Showing papers by "University of Alabama published in 2001"
Book•
01 Jan 2001TL;DR: The Critical Race Theory (CRT) movement as discussed by the authors was one of the first movements of critical race theory in the 20th century and has been studied extensively in the last few decades.
Abstract: Acknowledgments Foreword Preface I A. What Is Critical Race Theory? B. Early Origins C. Relationship to Previous Movements D. Principal Figures E. Spin-off Movements F. Basic Tenets of Critical Race Theory G. How Much Racism Is There in the World? H. Organization of This Book II A. Interest Convergence, Material Determinism, and Racial Realism B. Revisionist History C. Critique of Liberalism D. Structural Determinism III A. Opening a Window onto Ignored or Alternative Realities B. Counterstorytelling C. Cure for Silencing D. Storytelling in Court E. Storytelling on the Defensive IV A. Intersectionality B. Essentialism and Antiessentialism C. Nationalism versus Assimilation V A. The Black-White Binary B. Critical White Studies C. Other Developments: Latino and Asian VI VII A. Right-Wing Offensive B. Postracialism and a Politics of Triangulation C. Power D. Identity VIII A. The Future B. A Critical Race Agenda for the New Century C. Likely Responses to the Critical Race Theory Movement Glossary of Terms Index About the Authors
4,012 citations
TL;DR: A series of hydrophilic and hydrophobic 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) have been prepared and characterized to determine how water content, density, viscosity, surface tension, melting point, and thermal stability are affected by changes in alkyl chain length and anion.
3,469 citations
TL;DR: The relationship between species richness and productivity has been extensively studied in the literature as discussed by the authors, with a focus on positive, negative, or curvilinear relationships between productivity and species diversity.
Abstract: Understanding the relationship between species richness and productivity is fundamental to the management and preservation of biodiversity. Yet despite years of study and intense theoretical interest, this relationship remains controversial. Here, we present the results of a literature survey in which we examined the relationship between species richness and productivity in 171 published studies. We extracted the raw data from published tables and graphs and subjected these data to a standardized analysis, using ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression and generalized linear-model (GLIM) regression to test for significant positive, negative, or curvilinear relationships between productivity and species diversity. If the relationship was curvilinear, we tested whether the maximum (or minimum) of the curve occurred within the range of productivity values observed (i.e., was there evidence of a hump?). A meta-analysis conducted on the distribution of standardized quadratic regression coefficients showed that ...
1,572 citations
TL;DR: Experimental observations of burst release in monolithic polymer controlled drug delivery systems, theories of the physical mechanisms causing burst, some of the unique ideas used to prevent burst, and the treatment of burstRelease in controlled release models are reviewed.
1,518 citations
TL;DR: This article proposed an extension to the Engle-Granger testing strategy by permitting asymmetry in the adjustment toward equilibrium in two different ways, and demonstrated that their test has good power and size properties over the EGS test when there are asymmetric departures from equilibrium.
Abstract: This article proposes an extension to the Engle–Granger testing strategy by permitting asymmetry in the adjustment toward equilibrium in two different ways. We demonstrate that our test has good power and size properties over the Engle–Granger test when there are asymmetric departures from equilibrium. We consider an application—namely, whether there exists cointegration among interest rates for instruments with different maturities. This issue has been widely tested with mixed results. We argue that either cautious policy, or possibly opportunistic behavior on the part of the Federal Reserve implies that an equilibrium relationship between short- and long-term interest rates exists but that adjustments from disequilibrium are asymmetric in nature. Empirical tests using U.S. yields confirm the asymmetric nature of error correction among interest rates of different maturities.
998 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that CHIP functions with Hsc70 to sense the folded state of CFTR and targets aberrant forms for proteasomal degradation by promoting their ubiquitination.
