bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emotional valence and semantic relatedness differentially influence false recognition in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and healthy elderly
Authors: BRUECKNER KATJA , MORITZ STEFFEN
Published: February 2009

This study examined whether patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who are at higher risk for later Alzheimer disease (AD) display deficits comparable to patients with diagnosed dementia. We assessed 27 patients with MCI, 36 patients with AD, and 20 healthy older adults with an emotional variant of the Deese–Roediger–McDermott-paradigm. Participants studied four lists that were semantically related to a nonpresented critical theme word. These theme words were either depression-related (i.e.,loneliness) or delusion-related (betrayal) or had a positive (holidays) or neutral (window) valence. Despite a normal overall emotional memory and a normal corrected overall false recognition, patients with MCI, as predicted, produced as many false memories as patients with AD. On closer examination, both patient groups showed enhanced false memories to unrelated stimuli and a significant bias to falsely remember stimuli with a positive valence. We conclude that although patients with MCI are not distinguishable from healthy older adults in terms of their overall emotional recognition, positively valenced memories and more specifically false positive memories may represent the signature of a breakdown of emotional memory along the continuum between normal aging and AD. (JINS, 2009,15, 268–276.)
Logical Algorithms meets CHR: A meta-complexity result for Constraint Handling Rules with rule priorities
Authors: DE KONINCK LESLIE
Published: February 2009

This paper investigates the relationship between the Logical Algorithms (LA) language of Ganzinger and McAllester and Constraint Handling Rules (CHR). We present a translation schema from LA to CHRrp: CHR with rule priorities, and show that the meta-complexity theorem for LA can be applied to a subset of CHRrpvia inverse translation. Inspired by the high-level implementation proposal for Logical Algorithm by Ganzinger and McAllester and based on a new scheduling algorithm, we propose an alternative implementation for CHRrpthat gives strong complexity guarantees and results in a new and accurate meta-complexity theorem for CHRrp. It is furthermore shown that the translation from Logical Algorithms to CHRrpcombined with the new CHRrpimplementation satisfies the required complexity for the Logical Algorithms meta-complexity result to hold.
Experimental investigation of ejections and sweeps involved in particle suspension
Authors: Lelouvetel J. , Bigillon F. , Doppler D. , Vinkovic I. , Champagne J.‐Y.
Published: February 2009

Experiments involving particle‐laden flows were conducted to study interactions between ejections and suspended particles. Three types of beads and four hydraulic conditions are tested (10,000 < Re < 30,000). A two‐dimensional Particle Image Velocimetry technique was applied to measure turbulent characteristics and particle motion simultaneously. The study also focused on the type and intensity of turbulent structures involved in bead suspension. Applying quadrant analysis to the flow in the vicinity of each moving bead, observations showed that upward particle movement is strongly correlated to the presence of ejections in the vicinity of the particle. For a given experiment, all particles surrounded by ejections with an instantaneous value of momentum flux greater than a critical value move upward with a positive vertical velocity. Once made dimensionless by the particle buoyant weight per unit area, the critical momentum flux is weakly dependent on the flow Reynolds number Re. From the statistical analysis a conceptual model of particle motion within an ejection is proposed.
ENSO amplitude modulation related to Pacific decadal variability
Authors: Imada Y. , Kimoto M.
Published: February 2009

Decadal modulation of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) amplitude is reproduced by a long‐term simulation with an atmosphere‐ocean general circulation model. A frequency of the modulation is in phase with Pacific decadal variability (PDV). A detailed analysis of the budget of sea surface temperature (SST) shows that effect of a change in anomalous zonal advection of mean temperature correlated to ENSO development has a dominant role in low‐frequency modulation of ENSO. That is because an equatorial zonal SST gradient changes periodically in the PDV cycle as a change in the background mean state for ENSO. Such characteristics are consistent with an observed climate shift and changes in ENSO characteristics that occurred in mid‐1970s.
Atmospheric rivers induced heavy precipitation and flooding in the western U.S. simulated by the WRF regional climate model
Authors: Leung L. Ruby , Qian Yun
Published: February 2009

A 20‐year regional climate simulated by the Weather Research and Forecasting model has been analyzed to study the influence of the atmospheric rivers and land surface conditions on heavy precipitation and flooding in the western U.S. The simulation realistically captured the mean and extreme precipitation, and the precipitation/temperature anomalies of all the atmospheric river events between 1980–1999. Contrasting the 1986 President Day and 1997 New Year Day events, differences in atmospheric stability have an influence on the spatial distribution of precipitation. Although both cases yielded similar precipitation, the 1997 case produced more runoff. Antecedent soil moisture, rainfall versus snowfall, and existing snowpack all seem to play a role, leading to a higher runoff to precipitation ratio for the 1997 case. This study underscores the importance of the atmospheric rivers and land surface conditions for predicting heavy precipitation and floods in the current and future climate of the western U.S.
Full‐wave modeling of transionospheric propagation of VLF waves
Authors: Lehtinen Nikolai G. , Inan Umran S.
Published: February 2009

