Previous Consensus Research Articles

Outcome Assessment and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization

Outcome Assessment and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization

ESTABLISHING A UNIVERSAL PROTOCOL FOR DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS FOLLOWING ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY: TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

ABSTRACTThe incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after total knee replacement surgery is reported to occur in 84% of all unprotected patients and may be as high as 68% in patients who receive DVT prophylaxis. Moreover, controversy exists as to which pharmacologic or mechanical agent is most effective. Although the scientific literature provides some answers, many issues of DVT prophylaxis are not completely addressed, especially with regard to the duration of prophylaxis. The most recent report from the American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference on Antithrombotic Therapy reconfirms the recommendations offered from previous consensus groups on the importance of establishing and applying a universal protocol for the prevention of DVT in orthopedic surgery.

Cyclosporin A: analytical methodology and factors affecting therapeutic drug monitoring.

The majority of centres measuring cyclosporine have followed the advice of previous consensus meetings. Although most measurements are made using assays with a high specificity for the parent compound, there are still some between-method differences that can be attributed to methodological variables, such as antibody specificity and assay calibration. With experience of cyclosporine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) now spanning 15 years, it would be reasonable to infer that the subject is incapable of growth. However, continued interest in the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine, the introduction of a new formulation of the drug, and the development of new immunosuppressive agents all combine to emphasise the still incomplete extent of our knowledge in this field.

In vitro methylation of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA by tRNA (m5U54)-methyltransferase.

16S rRNA, isolated from Escherichia coli or synthesized in vitro, is methylated by tRNA (m5U54)-methyltransferase (RUMT) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine to give ribothymidine (m5U). By methylation studies of 16S rRNA fragments, nearest-neighbor analysis, and nuclease protection experiments, the site of methylation was identified as U788. We have previously shown that the substrate consensus sequence for the T-arm of tRNA consists of a 2-5 base-pair stem and a 7-base loop, with certain constraints on base substitutions within the loop, and in the first two bases which close the loop [Gu, X., & Santi, D. V. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 2999-3002]. U788 of 16S rRNA is within a 9-base loop of a predicted stem-loop structure of 16S rRNA. If Ado substitution is allowed at the third and seventh positions of the loop and the first and ninth bases of the loop form an A-C base pair, the resulting stem-loop falls within the RUMT consensus sequence of the T-arm of tRNA. Individual mutants of the tRNA T-arm at these positions confirm that the substitutions are allowable, and expand the previous consensus sequence. Further, prevention of 7-base loop formation by requiring C-C base-pair formation at the loop closure abolishes substrate activity. RUMT forms a complex with Syn 16S rRNA which can be isolated on nitrocellulose filters or by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The enzyme also catalyzes exchange of tritium of [3H]Ura-16S rRNA for protons of water. By analogy with studies with tRNA [Gu, X., & Santi, D. V. (1991) Biochemistry 31, 10295-10302], the mechanism of methylation is proposed to involve formation of a covalent, albeit reversible, Michael adduct with the target U788 of 16S rRNA.

Time- and Space-Efficient Randomized Consensus

A protocol is presented which solves the randomized consensus problem [9] for shared memory. The protocol uses a total of O( p 2 + n) worst-case expected increment, decrement, and read operations on a set of three shared O(log n)-bit counters, where p is the number of active processors and n is the total number of processors. It requires less space than previous polynomial-time consensus protocols [6, 7]. and is faster when not all of the processors participate in the protocol. A modified version of the protocol yields a weak shared coin whose bias is guaranteed to be in the range 1/2 ± ϵ regardless of scheduler behavior, and which is the first such protocol for the shared-memory model to guarantee that all processors agree on the outcome of the coin.

Primary product channels in the photodissociation of methane at 121.6 nm

The technique of H(D) atom photofragment translational spectroscopy has been applied to the photodissociation of CH4(CD4) at 121.6 nm. Contrary to the previous consensus view, we find simple C–H bond fission to be the dominant primary process following excitation at this wavelength. The resulting CH3 fragments are formed with very high levels of internal excitation: Some (∼25%) possess so much internal energy that they must undergo subsequent unimolecular decay. The present experiments do not provide a unique determination of the products of this secondary decay process, but statistical arguments presented herein suggest that they will be predominantly CH and H2 fragments. Similar considerations point to a significant role for the direct three body process yielding the same products H+H2+CH. This overall pattern of energy disposal can be rationalized by assuming that most of the initially prepared CH4(Ã 1T2) molecules undergo rapid internal conversion (promoted by the Jahn–Teller distortion of this excited state) to high vibrational levels of the ground state prior to fragmentation. The realization that CH4 photodissociation at 121.6 nm yields CH3 (and CH) fragments, rather than methylene radicals, will necessitate some revision of current models of the hydrocarbon photochemistry prevailing in the atmospheres of the outer planets and some of their moons, notably Titan.

