bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Allergy Properties of PRD-92 Ea in Guinea Pig and Rat
Authors: Beets J.L. , Meade H.M. , Morley J.
Published: July 2009

The effects of PRD-92 Ea were examined on the increased plasma protein extravasation in the skin of guinea pig and rat elicited by specific antigens and spasmogenic mediators. PRD-92 Ea was found to be a potent inhibitor of rat PCA reactions when administered intradermally, intravenously or orally. This compound did not antagonize the local inflammatory responses of histamine, bradykinin or 5HT. This implies that in vivo PRD-92 Ea acts predominantly as an anti-allergy agent rather than a spasmogen antagonist. At high concentrations PRD-92 Ea directly increased vascular permeability when injected intradermally (> 250 μg/site) or administered by aerosol into the lung (> 10%). The importance of investigating such direct irritant actions of similar new drugs is discussed.
A New Immunochemical Purity Test for Clinical Dextran
Authors: Richter Ary Wolfgang
Published: July 2009

A simple immunochemical procedure, based on reversed single radial immunodiffusion (RSRI) was developed to detect commonly occurring traces of antigenic contaminants in clinical dextran. High-titred antisera against non-dextran components of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B512 were produced and served as analytical reagents. Dextran samples were incorporated into a gel layer. Presence of contaminants is revealed by precipitate formation following application of antiserum to a well cut into the gel. Antigenic contaminants can be detected in concentrations exceeding 10 ppm by the Leuconostoc-RSRI test. Screen results on 119 clinical dextran samples from manufacturers in different countries disclosed presence of antigen traces in 82% of preparations. Introduction of the new test and improved purification measures at Pharmacia AB resulted in purer clinical dextran with negative RSRI test scores in 99% of batches produced. Only batches passing this test are released for clinical use. Although no direct correlation was found between contaminant levels and incidence of dextran reactions, antigenic contaminants may play a contributory role in elicitation of mild reactions.
Mediators of Immune Complex-Induced Aggregation of Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils
Authors: Camussi G. , Tetta C. , Bussolino F. , Caligaris Cappio F. , Coda R. , Masera C. , Segoloni G.
Published: July 2009

This study reports the results of in vitro investigations on the aggregation of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) induced by the C5a anaphylatoxin complement component as well as the cationic proteins (CP), which are released by challenging PMN with immune complexes (IC). The carboxy-peptidase-derived des-Arg fragments of CP and C5a, CPi and C5ai, inactive in terms of anaphylactic and chemotactic activity, nevertheless showed a more potent ability to aggregate PMN than CP and C5a. The process of PMN aggregation required metabolic energy and divalent cations, Ca++ and Mg++. The microtubular system and the subplasmalemmal microfilaments appeared to be of critical importance. Electron microscopic studies on aggregates of PMN obtained on stimulation with CP, C5a, CPi and C5ai showed parallel tracts of variable length of cell membranes at the points where cells were in contact which each other.
Lymphotoxins: Selective Cytotoxic Effects
Authors: Lisafeld B.A. , Minowada J. , Klein E. , Holtermann O.A.
Published: July 2009

Materials with lymphotoxin activity produced by lectin stimulated primary cultures of human lymphocytes enriched for T cells or B cells, as well as material obtained from established tissue culture lines of human lymphoid cells were tested for cytotoxicity towards a large number of primary cultures and established lines of human and animal cells. Highly selective effects were found. The patterns of responses to the various lymphotoxin preparations indicate heterogeneity not only among the different cell cultures but also among the lymphotoxin preparations. In addition to the heterogeneity of the various cell cultures in their responses to the lymphotoxin preparations, a spectrum of susceptibilities was also noted among clonal derivatives of the same parental lines. In quantitative terms the responses of the most resistant and the most susceptible cell cultures spanned approximately a 200-fold range. These findings could have bearing upon the mechanism of tumor evasion of host antitumor immunity.
Effect of Adult Thymectomy on the Development of 1-Chloro-2,4-Dinitrobenzene Contact Sensitivity and Other T Lymphocyte Functions in Patients with Myasthenia gravis
Authors: Roupe Gösta , Lindholm Leif , Hanson Lars Å.
Published: July 2009

1-Chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) contact sensitivity and other T lymphocyte functions were studied in thymectomized and non-thymectomized patients with myasthenia gravis. The ability to develop contact sensitivity was reduced in patients with myasthenia gravis and was further reduced after thymectomy. Memory lymphocyte function, as measured by skin tests with common microbial antigens, was intact. A positive phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test was found mainly in those patients who also developed contact sensitivity to DNCB. The number of rosette-forming T cells in the peripheral blood as well as mitogen stimulation with PHA was found to be normal in thymectomized as well as non-thymectomized patients. In the thymectomized group, mitogen stimulation with concanavalin A and staphylococcal protein A was also within the normal range, while increased stimulation was obtained with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and purified protein derivative (PPD). No alteration in mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity or immunoglobulin levels was obtained compared with healthy blood donors. On the basis of these results, it is concluded that non-thymectomized as well as thymectomized patients with myasthenia gravis may have a defective subpopulation of T cells possibly residing in the TH1-positive population. Furthermore, the increased lymphocyte stimulation obtained with PPD and PWM may indicate a reduction of suppressor cell activity after thymectomy.
Mummies from Peru
Authors: Wick G. , Haller M. , Timpl R. , Cleve H. , Ziegelmayer G.
Published: July 2009

