The use of sample genealogies for studying a selectively neutral m-loci model with recombination

A selectively neutral m-loci model with recombination is studied. A general method is developed to calculate the variance of the number of segregating sites in samples of arbitrary size and the m-loci homozygosity. The method is based on properties of the genealogy of the sample rather than diffusion approximations. To demonstrate the scope of the method several calculations are presented.

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4

Compositional analysis of the intact and carboxyl-reduced capsular polysaccharide of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 (PS-4) showed it to consist of L-rhamnose, D-glucose, D-glucuronic and D-mannose in molar ratios of 4:1:1:1. 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, methylation analysis, oligosaccharide analysis and base-catalyzed beta-elimination were used to elucidate the primary structure. Oligosaccharides were obtained by enzymatic depolymerization with a specific bacteriophage-induced depolymerase and by partial acid hydrolysis. Form the results it is concluded that PS-4 consists of repeating units of the heptasaccharide (Formula: see text). The bacteriophage-induced depolymerase was found to be an endo-beta-D-glucosidase that hydrolyzed the bond beta-D-Glc-(1----3)-L-Rha to generate a heptasaccharide in 40% yield.

Evolution and extinction of transposable elements in Mendelian populations

A model of the evolution of a transposable element family in a Mendelian host population is proposed that incorporates heritable phenotypic mutations in the elements. The temporal behavior of the numbers of mutant and wild-type elements is studied, and the expected extinction time of the transposable element family is examined. Our results indicate that, if the mutant can be transposed equally well in the presence of the wild type, then it can be expected to be found in preponderance, whereas elements, such as retroviruses, where the transposing genome and its phenotypic expression are coupled, may be characterized by a low mutant frequency.

Meniscal remodeling following partial meniscectomy--an experimental study in the dog

The response of the meniscus to partial meniscectomy (in the avascular zone) was evaluated in 15 dogs. Following surgery 10 of the 15 dogs (67%) demonstrated a remodeling of the cut surface of the meniscus. This process appeared to begin with a fibrin clot which adhered to the meniscectomy surface. The organized clot was then populated by fibrocytes and eventually modulated into a fibrocartilage-like tissue by 12 weeks. The origin of the cells is unknown and may represent a migration of cells from the synovium, a proliferation of meniscal fibrochondrocytes, or both. The remodeling process appears to be associated with the presence of a fibrin clot, presumably from residual hemarthrosis. In those menisci that did not remodel [five of 15 (33%)], the meniscectomy surface remained relatively unchanged with no signs of progressive degeneration.

An analysis of the dynamics of mammalian mitochondrial DNA sequence evolution

The dynamics of the substitution process for mammalian mitochondrial DNA have been modeled. The temporal behavior of several quantities has been studied and the model's predictions have been compared with estimates obtained from recent mtDNA sequence data for an increasingly divergent series of primates, the mouse and the cow (Anderson et al. 1981, 1982; Bibb et al. 1981; Brown et al. 1982). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the decrease in the proportion of transitions observed as divergence increases is a consequence of the highly biased substitution process. In addition, the results support the hypothesis that, although a portion of the mtDNA molecule evolves at an extremely rapid rate, a significant portion of the molecule is under strong selective constraints.

Non-operative treatment of severe injuries to the medial and anterior cruciate ligaments of the knee

We are reporting the results of conservative treatment of concomitant injuries to the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments of the knee in twenty-eight patients (average age, twenty-eight years), who were followed for an average of three years. Twenty patients had a good or excellent result. Eleven of the fifteen patients who played contact sports and six of the nine who played non-contact sports returned to their preinjury levels of athletic activity. The older and nonathletic individuals had the poorest final results. We concluded that in many individuals with combined injury to the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments, the knee responds well when treated conservatively.

