Showing papers by "University of Missouri published in 1982"

Amount and distribution of 5-methylcytosine in human DNA from different types of tissues or cells

Abstract: Analysis of the total base composition of DNA from seven different normal human tissues and eight different types of homogeneous human cell populations revealed considerable tissue-specific and cell-specific differences in the extent of methylation of cytosine residues. The two most highly methylated DNAs were from thymus and brain with 1.00 and 0.98 mole percent 5-methylcytosine (m5C), respectively. The two least methylated DNAs from in vivo sources were placental DNA and sperm DNA, which had 0.76 and 0.84 mole percent m5C, respectively. The differences between these two groups of samples were significant with p less than 0.01. The m5C content of DNA from six human cell lines or strains ranged from 0.57 to 0.85 mole percent. The major and minor base composition of DNA fractionated by reassociation kinetics was also determined. The distribution of m5C among these fractions showed little or no variation with tissue or cell type with the possible exception of sperm DNA. In each case, nonrepetitive DNA sequences were hypomethylated compared to unfractionated DNA.

Development of a structured psychiatric interview for children: agreement between child and parent on individual symptoms.

Abstract: To test the reliability of children's reporting as compared with that of their mothers, a highly structured psychiatric diagnostic interview was used with 307 subjects, ages 6 through 16. Another interviewer gave each mother a similar interview about the child. Responses of each mother-child pair to 168 questions were compared using the kappa statistic. Highest agreement was found on questions concerning symptoms that are concrete, observable, severe, and unambiguous. Mothers tended to report significantly more behavioral symptoms, and children more subjective symptoms. Reasons for low kappas and asymmetrical reporting of symptoms are discussed.

Applied psychology in personnel management

Abstract: The article reviews the book “Applied Psychology in Personnel Management,” by Wayne Cascio.

Reducing Composition Errors: An Experiment

Abstract: and over again, despite the fact that they have studied certain rules of grammar.1 Fortunately or unfortunately, the problem of recurring errors is not peculiar to the teaching of German. The question remains, therefore, what measures teacher and student can take to ameliorate the situation. How can students be brought to show an appreciable decline in errors from one essay to the next, or at least from course beginning to course end? Numerous suggestions have been advanced by foreign language methodologists, educational psychologists, and applied linguists as to how writing skills might best be developed. While many seem worthy of implementation, few offer data to support their claims of efficacy. For example, in Cooper's excellent article on the effects of sentence-combining techniques, he admits that no data were available to indicate whether positive correlations existed between the successful "hastened development of syntactic maturity" and grammatical accuracy (i.e., correctness of expression, excluding lexical errors).2 What suggestions have professionals in the field advanced to develop writing skills so that student errors decrease as their writing skill matures? A perusal of the professional literature leads to the conclusion that the following represent components of an effective strategy for the development of writing skills-at least for most modern foreign languages taught in this country. Comprehensive Error Correction. While selective correction of errors is certainly defensible in the development of speaking skills, the same cannot be said where writing skills are concerned. Unless all errors are identified, the faulty linguistic structures, rather than the correct ones, may become ingrained in the student's interlanguage system. Thompson's pragmatic position on error correction is difficult to rebut: "The student does not improve his skill if his work is not corrected."3

The integrity of independent variables in behavior analysis.

Abstract: Establishing a functional relationship between the independent and the dependent variable is the primary focus of applied behavior analysis. Accurate and reliable description and observation of both the independent and dependent variables are necessary to achieve this goal. Although considerable attention has been focused on ensuring the integrity of the dependent variable in the operant literature, similar effort has not been directed at ensuring the integrity of the independent variable. Inaccurate descriptions of the application of the independent variable may threaten the reliability and validity of operant research data. A survey of articles in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis demonstrated that the majority of articles published do not use any assessment of the actual occurrence of the independent variable and a sizable minority do not provide operational definitions of the independent variable. The feasibility and utility of ensuring the integrity of the independent variable is described.

A pheromone influences larval development in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract: A Caenorhabditis-specific pheromone and the food supply influence both entry into and exit from a developmentally arrested juvenile stage called the dauer larva. The pheromone increases the frequency of dauer larva formation and inhibits recovery but does not affect adult behavior such as chemotaxis and egg laying. The fatty acid--like pheromone has been partially purified and characterized by a new bioassay. If similar developmental control mechanisms are used by parasitic nematodes, such mechanisms might be exploited to develop highly selective anthelmintic agents.

