bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk in Performance: Facing the Future
Authors: HARARI DROR
Published: June 2009

While modern rational thinking has developed complex methods for calculating and managing risk, the better forecast and prepare for the future, certain modern performance practices have embraced the element of risk. In this article I interrogate this phenomenon, offering a distinction between risk-taking in modernist and postmodernist performance. Whereas in the former risk serves to transcend the representational aspects of performance, in the later it is banalized, revealing its inevitability in both performance situations and everyday life.
Types of Architectural Emergence
Authors: NEUMAN ERAN
Published: June 2009

This paper presents two methods of architectural conception and articulation based on the idea of type. One method conceives of architecture as a predetermined entity, claiming that architecture has a plan, a programme that determines its emergence based on a specific type prior to its coming into being. The other method, based on digital design processes and genetic algorithms, focuses on the procedures of architectural becoming. The essay claims that while the latter method attempts to release the emergence of the architectural entity from predetermined formal or functional typological definitions, it in fact suggests new ways of defining the historical idea of architectural types. Based on genotypic and phenotypic procedures, the latter method bases the evolution of the architectural type on predetermined typological information, yet at the same time it allows the emergence of the architectural entity as part of undetermined flows. As such, it proposes a new temporal structure in architecture – one that is based on flows and motions.
Relations de cohérence et fonctionnement des anaphores (RCFA) (Présentation)
Authors: CORNISH FRANCIS
Published: June 2009

Le projet de recherche que reflète ce numéro thématique est le fruit d'une collaboration entre deux laboratoires de recherche conduite entre avril 2003 et décembre 2006, sous l’égide de l'Institut de Linguistique Française: l'ERSS de l'université Toulouse-Le Mirail (Toulouse II), et le laboratoire EA 1339/Scolia de l'université Marc Bloch (Strasbourg II).
Investigation of the period of sawtooth events
Authors: Cai X. , Clauer C. R.
Published: June 2009

A sawtooth event is identified as a series of energetic particle flux variations, i.e., rapid increases following slow decreases, from geosynchronous satellites observations. The saw blade shape is prominent in the proton flux with energy range between 50 and 400 keV. Though sawtooth events are described as large‐amplitude oscillations with periods between 2 and 4 h on the basis of case studies, their period has not been accurately determined by previous studies. In this study, we have identified 111 sawtooth event intervals, which include 438 individual teeth, from January 1998 to December 2007. We find the average period is 179.6 min. However, the period shows large variations from event to event, even from tooth to tooth in the same sawtooth interval. The variability is independent with the length of the period and the number of oscillations, so we conclude that sawtooth events are quasi‐periodic events instead of periodic events.
Electric field variability and model uncertainty: A classification of source terms in estimating the squared electric field from an electric field model
Authors: Cosgrove R. B. , Codrescu M.
Published: June 2009

Joule heating by high‐latitude electric fields is thought to be underestimated by electric field models, and it has been conjectured that the source of the underestimation is “electric field variability,” although the interpretation of this term is not necessarily straightforward. We perform a classification of source terms in estimating the squared magnitude of electric field from an electric field model, and find that the phenomenon summarily referred to as electric field variability canonically decomposes into two distinct components: small‐scale electric field variability, and resolved‐scale model uncertainty. The latter contribution is a statistical estimation uncertainty, and not related to physical small‐scale fluctuations. We argue that the two sources should be characterized separately. An illustration is given in a comparison of the Joule heating measured by the Sondrestrom incoherent scatter radar during a 40‐h period containing a storm, with the Joule heating modeled by the Assimilative Mapping of Ionospheric Electrodynamics (AMIE) procedure, after removing the Sondrestrom data from the AMIE assimilation. A quantitative assessment of the relative importance of the two sources is drawn from a recent satellite study.
Soil n‐alkane δ13C along a mountain slope as an integrator of altitude effect on plant species δ13C
Authors: Wei Kai , Jia Guodong
Published: June 2009

Carbon isotopic compositions of leaf wax‐derived n‐alkanes (δ13Cwax) and bulk organic matter (δ13CSOM) in surface soils from ca. 1000 to 3800 m above sea level along Mount Gongga, China were investigated for their altitudinal variations. There is a breakpoint, suggesting a precipitation threshold, at 2050 m in both δ13Cwax and δ13CSOM trends. Above the threshold, δ13Cwax and δ13CSOM increase in a similar pattern of the average species‐level response to altitude reported from various humid mountainous areas. However, a significant decreasing trend with altitude occurs below the threshold, within which climate changes upward from arid to humid, consistent with plant foliar δ13C response to precipitation at water‐limited areas. Because δ13Cwax and δ13CSOM naturally integrate plant species and time, this work demonstrates that the altitude‐induced environmental impact on plant species‐level δ13C has been conveyed to soils, and that the species‐level δ13C could be linearly scaled up to the community level.
Using Textpresso for Information Retrieval, Fact Extraction
Authors: Yook Karen , Van Auken Kimberly , Sternberg Paul , Consortium The WormBase
Published: June 2009