Effects of atracurium on intraocular pressure

The effects of atracurium on intraocular pressure (IOP) were compared with those of pancuronium in 20 patients less than 45 years-of-age requiring surgery for trauma of one eye. After a standard premedication and the application of topical analgesia to the upper airway, anaesthesia was induced with thiopentone i.v. and the trachea was intubated without the use of neuromuscular blockade. Following 20 min of steady state anaesthesia during which measurements of IOP, arterial pressure, heart rate, FIO2, FE'CO2 and CVP were recorded, one group of patients received atracurium 0.45 mg kg-1 and the other pancuronium 0.1 mg kg-1. The observations were repeated for a further 15 min before surgery commenced. Neither atracurium nor pancuronium produced any change in IOP. Atracurium was associated with greater cardiovascular stability than pancuronium.

TRANSPOSABLE ELEMENTS IN MENDELIAN POPULATIONS. I. A THEORY

Transposable elements are DNA sequences, found throughout eukaryotes, that transpose replicatively and cause numerous genetic and developmental effects on their hosts. A model of the evolution of transposable elements in Mendelian populations is proposed. From its analysis, formulas for the mean copy number and frequency spectrum are obtained.

Exopolysaccharide Distribution of and Bioemulsifier Production by Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 and BD413

The heavily encapsulated Acinetobacter calcoaceticus BD4 and the “miniencapsulated” single-step mutant A. calcoaceticus BD413 produced extracellular polysaccharides in addition to the capsular material. The molar ratio of rhamnose to glucose (3:1) in the extracellular BD413 polysaccharide fraction was similar to the composition of the capsular material. In both strains, the increase in capsular polysaccharide was parallel to cell growth and remained constant in stationary phase. The extracellular polysaccharides were detected starting from mid-logarithmic phase and continued to accumulate in the growth medium for 5 to 8 h after the onset of stationary phase. Strain BD413 produced one-fourth the total rhamnose exopolysaccharide per cell that strain BD4 did. Depending on the growth medium, 32 to 63% of the rhamnose polysaccharide produced by strain BD413 was extracellular, whereas in strain BD4 only 7 to 14% was extracellular. In all cases, strain BD413 produced more extracellular rhamnose polysaccharide than strain BD4 did. In glucose medium, strain BD413 also produced approximately 10 times more extracellular emulsifying activity than strain BD4 did. The isolated capsular polysaccharide obtained after shearing of BD4 cells showed no emulsifying activity. Thus, strain BD413 either produces a modified extracellular polysaccharide or excretes an additional substance(s) that is responsible for the emulsifying activity. Emulsions induced by the ammonium sulfate-precipitated BD413 extracellular emulsifier require the presence of magnesium ion and a mixture of an aliphatic and an aromatic hydrocarbon.

Statistical analysis of the Ames Salmonella/microsome test

A family of statistical models for analysis of Ames Salmonella/microsome test data is constructed that considers mutation and toxicity as competing risks and allows hyper-Poisson variability. These models have a parameter than can be employed as a mutagenic index because it approximates the slope at zero dose of a dose-response curve adjusted for toxicity. A second parameter quantifies plate-to-plate variability and lends itself to the study of factors affecting internal test reproducibility. The detection of aberrant plate counts is also addressed. This methodology is illustrated with data from a Salmonella test.

An improved method for estimating sequence divergence of DNA using restriction endonuclease mappings

The method proposed by Kaplan and Langley for estimating the extent of sequence divergence between related DNA's using restriction endonuclease maps is modified so that the estimates are easier to compute. In the two-species case, these modifications lead via a maximum likelihood approach to an estimate which is closely related to one recently suggested by Nei and Li (1979) and Gotoh et al. (1979). Simulation studies show that the modified estimates are comparable to those of Kaplan and Langley, providing that there is sufficient homology in the DNA segments of the related species. The M-species case, M greater than or equal to 3, is also discussed.

A new estimate of sequence divergence of mitochondrial DNA using restriction endonuclease mappings

A new estimate of the sequence divergence of mitochondrial DNA in related species using restriction enzyme maps is constructed. The estimate is derived assuming a simple Posisson-like model for the evolutionary process and is chosen to maximize an expression which is a reasonable approximation to the true likelihood of the restriction map data. Using this estimate, four sets of mitochondrial DNA data are analyzed and discussed.

Career scientists of the health research council of the city of New York

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