Genotyping of thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) is recommended for predicting the adverse drug response of thiopurines. In the current study, a novel version of allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR), termed competitive real-time fluorescent AS-PCR (CRAS-PCR) was developed to analyze the TPMT*2 genotype in ethnic Chinese. This technique simultaneously uses wild-type and mutant allele-specific scorpio...

PURPOSE The latter stages of morphogenesis in the embryonic chick cornea are instrumental in the establishment of a properly formed corneal stroma. This study was designed to provide better appreciation of collagen reorganization in the avian corneal stroma during the latter stages of embryogenesis. METHODS High-angle synchrotron x-ray diffraction patterns were obtained from 47 developing chi...

A multi-response optimization problem was developed in search of an optimal parametric combination to yield favorable bead geometry of bead-on-plate weldments produced by submerged arc welding. Taguchi’s L25 orthogonal array design was employed to optimize the results within experimental limits. The objective functions were selected in terms of responses of bead geometry, viz. height of reinfor...