Mouse chromosome 11

A consensus linkage map of Chr 11 was constructed based on several multilocus genetic crosses, and the remainder of the loci were placed on this foundation (Buchberg et al. 1991). This report expands on the previous consensus map (Buchberg et al. 1991) and includes over 20 new loci that have been recently mapped on Chr 11. The cytogenetic characterization of mouse Chr 11 and the linkages of the human homologs of the genes mapping to mouse Chr 11 are summarized in this report. The resulting consensus linkage map is intended to be used as a guide for genetic, physical, and molecular analyses of Chr 11.

A new U2 RNA secondary structure provided by phylogenetic analysis of trypanosomatid U2 RNAs.

A new model of U2 RNA secondary structure has been developed by comparing U2 RNA sequences from distantly related trypanosomatids, which process their RNAs by trans-splicing, and U2 RNAs from cis-splicing organisms. The trypanosomatid U2 RNA retains structural similarity in important functional domains of cis-splicing U2 RNAs yet differs from previous consensus models in that only two helices, rather than three, can form in the stem-loop II region. This alteration eliminates the capacity for pseudoknot formation and produces a single-stranded region 3' to stem-loop II, which may be accessible for snRNP protein binding. Trypanosomatid U2 RNAs differ in the putative branchpoint recognition sequences, which completely diverge from the conserved GUAGUA consensus of cis-splicing organisms.

Interspecific hybridization between Drosophila species group melanogaster sibling species: isozymic patterns and reproductive relationships

In spite of previous consensus that no F1 fertile hybrids (of both sexes) could be produced between any mating combination of Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, and D. mauritiana, the present data indicate that such hybrids were obtained. Thus, some crosses between D. mauritiana females and D. simulans or D. melanogaster males yield F1 fertile hybrids (of both sexes) which have been named Masi (or Masi-2 and Masi-3) and Mame, respectively. Electrophoretic studies, using the species-diagnostic genes for 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and aldehyde oxidase (6-Pgd, Adh, and Aldox, respectively), were used to investigate the hybrid status, taking into consideration (i) their reproductive relationships, (ii) the coexistence of electromorphs from different species in the same hybrid, within the same generation, and (iii) the expression of the above electromorphs in the hybrids as well as in progeny from backcrosses, where unexpected irregularities and abnormalities were observed. These interspecific hybrids have been kept in our laboratory (as stocks) for 50 generations, to date, and have also been tested for various characteristics that contributed to the verification of their hybrid status (mating abilities, enzyme activities, hybrid sex ratio, the morphology of male genital arches and other fitness components). The finding of major genetic phenomena (e.g., allozymic repression) in these hybrid genomes gives some idea of the nature of events that could be associated with strong evolutionary changes, thus controlling speciation processes.Key words: Drosophila, electrophoresis, electromorphs, interspecific hybrids.

The social implications of nonzero-sum games

It is argued that a reorientation of the theory and application of nonzero-sum (NZS) games is needed in order for that discipline to have a beneficial impact on societal problems such as war. Accordingly, a general strategy of cooperation with minimum sanctions (CMS) is developed and applied to prisoner's dilemma (PD) and dollar auction games. It is shown that tit-for-tat-like strategies are appropriate for all PD games, not just iterated PD, and that, contrary to previous consensus, it is rational to cooperate in the single-shot PD. In evaluating NZS strategies in human or computerized tournaments, special NZS scoring rules should be used. A water-division bargaining example is included to illustrate the superiority of the maximum-welfare approach to the Nash bargaining solution.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

Signals for the selection of a splice site in pre-mRNA: Computer analysis of splice junction sequences and like sequences

