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We have developed two computer softwares GeneViewPLUS and Mutation View. GeneViewPLUS is designed to quickly display chromosomal mapping information on human genes and diseases whereas Mutation View is designed to display mutations of disease-causing genes. Both softwares are operated on UNIX workstation with X-window.

Implant placement has become a routine modality of dental care.Improvements in surgical reconstructive methods as well as increased prosthetic demands,require a highly accurate diagnosis, planning and placement. Recently,computer-aided design and manufacturing have made it possible to use data from computerised tomography to not only plan implant rehabilitation,but also transfer this information to the surgery.A review on one of this technique called Stereolithography is presented in this article.It permits graphic and complex 3D implant placement and fabrication of stereolithographic surgical templates. Also offers many significant benefits over traditional procedures.

Introduction: Correct identification of the patient with an allergy is critical for patient safety, since it involves a potential risk of a serious adverse event (AE). Our Emergency Pediatric department has an integrated quality management and risk management system focused on the continuous improvement of patient care quality and safety, which incident reporting system could identified a potential risk arising from the registration of allergies in new computer softwares. As a safety barrier, an allergy identification procedure was implemented, using a sticker placed on the identification bracelet (RED: allergy; WHITE: non-allergies)., Materials and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted to evaluate, by direct observation, the correct identification of patients with allergy using this new protocol. The reports of incidents related to this procedure were analyzed., Results: Of the 342 patients included, 327 (95.6% (95%:93.4-97.8%)) were correctly identified. Identification errors were most common in the group of patients with allergies [10 of 45; 22.2% (95%:10.1-34.4%) than in the non-allergic group: 5 of 297; 1.7% (95%:0.2-3.2); p<0.001)]. No AEs were reported. 2 quasi-incidents detected before reaching the patient were reported thanks of the protocol application., Conclusions: This procedure is a useful safety barrier and can be easily exported to other units. Further work is needed to promote the professional's adherence to the protocol and improve the correct identification of the patient with allergy., (Copyright © 2021 FECA. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Iron is essential for cell growth, differentiation, electron transfer, and oxygen transport. Hyperoxia may increase the turnover of bone matrix components with a net effect of accelerated bone growth. Although hyperoxia was claimed could increase osteoblast activity, but expression level in possible genes which play role in proliferation is still unclear. This research aims to prove the differences of expression level of transferrin receptor gene and iron regulated transporter and other genes of 7F2 under 24 h normoxia, 24 h hyperoxia, and 48 h hyperoxia and the effect of hyperoxia by using osteoblast cell culture 7F 2 ., Methods: Reverse transcriptase, real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and microarray is used to qualitatively detect gene expression. The computer softwares such as National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) data base, Software Affymetrix, DNA Strider program, Genomatix - DiAlign program, Oligo 5.0 program (Software primer design) from Wojciech & Piotr Rychlik, and Genetyx-Mac version 8.0 have been used to analyze the PCR result., Results: Under 24 h hyperoxia, there were 3,884 copies of transferrin receptor mRNA per 1,000,000 copies of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA. After 24 h hyperoxia, 8,325 copies of transferrin receptor mRNA per 1,000,000 GAPDH mRNA copies were found showing 2.1-fold up regulation. After 48 h hyperoxia, there was no significant increase at the level of expression of transferrin receptor mRNA, 8,079 mRNA copies per 1,000,000 copies of mRNA were found (2.0-fold up regulation compared with 24 h normoxia)., Conclusions: It can be concluded that hyperoxia might have an effect on upregulating the expression of some osteoblast genes which might have an impact on osteoblast activity., (© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Background & Objectives: Cause of death assignment from verbal autopsy (VA) questionnaires is conventionally accomplished through physician review. However, since recently, computer softwares have been developed to assign the cause of death. The present study evaluated the performance of computer software in assigning the cause of death from the VA, as compared to physician review., Methods: VA of 600 adult deaths was conducted using open- and close-ended questionnaires in Nandpur Kalour Block of Punjab, India. Entire VA forms were used by two physicians independently to assign the cause of death using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)-10 codes. In case of disagreement between them, reconciliation was done, and in cases of persistent disagreements finally, adjudication was done by a third physician. InterVA-4-generated causes from close-ended questionnaires were compared using Kappa statistics with causes assigned by physicians using a questionnaire having both open- and close-ended questions. At the population level, Cause-Specific Mortality Fraction (CSMF) accuracy and P-value from McNemar's paired Chi-square were calculated. CSMF accuracy indicates the absolute deviation of a set of proportions of causes of death out of the total number of deaths between the two methods., Results: The overall agreement between InterVA-4 and physician coding was 'fair' (κ=0.42; 95% confidence interval 0.38, 0.46). CSMF accuracy was found to be 0.71. The differences in proportions from the two methods were statistically different as per McNemar's paired Chi-square test for ischaemic heart diseases, liver cirrhosis and maternal deaths., Interpretation & Conclusions: In comparison to physicians, assignment of causes of death by InterVA- 4 was only 'fair'. Hence, it may be appropriate to continue with physician review as the optimal option available in the current scenario., Competing Interests: None

