bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Schwann cell delivery of neurotrophic factors for peripheral nerve regeneration
Authors: Madduri Srinivas , Gander Bruno
Published: June 2010

Current treatments of injured peripheral nerves often fail to mediate satisfactory functional recovery. For axonal regeneration, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) play a crucial role. Multiple NTFs and other growth‐promoting factors are secreted, amongst others, by Schwann cells (SCs), which also provide cellular guidance for regenerating axons. Therefore, delivery of NTFs and transplantation of autologous or genetically modified SCs with therapeutic protein expression have been proposed. This article reviews polymer‐based and cellular approaches for NTF delivery, with a focus on SCs and strategies to modulate SC gene expression. Polymer‐based NTF delivery has mostly resided on nerve conduits (NC). While NC have generally provided prolonged NTF release, their therapeutic effect has remained significantly below that achieved with autologous nerve grafts. Several studies demonstrated enhanced nerve regeneration using NC seeded with SCs. The SCs have sometimes been modified genetically using non‐viral or viral vectors. Whereas non‐viral vectors produced poor transgene delivery, adenoviral vectors mediated high transgene transduction efficiency of SCs. Further improvements of safety and transgene expression of adenoviral vector may lead to rapid translation of pre‐clinical research to clinical trials.
Physical Activity Over the Life Course and Its Association with Cognitive Performance and Impairment in Old Age
Authors: Middleton Laura E. , Barnes Deborah E. , Lui Li‐Yung , Yaffe Kristine
Published: July 2010

OBJECTIVE: To determine how physical activity at various ages over the life course is associated with cognitive impairment in late life.

DESIGN: Cross‐sectional study.

SETTING: Four U.S. sites.

PARTICIPANTS: Nine thousand three hundred forty‐four women aged 65 and older (mean 71.6) who self‐reported teenage, age 30, age 50, and late‐life physical activity.

MEASUREMENTS: Logistic regression was used to determine the association between physical activity status at each age and likelihood of cognitive impairment (modified Mini‐Mental State Examination (mMMSE) score >1.5 standard deviations below the mean, mMMSE score≤22). Models were adjusted for age, education, marital status, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, depressive symptoms, smoking, and body mass index.

RESULTS: Women who reported being physically active had a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in late life than women who were inactive at each time (teenage: 8.5% vs 16.7%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.65, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.53–0.80; age 30: 8.9% vs 12.0%, AOR=0.80, 95% CI=0.67–0.96); age 50: 8.5% vs 13.1%, AOR=0.71, 95% CI=0.59–0.85; old age: 8.2% vs 15.9%, AOR=0.74, 95% CI=0.61–0.91). When the four times were analyzed together, teenage physical activity was most strongly associated with lower odds of late‐life cognitive impairment (OR=0.73, 95% CI=0.58–0.92). However, women who were physically inactive as teenagers and became active in later life had lower risk than those who remained inactive.

CONCLUSIONS: Women who reported being physically active at any point over the life course, especially as teenagers, had a lower likelihood of cognitive impairment in late life. Interventions should promote physical activity early in life and throughout the life course.
Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors induce CCL2 and CCL5 via reduction in IL‐1R2 in keratinocytes
Authors: Yamaki Mayuko , Sugiura Kazumitsu , Muro Yoshinao , Shimoyama Yoshie , Tomita Yasushi
Published: June 2010

Please cite this paper as: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors induce CCL2 and CCL5 via reduction in IL‐1R2 in keratinocytes. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 730–735.

Abstract:  Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR‐TK) is a transducer of mitogenic signals, and is involved in the pathogenesis and progression of a number of cancers, including non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Gefitinib is an EGFR‐TK inhibitor that is clinically used to treat NSCLC; however, this drug frequently causes adverse effects, including skin eruptions. The mechanism underlying these skin reactions is elusive, although it is assumed that they are caused by the inhibition of EGFR‐TK signalling in epidermal and adnexal cells. In this article, we demonstrate by immunocytochemistry that the skin lesions of patients treated with oral gefitinib had higher expression of CCL2 and CCL5 compared to normal human epidermis. Further, PD153035, a gefitinib prototype, induced CCL2 and CCL5 mRNA and protein expression in HaCaT and HSC‐1 keratinocyte cell lines with or without interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) treatment in vitro. PD153035 also reduced the levels of interleukin‐1 receptor 2 (IL‐1R2), an IL‐1 decoy receptor. Moreover, we demonstrate that reduction in IL‐1R2 by RNA interference increased IL‐1‐mediated CCL2 and CCL5 mRNA and protein expression. Taken together, our data strongly suggest that IL‐1‐mediated signalling is activated to induce the high expression of CCL2 and CCL5 via reduction in IL‐1R2 in the skin lesions caused by gefitinib.
Adherence to sport injury rehabilitation programs: an integrated psycho‐social approach
Authors: Levy A. R. , Polman R. C. J. , Clough P. J.
Published: July 2010

The aim of the present study was to examine an adapted integrated psycho‐social model to predict sport injury rehabilitation adherence. A longitudinal prospective design was used whereby 70 patients attending private physiotherapy clinics completed a battery of questionnaires both pre‐ and post‐rehabilitation treatment based on the adapted framework. All participants were receiving treatment for tendonitis‐related injuries. Adherence was monitored prospectively over the entire rehabilitation program using an observational measure of clinic adherence, a self‐report measure of home‐based adherence, in addition to monitoring attendance at rehabilitation sessions. In the initial phase of rehabilitation learning goal orientation, attitudes and perceived severity were found to predict rehabilitation intention. Intentions were also found to mediate the relationship between the aforementioned variables and clinic rehabilitation. Self‐efficacy and self‐motivation were predictors of clinic rehabilitation and attendance but not home rehabilitation. During the maintenance phase of rehabilitation coping ability and social support were predictors regarding all three measures of adherence. Implications for practitioners rehabilitating injured athletes are discussed.
The right to counsel in juvenile court
Authors: Feld Barry C. , Schaefer Shelly
Published: July 2010