Ten years ago WormBase^1^ started as a repository for sequence data for the modelorganism Caenorhabditis elegans and has since striven to include the curation of allgenetic and molecular data published for this nematode. With a publication rate in the C.elegans field of approximately 800 papers per year, WormBase (WB) has the opportunity to include information from every paper published. Currently there are ~11,000 full text research papers (mid-1970's to the present) downloaded into the WB curation database, from which over 27 data types (i.e. genetic interactions, transgene objects, gene expression patterns, mutant phenotypes etc.) are extracted by curators. Textpresso^2^ is an open source text-mining tool capable of rapid searches for keywords, as well as concepts, from the full text of research papers. Curators at WB use Textpresso on a daily basis for many aspects of literature curation, from simple keyword searches to semi- or fully automated entity and fact extraction, which feed into curation pipelines or directly into the curation database itself. In addition, Textpresso greatly aids prioritization of literature curation by retrieving papers based on their full contents rather than solely on their abstracts. Such retrievable contents can range from the very particular (such as a gene simply being mentioned in the Materials and Methods section of a paper) to the complex (such as molecular functions that involve cellular components). As WB expands to incorporate the genomes of other nematodes, we will be working with Textpresso developers to set up a library of literature for related nematodes. We expect Textpresso to be crucial for most efficiently directing our efforts in literature curation, and for most quickly providing data to users searching the literature. In this workshop we will show how we use Textpresso in our curation pipeline to help with literature queries, to prioritize our workflow, and to automate data and fact extraction.1 "WormBase":http://www.wormbase.org2 "Textpresso":http://www.textpresso.org
Creating District-Wide AAC Programs
Authors: Cannon Barbara , Edmond Grace , Melendez Angela , Tucker J.C. , Blair Kimberly , Rohre Darcy
Published: June 2009

School districts are mandated to provide services for students with disabilities from their initial enrollment to graduation. The following article highlights the activities of two school districts to provide meaningful, consistent speech-language services to students in need of AAC services and to implement programs to improve the communication and language learning of students using AAC strategies. School district teams grapple with the complex challenges of student diversity (e.g., type of disability, ages, placement) and appropriate, consistent service delivery. These districts are geographically and culturally different, but have two things in common: (a) an emphasis on the use of core over extended vocabulary and (b) the development of consistent, low-tech communication materials.
Hydraulic connection of grape berries to the vine: varietal differences in water conductance into and out of berries, and potential for backflow
Authors: Tilbrook Joanne , Tyerman Stephen D.
Published: June 2009

Weight loss in Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz berries occurs in the later stages of ripening from 90–100 days after anthesis (DAA). This rarely occurs in varieties such as Chardonnay and Thompson seedless. Flow rates of water under a constant pressure into berries on detached bunches of these varieties are similar until 90–100 DAA. Shiraz berries then maintain constant flow rates until harvest maturity, and Chardonnay inflow tapers to almost zero. Thompson seedless maintains high xylem inflows. Hydraulic conductance for flow in and out of individual Shiraz and Chardonnay berries was measured using a root pressure probe. From 105 DAA, during berry weight loss in Shiraz, there were significant varietal differences in xylem hydraulic conductance. Both varieties showed flow rectification such that conductance for inflow was higher than conductance for outflow. For flow into the berry, Chardonnay had 14% of the conductance of Shiraz. For flow out of the berry Chardonnay was 4% of the conductance of Shiraz. From conductance measurements for outflow from the berry and stem water potential measurements, it was calculated that Shiraz could loose ~7% of berry volume per day, consistent with rates of berry weight loss. A functional pathway for backflow from the berries to the vine via the xylem was visualised with Lucifer Yellow CH loaded at the cut stylar end of berries on potted vines. Transport of the dye out of the berry xylem ceased before 97 DAA in Chardonnay, but was still transported into the torus and pedicel xylem of Shiraz at 118 DAA. Xylem backflow could be responsible for a portion of the post-veraison weight loss in Shiraz berries. These data provide evidence of varietal differences in hydraulic connection of berries to the vine that we relate to cell vitality in the mesocarp. The key determinates of berry water relations appear to be maintenance or otherwise of semi permeable membranes in the mesocarp cells and control of flow to the xylem to give variable hydraulic connection back to the vine.
Interrogating an insect society
Authors: Gadagkar Raghavendra
Published: June 2009

Insect societies such as those of ants, bees, and wasps consist of 1 or a small number of fertile queens and a large number of sterile or nearly sterile workers. While the queens engage in laying eggs, workers perform all other tasks such as nest building, acquisition and processing of food, and brood care. How do such societies function in a coordinated and efficient manner? What are the rules that individuals follow? How are these rules made and enforced? These questions are of obvious interest to us as fellow social animals but how do we interrogate an insect society and seek answers to these questions? In this article I will describe my research that was designed to seek answers from an insect society to a series of questions of obvious interest to us. I have chosen the Indian paper wasp
Ropalidia marginata
for this purpose, a species that is abundantly distributed in peninsular India and serves as an excellent model system. An important feature of this species is that queens and workers are morphologically identical and physiologically nearly so. How then does an individual become a queen? How does the queen suppress worker reproduction? How does the queen regulate the nonreproductive activities of the workers? What is the function of aggression shown by different individuals? How and when is the queen's heir decided? I will show how such questions can indeed be investigated and will emphasize the need for a whole range of different techniques of observation and experimentation.
Tracking the culprit: HIV-1 evolution and immune selection revealed by single-genome amplification
Authors: Brumme Zabrina L. , Walker Bruce D.
Published: June 2009