Ovarian cysts in dairy cattle: a review

Abstract: Ovarian cysts in dairy cattle are generally defined as follicular structures of at least 2.5 cm in diameter that persist for at least 10 d in the absence of a corpus luteum. The incidence of ovarian cysts has been reported to be from 6 to 19% and, therefore, cystic ovarian disease is a serious cause of reproductive failure in dairy cattle. There have been several different hypotheses about the cause of ovarian cysts. After monitoring postpartum cows that spontaneously developed ovarian cysts and postpartum cows with or without ovarian cysts administered estradiol benzoate, the authors have suggested that postpartum ovarian cysts developed when the hypothalamus and pituitary appeared to be less responsive in releasing luteinizing hormone (LH) under the influence of estradiol. Spontaneous reestablishment of ovarian cycles occurred in about 60% of the cows that developed ovarian cysts before the first postpartum ovulation. In contrast, only about 20% of the cows that developed ovarian cysts after the first postpartum ovulation spontaneously reestablished ovarian cycles. The authors have also reported that even if ovarian cycles are not reestablished, ovarian cysts may regress, but only in the presence of follicular development, which subsequently develops into ovarian cysts. Investigators have shown that 40 to 80% of the cows with ovarian cysts reestablished ovarian cycles following treatment with products high in LH activity. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), which stimulates reestablishment of ovarian cysts in about 80% of the cows treated, has more recently been recommended as a treatment for ovarian cysts. The GnRH-induced LH surge appears to stimulate luteinization of the ovarian cyst wall. Cows then exhibit estrus about 21 d following GnRH treatment. The conception rate at the first estrus after GnRH treatment has been reported to be 40 to 50%. The interval from GnRH treatment to estrus has been reduced by administering prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) 9 d after GnRH. The PGF2 alpha appears to regress the luteinized ovarian cysts and cows exhibit estrus 2 to 3 d after PGF2 alpha treatment (11 to 12 d after GnRH). Gonadotropin releasing hormone has also been used to reduce the incidence of ovarian cysts in postpartum cows. To be effective in reducing the incidence of ovarian cysts, GnRH should be administered about 2 wk postpartum. However, cows may have a predisposition for cystic ovarian disease and treatments, therefore, are only temporary solutions. A better alternative would probably be to select against ovarian cysts.

The development of a child assessment interview for research and clinical use

Abstract: The Child Assessment Schedule (CAS) was developed to address the need for a standardized child interview that could be used for research and clinical purposes. The CAS has several distinguishing characteristics: (1) Questions and responses are standardized, (2) the format was designed to enhance rapport with the child, and (3) information necessary for DSM III childhood diagnoses is explicitly solicited. The CAS was administered to 32 child outpatients, 18 inpatients, and 37 normal controls. Derived scores were obtained for total psychopathology, 11 content areas, and 9 symptom complexes. Interrater reliability for the total CAS score was quite high. The CAS was able to discriminate among the three groups in total score indicating degree of psychopathology, on 9 of the 11 content areas, and on 8 of the 9 symptom complexes. Significant correlations were found between the CAS and maternal report of child behavior and between the CAS and child selfreport of internal affects. It was concluded that the CAS has adequate reliability and validity, although further research is indicated.

Decision Making and Problem Solving

Abstract: Imagine that you have been placed in the position of screening applicants for a high-level decision-making position. What criteria would you employ to evaluate the candidates for a job that involves making important decisions and solving difficult problems? Perhaps the first attribute that you would look for would be previous experience in making similar types of decisions or solving related problems. It is reasonable to expect that someone who has enjoyed success in such situations in the past will likely prove successful in the future. However, if experience is excluded, other characteristics must be considered. Some of those that might be useful in this context are: (1) creativity; (2) flexibility; (3) organizational skills; (4) ability to make valid logical deductions; (5) ability to sift relevant from irrelevant information; (6) ability to operate at both abstract and concrete levels; and (7) ability to proceed systematically towards a problem solution.

Development of a Structured Psychiatric Interview for Children: Agreement on Diagnosis Comparing Child and Parent Interviews.