This paper describes immunofluorescence studies on the possible preservation of antigenic determinants of different types of collagen in sections of the skin of human mummies from Peru. The age of the mummies was dated from the 4th to the 14th century AD. Using specific antibodies, it was possible to demonstrate type I and type III collagen. The antigenic determinants specific for procollagen type I, procollagen type III and the type IV collagen component of basement membranes were not preserved.
Reduction of a Subset of T Cells Bearing Fc Receptors for IgG in Lepromatous Leprosy
Authors: Singh Sushma , Nath Indira
Published: July 2009

Enumeration of a subpopulation of T cells with receptors for the Fc portion of IgG (Tγ) in the peripheral blood of 14 normal subjects and 43 patients with leprosy was undertaken. Tuberculoid leprosy patients showed normal levels of Tγ cells. In contrast, bacillary positive patients with lepromatous leprosy revealed a significant reduction of circulating Tγ cells (p < 0.001).
Homocytotropic Antibody Responses during Murine Schistosomiasis
Authors: Rousseaux-Prévost Roselyne , Bout D. , Bazin H. , Capron A.
Published: July 2009

Mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni develop a high increase of homocytotropic antibodies, thought to be involved in protection. IgE and IgG1 rise differently during the course of infection. Total serum IgE levels rise between days 20 and 30 and the maximum is observed around day 50. IgG1 levels remain almost unchanged until day 50 after which they increase dramatically, reaching a peak at day 100. S. mansoni specific IgE antibodies measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis parallel the variations of total IgE. On the contrary, S. mansoni specific IgG1 antibodies, also measured by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, do not parallel total IgG1; they reach a peak between days 30 and 40 and remain high until day 100.
Trichinella spiralis Infection in Animals Genetically Selected for High and Low Antibody Production
Authors: Ruitenberg E.J. , Perrudet-Badoux Anne , Boussac-Aron Yolande , Elgersma Anneke
Published: July 2009

Specific antibody response and histopathological changes in the small intestine were studied in mice genetically selected for high and low antibody production (HL and LL, respectively) after oral infection with 50 muscle larvae of Trichinella spiralis. Specific antibody response, measured during the first 20 days after infection in the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis assay and the immunofluorescence test was high in HL and low in LL mice. The response of macrophages, intestinal mast cells, globule leucocytes and eosinophils was examined in the jejunum. It was concluded that the differences in antibody levels and macrophage activity between HL and LL mice are in keeping with published evidence. The cellular reaction of intestinal mast cells and globule leucocytes was delayed in LL mice compared to HL mice. The eosinophil response in HL and LL mice was the same. Consequently, apart from differences in macrophage activity and antibody production, HL and LL mice differ also in intestinal mast cell and globule leucocyte response.
Biological Variation in the Immunological Release of Histamine from Replicates of Passively Sensitized Human Lung and Its Relation to Histamine Content
Authors: Coleman J.W.
Published: July 2009

The histamine content of weighed replicates of chopped human lung was found to vary greatly. Replicates also varied considerably in the amount of histamine released after passive sensitization with IgE and challenge with antigen. The amount of immunological release of histamine was poorly related to tissue histamine content. Consequently, expression of release as percent of content did not lead to any decrease in the amount of variation between replicates.
Dose Response with Sensitizing Antibody in EA Rosette Formation
Authors: Loren A.B. , Horita M. , Tseng C.H. , Yokoyama M.M.
Published: July 2009

With the exception of the EA rosette test using SRBC, all other assay systems using BRBC and HRBC showed a significant dose response in rosette-forming cell count when the sensitizing antibody was further diluted. The percent of rosette-forming cell counts of the EA assay with SRBC, however, was unaffected by dilutions of antiserum even at exceedingly high levels. The present results suggest using red cells, which are nonreactive with T lymphocytes for the assay of B lymphocytes, and the use of antibody for sensitization of red blood cells must be adjusted for the optimal dilution necessary for proper EA rosette formation.
Antibody-Independent Complement Consumption by Micropolyspora Faeni
Authors: Marx, jr. James J. , Motszko Cynthia , Roberts Ronald C.
Published: July 2009

Micropolyspora faeni is an etiologic agent of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a disease with an ill-defined mechanism of pathogenesis. Many reports have suggested an immunologic mechanism. A number of laboratories have demonstrated a nonantibody-mediated activation of the complement cascade. This study was undertaken to define the pathway of the complement consumption induced by M. faeni. We utilized an extract of M. faeni grown on synthetic media rather than the more common double dialysis extracts. Complement consumption by this extract was easily demonstrable in the absence of detectable antibody, but was inhibited by EDTA and MgEGTA. With the exception of C1, all of the early components of the classical pathway were markedly reduced following incubation of normal human serum with this extract. C1 was poorly consumed. In addition, factor B conversion to B was not inhibited by 10 mM MgEGTA suggests that the alternative pathway may also be affected. The generation of M. faeni-dependent chemotactic factor(s) from serum demonstrates that the complement cascade is being activated rather than inhibited.
Secretion of a Hyperemia-Inducing Moiety by Mitogen or Glycogen Stimulated Mononuclear Inflammatory Cells of Sheep and Rabbit
Authors: Vadas Peter , Hay John B.
Published: July 2009