Early control of HIV-1 infection is determined by a balance between the host immune response and the ability of the virus to escape this response. Studies using single-genome amplification now reveal new details about the kinetics and specificity of the CD8+ T cell response and the evolution of the virus during early HIV infection.
Role of non‐HLA genetic variants in end‐stage renal disease
Authors: Ranganath P. , Tripathi G. , Sharma R. K. , Sankhwar S. N. , Agrawal S.
Published: June 2009

Cytokines and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of primary kidney disease and progression to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Cytokine secretion is reported to be dependent on the single nucleotide polymorphisms located in the cytokine genes. The role of different polymorphisms in cytokines and ICAM genes as probable susceptibility factors for ESRD has been explored in the present study. The study was conducted on 258 ESRD patients and on ethnically matched 569 controls. Individuals were genotyped for interleukin (IL)‐6 (G174C), IL‐4 (C590T), tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) (−G308A and −G238A) and ICAM‐1 (A469G) gene polymorphisms using standard polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism–based method. We observed significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the TNF‐α−308AA [P = 0.001; odds ratios (OR) = 7.61, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 2.1–27.9] and TNF‐α−238AA (P = 0.001; OR = 5.8, 95% CI = 2.2–15.1). Furthermore, C allele of IL‐6 −G174C and G allele of ICAM‐1 A469G were significantly different in ESRD patients when compared with controls (P = 0.0001; OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 3.9–7.7 and P < 0.0001; OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 3.1–4.7). For the IL‐4 C590T polymorphism, although the homozygous mutant genotype (TT) was not found to be significantly associated with ESRD, a statistically significant association with T allele (P = 0.008) was observed. Furthermore, combined analysis showed a higher risk in ESRD patients with high IL‐4‐ and low IL‐6‐producing genotypes, low IL‐4‐ and low IL‐6‐producing genotypes and high‐producing genotype of TNF‐α (308 and 238) with the increased risk of 6.47‐, 3.7‐ and 3.3‐fold, respectively. Our results suggest that IL‐6, IL‐4, TNF‐α and ICAM gene polymorphisms are implicated in ESRD.
A novel allele HLA‐B*550203 was identified by polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐based typing
Authors: Yan L.‐X. , Zhu F.‐M. , Zhang W. , He J.
Published: June 2009

One nucleotide difference was shown at position 594 in exon 3 from C to T between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐B*550203 and HLA‐B*550201, which does not alter amino acids in the mature protein.
Identification of a novel HLA‐Cw*08 variant allele, Cw*0821
Authors: Wang D.‐M. , Deng Z.‐H.
Published: June 2009

The novel human leukocyte antigen‐Cw*0821 allele differs from the closest allele Cw*080101 by single nucleotide change at genomic DNA nucleotide 419 A>G (codon73 ACT>GCT) in exon 2, which results in an amino acid change Thr73Ala.
Identification of a novel allele HLA‐A*2489 by sequence‐based typing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Xiao Y. , Zhou X.‐Y. , Liu N. , Zhang Z.‐X. , Cai J.‐P.
Published: June 2009

A novel human leukocyte antigen‐A allele, A*2489, was identified in a Chinese registered donor. The A*2489 allele differs from the closest matching allele A*2428 by two nucleotide substitutions, 257(A→G) and 265(G→C), in exon 2.
Successful cord blood transplantation using a reduced‐intensity conditioning regimen for advanced childhood‐onset cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Awaya Tomonari , Kato Takeo , Niwa Akira , Hiramatsu Hidefumi , Umeda Katsutsugu , Watanabe Ken‐ichiro , Shibata Minoru , Yamanaka Yasunari , Maruya Etsuko , Saji Hiroh , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Adachi Souichi
Published: June 2009

Awaya T, Kato T, Niwa A, Hiramatsu H, Umeda K, Watanabe K‐i, Shibata M, Yamanaka Y, Maruya E, Saji H, Nakahata T, Adachi S. Successful cord blood transplantation using a reduced‐intensity conditioning regimen for advanced childhood‐onset cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15: E116–E120. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract:  The CCALD, which is caused by a mutation of the ABCD1 gene that encodes a peroxisomal membrane protein, progresses to a stage where the patient is in a vegetative state and can cause death within 3–5 yr after the appearance of neurological symptoms. Although HSCT is the only means of preventing the progression of this disease, HSCT is currently recommended only for cases diagnosed in the early stages. Previous reports on HSCT in advanced CCALD have indicated that the complications of the HSCT procedure seem to outweigh its benefits with respect to survival and neurological outcome. In this case, we successfully treated advanced CCALD with CBT using a reduced‐intensity conditioning regimen to reduce regimen‐related toxicity and transplant‐associated morbidity and mortality. Neither neurological deterioration nor deterioration of MRI abnormalities were observed during the clinical course. We report that CBT using the reduced‐intensity conditioning regimen was well tolerated, stopped disease progression and contributed to a good neuropsychological outcome in this case of advanced CCALD.
The Blood Groups, Serum Groups and Haemoglobins of the Inhabitants of Lunana and Thimbu, Bhutan
Authors: Glasgow Bridget G. , Goodwin Marilyn J. , Jackson F. , Kopeć Ada C. , Lehmann H. , Mourant A. E. , Tills D. , Turner R. W. D. , Ward M. P.
Published: June 2009