Abstract: The folding of both wild-type and mutant forms of the cystic-fibrosis transmembrane-conductance regulator (CFTR), a plasma-membrane chloride-ion channel, is inefficient. Most nascent CFTR is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and degraded by the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Aberrant folding and defective trafficking of CFTRDeltaF508 is the principal cause of cystic fibrosis, but how the endoplasmic-reticulum quality-control system targets CFTR for degradation remains unknown. CHIP is a cytosolic U-box protein that interacts with Hsc70 through a set of tetratricorepeat motifs. The U-box represents a modified form of the ring-finger motif that is found in ubiquitin ligases and that defines the E4 family of polyubiquitination factors. Here we show that CHIP functions with Hsc70 to sense the folded state of CFTR and targets aberrant forms for proteasomal degradation by promoting their ubiquitination. The U-box appeared essential for this process because overexpresion of CHIPDeltaU-box inhibited the action of endogenous CHIP and blocked CFTR ubiquitination and degradation. CHIP is a co-chaperone that converts Hsc70 from a protein-folding machine into a degradation factor that functions in endoplasmic-reticulum quality control.
850 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the task-specific functionality of metal ligating groups, such as those commonly used in preparing ion liquids (ILs), are derived from impidazolium cations.
845 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the application of the integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for detecting urban growth and assessing its impact on surface temperature in the region.
Abstract: The Zhujiang Delta of South China has experienced a rapid urban expansion over the past two decades due to accelerated economic growth. This paper reports an investigation into the application of the integration of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) for detecting urban growth and assessing its impact on surface temperature in the region. Remote sensing techniques were used to carry out land use/cover change detection by using multitemporal Landsat Thematic Mapper data. Urban growth patterns were analysed by using a GIS-based modelling approach. The integration of remote sensing and GIS was further applied to examine the impact of urban growth on surface temperatures. The results revealed a notable and uneven urban growth in the study area. This urban development had raised surface radiant temperature by 13.01 K in the urbanized area. The integration of remote sensing and GIS was found to be effective in monitoring and analysing urban growth patterns, and in evaluating urbanization imp...
742 citations
TL;DR: It is reported here that the intracellular domain of Robo interacts with a novel family of Rho GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) that are expressed in regions responsive to Slit and demonstrated important roles for GAPs and Cdc42 in neuronal migration.
570 citations
TL;DR: Troglitazone improves the ovulatory dysfunction, hirsutism, hyperandrogenemia, and insulin resistance of PCOS in a dose-related fashion, with a minimum of adverse effects.
Abstract: We hypothesized that the administration of troglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing agent of the thiazolidinedione class, would improve the ovulatory dysfunction, hirsutism, hyperandrogenemia, and hyperinsulinemia of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Four hundred and ten premenopausal women with PCOS in a multicenter, double blind trial were randomly assigned to 44 weeks of treatment with placebo (PBO) or troglitazone [150 mg/day (TGZ-150), 300 mg/day (TGZ-300), or 600 mg/day (TGZ-600)]. We compared changes in ovulatory function (by monitoring the urinary level of pregnanediol-3-glucuronide daily), hirsutism (by a modified Ferriman-Gallwey scoring method), hormonal levels (total and free testosterone, androstenedione, sex hormone-binding globulin, LH, FSH, and the LH/FSH ratio), and measures of glycemic parameters (fasting levels of glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A(1c), and the glucose and insulin areas under the curve during an oral glucose challenge) among study groups. Of the 410 patients recruited, 305 (74.4%) met evaluability criteria and were included in the analyses. The patients' baseline characteristics were similar across all treatment arms. Ovulatory rates were significantly greater for patients receiving TGZ-300 and TGZ-600 than for those receiving PBO (0.42 and 0.58 vs. 0.32; P < 0.05 and 0.0001, respectively). Of PCOS patients treated with TGZ-600, 57% ovulated over 50% of the time compared with 12% of placebo-treated patients. There was a significant decrease in the Ferriman-Gallwey score with TGZ-600 compared with PBO (0.22 +/- 0.53 vs. -2.21 +/- 0.49; P < 0.05, respectively). Free testosterone decreased and sex hormone-binding globulin increased in a dose-related fashion with troglitazone treatment, and all three troglitazone treatment groups were significantly different from placebo. Nearly all glycemic parameters showed dose-related decreases with troglitazone treatment. The total number and severity of adverse events (including elevations in liver enzymes) and the proportion of patients withdrawn from the study due to the development of adverse effects were similar between treatment groups. Troglitazone improves the ovulatory dysfunction, hirsutism, hyperandrogenemia, and insulin resistance of PCOS in a dose-related fashion, with a minimum of adverse effects.
