Divisional structure: An identity crisis.

An investigation was undertaken of the opinion of C.P.A. members towards implementation of divisional structure for the Association. Findings showed agreement on the needs for divisional structure, especially as these relate to applied interests, but little consensus on a form of divisional structure. Alternative recommendations were made. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The average molecular structure of base-catalyzed low-mole adducts of propylene oxide to glycerin

The average structure of low molecular weight base-catalyzed propylene oxide adducts of glycerin have been studied rather extensively using gas chromatographic and HNMR techniques. HNMR analysis of the trifluoroacetyl derivatives of individual adducts provide a useful technique for distinguishing internal isopropoxy units from terminal isopropoxy units. It can also be used to estimate the degree of initiation at the secondary hydroxyl site of the glycerin starter. A surprising amount of initiation at the secondary hydroxyl site was found for the three-mole adducts and the four-mole adducts are very highly initiated at this site. Concentrations of the possible contributing structures in fractions of a typical low-mole weight polyol are tabulated. The higher adducts are envisioned as consisting of three propagating chains of nearly equal length and reactivity.     

Planning the coordination of ground transport

Proper coordination in the design of a transportation system requires consideration of general land use in the area served, and indeed of the entire sociological and ecological fabric of society. Moreover, the designer must help weave this fabric while it is being used. A possible starting place for a transportation study, and some would argue the only starting place, is an overall regional plan. More and more it is being clearly recognized that a transportation link not only satisfies established needs in a region but also develops and anticipates others.     

Conservation of IGFBP structure during evolution: cloning of chicken insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5

The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) have conserved characteristics of their genomic organization, including similar locations of exon borders relative to nucleotides encoding conserved cysteine residues. Furthermore, the human IGFBP genes, as well as the human homeobox (HOX) genes, are localized to chromosomes 2, 7, 12, and 17. Although little is known about the evolution of the IGFBP genes, the association of human IGFBP and homeobox (HOX) genes at four chromosomal loci may indicate that their ancestral genes were linked prior to the first duplication of chromosomal DNA containing the ancestral HOX cluster. The hypothesis that IGFBPs are ancient proteins is supported by the reported detection of IGFBP activity in serum from the Agnathan species, Geotria australis, a primitive vertebrate. Further studies of IGFBPs in different species are needed to understand the evolution of this protein/gene family. Chicken provides a good intermediate model, since birds diverged from mammals approximately 300 million years ago. A complementary DNA (cDNA) clone encoding chicken insulin-like growth factor binding protein-5 (cIGFBP-5) was isolated. The deduced amino acid sequence is 83% identical to human IGFBP-5 and encodes a mature polypeptide of 251 amino acids. The conservation of IGFBP-5 primary structure across vertebrate species suggests maintenance of important functions during evolution.     

Randomised clinical trial of parenteral selenium supplementation in preterm infants

AIM: To determine whether selenium supplementation of parenteral nutrition with 3 micrograms/kg/day of selenious acid is safe and effective in improving the selenium status of preterm infants. METHODS: Thirty eight preterm infants with mean (SEM) birthweight of 1171 (38) g and gestational age 29 (0.3) weeks were randomly allocated to a non-supplemented (PN-selenium, n = 19) or supplemented (PN+selenium, n = 19) group. The study began at 2.8 (0.2) (range 1-5) days of age. Term breastfed (n = 23) and formula fed (n = 8) infants were used as a reference group. RESULTS: Initially there was no difference between the preterm groups in plasma or erythrocyte selenium or glutathione peroxidase activity. Plasma selenium declined by a mean (SEM) of -13.3 (3.2) micrograms/l from 28 (4) to 16 (3) micrograms/l over the first three weeks in the PN-selenium group, but there was no fall in the supplemented infants and no net change in either group over six weeks. Over six weeks, there was a net decline in erythrocyte selenium of -106 (27) ng/g haemoglobin in the PN-selenium group, but no change in the PN+selenium group, such that at week 6 erythrocyte selenium was lower in the PN-selenium group (401 (17) ng/g haemoglobin) than the PN+selenium group (493 (25) ng/g haemoglobin). Urinary selenium was substantially higher in the PN+selenium group at each week. Initially term and preterm plasma selenium concentrations were similar, but they increased in term breastfed infants (+17 (2) micrograms/l), with both groups of preterm infants having lower plasma selenium concentrations at week 6 compared with term breastfed infants (PN-selenium 22 (3) micrograms/l; PN+selenium 23 (4) micrograms/l and term breastfed 49 (2) micrograms/l). CONCLUSIONS: Selenium supplementation of PN at 3 g/kg/day prevented depletion in newborns, but was inadequate to achieve selenium concentrations equivalent to those of breastfed term infants. Whether higher doses are more effective remains to be determined, particularly in light of the high urinary selenium secretion in supplemented infants. Selenium supplementation of both parenteral nutrition and formulas is recommended, but the optimal form and dose remain unclear.     

Evidence of vertical transmission of Ross River and Sindbis viruses (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in southeastern Australia

Ross River and Sindbis viruses were isolated from Aedes camptorhynchus adults reared from immatures collected from a salt marsh in coastal Victoria, indicating the existence of field vertical transmission. These first isolations of an arbovirus from adult mosquitoes reared from field-collected immatures in Australia indicates one mechanism for arbovirus maintenance in temperate regions.