Summary. Tests for inherited blood factors were done on samples from Lunana and Thimbu, Bhutan. Two persons in 31 from Lunana carried Haemoglobin E and five in 28 were Di (a+). Both populations appear to be related to the Tibetans, with some genes from South‐East Asia and, at Lunana, from India also.
Characterization of kafirin composition and in vitro digestibility in CMS‐lines, fertility restorers and F1 hybrids with the new types of CMS‐inducing cytoplasms of sorghum
Authors: Italianskaya J. V. , Elkonin L. A. , Kozhemyakin V. V.
Published: June 2009

One of the reasons of poor nutritive value of sorghum grain is resistance of its seed storage proteins (kafirins) to protease digestion. To reveal sorghum entries with increased kafirin digestibility, the sodium dodecyl sulfate – polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) of endosperm proteins of 10 lines [cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS)‐lines and fertility restorers] and five F1 hybrids before and after pepsin digestion was carried out. For quantitative estimation of kafirin digestibility the SDS‐PAGE banding patterns were scanned by laser densitometer. Significant variability for both individual fractions and total kafirin digestibility was found. The line KVV‐45, fertility restorer for the Indian ‘M35‐1A’ type of CMS, had the highest level of kafirin digestibility (30% and 25% of undigested γ‐ and α1‐kafirins, respectively), while in some entries 80–90% of kafirins remained undigested. Increased α1‐kafirin digestibility coincided with relatively high γ‐kafirin digestibility. High‐molecular weight kafirins (HMWK) (45 kDa and 66 kDa) resistant to pepsin digestion were found in some lines, the F1 hybrids had the same HMWK as parental lines. These data demonstrate possibility for isolation of sorghum genotypes with increased nutritive value by screening their flour for in vitro protein digestibility.
Amlodipine alone or combined with terazosin improves lower urinary tract disorder in rat models of benign prostatic hyperplasia or detrusor instability: focus on detrusor overactivity
Authors: Liu Hai‐Peng , Chen Guang‐Liang , Liu Ping , Xu Xi‐Ping
Published: June 2009

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium‐channel blocker, alone or combined with terazosin, on urodynamics in rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and in female rats with detrusor instability (DI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rat model of BPH was induced by subcutaneous injection of testosterone (0.5 mg per rat for 21 days). The female rat model of DI was induced by partial bladder outlet ligation for 6 weeks. The rats were intragastrically administered with assigned drugs (amlodipine, terazosin or both combined) for 14 days in three experiments. Continuous cystometry was assessed in rats under urethane anaesthesia.

RESULTS

Amlodipine at 0.5, 1 and 3 mg/kg significantly decreased the bladder index (BI), threshold pressure (TP), and micturition pressure (MP), and significantly increased intermicturition duration (IMD) in BPH rats. Moreover, amlodipine 0.5 mg/kg plus terazosin 0.4 mg/kg gave the greatest improvements in all urodynamic variables, with a greater decrease in BI, TP, MP and greater increase in IMD than with either of the drugs used alone in BPH and DI rats, and had a similar efficacy to terazosin 1 mg/kg. The combined treatment also gave a greater decrease in nonvoiding bladder contractions in DI rats.

CONCLUSIONS

Amlodipine alone or combined with terazosin might have the potential to alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The combined therapy appears to be more suitable for LUTS with predominantly irritative symptoms.
A systematic review of the quality of psychometric evidence supporting the use of an obesity‐specific quality of life measure for use with persons who have class III obesity
Authors: Forhan M. , Vrkljan B. , MacDermid J.
Published: June 2009

With global obesity rates at 42%, there is a need for high‐quality outcome measures that capture important aspects of quality of life for persons with obesity. The aim of this paper was to systematically review and critique the psychometric properties and utility of the impact of weight on quality of life‐lite (IWQOL‐Lite) for use with persons who have class III obesity. Databases were searched for articles that addressed obesity‐specific quality of life. A critical appraisal of the psychometric properties of the IWQOL‐Lite and connection to a quality of life conceptual framework was completed. Raters used a standardized data extraction and quality appraisal form to guide evidence extraction. Two articles that reviewed obesity‐specific quality of life measures were found; none were based on a systematic review. Six articles on the IWQOL‐Lite met the criteria for critical appraisal using guidelines. The mean quality score for these articles was 59.2%. Concepts measured were consistent with the biopsychosocial concept of health defined by the World Health Organization. There is limited but consistent evidence that the IWQOL‐Lite is a reliable, valid and responsive outcome measure that can be used to assess disease‐specific quality of life in persons with class III obesity.
On the European Responsibility in the Agricultural Multilateral Trade Negotiations: Modelling the Impacts of the Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: Femenia Fabienne , Gohin Alexandre
Published: June 2009

The present round of multilateral trade negotiations is still deadlocked over agricultural trade. The European Union (EU) is urged by its trading partners to open its agricultural markets. Economic evaluations of trade liberalisation scenarios unanimously conclude that a substantial opening of agricultural markets is required for a successful (welfare‐improving) Doha Round. In this paper, we perform new evaluations to identify precisely the contributions of the European farm policy and to examine the robustness of these evaluations in the representation of this complex policy. Using the same specifications as in major previous studies, our first simulations show that the EU has a major responsibility in delivering significant gains to the developing countries. On the other hand, when we conduct the same experiments with a more relevant calibration and modelling of the European farm policy instruments, the gains that these developing countries may reap from the EU liberalisation are considerably reduced. Accordingly the current charge against the EU is simply inopportune.
Reflections on interviewing elites
Authors: Rice Gareth
Published: June 2009