A nonlymphokine mediator of hyperemia has been shown to be secreted by both rabbit peritoneal exudate cells stimulated with 5% glycogen and by concanavalin A treated cells from afferent lymph of sheep. This mediator is not stored in an active form in cells, but is either activated or synthesized de novo in response to antigenic or mitogenic stimuli. Secretion of the mediator is inhibited by culturing cells in the presence of dexa-methasone but not indomethacin. However, expression of the activity is inhibited by pre-treatment of the assay animals with indomethacin, suggesting a two-step induction of hyperemia. A similar mediator was found to be secreted by sheep and rabbit alveolar lavage cells, and rat peritoneal exudate cells. The presence of this hyperemia-inducing activity from diverse species suggests a fundamental role in controlling blood flow. Alteration of blood flow may modulate delivery of blood-borne cells and factors to sites of chronic inflammation.
Enhancement of NK, but not K Cell Activity by Different Interferons
Authors: Rumpold H. , Kraft D. , Scheiner O. , Meindl P. , Bodo G.
Published: July 2009

Two different interferons derived either from a human lymphoblastoid cell line (Namalva) or from human fibroblasts were tested for their ability to modulate natural killer (NK) or killer (K) cell activity. The lymphoblastoid interferon was purified by ion-exchange chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-25 and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100, the fibroblast-derived interferon was purified by chromatography on porous glass beads. Evidence is presented that NK cell activity is enhanced by both of these interferons being active to a similar extent. When tissue culture cells are employed as targets for measurement of K cell activity, the augmentation of cytotoxicity by interferons has to be attributed to the inherent NK cell activity. With the use of the autologous hapten-coated target cells and of affinity chromatography purified antibodies, the cytotoxicity is displayed solely by K cells and this activity is not enhanced by either interferons tested.
Localization of 125I-Labeled DNP-Ficoll on Lymphoid Cells from the Normal and Defective Hybrid Progeny of CBA/N Mice
Authors: Snippe H. , Merchant B. , Lizzio E.F. , Inman J.K.
Published: July 2009

CBA/N mice have an X-linked B-cell defect. It prevents them from mounting active immune responses to soluble, nonmitogenic, polysaccharide antigens. The F1 male progeny of defective CBA/N female mice also harbor the same defect. Lymphoid cell suspensions prepared from these defective mice and appropriate controls were examined for their capacity to bind 125I-labeled, dinitrophenylated Ficoll, a representative polysaccharide antigen. In general, lymphoid cells bound substantially greater quantities of this antigen than nonlymphoid cells; however, lymphoid cells from defective F1 male mice differed little, if at all, from the lymphoid cells of normal F1 female mice. Direct binding of this radiolabeled antigen by spleen cell suspensions was minimally affected by depletion of functional T cells or by depletion of glass wool-adherent cells. Lymphoid cells consistently bound only a small fraction of the available radiolabeled antigen at all concentrations tested and progressive differences in direct binding by normal and defective spleen cells were not discernable. In addition, immune spleen cells differed only slightly from unprimed spleen cells in their capacity for direct antigen binding. The data are interpreted to indicate the presence of a high-capacity system for nonspecific association of this radiolabeled Ficoll antigen with lymphoid cell surfaces. The high-capacity system for nonspecific association between antigen and lymphoid cells serves to obscure immunologically significant binding between radiolabeled Ficoll antigens and normal and defective lymphoid cells. In all probability, the failure of lymphoid cells from CBA/N and F1 male mice to respond to dinitrophenylated Ficoll cannot simply be attributed to any intrinsic failure to bind this antigen.
Studies on Lymphokine-Induced Macrophage Aggregation
Authors: Badenoch-Jones P. , Rouveix B. , Turk J.L.
Published: July 2009

A method for the quantitative measurement of macrophage aggregation by lymphokine preparations has been described previously. This involved the continuous measurement of the light absorbance of stirred suspensions of guinea pig peritoneal exudate cells (PEC). We now show that using a modified method, both aggregation of normal PEC, induced by preformed lymphokine, and direct aggregation of sensitized PEC with specific antigen can be measured. The method is suitable for the assay of large numbers of samples. Aggregation is shown to be immunologically specific for two antigens (bovine γ-globulin and ovalbumin) and to be partially inhibited by sugars which inhibit migration inhibitory factor activity (rhamnose and fucose).
Rat Passive Peritoneal Anaphylaxis Following Sensitisation with Guinea Pig Antiserum: an Immediate Hypersensitivity Reaction without Histamine Release
Authors: Smith Harry , Ross Janet W. , Spicer Barbara A.
Published: July 2009

