bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actinohivin, a Broadly Neutralizing Prokaryotic Lectin, Inhibits HIV-1 Infection by Specifically Targeting High-Mannose-Type Glycans on the gp120 Envelope
Authors: Hoorelbeke Bart , Huskens Dana , Férir Geoffrey , François Katrien O. , Takahashi Atsushi , Van Laethem Kristel , Schols Dominique , Tanaka Haruo , Balzarini Jan
Published: May 2010

The lectin actinohivin (AH) is a monomeric carbohydrate-binding agent (CBA) with three carbohydrate-binding sites. AH strongly interacts with gp120 derived from different X4 and R5 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strains, simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gp130, and HIV type 1 (HIV-1) gp41 with affinity constants (

K
D

) in the lower nM range. The gp120 and gp41 binding of AH is selectively reversed by (α1,2-mannose)
3
oligosaccharide but not by α1,3/α1,6-mannose- or GlcNAc-based oligosaccharides. AH binding to gp120 prevents binding of α1,2-mannose-specific monoclonal antibody 2G12, and AH covers a broader epitope on gp120 than 2G12. Prolonged exposure of HIV-1-infected CEM T-cell cultures with escalating AH concentrations selects for mutant virus strains containing N-glycosylation site deletions (predominantly affecting high-mannose-type glycans) in gp120. In contrast to 2G12, AH has a high genetic barrier, since several concomitant N-glycosylation site deletions in gp120 are required to afford significant phenotypic drug resistance. AH is endowed with broadly neutralizing activity against laboratory-adapted HIV strains and a variety of X4 and/or R5 HIV-1 clinical clade isolates and blocks viral entry within a narrow concentration window of variation (∼5-fold). In contrast, the neutralizing activity of 2G12 varied up to 1,000-fold, depending on the virus strain. Since AH efficiently prevents syncytium formation in cocultures of persistently HIV-1-infected HuT-78 cells and uninfected CD4
+
T lymphocytes, inhibits dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin-mediated capture of HIV-1 and subsequent virus transmission to CD4
+
T lymphocytes, does not upregulate cellular activation markers, lacks mitogenic activity, and does not induce cytokines/chemokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures, it should be considered a potential candidate drug for microbicidal use.
Assessment of Oritavancin Serum Protein Binding across Species
Authors: Arhin Francis F. , Belley Adam , McKay Geoffrey , Beaulieu Sylvain , Sarmiento Ingrid , Parr Thomas R. , Moeck Gregory
Published: May 2010

Biophysical methods to study the binding of oritavancin, a lipoglycopeptide, to serum protein are confounded by nonspecific drug adsorption to labware surfaces. We assessed oritavancin binding to serum from mouse, rat, dog, and human by a microbiological growth-based method under conditions that allow near-quantitative drug recovery. Protein binding was similar across species, ranging from 81.9% in human serum to 87.1% in dog serum. These estimates support the translation of oritavancin exposure from nonclinical studies to humans.
High-Resolution Melt Curve Analysis for Identification of Single Nucleotide Mutations in the Quinolone Resistance Gene
aac(6′)-Ib-cr
Authors: Hidalgo-Grass Carlos , Strahilevitz Jacob
Published: May 2010

We have developed a simple PCR-based high-resolution melt curve analysis for identification of the quinolone resistance gene
aac(6′)-Ib-cr
through regions encompassing the two defining single nucleotide mutations. Dissociation curves showed 100% concordance with DNA sequencing, including the identification of a strain where
aac(6′)-Ib
and
aac(6′)-Ib-cr
coexist.
A Multiepitope Subunit Vaccine Conveys Protection against Extraintestinal PathogenicEscherichia coliin Mice
Authors: Wieser Andreas , Romann Eva , Magistro Giuseppe , Hoffmann Christiane , Nörenberg Dominik , Weinert Kirsten , Schubert Sören
Published: May 2010

Infections due to extraintestinal pathogenicEscherichia coli(ExPEC) are common in humans and animals and include urinary tract infections (from uropathogenicE. coli[UPEC]), septicemia, and wound infections. These infections result in significant morbidity and mortality and in high health care costs. In view of the increasing number of ExPEC infections and the ever-growing antibiotic resistance capability of ExPEC isolates, preventive measures such as an effective vaccine against ExPEC are desirable. An ExPEC vaccine may be cost-effective for select patient groups. Previous vaccine candidates consisted of single target proteins or whole ExPEC cells. Here we describe a subunit vaccine against ExPEC which is based on immunodominant epitopes of the virulence-associated ExPEC proteins FyuA, IroN, ChuA, IreA, Iha, and Usp. Using a novel approach of computer-aided design, two completely artificial genes were created, both encoding eight peptide domains derived from these ExPEC proteins. The recombinant expression of these two genes resulted in a protein vaccine directed against ExPEC but not against commensalE. coliof the gut flora. In mice, the vaccine was highly immunogenic, eliciting both strong humoral and cellular immune responses. Nasal application resulted in high secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) production, which was detectable on the mucosal surface of the urogenital tract. Finally, it conveyed protection, as shown by a significant reduction of bacterial load in a mouse model of ExPEC peritonitis. This study provides evidence that a novel vaccine design encompassing distinct epitopes of virulence-associated ExPEC proteins may represent a means for providing a protective and pathogen-specific vaccine.
SecretedAspergillus fumigatusProtease Alp1 Degrades Human Complement Proteins C3, C4, and C5
Authors: Behnsen Judith , Lessing Franziska , Schindler Susann , Wartenberg Dirk , Jacobsen Ilse D. , Thoen Marcel , Zipfel Peter F. , Brakhage Axel A.
Published: May 2010

