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Purpose: Bursitis is a common musculoskeletal cause of shoulder pain and treatment varies, thus correctly diagnosing and grading bursitis is paramount in deciding management. Our aim was to assess reliability in grading shoulder bursitis on ultrasonography among fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists at our institution. Methods: Retrospective study of patients diagnosed with bursitis on ultrasonography. Single-sonographic images of the subacromial-subdeltoid bursa were collected for each patient and randomized to form a test-bank of varying degrees of bursitis. Three months after the test was administered, the cases were randomized and readministered. The radiologists graded each case as: within normal limits, mild, moderate or severe. Intraobserver variability was measured using Cohen's kappa coefficient. Linear regression model was performed to assess correlation between years of experience and kappa. Results: 10 radiologists reviewed 70 cases of bursitis. Kappa values ranged from.53 to.91, indicating 'moderate' to 'almost perfect' variability amongst radiologists. A moderate positive correlation of improving variability (r =.69) with increasing years of experience exists. Conclusion: Fellowship trained musculoskeletal radiologists were able to grade shoulder bursitis with moderate to almost perfect variability, with a positive correlation of improved variability with increasing experience. This may help clinicians choose the correct treatment more confidently in their patients with shoulder pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Placement behaviours of families of adults with intellectual disabilities has received little or no attention of researches to date. A prospective design was adopted to examine changes in placement decisions of 75 family carers over a 12-month period. Factors associated with changes were also examined. Over 12 months, 30 families moved closer to considering an out of home placement. Of these 14 had placed their relative in out of home care. Proactive coping strategies were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of continued home care. While the results were similar to studies with children with intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a move out-of-home occurred more quickly for adults. This may reflect current social policy and societal attitudes where moving out of home is more normative for adults with ID. The lack of association with all but one carer or care recipient factors suggest that changes in placement tendencies for adults may differ from that of children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Little is known about the role of living circumstances to the perception of subjective well‐being (SWB) and health of adults with intellectual disability (ID). The aim of the present study was to examine whether living circumstances impact differently on the perception of health and SWB and whether potential differences persist after accounting for other variables (e.g. level of support needs and reporting method). Methods: Secondary data analysis was undertaken of a large national survey of adults with an ID in England, aged 16 years and over. Participants were identified as living with family (N = 1528) or living out of home (N = 874). Results: The results of t‐test and chi‐square revealed that levels of health and SWB were perceived as being higher for people living with family than those living in out‐of‐home settings. Multiple linear regression analyses fitted to explore factors associated with these reported differences revealed that, when controlling for other variables, living with family was highly associated with reports of better SWB. Multiple logistic regression revealed that whilst the health status of people living with families were perceived as better, this was only true when their support needs were low. Poorest health outcomes were found for people with highest support needs who lived with family. Conclusions: On the whole, the health and well‐being of adults living with family were perceived more positively than those living out of home. However, potential health disparities exist for those with high support needs who live with family. Further longitudinal research is needed to explore causes and potential solution to these inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Providing long‐term care to an adult relative with intellectual disability can impact negatively on caregivers’ health and well‐being. Methods: Data were collected via online and postal questionnaires on 110 family carers’ physical and psychological health, family stress and perceived positive gains from caring. Psychological adaptation and carers’ satisfaction with available support were also examined. Results: Study participants reported more health problems than general populations. Higher support needs of care recipients were associated with increased family stress. Carers being female were associated with lower family stress. Older age and better socio‐economic position were associated with better psychological outcomes. Other associations were consistent with psychological adaption and perceived helpfulness of support buffering negative outcomes and facilitating positive gains from caring. Conclusions: Family carers of adults with intellectual disability appear to experience poorer health outcome than population norms. Adaption to the caregiving role may buffer negative outcomes. Further large scale, population‐based, longitudinal research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research exploring the experiences of families during the process of seeking out-of-home accommodation for an adult son or daughter with intellectual disability is scarce. A study was undertaken to examine this process. Nine families currently seeking out-of-home accommodation for their adult son or daughter were interviewed and interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Two main themes were identified: (1) reasons for seeking housing and (2) experiences of seeking housing. Parents' aging and increased health problems along with the offspring's wish for greater independence were the main reasons for seeking out-of home accommodation. Experiences of looking for a house were not straightforward in that parents often wanted to plan ahead but were prevented from doing so as the