The full‐wave method (FWM) of N. G. Lehtinen and U. S. Inan (2008) is used to model trans‐ionospheric propagation of VLF electromagnetic waves from ground‐based transmitters up to satellite altitudes. Direct comparison with satellite observations indicates that the VLF wave intensities measured at satellite altitudes are substantially smaller than predicted. The apparent reduction in amplitude is attributed to the presence of irregularities in the ionosphere, which the waves encounter during their traversal of the lower ionosphere. Linear mode scattering from the irregularities convert the whistler waves into quasi‐electrostatic whistler mode (QEWM) waves with wave normal angles near the resonance cone. Recent enhancements to the FWM are also described, which allow the minimization of an aliasing error encountered in taking the inverse Fourier transform.
Investigating the relationships among the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly, southern nighttime midlatitude trough, and nighttime Weddell Sea Anomaly during southern summer
Authors: Horvath Ildiko , Lovell Brian C.
Published: February 2009

This study utilized the multi‐instrument data of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program to investigate the evening/nighttime topside ionosphere during the 1996/1997 southern summer. A series of regional surface maps were constructed and permitted the tracking of the topside ionosphere's plasma density features, plasma composition, thermal structures, and vertical and horizontal plasma flows. These maps tracked a complete nighttime Weddell Sea Anomaly (WSA) and strong horizontal plasma flows that registered the high‐conductivity regions of the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA). These regions developed over the southeastern Pacific, just equatorward of the WSA, and over the South Atlantic. A heavy‐ion stagnation trough developed poleward of the SAMA affected regions. Thus, the trough appeared on the WSA's equatorward side. During periods of increasing magnetic activity, the plasmapause was the WSA's poleward boundary. A statistical study modeled the trough's magnetic activity dependence and revealed a strong east‐west hemispherical difference that was due to the SAMA effects. When the AE6 was 0 nT, the trough appeared at (57.49 ± 2.82)°S (geomagnetic) over the southwestern hemisphere. Owing to the SAMA's special electrodynamic effects, the trough developed at lower latitudes, (42.39 ± 3.04)°S, over the southeastern hemisphere. Meanwhile, the plasmapause occurred at ∼(62.5 ± 4)°S, and the WSA's peak appeared at ∼(56.2 ± 4)°S. Hence, there was a ∼20° (lat) separation between the trough and the plasmapause over the southeastern hemisphere. Between 210°E and 330°E (geographic), the WSA filled this gap. With increasing magnetic activity, the trough in the SAMA affected regions moved poleward at a rate of (0.0157 ± 0.004)°S/nT. Elsewhere, it had a (0.0196 ± 0.002)°S/nT equatorward movement.
Spatial and temporal distributions of Martian north polar cold spots before, during, and after the global dust storm of 2001
Authors: Cornwall C. , Titus T. N.
Published: February 2009

In the 1970s, Mariner and Viking observed features in the Mars northern polar region that were a few hundred kilometers in diameter with 20 μm brightness temperatures as low as 130 K (considerably below CO2 ice sublimation temperatures). Over the past decade, studies have shown that these areas (commonly called “cold spots”) are usually due to emissivity effects of frost deposits and occasionally to active CO2 snowstorms. Three Mars years of Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer data were used to observe autumn and wintertime cold spot activity within the polar regions. Many cold spots formed on or near scarps of the perennial cap, probably induced by adiabatic cooling due to orographic lifting. These topographically associated cold spots were often smaller than those that were not associated with topography. We determined that initial grain sizes within the cold spots were on the order of a few millimeters, assuming the snow was uncontaminated by dust or water ice. On average, the half‐life of the cold spots was 5 Julian days. The Mars global dust storm in 2001 significantly affected cold spot activity in the north polar region. Though overall perennial cap cold spot activity seemed unaffected, the distribution of cold spots did change by a decrease in the number of topographically associated cold spots and an increase in those not associated with topography. We propose that the global dust storm affected the processes that form cold spots and discuss how the global dust storm may have affected these processes.
Monoclonal antibodies generated by DNA immunization recognize CD2 from a broad range of primates
Authors: Brady Jamie L , Mannering Stuart I , Kireta Svjetlana , Coates Patrick T , Proietto Anna I , Cowan Peter J , D'Apice Anthony J F , Lew Andrew M
Published: February 2009

Using heterologous prime‐boost (DNA immunization followed by immunization with transfected cells), we have generated depleting mouse anti‐baboon CD2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb). These anti‐CD2 mAb recognized a diverse range of primate CD2 from New World monkeys and Old World monkeys to humans and have potent immunosuppressive activity for human allo‐MLR responses and anti‐tetanus‐toxoid recall responses. There was no upregulation of activation markers or release of cytokines when the mAb were incubated with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Using chimeric NOD‐SCID IL2rγnull mice, the mAb were shown to deplete human and cynomolgus monkey T cells in vivo. These anti‐CD2 mAb may therefore be important immunological tools in allo‐ and xenotransplantation.
Childhood Overweight Status Predicts Diabetes at Age 21 Years: A Follow‐up Study
Authors: Al Mamun Abdullah , Cramb Susanna M. , O'Callaghan Michael J. , Williams Gail M. , Najman Jake M.
Published: February 2009