Abstract: Similar structured diagnostic interviews about the child were given by different interviewers to a cohort of 307 mother-child pairs. A diagnosis was made by computer on each interview, using specified criteria. Diagnoses on mother-child interviews were compared using the kappa statistic. Kappas of .30 or higher were found for the diagnosis of antisocial personality, conduct disorder, enuresis, mixed behavior-neurotic disorder, and possible depression. Comparisons were made for sex and age. Possible depression and enuresis were diagnosed reliably at all age levels and for both sexes. The limitations of the interview and diagnostic system used are discussed. The findings support the need for further efforts to develop diagnostic research interviews for use with children and adolescents.

Development of differential recognition for own- and other-race faces

Abstract: Subjects (N = 106) ranging in age from six to 20 years performed two face-recognition tasks--one with Caucasians' photo portraits and one with Orientals'. Although the youngest children recognized both kinds of faces equally well, recognition accuracy for Caucasian faces was superior to that for Oriental faces among older subjects. Results are interpreted in terms of development of a familiar-face schema which facilitates recognition of exemplars of the more familiar sort of face with increasing age and experience. Boys and girls recognized faces about equally well up to approximately age 13; at that age a trend appeared for girls to be superior to boys in recognizing faces. Females at college level were clearly superior to males at recognizing faces.

Effect of Age and Other Factors on Maximal Heart Rate

Abstract: In an attempt to reduce the confusion regarding reported effects of age upon maximal exercise heart rate (HR max), a comprehensive review of the English literature was conducted to obtain descriptive statistical data representing over 23,000 independent subjects from 5 to 81 years old. The data were split randomly into two data sets for independent regression analyses. HR max was the dependent variable while independent variables include: age, age2, age3, age4, sex, level of fitness, type of ergometer, exercise protocol, continent of residence, and race. After cross validation the data were pooled and reanalyzed. Additional validation was accomplished on identifiable subsets of the data, e.g., cross sectional, longitudinal, training, comparative ergometry, and comparative sex studies. Results identified negative linear and non-linear age factors, an ergometry factor, a fitness factor and a continent factor. Age accounted for about 70–75% of the variability. Generalized equations were proposed. Ev...

Lipofuscin: resolution of discrepant fluorescence data

Abstract: Lipofuscin granules (age pigments) emit yellow light under ultraviolet excitation in the fluorescence microscope. The reported blue emission maximum of extracts of lipofuscin-laden cells may result from instrumental bias. The major fluorescent components that accumulate with age in these lysosomal residual bodies of human retinal pigment epithelium are yellow-emitting fluorophores. Different age-related fluorophores, which do emit blue light, are derived from other intracellular sources. A reevaluation of the connection between blue-emitting lipid peroxidation products and the age-related lipofuscin granules of classical pathology is necessary.

Genomic and physiological diversity amongst strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans, and genomic comparison with Thiobacillus thiooxidans

Abstract: Twenty-three strains of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans of known pedigree were examined. Thirteen strains survived 65° C for 5 min and 7 of these for 10 min, but sporulation was never observed. All strains grew between 25° C and 35° C and some strains grew at 5° and 40° C. They were genomically diverse, comprising 7 DNA homology groups, and the GC content varied from 55–65 mol %. Correlation between genomic group and growth temperature was noted. All strains grew on ferrous sulfate as energy source, but some failed to utilize elemental sulfur. Acidified thiosulfate supported growth of most of the strains examined but it was judged to be a poor substrate upon which to base taxonomic conclusions because of decomposition of thiosulfate in acid. Six strains of Thiobacillus thiooxidans showed negligible genomic affinity to T. ferrooxidans, and they comprised 2 DNA homology groups and their GC content varied from 52–62 mol%. Anomalies due to contaminants in cultures of T. ferrooxidans were resolved, and the contaminants were identified.

Processes used by good computational estimators

Abstract: Computational estimation has long been recognized as a basic mathematical skill, and several recent recommendations on basic skills in mathematics have reemphasized its fundamental importance (Bell, 1974). The position paper on basic skills of the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (1977) placed emphasis on the skills associated with estimation and approximation as well as on alertness to reasonableness of results. The need for developing students' estimation skills is also reflected in An Agenda for Action (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1980). In fact, one of the specific recommendations is that teachers "incorporate estimation activities into all areas of the [school] program on a regular and sustaining basis" (p. 7). Despite its importance, estimation is perhaps the most neglected skill area in the mathematics curriculum (Carpenter, Coburn, Reys, & Wilson, 1976). Although computational estimation is traditionally introduced around the fourth grade, it is doubtful that the cursory treatment given to it in most mathematics programs is sufficient to build any appreciable estimation skills. Estimation frequently appears as a separate topic (that students are often poorly motivated to study) or is perhaps even ignored in work with computations. Skvarcius (1973) found that basal mathematics textbooks gave very little attention to systematic development of computational estimation skills. A recent study of three popular mathematics textbook series revealed that estimation appeared in less than 3%