Research Summary

The U.S. Supreme Court inIn re Gaultgranted delinquents the right to counsel in juvenile courts. Decades afterGault, efforts to provide adequate defense representation in juvenile courts have failed in most states. Moreover, juvenile justice administration varies with structural context and produces justice‐by‐geography. In 1995, Minnesota enacted juvenile law reforms, which include mandatory appointment of counsel. This pre‐ and post‐reform legal impact study compares how juvenile courts processed youths before and after the statutory changes. We assess how legal changes affected the delivery of defense services and how implementation varied with urban, suburban, and rural context.

Policy Implications

We report inconsistent judicial compliance with the mandate to appoint counsel. Despite unambiguous legislative intent, rates of representation improved for only one category of offenders. However, we find a positive reduction in justice by geography, especially in rural courts. Given judicial resistance to procedural reforms, states must find additional strategies to provide counsel in juvenile courts.
Concepts and software for a rational design of polynucleotide probes
Authors: Moraru Cristina , Moraru Gabriel , Fuchs Bernhard M. , Amann Rudolf
Published: June 2010

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of genes and mRNA is most often based on polynucleotide probes. However, so far there was no published framework for the rational design of polynucleotide probes. The well‐established concepts for oligonucleotide probe design cannot be transferred to polynucleotides. Due to the high allele diversity of genes, a single probe is not sufficient to detect all alleles of a gene. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to develop a concept and software (PolyPro) for rational design of polynucleotide probe mixes to target particular genes. PolyPro consists of three modules: a GenBank Taxonomy Extractor (GTE), a Polynucleotide Probe Designer (PPD) and a Hybridization Parameters Calculator (HPC). The new concept proposes the construction of defined polynucleotide mixes to target the habitat specific sequence diversity of a particular gene. The concept and the software are intended as a first step towards a more frequent application of polynucleotides for in situ identification of mRNA and genes in environmental microbiology.
A non-abelian Stickelberger theorem
Authors: Burns David , Johnston Henri
Published: July 2010

LetL/kbe a finite Galois extension of number fields with Galois groupG. For every odd primepsatisfying certain mild technical hypotheses, we use values of ArtinL-functions to construct an element in the centre of the group ring ℤ(p)[G] that annihilates thep-part of the class group ofL.
Morphology of epitaxial SrTiO3/Si (001) determined using three-dimensional diffraction profile analysis
Authors: Segal Y. , Reiner J. W. , Zhang Z. , Ahn C. H. , Walker F. J.
Published: July 2010

Large scale features of epitaxial films, such as terrace structure, strain distribution, and grain shape, can have a substantial effect on device properties. The diffraction spot shape captures the average large scale structure. In epitaxial SrTiO3/Si (001), the spot shows a L-dependent splitting along two axes. Analysis of this feature traces its origin to a jagged step edge formation, and determines the length scale of terrace length and step meandering. Such a structure was previously observed in dimerized Si (001) using real-space imaging. Si diffusion that occurs during the first stages of growth gives rise to this morphology. This morphology may play a key role in explaining the small critical thickness for relaxation in these films.
Thermal stability of thin ZrO2 films prepared by a sol-gel process on Si(001) substrates
Authors: Döscher H. , Lilienkamp G. , Iskra P. , Kazempoor M. , Daum W.
Published: July 2010

ZrO 2 films with a thickness as low as 4 nm and a roughness of about 0.2 nm have been deposited on Si(001) by a sol-gel process. After pyrolysis in air clean and dense ZrO2 films were obtained. To simulate the influence of thermal processes in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor fabrication on high-k gate oxides, our samples have been subjected to heat treatments up to 1000 °C. The chemical composition of the ZrO2 films and of the interface region has been monitored by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and AES depth profiles. No notable chemical changes in the interface region have been detected after heating at 700 °C in 2×10−5 mbar oxygen partial pressure and rapid annealing to 1000 °C. At 700 °C and 10−4 mbar oxygen partial pressure an intermediate interface layer starts to grow by oxidation of the Si substrate. Annealing above 700 °C in UHV leads to the destruction of the sample. Loss of oxygen is accompanied with the formation of islands containing Zr and Si and of holes extending up to 200 nm deep into the Si substrate.
Genome-Wide Reprogramming in the Mouse Germ Line Entails the Base Excision Repair Pathway
Authors: Hajkova Petra , Jeffries Sean J. , Lee Caroline , Miller Nigel , Jackson Stephen P. , Surani M. Azim
Published: July 2010

Erasing Markers

Epigenetic reprogramming of the mammalian genome, which involves the removal and replacement of the various regulatory epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation, occurs during germ cell differentiation and during early zygotic development. This process is also critical during the experimental generation of stem cells, but the factors and pathways that control epigenetic reprogramming are not well understood.

Hajkova
et al.

