T cell responses to heat-shock protein 60: differential responses by CD4+ T cell subsets according to their expression of CD45 isotypes

We demonstrate that human T lymphocytes proliferate in vitro to highly purified human heat-shock protein 60 (Hu.hsp60). The response to this self Ag was confined to the CD45RA+ RO- T cell subset, with minimal responses by adult CD45RA- RO+ T cells. Experiments using keyhole limpet hemocyanin as a prototypic novel Ag, or tetanus toxoid as a recall Ag, were consistent with the notion that CD45RA+ RO- and CD45RA- RO+ T cell subsets can be designated as naive and memory cells, respectively; thus, responses to Hu.hsp60 were confined to the putative naive subset. In contrast, both CD45RA+ RO- and CD45RA- RO+ T cell populations proliferated to bacterial hsp60 from Mycobacterium leprae, Escherichia coli, or Chlamydia trachomatis. However, only CD45RA- RO+ (memory) T cells responded to a mycobacterial hsp60-derived peptide previously defined as a major bacteria-specific epitope. Experiments with cord blood T cells, which are CD45RA+ RO- and can be considered truly naive, showed that the peptide could elicit responses from naive T cells in vitro; cord blood cells also responded to Hu.hsp60. Since bacterial hsp60 Ags contain both conserved and nonconserved epitopes, we speculate that in vivo challenge with bacterial hsp60 will activate T cells capable of seeing either type of epitope, but only those that see nonconserved epitopes maintain the CD45RA- RO+ memory phenotype. However, T cells recognizing conserved epitopes, while not apparently being recruited to the memory pool, may nevertheless play a role in immunoregulation, particularly in the context of inflammation, when expression of Hu.hsp60 is increased.     

Which survey questions change behavior? Randomized controlled trial of mere measurement interventions.

Objective: Evidence indicates that receiving a questionnaire about a behavior increases the likelihood that the person will perform that behavior—a phenomenon termed the mere measurement effect. This research tested the role of (a) the type of questions, and (b) questionnaire completion in optimizing the impact of mere measurement interventions designed to retain novice blood donors. Design: Novice blood donors (N = 4391) were randomly allocated to four conditions that varied the content of a questionnaire about blood donation (behavioral intention-only, behavioral intention plus regret, implementation intention-only, implementation intention plus regret) or to a no-questionnaire control condition. Main Outcome Measures: Objective measures of registration at blood drives were obtained at 6 and 12 months postbaseline. Results: Participants in the implementation intention-only condition donated more frequently at 6 months compared to participants in each of the other conditions. At 12 months both implementation intention conditions outperformed the other conditions. Implementation intentions increased the frequency of donations over 1 year by 12%. Measuring anticipated regret did not augment the impact of interventions whereas questionnaire completion had an important impact on donation behavior. Conclusion: Questions about implementation intentions but not behavioral intentions promote retention of novice blood donors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Systolic linear quadratic optimal controller

A square-root, linear quadratic optimal control algorithm is presented and realised on a new systolic array.<>     

Ventricular arrhythmia and halofantrine intake. Probable deleterious effect. Apropos of 3 cases

Incidence and malignant forms of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria are increasing, and chemoprevention is more and more replaced by stand-by treatment and radical cure in preventing access on return from malaria areas. Halofantrine is recommended for this radical cure: it's an habitually well-tolerated amino-alcohol with very few side-effects. We report three cases of long QT-interval due to halofantine: three different young women coming back from Africa took halofantrine (500 mg (2 tablets) six hourly for three doses on the first and the seventh day) and all presented with syncopal episodes. Serum electrolyte concentrations and echocardiograms were normal. In one case only, a diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria was made, without severe manifestations, and in the two other cases, treatment was a radical cure. In two cases, several bursts of torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia due to halofantrine were proven and electrophysiological cardiac tests concluded that they had a congenital long QT-interval/Romano-Ward syndrome). So far halofantrine cardiac toxicity was unknown with single dose of 24 mg/kg/d. This phenomenon can be very severe in case of preexisting cardiopathy. In spite of the rarity on the congenital Romano-Ward syndrome, systematic electrocardiogram is necessary before giving halofantrine.     

