Increasing program persistence in professional weight loss programs involving cognitive self-persuasion.

The authors evaluated the effectiveness of a new members' orientation program on attrition for female clients at 6 weight loss centers. 147 clients participated either in a 4-hr motivation enhancement program (MEP) based on cognitive self-persuasion principles from the elaboration likelihood model (ELM) or in 1 of 3 control conditions. The program emphasized the development and maintenance of positive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward regular behavioral education classes. Control groups were time-attention, standard program, and those refusing the new program. Results indicated that clients in the MEP attended significantly more consecutive weeks of classes than others. Results indicate the therapeutic value of cognitive self-persuasion techniques used in the MEP. Suggestions for future clinical studies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High‐performance hybrid information service architecture

We introduce a distributed high‐performance Information Service Architecture, which forms a metadata replica hosting system to manage both highly dynamic small‐scale metadata and relatively large static metadata associated with Grid/Web Services. We present an empirical evaluation of the proposed architecture and investigate its practical usefulness. The results demonstrate that the proposed system achieves high performance and fault tolerance with negligible processing overheads. The results also indicate that efficient decentralized hybrid Information Service Architectures can be built by utilizing publish‐subscribe‐based messaging schemes. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Corneal scarring in the Collaborative Longitudinal Evaluation of Keratoconus (CLEK) Study: baseline prevalence and repeatability of detection

Fibroblast growth factor-16 (FGF-16) is the most recent member of the FGF family to be cloned. Since the biologic activity of rat FGF-16 (rFGF-16) was unknown, and this protein has no apparent signal sequence, we transformed its entire cDNA into Escherichia coli for high-level expression and further characterization of this novel protein. An attempt was made to purify the expressed protein from the supernatant of mechanically lysed cells using sequential cation-exchange chromatography. This resulted in a gradual loss of the protein as precipitate throughout the purification process. In addition to precipitation during purification, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the partially purified materials showed a cluster of protein bands around 20k to 29k. Sequence analysis of the major bands indicated that two N-terminal truncations had occurred, during E. coli fermentation, purification, or both. The largest truncation resulted in the removal of the 34 N-terminal amino acids, including the initiation codon methionine. We cloned d34 rFGF-16, expressed the gene in E. coli, and developed a purification process for this form. Even with this truncated form, precipitation was a problem. We were largely able to overcome this problem, however, by including EDTA throughout the purification process. We have characterized the structure of purified d34 rFGF-16 extensively using circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and sedimentation velocity analysis. These studies revealed that the protein has a distinct tertiary structure, consists primarily of beta-strands, has a weak tendency to self-associate, and is fairly extended. We then performed biologic assays which showed that d34 rFGF-16 induces oligodendrocyte proliferation in vitro, and induces hepatocellular proliferation and increased liver weight in vivo. In summary, FGF-16, a novel FGF family member, has both unique structural and biological properties.     

Evaluation of e-beam, γ- and X-ray treatment on the chemistry and safety of polymers used with pre-packaged irradiated foods: a review

Polymers used to package food intended for irradiation must currently receive separate US FDA approvals for e-beam, gamma and X-radiation. The three forms of irradiation have virtually indistinguishable effects on polymers held in vacuum. However, in air, irradiation damage is favoured by slow dose rates, such as that characteristic of gamma irradiation. Irrespective of irradiation type, theory and existing polymer irradiation literature both suggest that radiolytic products in food contact polymers should not present a health hazard due to migration into the foods they contain. Equations are presented which calculate the FDA allowable content of radiolytic products to achieve 'threshold of regulation' clearance and conversion of radiolytic yield values (G-values) into ppb concentration in the treated polymer in conformance with FDA practice. An approach to quantifying the functional barrier of a polymer is discussed.     