(p.
78
) investigated the erasure of DNA methylation during germ cell differentiation and during early zygotic development in the developing mouse and found that factors involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway, which helps repair damaged DNA, were involved. Furthermore, inhibitors of BER resulted in the retention of DNA methylation in the zygote.
An Essential Developmental Checkpoint for Production of the T Cell Lineage
Authors: Ikawa Tomokatsu , Hirose Satoshi , Masuda Kyoko , Kakugawa Kiyokazu , Satoh Rumi , Shibano-Satoh Asako , Kominami Ryo , Katsura Yoshimoto , Kawamoto Hiroshi
Published: July 2010

One Two T

T cells develop in the thymus, where they proceed through several developmental stages, losing alternative lineage potential as they progress. The molecular regulation of this developmental process, however, is not fully understood (see the Perspective by

Di Santo

).

P. Li
et al.

(p.
85
, published online 10 June),

L. Li
et al.

(p.
89
), and

Ikawa
et al.

(p.
93
) now identify expression of the zinc finger transcription factor
Bcl11b
as the earliest checkpoint in T cell development in mice. Genetic deletion of
Bcl11b
in developing T cells inhibited commitment to the T cell lineage. Under conditions that should have stimulated T lineage differentiation,
Bcl11b
-deficient T cell progenitors failed to up-regulate genes associated with lineage-committed T cells and maintained stem cell– and progenitor cell–associated gene expression. In both developing and committed T cells, loss of
Bcl11b
resulted in the generation of cells that resembled natural killer (NK) cells in both phenotype and function. These NK-like cells could be expanded easily in vitro and possessed antitumor cytotoxicity, but they did not exhibit cytotoxicity against normal cells and were not tumorigenic. Because T cells are much easier to obtain from human patients than NK cells, deletion of
Bcl11b
in T cells may thus provide a source of easy-to-grow NK cells for cell-based antitumor therapies.
To Cool or Not to Cool
Authors: Bromm Volker
Published: July 2010

Precision measurements of chemical processes are providing a clearer picture of how the universe evolved.
Genes for High Altitudes
Authors: Storz Jay F.
Published: July 2010

Analyses of genomes from Tibetan populations reveal a signaling pathway that may account for high-altitude adaptation.
Some Stops for Summer Trips
Authors: Suter Sherman J.
Published: July 2010

We offer short reviews of exhibitions, sites, and events that could provide a science-related stop on your summer travels.
Synthetic “Life,” Ethics, National Security, and Public Discourse
Authors: Cho Mildred K. , Relman David A.
Published: July 2010

Synthetic biology draws notice to the need for balanced and informed discussion about benefits and risks in the life sciences.
Hunting for Plumes, Learning to Live in a Media Spotlight
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: July 2010

When Samantha Joye reported her hunch about how the gulf oil disaster would unfold, she had no inkling of what her confirmation of the insidious subsurface dispersal of the oil would mean for her life and career in the crazy weeks and months to follow.
How to Kill a Well So That It's Really Most Sincerely Dead
Authors: Kerr Richard A.
Published: July 2010

After a run of "top kill" attempts failed to stanch the flow of crude oil from its Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico, oil giant BP has one major option left: plug the flow near its source by drilling into the bottom of the runaway well.
Making Yeast Horny
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: June 2010

Switching to sexual reproduction requires a specific phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II at the master regulator gene
ste11
.
Rallying the Commensal Troops
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: June 2010

Engineering commensal bacteria to signal to
Vibrio cholerae
could provide an approach to cholera prophylaxis.
A Gut Feeling
Authors: Mueller Kristen L.
Published: June 2010

Immunoglobulin responses against nonpathogenic bacteria in the gut are specific for the resident microbial flora.
Sphingolipids for Ubiquitination
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: June 2010

The ubiquitin E3 ligase TRAF2 requires sphingosine 1-phosphate for its activity.
Acid and Alzheimer’s
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: June 2010

Mutations in presenilin 1 associated with familial Alzheimer’s disease prevent acidification of lysosomes and block autophagy.
In Vitro
Activity of Tebipenem, a New Oral Carbapenem Antibiotic, against β-Lactamase-Nonproducing, Ampicillin-Resistant
Haemophilus influenzae
Authors: Kishii Kozue , Chiba Naoko , Morozumi Miyuki , Ono Akiko , Ida Takashi , Ubukata Kimiko
Published: June 2010

In vitro
activity of tebipenem, a new oral carbapenem antibiotic, against clinical
Haemophilus influenzae
isolates was compared with those of 8 reference agents. Isolates were classified into 6 resistance classes after PCR identification of β-lactamase genes and
ftsI
gene mutations. For all isolates, the minimal concentration at which 90% of isolates were inhibited was lower for tebipenem than for the reference oral antibiotics, except for cefditoren. Tebipenem also showed excellent bactericidal activity against β-lactamase-nonproducing, ampicillin-resistant isolates.
Influence of Empiric Therapy with a β-Lactam Alone or Combined with an Aminoglycoside on Prognosis of Bacteremia Due to Gram-Negative Microorganisms
Authors: Martínez J. A. , Cobos-Trigueros N. , Soriano A. , Almela M. , Ortega M. , Marco F. , Pitart C. , Sterzik H. , Lopez J. , Mensa J.
Published: June 2010