Chiral amines are important building blocks for the synthesis of pharmaceutical products and fine chemicals. Highly stereoselective synthesis of chiral amines compounds through asymmetric amination has attracted more and more attention. ω-transaminases (ω-TAs) are a promising class of natural biocatalysts which provide an efficient and environment-friendly access to production of chiral amines with stringent enantioselectivity and excellent catalytic efficiency. Compared with (S)-ω-TA, the research focused on (R)-ω-TA was relatively less. However, increasing demand for chiral (R)-amines as pharmaceutical intermediates has rendered industrial applications of (R)-ω-TA more attractive. Improving the thermostability of (R)-ω-TA with potential biotechnological application will facilitate the preparation of chiral amines. In this study, the dynamic surface loop with higher B-factor from Aspergillus terreus (R)-ω-TA was predicted by two computer softwares (PyMOL and YASARA). Then mutant enzymes were obtained by deleting amino acid residues of a dynamic surface loop using site-directed mutagenesis. The results showed that the best two mutants R131del and P132-E133del improved thermostability by 2.6 ℃ and 0.9 ℃ in T₅₀¹⁰ (41.1 ℃ and 39.4 ℃, respectively), and 2.2-fold and 1.5-fold in half-life (t1/2) at 40 ℃ (15.0 min and 10.0 min, respectively), compared to that of wild type. Furtherly, the thermostability mechanism of the mutant enzymes was investigated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and intermolecular interaction analysis. R131del in the loop region has lower root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) than the wild type at 400 K for 10 ns, and mutant enzyme P132-E133del increases four hydrogen bonds in the loop region. In this study, we obtain two stability-increased mutants of (R)-ω-TA from A. terreus by deleting its dynamic surface loop and also provide methodological guidance for the use of rational design to enhance the thermal stability of other enzymes.

Bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplants when performed outside the family require high resolution matching of donor and recipient for human leukocyte antigen loci. Marrow registries like National Marrow Development Program in developed countries maintain record of donors and provide most suitable donor when a recipient needs a transplant. Being outside families and due to lack of shared haplotypes, these are not fully matched. Depending upon condition of patient and time available, several times one or two loci mismatched marrow has to be transplanted. This matching can be further enhanced by introduction of a recently introduced branch of science known as Bioinformatics. Combining the knowledge of computer softwares and transplant biology, it is possible to place any protein (in this case specific human leukocyte antigen alleles of potential donors and recipient) against any other, for exact amino-acids match/mismatch in user defined region and thus choosing the better-matched donor. In this write-up, an introduction of few programs available that can be used for the said purpose is given with a brief discussion of approach already used by other scientists.

Objective: To evaluate energy and nutrient intake and determine growth indices for pre-school children in Iran., Methods: The study was conducted from June to September 2010 and included 150 children aged between 3 and 5 years who attended kindergartens in Shiraz, Iran. Following a measurement of the participants' height and weight, three 24-hour dietary recalls were completed based on interviews with their parents. The data was entered into various computer softwares. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, wasting, at-risk-of-overweight and overweight children was then calculated, and energy and nutrient intake was compared with the recommended values., Results: The mean intake of energy, calcium and iron for the children were less than the recommended values. In contrast, the mean intakes of carbohydrate, protein, zinc and vitamin C were higher than the recommendations. Fat intake, however, was within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range. In addition, the rates of prevalence of the underweight, stunting, wasting, and overweight or at-risk-of-overweight were found to be 27 (18.6%), 37 (25.5%), 18 (12.4%) and 34 (23.4%), respectively. Finally, underweight children had lower intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, iron and zinc, while overweight or at-risk-of-overweight ones had higher intake of protein, calcium and zinc., Conclusion: There is a need for children in kindergartens of Shiraz to improve their mean intake of energy, calcium and iron. Moreover, about one-fourth of the children were stunted and about the same proportion were either overweight or at the risk of being so.

