Triplet and quadruplet pregnancy: management and perinatal outcome

The frequency of multiple pregnancies with more than two fetuses has increased considerably since the introduction of methods of ovulation induction, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer. We have analyzed the evolution, complications, delivery and perinatal outcome of 23 triplet and 3 quadruplet pregnancies occurred during a four-year period in one medical center. The most frequent complication was preterm labor (62%). The mean gestational age at delivery was 32.5 weeks for the quadruplets and 31.5 weeks for the triplets and the mean birth weight was 1461 and 1526 for quadruplets and triplets, respectively. Perinatal mortality for the whole group was 148/1000.     

IDDQ testing: issues present and future

I_DDQ testing has emerged from a company specific CMOS IC test technology in the 1960s and 1970s to become a worldwide accepted technique that is a requirement for low defective parts per million levels and failure rates. It is the single most sensitive test method to detect CMOS IC defects, and an abundance of studies have laid a solid foundation for why this is so. The I_DDQ test uses the quiescent power supply current of logic states as an indication of defect presence. Its major requirement for maximum efficiency is that the design implement nanowatt power levels (nanoampere supply current) in the quiescent portion of the power supply current. No direct connections are allowed between V_DD and V_SS during the quiescent period. I_DDQ testing has increased significantly since 1990, highlighting problems and driving solutions not addressed by the high reliability manufacturers of earlier technologies. Faster I_DDQ instrumentation and better software tools to generate and grade I_DDQ test patterns result from this increased interest. We address two major issues confronting I_DDQ testing: yield loss and increased background current of deep submicron IC technologies projected by the Semiconductor Industry Association/Sematech road map. Both issues are points of controversy     

SB 202026: a novel muscarinic partial agonist with functional selectivity for M1 receptors

The finding that ascending cholinergic systems are severely degenerated in Alzheimer's disease has driven the search for a cholinomimetic therapy. Adverse effects observed with cholinesterase inhibitors and high-efficacy muscarinic agonists led us to design compounds with an improved profile. SB 202026 (R-(Z)-(+)-alpha-(methoxyimino)-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2] octane-3-acetonitrile) displaced [3H]-oxotremorine-M from muscarinic receptors in the rat brain with high affinity (IC50 = 14 nM), a potency similar to that of oxotremorine-M itself (IC50 = 13 nM), but exhibited low affinity for cholinergic nicotinic receptors and other neuroreceptors. In studies using cloned human muscarinic receptors, SB 202026 possessed approximately equal affinity in displacing [3H]-quinuclidinyl benzilate from all muscarinic receptor subtypes. In functional models in vitro, SB 202026 caused maximal depolarization of the rat superior cervical ganglion at low concentrations (300 nM) (M1-mediated effect), while producing a lower maximal effect than the high-efficacy agonists oxotremorine-M and carbachol on M2-mediated release of ACh and M3-mediated smooth muscle contraction (guinea pig ileum), respectively. The functional selectivity and partial agonist profile seen in vitro were reflected in vivo through potent cognition-related activity (M1-induced increase in hippocampal EEG power) combined with low efficacy, compared with arecoline or oxotremorine, on induction of bradycardia (M2-mediated response), hypotension (via M3-mediated vasorelaxation) and tremor (thought to be mediated by M3 receptors). The foregoing profile of SB 202026 predicted that cognition-enhancing activity would be achieved at doses below those that initiate undesirable side effects, and this has subsequently been demonstrated in rodents, marmosets and humans.     

Multidimensional attribute analysis and pattern recognition for seismic interpretation

The interpretation of exploration seismic data to infer the probable locations of commercial quantities of hydrocarbons has deep roots in pattern analysis. In this paper we suggest a broad-based program or framework for treating the interpretation of seismic data as a problem or a collection of many problems in pattern recognition.

The basis for this approach is the identification of a large number of objective or quantitative attributes which may be combined in a variety of ways via pattern analysis to infer the information necessary to accurately interpret exploration seismic data, and to locate potentially commercial hydrocarbon reservoirs.     