The opportunistic human pathogenic fungusAspergillus fumigatusis a major cause of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. Innate immunity plays an important role in the defense against infections. The complement system represents an essential part of the innate immune system. This cascade system is activated on the surface ofA. fumigatusconidia and hyphae and enhances phagocytosis of conidia.A. fumigatusconidia but not hyphae bind to their surface host complement regulators factor H, FHL-1, and CFHR1, which control complement activation. Here, we show thatA. fumigatushyphae possess an additional endogenous activity to control complement activation.A. fumigatusculture supernatant efficiently cleaved complement components C3, C4, C5, and C1q as well as immunoglobulin G. Secretome analysis and protease inhibitor studies identified the secreted alkaline protease Alp1, which is present in large amounts in the culture supernatant, as the central molecule responsible for this cleavage. Analp1deletion strain was generated, and the culture supernatant possessed minimal complement-degrading activity. Moreover, protein extract derived from anEscherichia colistrain overproducing Alp1 cleaved C3b, C4b, and C5. Thus, the protease Alp1 is responsible for the observed cleavage and degrades a broad range of different substrates. In summary, we identified a novel mechanism inA. fumigatusthat contributes to evasion from the host complement attack.
ProtectiveToxoplasma gondii-Specific T-Cell Responses Require T-Cell-Specific Expression of Protein Kinase C-Theta
Authors: Nishanth Gopala , Sakowicz-Burkiewicz Monika , Händel Ulrike , Kliche Stefanie , Wang Xiaoqian , Naumann Michael , Deckert Martina , Schlüter Dirk
Published: May 2010

Protein kinase C-theta (PKC-θ) is important for the activation of autoreactive T cells but is thought to be of minor importance for T-cell responses in infectious diseases, suggesting that PKC-θ may be a target for the treatment of T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases. To explore the function of PKC-θ in a chronic persisting infection in which T cells are crucial for pathogen control, we infected BALB/c PKC-θ−/−and PKC-θ+/+wild-type mice withToxoplasma gondii. The PKC-θ−/−mice succumbed to necrotizingToxoplasmaencephalitis due to an insufficient parasite control up to day 40, whereas the wild-type mice survived. The number ofT. gondii-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells was significantly reduced in the PKC-θ−/−mice, resulting in the impaired production of protective cytokines (gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor) and antiparasitic effector molecules (inducible nitric oxide, gamma interferon-induced GTPase) in the spleen and brain. In addition, Th2-cell numbers were reduced in infected the PKC-θ−/−mice, paralleled by the diminished GATA3 expression of PKC-θ−/−CD4 T cells and reducedT. gondii-specific IgG production in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Western blot analysis of splenic CD4 and CD8 T cells revealed an impaired activation of the NF-κB, AP-1, and MAPK pathways inT. gondii-infected PKC-θ−/−mice. Adoptive transfer of wild-type CD4 plus CD8 T cells significantly protected PKC-θ−/−mice from death by increasing the numbers of gamma interferon-producingT. gondii-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells, illustrating a cell-autonomous, protective function of PKC-θ in T cells. These findings imply that PKC-θ inhibition drastically impairsT. gondii-specific T-cell responses with fatal consequences for intracerebral parasite control and survival.
Peyer's Patch-Deficient Mice Demonstrate ThatMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisTranslocates across the Mucosal Barrier via both M Cells and Enterocytes but Has Inefficient Dissemination
Authors: Bermudez Luiz E. , Petrofsky Mary , Sommer Sandra , Barletta Raúl G.
Published: May 2010

Mycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, the agent of Johne's disease, infects ruminant hosts by translocation through the intestinal mucosa. A number of studies have suggested thatM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisinteracts with M cells in the Peyer's patches of the small intestine. The invasion of the intestinal mucosa byM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisandMycobacterium aviumsubsp.hominissuis, a pathogen known to interact with intestinal cells, was compared.M. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosiswas capable of invading the mucosa, but it was significantly less efficient at dissemination thanM. aviumsubsp.hominissuis. B-cell knockout (KO) mice, which lack Peyer's patches, were used to demonstrate thatM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisenters the intestinal mucosa through enterocytes in the absence of M cells. In addition, the results indicated thatM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosishad equal abilities to cross the mucosa in both Peyer's patch and non-Peyer's patch segments of normal mice.M. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosiswas also shown to interact with epithelial cells by an α5β1integrin-independent pathway. Upon translocation, dendritic cells ingestM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, but this process does not lead to efficient dissemination of the infection. In summary,M. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisinteracts with the intestinal mucosa by crossing both Peyer's patches and non-Peyer's patch areas but does not translocate or disseminate efficiently.
‘The missing picture’: tobacco use through the eyes of smokers
Authors: Haines Rebecca J , Oliffe John L , Bottorff Joan L , Poland Blake D
Published: May 2010

Background

The use of visual methodologies has gained increased prominence among health researchers working with socially marginalised populations, including those studying tobacco and other types of substance use.