To evaluate the importance of the surrounding nucleotide sequence in the selection of a splice site for mRNA, we have carried out computer studies of eukaryotic protein genes whose entire nucleotide sequences were available. A splice site-like sequence that has a significant homology to the consensus splice junction sequences is frequently found within an intron and exon. It is found that the higher the homology of a candidate donor site sequence to the nine-nucleotide consensus sequence, the higher is its probability of being a donor site. For most of the donors, the stability of presumed base-pairing with U1-RNA is higher than that of donor-like sequences, if any, in the adjacent exon and intron. However, homology of a candidate acceptor sequence to the 15-nucleotide consensus is a poor criterion of an acceptor site. The presence of a sequence that could serve as a branch-point 18 to 37 nucleotides before an acceptor does not seem to be critical in distinguishing it from an acceptor-like sequence. For genes of human, rat, mouse and chicken, respectively, nucleotide frequencies around splice junctions of many genes have been calculated. They seem to be different at some positions around a donor site from species to species. The acceptors for these vertebrates have longer pyrimidine-rich regions than the previous consensus sequence. The newly derived nucleotide frequencies were used as the standard to calculate the weighted homology score of a candidate splice site sequence in a gene of the four species. This weighted homology score of the 40 to 60-nucleotide intron-exon sequence is a much better criterion of an acceptor. These results suggest that the most important signal in the selection of a splice resides in the surrounding nucleotide sequence. It is also suggested that the surrounding nucleotide sequence alone is not generally sufficient for the selection.

Ammi Visnaga(L.) Lam.: Occurrence of Khellin and Visnagin in Primary Rib Channels and Endosperm, and Emptiness of Vittae, Revealed by U.V. Microscopy*

Sections of Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. ripe fruits were examined by U.V. microscopy under U.V. 365 nm light and under mixed U.V. 365 nm and visible light. The examination revealed a substance with blue autofluorescence inside the primary rib channels; a blue colour was shown also by the endosperm, whilst vittae were empty. In sections extracted with a selective method for the furanochromones khellin and visnagin, the substance filling primary rib channels was completely dissolved, and the colour of endosperm faded. The extract was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography: the solubilized materials were composed almost exclusively of khellin and visnagin. These data are in contrast with the previous consensus which considered coumarins and coumarin-like compounds to be located in the vittae of Umbelliferae fruits, and never present in endosperms, whilst primary rib channels were thought empty in ripe fruits.

Realpolitik or Concert Diplomacy: The Debate over Austrian Foreign Policy in the 1860's

The third quarter of the nineteenth century witnessed momentous changes in the style of European diplomacy and statecraft. The generation of Klemens von Metternich, Alexander I, and Viscount Castlereagh gave way to that of Louis Napoleon, Viscount Palmerston, Camillo Benso di Cavour, and Otto von Bismarck. The previous conservative consensus among the great powers that had feared war and revolution and valued harmony, peace, and stability succumbed to other ideas and attitudes that accentuated the diversity and the rivalry of the European family of states. The precepts of Concert diplomacy that had formerly regulated relations between the powers were no longer obeyed or respected. Between 1854 and 1871 Europe experienced five wars involving great powers; from 1815 to 1854 there had been only two. Obviously the old european system that had discouraged direct challenges and confrontations was crumbling.

The interaction between nonmetric and metric cranial variation.

Cranial discrete or 'epigenetic" traits have been analyzed for interrelationships with measurements of the skull in a sample of American Negro males. Univariate t and multivariate T2 tests are used. It has been the previous consensus view that nonmetric and metric characters are unrelated. Statistically significant associations between the total of 50 discrete and 23 metrical characters, however, are much more frequent than would be expected through random distribution. Multivariate analysis supplements simpler statistics by synthesizing patterns of variation within regions of the skull, identifying many interrelations of skull size and shape with discrete traits. A low but observable general influence is exerted upon nonmetric morphology by metrical variation of the human skull (or vice versa).

Re-fuelling the talent tank. A qualitative study of key deficiencies, future needs, and life-long learning needs of communication management professionals in Europe

This paper originates from the results of the EU financed project, ECOPSI, which advanced understanding about the professional competences of European public relations and communication managers. The paper focuses on deficiencies in competences that practitioners identify for themselves and on the needs for the future generation that will perform four professional roles: chief communication officer (CCO), crisis communication, social media, and internal communication. Questions to understand the roles and their future requirements were defined around: means for achievement of current competences to perform the role, competence gaps, specialized competences, and future needs. They were explored with qualitative methodology through 53 in depth interviews. The analysis of data shows that European professionals understand and evaluate their way of performing the practice through a complex framework of competences. The findings provide evidence of synergies in the understanding and interpretation of the four roles and there is common identification of on-going gaps and future needs, suggesting that public relations is a maturing discipline with an accumulated set of standards in Europe. The study also targets the capacity of intervention for advancing the profession to an approach of knowledge acquisition and supporting the previous academic consensus about the necessity of a body of knowledge and specialized skills for professionalization