Evidence supporting the combination of aminoglycosides with β-lactams for Gram-negative bacteremia is inconclusive. We have explored the influence on survival of empirical therapy with a β-lactam alone versus that with a β-lactam-aminoglycoside combination by retrospectively analyzing a series of bacteremic episodes due to aerobic or facultative Gram-negative microorganisms treated with single or combination therapy. The outcome variable was a 30-day mortality. Prognostic factors were selected by regression logistic analysis. A total of 4,863 episodes were assessed, of which 678 (14%) received combination therapy and 467 (10%) were fatal. Factors independently associated with mortality included age greater than 65 (odds ratio [OR], 2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6 to 2.6), hospital acquisition (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2 to 1.9), a rapidly or ultimately fatal underlying disease (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 2 to 3.2), cirrhosis (OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.6), prior corticosteroids (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2), shock on presentation (OR, 8.8; 95% CI, 7 to 11), pneumonia (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.9 to 4), and inappropriate empirical therapy (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.5). Subgroup analysis revealed that combination therapy was an independent protective factor in episodes presenting shock (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4 to 0.9) or neutropenia (OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3 to 0.9). Combination therapy improved the appropriateness of empirical therapy in episodes due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)- or AmpC-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. In patients with Gram-negative bacteremia, we could not find an overall association between empirical β-lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy and prognosis. However, a survival advantage cannot be discarded for episodes presenting shock or neutropenia, hence in these situations the use of combination therapy may still be justified. Combination therapy also should be considered for patients at risk of being infected with resistant organisms, if only to increase the appropriateness of empirical therapy.
High-Level Azithromycin Resistance Occurs in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
as a Result of a Single Point Mutation in the 23S rRNA Genes
Authors: Chisholm Stephanie A. , Dave Jayshree , Ison Catherine A.
Published: June 2010

High-level azithromycin resistance (AZM-HR), defined as a MIC of ≥256 mg/liter, emerged in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
in the United Kingdom in 2004. To determine the mechanism of this novel phenotype, isolates from the United Kingdom that were AZM-HR (
n
, 19), moderately AZM resistant (MICs, 2 to 8 mg/liter) (
n
, 26), or sensitive (MICs, 0.12 to 0.25 mg/liter) (
n
, 4) were screened for methylase (
erm
) genes and for mutations in the
mtrR
promoter region, associated with efflux pump upregulation. All AZM-resistant isolates and 12 sensitive isolates were screened for mutations in domain V of each 23S rRNA allele. All AZM-HR isolates contained the A2059G mutation (
Escherichia coli
numbering) in three (3 isolates) or four (16 isolates) 23S rRNA alleles. Most (22/26) moderately AZM resistant isolates contained the C2611T mutation in at least 3/4 alleles. The remainder contained four wild-type alleles, as did 8/12 sensitive isolates, while one allele was mutated in the remaining four sensitive isolates. Serial passage of AZM-sensitive colonies on an erythromycin-containing medium selected AZM-HR if the parent strain already contained mutation A2059G in one 23S rRNA allele. The resultant AZM-HR strains contained four mutated alleles. Eight isolates (five moderately AZM resistant and three AZM-HR) contained mutations in the
mtrR
promoter. No methylase genes were detected. This is the first evidence that AZM-HR in gonococci may result from a single point mutation (A2059G) in the peptidyltransferase loop in domain V of the 23S rRNA gene. Mutation of a single allele is insufficient to confer AZM-HR, but AZM-HR can develop under selection pressure. The description of a novel resistance mechanism will aid in screening for the AZM-HR phenotype.
Immune Defenses againstBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a Fungus Linked to Global Amphibian Declines, in the South African Clawed Frog,Xenopus laevis
Authors: Ramsey Jeremy P. , Reinert Laura K. , Harper Laura K. , Woodhams Douglas C. , Rollins-Smith Louise A.
Published: June 2010

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidisis a chytrid fungus that causes the lethal skin disease chytridiomycosis in amphibians. It is regarded as an emerging infectious disease affecting diverse amphibian populations in many parts of the world. Because there are few model amphibian species for immunological studies, little is known about immune defenses againstB. dendrobatidis. We show here that the South African clawed frog,Xenopus laevis, is a suitable model for investigating immunity to this pathogen. After an experimental exposure, a mild infection developed over 20 to 30 days and declined by 45 days postexposure. Either purified antimicrobial peptides or mixtures of peptides in the skin mucus inhibitedB. dendrobatidisgrowthin vitro. Skin peptide secretion was maximally induced by injection of norepinephrine, and this treatment resulted in sustained skin peptide depletion and increased susceptibility to infection. Sublethal X-irradiation of frogs decreased leukocyte numbers in the spleen and resulted in greater susceptibility to infection. Immunization againstB. dendrobatidisinduced elevated pathogen-specific IgM and IgY serum antibodies. Mucus secretions fromX. laevispreviously exposed toB. dendrobatidiscontained significant amounts of IgM, IgY, and IgX antibodies that bind toB. dendrobatidis. These data strongly suggest that both innate and adaptive immune defenses are involved in the resistance ofX. laevisto lethalB. dendrobatidisinfections.
High-Resolution Typing by Integration of Genome Sequencing Data in a Large Tuberculosis Cluster
Authors: Schürch Anita C. , Kremer Kristin , Daviena Olaf , Kiers Albert , Boeree Martin J. , Siezen Roland J. , van Soolingen Dick
Published: July 2010

To investigate whether genome sequencing yields more useful markers than those currently used to study the epidemiology of tuberculosis, it was applied to threeMycobacterium tuberculosisisolates of the Harlingen outbreak. Our findings suggest that single nucleotide polymorphisms can be used to identify transmission chains in restriction fragment length polymorphism clusters.
Emergence of VIM-12 in
Enterobacter cloacae
Authors: Panopoulou Maria , Alepopoulou Eleonora , Ikonomidis Alexandros , Grapsa Anastasia , Paspalidou Eleni , Kartali-Ktenidou Sofia
Published: July 2010

