Showing papers by "University of Kansas published in 2005"
TL;DR: The results quantify a trigger leading to rapid, drought-induced die-off of overstory woody plants at subcontinental scale and highlight the potential for such die-offs to be more severe and extensive for future global-change-type drought under warmer conditions.
Abstract: Future drought is projected to occur under warmer temperature conditions as climate change progresses, referred to here as global-change-type drought, yet quantitative assessments of the triggers and potential extent of drought-induced vegetation die-off remain pivotal uncertainties in assessing climate-change impacts. Of particular concern is regional-scale mortality of overstory trees, which rapidly alters ecosystem type, associated ecosystem properties, and land surface conditions for decades. Here, we quantify regional-scale vegetation die-off across southwestern North American woodlands in 2002-2003 in response to drought and associated bark beetle infestations. At an intensively studied site within the region, we quantified that after 15 months of depleted soil water content, >90% of the dominant, overstory tree species (Pinus edulis, a pinon) died. The die-off was reflected in changes in a remotely sensed index of vegetation greenness (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), not only at the intensively studied site but also across the region, extending over 12,000 km2 or more; aerial and field surveys confirmed the general extent of the die-off. Notably, the recent drought was warmer than the previous subcontinental drought of the 1950s. The limited, available observations suggest that die-off from the recent drought was more extensive than that from the previous drought, extending into wetter sites within the tree species' distribution. Our results quantify a trigger leading to rapid, drought-induced die-off of overstory woody plants at subcontinental scale and highlight the potential for such die-off to be more severe and extensive for future global-change-type drought under warmer conditions.
1,992 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the main results obtained by the BRAHMS Collaboration on the properties of hot and dense hadronic and partonic matter produced in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at RHIC are reviewed.
1,860 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined how industry characteristics affect the relative importance and value of high-performance work systems and found that the impact of these human resources systems on productivity is influenced by industry capital intensity, growth, and differentiation.
Abstract: There has been growing interest in the degree to which human resource systems contribute to organizational effectiveness, yet limited research attention has been paid to the contextual conditions that moderate the efficacy of these practices. In this study, we examined how industry characteristics affect the relative importance and value of high-performance work systems. Findings indicate that the impact of these human resources systems on productivity is influenced by industry capital intensity, growth, and differentiation.
1,186 citations
TL;DR: Adding the effects of changes in land cover to the A2 and B1 transient climate simulations described in the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change leads to significantly different regional climates in 2100 as compared with climates resulting from atmospheric SRES forcings alone.
Abstract: Adding the effects of changes in land cover to the A2 and B1 transient climate simulations described in the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change leads to significantly different regional climates in 2100 as compared with climates resulting from atmospheric SRES forcings alone. Agricultural expansion in the A2 scenario results in significant additional warming over the Amazon and cooling of the upper air column and nearby oceans. These and other influences on the Hadley and monsoon circulations affect extratropical climates. Agricultural expansion in the mid-latitudes produces cooling and decreases in the mean daily temperature range over many areas. The A2 scenario results in more significant change, often of opposite sign, than does the B1 scenario.
1,013 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present quality indicators for experimental and quasi-experimental studies for special education, intended not only to evaluate the merits of a completed research report or article but also to serve as an organizer of critical issues for consideration in research.
Abstract: This article presents quality indicators for experimental and quasi-experimental studies for special education. These indicators are intended not only to evaluate the merits of a completed research report or article but also to serve as an organizer of critical issues for consideration in research. We believe these indicators can be used widely, from assisting in the development of research plans to evaluating proposals. In this article, the framework and rationale is explained by providing brief descriptions of each indicator. Finally, we suggest a standard for determining whether a practice may be considered evidence-based. It is our intent that this standard for evidenced-based practice and the indicators be reviewed, revised as needed, and adopted by the field of special education.
941 citations
TL;DR: The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), a self-report measure of dispositional forgiveness (with subscales to assess forgiveness of self, others, and situations) was developed and demonstrated good psychometric properties.
