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Drosophila CG10915 is an uncharacterized protein coding gene with sequence similarity to human Cortactin-binding protein 2 (CTTNBP2) and Cortactin-binding protein 2 N-terminal-like (CTTNBP2NL). Here, we have named this gene Nausicaa (naus) and characterize it through a combination of quantitative live-cell total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, RNAi depletion and genetics. We found that Naus co-localizes with F-actin and Cortactin in the lamellipodia of Drosophila S2R+ and D25c2 cells and this localization is lost following Cortactin or Arp2/3 depletion or by mutations that disrupt a conserved proline patch found in its mammalian homologs. Using permeabilization activated reduction in fluorescence and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we find that depletion of Cortactin alters Naus dynamics leading to a decrease in its half-life. Furthermore, we discovered that Naus depletion in S2R+ cells led to a decrease in actin retrograde flow and a lamellipodia characterized by long, unbranched filaments. We demonstrate that these alterations to the dynamics and underlying actin architecture also affect D25c2 cell migration and decrease arborization in Drosophila neurons. We present the hypothesis that Naus functions to slow Cortactin's disassociation from Arp2/3 nucleated branch junctions, thereby increasing both branch nucleation and junction stability.

A new generation of integrated sea surface temperature (SST) data products are being provided by the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) High-Resolution SST Pilot Project (GHRSST-PP). These combine in near-real time various SST data products from several different satellite sensors and in situ observations and maintain the fine spatial and temporal resolution needed by SST inputs to operational models. The practical realization of such an approach is complicated by the characteristic differences that exist between measurements of SST obtained from subsurface in-water sensors, and satellite microwave and satellite infrared radiometer systems. Furthermore, diurnal variability of SST within a 24-h period, manifested as both warm-layer and cool skin deviations, introduces additional uncertainty for direct intercomparison between data sources and the implementation of data-merging strategies. The GHRSST-PP has developed and now operates an internationally distributed system that provides operational feeds of regional and global coverage high-resolution SST data products (better than 10 km and ~6 h). A suite of online satellite SST diagnostic systems are also available within the project. All GHRSST-PP products have a standard format, include uncertainty estimates for each measurement, and are served to the international user community free of charge through a variety of data transport mechanisms and access points. They are being used for a number of operational applications. The approach will also be extended back to 1981 by a dedicated reanalysis project. This paper provides a summary overview of the GHRSST-PP structure, activities, and data products. For a complete discussion, and access to data products and services see the information online at www.ghrsst-pp.org.

In February and March of 2011, the Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS) was deployed over the Pacific Ocean and the Arctic during the WISPAR field campaign. The WISPAR science missions were designed to: (1) improve our understanding of Pacific weather systems and the polar atmosphere; (2) evaluate operational use of unmanned aircraft for investigating these atmospheric events; and (3) demonstrate operational and research applications of a UAS dropsonde system at high latitudes. Dropsondes deployed from the Global Hawk successfully obtained high-resolution profiles of temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind information between the stratosphere and surface. The 35m wingspan Global Hawk, which can soar for ~31 h at altitudes up to ~ 20 km, was remotely operated from NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB in California. During the 25 h polar flight on 9-10 March 2011, the Global Hawk released 35 sondes between the North Slope of Alaska and 85° N latitude marking the first UAS Arctic dropsonde mission of its kind. The polar flight transected an unusually cold polar vortex, notable for an associated record-level Arctic ozone loss, and documented polar boundary layer variations over a sizable ocean-ice lead feature. Comparison of dropsonde observations with atmospheric reanalyses reveal that for this day, large-scale structures such as the polar vortex and air masses are captured by the reanalyses, while smaller-scale features, including low-level jets and inversion depths, are mischaracterized. The successful Arctic dropsonde deployment demonstrates the capability of the Global Hawk to conduct operations in harsh, remote regions. The limited comparison with other measurements and reanalyses highlights the value of Arctic atmospheric dropsonde observations where routine in situ measurements are practically non-existent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background and aim: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an essential component of the humoral arm of innate immunity and, like C-reactive protein, is independently associated with the risk of developing vascular events. Aim of this study was to investigate, in two large population-based surveys, the Bruneck Study and the PLIC Study, whether PTX3 plasma levels predict the progression of common carotid artery intima–media thickness (CCA-IMT), a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, in the general population during 5 or 6 years of follow-up. Results: In the Bruneck Study, PTX3 plasma levels did not predict a faster progression of CCA-IMT either in the carotid artery or in the femoral artery. This finding was confirmed in the PLIC Study where subjects within the highest