We select the peptide mimics of blood group A antigen by a monoclonal anti-A from a phage display 15-mer peptide library. Monoclonal anti-A was used in biopanning a phage display 15-mer peptide library. After four rounds of panning, ELISA was carried out to confirm the positive phage clones. The exogenous DNAs of the positive phages were sequenced and the corresponding amino acid sequences were deduced. Both the synthesized peptide and the phage clones were used to bind to anti-A in competitive ELISA. Erythrocyte agglutination inhibition tests were carried out to determine the mimic ability of the free synthesized peptide to the natural blood group A antigen. Computer softwares were used to simulate the interaction between the peptide and anti-A. After four rounds of biopanning, the eluted phage reached an enrichment of approximately 1600 times. Thirty-seven phage clones were chosen randomly and amplified. There were eleven clones that interacted specifically with anti-A in ELISA. DNA sequencing of the inserted oligonucleotide revealed that nine clones present a same peptide - TRWLVYFSRPYLVAT (named TRW) and each of the other two clones presented a different peptide. The synthesized free peptide TRW could inhibit the interaction of both phage displayed peptide and group A red blood cell with anti-A in competitive ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition test. Both the peptide TRW and the natural group A antigen were docked into a same cavity of anti-A in a computer simulation assay. The results indicate that peptide TRW can mimic blood group A antigen. It may be used as a proxy of natural blood group A antigen in clinical application., (© 2013.)

Although thermal sterilisation is a widely employed industrial process, little work is reported in the available literature including patents on the mathematical analysis and simulation of these processes. In the present work, software packages have been developed for computer aided optimum design of thermal sterilisation processes. Systems involving steam sparging, jacketed heating/cooling, helical coils submerged in agitated vessels and systems that employ external heat exchangers (double pipe, shell and tube and plate exchangers) have been considered. Both batch and continuous operations have been analysed and simulated. The dependence of del factor on system / operating parameters such as mass or volume of substrate to be sterilised per batch, speed of agitation, helix diameter, substrate to steam ratio, rate of substrate circulation through heat exchanger and that through holding tube have been analysed separately for each mode of sterilisation. Axial dispersion in the holding tube has also been adequately accounted for through an appropriately defined axial dispersion coefficient. The effect of exchanger characteristics/specifications on the system performance has also been analysed. The multiparameter computer aided design (CAD) software packages prepared are thus highly versatile in nature and they permit to make the most optimum choice of operating variables for the processes selected. The computed results have been compared with extensive data collected from a number of industries (distilleries, food processing and pharmaceutical industries) and pilot plants and satisfactory agreement has been observed between the two, thereby ascertaining the accuracy of the CAD softwares developed. No simplifying assumptions have been made during the analysis and the design of associated heating / cooling equipment has been performed utilising the most updated design correlations and computer softwares.

This study compares two algorithms, as implemented in two different computer softwares, that have appeared in the literature for estimating item parameters of Samejima's continuous response model (CRM) in a simulation environment. In addition to the simulation study, a real-data illustration is provided, and CRM is used as a potential psychometric tool for analyzing measurement outcomes in the context of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in the field of education. The results indicate that a simplified expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm is as effective and efficient as the traditional EM algorithm for estimating the CRM item parameters. The results also show promise for using this psychometric model to analyze CBM outcomes, although more research is needed in order to recommend CRM as a standard practice in the CBM context.