Antigen challenge of rats, sensitised by an intraperitoneal injection of guinea pig antiserum, produced an antibody-dependent increase in concentrations, in the peritoneal fluids, of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and of extravasated, dye-labelled, plasma proteins but not of histamine or 5-hydroxytryptamine. The SRS-A released may not be the main mediator of the extravasation since pre-treatment of the rats with the SRS-A antagonists FPL 55712 and BRL 19880 had no effect on extravasation, and a number of compounds, given in a similar way, were more potent as inhibitors of SRS-A release than of extravasation. Rat passive peritoneal anaphylaxis (PPA), following sensitisation with guinea pig antiserum, provides an example of an immediate hypersensitivity reaction in which there is no antibody-dependent release of histamine and in which the SRS-A released may not mediate all of the extravasation produced.
Experiments in Mice and Rats on the Induction of Joint Lesions following Injections of Serum and in Chronic Virus Infection
Authors: Oldham G. , Poole A.R. , Brownson J.M. , Mahy B.W.J. , Coombs R.R.A.
Published: July 2009

Rats and mice, in contrast to rabbits, appeared to be insusceptible to the development of rheumatoid-like joint lesions on repeated injections with bovine serum – the serum sickness model. Persistent infection of mice with the lactic dehydrogenase virus likewise failed to induce joint lesions.
Stimulation of Neutrophil Locomotion by Inosiplex
Authors: Patrone Franco , Dallegri Franco
Published: July 2009

Experiments were performed to investigate the in vitro effects of inosiplex on the locomotion an oxidative metabolism of human neutrophilis. The drug, when used at the concentration of 500 &um;g/ml, significantly increased neutrophil random migration and chemotaxis. Enhancement of chemotaxis was due to an increased rate of locomotion as well as to an increased true chemotactic response. Inosiplex appeared to exert its effect on the whole migrating cell population. No significant effect on the oxidative metabolism of both resting and phagocytizing neutrophilis was found. The results suggest that the effect of inosiplex may be related chiefly to its effect on neutrophil locomotion.
Graft-versus-Host Reactions against H-Y Antigen
Authors: Kuroiwa Ataru , Nagino Hisanori , Miyazaki Sumio , Nomoto Kikuo , Goya Nagahide
Published: July 2009

Spleen cells of female C57BL/6 mice, preimmunized to male histocompatibility antigen, elicited splenomegaly in adult male recipients and caused mortality of the newborn recipients. These cells, upon restimulation in vitro with the male antigen, were cytotoxic to male target cells.
Primary Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty With and Without Eptifibatide in ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Le May Michel R. , Wells George A. , Glover Chris A. , So Derek Y. , Froeschl Michael , Marquis Jean-François , O'Brien Edward R. , Turek Michele , Thomas Allyson , Kass Malek , Jadhav Sachin , Labinaz Marino
Published: July 2009

Background—

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention, if performed promptly, is the preferred strategy to restore flow to the infarct-related artery in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. We sought to determine whether eptifibatide, a platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor, given before catheterization would improve clinical outcomes in patients referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Methods and Results—

We randomly assigned a total of 400 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention to treatment initiated before cardiac catheterization, with either heparin plus eptifibatide (201 patients) or heparin alone (199 patients), in addition to oral aspirin (160 mg) and high-dose clopidogrel (600 mg). The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause, recurrent myocardial infarction, or recurrent severe ischemia during the first 30 days after randomization. At 30 days, the primary end point was reached by 13 patients (6.47%) assigned to heparin plus eptifibatide and by 11 patients (5.53%) assigned to heparin alone (relative risk, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.52 to 2.70;
P
=0.69). The rates of major or minor bleeding were higher in patients assigned to heparin plus eptifibatide than that in patients assigned to heparin alone (22.4% versus 14.6%; relative risk, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.83;
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—

In patients pretreated with high-dose clopidogrel who were referred for primary PCI, treatment with heparin plus eptifibatide, when compared with heparin alone, did not improve clinical outcomes and was associated with more bleeding complications.
Dissociable Neural Patterns of Facial Identity across Changes in Viewpoint
Authors: Natu Vaidehi S. , Jiang Fang , Narvekar Abhijit , Keshvari Shaiyan , Blanz Volker , O'Toole Alice J.
Published: July 2009

