bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Guided Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Andersson Erik , Walén Christian , Hallberg Jonas , Paxling Björn , Dahlin Mats , Almlöv Jonas , Källström Reidar , Wijma Klaas , Carlbring Per , Andersson Gerhard
Published: July 2011

Introduction

Men with erectile dysfunction are often worried about their condition, have interpersonal difficulties, and have a reduced quality of life. Internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) has been shown effective for a number of health problems but evidence is limited concerning the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Aim

The study investigated the effects of ICBT for erectile dysfunction.

Methods

Seventy-eight men were included in the study and randomized to either ICBT or to a control group, which was an online discussion group. Treatment consisted of a 7-week Web-based program with e-mail-based therapist support. Each therapist spent an average of 55 minutes per participant.

Main Outcome Measure

The International Index of Erectile Functioning five-item version was administered via the telephone at pretreatment, post-treatment, and 6 months after receiving ICBT.

Results

At post-treatment, the treatment group had significantly greater improvements with regard to erectile performance compared with the control group. Between-group differences at post-treatment were small (d = 0.1), but increased at the 6-month follow-up (d = 0.88).

Conclusions

This study provides support for the use of ICBT as a possible treatment format for erectile dysfunction.
Sexual Function Following Trocar-guided Mesh or Vaginal Native Tissue Repair in Recurrent Prolapse: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Milani Alfredo L. , Withagen Mariella I.J. , The Hok S. , Nedelcu-van der Wijk Ileana , Vierhout Mark E.
Published: July 2011

Introduction

Surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) affects sexual function. Generally, this results in improved sexual function, but deterioration is reported also.

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare sexual function in patients with recurrent POP undergoing either a vaginal surgical repair with native tissue or a trocar-guided mesh insertion.

Methods

Sexually active patients randomly assigned to either native tissue repair or trocar-guided mesh insertion, which had completed the pelvic organ prolapse (POP)/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ-12) both at baseline and at 12 months, were included. Total, subscale, and individual question analysis were performed. Logistic regression was used to identify factors that were independently associated with improvement/deterioration in total PISQ-12 scores.

Main Outcome Measures

Primary outcome was sexual function at 12 months following surgery, measured by the short form of the pelvic organ prolapse/urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire (PISQ-12). Secondary outcomes were the identification of factors independently associated with change in PISQ-12 scores and changes in individual PISQ-12 question scores.

Results

Sixty patients were included; 32 in the mesh arm and 28 in the native tissue arm. At 12 months, PISQ-12 scores were not different in both treatment arms (34.3, standard deviation [SD] 6.7 vs. 34.7, SD 5.7), but improvement was detected in the native tissue arm, whereas PISQ-12 total score remained unchanged in the mesh arm. Deteriorations were observed in the behavioral/emotive subscale and partner-related items in the mesh arm. In the native tissue arm, significant improvements in the physical and partner-related subscales were observed. The presence of mesh exposure was independently associated with deterioration in total PISQ-12 score.

Conclusion

At 12 months, PISQ-12 scores were not different in either treatment arm, but were affected differently by trocar-guided mesh insertion or by native tissue repair. Mesh exposure was independently associated with deterioration in sexual function.
Genome‐wide screening and transcriptional profile analysis of desaturase genes in the European corn borer moth
Authors: Xue Bingye , Rooney Alejandro P. , Roelofs Wendell L.
Published: July 2011

Abstract Acyl‐coenzyme A (Acyl‐CoA) desaturases play a key role in the biosynthesis of female moth sex pheromones. Desaturase genes are encoded by a large multigene family, and they have been divided into five subgroups on the basis of biochemical functionality and phylogenetic affinity. In this study both copy numbers and transcriptional levels of desaturase genes in the European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis, were investigated. The results from genome‐wide screening of ECB bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library indicated there are many copies of some desaturase genes in the genome. An open reading frame (ORF) has been isolated for the novel desaturase gene ECB ezi‐Δ11β from ECB gland complementary DNA and its functionality has been analyzed by two yeast expression systems. No functional activities have been detected for it. The expression levels of the four desaturase genes both in the pheromone gland and fat body of ECB and Asian corn borer (ACB), O. furnacalis, were determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction. In the ECB gland, Δ11 is the most abundant, although the amount of Δ14 is also considerable. In the ACB gland, Δ14 is the most abundant and is 100 times more abundant than all the other three combined. The results from the analysis of evolution of desaturase gene transcription in the ECB, ACB and other moths indicate that the pattern of Δ11 gene transcription is significantly different from the transcriptional patterns of other desaturase genes and this difference is tied to the underlying nucleotide composition bias of the genome.
A Spreadsheet Program for Two‐Well Tracer Test Data Analysis
Authors: Tang Guoping , Watson David B. , Parker Jack C. , Brooks Scott C.
Published: July 2011