Background: Theileriosis, caused by Theileria parva, is an economically important disease in Africa. It is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry in some parts of eastern, central and southern Africa. In Zambia, theileriosis causes losses of up to 10,000 cattle annually., Methods: Cattle blood samples were collected for genetic analysis of Theileria parva from Isoka and Petauke districts in Zambia. Microsatellite analysis was then performed on all Theileria parva positive samples for PCR using a panel of 9 microsatellite markers. Microsatellite data was analyzed using microsatellite toolkit, GenAlEx ver. 6, Fstat ver. 2.9.3.2, and LIAN computer softwares., Results: The combined percentage of positive samples in both districts determined by PCR using the p104 gene primers was 54.9% (95% CI: 46.7 - 63.1%, 78/142), while in each district, it was 44.8% (95% CI: 34.8 - 54.8%) and 76.1% (95% CI = 63.9 - 88.4%) for Isoka and Petauke districts, respectively. We analyzed the population genetic structure of Theileria parva from a total of 61 samples (33 from Isoka and 28 from Petauke) using a panel of 9 microsatellite markers encompassing the 4 chromosomes of Theileria parva. Wright's F index (FST = 0.178) showed significant differentiation between the Isoka and Petauke populations. Linkage disequilibrium was observed when populations from both districts were treated as a single population. When analyzed separately, linkage disequilibrium was observed in Kanyelele and Kalembe areas in Isoka district, Isoka district overall and in Petauke district. Petauke district had a higher multiplicity of infection than Isoka district., Conclusion: Population genetic analyses of Theileria parva from Isoka and Petauke districts showed a low level of genotype exchange between the districts, but a high level of genetic diversity within each district population, implying genetic and geographic sub-structuring between the districts. The sub-structuring observed, along with the lack of panmixia in the populations, could have been due to low transmission levels at the time of sampling. However, the Isoka population was less diverse than the Petauke population.

Objective: To develop and evaluate a computer-assisted virtual surgical procedure for preoperative planning that simulates the reduction and plate fixation for acetabular fractures based on real computed tomography (CT) data using computer softwares on personal computers., Methods: Virtual preoperative planning for reduction and plate fixation for seven acetabular fractures was performed. Three-dimensional (3D) models of acetabular fractures based on real CT data in Dicom format were built to perform reduction first. Then fixation was undertaken after plate contouring. Virtual planning was compared with real surgery with respect to operative approach, plate length and screw count. Furthermore, the time required for virtual surgery was recorded., Results: Virtual surgery was successfully achieved and identical to the real operation in all cases. The mean time required was 79 min., Conclusion: The virtual surgical procedure for acetabular fractures is feasible and useful clinically for surgeons to determine surgical planning. It may be a valuable tool for surgeons in learning about the nature of the fracture and in formulating an appropriate surgical plan., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is to code various types of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) based on their anatomical location and severity. The Marshall CT Classification is used to identify those subgroups of brain injured patients at higher risk of deterioration or mortality. The purpose of this study is to determine whether and how AIS coding can be translated to the Marshall Classification, Methods: Initially, a Marshall Class was allocated to each AIS code through cross-tabulation. This was agreed upon through several discussion meetings with experts from both fields (clinicians and AIS coders). Furthermore, in order to make this translation possible, some necessary assumptions with regards to coding and classification of mass lesions and brain swelling were essential which were all approved and made explicit., Results: The proposed method involves two stages: firstly to determine all possible Marshall Classes which a given patient can attract based on allocated AIS codes; via cross-tabulation and secondly to assign one Marshall Class to each patient through an algorithm., Conclusion: This method can be easily programmed in computer softwares and it would enable future important TBI research programs using trauma registry data.

Diseases of esophagus are common in gastroenterology practice. Improvement in diagnosis and better understanding in pathophysiology of these diseases have been possible recently of due to advancement in technology. Advancement made in the field of computer softwares is another key development aiding further improvement in these instruments. In this article, we review techniques, interpretation and clinical utility of various tests of esophageal function with special reference to manometry, ambulatory pH and impedance monitoring. Esophageal manometry is simple to perform. Recent, availability of commercial user-friendly software has made analysis of recorded data easy. High resolution spatio-temporal manometry is advancement over conventional manometry. Manometry is a useful tool for diagnosis, followup and research in esophageal motility disorders. Ambulatory 24-h pH metry and impedance monitoring are also easily analyzed by commercially available software. 24-h impedance combined with pH-metry is currently considered as the gold standard for diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). All patients with GERD may not require these investigations, but those with atypical symptoms, those refractory to medical treatment and requiring surgery do. Esophageal transit study is useful in understanding functional correlates of abnormalities in manometry and is particularly useful during follow up studies and in research.