Objectives

This article draws from two separate studies combining qualitative and photographic methods to illustrate the unique insights that visual research with smokers can generate for tobacco control.

Methods

A purposeful selection of photographs and captions produced by research participants in a study with (1) 20 new fathers that smoke and, (2) a study with 21 adolescent girls that smoke are analysed and discussed in detail.

Results

Images produced by smokers illustrate the roles of gender and social context in shaping smoking status, as well as the private struggles with tobacco use experienced by smokers in their day-to-day lives and relationships.

Conclusions

Photographic methods have the potential to generate information that may assist in developing tobacco control messaging and programming that speaks to smokers' perceptions of their tobacco use.
Health warning labelling practices on narghile (shisha, hookah) waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories
Authors: Nakkash Rima , Khalil Joanna
Published: May 2010

Background

Waterpipe tobacco smoking prevalence is increasing around the globe despite current evidence that smoke emissions are toxic and contain carcinogenic compounds.

Objective

To evaluate current health warning labelling practices on waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories.

Methods

All waterpipe tobacco products, as well as waterpipe accessories, were purchased from Lebanon and a convenience sample was obtained from Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Palestine, Syria, Jordan, Bahrain, Canada, Germany and South Africa.

Findings

Of the total number of waterpipe tobacco products collected from Lebanon, the majority had textual health warning labels covering on average only 3.5% of total surface area of the package. Misleading descriptors were commonplace on waterpipe tobacco packages and related accessories.

Conclusions

There are no WHO FCTC compliant waterpipe-specific health warning labels on waterpipe tobacco products and related accessories. Introducing health warnings on waterpipe tobacco products and accessories will probably have worldwide public health benefits.
Semi-volatiles in mainstream smoke delivery from select charcoal-filtered cigarette brand variants
Authors: Hearn Bryan A , Ding Yan S , Vaughan Christina , Zhang Liqin , Polzin Gregory , Caudill Samuel P , Watson Clifford H , Ashley David L
Published: May 2010

Background

It has been reported that charcoal added to cigarette filters selectively removes many of the more volatile chemicals, but it is not clear to what extent charcoal may reduce the delivery of important less volatile chemical constituents in mainstream cigarette smoke.

Methods

We analysed machine-derived mainstream smoke deliveries (under three smoking regimens) for variants of a charcoal-filtered cigarette commercially test-marketed in the USA, focusing on selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phenols and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs).

Results

While charcoal-containing filters selectively removed lower molecular weight PAHs from mainstream smoke, they did not significantly remove the heavier and more toxic PAHs studied, such as benzo[a]pyrene, a known carcinogen. Likewise, charcoal-containing filters removed phenols and TSNAs from mainstream smoke to differing amounts depending on the compound, filter design and the smoking regimen.

Conclusions

The addition of sufficient charcoal to cigarette filters is known to remove many volatile compounds and can potentially reduce deliveries of certain semi-volatile compounds under some machine smoking regimens. Less volatile compounds, with a significant portion in the particulate phase, are less available for selective filtration by charcoal-containing filters than the more volatile compounds that reside predominantly in the gas phase.
Burden of smoking on cause-specific mortality: application to the Nurses' Health Study
Authors: Kenfield Stacey A , Wei Esther K , Rosner Bernard A , Glynn Robert J , Stampfer Meir J , Colditz Graham A
Published: May 2010

Objective

The burden of smoking on six causes of death in women was evaluated using various novel modelling approaches.

Design

A prospective US-based nationwide cohort study.

Participants

102 635 women in the Nurses' Health Study followed biennially from 1980 to 2004.

Methods

The relation between cigarette smoking and cause-specific death was compared using baseline versus biennially updated smoking status. The authors used competing risk survival analysis to formally compare associations of smoking-related variables on risk of death as a result of coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular diseases, lung cancer, other respiratory diseases, other smoking-caused cancers and other causes.

Results

The associations of current and former smoking were stronger with most cause-specific mortality when using updated information. The effect of each smoking-related variable differed significantly (ph<0.0001) across some causes of death. For example, risks increased by 5% for death due to other causes up to 37% for lung cancer death for a 5-year earlier age at initiation. Compared with continuing to smoke, former smokers with 5–10 years of cessation had a 25% reduction in risk of dying from other causes of death up to a 61% reduction in risk of dying from CHD and cerebrovascular diseases.