Two‐well tracer tests are often conducted to investigate subsurface solute transport in the field. Analyzing breakthrough curves in extraction and monitoring wells using numerical methods is nontrivial due to highly nonuniform flow conditions. We extended approximate analytical solutions for the advection‐dispersion equation for an injection‐extraction well doublet in a homogeneous confined aquifer under steady‐state flow conditions for equal injection and extraction rates with no transverse dispersion and negligible ambient flow, and implemented the solutions in Microsoft Excel using Visual Basic for Application (VBA). Functions were implemented to calculate concentrations in extraction and monitoring wells at any location due to a step or pulse injection. Type curves for a step injection were compared with those calculated by numerically integrating the solution for a pulse injection. The results from the two approaches are similar when the dispersivity is small. As the dispersivity increases, the latter was found to be more accurate but requires more computing time. The code was verified by comparing the results with published‐type curves and applied to analyze data from the literature. The method can be used as a first approximation for two‐well tracer test design and data analysis, and to check accuracy of numerical solutions. The code and example files are publicly available.
A Hybrid Framework for Improving Recharge and Discharge Estimation for a Three‐Dimensional Groundwater Flow Model
Authors: Meyer Scott C. , Lin Yu‐Feng , Roadcap George S.
Published: July 2011

We employed the ArcGIS plug‐in package PRO‐GRADE (Lin et al. 2009), developed for zonation of recharge/discharge (R/D) for modeling two‐dimensional aquifer systems, to develop alternative R/D zonations for an existing three‐dimensional groundwater flow model of a complex hydrogeologic setting. Our process began by intersecting PRO‐GRADE output with the existing model's 4‐zone R/D representation to develop a model having 12 R/D zones (R12) and then calibrating the resulting model using PEST. We then revised the R12 zonation using supplementary GIS data to develop a 51‐zone R/D zonation (R51). From R51, we developed a series of daughter models having 40, 30, 28, and 18 R/D zones by removing zones from R51 if calibration resulted in little change in the zone's starting R/D rate and/or if the model was insensitive to the zone's R/D rate. For these models (R40N, R30N, R28N, and R18N), we used the ArcGIS Nibble tool to rapidly and consistently reassign model cells within eliminated zones of R51 to the zone of the nearest model cell in a retained zone having the same starting value. R12, R51, R40N, R30N, R28N, and R18N are all more accurate than the original model (R4), although improvements relative to stream discharge targets exceeded improvements relative to head targets. The models also executed with better numerical stability and less mass balance discrepancy than R4. These improvements demonstrate that R/D estimation in a complex shallow three‐dimensional steady‐state model can be improved with PRO‐GRADE estimates of R/D when guided by calibration statistics and supplemental geographic data.
‘It was about trust’– Practitioners as policy makers and the improvement of inter-professional communication within the 1980s youth justice process
Authors: Telford Mark , Santatzoglou Sotirios
Published: July 2011

The study of criminal justice policy making is generally approached from the perspective of structural variables (eg social, cultural or economic), or, if inclined towards agency-led approaches, on the policy making activities of ‘elites’. The potential of practitioners to shape policy has been relatively neglected. This paper explores a striking example of practitioner-led criminal justice policy transformation: the decline in the use of custody for juveniles in England and Wales in the 1980s. The focus of the study is on the communicative origins of a philosophical turnaround in youth justice localities through the empowerment of youth justice practitioners. Drawing on empirical sources (including reflective interviews with key participant-observers) the paper explores, in depth, the occurrence and the meaning of local structural transformations. It is argued that the emergence of trust relations between participants in local youth justice processes was the key development behind the transformation of the state of penal culture towards one of ‘communicative rationality’ which, in turn, enabled the dramatic reduction in the use of custody. It is suggested that proponents of more moderate penal policy could draw valuable lessons from this episode.
Pre‐flood inundation mapping for flood early warning
Authors: Billa L. , Mansor S. , Mahmud A.R.
Published: July 2011