housing system prioritizes 'housing crises.' Findings showed that families experienced seeking housing as stressful and frustrating and would like to see social care and housing professionals acknowledge them as collaborative partners in the process. The authors conclude there also needs to be greater clarity of expectation of the duration of finding suitable accommodation, a process that needs to be started early in a young adult's life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study examined the effects of age and training status on the pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2p) kinetics of untrained and chronically trained young, middle-age, and older groups of men. Methods: Breath-by-breath V̇O2p and near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle deoxygenation ([HHb]) were monitored continuously in young (20-39 yr) trained (YT, n = 8) and untrained (YuT, n = 8), middle-age (40-59 yr) trained (MT, n = 9) and untrained (MuT, n = 9), and older (60-85 yr) trained (OT, n = 9) and untrained (OuT, n = 8) men. On-transient V̇O2p and [HHb] responses to cycling exercise at 80% of the estimated lactate threshold (three repeats) were modeled as monoexponential. Data were scaled to a relative percentage of the response (0%--100%), the signals time aligned, and the individual [HHb]-to-V̇O2p ratio was calculated as the average [HHb]/V̇O2 during the 20- to 120-s period after exercise onset. Results: The time constant for the adjustment of phase II pulmonary V̇O2 (τV̇O2p) was larger in OuT (42.0 ± 11.3 s) compared with that in YT (17.0 ± 7.5 s), MT (18.1 ± 5.3 s), OT (19.8 + 5.4 s), YuT (25.7 + 6.6 s), and MuT (24.4 ± 7.4 s) (P < 0.05). Similarly, the [HHb]/V̇O2 ratio was larger than 1.0 in OuT (1.30 ± 0.13, P < 0.05) and this value was larger than that observed in YT (1.01 ± 0.07), MT (1.04 ± 0.05), OT (1.04 ± 0.04), YuT (1.05 ± 0.03), and MuT (1.02 + 0.09) (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that the slower V̇O2 kinetics typically observed in older individuals can be prevented by long-term endurance training interventions. Although the role of O2 delivery relative to peripheral use cannot be elucidated from the current measures, the absence of age-related slowing of V̇O2 kinetics seems to be partly related to a preservation of the matching of O2 delivery to O2 utilization in chronically trained older individuals, as suggested by the reduction in the [HHb]/V̇O2 ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for diabetes in clinical practice. Topics include studies showing that CGM improves glycemic control with a reduction in hypoglycemia, challenges faced by primary care due to lack of knowledge about CGM technology, and need to undertake a cost-benefit analysis to expand the use of CGM. It mentions primary care practices that have a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) may consider using CGM.

Very little is known about factors potentially affecting the performance of therapists delivering applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions for young children with autism. Eighty-one therapists working in ABA schools participated in a questionnaire study focused on their reports of burnout and perceived therapeutic self-efficacy in their work role. Perceived supervisor support played a central role in the prediction of reduced therapist burnout and increased therapeutic self-efficacy. In addition, perceived supervisor support moderated the impact of work demands on personal accomplishment burnout. Those therapists reporting high work demands and lower levels of supervisor support had lower personal accomplishment scores on the Maslach burnout inventory. Clinical implications include the importance of supervisor support for therapists and also supervisor style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New values are derived for snow-free albedo of five plant functional types (PFTs) and the soil/litter substrate from data acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors on board Terra and Aqua. The derived albedo values are used to provide and test an improved specification of surface albedo for the land surface scheme known as the Joint U.K. Land Environment Simulator (JULES) that forms part of the Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model (HadGEM) climate model. The International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme (IGBP) global land cover map is used in combination with the MODIS albedo to estimate the albedo of each cover type in the IGBP classification scheme, from which the albedo values of the JULES PFTs are computed. The albedo of the soil/litter substrate, referred to as the soil background albedo, is derived from partially vegetated regions using a method that separates the vegetation contribution to the albedo signal from that of the soil/litter substrate. The global fields of soil background albedo produced using this method exhibit more realistic spatial variations than the soil albedo map usually employed in conjunction with the JULES model. The revised total shortwave albedo values of the PFTs are up to 8% higher than those in the existing HadGEM scheme. To evaluate the influence of these differences upon surface albedo in the climate model, differences are computed globally between mean monthly land surface albedo, modeled using the existing and revised albedo values, and MODIS data. Incorporating the revised albedo values into the model reduces the global rmse for snow-free July land surface albedo from 0.051 to 0.024, representing a marked improvement on the existing parameterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs a multiple baseline across individual design to describe positive behaviour support for five people in community settings. The individuals represent all people with intellectual disability residing in one county with long-standing challenging behaviour resulting in serious physical injury. Five types of outcome are presented: rates of behaviour, rates of medication, psychiatric symptomatology, quality of life and revenue costs. The systems of support required to maintain outcomes and develop real lifestyles include behaviour support planning, mental health review, on-call intensive support and emergency respite care. Behaviours reduced to near-zero levels following implementation of positive behaviour support and improvements were sustained over 24 months. The use of psychotropic medications reduced by 66 percent over the same period. Quality of Life Questionnaire scores improved significantly for three of the five participants. The results are discussed in the context of a framework for supporting people with severe challenging behaviours in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Effectively supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities who display challenging behaviours continues to be a priority for service providers. Person-focused training (PFT) is a model of service delivery which provides staff with skills in functional assessment and intervention development. Existing longitudinal data from a study of 138 cases suggest that implementation of staff-developed behaviour support plans through PFT is effective in reducing challenging behaviour in approximately 77% of cases [McClean et al. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research (2005) vol. 49, pp. 340–353]. However, no control group was used in this study. Method The current study involves the use of a control group of individuals with challenging behaviours matched against those selected for PFT over a 6-month period. Groups were matched on type of challenging behaviour, duration of challenging behaviour, gender and level of disability. Information on the frequency, management difficulty and severity of challenging behaviour was collected pre- and post-training using the Checklist of Challenging Behaviours (CCB) for both groups. Observational data were collected for the target group alone. Rates of psychotropic medication were tracked across the training period. Results Significant reductions in the frequency, management difficulty and severity of challenging behaviour were found for service users in the target group but not in the control group after 6 months. No significant changes were found in the use of psychotropic medication for either group over the 6-month period. Conclusion Overall results suggest that PFT is an effective model for providing support to individuals with challenging behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses various studies published within this issue, including a study on a University-accredited training, a study on results of staff training for raising knowledge and competencies and a study on the impact of a short training course for employees with intellectual disability.

Thirty-six mothers of children aged between 5 and 8 years with intellectual disabilities completed five self-report questionnaires measuring variables related to behavioural and emotional difficulties, levels of care demand, family supports, coping and positive perceptions. The relationships among these variables were investigated using a working model proposed by Hastings and Taunt (2002). Child behavioural and emotional problems in the non-clinical range predicted low levels of care demand. Formal social support was an effective form of support for mothers; helpfulness of formal social support predicted mobilizing the family to acquire and accept help in the community; and mobilizing the family predicted levels of strength and family closeness. The majority of respondents rated agreement with statements that their child was: a source of happiness or fulfilment; a source of strength and family closeness; and a source of personal growth and maturity. The theoretical and clinical implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results and satellite inter-comparisons for the retrieval of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and land surface bidirectional reflectance using the Multiangle Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer (AATSR). The algorithm developed is based on inversion of a physical model of light scattering that requires no a priori knowledge of the land surface. The model is evaluated for a number of sites around the world to test its operation over a range of aerosol types and land covers including dark and bright surfaces. Validation is performed using Aerosol Robotic Network ground-based sun-photometer measurements and by intercomparison with independent estimates of AOD derived from spaceborne instruments including Multiangle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) aerosol products. Results show good agreement (Pearson's correlation coefficient r² = 0.70 for all sites combined) between the AATSR-derived estimates of AOD and the sun-photometer measurements. There is also a high correlation (r² = 0.84) between the AATSR- and MISR-derived AOD estimates, but the correlations of the AATSR-derived AOD with MODIS-derived AOD and TOMS aerosol index are lower. In addition, the ability of the sensor to discriminate between different aerosol types is evaluated. Moreover, the estimates of the aerosol properties are used for atmospheric correction of the top-of-atmosphere reflectance. The AATSR surface reflectances are compared with the MODIS bidirectional reflectance distribution function/Albedo and MISR surface products and are shown to correspond with root-mean-square errors of 0.03 and 0.06 or better, respectively. The retrieval method is applied on an image basis resulting in an image of surface reflectance and a separate map of AOD. A map of AOD at 550 nm covering the Sahel and southern Sahara region is presented to demonstrate operation at regional and potentially global scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of a larger study regarding the inclusion of children with disabilities in mainstream classroom settings, Ellen Murphy, of the D Clin Psych programme at NUI Galway, with Ian Grey and Rita Honan, from Trinity College, Dublin, reviewed existing literature on co-operative learning in the classroom. In this article, they identify four models of co-operative learning and specify the various components characteristic of each model. They review recent studies on co-operative learning with the aim of determining effectiveness. These studies generally indicate that co-operative learning appears to be more effective when assessed on measures of social engagement rather than academic performance. Finally, Ellen Murphy, Ian Grey and Rita Honan present their account of the factors that contribute to the successful implementation of co-operative learning for students with difficulties in learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Interventions for children with autism based