tertile of PTX3 did not show an increased progression of CCA-IMT. PTX3 plasma levels were also not associated with the fastest maximum IMT progression. In summary, in more than 2400 subjects from the general population, PTX3 plasma level is neither an independent predictor of progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in different arterial territories, including carotid and femoral arteries nor of incident cardiovascular events. Conclusion: These findings support the relevance of investigating the predictive value of PTX3 plasma levels only in specific settings, like overt CVD, heart failure or acute myocardial infarction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Sea surface temperature (SST) is an important property for governing the exchange of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. Common in situ methods of measuring SST often require a cool-skin and warm-layer adjustment in the presence of diurnal warming effects. A critical requirement for an ocean submodel is that it can simulate the change in SST over diurnal, seasonal and annual cycles. In this paper we use high-resolution near-surface profiles of SST to validate simulated near-surface temperature profiles from a modified version of the Kantha and Clayson 1-D mixed-layer model. Additional model enhancements such as the incorporation of a more recent parameterization of turbulence generated by wave breaking and a recent solar absorption model are also validated. The model simulations show a strong variability in highly stratified conditions, with different models providing the best results depending on the specific criteria and conditions. In general, the models with enhanced wave breaking effects provided underestimated temperature profiles while the more coarse baseline and blended approaches produced the most accurate SST estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface temperature (SST) is an important property for governing the exchange of energy between the ocean and the atmosphere. Common in-situ methods of measuring SST often require a cool-skin and warm-layer adjustment in the presence of diurnal warming effects. A critical requirement for an ocean sub-model is that it can simulate the change in SST over diurnal, seasonal, and annual cycles. In this paper we use high-resolution near-surface profiles of SST to validate simulated near-surface temperature profiles from a modified version of the Kantha and Clayson 1-D mixed layer model. Additional model enhancements such as the incorporation of a parameterisation of turbulence generated by wave breaking and a solar absorption model are also validated. The model simulations show a strong variability in highly stratified conditions, with different models providing the best results depending on the specific criteria and conditions. In general, the models with enhanced wave breaking effects tended to underestimate the temperature profile measurements while the more coarse baseline and blended approaches produced the most accurate comparisons with the in-situ SST data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The basics of quality management with a focus on continuous quality improvement (CQI) will be highlighted in this chapter. Quality, total quality management, and CQI will be defined, and an easy-to-implement CQI model will be presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential for nephrology nurses to understand the basics of iron function and the importance of maintaining iron balance in their patients. Iron forms the cornerstone of oxygen delivery in the body and is the most essential nutrient for the building of healthy erythrocytes. Given the vital importance of iron, the body has devised elaborate and tightly controlled mechanisms to transport iron to the bone marrow for hemoglobin production, recycle iron from dying erythrocytes, and prevent iron loss. In the healthy individual, daily iron intake needs are very small, and sufficient iron is easily absorbed from the duodenum. In patients on hemodialysis, this iron balance is dramatically altered due to blood loss, inflammation, and the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. This article discusses the basics of iron physiology and the mechanisms by which iron is moved throughout the body and made available for developing erythrocytes. The ways in which iron balance is altered in the patient on hemodialysis and the most effective strategies to replete iron stores and maintain iron balance through the use of intravenous iron are also reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of tsunamis away from shore are critically important for improving early warning systems and understanding of tsunami generation and propagation. Tsunamis are difficult to detect and measure in the open ocean because the wave amplitude there is much smaller than it is close to shore. Currently, tsunami observations in deep water rely on measurements of variations in the sea surface height or bottom pressure. Here we demonstrate that there exists a different observable, specifically, ocean surface roughness, which can be used to reveal tsunamis away from shore. The first detailed measurements of the tsunami effect on sea surface height and radar backscattering strength in the open ocean were obtained from satellite altimeters during passage of the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman tsunami. Through statistical analyses of satellite altimeter observations, we show that the Sumatra-Andaman tsunami effected distinct, detectable changes in sea surface roughness. The magnitude and spatial structure of the observed variations in radar backscattering strength are consistent with hydrodynamic models predicting variations in the near-surface wind across the tsunami wave front. Tsunami-induced changes in sea surface roughness can be potentially used for early tsunami detection by orbiting microwave radars and radiometers, which have broad surface coverage across the satellite ground track. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic connective tissue disease characterized by vascular damage, autoimmunity, and excessive collagen deposition. Despite advances in disease-specific treatment of other rheumatologic diseases, disease-targeted treatment in SSc continues to be elusive. In this review, our goal was to place the contemporary immunobiology of SSc in the perspective of clinical medicine.Methods: We performed a PubMed search for the period from 1989 to 2007, using the keyword, 'systemic sclerosis,' resulting in a total of 9099 publications, including 1252 reviews. Articles were then selected based on their discussion of recent advances in the elusive pathogenesis of SSc. A final total of 259 articles were chosen for the review.Results: The SSc hallmarks of vascular damage, immunologic activation, and collagen deposition can be traced to 4 major factors: T-cells, fibroblasts, B-cells, and cytokines/chemokines. T-cells are a major component of the infiltrate in skin and lung, exhibiting increased expression of activation markers and showing signs of antigen-driven expansion. Preliminary data indicate that induction of oral tolerance with collagen, a target of SSc T-cell responses, is associated with clinical benefits. Although this suggests that T-cells participate in the pathogenesis of SSc, their precise role and antigen specificity largely remain to be elucidated. Defective numbers and functions of certain T-cell subsets, such as natural killer and [gamma delta] T-cells, may be involved in the failure to maintain tolerance. Other data suggest that [gamma delta] T-cells may themselves be effector cells in endothelial cell cytotoxicity. There are several lines of evidence for a pathogenic role of B-cells in SSc, in particular, through the production of autoantibodies. Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity is a primary pathogenic event in an animal model of SSc and is likely to be involved in human SSc. Nonetheless, there is as yet no convincing evidence for the pathogenicity of SSc-specific antibodies. SSc fibroblasts exhibit a specific phenotype characterized not only by excessive collagen production but also by increased responsiveness to and production of cytokines and chemokines. This phenotype is induced by a complex network of cytokines and chemokines but appears to be maintained in the absence of exogenous stimuli via the autocrine production of some of these factors by SSc fibroblasts themselves, particularly transforming growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and interleukin-1.Conclusions: Significant variations in laboratory data among patients suggest that the pathology reflects a heterogeneous disease. Nonetheless, the possibility of achieving clinical benefits by inducing oral tolerance highlights the importance of characterizing SSc T-cell antigens. It is hoped that the identification of some of the key players in the induction and maintenance of the SSc fibroblast phenotype may yield new disease-targeted treatment regimens for patients with SSc. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: A procollagen alpha2(I) messenger RNA (mRNA) variant, with a 115-bp band and an expected band of 180 bp, was found to be increased during early, acute scleroderma-like disease in UCD-200 chickens. The present study investigated the influence of cytokines on the expression of these 2 proalpha2(I) mRNA variants. METHODS: Embryonic fibroblasts of UCD-200 chickens (UCD-200-CEF) and normal white leghorns (NWL-CEF) were grown in 3-dimensional collagen gels. Procollagen mRNA expression was analyzed by RNase protection assay, and proliferation was determined by (3)H-thymidine incorporation. Transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and TGFbeta2 were measured in culture supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with NWL-CEF, UCD-200-CEF expressed 7.2 times more of the smaller profibrotic proalpha2(I) mRNA variant. TGFbeta1 stimulated the proliferation of UCD-200-CEF, but not NWL-CEF. The 115 bp:180 bp ratio was increased by TGFbeta1 in both NWL-CEF and UCD-CEF. TGFbeta2 and TGFbeta3 reduced the expression of the profibrotic proalpha2(I) mRNA in UCD-200-CEF to the same levels observed in healthy control NWL-CEF. In culture supernatants, NWL-CEF produced 4.1 times more TGFbeta2 than that produced by UCD-CEF. Inhibition of endogenous TGFbeta2 in NWL-CEF resulted in the same 115 bp:180 bp ratio as seen in untreated UCD-CEF. CONCLUSION: TGFbeta2 reduces the expression of a profibrotic proalpha2(I) mRNA variant in UCD-200-CEF. The constitutive overproduction of this proalpha2(I) mRNA variant and the diminished synthesis of TGFbeta2 in untreated UCD-200-CEF suggest that TGFbeta2 can act as an antifibrotic cytokine and might be a key player during fibrosis onset. These results shed light on the contradictory observations regarding the role of TGFbeta2 in human systemic sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a critical quantity in the study of both the ocean and the atmosphere as it is directly related to and often dictates the exchanges of heat, momentum, and gases between the ocean and the atmosphere. As the most widely observed variable in oceanography, SST is used in many different studies of the ocean and its coupling with the atmosphere. The history of this measurement and how this history led to today's practice of computing SST by regressing satellite infrared measurements against in situ SST observations made by drifting/moored buoys and ships are examined. The fundamental differences between satellite and in situ SST are discussed and recommendations are made for how both data streams should be handled. A comprehensive in situ validation/calibration plan is proposed for the satellite SSTs and consequences of the suggested measurements are discussed with respect to the role of SST as an integral part of the fluxes between the ocean and the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]