Detection of the
bla
VIM-12
gene within the originally described Inh12 integron in a clinical isolate of
Enterobacter cloacae
is reported for the first time worldwide. Integron Inh12 was carried on a conjugative plasmid of approximately 85 kb which also conferred resistance to aztreonam, likely due to AmpC production.
Performance of the Aptima HIV-1 RNA Qualitative Assay with 16- and 32-Member Specimen Pools
Authors: Ethridge Steven F. , Hart Clyde , Hanson Debra L. , Parker Monica M. , Sullivan Timothy J. , Bennett Berry , Stephens Petrice , Hilliard Joslyn , Patel Pragna
Published: July 2010

The Aptima HIV-1 RNA qualitative assay tested with a WHO-approved HIV type 1 RNA standard in 16- and 32-member pools detected 100% of the pools (1,070 and 2,130 HIV-1 RNA copies/ml/pool, respectively), thus exceeding the FDA-required lower limit of detection. The Aptima test can be used to screen for acute-phase HIV infection.
Rapid Detection and Identification of Mucormycetes from Culture and Tissue Samples by Use of High-Resolution Melt Analysis
Authors: Hrncirova Kristyna , Lengerova Martina , Kocmanova Iva , Racil Zdenek , Volfova Pavlina , Palousova Dita , Moulis Mojmir , Weinbergerova Barbora , Winterova Jana , Toskova Martina , Pospisilova Sarka , Mayer Jiri
Published: July 2010

We present a method for rapid and simple detection of clinically relevant mucormycetes of the
Mucorales
order in cultures and clinical samples. This seminested real-time PCR uses mucormycete-specific primers and is followed by species identification using high-resolution melt (HRM) analysis. The method is highly suitable for routine clinical diagnostics.
Expression of MIP-1α (CCL3) by a Recombinant Rabies Virus Enhances Its Immunogenicity by Inducing Innate Immunity and Recruiting Dendritic Cells and B Cells
Authors: Zhao Ling , Toriumi Harufusa , Wang Hualei , Kuang Yi , Guo Xiaofeng , Morimoto Kinjiro , Fu Zhen F.
Published: July 2010

Previously, we showed that overexpression of MIP-1α in mouse brain further decreased rabies virus (RABV) pathogenicity (L. Zhao, H. Toriumi, Y. Kuang, H. Chen, and Z. F. Fu, J. Virol., 83:11808-11818, 2009). In the present study, the immunogenicity of recombinant RABV expressing MIP-1α (rHEP-MIP1α) was determined. It was found that intramuscular immunization of BALB/c mice with rHEP-MIP1α resulted in a higher level of expression of MIP-1α at the site of inoculation, increased recruitment of dendritic cells (DCs) and mature B cells into the draining lymph nodes and the peripheral blood, and higher virus-neutralizing antibody titers than immunization with the parent rHEP and recombinant RABVs expressing RANTES (CCL5) or IP-10 (CXCL10). Our data thus demonstrate that expression of MIP-1α not only reduces viral pathogenicity but also enhances immunogenicity by recruiting DCs and B cells to the site of immunization, the lymph nodes, and the blood.
Replication of Subgenomic Hepatitis C Virus Replicons in Mouse Fibroblasts Is Facilitated by Deletion of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 and Expression of Liver-Specific MicroRNA 122
Authors: Lin Liang-Tzung , Noyce Ryan S. , Pham Tram N. Q. , Wilson Joyce A. , Sisson Gary R. , Michalak Thomas I. , Mossman Karen L. , Richardson Christopher D.
Published: July 2010

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes significant morbidity, and efficient mouse models would greatly facilitate virus studies and the development of effective vaccines and new therapeutic agents. Entry factors, innate immunity, and host factors needed for viral replication represent the initial barriers that restrict HCV infection of mouse cells. Experiments in this paper consider early postentry steps of viral infection and investigate the roles of interferon regulatory factors (IRF-3 and IRF-9) and microRNA (miR-122) in promoting HCV replication in mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) that contain viral subgenomic replicons. While wild-type murine fibroblasts are restricted for HCV RNA replication, deletion of IRF-3 alone can facilitate replicon activity in these cells. This effect is thought to be related to the inactivation of the type I interferon synthesis mediated by IRF-3. Additional deletion of IRF-9 to yield IRF-3−/−IRF-9−/−MEFs, which have blocked type I interferon signaling, did not increase HCV replication. Expression of liver-specific miR-122 in MEFs further stimulated the synthesis of HCV replicons in the rodent fibroblasts. The combined effects of miR-122 expression and deletion of IRF-3 produced a cooperative stimulation of HCV subgenome replication. miR-122 and IRF-3 are independent host factors that are capable of influencing HCV replication, and our findings could help to establish mouse models and other cell systems that support HCV growth and particle formation.
Memory CD4 T Cells Direct Protective Responses to Influenza Virus in the Lungs through Helper-Independent Mechanisms
Authors: Teijaro John R. , Verhoeven David , Page Carly A. , Turner Damian , Farber Donna L.
Published: July 2010