upon Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) has been repeatedly shown to be related both to educational gains and to reductions in challenging behaviours. However, to date, comprehensive training in ABA for teachers and others have been limited. Over 7 months, 11 teachers undertook 90 hours of classroom instruction and supervision in ABA. Each teacher conducted a comprehensive functional assessment and designed a behaviour support plan targeting one behaviour for one child with an autistic disorder. Target behaviours included aggression, non-compliance and specific educational skills. Teachers recorded observational data for the target behaviour for both baseline and intervention sessions. Support plans produced an average 80 percent change in frequency of occurrence of target behaviours. Questionnaires completed by parents and teachers at the end of the course indicated a beneficial effect for the children and the educational environment. The potential benefits of teacher implemented behavioural intervention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent interpersonal violence is a major cause of death and disability among young Black men. Quantitative studies have uncovered factors associated with reinjury, but little is known about how these factors work together. We interviewed young Black male victims to understand their experience of violence. Qualitative analysis of their narratives revealed how their struggle to reestablish safety shaped their response to injury. Aspects of the "code of the street" (including the need for respect) and lack of faith in the police combined with traumatic stress and substance use to accentuate their sense of vulnerability. Victims then reacted to protect themselves in ways that could increase their risk of reinjury. We describe a model with implications for reducing rates of recurrent violent injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qualitative research methods have a unique role to play in surgical research, revealing important contextual details about the causes and impact of surgical illnesses and treatment. The utility of qualitative methods is illustrated through results of a research study of young, black male victims of interpersonal violence. Narrative analysis of in-depth interviews with 48 survivors of penetrating violence revealed the impact of these patients’ perceptions of post-injury care on their pain, the central role of fear of death in their injury experience, and the transforming role providers can play in addressing patient fears of death. The study provides support for the notion that qualitative methods can be a useful approach to understanding marginalized individuals who become our patients after injury. Furthermore, potential applications of multimethod approaches to surgical research (qualitative research methods in combination with quantitative methods) for the study of trainee experiences, patient satisfaction, and racial disparities are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicting reports exist regarding the influence of β-adrenergic stimulation on the maximum velocity of shortening (V[sub max]) in ventricular myocytes. This may be due to an unrecognized effect of maturation. In the present study, the effects of β-adrenergic receptor stimulation on myocytes from hearts of juvenile nonbred and young adult retired breeder female rats were compared. Ventricular myocytes from young adults had a β-adrenergic-dependent increase in V[sub max] and Ca[sup 2+]-dependent actomyosin ATPase that was not observed in myocytes from juveniles. Myocytes from young adults had both an increase in β-myosin heavy chain (MHC) and higher basal serine/threonine phosphatase activity compared with juvenile rats. Additional studies established moderate increases in β-MHC induced by hypothyroidism do not confer myocardial β-adrenergic responsiveness, whereas inhibition of the higher phosphatase activity in myocytes from young adults blocks the age-dependent, β-adrenergic-induced increase in cross-bridge cycling rates. We propose that the higher phosphatase activity of myocytes from young adults compared with juveniles allows for a greater functional response of the myocardium to β-adrenergic stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, decadal evolution of warm and cold anomalies in the subtropical and subpolar gyres of the North Atlantic in the 300-500-m and 100-250-m depth ranges is described. A series of pentadally averaged objective maps of upper-ocean thermal anomalies, from bathythermograph data, are presented. Warm and cold anomalies in the western subtropical gyre are succeeded by similar anomalies in the subpolar gyre and the east Atlantic and subtropical return flow. Major warm and cold anomalies in the 1950s and 1970s, respectively, are similar to those described previously in SSTs, although there is more temporal continuity in the subsurface anomalies. Two very strong events in the subtropical gyre are identified, a cold anomaly in 1966-72 and an intense warm anomaly in 1988-94, that show the greatest temperature anomalies in the North Atlantic during the period of the study. Interisotherm thickness anomalies are shown for the subtropical gyre during these periods. In the warm period, mode waters are both warmer (188-198C) and of greater volume than on average, and lie in a narrow band south of the Gulf Stream above a depressed thermocline with warm temperature anomalies to at least 800-m depth. In the cold period, the predominant mode water temperature is closer to 178C, but there is reduced water formation overall with a raised thermocline and cold temperature anomalies down to 600-m depth. The bowl of the gyre is flat during the cold period, and the implied recirculation may be weaker and extend farther to the south. The changes appear to be consistent with the intensification of the subtropical gyre in the warm period and a spindown in the cold period, although the relative roles of wind stress and air-sea heat fluxes in these changes need to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the contribution of stimulus equivalence procedures to the study of attitude formation and attitude change. Use of matching-to-sample procedure; Exposure to subjects to violent sexual video; Contextual control through equivalence relations; Benefits for study of attitudes of stimulus equivalence model of attitude formation and change.