This paper presents one case of the particularities of power. Drawing upon interviews with UK‐based elites, I unpack the general with the specific through discussing how I experienced power as a relational effect of social interaction. Within the parameters of a collaborative research project, this involved the challenge of gaining access to and interviewing elites as means to explore the role of a flagship shopping mall as part of a wider urban regeneration agenda. I conclude with some recommendations on how to negotiate the unequal power relations between elites and researchers.
Differential gene expression in umbilical cord blood and maternal peripheral blood
Authors: Merkerova Michaela , Vasikova Alzbeta , Bruchova Hana , Libalova Helena , Topinka Jan , Balascak Ivan , Sram Radim J. , Brdicka Radim
Published: June 2009

Objectives:  Umbilical cord blood (UCB) has become a useful alternative source of hematopoietic stem cells for clinical and research applications. UCB represents neonatal blood and differs from adult blood in many aspects, displaying different cell composition and various features of cellular immaturity. To understand molecular basis of phenotypic differences between neonatal and adult blood, we studied variations in transcriptome of UCB and maternal peripheral blood (PB).

Methods:  Using Illumina microarrays, we determined gene expression profiles of UCB and PB samples obtained from 30 mothers giving birth to living baby.

Results:  Out of 20 589 tested genes, 424 genes were down‐regulated and 417 genes were up‐regulated in UCB compared with PB. Reduced expression of many immunity‐related pathways (e.g. TLR pathway, Jak‐STAT pathway, cytokine−cytokine receptor interaction) in neonatal blood cells may contribute to the poor response to antigens, increasing susceptibility to infections at the time of disappearance of protective maternal antibodies. On the other hand, overexpression of erythropoiesis‐related genes (glycophorins, fetal hemoglobins, enzymes catalysing heme synthesis and erythrocyte differentiation) in UCB probably enforces red cell production in newborns.

Conclusions:  Our study demonstrates that neonatal and maternal bloods show specific gene expression profiles, likely reflecting differences in phenotypes of immunologically immature and fully evolved hematopoietic cells.
The role of peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate and especially bone marrow trephine biopsy in distinguishing atypical chronic myeloid leukemia from chronic granulocytic leukemia and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
Authors: Xubo Gong , Xingguo Lu , Xianguo Wu , Rongzhen Xu , Xibin Xiao , Lin Wang , Lei Zhu , Xiaohong Zhang , Genbo Xu , Xiaoying Zhao
Published: June 2009

Objectives:  To better realize the features of peripheral blood (PB), bone marrow (BM) aspirate and especially BM trephine biopsy in atypical chronic myeloid leukemia (aCML).

Methods:  We studied PB, BM smears in 35 cases of aCML and compared with 84 cases of chronic granulocytic leukemia chronic phase (CGL‐CP), 39 cases of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML). In addition, we evaluated characteristics of BM trephine biopsies in 21 cases of aCML and compared with 68 cases of CGL‐CP, 20 cases of CMML.

Results:  All aCML patients presented with leukocytosis (median WBC 17.3 × 109/L), 48% had moderate anemia, and 85% had thrombocytopenia. Values of monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, percentage of immature granulocytes and monocytes (0.63 ± 0.41 × 109/L, 0.18 ± 0.16 × 109/L, 0.09 ±0.08 × 109/L, 6.27 ± 3.09%, and 2.46 ± 1.75%, respectively) were useful in distinguishing aCML from CGL‐CP and CMML groups. The BM smears showed that striking dysgranulopoieis (100%), dyserythropoiesis (48.6%), percentage of blasts, nucleated erythrocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils (2.45 ± 2.06%, 7.76 ± 2.89%, 1.30 ± 1.21%, 1.47 ± 1.60%, and 1.15 ± 1.08%, respectively) were all important parameters for a diagnosis of aCML. On BM trephine sections, aCML was characterized as hypercellularity, a moderate degree of reticulin fibrosis (71.4%), lymphocytopenia (76.2%), plasmacytopenia (90.5%), abnormal localization of immature precursors (28.5%), and absence of eosinophilia, basophilia, monocytosis. Furthermore, BM imprints, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining findings provided important morphological reference to BM trephine sections and made the identification of nucleated cells more convenient.