570 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated whether audit committee members' corporate governance experience and financial reporting and audit knowledge affect their judgments in auditor-corporate management conflict situations, and found that greater independent board experience and greater audit knowledge was associated with higher audit committee member support for an auditor who advocated a "substance over form" approach in the dispute with client management.
Abstract: Interest in audit committees as part of overall corporate governance has increased dramatically in recent years, with a specific emphasis on member independence, experience, and knowledge. This paper reports the results of a study investigating whether audit committee members' corporate governance experience and financial‐reporting and audit knowledge affect their judgments in auditor‐corporate management conflict situations. A sample of 68 audit committee members completed an accounting policy dispute case and several knowledge and ability tests. The results indicate that, as expected, greater independent director experience and greater audit knowledge was associated with higher audit committee member support for an auditor who advocated a “substance over form” approach in the dispute with client management. Conversely, concurrent experience as a board director and a senior member of management was associated with increased support for management. Collectively, these findings have a number of implication...
TL;DR: Use of achievable benchmarks significantly enhances the effectiveness of physician performance feedback in the setting of a multimodal quality improvement intervention.
Abstract: ContextPerformance feedback and benchmarking, common tools for health care
improvement, are rarely studied in randomized trials. Achievable Benchmarks
of Care (ABCs) are standards of excellence attained by top performers in a
peer group and are easily and reproducibly calculated from existing performance
data.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of using achievable benchmarks to enhance
typical physician performance feedback and improve care.DesignGroup-randomized controlled trial conducted in December 1996, with follow-up
through 1998.Setting and ParticipantsSeventy community physicians and 2978 fee-for-service Medicare patients
with diabetes mellitus who were part of the Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement
Project in Alabama.InterventionPhysicians were randomly assigned to receive a multimodal improvement
intervention, including chart review and physician-specific feedback (comparison
group; n = 35) or an identical intervention plus achievable benchmark feedback
(experimental group; n = 35).Main Outcome MeasurePreintervention (1994-1995) to postintervention (1997-1998) changes
in the proportion of patients receiving influenza vaccination; foot examination;
and each of 3 blood tests measuring glucose control, cholesterol level, and
triglyceride level, compared between the 2 groups.ResultsThe proportion of patients who received influenza vaccine improved from
40% to 58% in the experimental group (P<.001)
vs from 40% to 46% in the comparison group (P = .02).
Odds ratios (ORs) for patients of achievable benchmark physicians vs comparison
physicians who received appropriate care after the intervention, adjusted
for preintervention care and nesting of patients within physicians, were 1.57
(95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-1.96) for influenza vaccination, 1.33
(95% CI, 1.05-1.69) for foot examination, and 1.33 (95% CI, 1.04-1.69) for
long-term glucose control measurement. For serum cholesterol and triglycerides,
the achievable benchmark effect was statistically significant only after additional
adjustment for physician characteristics (OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.08-1.82] and
OR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.09-1.79], respectively).ConclusionUse of achievable benchmarks significantly enhances the effectiveness
of physician performance feedback in the setting of a multimodal quality improvement
intervention.
University of Alabama at Birmingham1, University of Alabama2, University of Arkansas at Little Rock3, Ohio State University4, University of Washington5, University of Florida6, University of California, San Diego7, Chicago Department of Public Health8, Case Western Reserve University9, Stanford University10, State University of New York Upstate Medical University11, GlaxoSmithKline12
TL;DR: An open-label evaluation of intravenous acyclovir at dosages higher than the 30 mg/kg/d standard dosage approved by the US Food and Drug Administration indicated that the survival rate for patients treated with HD acy Clovir was statistically significantly higher than for patientstreated with SD acyClovir.