We examined the neural response patterns for facial identity independent of viewpoint and for viewpoint independent of identity. Neural activation patterns for identity and viewpoint were collected in an fMRI experiment. Faces appeared in identity-constant blocks, with variable viewpoint, and in viewpoint-constant blocks, with variable identity. Pattern-based classifiers were used to discriminate neural response patterns for all possible pairs of identities and viewpoints. To increase the likelihood of detecting distinct neural activation patterns for identity, we tested maximally dissimilar “face”–“antiface” pairs and normal face pairs. Neural response patterns for four of six identity pairs, including the “face”–“antiface” pairs, were discriminated at levels above chance. A behavioral experiment showed accord between perceptual and neural discrimination, indicating that the classifier tapped a high-level visual identity code. Neural activity patterns across a broad span of ventral temporal (VT) cortex, including fusiform gyrus and lateral occipital areas (LOC), were required for identity discrimination. For viewpoint, five of six viewpoint pairs were discriminated neurally. Viewpoint discrimination was most accurate with a broad span of VT cortex, but the neural and perceptual discrimination patterns differed. Less accurate discrimination of viewpoint, more consistent with human perception, was found in right posterior superior temporal sulcus, suggesting redundant viewpoint codes optimized for different functions. This study provides the first evidence that it is possible to dissociate neural activation patterns for identity and viewpoint independently.
Interferential Impact of ENSO and PDO on Dry and Wet Conditions in the U.S. Great Plains
Authors: Hu Zeng-Zhen , Huang Bohua
Published: July 2009

The influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) interference on the dry and wet conditions in the Great Plains of the United States has been examined using monthly observational datasets. It is shown that both ENSO and PDO can generate a similar pattern of atmospheric and oceanic anomalies over the eastern part of the North Pacific and western North America that has significant impact on the climate over the Great Plains. Furthermore, the relationship between ENSO–PDO and climate anomalies in the Great Plains is intensified when ENSO and PDO are in phase (El Niño and warm PDO or La Niña and cold PDO). On average, anomalies over the Great Plains favor wet (dry) conditions when both ENSO and PDO are in the positive (negative) phase. However, when ENSO and PDO are out of phase, the relationship is weakened and the anomalies over the Great Plains tend toward neutral. Without ENSO, PDO alone does not affect the North American climate significantly. The relationship is quite robust for different seasons, with the strongest effects for the months of spring and the weakest effects for the months of autumn, whereas the months of winter and summer fall in between. The seasonality of the relationship may be associated with the seasonal dependence of the anomalies of general circulation and the pattern of mean seasonal cycle in the North Pacific.

The contrasting impact of the interference of ENSO and PDO on the climate anomalies in the Great Plains is associated with differences in the ocean–atmosphere anomalies. When ENSO and PDO are in phase, the sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies extend from the equatorial Pacific to the higher latitudes of the North Pacific via the eastern ocean. The distribution of the corresponding anomalies of sea level pressure (SLP) and the wind at 1000 hPa form an ellipse with a southeast–northwest orientation of the long axis because the SST anomalies promote coherent changes in SLP in the central North Pacific. In the upper troposphere, a similar teleconnection pattern with the same sign generated by ENSO and PDO is overlapped and enhanced, which favors anomaly (dry and wet) conditions in the Great Plains. However, when ENSO and PDO are out of phase, the SST anomalies have the same sign in the tropical and central North Pacific, which is opposite to the anomalies near the west coast of North America. The anomalously cyclonic circulation over the North Pacific is weaker in the out-of-phase situation than in the in-phase situation. The distribution of the anomalies of SLP and the wind at 1000 hPa resembles a circle. Meanwhile, in the upper troposphere, ENSO and PDO generate a similar teleconnection pattern with opposite sign, causing cancellation of the anomalous circulation and favoring neutral climate in the Great Plains.
Effect of ENSO Phase on Large-Scale Snow Water Equivalent Distribution in a GCM
Authors: Clifford Debbie , Gurney Robert , Haines Keith
Published: July 2009

Understanding links between the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and snow would be useful for seasonal forecasting, as well as for understanding natural variability and interpreting climate change predictions. Here, a 545-yr run of the third climate configuration of the Met Office Unified Model (HadCM3), with prescribed external forcings and fixed greenhouse gas concentrations, is used to explore the impact of ENSO on snow water equivalent (SWE) anomalies. In North America, positive ENSO events reduce the mean SWE and skew the distribution toward lower values, and vice versa during negative ENSO events. This is associated with a dipole SWE anomaly structure, with anomalies of opposite sign centered in western Canada and the central United States. In Eurasia, warm episodes lead to a more positively skewed distribution and the mean SWE is raised. Again, the opposite effect is seen during cold episodes. In Eurasia the largest anomalies are concentrated in the Himalayas. These correlations with February SWE distribution are seen to exist from the previous June–July–August (JJA) ENSO index onward, and are weakly detected in 50-yr subsections of the control run, but only a shifted North American response can be detected in the analysis of the 40-yr ECMWF Re-Analysis (ERA-40). The ENSO signal in SWE from the long run could still contribute to regional predictions, although it would only be a weak indicator.
PERSIANN-MSA: A Precipitation Estimation Method from Satellite-Based Multispectral Analysis
Authors: Behrangi Ali , Hsu Kuo-lin , Imam Bisher , Sorooshian Soroosh , Huffman George J. , Kuligowski Robert J.
Published: July 2009