We examined the prospective association of childhood BMI z‐score and BMI categories (normal or overweight) with young adult diabetes, controlling for early life, childhood, and adolescence factors. A subsample of 2,639 young adults from the Mater–University study of pregnancy (MUSP) and its outcomes, a prospective birth cohort who were born in Brisbane, Australia and for whom we had measured height and weight at 5 years and self‐reported diabetes at age 21 years. The risk of developing diabetes by age 21 years was greater among young adults who had greater BMI z‐score or were overweight at age 5 years than those who had normal BMI at age 5 years. Young adults who were overweight at age 5 years had an increased odds ratio of 2.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29, 5.22, in age‐ and sex‐adjusted model) of experiencing diabetes by age 21 years. Adjustment for potential confounders and mediators including intrauterine environmental factors, childhood dietary patterns, television watching, participation in sports and exercise, and current weight, did not substantively alter these associations. Overweight and increasing BMI z‐score at childhood is an independent predictor of young adult's type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Findings of this study suggest that childhood BMI may be central to the development and rising incidence of all diabetes.
Molecular responses of phospholipids of Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew) to hydrodynamic shear stress in bubble columns
Authors: Zhong Cheng , Yang Song , Yuan Ying‐Jin
Published: February 2009

Molecular responses of phospholipids of Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew) cells to hydrodynamic shear stress were investigated by using two bubble columns with different nozzle sizes. T. cuspidata cells cultured in bubble columns responded with an increase in cell membrane permeability when compared with shake‐flask culture, corresponding to the alteration of phospholipid constitutions. Phospholipid differences between bubble columns and shake‐flask cultures were analysed by using LC/ESI (liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization)‐MS coupled with PCA (principal component analysis). It was found that PA (phosphatidic acid) is the main molecular species of potential biomarkers. The amount of PA was found to increase, whereas PC (phosphatidylcholine) and PI (phosphatidylinositol) decreased after 96 h of cultivation in bubble columns, corresponding to the obvious increase in membrane permeability after 96 h of culture in such columns. A decrease in the nozzle size of the bubble column led to a more significant difference in phospholipids. These results suggest that PA accumulation plays an important role in the membrane degradation induced by hydrodynamic shear stress.
Identification and functional characterization of the Rad23 gene of the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Xu He-ping , Xu Yu-song , Wang Hua-bing , He Da , Kawasaki Hideki
Published: February 2009

Rad23 is an NER (nucleotide excision repair) protein and it plays an important role in the UPP (ubiquitin–proteasome pathway). In the present study, BmRad23 (a homologous gene of Rad23 from Bombyx mori) was cloned and designated as BmRad23. The ORF (open reading frame) of the BmRad23 cDNA encoded deduced 324 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 36.13 kDa and an estimated pI of 4.50. The deduced amino acid sequence of the BmRad23 cDNA revealed several indispensable domains for the function of the Rad23 protein family, such as one UbL (ubiquitin-like) region domain and two UBA (ubiquitin-associated) domains. UV irradiation and treatment with chemical DNA-damaging reagent increased the expression of BmRad23. The BmRad23 gene was expressed in all the examined organs, and elevated expression was observed in testis and ovary. Northern blot and immunoblot analyses showed enhanced expression of BmRad23 after day 3 of the wandering stage in the silk gland. From the present results it is suggested that BmRad23 functions in the UPP during the silkworm metamorphosis as well as participating in the NER when the genetic material is damaged by UV irradiation and other genotoxic stresses.
Roles of NF-κB in health and disease: mechanisms and therapeutic potential
Authors: Wong Ee Tsin , Tergaonkar Vinay
Published: February 2009

The NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) family of transcription factors are involved in a myriad of activities, including the regulation of immune responses, maturation of immune cells, development of secondary lymphoid organs and osteoclastogenesis. Fine tuning by positive and negative regulators keeps the NF-κB signalling pathway in check. Microbial products and genetic alterations in NF-κB and other signalling pathway components can lead to deregulation of NF-κB signalling in several human diseases, including cancers and chronic inflammatory disorders. NF-κB-pathway-specific therapies are being actively investigated, and these hold promises as interventions of NF-κB-related ailments.
Visual Cluster Analysis of Trajectory Data with Interactive Kohonen Maps
Authors: Schreck Tobias , Bernard Jürgen , von Landesberger Tatiana , Kohlhammer Jörn
Published: February 2009