Abstract: Objective. The objective of this investigation was to establish the safety of high-dose (HD) acyclovir for the treatment of neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) disease. In addition, an estimate of therapeutic efficacy was sought, both with respect to mortality and to morbidity. Virologic efficacy of HD acyclovir was also assessed. Participants. Infants who were ≤28 days old and whose disease was considered to be caused by HSV were enrolled in this study. Patients with central nervous system (CNS; N = 28) or disseminated (N = 41) HSV infection were offered participation in the trial. A small number of patients with HSV disease limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth (SEM; N = 10) or whose disease was clinically consistent with HSV but who did not have virologic confirmation of infection (N = 9) also were enrolled on a compassionate basis. Only patients with virologically confirmed HSV disease were included in efficacy analyses. All enrolled patients were included in safety analyses. Methods. The study was an open-label evaluation of intravenous acyclovir at dosages higher than the 30 mg/kg/d standard dosage approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The first 16 patients enrolled received intermediate-dose (ID) acyclovir (45 mg/kg/d), and the next 72 patients received HD acyclovir (60 mg/kg/d). Acyclovir was administered in 3 divided daily doses for 21 days. Neonates were assessed prospectively throughout treatment and at scheduled follow-up visits for the first 4 years of life. Data were compared with those of a previous National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group trial in which patients received standard-dose (SD) acyclovir for 10 days and in which identical methods (with the exception of acyclovir dosage and duration of therapy) were used. Results. Six (21%) of 29 HD acyclovir recipients whose HSV disease remained localized to the SEM or CNS experienced neutropenia. One of the 6 had an absolute neutrophil count The survival rate for the patients with disseminated HSV disease treated with HD acyclovir was significantly higher than for those in the previous study treated with SD acyclovir, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4–7.9). For patients with CNS disease, however, survival rates were similar for the HD and SD groups. To assess the effect of HD acyclovir on survival for the entire population with neonatal HSV disease, the Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed with stratification for disease category (CNS versus disseminated). In performing this analysis, differences in mortality for each disease category were weighted to allow statistical comparison of the treatment dosage groups (HD, ID, and SD). This analysis indicated that the survival rate for patients treated with HD acyclovir was statistically significantly higher than for patients treated with SD acyclovir (OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.5–7.3). Recipients of HD acyclovir had a borderline significant decrease in morbidity compared with SD recipients, after stratification for the extent of disease (SEM vs CNS vs disseminated) and controlling for the potential confounding factors of HSV type (HSV-1 vs. HSV-2), prematurity, and disease severity (seizures). Patients treated with HD acyclovir were 6.6 times (adjusted OR; 95% CI: 0.8–113.6) as likely to be developmentally normal at 12 months of age as patients treated with SD therapy. Conclusion. These data support the use of a 21-day course of HD (60 mg/kg/d) intravenous acyclovir to treat neonatal CNS and disseminated HSV disease. Throughout the course of HD acyclovir therapy, serial ANC determination should be made at least twice weekly. Decreasing the acyclovir dosage or administering granulocyte colony-stimulating factor should be considered if the ANC remains below 500/mm3 for a prolonged period.
University of Alabama at Birmingham1, University of Alabama2, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center3, Thomas Jefferson University4, George Washington University5, Wake Forest University6, Louisiana State University7, University of Utah8, Columbia University9, University of Cincinnati10, University of Texas at San Antonio11, University of Tennessee Health Science Center12, National Institutes of Health13
TL;DR: Cervical length assessed by endovaginal sonography between 16 weeks' and 18 weeks 6 days' gestation, augmented by serial evaluations, predicts spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks' gestation in high-risk women.