Conclusions:  Besides the findings observed in PB and BM aspirate, features of BM trephine biopsy (including BM trephine section, BM imprint, immunohistochemical, and cytochemical staining) can also aid in the diagnosis of aCML.
The velocity-shape alignment of clusters and the kinetic Sunyaev–Zeldovich effect
Authors: Cunnama D. , Faltenbacher A. , Cress C. , Passmoor S.
Published: June 2009

We use the Millennium simulation to probe the correlation between cluster velocities and their shapes and the consequences for measurements of the kinetic Sunyaev–Zeldovich (kSZ) effect. Haloes are generally prolate ellipsoids with orientations that are correlated with those of nearby haloes. We measure the mean streaming velocities of haloes along the lines that separate them, demonstrating that the peculiar velocities and the long axes of haloes tend to be somewhat aligned, especially for the most massive haloes. Since the kSZ effect is proportional to the line-of-sight velocity and the optical depth of the cluster, the alignment results in a strong enhancement of the kSZ signature in clusters moving along the line of sight. This effect has not been taken into account in many analyses of kSZ signatures.
Calling Out the Troops: Interest Groups, Press Releases, and Policy Promotion Through Speech
Authors: DEGREGORIO CHRISTINE
Published: June 2009

Policy makers and issue advocates have a keen interest in controlling what the public knows about the issues they champion. On controversial matters, each side wants its base to be informed and active. To acquiesce and leave the task to others is to lose. Notwithstanding mounting evidence of the subject's importance, studies into just how interest groups use messages and communications outreach are a fairly recent phenomenon. Using over 400 press releases, I examine the extent to which advocacy groups' choices of message frames fit other established understandings of political outreach. Notably, frame content is simple and repeated. Moreover, when the public shows indifference, press releases focus on mobilization. When public interest is already aroused, press releases focus on furnishing information. These and other results affirm and extend our understanding of political speech and interest group mobilization.

Los que hacen políticas y los promotores de asuntos políticos tienen un fuerte interés en controlar lo que sabe el público sobre los asuntos que abogan. En las cuestiones controvertidas, cada parte quiere tener una base informada y activa. La que ceda y les deje a otras la tarea estará derrotada. A pesar del aumento de evidencia sobre su importancia, los estudios del uso de mensajes y comunicados por los grupos de interés representan un fenómeno bastante reciente. Uso más de 400 comunicados de prensa para examinar hasta qué punto las perspectivas (frames) de mensajes escogidas por los grupos acuerdan con el conocimiento establecido de la interpelación política. Notablemente, el contenido de las perspectivas es sencillo y repetitivo. Además, los comunicados de prensa se enfocan en la movillización cuando el público manifiesta indiferencia, y se enfocan en la información cuando el público ya está interesado. Estos resultados y otros confirman y amplican nuestro conocimiento de la expresión política y de la movilización por los grupos de interés.
Another Look at Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option
Authors: FEIG DOUGLAS G.
Published: June 2009

In an article published in the September, 2007 issue of Politics and Policy, “Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option,” this author reported that African‐American voters are less likely than white voters to roll off (or drop off) for lower‐level offices if the straight‐ticket option is available. That surprising result was traced to the finding that black voters were much more likely than white voters to use that option (which eliminates roll‐off for lower‐level offices). However, that finding was based on just one election in a Southern state. This article extends this research by exploring the race‐roll‐off‐straight‐ticket option relationship in three racially diverse Midwestern jurisdictions, and also by exploring it when votes for ballot measures are considered. It confirms the earlier result regarding elections for lower‐level office but finds that the option leads to increased roll‐off on ballot measures and, consequently, to even more roll‐off among black voters than white voters on ballot measures.

En el artículo “Race, Roll‐Off, and the Straight‐Ticket Option,” publicado en el número de Septiembre de 2007 de Politics & Policy, éste autor reportó que en comparación con los votantes blancos, es más probable que los votantes afroamericanos ejerzan su voto a favor de todos los contendientes de su partido preferido si la opción de straight‐ticket fuera implementada. Esta opción implica que el elector puede votar en una sola boleta por todos los candidatos del mismo partido que están contendiendo por puestos de elección popular, esto en lugar de llenar una boleta por cada puesto (presidente, senador, diputado, y así respectivamente). Sin embargo, el hallazgo sobre la mayor predisposición de la población afroamericana a recurrir a dicha opción se basó en investigación realizada en un solo estado sureño. El presente artículo va más allá al explorar la relación entre raza y la opción straight–ticket en tres jurisdicciones racialmente diversas del medio‐oeste, y al explorarlas también cuando los votos son considerados para referenda. Esta investigación confirma el hallazgo de la investigación anterior sobre la preferencia afroamericana por el straight–ticket pero descubre que hay menor preferencia por dicha opción por parte de los afroamericanos respecto a los blancos cuando ésta involucra decidir asuntos de referenda de acuerdo a las posiciones del partido preferido.
Characterization of pABVA01, a Plasmid Encoding the OXA-24 Carbapenemase from Italian Isolates of
Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: D'Andrea Marco Maria , Giani Tommaso , D'Arezzo Silvia , Capone Alessandro , Petrosillo Nicola , Visca Paolo , Luzzaro Francesco , Rossolini Gian Maria
Published: June 2009

Two epidemiologically unrelated carbapenem-resistant
Acinetobacter baumannii
isolates were investigated as representatives of the first Italian isolates producing the OXA-24 carbapenemase. Both isolates were of European clonal lineage II and carried an identical OXA-24-encoding plasmid, named pABVA01. Comparative analysis revealed that in pABVA01,
bla
OXA-24
was part of a DNA module flanked by conserved inverted repeats homologous to XerC/XerD binding sites, which in other
Acinetobacter
plasmids flank different DNA modules, suggesting mobilization by a novel site-specific recombination mechanism.
Most Environmental Isolates ofCryptococcus neoformansvar.grubii(Serotype A) Are Not Lethal for Mice
Authors: Litvintseva Anastasia P. , Mitchell Thomas G.
Published: June 2009