Memory CD4 T cells specific for influenza virus are generated from natural infection and vaccination, persist long-term, and recognize determinants in seasonal and pandemic influenza virus strains. However, the protective potential of these long-lived influenza virus-specific memory CD4 T cells is not clear, including whether CD4 T-cell helper or effector functions are important in secondary antiviral responses. Here we demonstrate that memory CD4 T cells specific for H1N1 influenza virus directed protective responses to influenza virus challenge through intrinsic effector mechanisms, resulting in enhanced viral clearance, recovery from sublethal infection, and full protection from lethal challenge. Mice with influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA)-specific memory CD4 T cells or polyclonal influenza virus-specific memory CD4 T cells exhibited protection from influenza virus challenge that occurred in the presence of CD8-depleting antibodies in B-cell-deficient mice and when CD4 T cells were transferred into lymphocyte-deficient RAG2−/−mice. Moreover, the presence of memory CD4 T cells mobilized enhanced T-cell recruitment and immune responses in the lung. Neutralization of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) productionin vivoabrogated memory CD4 T-cell-mediated protection from influenza virus challenge by HA-specific memory T cells and heterosubtypic protection by polyclonal memory CD4 T cells. Our results indicate that memory CD4 T cells can direct enhanced protection from influenza virus infection through mobilization of immune effectors in the lung, independent of their helper functions. These findings have important implications for the generation of universal influenza vaccines by promoting long-lived protective CD4 T-cell responses.
Moderate Influence of Human APOBEC3F on HIV-1 Replication in Primary Lymphocytes
Authors: Mulder Lubbertus C. F. , Ooms Marcel , Majdak Susan , Smedresman Jordan , Linscheid Caitlin , Harari Ariana , Kunz Andrea , Simon Viviana
Published: July 2010

Multiple APOBEC3 proteins are expressed in HIV-1 target cells, but their individual contributions to viral suppression when expressed at endogenous levels remain largely unknown. We used an HIV NL4-3 mutant that selectively counteracts APOBEC3G (A3G) but not APOBEC3F (A3F) to dissect the relative contribution of A3F to the inhibition of HIV-1 replication in primary human lymphocytes (peripheral blood mononuclear cells [PBMCs]). This HIV Vif mutant replicated similarly to wild-type virus in PBMCs, suggesting that the effect of A3F on HIV restriction in these cells is limited. The different A3F variants found in PMBC donors displayed either comparable activity or less activity than wild-type A3F. Lastly, the endogenous A3F mRNA and protein expression levels in PBMCs were considerably lower than those of A3G. Our results suggest that A3F neutralization is dispensable for HIV-1 replication in primary human T-lymphocytes.
The effect of three different levels of footwear stability on pain outcomes in women runners: a randomised control trial
Authors: Ryan Michael B , Valiant Gordon A , McDonald Kymberly , Taunton Jack E
Published: June 2010

Background

The present study examines the injury status in women runners who are randomised to receive a neutral, stability or motion control running shoe.

Methods

81 female runners were categorised into three different foot posture types (39 neutral, 30 pronated, 12 highly pronated) and randomly assigned a neutral, stability or motion control running shoe. Runners underwent baseline testing to record training history, as well as leg alignment, before commencing a 13-week half marathon training programme. Outcome measures included number of missed training days due to pain and three visual analogue scale (VAS) items for pain during rest, activities of daily living and with running.

Results

194 missed training days were reported by 32% of the running population with the stability shoe reporting the fewest missed days (51) and the motion control shoe (79) the most. There was a significant main effect (p<0.001) for footwear condition in both the neutral and pronated foot types: the motion control shoe reporting greater levels of pain in all three VAS items. In neutral feet, the neutral shoe reported greater values of pain while running than the stability shoe; in pronated feet, the stability shoe reported greater values of pain while running than the neutral shoe. No significant effects were reported for the highly pronated foot, although this was limited by an inadequate sample size.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that our current approach of prescribing in-shoe pronation control systems on the basis of foot type is overly simplistic and potentially injurious.
Non-fatal injuries among Chinese aged 65 years and older: findings from the Fourth National Health Services Survey
Authors: Hu Guoqing , Rao Keqin , Baker Susan P
Published: July 2010

Objective

To understand the epidemiology of non-fatal injuries among adults aged 65 years and older in China.

Design

Cross-sectional survey (the Fourth National Health Services Survey of China).

Participants

Urban and rural residents aged 65 years and older from 56 400 households in China.

Main Outcome Measures

The incidence rate was calculated as the number of persons injured in the previous 12 months divided by the population×1000.

Results

The incidence rate of non-fatal injuries among elderly individuals in the previous 12 months was 37.5 per 1000 population. Home, street, working environment, and public buildings were the most common places of occurrence, accounting for more than 90% of injuries. Falls were the leading cause of non-fatal injuries. After adjusting for other factors, Han people were 39% more likely to be injured than non-Han people, and the divorced and the widowed were found to have, respectively, 4.6 and 2.2 times the risk of injury compared with single persons, p<0.05. Education, per capita household income and urbanisation did not significantly affect the injury risk when confounding factors were controlled for.