Dissociation rate measurements were determined on antisera following single and multiple intravenous injections of antigen and after injection of antigen incorporated into adjuvant. It was found that regardless of the amount, route, or number of injections the dissociation characteristics of all sera were similar, reaching the same maximum binding strength within the same time period following immunization. The relative production of 19S and 7S antibody was studied and it was found: (a) insufficient 19S antibody is formed to account for the change in dissociation characteristics that occur following immunization; (b) at the same stage of immunization, 19S and 7S antibody have similar rates of dissociation from antigen, but 19S antibody combines more slowly with antigen than 7S antibody; (c) the haemagglutination technique show's no correlation with binding or precipitin methods when estimates as to the relative amounts of 19S and 7S antibody present in sera are made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares the rate of dissociation of antibody produced by recipients and donors in cell transfer experiments in a BSA-anti-BSA system using the ammonium sulphate salting-out technique. Formation of antibody in most newborn recipients; Kinetics of antigen-antibody dissociation; Role of recipient animal in the formation of antibody cell transfer.

All stakeholders are involved in the measles surveillance system, they play active role in measles surveillance. A journey towards elimination: Measles surveillance system evaluation - New Juaben Municipality, Eastern Region, Ghana, 2014-2018 B Background: b Measles is one of the vaccine preventable disease. [Extracted from the article]

Presents an experiment on termite color preferences. Steps; Student activities; Effectiveness of the experiment as a teaching tool.

The adjustment of pulmonary oxygen uptake (VO2p), heart rate (HR), limb blood flow (LBF), and muscle deoxygenation [HHb] was examined during the transition to moderate-intensity, knee-extension exercise in six older adults (70 ± 4 years) under two conditions: normoxia (FIO₂ = 20.9 %) and hypoxia (FIO₂ = 15 %). The subjects performed repeated step transitions from an active baseline (3 W) to an absolute work rate (21 W) in both conditions. Phase 2 VO₂p, HR, LBF, and [HHb] data were fit with an exponential model. Under hypoxic conditions, no change was observed in HR kinetics, on the other hand, LBF kinetics was faster (normoxia 34 ± 3 s; hypoxia 28 ± 2), whereas the overall [HHb] adjustment (τ' = TD + τ) was slower (normoxia 28 ± 2; hypoxia 33 ± 4 s). Phase 2 VO₂p kinetics were unchanged (p < 0.05). The faster LBF kinetics and slower [HHb] kinetics reflect an improved matching between O₂ delivery and O₂ utilization at the microvascular level, preventing the phase 2 VO₂p kinetics from become slower in hypoxia. Moreover, the absolute blood flow values were higher in hypoxia (1.17 ± 0.2 L min(-1)) compared to normoxia (0.96 ± 0.2 L min(-1)) during the steady-state exercise at 21 W. These findings support the idea that, for older adults exercising at a low work rate, an increase of limb blood flow offsets the drop in arterial oxygen content (CaO₂) caused by breathing an hypoxic mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method has been developed to estimate aerosol optical depth (AOD) over land surfaces using high spatial resolution, hyperspectral, and multiangle Compact High Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (CHRIS)/Project for On Board Autonomy (PROBA) images. The CHRIS instrument is mounted aboard the PROBA satellite and provides up to 62 bands. The PROBA satellite allows pointing to obtain imagery from five different view angles within a short time interval. The method uses inversion of a coupled surface/atmosphere radiative transfer model and includes a general physical model of angular surface reflectance. An iterative process is used to determine the optimum value providing the best fit of the corrected reflectance values for a number of view angles and wavelengths with those provided by the physical model. This method has previously been demonstrated on data from the Advanced Along-Track Scanning Radiometer and is extended here to the spectral and angular sampling of CHRIS/PROBA. The values obtained from these observations are validated using ground-based sun-photometer measurements. Results from 22 image sets show an rms error of 0.11 in AOD at 550 nm, which is reduced to 0.06 after an automatic screening procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) catalyses transfer of GlcNAc (N-acetylglucosamine) to serine or threonine of proteins. The Arabidopsis OGTs, SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY) have overlapping functions during gametogenesis and embryogenesis. SPY functions in a number of processes including circadian, light, and gibberellin (GA) responses. The role of SEC in plant development and GA signalling was investigated by determining the phenotypes of sec-1 and sec-2 plants and the expression pattern of SEC. Similar to SPY, SEC transcripts were ubiquitous. Although there is no evidence of