Visible and infrared data obtained from instruments onboard geostationary satellites have been extensively used for monitoring clouds and their evolution. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) that will be launched onboard the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) series in the near future will offer a larger range of spectral bands; hence, it will provide observations of cloud and rain systems at even finer spatial, temporal, and spectral resolutions than are possible with the current GOES. In this paper, a new method called Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed information using Artificial Neural Networks–Multispectral Analysis (PERSIANN-MSA) is proposed to evaluate the effect of using multispectral imagery on precipitation estimation. The proposed approach uses a self-organizing feature map (SOFM) to classify multidimensional input information, extracted from each grid box and corresponding textural features of multispectral bands. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the dimensionality to a few independent input features while preserving most of the variations of all input information. The above method is applied to estimate rainfall using multiple channels of the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) onboard the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellite. In comparison to the use of a single thermal infrared channel, the analysis shows that using multispectral data has the potential to improve rain detection and estimation skills with an average of more than 50% gain in equitable threat score for rain/no-rain detection, and more than 20% gain in correlation coefficient associated with rain-rate estimation.
Assimilating Altimetry Data into a HYCOM Model of the Pacific: Ensemble Optimal Interpolation versus Ensemble Kalman Filter
Authors: Wan Liying , Bertino Laurent , Zhu Jiang
Published: July 2009

The ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) has proven its efficiency in strongly nonlinear dynamical systems but is demanding in its computing power requirements, which are typically about the same as those of the four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) systems presently used in several weather forecasting centers. A simplified version of EnKF, the so-called ensemble optimal interpolation (EnOI), requires only a small fraction of the computing cost of the EnKF, but makes the crude assumption of no dynamical evolution of the errors. How do both these two methods compare in realistic settings of a Pacific Ocean forecasting system where the computational cost is a primary concern? In this paper the two methods are used to assimilate real altimetry data via a Hybrid Coordinate Ocean Model of the Pacific. The results are validated against the independent Argo temperature and salinity profiles and show that the EnKF has the advantage in terms of both temperature and salinity and in all parts of the domain, although not with a very striking difference.
Cloud-System-Resolving Model Simulations of Tropical Cloud Systems Observed during the Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment
Authors: Wapler Kathrin , Lane Todd P. , May Peter T. , Jakob Christian , Manton Michael J. , Siems Steven T.
Published: July 2009

Nested cloud-system-resolving model simulations of tropical convective clouds observed during the recent Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment (TWP-ICE) are conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The WRF model is configured with a highest-resolving domain that uses 1.3-km grid spacing and is centered over Darwin, Australia. The performance of the model in simulating two different convective regimes observed during TWP-ICE is considered. The first regime is characteristic of the active monsoon, which features widespread cloud cover that is similar to maritime convection. The second regime is a monsoon break, which contains intense localized systems that are representative of diurnally forced continental convection. Many aspects of the model performance are considered, including their sensitivity to physical parameterizations and initialization time, and the spatial statistics of rainfall accumulations and the rain-rate distribution. While the simulations highlight many challenges and difficulties in correctly modeling the convection in the two regimes, they show that provided the mesoscale environment is adequately reproduced by the model, the statistics of the simulated rainfall agrees reasonably well with the observations.
Energy Transformation and Diabatic Processes in Developing and Nondeveloping African Easterly Waves Observed during the NAMMA Project of 2006
Authors: Ross Robert S. , Krishnamurti T. N. , Pattnaik S. , Simon A.
Published: July 2009

This paper provides an understanding of essential differences between developing and nondeveloping African easterly waves, which was a major goal of NAMMA, NASA’s field program in the eastern Atlantic, which functioned as an extension of the African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis (AMMA) program during 2006.

Three NAMMA waves are studied in detail using FNL analysis: NAMMA wave 2, which developed into Tropical Storm Debby; NAMMA wave 7, which developed into Hurricane Helene; and NAMMA wave 4, which did not develop within the NAMMA domain. Diagnostic calculations are performed on the analyzed fields using energy transformation equations and the isentropic potential vorticity equation.

The results show that the two developing waves possess clear and robust positive barotropic energy conversion in conjunction with positive diabatic heating that includes a singular burst of heating at a particular time in the wave’s history. This positive barotropic energy conversion is facilitated in waves that have a northeast–southwest tilt to the trough axis and a wind maximum to the west of this axis. The nondeveloping wave is found to have the same singular burst of diabatic heating at one point in its history, but development of the wave does not occur due to negative barotropic energy conversion. Such conversion is facilitated by a northwest–southeast tilt to the trough axis and a wind maximum to the east of this axis.

The conclusions about wave development and nondevelopment formulated in this research are viewed as important and significant, but they require additional testing with detailed observational- and numerical-based studies.
Association Between Arterial Compliance and Age in Participants 9 to 77 Years Old
Authors: Gardner Andrew W. , Parker Donald E.
Published: July 2009