Phone n’ Computer: teaming up an information appliance with a PC

Facing the ever growing complexity and usability problems of the PC, some propose specialized computers as a solution, while others argue that such “information appliances” are unnecessary. Rather than pitting information appliances and PCs against each other, we argue instead for exploring the design space in using them together. We experimented with a device teaming approach that takes advantage of both types of devices: the familiar and high bandwidth user interface of the PC, and the task specific form factors of an information appliance. In our experimentation, we designed and developed a phone n’ computer (PnC) by teaming up an IP phone with a general-purpose PC. We outline the design space for such a combination and describe several point designs we created that distribute functions between the two devices according to their characteristics. In comparison to separately using phones and computers, our designs provide new and richer user experiences including Drop-to-Call, sharing visual information, and caller information display.     

Vaccine potential of a recombinant glutathione S-transferase cloned from Schistosoma haematobium in primates experimentally infected with an homologous challenge

Patas monkeys were twice immunized with a Schistosoma haematobium-derived recombinant glutathione S-transferase (Sh28GST) then challenged with an homologous calibrated challenge. BCG and Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) were used as adjuvants in two distinct protocols. Specific IgG and IgA antibody responses were intense and homogeneous in the animals receiving Sh28GST in the presence of FCA, whereas BCG could only induce moderate and heterogeneous antibody titres. No significant effect on worm burdens was evidenced 36 weeks post-infection in either group of Sh28GST-immunized animals compared to their matched controls receiving an irrelevant protein. Although not significant, 50% reductions in the numbers of eggs located in all tissues (FCA group) and in the urogenital system (BCG group) were noted. Moreover, the total number of excreted eggs was dramatically diminished by 60% and 77% in the BCG and FCA groups, respectively. These reductions reached 75% and 80% in the urines of vaccinated monkeys. Bladder pathology was also reduced in the animals displaying the lowest urinary egg excretions. There was no clear positive or negative correlate between antibody responses and individual levels of protection. Taken as a whole, our results show that Sh28GST was capable of significantly reducing S. haematobium worm fecundity in experimentally infected primates. Although FCA induced higher levels of protection, the efficacy of BCG as an adjuvant appeared sufficient to justify consideration of the future application of this new formulation as a vaccine against human urogenital schistosomosis.     

SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL CHANGES IN TOTAL SUSPENDED SEDIMENT CONCENTRATIONS IN AN OXBOW LAKE AFTER IMPLEMENTING AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

The Wolf–Broad oxbow lake (417 ha) was evaluated by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and included on the Mississippi 303(d) list of impaired waterbodies for total suspended solids (TSS). A study was undertaken for 2 years to evaluate and document changes to TSS (mg L^?1) and overall lake turbidity (NTU) through best management practice implementation. These two objectives were analysed with routine monthly surface sampling events of turbidity (Eureka Manta 2, automated data sonde) as well as 20 random samples per sampling trip for TSS from June 2008 to June 2010. Results from a non‐parametric Kruskal–Wallis analysis indicated a significant month‐by‐year effect on turbidity and TSS (chi‐squared = 76.08, p = 0.001), but reach (chi‐squared = 2.45, p = 0.784) and depth by reach (chi‐squared = 2.44, p = 0.784) did not show significant effects on turbidity. There were no significant correlations between TSS concentrations and turbidity and 2 days and 7 days summed or mean rainfall for the duration of the evaluation. Spearman correlation analysis for TSS indicated significant correlations between TSS and mean two‐day (r² = 0.62, p = 0.002) and seven‐day (r² = 0.51, p = 0.014) wind speeds. All other variables used in the analysis did not show significant correlation with TSS ( p > 0.05). This suggests that wind conditions, rather than rainfall, predict the greatest variability in TSS and turbidity in Wolf Lake. These documented correlations between lake water column TSS, turbidity and wind highlight the difficulties of demonstrating success of management practices in the short temporal period between project initiation and completion. Unmanageable environmental conditions (wind speed and direction) and limited temporal monitoring scales (1 1/2 years post‐BMP implementation) limit the possibility of demonstrating successful water‐quality improvement within a 303(d) listed waterbody such as Wolf Lake. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.