Visual-interactive cluster analysis provides valuable tools for effectively analyzing large and complex data sets. Owing to desirable properties and an inherent predisposition for visualization, the Kohonen Feature Map (or Self-Organizing Map or SOM) algorithm is among the most popular and widely used visual clustering techniques. However, the unsupervised nature of the algorithm may be disadvantageous in certain applications. Depending on initialization and data characteristics, cluster maps (cluster layouts) may emerge that do not comply with user preferences, expectations or the application context. Considering SOM-based analysis of trajectory data, we propose a comprehensive visual-interactive monitoring and control framework extending the basic SOM algorithm. The framework implements the general Visual Analytics idea to effectively combine automatic data analysis with human expert supervision. It provides simple, yet effective facilities for visually monitoring and interactively controlling the trajectory clustering process at arbitrary levels of detail. The approach allows the user to leverage existing domain knowledge and user preferences, arriving at improved cluster maps. We apply the framework on several trajectory clustering problems, demonstrating its potential in combining both unsupervised (machine) and supervised (human expert) processing, in producing appropriate cluster results.
The self-assembly of DNA Holliday junctions studied with a minimal model
Authors: Ouldridge Thomas E. , Johnston Iain G. , Louis Ard A. , Doye Jonathan P. K.
Published: February 2009

In this paper, we explore the feasibility of using coarse-grained models to simulate the self-assembly of DNA nanostructures. We introduce a simple model of DNA where each nucleotide is represented by two interaction sites corresponding to the sugar-phosphate backbone and the base. Using this model, we are able to simulate the self-assembly of both DNA duplexes and Holliday junctions from single-stranded DNA. We find that assembly is most successful in the temperature window below the melting temperatures of the target structure and above the melting temperature of misbonded aggregates. Furthermore, in the case of the Holliday junction, we show how a hierarchical assembly mechanism reduces the possibility of becoming trapped in misbonded configurations. The model is also able to reproduce the relative melting temperatures of different structures accurately and allows strand displacement to occur.
Grain size effect on the electrocaloric effect of dense BaTiO3 nanoceramics
Authors: Qiu J. H. , Jiang Q.
Published: February 2009

A modified Landau–Devonshire thermodynamic theory is employed to investigate the effect of grain size on the electrocaloric effect of dense BaTiO3 nanoceramics. Theoretical analysis indicates that both the magnitude of the electrocaloric effect and the temperature corresponding to the maximum of electrocaloric effect depend on not only the grain size but also the electric field. Most importantly, BaTiO3 nanoceramics have the giant electrocaloric coefficient and adiabatic temperature change. Moreover, it is worth noting that the decrease of grain size reduces the temperature to a great extent where the electrocaloric effect is maximized. Therefore, control of the grain size may be used to adjust the electrocaloric properties of dense BaTiO3 nanoceramics.
Experimental properties of an efficient stress-dependent magnetostriction model
Authors: Davino Daniele , Giustiniani Alessandro , Visone Ciro
Published: February 2009

In this paper a generalization of a stress-dependent magnetostriction phenomenological model is presented. The model makes use of a classical Preisach operator and of a memoryless bivariate function and includes a pure elastic contribution. It is shown that, even if the structure of the model is simple, the operator state is still influenced by the applied stress. This property is important because the model is able to catch real magnetostrictive behavior in the presence of complex time evolutions of both the variables, current and stress. Experimental and numerical results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Submicron Y3Fe5O12 Film Magnetostatic Wave Band Pass Filters
Authors: Manuilov S. A. , Fors R. , Khartsev S. I. , Grishin A. M.
Published: February 2009

Thin Y3Fe5O12 (YIG) films were pulsed laser deposited onto Gd3Ga5O12 (111) and (001) substrates. Processing conditions were optimized to obtain compressively strained films with a ferromagnetic resonance linewidth at 9 GHz as narrow as 0.9 Oe and high uniaxial magnetic anisotropy Hu=−880 Oe. Several designs of magnetostatic surface wave (MSSW) bandpass filters were fabricated and tested: 0.45 and 0.22 μm thick YIG films lain on transducers alumina board and with microstripe transducers defined directly onto YIG film, with effective antenna areal sizes of 2 and 0.4 mm2. The MSSW filter with 2 mm2 antenna shows, at 7.5 GHz, insertion loss −9 dB and a resonant −3 dB bandwidth as narrow as 12.5 MHz.
Self-assembled GaN hexagonal micropyramid and microdisk
Authors: Lo Ikai , Hsieh Chia-Ho , Hsu Yu-Chi , Pang Wen-Yuan , Chou Ming-Chi
Published: February 2009

The self-assembled GaN hexagonal micropyramid and microdisk were grown on LiAlO2 by plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy. It was found that the (0001¯) disk was established with the capture of N atoms by most-outside Ga atoms as the (1×1) surface was constructing, while the pyramid was obtained due to the missing of most-outside N atoms. The intensity of cathode luminescence excited from the microdisk was one order of amplitude greater than that from M-plane GaN.
Implications of climate change on long-lead forecasting and global agriculture
Authors: Motha Raymond P.
Published: February 2009

Variations in crop yields and agricultural productivity are strongly influenced by fluctuations in seasonal weather conditions during the growing season. The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, and other similar ocean/atmosphere teleconnections in the North Pacific and North Atlantic, contribute to extreme weather events and climatic variability. As seasonal forecasting skills improve with greater knowledge of these teleconnections and improved Global Circulation Models (GCMs), farmers and agricultural planners will be able to make better use of long-lead forecasts for strategic decisions in agriculture. Issues related to climate variability and climate change pose significant risks to agriculture as the frequency of natural disasters tends to increase worldwide.
Constraints and opportunities in applying seasonal climate forecasts in agriculture
Authors: Ash Andrew , McIntosh Peter , Cullen Brendan , Carberry Peter , Smith Mark Stafford
Published: February 2009