Conclusion

Almost 4% of adults aged 65 years and over sustain injuries each year in China. Falls should be a priority of injury prevention for elderly people, efficient home injury prevention programmes need to be developed, and the divorced and widowed should be targeted as groups at high risk of injury.
THE CMS MUON DETECTOR: FROM THE FIRST THOUGHTS TO THE FINAL DESIGN
Authors: GASPARINI FABRIZIO
Published: June 2010

The project presented in this paper, the CMS muon detector, is fully described in Ref. 1. It was designed from 1991 to 19945 by a community of physicists and engineers from universities and institutes of several countries. The details of the design were fixed in 1997 with the submission of the CMS Muon Technical Design Report.4 This paper reflects the views, the memoirs and the understanding of the author, who is responsible for the choice of the subjects and for any omission or error.
A NOVEL ALGORITHM FOR EFFECTIVE BALL TRACKING
Authors: TONG XIAOFENG , WANG TAO , LI WENLONG , ZHANG YIMIN
Published: June 2010

A novel method is proposed to achieve robust and real-time ball tracking in broadcast soccer videos. In sports video, the soccer ball is small, often occluded, and with high motion speed. Thus, it is difficult to detect the sole ball in a single frame. To solve this problem, rather than locate the ball in one of several frames through detection or tracking, we find the ball through optimizing its motion trajectory in successive frames. The proposed method includes three level processes: object level, intra-trajectory level, and inter-trajectory level processing. In object level, multiple objects instead of a single ball are detected and all of them are taken as ball candidates through shape and color features identification. Then at intra-trajectory level, each ball candidate is tracked by a Kalman filter and verified by detection in successive frames, which results in lots of initial short trajectories in a video shot. These trajectories are thereafter scored and filtered according to their length and spatial-temporal relationship in a time-line model. With these trajectories, we construct a distance graph, in which a node represents a trajectory, and an edge means distance between two trajectories. We then get the optimal path using the Dijkstra algorithm in the graph at the inter-trajectory level. The optimal path is composed by a sequence of initial trajectories which make the whole route smooth and long in duration. To get a complete and reasonable path, we finally apply cubic spline interpolation to bridge the gap between adjacent trajectories (the duration corresponding to when the ball is occluded). We select three representative real FIFA2006 soccer video clips (containing a total of 16,500 frames) and manually elaborately labeling each frame in it, and take it as ground-truth to evaluate the algorithm. The average F-score is 80.59%. The algorithm was used in our soccer analysis system and tested on a wide range of real soccer videos, and all the results are satisfied. The algorithm is effective and its whole speed far exceeds real-time, 35.6 fps on mpeg2 data on the Intel Conroe platform.
BALL-MAP: HOMEOMORPHISM BETWEEN COMPATIBLE SURFACES
Authors: CHAZAL FRÉDÉRIC , LIEUTIER ANDRÉ , ROSSIGNAC JAREK , WHITED BRIAN
Published: July 2010

Homeomorphisms between curves and between surfaces are fundamental to many applications of 3D modeling, graphics, and animation. They define how to map a texture from one object to another, how to morph between two shapes, and how to measure the discrepancy between shapes or the variability in a class of shapes. Previously proposed maps between two surfaces, S and S′, suffer from two drawbacks: (1) it is difficult to formally define a relation between S and S′ which guarantees that the map will be bijective and (2) mapping a point x of S to a point x′ of S′ and then mapping x′ back to S does in general not yield x, making the map asymmetric. We propose a new map, called ball-map, that is symmetric. We define simple and precise conditions for the ball-map to be a homeomorphism. We show that these conditions apply when the minimum feature size of each surface exceeds their Hausdorff distance. The ball-map, BM S,S′, between two such manifolds, S and S′, maps each point x of S to a point x′ = BM s,s′(x) of S′. BM S′,S is the inverse of BM S,S′, hence BM is symmetric. We also show that, when S and S′ are Ck (n - 1)-manifolds in ℝn, BM S,S′ is a Ck-1 diffeomorphism and defines a Ck-1 ambient isotopy that smoothly morphs between S to S′. In practice, the ball-map yields an excellent map for transferring parameterizations and textures between ball compatible curves or surfaces. Furthermore, it may be used to define a morph, during which each point x of S travels to the corresponding point x′ of S′ along a broken line that is normal to S at x and to S′ at x′.
CONSTRUCTING AN YEAST PHENOTYPIC GENE NETWORK USING MORPHOLOGICAL INCLUSION RELATIONS
Authors: ABE NATSUMI , SESE JUN
Published: July 2010

Cell morphology is an often-utilized feature in biology and medical science because changes in the shape of a cell indicate that some abnormal alterations may have occurred within the cell. However, there is little knowledge about the relationship between phenotype and genes. In this study, for determining the genetic effect on phenotypes, we designed a new algorithm called phenotype analysis with layered conjecture (PALACE); this algorithm which infers a gene network that represents the dependency of morphological features using a comprehensive yeast phenotype dataset resulting from the deletion of one gene. PALACE first creates gene groups in which the abnormal phenotypes of its members are mutually close; then, it generates a network with groups based on inclusion relations between abnormal phenotypes. A network inferred from 172 transcriptional genes comprises 63 gene groups and 183 edges. The inferred network has biologically reasonable features; however, it is independent of known metabolic networks. Therefore, the network is expected to include information leading to new insights into cell biology.
A MAXIMAL PREDICTABILITY PORTFOLIO USING DYNAMIC FACTOR SELECTION STRATEGY
Authors: KONNO HIROSHI , TAKAYA YOSHIHIRO , YAMAMOTO REI
Published: June 2010

In this paper, we will propose a practical method for improving the performance of a maximal predictability portfolio (MPP) model proposed by Lo and MacKinlay and later extended by the authors. We will employ an alternative version of MPP using absolute deviation instead of variance as a measure of fitting and apply a dynamic strategy for choosing the set of factors which fits best to the market data. It will be shown that this approach leads to a significantly better performance than the standard MPP and the index.
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF THE ENERGY-SUPERCRITICAL NONLINEAR SCHRÖDINGER EQUATION
Authors: COLLIANDER J. , SIMPSON G. , SULEM C.
Published: June 2010