In this study the results of two rainfall‐run‐off simulations were used as input into a MIKE11 GIS and hydrological modelling process for flood inundation mapping based on the flood event (27 September to 8 October 2000) in Malaysia of the Langat River Basin area. Separate inundation maps were generated for the recorded observed rainfall and from a developed quantitative precipitation forecast (QPF), which was based on top of the cloud reflectance and brightness temperature (TB) derive from Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Geostationary Meteorological Satellite (GMS) satellite data sets. The QPF had rain rates between 3 and 12 mm/h for the 264 h rainfall duration. While the actual recorded rainfall for the same duration was used for the observed. The objective of the study was to compare the similarities of the flood inundation generated from the QPF run‐off with that generated from the rainfall‐run‐off of the actual flood event. The accuracies of the maps were verified using grid point locations of flooded areas taken during the event. The selected sampled point of the verification showed an accuracy of 70% of the QPF on the observed flood map. Sampled points measured flood extent, coverage and depth of flood in the basin area.
Improved management of acute gout during hospitalization following introduction of a protocol
Authors: KAMALARAJ Narainraj , GNANENTHIRAN Sonali R. , KATHIRGAMANATHAN Theepan , HASSETT Geraldine M. , GIBSON Kathryn A. , McNEIL H. Patrick
Published: July 2011

Aim:  To determine whether implementation of a protocol to manage in‐hospital acute gout has improved the care of patients by non‐rheumatologists.

Method:  Two systematic case‐file reviews were performed to determine the management of acute gout in all episodes occurring in hospitalized patients before (April 2005–December 2006) and after (November 2008–September 2009) introduction of a protocol for acute gout management in a tertiary referral hospital. The protocol targeted non‐rheumatologists with primary intentions to continue baseline anti‐gout medications on admission, prevent inappropriate prescriptions of colchicine, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and allopurinol in the hospital, encourage invitations for assistance by rheumatology, and promote combination therapy in cases of severe gout.

Results:  Excluding patients under the primary care of a rheumatologist, 118 cases of acute gout occurring during hospitalization were reviewed before and 89 cases after introduction of the gout protocol. Post‐protocol, there was a significant increase in continuation of baseline allopurinol (P = 0.01), significantly less inappropriate prescriptions of colchicine (P < 0.001) and allopurinol (P = 0.02), and a fall in the occurrence of overall adverse events (P = 0.01). After protocol introduction, when monotherapy was prescribed, NSAID usage declined and prednisone usage increased (P = 0.04), but there was no significant shift toward combination therapy use. Delays from symptom recognition to treatment were significantly reduced (P < 0.001), and rheumatology involvement significantly increased from 33.9% pre‐protocol to 51.7% post‐protocol.

Conclusion:  Following introduction of a hospital‐wide protocol for acute gout management, there have been significant improvements in the management of acute gout by non‐rheumatologist clinicians.
Pharmacy professionalism and the digital age
Authors: Rutter Paul M , Duncan Gregory
Published: July 2011

Objectives

To explore how the use of digital media could affect how people view professional behaviour.

Key findings

The growth in social networking sites has been phenomenal and they are now an extremely popular medium for interacting with others both commercially and privately. This as-yet-uncontrolled digital media provides ample opportunities for public and professional scrutiny for the unwary. Instances of employer screening and employee dismissal are already documented. All pharmacists who use digital media now need to be conscious that their virtual presence could be subject to regulator investigation.

Conclusions

It is important that individuals are aware of the risks associated with using digital media and that pharmacy organisations begin to provide clear leadership to help pharmacists know what is and is not acceptable.
Self‐control as predictor of school grades, life balance, and flow in adolescents
Authors: Kuhnle Claudia , Hofer Manfred , Kilian Britta
Published: July 2011

Background. Recently, several studies have shown that strength of self‐control is a crucial factor in determining positive outcomes in individuals’ lives. Most attention has been directed to the relationships that self‐control has with learning and academic achievement.