Abstract: Six studies regarding forgiveness are presented. The Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS), a self-report measure of dispositional forgiveness (with subscales to assess forgiveness of self, others, and situations) was developed and demonstrated good psychometric properties. Forgiveness correlated positively with cognitive flexibility, positive affect, and distraction; it correlated negatively with rumination, vengeance, and hostility. Forgiveness predicted four components of psychological well-being (anger, anxiety, depression, and satisfaction with life); forgiveness of situations accounted for unique variance in these components of psychological well-being. Forgiveness and hostility demonstrated equivalent, inverse associations with relationship duration, and forgiveness accounted for unique variance in relationship satisfaction, even when controlling for trust. Forgiveness level correlated positively with decreased negativity in statements written about transgressions in the present versus the past tense.
813 citations
TL;DR: Final criteria were developed to classify a child as HSP, KD, childhood PAN, WG, or TA, with changes introduced based on paediatric experience, and Mandatory criteria were suggested for all diseases except WG.
Abstract: Background: There has been a lack of appropriate classification criteria for vasculitis in children. Objective: To develop a widely accepted general classification for the vasculitides observed in children and specific and realistic classification criteria for common childhood vasculitides (Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), Kawasaki disease (KD), childhood polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG), and Takayasu arteritis (TA)). Methods: The project was divided into two phases: (1) the Delphi technique was used to gather opinions from a wide spectrum of paediatric rheumatologists and nephrologists; (2) a consensus conference using nominal group technique was held. Ten international experts, all paediatricians, met for the consensus conference. Agreement of at least 80% of the participants was defined as consensus. Results: Consensus was reached to base the general working classification for childhood vasculitides on vessel size. The small vessel disease was further subcategorised into “granulomatous” and “non-granulomatous.” Final criteria were developed to classify a child as HSP, KD, childhood PAN, WG, or TA, with changes introduced based on paediatric experience. Mandatory criteria were suggested for all diseases except WG. Conclusions: It is hoped that the suggested criteria will be widely accepted around the world because of the reliable techniques used and the international and multispecialist composition of the expert group involved.
715 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that M1 injury results in axonal sprouting near the ischemic injury and the establishment of novel connections within a distant target, and support the hypothesis that, after a cortical injury, such as occurs after stroke, cortical areas distant from the injury undergo major neuroanatomical reorganization.
Abstract: Previously, we showed that the ventral premotor cortex (PMv) underwent neurophysiological remodeling after injury to the primary motor cortex (M1). In the present study, we examined cortical connections of PMv after such lesions. The neuroanatomical tract tracer biotinylated dextran amine was injected into the PMv hand area at least 5 months after ischemic injury to the M1 hand area. Comparison of labeling patterns between experimental and control animals demonstrated extensive proliferation of novel PMv terminal fields and the appearance of retrogradely labeled cell bodies within area 1/2 of the primary somatosensory cortex after M1 injury. Furthermore, evidence was found for alterations in the trajectory of PMv intracortical axons near the site of the lesion. The results suggest that M1 injury results in axonal sprouting near the ischemic injury and the establishment of novel connections within a distant target. These results support the hypothesis that, after a cortical injury, such as occurs after stroke, cortical areas distant from the injury undergo major neuroanatomical reorganization. Our results reveal an extraordinary anatomical rewiring capacity in the adult CNS after injury that may potentially play a role in recovery.
665 citations
TL;DR: Resume of Structure−Activity Relationships of Quinolones 573 5.11.1.