transcript-level regulation by other factors, SEC mRNA levels are elevated in spy plants and SPY mRNA levels are elevated in sec plants. sec-1 and sec-2 plants exhibited few of the defects observed in spy plants and had wild-type GA responses. Compared with wild type, sec plants produced leaves at a reduced rate. Haplo-insufficiency at SEC in a spy ga1 double mutant background suppressed spy during germination and enhanced the production of ovaries with four carpels by spy. By contrast, SPY haplo-insufficiency in a sec ga1 double mutant background caused a novel phenotype, production of a proliferation of pin-like structures instead of a floral shoot. These results are consistent with SEC function overlapping with SPY for leaf production and reproductive development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Although there was no impairment in IL-2 secretion and proliferation of Fyn-deficient naïve CD4 cells after stimulation with antigen and antigen-presenting cells, stimulation of these cells with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 revealed profound defects. Crosslinking of purified wild-type naïve CD4 cells with anti-CD3 activated Ick and initiated the signaling cascade downstream of Lck, including phosphorylation of ZAP-70, LAT, and PLC-γ1; calcium flux; and dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)p. All of these signaling events were diminished severely in Fyn-deficient naïve cells activated by CD3 crosslinking. Coaggregation of CD3 and CD4 reconstituted this Lck-dependent signaling pathway in Fyn-/- T cells. These results suggest that when signaling of naïve I cells is restricted to the T cell antigen receptor, Fyn plays an essential role by positive regulation of Lck activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent extensions to the Intel® Architecture feature the SIMD technique to enhance the performance of computational intensive applications that perform the same operation on different elements in a data set. To date, much of the code that exploits these extensions has been hand-coded. The task of the programmer is substantially simplified, however, if a compiler does this exploitation automatically. The high-performance Intel® C++/Fortran compiler supports automatic translation of serial loops into code that uses the SIMD extensions to the Intel® Architecture. This paper provides a detailed overview of the automatic vectorization methods used by this compiler together with an experimental validation of their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Performance of a modified abdominopelvic CT protocol reconstructed using full iterative reconstruction (IR) was assessed for imaging patients presenting with acute abdominal symptoms.Materials and Methods: Fifty-seven patients (17 male, 40 female; mean age of 56.5 ± 8 years) were prospectively studied. Low-dose (LD) and conventional-dose (CD) CTs were contemporaneously acquired between November 2015 and March 2016. The LD and CD protocols imparted radiation exposures approximating 10-20% and 80-90% those of routine abdominopelvic CT, respectively. The LD images were reconstructed with model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), and CD images with hybrid IR (40% adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR)). Image quality was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Independent clinical interpretations were performed with a 6-week delay between reviews.Results: A 74.7% mean radiation dose reduction was achieved: LD effective dose (ED) 2.38 ± 1.78 mSv (size-specific dose estimate (SSDE) 3.77 ± 1.97 mGy); CD ED 7.04 ± 4.89 mSv (SSDE 10.74 ± 5.5 mGy). LD-MBIR images had significantly lower objective and subjective image noise compared with CD-ASIR (p < 0.0001). Noise reduction for LD-MBIR studies was greater for patients with BMI < 25 kg/m2 than those with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (5.36 ± 3.2 Hounsfield units (HU) vs. 4.05 ± 3.1 HU, p < 0.0001). CD-ASIR studies had significantly better contrast resolution, and diagnostic acceptability (p < 0.0001 for all). LD-MBIR studies had significantly lower streak artifact (p < 0.0001). There was no difference in sensitivity for primary findings between the low-dose and conventional protocols with the exception of one case of enteritis.Conclusions: Low-dose abdominopelvic CT performed with MBIR is a feasible radiation dose reduction strategy for imaging patients presenting with acute abdominal pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to replicate and extend the pilot findings of Cassidy et al. (2011) which found that teaching children to derive various relations among stimuli leads to increases in the full scale IQ scores of both typically developing children and those with educational and learning difficulties. In Experiment 1 , fifteen 11–12 year old children were exposed over several months to an intensive training intervention to improve their understanding of the relations Same, Opposite and More and Less. Significant increases in full scale IQ of around one standard deviation were recorded for each child. In Experiment 2 , the same intervention