Sportfish Harvest Predicted by Summer Chlorophyll‐α Concentration in Midwestern Lakes and Reservoirs

Abstract: An index based on the relationship between angler harvest and mean summer phytoplankton standing crop (chlorophyll α) is a basis for estimating the annual yield of sportfishes in midwestern lakes and reservoirs. The relationship is stronger than that between fish yield and total phosphorus, alkalinity, or the morphoedaphic index.

Carbamazepine and hematological monitoring

Abstract: Clinically important hematological toxicity is uncommon with carbamazepine (CBZ). Only 20 patients with CBZ-associated aplastic anemia have been reported since 1964. Leukopenia and thrombocytopenia occur in about 2% of patients. Based on the available data on hematological complications of CBZ, we question the justification for expensive, excessive laboratory monitoring.

Pain-Patient MMPI Subgroups: The Psychological Dimensions of Pain

Abstract: Two-hundred-forty male pain patients were given the MMPI and an extensive pain history questionnaire. A hierarchical clustering procedure was used, and three distinct profiles emerged. One profile was essentially “normal,” while a second profile revealed the “hypochondriasis” configuration, and a third was highly elevated on scales which reflect a “psychopathological” type of profile. A discriminant analysis yielded functions correctly classifying over 90% of the subjects in each group. Although the three groups did not significantly differ on age, education, income, IQ, assertiveness, type of pain, or years of pain duration, they did differ on the pain history questions relating to pain severity and pain impact on their lives. The psychopathological group reported significantly more distress than the hypochondriasis group, and the hypochondriasis group reported significantly more distress than the normal group. The implications for pain treatment are discussed.

When the dual of an ideal is a ring

Abstract: Let R be a commutative integral domain with identity with quotient field K, and let I be a nonzero ideal of R. We analyze several general and particular instances when I−1 is a subring of K. We then apply some of our results to show that certain non-maximal prime ideals in Prufer domains are divisorial.

Imported Versus U.S.‐Produced Apparel: Consumer Views and Buying Patterns

Abstract: In the current controversy over limitation of imported apparel products into the U.S., con sumers have had little opportunity to be heard. This study sought to determine consumers' views of imported versus U.S.-produced apparel, to determine the product qualities which influence the consumer to buy one over the other and to examine consumer views toward imported apparel in relation to various purchasing practices and demographic variables. A structured telephone interview schedule was used by trained callers in a survey of 408 con sumers chosen randomly from telephone directories in 10 selected areas of the Eastern U.S. In general, consumers did not appear indifferent or apathetic to the issue of whether the apparel they buy has been produced in the U.S. or another country. A majority of the consumers took notice of whether clothing was imported and preferred to have domestically produced apparel, primarily because they perceived garments produced in other countries as being of poorer quality. A summary of the relationships between consumers' views toward imported apparel and some of the demographic variables and purchasing practices of the respondents indicated that in many ways concern over imported apparel appears to be a middle-socioeconomic class phenomenon.

Subcellular organization of ureide biogenesis from glycolytic intermediates and ammonium in nitrogen-fixing soybean nodules.

Abstract: Subcellular organelle fractionation of nitrogen-fixing nodules of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) indicates that a number of enzymes involved in the assimilation of ammonia into amino acids and purines are located in the proplastids. These include asparagine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.1), phosphoribosyl amidotransferase (EC 2.4.2.14), phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.95), serine hydroxymethylase (EC 2.1.2.1), and methylene-tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.1.5). Of the two isoenzymes of asparate aminotransferase (EC 2.6.1.1) in the nodule, only one was located in the proplastid fraction. Both glutamate synthase (EC 1.4.1.14) and triosephosphate isomerase (EC 5.3.1.1) were associated at least in part with the proplastids. Glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2) and xanthine dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.37) were found in significant quantities only in the soluble fraction. Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase (EC 2.7.6.1) was found mostly in the soluble fraction, although small amounts of it were detected in other organelle fractions. These results together with recent organelle fractionation and electron microscopic studies form the basis for a model of the subcellular distribution of ammonium assimilation, amide synthesis and uredie biogenesis in the nodule.