We characterized the age-related change in large and small artery compliance in 137 healthy participants between 9 and 77 years of age. Large artery compliance, measured by diastolic pulse contour analysis, had a sharp positive linear trend (0.89 mL x mm Hg -1 x year-1) highly correlated with age in participants younger than 30 years (r = .76, p <.0001), had a slight negative trend (-0.10 mL x mm Hg-1 x year-1) not significantly associated with age (r = -.11, p = .532) in middle-aged participants, and had a sharper negative trend (-0.19 mL x mm Hg-1 x year-1) significantly associated with age (r = -.30, p =.023) in participants beyond 50 years. Similar results were found for small artery compliance. Large and small artery compliance increase in children, adolescents, and young adults, reach plateaus near age 30, and then decline beyond 30 years of age in those free of cardiovascular disease and risk factors.
eNOS G894T Polymorphism and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Atli Fahri Hayri , Manduz Sinasi , Katrancioglu Nurkay , Ozum Unal , Disli Olcay Murat , Atahan Erhan , Ozdemir Ozturk , Dogan Kasim , Berkan Ocal
Published: July 2009

Background: The genetic risk factors that contribute to the risk of developing abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are poorly understood. We assessed the association of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism with AAA. Methods: eNOS gene polymorphism of 61 patients with AAA and 62 control participants were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction technique. Results: eNOS G894 homozygote T/T genotype polymorphism and 894T allele frequency in patients with AAA were significantly higher than those of the control participants (P = .01, P = .03). Among patients with AAA, the eNOS G894 T/T polymorphism and 894T allele frequency were associated with larger AAAs. Conclusion: The current study, in a small group of participants, showed a relationship between eNOS G894T polymorphism and AAA.
Designing and Piloting a Leadership Daily Practice Log
Authors: Spillane James P. , Zuberi Anita
Published: July 2009

Purpose: This article aims to validate the Leadership Daily Practice (LDP) log, an instrument for conducting research on leadership in schools. Research Design: Using a combination of data sources—namely, a daily practice log, observations, and open-ended cognitive interviews—the authors evaluate the validity of the LDP log. Participants: Formal and informal leaders were asked to complete the LDP log for 2 weeks; observers shadowed a subsample of leaders in each school, 1 day per week. Analysis: Using the three sources of data, the authors analyzed interview responses (specifically, the participants' interpretations of the log); they matched log entries with observer recordings; and they compared (a) the characteristics of the social interactions that were entered into the log with (b) the overall sample of interactions that occurred while observers shadowed participants. Findings: The study shows that LDP log entries capture school leadership interactions as recorded by independent observers; it also demonstrates that study participants, with some exceptions, were not biased toward reporting certain types of interactions over others. Still, some log terminologies were problematic for participants, as was the limited sampling period of 2 weeks. Conclusions: The authors propose ways to (a) change the LDP log to reflect the concerns raised by participants in the cognitive interviews and (b) alter the sampling scheme to capture leadership around the school year. The LDP log is less costly and time-consuming than in-depth ethnographic studies, and it is an important tool for researchers who aim to collect data in schools, one that reaches beyond surveys.
Repressive Threats, Procedural Concessions, and the Zapatista Cycle of Protests, 1994—2003
Authors: Inclán María de la Luz
Published: July 2009

Using negative binomial models, I analyze the effects of repressive threats and procedural concessions on Zapatista protests from 1994 to 2003. Some of the results appear consistent with previous findings in the literature. Repressive threats had a negative initial effect and a positive delayed effect on protest activity and its simultaneous location across cities. However, procedural concessions had statistically insignificant negative initial and delayed effects on protests and their simultaneous location. Also contrary to the literature, when procedural concessions and repressive threats were combined, they had statistically insignificant positive initial and delayed effects on protest activity and its simultaneous location. Finally, democratization changes decreased Zapatista protests in the short and long term and helped to focus mobilization efforts on the remaining closed environments. Thus, democratization openings and an inconsistent use of repressive threats and procedural concessions did not strengthen the development of the movement; they contributed to the movement’s relative weakness.
Regime Type and Bilateral Treaty Formalization
Authors: Garriga Ana Carolina
Published: July 2009

How does domestic regime type affect bilateral cooperation, and one of its most visible manifestations, bilateral treaties? This article explains how domestic political regime affects bilateral cooperation and, contrary to the expectations of some scholars, why autocracies should be expected to be more likely than democracies to enter into bilateral treaties. If the preferences of a pair of states are not identical, the sets of agreements that each party would consent to (win-sets) need to overlap for a bilateral treaty to be acceptable. Because additional domestic constraints reduce the size of a country’s win-set, autocracies should have broader win-sets than democracies. Therefore, autocratic dyads should be more likely to formalize bilateral treaties than other pairs of states. Based on an original data set, I present empirical evidence showing that pairs of autocracies are more likely than other pairs of states to enter into agreements formalizing bilateral cooperation.
On a Path to Unfolding the Biological Mechanisms of Orthodontic Tooth Movement
Authors: Krishnan V. , Davidovitch Z.
Published: July 2009