Climate variability has an enormous impact on agricultural productivity, rural livelihoods, and economics at farm, regional, and national scales. An every-day challenge facing farmers is to make management decisions in the face of this climate variability. Being able to minimise losses in droughts and take advantage of favourable seasons is the promise of seasonal climate forecasts. The criteria for their adoption depends on what variables are forecast, their accuracy, the likely economic and/or natural resource benefits and how well they are communicated. In reviewing how current seasonal climate forecasts meet these criteria, it is clear that they offer considerable potential to buffer the effects of climate variability in agriculture, particularly in regions that have high levels of inter-annual rainfall variability and are strongly influenced by El Niño and La Niña events. However, the current skill, lead time, relevance to agricultural decisions, and communication techniques are not well enough advanced and/or integrated to lead to widespread confidence and adoption by farmers. The current challenges are to continue to improve forecast reliability and to better communicate the probabilistic outputs of seasonal climate forecasts to decision makers.
HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes among West African immigrant women in Western Australia
Authors: Drummond Peter D. , Mizan Ayse , Wright Bernadette
Published: February 2009

Background: Most women who live in sub-Saharan countries have heard of HIV/AIDS, but there is still widespread misunderstanding about how HIV is spread, the consequences of infection, and how to protect against infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate knowledge about HIV and attitudes towards condom use in West African refugees who had settled in Perth, Western Australia, within the past 5 years. Methods: Knowledge about transmission of HIV, myths about how HIV is spread, incorrect beliefs about protective factors, the effectiveness of condoms in protecting against sexually transmissible infections, and attitudes towards condom use were investigated by survey in 51 West African women, and in 100 Australian women for comparison. Where possible, each West African woman was matched for age and level of education with an Australian woman. Results: Knowledge of HIV was poorest in the least educated West African women, but many of the more highly educated women also had misconceptions about how HIV is spread, how to protect against HIV, and the effectiveness of condoms in protecting against HIV. Moreover, most West African women held negative attitudes towards condom use. Within the Australian sample, HIV knowledge was greatest in women with tertiary qualifications, and was greater in younger than older women; in addition, attitudes towards condom use differed across the age span. Conclusions: The findings in the present study suggest that educational programs that focus on knowledge about HIV should be tailored to meet the needs and cultural sensitivities of newly emerging immigrant communities, and should target particular demographic groups within the Australian population.
Low knowledge and high infection rates of hepatitis in Vietnamese men in Sydney
Authors: O'Connor Catherine C. , Shaw Miranda , Wen Li M. , Quine Susan
Published: February 2009

Objective: To describe hepatitis B and C knowledge and self-reported infection and risk behaviour in a group of Vietnamese men living in inner-urban Sydney, in order to assist with future program planning. Methods: Data were collected through telephone interviews conducted in Vietnamese using a structured questionnaire from 499 of 761 eligible men contacted, giving a response rate of 66%. The data were weighted to be consistent with the age distribution of Vietnamese men in the area. The findings were compared with a published national telephone study. Results: Low knowledge levels of hepatitis B and C were found when compared with data from a published national telephone study. The factors associated with higher mean knowledge scores for hepatitis B were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever having been tested for HIV (P < 0.001) and knowing someone with HIV (P < 0.0001). For hepatitis C, the factors were being highly acculturated (P < 0.001), ever injecting drugs (P < 0.05) and being vaccinated for hepatitis B (P < 0.001). Knowledge regarding hepatitis B was particularly poor. High rates of self-reported hepatitis B infection were noted. Of the participants, 7.2% were aware that they had ever been infected with hepatitis B, more than 10 times the rate in the national telephone study. Conclusion: Lower levels of hepatitis B knowledge have been identified in a community with higher numbers of people living with chronic hepatitis B. Targeted community-wide awareness-raising campaigns and health care worker education is required to improve knowledge of hepatitis B and rates of screening in the Australian Vietnamese community.
Co-occurrence of intoxication during sex and sexually transmissible infections among young African American women: does partner intoxication matter?
Authors: Crosby Richard A. , DiClemente Ralph J. , Wingood Gina M. , Salazar Laura F. , Lang Delia , Rose Eve , McDermott-Sales Jessica
Published: February 2009