Aims. This article analyses the effects of self‐control not only on school grades but also on the experience of life balance and flow. It is theorized that students with a higher level of self‐control are better able to distribute their time in a satisfying way over academic and leisure matters, and are better able to shield their studying against distractions.

Samples. A total of 697 eighth graders with a mean age of 13.4 years participated in the longitudinal study.

Method. Students completed a questionnaire containing measures of self‐control, school grades, subjective life balance, and flow while studying at the beginning and at the end of the school year. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the relationships between the constructs.

Results and conclusions. Results of cross‐lagged analyses show that self‐control predicted school grades, life balance, and flow. The findings suggest that self‐control may assist adolescents to be better prepared, not only for school, but also for coordinating their investments in different areas of their lives.
Defining synaesthesia: A response to two excellent commentaries
Authors: Simner Julia
Published: July 2011

This paper is an author response to two commentaries on ‘Defining Synaesthesia’ (Simner, 2012) by David M. Eagleman (‘Synesthesia in its protean guises’, 2012), and Roi Cohen Kadosh and Devin B. Terhune (‘Redefining synaesthesia?’, 2012). Together with these authors, I seek to more closely examine existing criteria on which definitions of synaesthesia have been based. In particular, I focus on the fact (a) that existing definitions paint synaesthesia as an overly homogenous condition, (b) synaesthesia may have multiple neurological causes, and (c) synaesthetes and non‐synaesthetes may lie on a continuum.
AIMFAST: An Alignment Tool Based on Fringe Reflection Methods Applied To Dish Concentrators
Authors: Andraka Charles E. , Yellowhair Julius , Trapeznikov Kirill , Carlson Jeff , Myer Brian , Stone Brad , Hunt Kirby
Published: July 2011

The proper alignment of facets on a dish engine concentrated solar power system is critical to the performance of the system. These systems are generally highly concentrating to produce high temperatures for maximum thermal efficiency so there is little tolerance for poor optical alignment. Improper alignment can lead to poor performance and shortened life through excessively high flux on the receiver surfaces, imbalanced power on multicylinder engines, and intercept losses at the aperture. Alignment approaches used in the past are time consuming field operations, typically taking 4–6 h per dish with 40–80 facets on the dish. Production systems of faceted dishes will need rapid, accurate alignment implemented in a fraction of an hour. In this paper, we present an extension to our Sandia Optical Fringe Analysis Slope Technique mirror characterization system that will automatically acquire data, implement an alignment strategy, and provide real-time mirror angle corrections to actuators or labor beneath the dish. The Alignment Implementation for Manufacturing using Fringe Analysis Slope Technique (AIMFAST) has been implemented and tested at the prototype level. In this paper we present the approach used in AIMFAST to rapidly characterize the dish system and provide near-real-time adjustment updates for each facet. The implemented approach can provide adjustment updates every 5 s, suitable for manual or automated adjustment of facets on a dish assembly line.
Jülich Solar Power Tower—Experimental Evaluation of the Storage Subsystem and Performance Calculation
Authors: Zunft Stefan , Hänel Matthias , Krüger Michael , Dreißigacker Volker , Göhring Felix , Wahl Eberhard
Published: July 2011

Storage technology based on solid media heated in direct contact—so-called regenerators—is well suited to promote the market introduction of solar central receiver plants with air receivers. However, starting from existing technologies, several design issues need to be addressed. A test campaign was performed at the Solar Power Tower Jülich, an experimental central receiver plant, to experimentally verify the functionality and to quantify the performance of the plant’s storage subsystem. To this end, a gas burner used during commissioning of the plant, was reactivated and used to run a series of operation sequences. Computer simulations have been set up and applied to retrace the storage behavior to confirm the validity of the underlying models and to gain further insight into the relevant phenomena. The test results confirm the full functionality of the storage subsystem, the ability to perform cycling at high discharge heat rates and relatively low heat losses, supporting the view that the technology represents a promising basis for up-scaled implementations. Measurement data and simulation results are in good agreement, confirming the maturity of existing design tools.
Work function of 75W25Re alloy determined with thermionic emission method aided by computer simulation
Authors: Pienkos Tomasz , Czarnacki Maciej , Durakiewicz Tomasz , Halas Stanislaw
Published: July 2011