Introduction: minimally invasive placement of intracardiac (IC) ECG leads in monkeys has greatly improved signal quality and the ability to interpret these ECGs. However, information on characteristics of the ECGs recorded using the IC lead is not available in the literature. There are concerns about the potential impact of IC lead placement on the ECG waveform and cardiac function as a result of potential irritation or trauma resulting from the placement and/or long term residence of the IC lead. The purposes of this study were to characterize IC ECG morphology, to obtain information on the recovery processes after IC ECG lead implantation, and to evaluate the IC ECG model application to safety pharmacology studies., Methods: the telemetry transmitter, arterial blood pressure catheter and IC ECG lead were implanted in 40 cynomolgus monkeys, two of which were also implanted with subcutaneous (SC) ECG leads. The data of IC ECG, heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were collected telemetrically for a period of 1-12 months after implantation, and measured using computer softwares., Results: the IC ECG waveforms varied greatly from those of SC ECG. There was no clearly identifiable S-T segment, and T waves were biphasic in the majority of IC ECGs. The morphology of IC ECG was diversified among animals, progressively changed in the first 2 weeks post-surgery and stabilized approximately 3 weeks post-surgery. MABP and HR were elevated after implant surgery, but recovered to the levels comparable to those of SC in approximately 1 and 4 weeks, respectively. The IC ECG values obtained during week 8 to 10 (HR=134+/-25 bpm, PR interval=87+/-13 ms, QRS interval=40+/-7 ms, and QT interval=246+/-30 ms, QTcF=318+/-28 ms) were comparable to those from SC ECG., Discussion: the IC ECG provides a clear ECG signal with values comparable to, and waveforms different from, SC recordings. The complicated surgical procedure with long substantial recovery time, high incidence of IC lead malfunction, and high costs for IC leads may limit application of the IC ECG model in safety pharmacology studies.

Psalmocharias alhageos is an important pest of vine in most parts of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, southern areas of Russia, Turkey and Iraq. This cicada is spread in most provinces in Iran such as Esfahan, Hamedan, Qazvin, Markazi, Lorestan, Qom, Kerman, Tehran and Kordestan. In addition to vine, this insect damages some other fruit trees, such as apple, sour cherry, quince, peach, pomegranate and pear trees and some non-fruit trees, namely white poplar, ash, elm, eglantine, silk and black poplar trees. The nymphs of cicada damage the trees by feeding on root, adult insects on young bud and by oviposition under branch barks. Nourishing root by nymph leads to the weakness of the tree and hinder its growth. The high density oviposition of adult insects inside young barks causes withering of branches. The resulted damage on vine products is 40% which is one of the most important factors in product reduction in vineyard. This research was conducted in Takestan in Qazvin. It was conducted for the first time to study the behaviors of the mates of this vine cicada in order to manage it. Two systems were used to record the sound of male cicada called analog voice-recorder and digital voice recorder. To analyze the recorded sound of the male cicada we used of spectrum analyzer, digital storage oscilloscope and protens 7 computer softwares. We could call the attention of natural enemies an disturb the male insect's attracting sound by producing natural and artificial sound in the range of 1-6 kHz in two different ripeness status of the fruits and could prevent mating and oviposition of female cicadas.

Objective: To prepare anti-recombinant protein antibody from immunized mice with recombinant nucleocapsid protein (NP) of human influenza A3 (IFV-A3) virus expressed in prokaryotic cell, and to explore the feasibility of utilizing anti-recombinant protein antibody to detect influenza A virus., Methods: NP genes of human influenza A virus were analyzed with computer softwares of ClustalX, Antheprot, et al. to determine the antigenicity in conserved regions. Three different partial NP genes were harvested and cloned into pET-28(c) plasmid, the recombinant plasmids were induced to express partial NP segments in BL21 cells. The recombinant proteins were purified with Ni-agarose by affinity chromatography and immunized BALB/c mice. The polyclonal antisera harvested from mice were analyzed with Western Blot and immunohistochemistry assays to detect the reactions with IFV-A., Results: Three recombinant plasmids were expressed with high yield in BL21 cells, about 15-20 mg/L. Western Blot results indicated that the three prepared antisera (1:2000) positively reacted with NP from IFV-A3-infected cells. And immunohistochemistry assays suggested that anti-NP1, anti-NP2, anti-NP3 antisera positively reacted with IFV-A3 or IFV-A1-infected MDCK cells, with titers of 1:640 to 1:1280., Conclusion: The recombinant NP of IFV-A3 would induce polyclonal antibodies with high titers in mice. The polyclonal antibodies would cross-react with IFV-A3 and IFV-A1. It is feasible to predict the antigenicity with systematical bioinformatics analyses and then induce anti-IFV antibodies with high dilutions, and it is possible to be utilized in the early detection and subtyping analyses of IFV-infections.