Background: The co-occurrence of a behaviour (being intoxicated on alcohol/drugs during sex) with a disease outcome [laboratory-confirmed sexually transmissible infection (STI) prevalence] among young African American women and their male sex partners was studied. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Recruitment and data collection occurred in three clinics located in a metropolitan city of the Southern USA. A total of 715 African American adolescent females (15–21 years old) were enrolled (82% participation rate). The primary outcome measure was the analysis of self-collected vaginal swabs using nucleic acid amplification assays for Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Results: After controlling for age and self-efficacy to negotiate condom use, young women’s alcohol/drug use while having sex was not significantly associated with STI prevalence [adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 1.29, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.90–1.83]. However, using the same covariates, the association between male partners’ alcohol/drug use and sexually transmitted disease prevalence was significant (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.03–2.02). Young women reporting that their sex partners had been drunk or high while having sex (at least once in the past 60 days) were ~1.4 times more likely to test positive for at least one of the three assessed STIs. Conclusion: Young African American women reporting a male sex partner had been intoxicated during sex were significantly more likely to have an STI. The nature of this phenomenon could be a consequence of women’s selection of risky partners and lack of condom use possibly stemming from their intoxication or their partners’ intoxication.
Is suspicion of genital herpes infection associated with avoiding sex? A clinic-based study
Authors: Crosby Richard A. , Head Sara , Moore Gregory , Troutman Adewale
Published: February 2009

Objective: The present study tested the research hypothesis that sexually transmissible disease (STD) clinic patients suspecting genital herpes infection would be more likely than their ‘non-suspecting’ counterparts to abstain from sex to avoid transmission of a perceived STD. Methods: Recruitment (n = 351) occurred in a publicly-funded STD clinic located in a metropolitan area of the southern USA. Participants were tested for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) using a rapid test manufactured by Biokit (Lexington, MA, USA) and they completed a self-administered questionnaire (using a 3-month recall period). Results: Well over one-third (38.7%) of those indicating suspicion also indicated avoiding sex with steady partners because of concerns about STDs as compared with 28.0% among those not indicating suspicion (prevalence ratio = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.02–1.87, P = 0.036). The relationship between suspicion and avoiding sex with non-steady partners was not significant (P = 0.720). The relationship with steady partners only applied to people who were female (P = 0.013), single (P = 0.017), reported symptoms of genital herpes (P = 0.003), perceived that genital herpes would have a strong negative influence on their sex life (P = 0.0001), and who subsequently tested positive for HSV-2 (P = 0.012). Conclusions: Among STD clinic attendees, suspicion of genital herpes infection may translate into partner protective behaviour, but only for a minority of people and only with respect to sex with steady partners. Clinic-based and community-based education programs may benefit public health by teaching people (especially single women) how to effectively recognise symptoms of primary genital herpes infections. Reversing the often prevailing ethic of genital herpes as a ‘community secret’ will clearly be a challenge to these education programs.
2-day versus 5-day famciclovir as treatment of recurrences of genital herpes: results of the FaST study
Authors: Bodsworth Neil , Bloch Mark , McNulty Anna , Denham Ian , Doong Nicholas , Trottier Sylvie , Adena Michael , Bonney Mary-Ann , Agnew James ,   the Australo-Canadian FaST (Famciclovir Short-Course Herpes Therapy) Study Group
Published: February 2009

Background: The brief period of viral replication in recurrent genital herpes lesions suggests shorter therapeutic regimens may be as effective as standard 5-day courses. Objective: To demonstrate that a 2-day course of famciclovir 500 mg statim, then 250 mg twice daily was non-inferior to the standard 5-day course of 125 mg twice daily. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned either the 2-day or 5-day famciclovir course and initiated therapy within 12 h of onset of prodromal symptoms. They were instructed to complete daily questionnaires on herpes-related symptoms and functioning and to attend the clinic for assessment of healing 5.5 days after initiating therapy. Results: A total of 873 patients were randomised at least once and 1038 recurrences were treated. The proportion of evaluable recurrences with lesions present at 5.5 days was less in the 2-day arm (24%) than in the 5-day (28%) arm. The upper 97.5% confidence limit (CL) for this difference in favour of the 2-day arm was 2% in favour of the 5-day arm, well within the 10% predefined for non-inferiority. The upper 97.5% CL was similar in the intent-to-treat, evaluable and per-protocol recurrence populations and when adjusted for baseline differences (in gender, age, herpes history and HIV infection) or for clustering of recurrences within patients. Both treatments had similar side-effects; proportion of lesions aborted; time to next recurrence; patient-reported symptoms; and impact on daily functioning. Conclusions: The 2-day course was as safe and effective as the standard 5-day course and can only enhance patient convenience and compliance.
Increase in incidence of infectious syphilis in Auckland, New Zealand: results from an enhanced surveillance survey
Authors: Azariah Sunita , Perkins Nicky , Austin Paul , Morris Arthur J.
Published: February 2009

We instigated an enhanced voluntary surveillance system to determine the epidemiology of infectious syphilis in Auckland because it is not a notifiable condition. The study took place over a 12-month period from July 2006 to July 2007. We identified 92 cases of infectious syphilis, of which 71 were male (77%). Forty-four (48%) cases were in men who have sex with men, who made up the biggest proportion. Forty-eight cases (52%) acquired their infection in New Zealand and only 48 of all identified cases were symptomatic (52%). Our results confirm that infectious syphilis incidence is currently under-reported.
Evaluating predictive models of critical live fuel moisture in the Santa Monica Mountains, California
Authors: Dennison Philip E. , Moritz Max A. , Taylor Robert S.
Published: February 2009