The work function of 75W25Re alloy has been determined by the thermionic emission method aided by computer simulation of resistive heating of a cathode made of the alloy wire. The obtained values are temperature dependent, which is due to desorption of oxygen atoms which enhance the work function. The lowest value of 4.7 eV was obtained for the highest temperature of 2550 K. The value calculated on the basis of the image-force model is 4.65 eV. In addition, the resistivity as a function of temperature, knowledge of which is necessary for work function determination, has been measured for this alloy.
Microdosimetric study on influence of low energy photons on relative biological effectiveness under therapeutic conditions using 6 MV linac
Authors: Okamoto Hiroyuki , Kohno Toshiyuki , Kanai Tatsuaki , Kase Yuki , Matsumoto Yoshitaka , Furusawa Yoshiya , Fujita Yukio , Saitoh Hidetoshi , Itami Jun
Published: July 2011

Purpose:

Microdosimetry has been developed for the evaluation of radiation quality, and single‐event dose‐mean lineal energy is well‐used to represent the radiation quality. In this study, the changes of the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) values under the therapeutic conditions using a 6 MV linac were investigated with a microdosimetric method.

Methods:

The values under the various irradiation conditions for x‐rays from a 6 MV linac were measured with a tissue‐equivalent proportional counter (TEPC) at an extremely low dose rate of a few tens of μGy/min by decreasing the gun grid voltage of the linac. According to the microdosimetric kinetic model (MK model), the RBEMK values for cell killing of the human salivary gland (HSG) tumor cells can be derived if the values are obtained from TEPC measurements. The Monte Carlo code GEANT4 was also used to calculate the photon energy distributions and to investigate the changes of the values under the various conditions.

Results:

The changes of the values were less than approximately 10% when the field size and the depth in a phantom varied. However, in the measurements perpendicular to a central beam axis, large changes were observed between the values inside the field and those outside the field. The maximum increase of approximately 50% in the value outside the field was obtained compared with those inside the field. The GEANT4 calculations showed that there existed a large relative number of low energy photons outside of the field as compared with inside of the field. The percentages of the photon fluences below 200 keV outside the field were approximately 40% against approximately 8% inside the field. By using the MK model, the field size and the depth dependence of the RBEMK values were less than approximately 2% inside the field. However, the RBEMK values outside the field were 6.6% higher than those inside the field.

Conclusions:

The increase of the RBEMK values by 6.6% outside the field was observed. This increase is caused by the change of the photon energy distributions, especially the increase of the relative number of low energy photons outside the field.
Development of 5‐ and 10‐year‐old pediatric phantoms based on polygon mesh surfaces
Authors: de Melo Lima V. J. , Cassola V. F. , Kramer R. , de Oliveira Lira C. A. B. , Khoury H. J. , Vieira J. W.
Published: July 2011

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is the development of reference pediatric phantoms for 5‐ and 10‐year‐old children to be used for the calculation of organ and tissue equivalent doses in radiation protection.

Methods:

The study proposes a method for developing anatomically highly sophisticated pediatric phantoms without using medical images. The 5‐ and 10‐year‐old male and female phantoms presented here were developed using 3D modeling software applied to anatomical information taken from atlases and textbooks. The method uses polygon mesh surfaces to model body contours, the shape of organs as well as their positions, and orientations in the human body. Organ and tissue masses comply with the corresponding data given by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the 5‐ and 10‐year‐old reference children. Bones were segmented into cortical bone, spongiosa, medullary marrow, and cartilage to allow for the use of micro computer tomographic (μCT) images of trabecular bone for skeletal dosimetry.

Results:

The four phantoms, a male and a female for each age, and their organs are presented in 3D images and their organ and tissue masses in tables which show the compliance of the ICRP reference values. Dosimetric data, calculated for the reference pediatric phantoms by Monte Carlo methods were compared with corresponding data from adult mesh phantoms and pediatric stylized phantoms. The comparisons show reasonable agreement if the anatomical differences between the phantoms are properly taken into account.