Conclusions

The risks of smoking and the benefits from quitting are greater than previously reported, when utilising repeated measures of smoking data collected during follow-up, and vary by cause of death. Focused efforts to communicate the benefits of quitting to smokers and to prevent smoking initiation among children and youths should remain top public health priorities to reduce the worldwide mortality burden caused by smoking.
A METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF DECAY RESISTANCE IN WOOD UNDER CONTROLLED MOISTURE CONDITIONS
Authors: Etheridge D. E.
Published: May 2010

A technique which employs a new method of adjusting and controlling the moisture content and employs new methods of sterilizing and inoculating the test pieces is described for studying the decay rate of wood in culture. The moisture content is expressed as a percentage of the moisture present at saturation rather than as a percentage of the dry weight; thus a uniform moisture content in test pieces of different specific gravities is obtained. Sterilization is with propylene oxide gas. Inoculations are made with small pieces of wood infected with the test fungus. The natural properties of the wood are essentially unchanged by this procedure.
THE LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY: THE VASCULAR ANATOMY OF THE OVARY
Authors: Bell Hugh P. , Giffin Elspeth C.
Published: May 2010

The vascular anatomy of the blueberry flower ovary is described in detail. Ten primary flower bundles branch off from a siphonostele in the pedicel. From these are formed the sepal, petal, stamen, dorsal carpellary, ventral carpellary, and nectary bundles. The levels recorded for the branching of certain bundles are not in agreement with previous accounts. The possible reasons for this apparent disagreement are discussed. All structures are illustrated by 11 mechanically constructed diagrams.
PROPERTIES OF A STRAIN OF CUCUMBER-MOSAIC VIRUS ISOLATED FROM PRUNUS HOSTS
Authors: Willison R. S. , Weintraub M.
Published: May 2010

Some of the stone-fruit viruses that are transmissible only to cucumber and other cucurbits have occasionally been accompanied by a second virus that can be isolated by transfer to tobacco. This virus, herein called CMVP, appears to be latent in Prunus hosts, but induces symptoms in bean, cowpea, cucumber, Datura stramonium, Nicotiana glutinosa, petunia, tobacco, spinach, sugar beet, Swiss chard, and zinnia. CMVP has a small thermal coefficient, a thermal inactivation point between 65° and 70 °C, and a dilution end point between 10−3 and 10−4. It remains infective in expressed sap up to 96 hours at room temperature and for more than 6 days under refrigeration. It can be transmitted between cucumber and tobacco by Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae, in which it is nonpersistent. Spherical "virus particles" associated with CMVP are about 35 mμ in diameter. Tobacco plants infected with this virus are partially protected against cucumber mosaic virus but not against tobacco ring spot virus.In symptom expression and in some of its properties, CMVP resembles both alfalfa mosaic virus and cucumber mosaic virus. Its particle size and immunological reaction suggest that it is an atypical strain of the latter. It is considered not to be implicated in the etiology of cherry yellows and related stone-fruit viroses.
CHROMOSOME NUMBERS OF CANADIAN WEEDS. I
Authors: Mulligan Gerald A.
Published: May 2010

The chromosome numbers of 58 Canadian weeds are reported. Counts obtained on material of Ambrosia psilostachya DC. and Epilobium angustifolium L. differ from those obtained by other workers. The chromosome numbers of the following species had not previously been reported: Silene cserei Baumg. 2n = 24; Axyris amaranthoides L. 2n = 18; Erigeron philadelphicus L. 2n = 18; Lepidium ramosissimum Nels. 2n = 64; Dracocephalum parviflorum Nutt. 2n = 14; Rumex fennicus Murb. 2n = 40; R. occidentalis Wats. 2n = ca. 140; R. stenophyllus Ledeb. 2n = 60. The significance of some of these chromosome numbers is discussed.
FINE STRUCTURE OF GUARD-CELL WALLS IN AVENA COLEOPTILE
Authors: Setterfield George
Published: May 2010

not available
THE RELATIVE FREQUENCY OF THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANTICLINAL DIVISIONS IN CONIFER CAMBIUM
Authors: Bannan M. W.
Published: May 2010

The fusiform cambial cells of conifers undergo two types of anticlinal division, pseudotransverse division and division to produce small cells off the side. Pseudotransverse divisions are largely confined to the cambial initials, only a small percentage of such divisions occurring in the derived tissue mother cells. The incidence of pseudotransverse divisions outside the layer of initials tends to rise with the rate of growth. Divisions of the second type, to yield segments off the side, are infrequent and seem generally to involve only the fusiform initials. Behavior of the abscissed segments bears some relationship to size, the shortest segments usually failing, those of intermediate length tending to become reduced to one or more ray initials, and the largest developing as fusiform initials.
INCORPORATION OF C14OR P32INTO THE PHOSPHATIDES OF RUNNER BEAN LEAVES
Authors: Eberhardt Frank M. , Kates Morris
Published: May 2010

The phosphatide content of primary leaves of runner bean increased linearly with time, between the 8th and 20th day of development, at a rate proportional to the growth of the leaves.Detached leaves incorporated C14into the total lipids (pigments, non-phosphatides, and phosphatides) when supplied with C14O2in the light for 1 minute followed by a 30-minute period in the light or dark in tracer-free air and when supplied with pyruvate-2-C14or acetate-1-C14in the light. P32was incorporated into the phosphatides after orthophosphate-P32was supplied both in the light and dark. With each precursor, radioisotope was incorporated into the four phosphatide fractions obtained by chromatography of the total lipids: inositol–carbohydrate phosphatides (Fraction I), phosphatidyl ethanolamine – phosphatidyl serine (Fraction II), an unknown phosphatide (Fraction III), and lecithin (Fraction IV).Distribution of radioactivity among these phosphatide fractions and among the phosphatide moieties varied greatly with the precursor supplied. Thus, with C14O2as precursor, Fraction I and III had the highest specific activities, and C14entered both the water-soluble moieties and the fatty acids in all of the phosphatide fractions. With pyruvate-C14or acetate-C14, lecithin was most highly labelled, and C14was found almost exclusively in the fatty acids of the phosphatides. With orthophosphate-P32, Fraction III had the highest specific activity. The bearing of these findings on the metabolism of phosphatides in leaves is discussed.
RACES OF PLASMODIOPHORA BRASSICAE
Authors: Ayers G. W.
Published: May 2010