Large wildfires in the Santa Monica Mountains of southern California occur when low levels of live and dead fuel moisture coincide with Santa Ana wind events. Declining live fuel moisture may reach a threshold that increases susceptibility to large wildfires. Live fuel moisture and fire history data for the Santa Monica Mountains from 1984 to 2005 were used to determine a potential critical live fuel moisture threshold, below which large fires become much more likely. The ability of live fuel moisture, remote sensing, and precipitation variables to predict the annual timing of 71 and 77% live fuel moisture thresholds was assessed. Spring precipitation, measured through the months of March, April, and May, was found to be strongly correlated with the annual timing of both live fuel moisture thresholds. Large fires in the Santa Monica Mountains only occurred after the 77% threshold was surpassed, although most large fires occurred after the less conservative 71% threshold. Spring precipitation has fluctuated widely over the past 70 years but does not show evidence of long-term trends. Predictive models of live fuel moisture threshold timing may improve planning for large fires in chaparral ecosystems.
Absolute humidity modulates influenza survival, transmission, and seasonality
Authors: Shaman Jeffrey , Kohn Melvin
Published: February 2009

Influenza A incidence peaks during winter in temperate regions. The basis for this pronounced seasonality is not understood, nor is it well documented how influenza A transmission principally occurs. Previous studies indicate that relative humidity (RH) affects both influenza virus transmission (IVT) and influenza virus survival (IVS). Here, we reanalyze these data to explore the effects of
absolute
humidity on IVT and IVS. We find that absolute humidity (AH) constrains both transmission efficiency and IVS much more significantly than RH. In the studies presented, 50% of IVT variability and 90% of IVS variability are explained by AH, whereas, respectively, only 12% and 36% are explained by RH. In temperate regions, both outdoor and indoor AH possess a strong seasonal cycle that minimizes in winter. This seasonal cycle is consistent with a wintertime increase in IVS and IVT and may explain the seasonality of influenza. Thus, differences in AH provide a single, coherent, more physically sound explanation for the observed variability of IVS, IVT and influenza seasonality in temperate regions. This hypothesis can be further tested through future, additional laboratory, epidemiological and modeling studies.
Crystal structure of the eIF4A–PDCD4 complex
Authors: Chang Jeong Ho , Cho Yong Hyun , Sohn Sun Young , Choi Jung Min , Kim Ahreum , Kim Young Chang , Jang Sung Key , Cho Yunje
Published: February 2009

Tumor suppressor programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) inhibits the translation initiation factor eIF4A, an RNA helicase that catalyzes the unwinding of secondary structure at the 5′-untranslated region of mRNAs and controls the initiation of translation. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the human eIF4A and PDCD4 complex. The structure reveals that one molecule of PDCD4 binds to the two eIF4A molecules through the two different binding modes. While the two MA3 domains of PDCD4 bind to one eIF4A molecule, the C-terminal MA3 domain alone of the same PDCD4 also interacts with another eIF4A molecule. The eIF4A–PDCD4 complex structure suggests that the MA3 domain(s) of PDCD4 binds perpendicular to the interface of the two domains of eIF4A, preventing the domain closure of eIF4A and blocking the binding of RNA to eIF4A, both of which are required events in the function of eIF4A helicase. The structure, together with biochemical analyses, reveals insights into the inhibition mechanism of eIF4A by PDCD4 and provides a framework for designing chemicals that target eIF4A.
Crystal structure of human prion protein bound to a therapeutic antibody
Authors: Antonyuk S. V. , Trevitt C. R. , Strange R. W. , Jackson G. S. , Sangar D. , Batchelor M. , Cooper S. , Fraser C. , Jones S. , Georgiou T. , Khalili-Shirazi A. , Clarke A. R. , Hasnain S. S. , Collinge J.
Published: February 2009

Prion infection is characterized by the conversion of host cellular prion protein (PrP
C
) into disease-related conformers (PrP
Sc
) and can be arrested in vivo by passive immunization with anti-PrP monoclonal antibodies. Here, we show that the ability of an antibody to cure prion-infected cells correlates with its binding affinity for PrP
C
rather than PrP
Sc
. We have visualized this interaction at the molecular level by determining the crystal structure of human PrP bound to the Fab fragment of monoclonal antibody ICSM 18, which has the highest affinity for PrP
C
and the highest therapeutic potency in vitro and in vivo. In this crystal structure, human PrP is observed in its native PrP
C
conformation. Interactions between neighboring PrP molecules in the crystal structure are mediated by close homotypic contacts between residues at position 129 that lead to the formation of a 4-strand intermolecular β-sheet. The importance of this residue in mediating protein–protein contact could explain the genetic susceptibility and prion strain selection determined by polymorphic residue 129 in human prion disease, one of the strongest common susceptibility polymorphisms known in any human disease.
Formation of new chromosomes as a virulence mechanism in yeast
Candida glabrata
Authors: Poláková Silvia , Blume Christian , Zárate Julián Álvarez , Mentel Marek , Jørck-Ramberg Dorte , Stenderup Jørgen , Piškur Jure
Published: February 2009