Abstract: ContextAlthough shortened cervical length has been consistently associated
with spontaneous preterm birth, it is not known when in gestation this risk
factor becomes apparent.ObjectiveTo determine whether sonographic cervical findings between 16 weeks'
and 18 weeks 6 days' gestation predict spontaneous preterm birth and whether
serial evaluations up to 23 weeks 6 days' gestation improve prediction in
high-risk women.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsBlinded observational study performed between March 1997 and November
1999 at 9 university-affiliated medical centers in the United States in 183
women with singleton gestations who previously had experienced a spontaneous
birth before 32 weeks' gestation.ObservationCertified sonologists performed 590 endovaginal sonographic examinations
at 2-week intervals. Cervical length was measured from the external os to
the functional internal os along a closed endocervical canal. Funneling and
dynamic cervical shortening were also recorded.Main Outcome MeasureSpontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks' gestation, analyzed by selected
cutoff values of cervical length.ResultsForty-eight women (26%) experienced spontaneous preterm birth before
35 weeks' gestation. A cervical length of less than 25 mm at the initial sonographic
examination was associated with a relative risk (RR) for spontaneous preterm
birth of 3.3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-5.0; sensitivity = 19%; specificity
= 98%; positive predictive value = 75%). After controlling for cervical length,
neither funneling (P = .24) nor dynamic shortening
(P = .054) were significant independent predictors
of spontaneous preterm birth. However, using the shortest ever observed cervical
length on serial evaluations, after any dynamic shortening, the RR of a cervical
length of less than 25 mm for spontaneous preterm birth increased to 4.5 (95%
CI, 2.7-7.6; sensitivity = 69%; specificity = 80%; positive predictive value
= 55%). Compared with a single cervical measurement at 16 weeks' to 18 weeks
6 days' gestation, serial measurements at up to 23 weeks 6 days significantly
improved the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in a receiver operating
characteristic curve analysis (P = .03).ConclusionsCervical length assessed by endovaginal sonography between 16 weeks'
and 18 weeks 6 days' gestation, augmented by serial evaluations, predicts
spontaneous preterm birth before 35 weeks' gestation in high-risk women.
TL;DR: This model is formed by integrating connectionist, reinforcement, and symbolic learning methods to perform on-line reactive learning, and adopts a two-level dual-representation framework (Sun, 1995), with a combination of localist and distributed representation.
TL;DR: The paper provides a classified list of maintenance activities and a condensed decision tree as a summary guide to the proposed evidence-based classification of the types of software evolution and software maintenance.
Abstract: The past two decades have seen increasing sophistication in software work. Now and in the future, the work of both practitioners and researchers would be helped by a more objective and finer granularity recognition of types of software evolution and software maintenance activities as actually done. To these ends, this paper proposes a clarifying redefinition of the types of software evolution and software maintenance. The paper bases the proposed classification not on people's intentions but upon objective evidence of maintainers' activities ascertainable from observation of activities and artifacts, and/or a before and after comparison of the software documentation. The classification includes taking into account in a semi-hierarchical manner evidence of the change or lack thereof in: (1) the software, (2) the documentation, (3) the properties of the software, and (4) the customer-experienced functionality. A comparison is made with other classifications and typologies. The paper provides a classified list of maintenance activities and a condensed decision tree as a summary guide to the proposed evidence-based classification of the types of software evolution and software maintenance. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a review of the literature related to combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflow, and stormwater discharges, which is composed of three basic subareas: combined sewer overflow (CSO), sanitary sink overflow (SSO), and storm water discharge (SWD).
Abstract: This section is composed of three basic subareas: combined sewer overflows (CSOs), sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), and stormwater discharges. Much of the literature cited came from documents covering noteworthy global conferences (Bathala, 1996; Engineering Foundation, 1996; Hallam et al., 1996; Maxwell et al., 1996; Sieker and Verworn [Eds.], 1996; Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1996; U.S. EPA 1996a; Water Environment Federation, 1996a,b,c). In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) published guidance documents (U.S. EPA, 1996,c,d,e), which are discussed in more detail in the subsection Regulatory Policies and Financial Aspects.
TL;DR: Seven novel SNP sites in the genomic sequence of the first 4 kb of theIL-10 promoter region 5′ to the ATG start site from Caucasian individuals with either a high or a low IL-10 production phenotype may define one component of the genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in this group.
Abstract: Family studies of first-degree relatives and analysis of twins indicate that as much as 75% of the differences in quantitative IL-10 production in man derive from heritable genetic factors. Studies of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the proximal 1.0 kb of the IL-10 promoter have yielded inconsistent association with IL-10 production and variable results in promoter-reporter studies. However, in normal donors, an association of quantitative production with certain alleles of the IL-10.R short tandem repeat polymorphism at −4.0 kb suggested that SNPs in the more distal promoter might be informative. We have identified seven novel SNP sites in the genomic sequence of the first 4 kb of the IL-10 promoter region 5′ to the ATG start site from Caucasian individuals with either a high or a low IL-10 production phenotype. We have also identified eight SNP haplotypes in the distal promoter that segregate with significant differences in quantitative IL-10 production in normal donors. These SNPs are significantly associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in African-Americans and may define one component of the genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus in this group.