Most cases of cryptococcosis are caused byCryptococcus neoformansvar.grubii(serotype A), which is widespread in the environment, where it is primarily associated with pigeon excreta. A number of molecular epidemiological studies indicate that many environmental and clinical isolates of serotype A are indistinguishable. However, the murine virulence of environmental strains ofC. neoformanshas not been thoroughly evaluated. We used the murine intranasal model of cryptococcosis to compare the lethality of clinical and environmental strains of serotype A that possessed identical genotypes as determined by amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Eleven environmental strains were tested, and only one caused disease within 60 days postinfection, at which time the experiments were terminated. Conversely, 7 of 10 clinical isolates were lethal for mice at median times of 19 to 40 days. Passing environmental isolates in mice (up to three times) did not significantly increase their lethality. In follow-up studies, we developed a new genotyping technique based on hybridization with TCN2 and TCN4 retrotransposon-specific probes. Although the retrotransposon banding patterns were unstable after prolonged incubation in the laboratory, this method was able to differentiate clinical and environmental strains that had the same AFLP/MLST genotypes.
Cytokine Signaling Regulates the Outcome of Intracellular Macrophage Parasitism byCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Voelz Kerstin , Lammas David A. , May Robin C.
Published: June 2009

The pathogenic yeastCryptococcus neoformansandC. gattiicommonly cause severe infections of the central nervous system in patients with impaired immunity but also increasingly in immunocompetent individuals.Cryptococcusis phagocytosed by macrophages but can then survive and proliferate within the phagosomes of these infected host cells. Moreover,Cryptococcusis able to escape into the extracellular environment via a recently discovered nonlytic mechanism (termed expulsion or extrusion). Although it is well established that the host's cytokine profile dramatically affects the outcome of cryptococcal disease, the molecular basis for this effect is unclear. Here, we report a systematic analysis of the influence of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokines on the outcome of the interaction between macrophages and cryptococci. We show that Th1 and Th17 cytokines activate, whereas Th2 cytokines inhibit, anticryptococcal functions. Intracellular yeast proliferation and cryptococcal expulsion rates were significantly lower after treatment with the Th1 cytokines gamma interferon and tumor necrosis factor alpha and the Th17 cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17). Interestingly, however, the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 significantly increased intracellular yeast proliferation while reducing the occurrence of pathogen expulsion. These results help explain the observed poor prognosis associated with the Th2 cytokine profile (e.g., in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients).
Generation of Antigenic Variants via Gene Conversion: Evidence for Recombination Fitness Selection at the Locus Level in
Anaplasma marginale
Authors: Futse James E. , Brayton Kelly A. , Nydam Seth D. , Palmer Guy H.
Published: June 2009

Multiple bacterial and protozoal pathogens utilize gene conversion to generate antigenically variant surface proteins to evade immune clearance and establish persistent infection. Both the donor alleles that encode the variants following recombination into an expression site and the donor loci themselves are under evolutionary selection: the alleles that encode variants that are sufficiently antigenically unique yet retain growth fitness and the loci that allow efficient recombination. We examined allelic usage in generating
Anaplasma marginale
variants during in vivo infection in the mammalian reservoir host and identified preferential usage of specific alleles in the absence of immune selective pressure, consistent with certain individual alleles having a fitness advantage for in vivo growth. In contrast, the loci themselves appear to have been essentially equally selected for donor function in gene conversion with no significant effect of locus position relative to the expression site or origin of replication. This pattern of preferential allelic usage but lack of locus effect was observed independently for Msp2 and Msp3 variants, both generated by gene conversion. Furthermore, there was no locus effect observed when a single locus contained both
msp2
and
msp3
alleles in a tail-to-tail orientation flanked by a repeat. These experimental results support the hypothesis that predominance of specific variants reflects in vivo fitness as determined by the encoding allele, independent of locus structure and chromosomal position. Identification of highly fit variants provides targets for vaccines that will prevent the high-level bacteremia associated with acute disease.
Synthetic Peptide Vaccine Targeting a Cryptic Neutralizing Epitope in Domain 2 ofBacillus anthracisProtective Antigen
Authors: Oscherwitz Jon , Yu Fen , Jacobs Jana L. , Liu Te-Hui , Johnson Philip R. , Cease Kemp B.
Published: June 2009

Current evidence suggests that protective antigen (PA)-based anthrax vaccines may elicit a narrow neutralizing antibody repertoire, and this may represent a vulnerability with PA-based vaccines. In an effort to identify neutralizing specificities which may complement those prevalent in PA antiserum, we evaluated whether sequences within the 2β2-2β3 loop of PA, which are apparent in the crystal structure of heptameric but not monomeric PA, might represent a target for an epitope-specific vaccine for anthrax and, further, whether antibodies to these sequences are induced in rabbits immunized with monomeric PA. We evaluated the immunogenicity in rabbits of a multiple antigenic peptide (MAP) displaying copies of amino acids (aa) 305 to 319 of this region. Overall, four out of six rabbits vaccinated with the MAP peptide in Freund's adjuvant developed high-titer, high-avidity antibody responses which cross-reacted with the immobilized peptide sequence comprising aa 305 to 319 and with PA, as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and which displayed potent and durable neutralization of lethal toxin (LeTx) in vitro, with peak titers which were 452%, 100%, 67%, and 41% of the peak neutralization titers observed in positive-control rabbits immunized with PA. Importantly, analysis of sera from multiple cohorts of rabbits with high-titer immunity to PA demonstrated a virtual absence of this potent antibody specificity, and work by others suggests that this specificity may be present at only low levels in primate PA antiserum. These results highlight the potential importance of this immunologically cryptic neutralizing epitope from PA as a target for alternative and adjunctive vaccines for anthrax.
Strong Antibody Responses to
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
PE-PGRS62 Protein Are Associated with Latent and Active Tuberculosis
Authors: Koh Kah Wee , Soh Shu E , Seah Geok Teng
Published: June 2009