Abstract: 3.1. Chelation 564 3.2. Acid−Base Character 564 3.3. Photochemistry 565 4. In Vitro Antimicrobial Spectra 566 5. Structure−Activity Relationships 568 5.1. N-1 Ethyl Family 568 5.2. N-1 Cyclopropyl Family 568 5.3. N-1 to C-8 Bridged (Tricyclic) Family 568 5.4. N-1 Aryl Family 569 5.5. Positions C-2, C-3, and C-4 570 5.6. C-4a Substituted Analogues 571 5.7. C-5 Substituents 571 5.8. C-6 Substituents 571 5.9. C-7 Substituents 571 5.9.1. Piperazinyl and Related Moieties 572 5.9.2. Pyrrolidinyl and Related Moieties 572 5.9.3. Cyclobutylaminyl and Related Moieties 572 5.9.4. Bicycloaminyl Moieties 572 5.9.5. Carbon-Linked Substituents 572 5.10. Substituents at C-8 573 5.11. Resume of Structure−Activity Relationships of Quinolones 573
658 citations
TL;DR: This review containing 173 references deals with devices whose use in single cells, tissue slices, animal models and humans has been demonstrated, including sensors specific for glucose, lactate, glutamate, pyruvate, choline and acetylcholine.
649 citations
TL;DR: A series of macrocyclic receptors designed to probe the influence of four factors, hydrogen bonding, charge, dimensionality, and topology, on anion binding indicate a number of corollaries with transition-metal coordination chemistry in terms of binding concepts such as the chelate effect and dual valencies.
Abstract: A series of macrocyclic receptors were designed to probe the influence of four factors, hydrogen bonding, charge, dimensionality, and topology, on anion binding. Monocyclic and bicyclic polyammonium and polyamide receptors were synthesized from either 2,2‘-diaminodiethylamine derivatives (dien) or 2,2‘,2‘ ‘-aminoethylamine (tren) building blocks, plus aromatic or heterocyclic spacers. Supramolecular complexes of these hosts with three simple anion topologies were probed: spherical (halides), trigonal planar (nitrate), and tetrahedral (sulfate). Results indicate a number of corollaries with transition-metal coordination chemistry in terms of binding concepts such as the chelate effect and dual valencies, as well as geometries for anion complexes that are strikingly similar to those observed in transition-metal coordination chemistry.
TL;DR: The view that SLI and dyslexia are distinct but potentially comorbid developmental language disorders support the view that a deficit in phonological processing is closely associated with Dyslexia but not with SLI when it occurs in the absence of dyslexi.
Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether specific language impairment (SLI) and dyslexia are distinct developmental disorders. Method: Study 1 investigated the overlap between SL...
TL;DR: An innate immune response characterized by plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration and interferon‐α/β inducible gene and protein expression may be an important part of the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis, as it appears to be in systemic lupus erythematosus.
Abstract: Dermatomyositis has been modeled as an autoimmune disease largely mediated by the adaptive immune system, including a local humorally mediated response with B and T helper cell muscle infiltration, antibody and complement-mediated injury of capillaries, and perifascicular atrophy of muscle fibers caused by ischemia. To further understand the pathophysiology of dermatomyositis, we used microarrays, computational methods, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy to study muscle specimens from 67 patients, 54 with inflammatory myopathies, 14 with dermatomyositis. In dermatomyositis, genes induced by interferon-alpha/beta were highly overexpressed, and immunohistochemistry for the interferon-alpha/beta inducible protein MxA showed dense staining of perifascicular, and, sometimes all myofibers in 8/14 patients and on capillaries in 13/14 patients. Of 36 patients with other inflammatory myopathies, 1 patient had faint MxA staining of myofibers and 3 of capillaries. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, potent CD4+ cellular sources of interferon-alpha, are present in substantial numbers in dermatomyositis and may account for most of the cells previously identified as T helper cells. In addition to an adaptive immune response, an innate immune response characterized by plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration and interferon-alpha/beta inducible gene and protein expression may be an important part of the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis, as it appears to be in systemic lupus erythematosus.
TL;DR: Extant research supports the concept of cognitive vulnerability to depression among adults, and support is accruing for the validity of this concept among children, and research that examines direct links between cognitive vulnerability and depression onset, relapse, and recurrence and the attachment origins of cognitiveulnerability is also accrued, although at a slower pace.