In eukaryotes, the number and rough organization of chromosomes is well preserved within isolates of the same species. Novel chromosomes and loss of chromosomes are infrequent and usually associated with pathological events. Here, we analyzed 40 pathogenic isolates of a haploid and asexual yeast,
Candida glabrata
, for their genome structure and stability. This organism has recently become the second most prevalent yeast pathogen in humans. Although the gene sequences were well conserved among different strains, their chromosome structures differed drastically. The most frequent events reshaping chromosomes were translocations of chromosomal arms. However, also larger segmental duplications were frequent and occasionally we observed novel chromosomes. Apparently, this yeast can generate a new chromosome by duplication of chromosome segments carrying a centromere and subsequently adding novel telomeric ends. We show that the observed genome plasticity is connected with antifungal drug resistance and it is likely an advantage in the human body, where environmental conditions fluctuate a lot.
Genomic basis for stimulated respiration by plants growing under elevated carbon dioxide
Authors: Leakey Andrew D. B. , Xu Fangxiu , Gillespie Kelly M. , McGrath Justin M. , Ainsworth Elizabeth A. , Ort Donald R.
Published: February 2009

Photosynthetic and respiratory exchanges of CO
2
by plants with the atmosphere are significantly larger than anthropogenic CO
2
emissions, and these fluxes will change as growing conditions are altered by climate change. Understanding feedbacks in CO
2
exchange is important to predicting future atmospheric [CO
2
] and climate change. At the tissue and plant scale, respiration is a key determinant of growth and yield. Although the stimulation of C
3
photosynthesis by growth at elevated [CO
2
] can be predicted with confidence, the nature of changes in respiration is less certain. This is largely because the mechanism of the respiratory response is insufficiently understood. Molecular, biochemical and physiological changes in the carbon metabolism of soybean in a free-air CO
2
enrichment experiment were investigated over 2 growing seasons. Growth of soybean at elevated [CO
2
] (550 μmol·mol
−1
) under field conditions stimulated the rate of nighttime respiration by 37%. Greater respiratory capacity was driven by greater abundance of transcripts encoding enzymes throughout the respiratory pathway, which would be needed for the greater number of mitochondria that have been observed in the leaves of plants grown at elevated [CO
2
]. Greater respiratory quotient and leaf carbohydrate content at elevated [CO
2
] indicate that stimulated respiration was supported by the additional carbohydrate available from enhanced photosynthesis at elevated [CO
2
]. If this response is consistent across many species, the future stimulation of net primary productivity could be reduced significantly. Greater foliar respiration at elevated [CO
2
] will reduce plant carbon balance, but could facilitate greater yields through enhanced photoassimilate export to sink tissues.
Control of large, established tumor xenografts with genetically retargeted human T cells containing CD28 and CD137 domains
Authors: Carpenito Carmine , Milone Michael C. , Hassan Raffit , Simonet Jacqueline C. , Lakhal Mehdi , Suhoski Megan M. , Varela-Rohena Angel , Haines Kathleen M. , Heitjan Daniel F. , Albelda Steven M. , Carroll Richard G. , Riley James L. , Pastan Ira , June Carl H.
Published: February 2009

Mesothelin is a cell-surface molecule over-expressed on a large fraction of carcinomas, and thus is an attractive target of immunotherapy. A molecularly targeted therapy for these cancers was created by engineering T cells to express a chimeric receptor with high affinity for human mesothelin. Lentiviral vectors were used to express a single-chain variable fragment that binds mesothelin and that is fused to signaling domains derived from T-cell receptor zeta, CD28, and CD137 (4–1BB). When stimulated by mesothelin, lentivirally transduced T cells were induced to proliferate, express the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-XL, and secrete multiple cytokines, all features characteristic of central memory T cells. When transferred intratumorally or intravenously into NOD/scid/IL2rγ−/−mice engrafted with large pre-established tumors, the engineered T cells reduced the tumor burden, and in some cases resulted in complete eradication of the tumors at low effector-to-target ratios. Incorporation of the CD137 signaling domain specifically reprogrammed cells for multifunctional cytokine secretion and enhanced persistence of T cells. These findings have important implications for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer, especially in the context of poorly immunogenic tumors. Genetically redirected T cells have promise of targeting T lymphocytes to tumor antigens, confer resistance to the tumor microenvironment, and providing immunosurveillance.
Animal‐Inspired Sensing for Autonomously Climbing or Avoiding Obstacles
Authors: Lewinger William A. , Harley Cynthia M. , Watson Michael S. , Branicky Michael S. , Ritzmann Roy E. , Quinn Roger D.
Published: February 2009

The way that natural systems navigate their environments with agility, intelligence and efficiency is an inspiration to engineers. Biological attributes such as modes of locomotion, sensory modalities, behaviours and physical appearance have been used as design goals. While methods of locomotion allow robots to move through their environment, the addition of sensing, perception and decision making are necessary to perform this task with autonomy. This paper contrasts how the addition of two separate sensing modalities – tactile antennae and non‐contact sensing – and a low‐computation, capable microcontroller allow a biologically abstracted mobile robot to make insect‐inspired decisions when encountering a shelflike obstacle, navigating a cluttered environment without collision and seeking vision‐based goals while avoiding obstacles.