TL;DR: In this article, the methods of synthesizing silicon-based materials from rice husks and their applications are reviewed in a very comprehensive manner, including silicon carbide, silica, silicon nitride, silicon tetrachloride, and pure silicon.
Abstract: Rice husk (RH) has now become a source for a number of silicon compounds, including silicon carbide, silica, silicon nitride, silicon tetrachloride, zeolite, and pure silicon. The applications of such materials derived from rice husks are very comprehensive. The methods of synthesizing these silicon-based materials from RHs and their applications are reviewed in this paper.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined three research questions using recent sample data: (1) Is Altman's original Z-score model as useful for predicting bankruptcy in recent periods as it was for the periods in which it was developed and tested by Altman? (2) Is the model as good for predicting non-manufacturing firms as it is for predicting manufacturing firms? (3) Is it as good as the model for predicting financial stress conditions other than bankruptcy, as well as predicting bankruptcy?
TL;DR: Data show that FcRn is functionally expressed and its cellular distribution is regulated in monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, suggesting that it may confer novel IgG binding functions upon these cell types relative to typical FcγRs.
Abstract: The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) for IgG, an MHC class I-related molecule, functions to transport IgG across polarized epithelial cells and protect IgG from degradation. However, little is known about whether FcRn is functionally expressed in immune cells. We show here that FcRn mRNA was identifiable in human monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. FcRn heavy chain was detectable as a 45-kDa protein in monocytic U937 and THP-1 cells and in purified human intestinal macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes, and dendritic cells by Western blot analysis. FcRn colocalized in vivo with macrosialin (CD68) and Ncl-Macro, two macrophage markers, in the lamina propria of human small intestine. The heavy chain of FcRn was associated with the β2-microglobulin (β2m) light chain in U937 and THP-1 cells. FcRn bound human IgG at pH 6.0, but not at pH 7.5. This binding could be inhibited by human IgG Fc, but not Fab. FcRn could be detected on the cell surface of activated, but not resting, THP-1 cells. Furthermore, FcRn was uniformly present intracellularly in all blood monocytes and intestinal macrophages. FcRn was detectable on the cell surface of a significant fraction of monocytes at lower levels and on a small subset of tissue macrophages that expressed high levels of FcRn on the cell surface. These data show that FcRn is functionally expressed and its cellular distribution is regulated in monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, suggesting that it may confer novel IgG binding functions upon these cell types relative to typical FcγRs: FcγRI, FcγRII, and FcγRIII.
TL;DR: Fifteen years of N and P fertilizer addition to an Alaskan moist tundra increased aboveground biomass and primary production by 2.5 times and species composition of the fertilized vegetation changed dramatically, allowing insights into the interactions between changes in resource availability and changes in species composition in regulating vegetation biomass, production, and element use.
Abstract: Fifteen years of N and P fertilizer addition to an Alaskan moist tundra increased aboveground biomass and primary production by 2.5 times. Species composition of the fertilized vegetation also changed dramatically, from a mix of graminoid, evergreen, deciduous, and moss species to strong dominance by a single, deciduous shrub species, Betula nana. Analysis of these simultaneous changes allows insights into the interactions between changes in resource availability and changes in species composition in regulating vegetation biomass, production, and element use. By the 15th year (1995), both new leaf production and total leaf mass were lower in fertilized than in control plots, although leaf area in fertilized plots was twice that of controls. This occurred because Betula produced thinner leaves than other species, with a high specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area per unit leaf mass). Woody stem mass also increased dramatically in fertilized plots, with secondary growth accounting for over half of aboveground net primary production, NPP. The large increase in wood production was made possible, in part, by the low cost of production of Betula's thin leaves, allowing greater allocation to secondary growth. Wood also had lower N concentrations than leaves, allowing large accumulations of wood at low N cost. Overall, aboveground N concentration in Betula did not change in fertilized relative to control plots, because its low-N wood mass increased more than its high-N leaf mass (with high SLA). Because Betula was so strongly dominant on the fertilized plots and was better able to dilute its greater N supply with new growth, community production and biomass in fertilized plots were higher, and N concentration was lower, than would have been the case if species composition had not changed. Aboveground biomass and leaf area of individual species and functional types were predicted accurately by regression against the number of hits per point-frame pin across the full range of data, including both treatments. Changes in overall canopy structure and leaf display due to fertilization were thus due mainly to changes in species composition, with no detectable effect of treatment on size/structure relationships within species or functional types.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the application of wellknown organic (1-(pyridylazo)-2-napthol, PAN, and (1-thiazolylazo)- 2-nanopthol extractants for partitioning a variety of metal cations between [C4mim][PF6] and an aqueous phase, and show that the metal ion affinity for the hydrophobic phase necessitates the presence of an extractant.