Six races of Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor. have been distinguished on the basis of pathogenicity on differential hosts of cultivated and wild crucifers.Pathogenic differences between isolates were established by replicated tests in the greenhouse under conditions of controlled temperature and moisture. In order to ensure adequate infection, the spore density of each inoculum was standardized before the seedlings were inoculated.Crucifers found suitable for the differentiation of races were: Wilhelmsburger swede, Nappan hybrid swede lines, Laurentian swede, Sisymbrium altissimum, Brassica nigra, Brassica campestris, and Wisconsin clubroot-resistant cabbage lines. Reactions in swede and cabbage were sharply differential. Wilhelmsburger swede proved resistant to all inocula except those of race 1. Certain Nappan hybrid swede lines were moderately resistant to race 1 and highly resistant to the remaining races. Laurentian swede showed resistance to races 5 and 6 only. Wisconsin cabbage showed marked resistance to races 5 and 6 and high susceptibility to races 2 and 4.Races 2, 3, and 4 were distinguished by reactions of B. campestris and S. altissimum, whereas race 5 was separated from race 6 by the greater susceptibility of B. nigra and B. campestris to race 5.
THE TAP ROOT IN LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY
Authors: Hall V.
Published: May 2010

The native lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx. and V. angustifolium var. laevifolium House and van nigrum (Wood) Dole) were found to have distinct tap roots heretofore unreported.
PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND METABOLISM OF MARINE ALGAE: I. PHOTOSYNTHESIS OF TWO MARINE FLAGELLATES COMPARED WITH CHLORELLA
Authors: Bidwell R. G. S.
Published: May 2010

The products of photosynthesis of two marine flagellates have been examined and compared with those of Chlorella pyrenoidosa with the use of radioactive carbon and chromatographic techniques. The alcohol-soluble products were different in each alga, many of the compounds produced by the marine forms being unidentified. The principal soluble product of photosynthesis of a member of the Heterokontae, Olisthodiscus sp., was identified as d-mannitol. Those of a dinoflagellate, Amphidinium carteri, include glycosides of glucose and maunitol. The main insoluble carbohydrate produced by all three organisms gave rise to glucose on hydrolysis; this only contained about ten per cent of the total fixed carbon. The radioactive compounds released from the alcohol-insoluble residues by acid hydrolysis were similar in the three algae and consisted mainly of amino acids.
CYTOTAXONOMY OF SECTION PSAMMELYMUS OF THE GENUS ELYMUS
Authors: Bowden Wray M.
Published: May 2010

Comparative studies were made on the morphology of herbarium specimens and plot-grown plants of three species of Elymus L. in section Psammelymus Griseb. in Ledeb., namely, E. racemosus Lam., E. arenarius L., and E. mollis Trin. The three species were morphologically and geographically distinct. Elymus racemosus, a tetraploid species (2n = 28), occurs from Eastern Greece to Altai. Elymus arenarius is a Northern European species that is octoploid (2n = 56); it occurs in Iceland and has been introduced to the west coast of Greenland and widely separated localities in North America. Elymus mollis (2n = 28) has a wide distribution from the North Pacific coasts to Southern Greenland and rarely Iceland; it occurs in the Arctic from the Taimyr Peninsula to West Greenland. In E. mollis, there are three subspecies: (1) subsp. mollis including var. mollis f. mollis, f. simulans f. nov. and f. scabrinervis f. nov. and var. japonicus var. nov.; (2) subsp. villosissimus (Scribn.) Love; and (3) subsp. interior (Hultén) comb. nov. The Asiatic species, E. angustus Trin. and E. dasystachys Trin., are related to these three species. Elymus × vancouverensis Vasey appears to be an interspecific hybrid complex that originated from the hybridization of E. mollis var. mollis and probably E. triticoides Buckl., which is also tetraploid (2n = 28). In E. × vancouverensis, there are three nothomorphs: nm. vancouverensis (2n = 42), nm. californicus nm. nov. (2n = 42), and nm. crescentianus nm. nov. (2n = 28).
IS THE DECOHERENCE OF A SYSTEM THE RESULT OF ITS INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT?
Authors: CASTAGNINO MARIO , FORTIN SEBASTIAN , LOMBARDI OLIMPIA
Published: May 2010

According to a usual reading, decoherence is a process resulting from the interaction between a small system and its large environment where information and energy are dissipated. The particular models treated in the literature on the subject reinforce this idea since, in general, the behavior of a particle immersed in a large "bath" composed by many particles is studied. The aim of this letter is to warn against this usual simplified reading. By means of the analysis of a well-known model, we will show that decoherence may occur in a system interacting with an environment consisting of only one particle.
INTEGRABLE ASPECTS AND SOLITON-LIKE SOLUTIONS OF AN INHOMOGENEOUS COUPLED HIROTA–MAXWELL–BLOCH SYSTEM IN OPTICAL FIBERS WITH SYMBOLIC COMPUTATION
Authors: XUE YU-SHAN , TIAN BO , ZHANG HAI-QIANG , LI LI-LI
Published: May 2010

