainly administrative before the merger is likely after the merger to perform some strategically important activities in addition to the administrative ones. Significant changes in the roles played by the HR function were observed in some of the case corporations. This finding suggests that the merger integration process is a window of opportunity for the HR function. HR functions that take a proactive and leading role during the integration process might expand the number of roles played and move from being an administrator before the merger to also being a business partner after integration. The majority of the HR functions studied remained mainly reactive during the organisational change process and although the evidence showed that they moved towards strategic tasks, the intra-functional changes remained comparatively small in these organisations. The study presents a new model that illustrates the impact of the relationship between the top management team and the HR function on the role of the HR function. The expectations held by the top management team for the HR function and the performance of the HR function were found to interact. On a dimension reaching from tactical to strategic, HR performance is likely to correspond to the expectations held by top management.

Vitamin A and thyroxine carrier proteins in chicken plasma Steady-state control of the plasma level of free retinol-binding protein and free thyroxine

1. 1. The binding parameters of prealbumin-2 with retinol-binding protein and thyroxine (T4) revealed the existence of distinct and multiple sites for both retinol-binding protein and T4. 2. 2. From the analysis of binding parameters of retinol-binding protein with prealbumin-2 it is clear that under steady-state conditions about 99% of the holo-retinol-binding protein remains bound to prealbumin-2. 3. 3. Equilibrium dialysis studies on binding properties of thyroid hormones with prealbumin-2 revealed that it has a single high affinity site and three low affinity sites. 4. 4. The occurrence of three carrier proteins for thyroid hormones, thyroxine-binding globulin, prealbumin-2 and albumin has been demonstrated. However, the chicken thyroxine-binding globulin differs from human thyroxine-binding globulin by being relatively less acidic and occuring at a two-fold lower concentration. But the thyroid hormone binding parameters are comparable. 5. 5. Highly sensitive methods were developed for determination of T4 binding capacities of the various proteins and plasma level of total T4 by fractionation of carrier proteins and further quantitatively employing in electrophoresis and equilibrium dialysis. 6. 6. The thyroxine-binding proteins were found to be two types, one (viz., thyroxine-binding globulin) of great affinity but of low binding capacity, which mainly acts as reservoir of T4, and another (viz.,prealbumin-2) of low affinity but of high binding capacity, which can participate predominantly in the control of the free T4 pool.

Purification and properties of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid 3-hydroxylase from pseudomonas putida

4-Hydroxyphenylacetic acid 3-hydroxylase is a key enzyme in the pathway for the microbial degradation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and many aromatic amines. This enzyme was purified to homogeneity from Image by affinity chromatography. The protein had a molecular weight of 91,000 and was a dimer of identical subunits. It was a typical external flavoprotein monooxygenase and showed an absolute requirement of NADH for activity. The enzyme had a pH optimum of 7.5 and the Km values for 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and NADH were 2×10−4 M and 5.9×10−5 M respectively. It was strongly inhibited by heavy metal ions and thiol reagents, suggesting the possible involvement of -SH group(s) in enzyme reaction.