Conclusions:

Pediatric phantoms were developed without using medical images of patients or volunteers for the first time. The models are reference phantoms, suitable for regulatory dosimetry, however, the 3D modeling method can also be applied to medical images to develop patient‐specific phantoms.
Facilitating Scientific Investigations and Training Data Scientists
Authors: Korb Michele A. , Thakkar Umesh
Published: July 2011

Students and teachers have free online access to an electron microscope in order to explore the world of insects.
Evidence for Network Evolution in an
Arabidopsis
Interactome Map
Authors:   Arabidopsis Interactome Mapping Consortium, Dreze Matija , Carvunis Anne-Ruxandra , Charloteaux Benoit , Galli Mary , Pevzner Samuel J. , Tasan Murat , Ahn Yong-Yeol , Balumuri Padmavathi , Barabási Albert-László , Bautista Vanessa , Braun Pascal , Byrdsong Danielle , Chen Huaming , Chesnut Jonathan D. , Cusick Michael E. , Dangl Jeffery L. , de los Reyes Chris , Dricot Amélie , Duarte Melissa , Ecker Joseph R. , Fan Changyu , Gai Lantian , Gebreab Fana , Ghoshal Gourab , Gilles Patrick , Gutierrez Bryan J. , Hao Tong , Hill David E. , Kim Christopher J. , Kim Rosa Cheuk , Lurin Claire , MacWilliams Andrew , Matrubutham Uday , Milenkovic Tijana , Mirchandani Jyotika , Monachello Dario , Moore Jonathan , Mukhtar M. Shahid , Olivares Eric , Patnaik Suswapna , Poulin Matthew M. , Przulj Natasa , Quan Rosa , Rabello Sabrina , Ramaswamy Gopalakrishna , Reichert Patrick , Rietman Edward A. , Rolland Thomas , Romero Viviana , Roth Frederick P. , Santhanam Balaji , Schmitz Robert J. , Shinn Paul , Spooner William , Stein Joshua , Swamilingiah Geetha M. , Tam Stanley , Vandenhaute Jean , Vidal Marc , Waaijers Selma , Ware Doreen , Weiner Evan M. , Wu Stacy , Yazaki Junshi
Published: July 2011

An analysis of protein-protein interactions in
Arabidopsis
identifies the plant interactome.
Floral Acoustics: Conspicuous Echoes of a Dish-Shaped Leaf Attract Bat Pollinators
Authors: Simon Ralph , Holderied Marc W. , Koch Corinna U. , von Helversen Otto
Published: July 2011

A bat-pollinated plant has dish-shaped leaves with conspicuous echoes that serve as acoustic attractors.
Sr-Nd-Pb Isotope Evidence for Ice-Sheet Presence on Southern Greenland During the Last Interglacial
Authors: Colville Elizabeth J. , Carlson Anders E. , Beard Brian L. , Hatfield Robert G. , Stoner Joseph S. , Reyes Alberto V. , Ullman David J.
Published: July 2011

Melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet contributed substantially to the excess sea-level rise of the last interglacial period.
Global Human Capital: Integrating Education and Population
Authors: Lutz Wolfgang , KC Samir
Published: July 2011

Almost universally, women with higher levels of education have fewer children. Better education is associated with lower mortality, better health, and different migration patterns. Hence, the global population outlook depends greatly on further progress in education, particularly of young women. By 2050, the highest and lowest education scenarios—assuming identical education-specific fertility rates—result in world population sizes of 8.9 and 10.0 billion, respectively. Better education also matters for human development, including health, economic growth, and democracy. Existing methods of multi-state demography can quantitatively integrate education into standard demographic analysis, thus adding the “quality” dimension.
Human Voice Recognition Depends on Language Ability
Authors: Perrachione Tyler K. , Del Tufo Stephanie N. , Gabrieli John D. E.
Published: July 2011

People with dyslexia have more difficulty than expected in recognizing familiar voices.
RNA Mimics of Green Fluorescent Protein
Authors: Paige Jeremy S. , Wu Karen Y. , Jaffrey Samie R.
Published: July 2011