For describing wave propagation in an inhomogeneous erbium-doped nonlinear fiber with higher-order dispersion and self-steepening, an inhomogeneous coupled Hirota–Maxwell–Bloch system is considered with the aid of symbolic computation. Through Painlevé singularity structure analysis, the integrable condition of such a system is analyzed. Via the Painlevé-integrable condition, the Lax pair is explicitly constructed based on the Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur scheme. Furthermore, the analytic soliton-like solutions are obtained via the Darboux transformation which makes it exercisable to generate the multi-soliton solutions in a recursive manner. Through the graphical analysis of some obtained analytic one- and two-soliton-like solutions, our concerns are mainly on the envelope soliton excitation, the propagation features of optical solitons and their interaction behaviors in actual fiber communication. Finally, the conservation laws for the system are also presented.
ωϕ STATES IN CHIRAL QUARK MODEL
Authors: WANG W. L. , HUANG F. , ZHANG Z. Y. , LIU F.
Published: May 2010

The ωϕ states with spin S=0,1 and 2 are dynamically studied in a chiral SU(3) quark model by solving the resonating group method (RGM) equation. It is found that the interactions of ωϕ systems are attractive, while no ωϕ bound state or resonance state is obtained due to the insufficiency of the strength of ωϕ attractions.
SUPERNATURAL A-TERM INFLATION
Authors: LIN CHIA-MIN , CHEUNG KINGMAN
Published: May 2010

Following Ref. 10, we explore the parameter space of the case when the supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking scale is lower, for example, in gauge mediated SUSY breaking model. During inflation, the form of the potential is V0 plus MSSM (or A-term ) inflation. We show that the model works for a wide range of the potential V0 with the soft SUSY breaking mass m ~ O(1) TeV. The implication to MSSM (or A-term) inflation is that the flat directions which is lifted by the non-renormalizable terms described by the superpotential [Formula: see text] with p = 4 and p = 5 are also suitable to be an inflaton field for λp = O(1) provided there is an additional false vacuum term V0 with appropriate magnitude. The flat directions correspond to p = 6 also works for [Formula: see text].
TOP–ANTITOP-QUARK PRODUCTION AND DECAY PROPERTIES AT THE TEVATRON
Authors: WAGNER WOLFGANG
Published: May 2010

At the Tevatron, the collider experiments CDF and DØ have data sets at their disposal that comprise a few thousand reconstructed top–antitop-quark pairs and allow for precision measurements of the cross section as well as production and decay properties. Besides comparing the measurements to standard model predictions, these data sets open a window to physics beyond the standard model. Dedicated analyses look for new heavy gauge bosons, fourth generation quarks, and flavor-changing neutral currents. In this mini-review the current status of these measurements is summarized.
SEARCHES FOR NEW PHYSICS WITH JETS-PLUS-$E\hspace{-6.2pt}/_T$ SIGNATURES USING DATA-DRIVEN BACKGROUND ESTIMATES
Authors: BEAUCHEMIN PIERRE-HUGUES , SAVARD PIERRE
Published: May 2010

Events featuring high energy jets and a large amount of missing transverse energy constitute a key signature for a wide spectrum of new physics models. In this review, the results of two searches with such signatures are presented. The benefits of performing these searches in a model-independent way are discussed and data-driven techniques used to estimate Standard Model backgrounds are described in detail. These data-driven techniques will be an important part of searches for new physics at the LHC, especially in the early data-taking period.
Verifying safety properties of concurrent heap-manipulating programs
Authors: Yahav Eran , Sagiv Mooly
Published: May 2010

We provide a parametric framework for verifying safety properties of concurrent heap-manipulating programs. The framework combines thread-scheduling information with information about the shape of the heap. This leads to verification algorithms that are more precise than existing techniques. The framework also provides a precise shape-analysis algorithm for concurrent programs. In contrast to most existing verification techniques, we do not put a bound on the number of allocated objects. The framework produces interesting results even when analyzing programs with an unbounded number of threads. The framework is applied to successfully verify the following properties of a concurrent program:

—Concurrent manipulation of linked-list based ADT preserves the ADT datatype invariant.

—The program does not perform inconsistent updates due to interference.

—The program does not reach a deadlock.

—The program does not produce runtime errors due to illegal thread interactions.