We present numerical simulations of the defocusing nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation with an energy supercritical nonlinearity. These computations were motivated by recent works of Kenig–Merle and Kilip–Visan who considered some energy supercritical wave equations and proved that if the solution is a priori bounded in the critical Sobolev space (i.e. the space whose homogeneous norm is invariant under the scaling leaving the equation invariant), then it exists for all time and scatters. In this paper, we numerically investigate the boundedness of the H2-critical Sobolev norm for solutions of the NLS equation in dimension five with quintic nonlinearity. We find that for a class of initial conditions, this norm remains bounded, the solution exists for long time, and scatters.
BLOW UP AT THE HYPERBOLIC BOUNDARY FOR A 2 × 2 SYSTEM ARISING FROM CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
Authors: BOURDARIAS C. , GISCLON M. , JUNCA S.
Published: June 2010

We consider an initial boundary value problem for a 2 × 2 system of conservation laws modeling heatless adsorption of a gaseous mixture with two species and instantaneous exchange kinetics, close to the system of chromatography. In this model the velocity is not constant because the sorption effect is taken into account. Exchanging the roles of the x, t variables we obtain a strictly hyperbolic system with a zero eigenvalue. Our aim is to construct a solution with a velocity which blows up at the corresponding characteristic "hyperbolic boundary" {t = 0}.
UNIMODULAR INTEGER CIRCULANTS ASSOCIATED WITH TRINOMIALS
Authors: WILLIAMS GERALD
Published: June 2010

The n × n circulant matrix associated with the polynomial [Formula: see text] (with d < n) is the one with first row (a0 ⋯ ad 0 ⋯ 0). The problem as to when such circulants are unimodular arises in the theory of cyclically presented groups and leads to the following question, previously studied by Odoni and Cremona: when is Res (f(t), tn-1) = ±1? We give a complete answer to this question for trinomials f(t) = tm ± tk ± 1. Our main result was conjectured by the author in an earlier paper and (with two exceptions) implies the classification of the finite Cavicchioli–Hegenbarth–Repovš generalized Fibonacci groups, thus giving an almost complete answer to a question of Bardakov and Vesnin.
Dynamic lightweight text compression
Authors: Brisaboa Nieves , Fariña Antonio , Navarro Gonzalo , Paramá José
Published: June 2010

We address the problem of adaptive compression of natural language text, considering the case where the receiver is much less powerful than the sender, as in mobile applications. Our techniques achieve compression ratios around 32% and require very little effort from the receiver. Furthermore, the receiver is not only lighter, but it can also search the compressed text with less work than that necessary to decompress it. This is a novelty in two senses: it breaks the usual compressor/decompressor symmetry typical of adaptive schemes, and it contradicts the long-standing assumption that only semistatic codes could be searched more efficiently than the uncompressed text. Our novel compression methods are preferable in several aspects over the existing adaptive and semistatic compressors for natural language texts.
BlueJ Visual Debugger for Learning the Execution of Object-Oriented Programs?
Authors: Bennedsen Jens , Schulte Carsten
Published: June 2010

This article reports on an experiment undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of a program visualization tool for helping students to better understand the dynamics of object-oriented programs. The concrete tool used was BlueJ’s debugger and object inspector. The study was done as a control-group experiment in an introductory programming course.

The results of the experiment show that the students who used BlueJ’s debugger did not perform statistically significantly better than the students not using it; both groups profited about the same amount from the exercises given in the experiment.

We discuss possible reasons for and implications of this result.
Finding heaviest
H
-subgraphs in real weighted graphs, with applications
Authors: Vassilevska Virginia , Williams Ryan , Yuster Raphael
Published: June 2010

For a graph
G
with real weights assigned to the vertices (edges), the MAX
H
-SUBGRAPH problem is to find an
H
-subgraph of
G
with maximum total weight, if one exists. Our main results are new strongly polynomial algorithms for the MAX
H
-SUBGRAPH problem. Some of our algorithms are based, in part, on fast matrix multiplication.

For vertex-weighted graphs with
n
vertices we solve a more general problem: the
all pairs
MAX
H
-SUBGRAPH problem, where the task is to find for every pair of vertices
u,v,
a maximum
H
-subgraph containing both
u
and
v
, if one exists. We obtain an
O
(
n

t
(ω,
h
))

-time algorithm for the
all pairs
MAX
H
-SUBGRAPH problem in the case where
H
is a fixed graph with
h
vertices and
ω
< 2.376 is the exponent of matrix multiplication. The value of
t
(ω,
h
) is determined by solving a small integer program. In particular, heaviest triangles for all pairs can be found in
O
(
n
2+1/(4-ω)
) ≤
o
(
n
2.616
)-time. For
h
=4,5,8 the running time of our algorithm essentially matches that of the (unweighted)
H
-subgraph detection problem. Using rectangular matrix multiplication, the value of
t
(
ω,h
) can be improved; for example, the runtime for triangles becomes
O
(
n
2.575
).

We also present improved algorithms for the MAX
H
-SUBGRAPH problem in the edge-weighted case. In particular, we obtain an
O
(
m

2−1/
k

log
n
)-time algorithm for the heaviest cycle of length 2
k
or 2
k
−1 in a graph with
m
edges and an
O
(
n
3
/log
n
)-time randomized algorithm for finding the heaviest cycle of any fixed length.

Our methods also yield efficient algorithms for several related problems that are faster than any previously existing algorithms. For example, we show how to find chromatic
H
-subgraphs in edge-colored graphs, and how to compute the most significant bits of the distance product of two real matrices, in truly subcubic time.