TL;DR: The idea that placental HLA‐G proteins facilitate semiallogeneic pregnancy by inhibiting maternal immune responses to foreign (paternal) antigens via these actions on immune cells is now well established, and the postulate that the recombinant counterparts of these proteins may be used as powerful tools for preventing immune rejection of transplanted organs is gaining in popularity.
Abstract: Multiple mechanisms underlie the surprising willingness of mothers to tolerate genetically different fetal tissues during pregnancy. Chief among these is the choice of HLA-G, a gene with few alleles, rather than the highly polymorphic HLA-A and -B genes, for expression by the placental cells that interface directly with maternal blood and tissues. Novel aspects of this major histocompatibility complex class Ib gene include alternative splicing to permit production of membrane and soluble isoforms, deletions that dampen responses to interferons, and a shortened cytoplasmic tail that affects expression at the cell surface. Placental cells migrating into the maternal uterus synthesize both membrane and soluble isoforms, which interact with inhibitory receptors on leukocytes such as ILT2 and ILT4. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes either die or reduce production of one of their major coreceptor/activator cell surface molecules, CD8; natural killer cells are immobilized and mononuclear phagocytes are programmed into suppressive modes characterized by high production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The idea that placental HLA-G proteins facilitate semiallogeneic pregnancy by inhibiting maternal immune responses to foreign (paternal) antigens via these actions on immune cells is now well established, and the postulate that the recombinant counterparts of these proteins may be used as powerful tools for preventing immune rejection of transplanted organs is gaining in popularity.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Prestroke physical functioning and depressive symptoms are important factors in the investigation of sex differences in stroke recovery and lower recovery of activities of daily living and physical functioning in women after stroke may be due to multifactorial effects of older age, poor physical function prior to stroke onset, and depressive status after stroke.
Abstract: Female patients in the study were older than male patients, with a mean age of 71 years for women vs 69 years for men. Female patients reported lower prestroke physical functioning than their male counterparts. Six months after stroke, women in the study were less likely than the men to achieve a score of ≥95 on the Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index (hazards ratio [HR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52–0.90), carry out eight of nine instrumental activities of daily living without assistance (HR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30–0.68), and score ≥90 on the SF-36 Health Survey physical functioning scale (HR = 0.54; 95% CI, 0.28–1.01). When age, prestroke physical functioning, stroke severity, and depressive status at baseline were controlled in the analysis, women in the study continued to be less likely (HR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.32–0.79) than men in the study to be able to carry out eight of nine instrumental activities of daily living completely without assistance, but there were no observed sex differences in achievement of independence in basic activities of daily living or higher physical functioning. Conclusion Prestroke physical functioning and depressive symptoms are important factors in the investigation of sex differences in stroke recovery. Lower recovery of activities of daily living and physical functioning in women after stroke may be due to multifactorial effects of older age, poor physical function prior to stroke onset, and depressive status after stroke.
19 Sep 2005
TL;DR: This study found that user profiles based on queries were as effective as those based on snippets, and found that the personalized re-ranking resulted in a 34% improvement in the rankorder of the user-selected results.
Abstract: User profiles, descriptions of user interests, can be used by search engines to provide personalized search results. Many approaches to creating user profiles collect user information through proxy servers (to capture browsing histories) or desktop bots (to capture activities on a personal computer). Both these techniques require participation of the user to install the proxy server or the bot. In this study, we explore the use of a less-invasive means of gathering user information for personalized search. In particular, we build user profiles based on activity at the search site itself and study the use of these profiles to provide personalized search results. By implementing a wrapper around the Google [10] search engine, we were able to collect information about individual user search activities. In particular, we collected the queries for which at least one search result was examined, and the snippets (titles and summaries) for each examined result. User profiles were created by classifying the collected information (queries or snippets) into concepts in a reference concept hierarchy. These profiles were then used to re-rank the search results and the rank-order of the user-examined results before and after re-ranking were compared. Our study found that user profiles based on queries were as effective as those based on snippets. We also found that our personalized re-ranking resulted in a 34% improvement in the rank-order of the user-selected results.