We also found bugs in erroneous programs violating such properties. A prototype of our framework has been implemented and applied to small, but interesting, example programs.
A calculus for uniform feature composition
Authors: Apel Sven , Hutchins Delesley
Published: May 2010

The goal of
feature-oriented programming
(FOP) is to modularize software systems in terms of features. A
feature
refines the content of a base program. Both base programs and features may contain various kinds of software artifacts, for example, source code in different languages, models, build scripts, and documentation. We and others have noticed that when composing features, different kinds of software artifacts can be refined in a uniform way, regardless of what they represent. We present gDeep, a core calculus for feature composition, which captures the language independence of FOP; it can be used to compose features containing many different kinds of artifact in a type-safe way. The calculus allows us to gain insight into the principles of FOP and to define general algorithms for feature composition and validation. We provide the formal syntax, operational semantics, and type system of gDeep and outline how languages like Java, Haskell, Bali, and XML can be plugged in.
Supporting execution on multiprocessor platforms
Authors: Burns A. , Wellings A. J.
Published: May 2010

Multiprocessor platforms are becoming the norm for more powerful embedded real-time systems. Although Ada allows its tasks to be executed on such platforms it provides no explicit support that allows programmers to map tasks to processors. If Ada is going to be an effective language for multiprocessor systems then it needs to address the mapping issue that will allow the programmer to express their requirements for task to processor affinity. A number of different mapping and scheduling approaches are advocated in the scheduling literature. The primitives in the language should allow these schemes to be directly supported. In this paper we propose a minimum set of such primitives, with the aim of initiating a debate that will lead to an agreed language change that can be accepted within the Ada community.
Realtime paradigms needed post Ada 2005
Authors: Michell Stephen , Wong Luke , Moore Brad
Published: May 2010

Ada 2005 significantly improved Ada's capabilities for handling real time systems by introducing scheduling and timing paradigms. To date, Ada's support for multiprocessor systems has not been as effective, even though Ada has concurrency directly in the language. This paper identifies three missing paradigms from the language, mapping threads to processor\s, releasing many tasks from barriers, and Non-blocking_Delay, and proposes ways that they can be supported.
Towards a ravenscar extension for multi-processor systems
Authors: Ruiz José F.
Published: May 2010

The Ravenscar profile, originally designed for single processors, has proven remarkably useful for modelling verifiable real-time single-processor systems. New software demands increasing processing power, and multi-processor platforms are spreading as the answer to achieve the required performance. Embedded real-time systems are also subject to this trend, while keeping the need for the founding principles of Ravenscar: simplicity, efficiency, reliability, predictability, and analyz-ability. This paper proposes a simple extension to the Ravenscar profile to support multi-processor systems using a fully partitioned approach. The implementation of this scheme is simple, and it can be used to develop applications amenable to schedulability analysis.
User-defined clocks is it the right time now?
Authors: Wellings A. J. , Burns A.
Published: May 2010

During the Ada 9X design processes, user-defined time types and clocks were proposed. These, however, were dropped when the scope of proposed changes was reduced. This paper reviews the original proposal and suggests a new solution which is in keeping with Ada 2005. Our goal is to regenerate interest in the topic to see if it is worthy of support in a future amendment to Ada.
Generalizing the EDF scheduling support in Ada 2005
Authors: Wellings A. J. , Burns A.
Published: May 2010

Ada 2005 has introduced a version of Baker's Stack Resource Protocol called the Preemption Level Control Protocol in order to support EDF scheduling. Baker's protocol is, however, a general protocol that can be used with a range of scheduling algorithms, for example any static job-level algorithm such as static values or a modified least laxity algorithm. This paper investigates the changes that would be needed to Ada 2005 to allow it to support user-defined scheduling, where the user can implement any scheduling approach that is compatible with Baker's algorithm.
Ada and cc-NUMA architectures what can be achieved with Ada 2005?
Authors: Wellings A. J. , Malik A. H. , Audsley N. C. , Burns A.
Published: May 2010

Real-time systems are finding it difficult to make the shift from single processor systems to multiprocessors because of the lack of support from programming platforms for multiprocessors. Although, Ada provides some support for SMPs, it's goal is to hide the complexity of the architectures so that the programmers are not distracted by low-level architectural issues. This paper argues that programmer should be given enough visibility to use the underlying architecture predictably and efficiently. We focus on the issue of memory management and memory accesses on a cc-NUMA architecture. A cc-NUMA architecture is chosen, as we believe it to be more scalable than SMP systems.
Multiprocessor systems session summary
Authors: Burns A. , Wellings A. J.
Published: May 2010

This report summarizes the discussion held at Fourteenth InternationalWorkshop on Real-Time Ada Issues (IRTAW 14) on how to provide better support for multiprocessor systems in Ada.
Development of Near Infrared‐Fluorescent Nanophosphors and Applications for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Zako Tamotsu , Hyodo Hiroshi , Tsuji Kosuke , Tokuzen Kimikazu , Kishimoto Hidehiro , Ito Masaaki , Kaneko Kazuhiro , Maeda Mizuo , Soga Kohei
Published: May 2010

The use of near infrared (NIR) light for biomedical photonics in the wavelength region between 800 and 2000 nm, which is called “biological window”, has received particular attention since water and biological tissues have minimal optical loss due to scattering and absorption as well as autofluorescence in this region. Recent development of InGaAs CCD enables observations in this wavelength region. In the present paper, we report development of Yb and Er‐doped yttrium oxide nanoparticles (Y2O3:YbEr‐NP) which show strong NIR emission under NIR excitation (NIR‐NIR emission). We also demonstrate that NIR emission can be observed through swine colon wall. Based on these results, we propose a possible application of Y2O3:YbEr‐NP for cancer diagnosis and therapy using NIR‐NIR imaging system. Our results also suggest potential applications of Y2O3:YbEr‐NP for noninvasive detection of various diseases.
Process Optimization for Biodiesel Production from Corn Oil and Its Oxidative Stability
Authors: El Boulifi N. , Bouaid A. , Martinez M. , Aracil J.
Published: May 2010

Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize biodiesel production process from corn oil. The process variables, temperature and catalyst concentration were found to have significant influence on biodiesel yield. The optimum combination derived via RSM for high corn oil methyl ester yield (99.48%) was found to be 1.18% wt catalyst concentration at a reaction temperature of55.6∘C. To determine how long biodiesel can safely be stored, it is desirable to have a measurement for the stability of the biodiesel against such oxidation. Storage time and oxygen availability have been considered as possible factors influencing oxidative instability. Biodiesel from corn oil was stored for a period of 30 months, and the physico-chemical parameters of samples were measured at regular interval of time. Results show that the acid value (AV), peroxide value (PV), and viscosity (ν) increased while the iodine value (IV) decreased. These parameters changed very significantly when the sample was stored under normal oxygen atmosphere. However, theν, AV, and IV of the biodiesel sample which was stored under argon atmosphere were within the limit by the European specifications (EN 14214).
Invalid Permutation Tests
Authors: Aickin Mikel
Published: May 2010

Permutation tests are often presented in a rather casual manner, in both introductory and advanced statistics textbooks. The appeal of the cleverness of the procedure seems to replace the need for a rigorous argument that it produces valid hypothesis tests. The consequence of this educational failing has been a widespread belief in a “permutation principle”, which is supposed invariably to give tests that are valid by construction, under an absolute minimum of statistical assumptions. Several lines of argument are presented here to show that the permutation principle itself can be invalid, concentrating on the Fisher‐Pitman permutation test for two means. A simple counterfactual example illustrates the general problem, and a slightly more elaborate counterfactual argument is used to explain why the main mathematical proof of the validity of permutation tests is mistaken. Two modifications of the permutation test are suggested to be valid in a very modest simulation. In instances where simulation software is readily available, investigating the validity of a specific permutation test can be done easily, requiring only a minimum understanding of statistical technicalities.
Recursive Linear Estimation for Discrete‐Time Systems in the Presence of Different Multiplicative Observation Noises
Authors: Sánchez-González C. , García-Muñoz T. M.
Published: May 2010

This paper describes a design for a least mean square error estimator in discrete time systems where the components of the state vector, in measurement equation, are corrupted by different multiplicative noises in addition to observation noise. We show how known results can be considered a particular case of the algorithm stated in this paper.
Proof That Chronic Lyme Disease Exists
Authors: Cameron Daniel J.
Published: May 2010

The evidence continues to mount that Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) exists and must be addressed by the medical community if solutions are to be found. Four National Institutes of Health (NIH) trials validated the existence and severity of CLD. Despite the evidence, there are physicians who continue to deny the existence and severity of CLD, which can hinder efforts to find a solution. Recognizing CLD could facilitate efforts to avoid diagnostic delays of two years and durations of illness of 4.7 to 9 years described in the NIH trials. The risk to society of emerging antibiotic-resistant organisms should be weighed against the societal risks associated with failing to treat an emerging population saddled with CLD. The mixed long-term outcome in children could also be examined. Once we accept the evidence that CLD exists, the medical community should be able to find solutions. Medical professionals should be encouraged to examine whether: (1) innovative treatments for early LD might prevent CLD, (2) early diagnosis of CLD might result in better treatment outcomes, and (3) more effective treatment regimens can be developed for CLD patients who have had prolonged illness and an associated poor quality of life.
Reducing Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated With Reduced Blood Pressure
Authors: Chen Liwei , Caballero Benjamin , Mitchell Diane C. , Loria Catherine , Lin Pao-Hwa , Champagne Catherine M. , Elmer Patricia J. , Ard Jamy D. , Batch Bryan C. , Anderson Cheryl A.M. , Appel Lawrence J.
Published: May 2010

Background—Increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been associated with an elevated risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes mellitus. However, the effects of SSB consumption on blood pressure (BP) are uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between changes in SSB consumption and changes in BP among adults.

Methods and Results—This was a prospective analysis of 810 adults who participated in the PREMIER Study (an 18-month behavioral intervention trial). BP and dietary intake (by two 24-hour recalls) were measured at baseline and at 6 and 18 months. Mixed-effects models were applied to estimate the changes in BP in responding to changes in SSB consumption. At baseline, mean SSB intake was 0.9±1.0 servings per day (10.5±11.9 fl oz/d), and mean systolic BP/diastolic BP was 134.9±9.6/84.8±4.2 mm Hg. After potential confounders were controlled for, a reduction in SSB of 1 serving per day was associated with a 1.8-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 2.4) reduction in systolic BP and 1.1-mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 0.7 to 1.4) reduction in diastolic BP over 18 months. After additional adjustment for weight change over the same period, a reduction in SSB intake was still significantly associated with reductions in systolic and diastolic BPs (P<0.05). Reduced intake of sugars was also significantly associated with reduced BP. No association was found for diet beverage consumption or caffeine intake and BP. These findings suggest that sugars may be the nutrients that contribute to the observed association between SSB and BP.

Conclusions—Reduced consumption of SSB and sugars was significantly associated with reduced BP. Reducing SSB and sugar consumption may be an important dietary strategy to lower BP.

Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00000616.