Quantitative and qualitative analyses for psychotherapy research: Integration through time-series designs.

Proposes the generalized least squares method, a time-series multiple-regression analysis, to simultaneously assess treatment efficacy and process correlates of outcome and to test alternative hypotheses of treatment efficacy. This approach can be applied to small samples by capitalizing on repeated measurements. Criteria for qualitative analysis are presented in an attempt to provide guidelines for the identification of significant therapeutic change events and the generation of hypotheses regarding factors involved in therapeutic change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The concept of the alliance and its role in psychotherapy: Theoretical and empirical considerations.

Reviews definitions of the alliance (ALI) concept and proposes 4 relatively independent ALI dimensions that are complementary and compatible. These include (1) the therapeutic ALI, (2) the working ALI, (3) the therapist's empathic understanding and involvement, and (4) the patient–therapist agreement on the goals and tasks of treatment. There is evidence to support the predictive validity of the ALI in psychotherapy, with observations available across a variety of psychotherapy approaches, symptomatic disorders in outpatient samples, and sources of information (patient, therapist, clinical judges). A lack of association between ALI and outcome was, however, observed in some studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Understanding gender differences in adolescent sexuality

More than 1,800 junior high school students were surveyed regarding sexual activity. It was found that females were less likely to have "ever had sex" but among nonvirgins there was little gender difference in frequency or recency. Items measuring sexual values indicated greater commitment to abstinence and less permissive sexual attitudes among females. Females also saw sexual activity as more detrimental to future goal attainment. They viewed parents as less approving, but were more likely to discuss sex and dating practices with them. They reported parents as having more rules and were more likely to believe that they were unfair, and that they had gone against the parents' rules. Females perceived less peer pressure for sex and more support for waiting. However, more males anticipated partner pressure for sex and believed they might "have sex" before marriage. Males and females reported no difference in the importance of parenthood, but more females saw teen parenthood as a problem. No gender differences were found for smoking or drinking. Significantly more males had experienced petting behavior. Females were more likely to believe that sexual urges can be controlled. It was concluded that understanding these differences can help in the design of sex education and social programs to address problems associated with adolescent sexuality.     

Correction to: PolyGraph: a data flow model with frequency arithmetic

International Journal on Software Tools for Technology Transfer - The publication of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.     

Vortex visualization in ultra low Reynolds number insect flight

We present the visual analysis of a biologically inspired CFD simulation of the deformable flapping wings of a dragonfly as it takes off and begins to maneuver, using vortex detection and integration-based flow lines. The additional seed placement and perceptual challenges introduced by having multiple dynamically deforming objects in the highly unsteady 3D flow domain are addressed. A brief overview of the high speed photogrammetry setup used to capture the dragonfly takeoff, parametric surfaces used for wing reconstruction, CFD solver and underlying flapping flight theory is presented to clarify the importance of several unsteady flight mechanisms, such as the leading edge vortex, that are captured visually. A novel interactive seed placement method is used to simplify the generation of seed curves that stay in the vicinity of relevant flow phenomena as they move with the flapping wings. This method allows a user to define and evaluate the quality of a seed's trajectory over time while working with a single time step. The seed curves are then used to place particles, streamlines and generalized streak lines. The novel concept of flowing seeds is also introduced in order to add visual context about the instantaneous vector fields surrounding smoothly animate streak lines. Tests show this method to be particularly effective at visually capturing vortices that move quickly or that exist for a very brief period of time. In addition, an automatic camera animation method is used to address occlusion issues caused when animating the immersed wing boundaries alongside many geometric flow lines. Each visualization method is presented at multiple time steps during the up-stroke and down-stroke to highlight the formation, attachment and shedding of the leading edge vortices in pairs of wings. Also, the visualizations show evidence of wake capture at stroke reversal which suggests the existence of previously unknown unsteady lift generation mechanisms that are unique to quad wing insects.     

Optimal control of a fractional diffusion equation with state constraints

This paper is concerned with the state constrained optimal control problems of a fractional diffusion equation in a bounded domain. The fractional time derivative is considered in the Riemann-Liouville sense. Under a Slater type condition we prove the existence a Lagrange multiplier and a decoupled optimality system.