TL;DR: Test-driven development creates software in very short iterations with minimal upfront design, and requires writing automated tests prior to developing functional code in small, rapid iterations.
Abstract: Test-driven development creates software in very short iterations with minimal upfront design. This strategy requires writing automated tests prior to developing functional code in small, rapid iterations. Although developers have been applying TDD in various forms for several decades, this software development strategy has continued to gain increased attention as one of the core extreme programming practices.
TL;DR: The Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) has obtained the first in situ composition measurements of the neutral densities of molecular nitrogen, methane, molecular hydrogen, argon, and a host of stable carbon-nitrile compounds in Titan's upper atmosphere.
Abstract: The Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS) has obtained the first in situ composition measurements of the neutral densities of molecular nitrogen, methane, molecular hydrogen, argon, and a host of stable carbon-nitrile compounds in Titan's upper atmosphere. INMS in situ mass spectrometry has also provided evidence for atmospheric waves in the upper atmosphere and the first direct measurements of isotopes of nitrogen, carbon, and argon, which reveal interesting clues about the evolution of the atmosphere. The bulk composition and thermal structure of the moon's upper atmosphere do not appear to have changed considerably since the Voyager 1 flyby.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center1, Houston Methodist Hospital2, University of Miami3, Thomas Jefferson University4, Duke University5, Northwestern University6, University of Minnesota7, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences8, University of Michigan9, Wake Forest University10, Eastern Virginia Medical School11, University of Wisconsin-Madison12, Naval Medical Center San Diego13, University of Toronto14, Emory University15, University of California, Irvine16, University of Pittsburgh17, Loyola University Chicago18, University of Kansas19
TL;DR: This study failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference in stone-free rates between SWL and URS for the treatment of small lower pole renal calculi, however, SWL was associated with greater patient acceptance and shorter convalescence.
TL;DR: FtsA, which is structurally related to eukaryotic actin, has a conserved C‐terminal amphipathic helix that is essential for FtsA function that is demonstrated to be required to target FTSA to the membrane and subsequently to the Z ring.
Abstract: The cytokinetic Z ring is required for bacterial cell division. It consists of polymers of FtsZ, the bacterial ancestor of eukaryotic tubulin, linked to the cytoplasmic membrane. Formation of a Z ring in Escherichia coli occurs as long as one of two proteins, ZipA or FtsA, is present. Both of these proteins bind FtsZ suggesting that they might function to tether FtsZ filaments to the membrane. Although ZipA has a transmembrane domain and therefore can function as a membrane anchor, interaction of FtsA with the membrane has not been explored. In this study we demonstrate that FtsA, which is structurally related to eukaryotic actin, has a conserved C-terminal amphipathic helix that is essential for FtsA function. It is required to target FtsA to the membrane and subsequently to the Z ring. As FtsA is much more widely conserved in bacteria than ZipA, it is likely that FtsA serves as the principal membrane anchor for the Z ring.
TL;DR: The optimal diagnostic approach is to measure the serum ferritin as an index of iron stores and the serum transferrin receptor as a index of tissue iron deficiency.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that research in political ecology would benefit from more explicit and careful attention to the question of scale and scalar politics, and argue that political ecologists have yet to develop an explicit theoretical approach to scale as an object of inquiry.
TL;DR: In this article, viewing logs were coded for program, content, and intended audience for infants and toddlers, using hierarchically coded hierarchically ordered hierarchies of the program and content.
Abstract: Viewing data were reported every 3 months beginning at 6 months of age by the parents of 51 infants and toddlers. Viewing logs were coded for program, content, and intended audience. Using hierarch...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss issues and factors that relate to identifying and using effective practices with students with autism-related disorders, and recommend effective practice methods for any group of students.