Despite the massive investments made by pharmaceutical companies on drug research and development, the number of new drug approvals has remained stagnant in the past decades. It is well known that developing safe and effective new drugs is a long, difficult, and expensive process. While the cost of developing new drugs is increasing rapidly, withdrawals of drugs from the marketplace due to adverse drug reactions (ADR) and/or toxicity is increasing concurrently. The recent advent of high-throughput in silico (computer softwares) and in vitro (cell cultures) screenings have somewhat alleviated some, but not all, of these challenges by providing an efficient and effective way for developing safer and better drugs. This emerging technology, known as toxicogenomics, has great potential to facilitate the development of methodologies that could predict the long-term toxic effects of compounds using relatively short-term bioassays. This review is aimed at discussing the potential applications and future challenges of toxicogenomics in drug discovery and drug development.

Interpretations by physicians and those generated by electrocardiograph computer softwares have poor ability to recognize different types of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Therefore, we developed and tested a new SVT algorithm based on easily identifiable morphological characteristics and a simple dichotomous yes/no format regarding initial electrocardiographic manifestation and response pattern. The algorithm was then tested by medical house staff during the initial evaluation of 50 adult ED and cardiac intensive care unit patients suspected of having SVT. For a wide representation of SVTs, the new algorithm gave an overall diagnostic accuracy rate of 90%. Adenosine use was limited to 54% of the cases. No patient developed hemodynamic instability after algorithm-dictated interventions were carried out. Electrocardiograph computer-generated diagnoses correctly identified the specific type of SVT in 38% of the cases. This study shows the effectiveness of the proposed new algorithm in the rapid bedside evaluation and management of SVTs and confirms that computer-generated diagnoses are unreliable.

Laboratory test's diagnostic performances are generally estimated by means of their sensibility, specificity and positive and negative predictive values. Unfortunately, these indices reflect only imperfectly the capacity of a test to correctly classify subjects into clinically relevant subgroups. The appeal to ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve appears as a tool of choice for this evaluation. Used in the medical domain since the 60s, ROC curve is a graphic representation of the relation existing between the sensibility and the specificity of a test, calculated for all possible cut-off. It allows the determination and the comparison of the diagnostic performances of several tests. It is also used to consider the optimal cut-off of a test, by taking into account epidemiological and medical - economic data of the disease. Used in numerous medical domains, this statistical tool is easily accessible thanks to the development of computer softwares. This article exposes the principles of construction and exploitation of a ROC curve.

In order to compute the muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) and to clarify how action potentials are conducted, the normalized peak-averaging technique (NPAT) was newly employed together with computer softwares. Twelve pairs of surface electromyograms were selected from biceps brachii muscles during contraction at a level of 50% of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction in seven healthy volunteers. The techniques to compute MFCV from the time delay of the peaks (P-NPAT) and from the cross correlation (CC-NPAT) of averaged pulses were compared to the cross-correlation technique (CCT). The spread rate of averaged pulses was computed to estimate the spread of MFCVs in different motor units. Tri-phasic averaged pulses were obtained clearly by averaging more than 500 detected pulses. The P-NPAT and CC-NPAT highly correlated with the CCT in the computed MFCVs. The MFCVs obtained by P-NPAT were generally larger than those obtained by CCT, and the spread rates had in the definite values. These results suggest that the MFCV could be computed and the spread of MFCVs would be estimated from averaged pulses. The MFCV of a patient with myotonic dystrophy was also studied, and it was suggested that the NPAT would be clinically useful.

Objective: To study the heterogeneity of polymerase gene (P gene) within hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes based on a systematic analysis of 202 HBV P genes, providing some useful references for further studies on the relationship among HBV genotypes, P gene mutations, replication and nucleoside analogues drug-resistance., Methods: 202 HBV complete sequences containing P genes were obtained from GenBank and were analysed using computer softwares., Results: There were some genotype-related characteristics of HBV P genes. As reverse transcriptase domain was concerned, there were more amino acid divergences in genotype C and D compared with these in genotype A. There were also amino acid substitutions in the A-F conserved regions of the reverse transcriptase domain within and between HBV genotypes., Conclusions: There are divergences of P genes and amino acids within and between HBV genotypes, which should be considered when amino acid changes are analyzed whether they are proposed to be drug-resistance mutations or the results from quasispecies-selected. Moreover, these divergences may affect the antiviral effect of nucleoside analogues on HBV with different genotypes.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of temporal features within repetition of speech segments on the perception of stuttering. Past research has provided evidence that certain temporal aspects of repetitions produced by people who stutter tend to be shorter than those produced by normally fluent speakers. The effect of these temporal factors on the perception of the disfluency as "stuttering" or "normal" has not yet been studied. Conversational speech of five children who stutter was recorded. Two short utterances. one containing part-word repetition (PWR) and one containing whole-word repetition (WWR), were identified in the speech of each child and then manipulated by the CSL and CSpeech computer softwares. Two selected elements within repetitions, namely the vowel of the repeated unit and the interval between the repeated units (e.g., but-but), were lengthened to simulate normal disfluency. Results indicated that both factors (interval duration and vowel duration) moderately affected listeners' perception. In general, repetitions with short vowel and interval durations were judged as more representative of stuttering, whereas repetitions with longer vowel and interval duration were judged as more representative of normal speech., Learning Outcomes: As a result of this activity, the reader will learn about (1) various factors that influence the perception of disfluent segments as stuttering, (2) the special effect of duration of specific elements within repetitions on the perception of disfluency as stuttering, and (3) the possible implications of the new information for therapeutic considerations.