Abstract: The search for more environmentally-friendly reaction media has prompted the development of a wide array of alternative systems that will sustain biphasic separations with aqueous solutions without the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We have begun to employ Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTIL), specifically 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Cnmim][PF6]), as VOC replacements in liquid/liquid separations of metal ions from aqueous solutions. Here we show that the partitioning of metal ions in these novel biphasic systems is consistent with traditional liquid/liquid separations: the metal ion affinity for the hydrophobic phase necessitates the presence of an extractant. In this report we explore the application of wellknown organic (1-(pyridylazo)-2-napthol, PAN, and (1-thiazolylazo)- 2-napthol, TAN) and inorganic (CN−, OCN−, SCN−, and halides) extractants for partitioning a variety of metal cations between [C4mim][PF6] or [C6mim][PF6] and an aqueous phase. PAN and TAN show pH depe...
TL;DR: An overview of the literature on nonparametric or distribution-free control charts for univariate variables data is presented and connections to some areas of active research are made, such as sequential analysis, that are relevant to process control.
Abstract: The literature on nonparametric or distribution-free control charts for univariate variables data is examined. The advantages of these charts have over more traditional distribution-based control charts are demonstrated. Constructive criticism of the li..
TL;DR: The absence of CD14 and CD89 on resident intestinal macrophages, due to down-regulated gene transcription, causes down-modulated LPS- and IgA-mediated functions and probably contributes to the low level of inflammation in normal human intestinal mucosa.
Abstract: The intestinal mucosa normally displays minimal inflammation despite the close proximity between mucosal macrophages and lumenal bacteria. Macrophages interact with bacteria and their products through CD14, a surface receptor involved in the response to LPS, and CD89, the receptor for IgA (FcαR). Here we show that resident macrophages isolated from normal human intestine lack CD14 and CD89. The absence of CD14 and CD89 was not due to the isolation procedure or mucosal cell products, but was evident at the transcriptional level, as the macrophages expressed neither CD14- nor CD89-specific mRNAs, but did express Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 transcripts. Consistent with their CD14− phenotype, lamina propria macrophages displayed markedly reduced LPS-induced cytokine production and LPS-enhanced phagocytosis. In addition, IgA-enhanced phagocytosis was sharply reduced in lamina propria macrophages. Thus, the absence of CD14 and CD89 on resident intestinal macrophages, due to down-regulated gene transcription, causes down-modulated LPS- and IgA-mediated functions and probably contributes to the low level of inflammation in normal human intestinal mucosa.
TL;DR: In vivo kinetics of electron transfer from the quinone in mutant PS I reaction centers are examined, and it is concluded that both electron transfer branches in PS I are active.
Abstract: All photosynthetic reaction centers share a common structural theme. Two related, integral membrane polypeptides sequester electron transfer cofactors into two quasi-symmetrical branches, each of which incorporates a quinone. In type II reaction centers [photosystem (PS) II and proteobacterial reaction centers], electron transfer proceeds down only one of the branches, and the mobile quinone on the other branch is used as a terminal acceptor. PS I uses iron-sulfur clusters as terminal acceptors, and the quinone serves only as an intermediary in electron transfer. Much effort has been devoted to understanding the unidirectionality of electron transport in type II reaction centers, and it was widely thought that PS I would share this feature. We have tested this idea by examining in vivo kinetics of electron transfer from the quinone in mutant PS I reaction centers. This transfer is associated with two kinetic components, and we show that mutation of a residue near the quinone in one branch specifically affects the faster component, while the corresponding mutation in the other branch specifically affects the slower component. We conclude that both electron transfer branches in PS I are active.