Abstract: The past several years have been Witness to a variety of education reform and reorganization efforts, including for students With disabilities. Prominent among these restructuring efforts have been initiatives that require educators to adopt practices that are supported by research. NoteWorthy examples of this trend include the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and other calls for use of effective practice methods by educators and others Who are connected With students With disabilities. Although this is a daunting challenge for any group of students, the process of identifying and consistently and correctly using effective practice methods has been especially demanding for professionals Who Work With children and youth With autism spectrum disorders. This article discusses issues and factors that relate to identifying and using effective practices With students With autism-related disorders. Recommended effective practice methods are also provided.
TL;DR: This paper introduces a domain-based random forest of decision trees to infer protein interactions that is capable of exploring all possible domain interactions and making predictions based on all the protein domains.
Abstract: Motivation: Protein interactions are of biological interest because they orchestrate a number of cellular processes such as metabolic pathways and immunological recognition. Domains are the building blocks of proteins; therefore, proteins are assumed to interact as a result of their interacting domains. Many domain-based models for protein interaction prediction have been developed, and preliminary results have demonstrated their feasibility. Most of the existing domain-based methods, however, consider only single-domain pairs (one domain from one protein) and assume independence between domain--domain interactions.
Results: In this paper, we introduce a domain-based random forest of decision trees to infer protein interactions. Our proposed method is capable of exploring all possible domain interactions and making predictions based on all the protein domains. Experimental results on Saccharomyces cerevisiae dataset demonstrate that our approach can predict protein--protein interactions with higher sensitivity (79.78%) and specificity (64.38%) compared with that of the maximum likelihood approach. Furthermore, our model can be used to infer interactions not only for single-domain pairs but also for multiple domain pairs.
Contact: xwchen@ku.edu
Availability: Source code is written in Java and is available upon request from the authors.
Supplementary information: http://www.ittc.ku.edu/~xwchen/PPI/random_forest_PPI
TL;DR: NBI is a novel diagnostic tool with a high degree of accuracy for the detection of metaplastic and dysplastic tissue within the BE segment and was unable to distinguish areas of IM from those with LGD.
TL;DR: Although some progress has been made, the belief that students with severe cognitive and multiple disabilities will not or cannot become self-determined remains a barrier for many such students as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Although some progress has been made, the belief that students with severe cognitive and multiple disabilities will not or cannot become self-determined remains a barrier for many such students. Th...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors outline several empirical approaches to developing and testing hypotheses about the determinants of species borders and highlight environmental change as an important opportunity - arguing that these unplanned, large-scale manipulations can be used to study mechanisms which limit species distributions.
Abstract: In this paper we will outline several empirical approaches to developing and testing hypotheses about the determinants of species borders. We highlight environmental change as an important opportunity - arguing that these unplanned, large-scale manipulations can be used to study mechanisms which limit species distributions. Our discussion will emphasize three main ideas. First, we review the traditional biogeographic approach. We show how modern analytical and computer techniques have improved this approach and generated important new hypotheses concerning species' range determinants. However, abilities to test those hypotheses continue to be limited. Next we look at how the additions of temporal data, field and lab experimentation, biological details and replication, when applied to systems that have been the subject of classical biogeographic studies, have been used to support or refute hypotheses on range determinants. Such a multi-faceted approach adds rigor, consistency and plausible mechanisms to the study of species ranges, and has been especially fruitful in the study of climate and species' ranges. Lastly, we present an alternative avenue for exploration of range-limiting mechanisms which has been under-utilized. We argue that carefully designed comparisons and contrasts between groups of species or systems provide a powerful tool for examining hypotheses on species' borders. The seasonality hypothesis as an explanation for Rapoport's rule serves as a model of this approach. A test is constructed by comparing patterns of seasonality and range size among marine and terrestrial systems. The seasonality hypothesis is not supported.
TL;DR: The findings indicate that the persistence of male spatial advantage may be related to circulating testosterone, but not cortisol levels, and independent of generalized age-related cognitive decline.