An invitation to join in difficulty: realizing the deeper promise of group psychotherapy

Group psychotherapy has proven effective in treating an impressive array of specific problems. Clinical experience has also shown its utility in alleviating the more general, and very costly, alienation and pain with which the human condition is often fraught. Recent changes in health care delivery reflect a marketplace that emphasizes cost containment, brevity and specificity of treatment, and a narrowed focus of training. Techniques are often valued above relationships. In this climate, we are in danger of losing sight of group therapy's deeper promise; the experiential lesson that human beings must move toward each other with involvement and a commitment to understanding in response to the inevitable difficulties that arise as we share time, space, and resources.     

Effects of spatial cuing on luminance detectability: Psychophysical and electrophysiological evidence for early selection.

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether attention-related changes in luminance detectability reflect a modulation of early sensory processing. Exps 1 and 2 used peripheral cues to direct attention and found substantial effects of cue validity on target detectability; these effects were consistent with a sensory-level locus of selection but not with certain memory- or decision-level mechanisms. In Exp 3, event-related brain potentials were recorded in a similar paradigm using central cues, and attention was found to produce changes in sensory-evoked brain activity beginning within the 1st 1 msec of stimulus processing. These changes included both an enhancement of sensory responses to attended stimuli and a suppression of sensory responses to unattended stimuli; the enhancement and suppression effects were isolated to different neural responses, indicating that they may arise from independent attentional mechanisms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relation between values and social competence in early adolescence.

Examined relationships between the social competence of early adolescents, as viewed by different reference groups, and the values adolescents place on controversial social behaviors. Assessed social competence for 65 seventh- and eight-graders with self-ratings of perceived competence, peer sociometric status ratings, teacher ratings, and academic achievement tests. Ss also completed an inventory assessing their values toward controversial social behaviors. A factor reflecting adolescents' valuing of direct, constructive communication in social interactions was positively related to competence with all reference groups. However, a factor that reflected valuing conforming to adult norms was negatively related to status with peers but positively related to teacher ratings of competence. The role of social values in the developmental task of achieving autonomy in interactions with adults while maintaining positive social relationships with peers and adults is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental versus conventional care: a comparison of clinical outcomes for very low birth weight infants

The purpose of this research was to describe the clinical profile of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants receiving conventional versus developmental care during their hospitalization and to determine the appropriateness of developmental-care interventions. A phase-lag study with 124 preterm infants indicated that although there were no significant differences in individual clinical outcomes, developmental care had a significant effect on the physiologic stability of the infant over time. Developmental interventions were used for all infants receiving the developmental-care intervention, with varying frequency.     

Regulation and expression of human Fabs under the control of the Escherichia coli arabinose promoter, PBAD

BACKGROUND: The L-arabinose operon from E. coli contains an inducible promoter PBAD which has been extensively studied for the control of gene expression. PBAD has a number of potential advantages over Plac, and has been used successfully to promote high level expression of recombinant proteins. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate PBAD as an alternative system to Plac for the bacterial expression of recombinant Fabs. STUDY DESIGN: The promoter PBAD from the E. coli arabinose operon araBAD and the gene encoding the regulator of this promoter, were cloned into the phagemid expression vector MCO1. Expression of human recombinant tetanus toxoid (TT) and c-erbB2 Fabs under the control of PBAD was compared at two induction temperatures with the same Fabs produced under the control of Plac. RESULTS: Expression of TT and c-erbB2 Fabs under the control of PBAD was comparable to Fab expression from Plac. However, highly expressed TT Fab under the control of PBAD was localised to the soluble periplasmic fraction whereas under the control of Plac, there was greater leakage of Fab into the culture supernatant. In addition, Fab expression from PBAD could be more tightly repressed than from Plac. CONCLUSION: PBAD is a useful and cheaply inducible alternative to the more commonly used Plac for the rapid expression of soluble recombinant human antibody fragments.