Orthodontic forces deform the extracellular matrix and activate cells of the paradental tissues, facilitating tooth movement. Discoveries in mechanobiology have illuminated sequential cellular and molecular events, such as signal generation and transduction, cytoskeletal re-organization, gene expression, differentiation, proliferation, synthesis and secretion of specific products, and apoptosis. Orthodontists work in a unique biological environment, wherein applied forces engender remodeling of both mineralized and non-mineralized paradental tissues, including the associated blood vessels and neural elements. This review aims at identifying events that affect the sequence, timing, and significance of factors that determine the nature of the biological response of each paradental tissue to orthodontic force. The results of this literature review emphasize the fact that mechanoresponses and inflammation are both essential for achieving tooth movement clinically. If both are working in concert, orthodontists might be able to accelerate or decelerate tooth movement by adding adjuvant methods, whether physical, chemical, or surgical.
A Role for α11β1 Integrin in the Human Periodontal Ligament
Authors: Barczyk M.M. , Olsen L.-H. Borge , da Franca P. , Loos B.G. , Mustafa K. , Gullberg D. , Bolstad A.I.
Published: July 2009

We previously demonstrated a role for α11β1 integrin in periodontal ligament (PDL)-driven tooth eruption in the mouse. To explore a possible role for α11β1 in the human periodontium, we have characterized the expression and function of α11 in human PDL tissue, in human PDL fibroblasts (hPDLF), and in human gingival fibroblasts (hGF). α11 expression was detected in PDL tissue, in hPDLF, and in hGF cells. Platelet-derived growth factor-BB and insulin-like growth factor II stimulated contraction of collagen lattices by both types of fibroblasts. α2 integrin blocking antibodies and the use of α11 siRNA demonstrated a role for both α2β1 and α11β1 in collagen lattice remodeling. Analysis of the proximal ITGA11 promoter from persons with chronic periodontal disease failed to reveal any polymorphism. Analysis of our data shows that α11β1 is a major collagen receptor on cultured human PDL cells and implies that it is also functionally important in the PDL in vivo.
How People on Social Assistance Perceive, Experience, and Improve Oral Health
Authors: Bedos C. , Levine A. , Brodeur J.-M.
Published: July 2009

Oral diseases are highly prevalent among people on social assistance. Despite benefiting from public dental coverage in North America, these people rarely consult the dentist. One possible reason is rooted in their perception of oral health and the means to improve it. To respond to this question, largely unexplored, we conducted qualitative research through 8 focus groups and 15 individual interviews in Montreal (Canada). Thematic analysis revealed that people on social assistance: (a) define oral health in a social manner, placing tremendous value on dental appearance; (b) complain about the decline of their dental appearance and its devastating impact on self-esteem, social interaction, and employability; and (c) feel powerless to improve their oral health and therefore contemplate extractions and complete dentures. Our research demonstrates that perception of oral health strongly influences treatment preference and explains low and selective use of dental services in this disadvantaged population.
Age-dependent Degradation of the Protein Adsorption Capacity of Titanium
Authors: Hori N. , Att W. , Ueno T. , Sato N. , Yamada M. , Saruwatari L. , Suzuki T. , Ogawa T.
Published: July 2009

Reported bone-implant contact percentages are far below the ideal 100%. We tested a hypothesis that the protein adsorption capability of titanium, which is critical to the process of osseointegration, changes over time before its use. Machined, acid-etched, and sandblasted surfaces were prepared and stored under dark ambient conditions for 3 days, 1 week, or 4 weeks. For all surfaces, protein adsorption decreased as the storage time increased, and their decreasing rates were dependent on titanium topography. After 4 weeks, the amounts of albumin and fibronectin adsorbed by the acid-etched surface were only 20% and 35%, respectively, of that adsorbed by the fresh surface after 2 hours of incubation, and remained substantially low even after 24 hours. This time-dependent degradation in protein adsorption of titanium correlated with its naturally decreasing hydrophilicity, which was not observed for the nickel and chromium surfaces, indicating a titanium-specific biological aging.
Direct Inkjet Printing of Dental Prostheses Made of Zirconia
Authors: Ebert J. , Özkol E. , Zeichner A. , Uibel K. , Weiss Ö. , Koops U. , Telle R. , Fischer H.
Published: July 2009

CAD/CAM milling systems provide a rapid and individual method for the manufacturing of zirconia dental restorations. However, the disadvantages of these systems include limited accuracy, possible introduction of microscopic cracks, and a waste of material due to the principle of the ‘subtractive process’. The hypothesis of this study was that these issues can be overcome by a novel generative manufacturing technique, direct inkjet printing. A tailored zirconia-based ceramic suspension with 27 vol% solid content was synthesized. The suspension was printed on a conventional, but modified, drop-on-demand inkjet printer. A cleaning unit and a drying device allowed for the build-up of dense components of the size of a posterior crown. A characteristic strength of 763 MPa and a mean fracture toughness of 6.7 MPam0.5 were determined on 3D-printed and subsequently sintered specimens. The novel technique has great potential to produce, cost-efficiently, all-ceramic dental restorations at high accuracy and with a minimum of materials consumption.
A Tribute to Rollo May and the Arts
Authors: Serlin Ilene
Published: July 2009

This article will focus on Rollo May’s contribution to psychology through his celebration of the arts as an expression of the human psyche. His vision of psychology was one grounded in the humanities, the great classics, and Greek mythology, and his vision of psychotherapy training emphasized a broad cultural education. Rollo May was opposed to quick fixes and technical training, and his vision of psychotherapy is sorely needed in today’s psychological landscape.