TL;DR: Results indicate that LEF is a safe and effective initial treatment for active RA, with clinical benefit sustained over 2 years of treatment without evidence of new or increased toxicity.
Abstract: Objective Three 6-12-month, double-blind, randomized, controlled trials have shown leflunomide (LEF; 20 mg/day, loading dose 100 mg x 3 days) to be effective and safe for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This analysis of the North American trial assessed whether the clinical benefit evident at month 12 was sustained over 24 months of treatment with LEF as compared with the efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MTX), an equivalent disease-modifying antirheumatic drug, at 24 months. Methods The year-2 cohort, comprising patients continuing into the second year of treatment with > or = 1 dose of study medication and > or = 1 followup visit after week 52, consisted of 235 patients (LEF n = 98; placebo n = 36; MTX n = 101). The mean (+/- SD) maintenance dose of LEF was 19.6 +/- 1.99 mg/day in year 2 and that of MTX was 12.6 +/- 4.69 mg/week. Statistical analyses used an intent-to-treat (ITT) approach. Statistical comparisons of the active treatments only were prospectively defined in the protocol. Results In total, 85% and 79% of LEF and MTX patients, respectively, who entered year 2 completed 24 months of treatment. From month 12 to month 24, the American College of Rheumatology improvement response rates of > or = 20% (LEF 79% versus MTX 67%; P = 0.049), > or = 50% (LEF 56% versus MTX 43%; P = 0.053), and > or = 70% (LEF 26% versus MTX 20%; P = 0.361) were sustained in both of the active treatment groups. The mean change in total Sharp radiologic damage scores at year 2 compared with year 1 and baseline (LEF 1.6 versus MTX 1.2) showed statistically equivalent sustained retardation of radiographic progression in the active treatment groups. Maximal improvements evident at 6 months in the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) disability index (HAQ DI) and the physical component score of the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-item short form were sustained over 12 months and 24 months; improvement in the HAQ DI with LEF4(-0.60) was statistically significantly superior to that with MTX (-0.37) at 24 months (P = 0.005). Over 24 months in the ITT cohort, serious treatment-related adverse events were reported in 1.6% of the LEF-treated patients and 3.7% of the MTX-treated patients. Frequently reported adverse events included upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, rash, reversible alopecia, and transient liver enzyme elevations. Conclusion The safety and efficacy of LEF and MTX were maintained over the second year of this 2-year trial. Both active treatments retarded radiographic progression over 24 months. LEF was statistically significantly superior to MTX in improving physical function as measured by the HAQ DI over 24 months of treatment. Results indicate that LEF is a safe and effective initial treatment for active RA, with clinical benefit sustained over 2 years of treatment without evidence of new or increased toxicity.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine several work climate variables and their impact on service quality and show that both climate variables contribute directly to job satisfaction and work effort, and indirectly impact on customers' perceptions of employee service quality.
Abstract: This paper examines several work climate variables and their impact on service quality. While there exists a variety of work climates relevant to contact employees during service encounters, this study investigates two components for successful implementation of internal marketing, service climate and supportive management. Both climate variables are proposed to affect the attitudes and behaviors of employees, and consequently affect customers’ perceptions of employees’ service performance. This study, which combines perceptions from customers and their contact employees, shows that both climate variables contribute directly to job satisfaction and work effort, and indirectly impact on customers’ perceptions of employee service quality. Also, the empirical results indicate that in addition to job satisfaction, employees’ work effort also plays a strong, central role in determining customers’ perceptions of employee service quality.
TL;DR: In this paper, the "rally effect" of the American public to put aside political differences and support the president during international crises is measured by considering the chanathan effect.
Abstract: In this study, the “rally effect”—the propensity for the American public to put aside political differences and support the president during international crises—is measured by considering the chan...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the interrelationships among antecedents and consequences of privacy concerns and found that consumers' attitude toward direct marketing and their desire for information control act as antecedent to privacy concerns, and that privacy concerns are negatively related to purchase behavior and the purchase decision process.