was delivered to thirty 15–17 year old children. Significant increases in verbal and Numerical Reasoning were recorded for almost every child. These findings corroborate the idea that relational skills may underlie many forms of general cognitive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases. However, the proteins considered as potential immunogens of allergenic T-cell responses have traditionally been limited to those that induce IgE responses. Timothy grass (TG) pollen is a well-studied inhaled allergen for which major IgE-reactive allergens have also been shown to trigger T helper 2 (Th2) responses. Here we examined whether other TG pollen proteins are recognized by Th2 responses independently of IgE reactivity. A TG pollen extract was analyzed by 2D gel electrophoresis and IgE/IgG immunoblots using pooled sera from allergic donors. Mass spectrometry of selected protein spots in combination with de novo sequencing of the whole TG pollen transcriptome identified 93 previously undescribed proteins for further study, 64 of which were not targeted by IgE. Predicted MHC binding peptides from the previoulsy undescribed TG proteins were screened for T-cell reactivity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from allergic donors. Strong IL-5 production was detected in response to peptides from several of the previously undescribed proteins, most of which were not targeted by IgE. Responses against the dominant undescribed epitopes were associated with the memory T-cell subset and could even be detected directly ex vivo after Th2 cell enrichment. These findings demonstrate that a combined unbiased transcriptomic, proteomic, and immunomic approach identifies a greatly broadened repertoire of protein antigens targeted by T cells involved in allergy pathogenesis. The discovery of proteins that induce Th2 cells but are not IgE reactive may allow the development of safer immunotherapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions are unpredictable, dose-independent and potentially life threatening; this makes them a major factor contributing to the cost and uncertainty of drug development. Clinical data suggest that many such reactions involve immune mechanisms, and genetic association studies have identified strong linkages between drug hypersensitivity reactions to several drugs and specific HLA alleles. One of the strongest such genetic associations found has been for the antiviral drug abacavir, which causes severe adverse reactions exclusively in patients expressing the HLA molecular variant B*57:01. Abacavir adverse reactions were recently shown to be driven by drug-specific activation of cytokine-producing, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells that required HLA-B*57:01 molecules for their function; however, the mechanism by which abacavir induces this pathologic T-cell response remains unclear. Here we show that abacavir can bind within the F pocket of the peptide-binding groove of HLAB* 57:01, thereby altering its specificity. This provides an explanation for HLA-linked idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions, namely that drugs can alter the repertoire of self-peptides presented to T cells, thus causing the equivalent of an alloreactive T-cell response. Indeed, we identified specific self-peptides that are presented only in the presence of abacavir and that were recognized by T cells of hypersensitive patients. The assays that we have established can be applied to test additional compounds with suspected HLAlinked hypersensitivities in vitro. Where successful, these assays could speed up the discovery and mechanistic understanding of HLA-linked hypersensitivities, and guide the development of safer drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is relatively little research on the relationships between adults with intellectual disability and their siblings, despite the potential importance of these relationships for either individual''s psychological well-being and future care roles that might be adopted by adult siblings. In the present study, sibling relationships of adults with adult siblings with (N =63) and without (N =123) intellectual disability were explored. Contact, warmth, conflict, and rivalry were measured using questionnaires available as an on-line survey. Expressed emotion was measured using the Five Minute Speech Sample over the telephone to establish an independently coded measure of criticism from the participant towards their sibling. Overall, there were few group differences in contact and sibling relationship. There was less telephone contact in the intellectual disability group, and less reported warmth in the relationship with siblings with intellectual disability although this was mainly associated with severe/profound intellectual disability. Exploratory analyses were conducted of the correlates of sibling relationships in both the intellectual disability and control groups. These analyses revealed a small number of different associations especially for conflict, which was lower when either the participant or sibling was younger in the control group but associated with relative age in the intellectual disability group. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Vaccinia virus is the prototypic orthopoxvirus and was the vaccine used to eradicate smallpox, yet the expression profiles of many of its genes remain unknown. Using a genome tiling array approach, we simultaneously measured the expression levels of all 223 annotated vaccinia virus genes during infection and determined their kinetics. For 95% of these genes, significant transcript levels were detected. Most remarkably, classification of the genes by their expression profiles revealed 35 genes exhibiting immediate-early expression. Although a similar kinetic class has been described for other virus families, to our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of its existence in orthopoxviruses. Despite expression levels higher than for genes in the other three kinetic classes, the functions of more than half of these remain unknown. Additionally, genes within each kinetic class were spatially grouped together in the genome. This genome-wide picture of transcription alters our understanding of how orthopoxviruses regulate gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have analyzed by ex vivo ELISPOT the anti-vaccinia cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from humans vaccinated with Dryvax vaccine. More than 6,000 peptides from 258 putative vaccinia ORFs predicted to bind the common molecules of the HLA A1, A2, A3, A24, B7, and B44 supertypes were screened with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 31 vaccinees. A total of 48 epitopes derived from 35 different vaccinia antigens were identified, some of which (B8R, D1R, D5R, C10L, C19L C7L F12, and O1L) were recognized by multiple donors and contain multiple epitopes recognized in the context of different HLA types. The antigens recognized tend to be >100 residues in length and are expressed predominantly in the early phases of infection, although some late antigens were also recognized. Viral genome regulation and virulence factor were recognized most frequently, whereas few structural proteins were immunogenic. Finally, most epitopes were highly conserved among vaccinia virus Western Reserve, variola major and modified vaccinia Ankara, supporting their potential use in vaccine and diagnostic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the functional involvement of CD28 costimulation in the T cell receptor-mediated immunologic synapse formation associated with protein kinase C localization. Details of the signaling pathways of cellular protein localization; Synthesis of peptides; Induction of protein kinase C capping.

We show here that priming and memory generation of antigen-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) does not require help if the immunogen binds major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules with high affinity. This conclusion was based on the study of three chemically distinct optimal length CTL epitopes with high affinity for the restriction element Kb. In contrast, when two subdominant epitopes with intermediate MHC binding affinity were studied, either a class II MHC?restricted T helper cell epitope or administration of antibody to CD40 was required to obtain significant CTL priming. Depending on the epitope, one source of help was much more efficient than the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on a study which reexamined the role of peptides in the positive selection of I-Ek/moth cytochrome c-specific thymocytes by using reaggregate cultures (RC), consisting of thymocytes from T cell receptor (TCR). Materials and methods used; How the mature TCR ...B repertoire is determined; Results and discussion.

The capacity of purified I-Ad, I-Ed, I-Ak, and I-Ek to bind to protein derived peptides that have been previously reported to be T cell immunogens has been examined. For each of the 12 peptides studied strong binding to the relevant Ia restriction element was observed. All the peptides bound more than one Ia molecule; however, for 11 of 12 peptides, the dominant binding was to the restriction element, whereas in one instance the dominant binding was to a nonrestriction element. When the peptides were used to inhibit the presentation of antigen by prefixed accessory cells to T cells, an excellent correlation was found between the capacity of a peptide to inhibit the binding ofan antigen to purified Ia and the capacity ofthe peptide to inhibit accessory cell presentation of the antigen. Thus, the binding of peptide to purified Ia is immunologically relevant, and Ia seems to be the only saturable molecule on the surface of the accessory cell involved in antigen presentation. Inhibition analysis also indicated that all peptides restricted to a particular Ia molecule competitively inhibited one another, suggesting that each Ia restriction element has a single binding site for antigen. Cross-linking of labeled peptides to Ia followed by electrophoretic analysis and autoradiography suggested that this single binding site is made up of portions of both α and β chains of Ia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]