Transplacental transfer of tritium (H), cesium (Cs), iodine (I), strontium (Sr) and plutonium (Pu) has been observed in all examined species with an active transfer mechanism for iodine, strontium and plutonium. Cesium and tritiated water freely cross the placenta and are distributed approximately uniformly in maternal as well as in fetal tissue. In pregnant mice, 137Cs concentrations in maternal organs were 4-6 times higher than in the foetus. With increasing weight, Cs amounts rise in the foetus. 131I distribution in the foetus before and after the beginning of thyroid function is totally different. In an 8-week-old human foetus, there was almost no accumulation of 131I in the thyroid gland, while on week 14 of gestation more than 40% of the fetal iodine was accumulated in the thyroid gland. Radioiodine given only once results in distinctly higher fetal-maternal ratios than after long-term exposure. Experiments performed to evaluate the extent of placental barrier of Sr in comparison to Ca showed a maximum of Sr/Ca discrimination early in pregnancy while at the end of pregnancy Sr and Ca are transported to almost equal proportions across the placenta. A well-known phenomenon is the accumulation of Pu in the yolk-sack of rats such that 80% of the total activity is contained in the feto-placental unit. For the extrapolation of results from animals to man, experiments should not be confined to laboratory animals but include primates. Furthermore, computer softwares like MIRDOSE could be used to simulate transplacental distribution.

Lipophilicity, expressed by the logarithm of octanol/water partition coefficient (logP) is an important physico-chemical property in rational drug design. Beside the experimental determination, the calculation of logP based on the chemical structure is frequently necessary. This has led to the development of numerous logP prediction methods. In the present paper the fragment type approaches and their computer softwares are surveyed (Table I.). The compilation is extended to the introduction and evaluation of a recently developed method of Meylan and Howard [21]: Atom/Fragment Contribution, AFC method (KOWWIN for Windows, software) which possesses the unique option, the Experimental Value Adjusted, EVA logP prediction. The author compared the highly precise experimental logP values of 28 drugs measured in her laboratory with calculated logP values obtained by four approaches: KOWWIN, CLOGP, PROLOGP, ACD/logP. The best prediction was found as follows in decreasing order: KOWWIN (r = 0.983), CLOGP (r = 0.978), PROLOGP/Combined (r = 0.953), ACD/logP (r = 0.942), PROLOGP/Atomic5 (r = 0.940), PROLOGP/Rekker (r = 0.909). The limits of current logP prediction methods (intramolecular H-bond formation, tautomerization, conformation changes, etc.) and the promising future of the molecular lipophilicity potential, MLP, [42] in drug design is also discussed.

A procedure was developed to compute the proportion (P) of future genetic predictions that would be within 1 SE of previous predictions. The procedure is based on the Central Limit Theorem. Whatever the distribution function, provided only that it has a finite variance, the sample mean will have approximately the normal distribution for large samples. The proportion of new individual genetic predictions being within 1 SE of their previous evaluation is expressed as a function of the change in accuracy (ACC) between the previous and subsequent evaluations. If little additional information is made available since the previous evaluation, the increase in ACC will be almost negligible. As anticipated the vast majority of genetic predictions will be within 1 SE of their previous evaluation. The proportion determined from the results of the analysis can be compared to P. An additional appealing feature of the procedure presented is the ease of implementation with most computer softwares. Finally, application to both simulated and field data is presented.