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
has a unique family of PE-PGRS proteins with conserved N-terminal domains (PE) containing site-specific proline-glutamine residues and polymorphic GC-rich repetitive sequences (PGRS). Tuberculosis (TB) patients produce antibodies against some such proteins, but it is not clear whether these responses correlate with disease. Clinical groups with different mycobacterium exposure were studied for their seroreactivity to PE-PGRS17 and PE-PGRS62 proteins and their respective PE domains. There were minimal antibody responses against both PE domains and full-length PE-PGRS17, even in patients with active TB. However, patients with active and latent TB showed significantly higher PE-PGRS62-specific immunoglobulin G antibody responses than treated TB patients and mycobacterium-reactive TB contacts without latent infection. Latently infected persons had high anti-PE-PGRS62 responses but low responses to the 38-kDa antigen commonly used for TB serology, while treated TB cases showed the opposite response. Thus, patterns of seroreactivity to PE-PGRS62 correlate with clinical status and are associated with latent TB infection.
A NOTE ON THE UNIMODAL FEIGENBAUM'S MAPS
Authors: HUANG GUIFENG , WANG LIDONG , LIAO GONGFU
Published: June 2009

We mainly investigate the likely limit sets and the kneading sequences of unimodal Feigenbaum's maps (Feigenbaum's map can be regarded as the fixed point of the renormalization operator [Formula: see text], where λ is to be determined). First, we estimate the Hausdorff dimension of the likely limit set for the unimodal Feigenbaum's map and then for every decimal s ∈ (0, 1), we construct a unimodal Feigenbaum's map which has a likely limit set with Hausdorff dimension s. Second, we prove that the kneading sequences of unimodal Feigenbaum's maps are uniformly almost periodic points of the shift map but not periodic ones.
FIELD-INDUCED STRUCTURAL EVOLUTION OF PARTICLE-BASED SUSPENSION
Authors: WANG XIAOYONG , XU GU
Published: June 2009

An experimental approach is employed by using transparent electrodes to investigate the column size distribution where an external electric field applied to a colloidal suspension is increased. The coarsening profile of ER suspension is strongly related to field strength, but is insensitive to particle size. In addition, the interaction among the suspended particles, i.e. the shear stress, corresponding to the mean column diameter is studied and the power-law dependence is found at low field range. However, this dependence is not valid when the field strength surpasses a threshold value.
IMPLEMENTATION OF TWO-QUBIT DEUTSCH–JOZSA ALGORITHM WITH TRAPPED IONS
Authors: ZHAN ZHI-MING
Published: June 2009

In this paper, we propose a scheme to implement two-qubit Deutsch–Jozsa algorithm with trapped ions. The distinct advantage of the scheme lies in the fact that it does not use the vibrational mode as the data bus. The vibrational mode is only virtually excited, which makes our scheme insensitive to heating provided that the system remains in the Lamb–Dicke regime.
EFFECT OF Li/Nb RATIO ON GROWTH AND SPECTROMETRIC CHARACTERIZATION OF Hf:Fe:LiNbO3 CRYSTALS
Authors: DAI LI , WU SHI-PING , GUO JING-JIE , XU CHAO , SU YAN-QING , XU YU-HENG
Published: June 2009

Hf : Fe : LiNbO 3 crystals were grown by the Czochralski technique with various ratios of Li/Nb = 0.946, 1.05, 1.20 and 1.38 in the melt. The crystal composition and defect structure were analyzed by XRD, UV-Vis and IR spectroscopy. The results show that the threshold concentration of Hf in LiNbO 3 crystals decrease with the increasing of the Li/Nb ratio; when the Li/Nb ratio is 1.05, the threshold concentration of Hf is less than 2 mol%, largely under the threshold concentration of Hf ions in congruent Hf : Fe : LiNbO 3 crystal (4 mol).1–3 With the increase of Li/Nb , Hf ions first replace the [Formula: see text]; when the concentration of Hf ions is higher than the threshold value, Hf ions occurs on normal Nb and Li sites.
FROBENIUS INTEGRABLE DECOMPOSITIONS FOR TWO CLASSES OF NONLINEAR EVOLUTION EQUATIONS WITH VARIABLE COEFFICIENTS
Authors: YOU FUCAI , XIA TIECHENG , ZHANG JIAO
Published: June 2009

Frobenius integrable decompositions are introduced for partial differential equations with variable coefficients. Two classes of partial differential equations with variable coefficients are transformed into Frobenius integrable ordinary differential equations. The resulting solutions are illustrated to describe the solution phenomena shared with the KdV and potential KdV equations, the Boussinesq equation and the Camassa–Holm equation with variable coefficients.