Selection for RNAs that bind and activate derivatives of the green fluorescent protein fluorophore yields a wide range of useful spectral properties.
Population Policy in Transition in the Developing World
Authors: Bongaarts John , Sinding Steven
Published: July 2011

Population growth remains rapid in the poorest countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, despite substantial AIDS mortality. Voluntary family-planning programs reduce unplanned pregnancies by providing access to and information about contraception and by reducing socioeconomic obstacles to use. With sufficient political will and resources, well-run voluntary programs have been shown to bring about sustained declines in fertility and population growth across much of Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, simply by permitting people to realize their individual reproductive goals. Such programs represent a cost-effective approach to relieving population pressures, stimulating economic development, improving health, and enhancing human freedom.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Neutral Tricoordinate Organoboron Isoelectronic with Amines
Authors: Kinjo Rei , Donnadieu Bruno , Celik Mehmet Ali , Frenking Gernot , Bertrand Guy
Published: July 2011

Carefully chosen carbon substituents stabilize a boron oxidation state that bears an extra electron pair.
7 Billion and Counting
Authors: Bloom David E.
Published: July 2011

The world is currently in the midst of the greatest demographic upheaval in human history. Dramatic reductions in mortality, followed (but with a lag) by equally marked reductions in fertility, resulted in a doubling of world population between 1960 and 2000. A further increase of 2 to 4.5 billion is projected for the current half-century, with the increase concentrated in the world’s least developed countries. Despite alarmist predictions, historical increases in population have not been economically catastrophic. Moreover, changes in population age structure have opened the door to increased prosperity. Demographic changes have had and will continue to have profound repercussions for human well-being and progress, with some possibilities for mediating those repercussions through policy intervention.
China’s Demographic History and Future Challenges
Authors: Peng Xizhe
Published: July 2011

On 28 April 2011, China’s state statistics bureau released its first report on the country’s 2010 population census. The report states that the total population of mainland China reached 1.3397 billion in 2010, with an annual average population growth rate of 0.57% during the previous 10 years. The share of the total population aged 0 to 14 declined from 22.9% in 2000 to 16.6% in 2010, whereas the proportion aged 65 and above grew from 7.0% to 8.9% during the same period. This indicates that China’s population is aging rapidly. The report also shows that China is urbanizing, with nearly half of the population—665.57 million people, or 49.7%—living in urban areas, an increase of 13 percentage points over the 2000 figure. Moreover, about 260 million Chinese people are living away from where they are formally registered, and the overwhelming majority of them (about 220 million) are rural migrants living and working in urban areas but without formal urban household registration status. China is at a demographic turning point: It is changing from an agricultural society into an urban one, from a young society to an old one, and from a society attached to the land to one that is very much on the move.
Building a Lewis Base with Boron
Authors: Wang Yuzhong , Robinson Gregory H.
Published: July 2011

Boron compounds are normally acids, but stable boron bases have been synthesized that may have applications in chemistry involving transition metals.
A Cellular Roadmap for the Plant Kingdom
Authors: Landry Christian R.
Published: July 2011

Mapping the
Arabidopsis
protein interactome helps show that plant pathogens target highly connected proteins.
Who's Talking?
Authors: Kuhl Patricia K.
Published: July 2011

Neural systems in the human brain that process auditory information about who spoke and what they said are functionally integrated.
Report Alters Definition of What Students Should Learn
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: July 2011

A new National Academies' report on improving U.S. science education calls on schools to show how science applies to the real world and how scientists and engineers actually do their jobs.
Bad Birthday News for First Bird?
Authors: Balter Michael
Published: July 2011

A new fossil from China that

looks a lot like
Archaeopteryx
and is apparently just 10 million years older is threatening to topple the earliest known bird from its perch.
9 Billion?
Authors: Roberts Leslie
Published: July 2011

The population projections in these graphics compiled by
Science
can be considered best scientific guesses, not destiny. Still, they offer a window into what the world might look like in 2050.
Are More People Necessarily a Problem?
Authors: Malakoff David
Published: July 2011

As world population surges, debate surrounds studies suggesting that population growth can have economic and environmental benefits.
Does Family Planning Bring Down Fertility?
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: July 2011

Experts have long debated how much access to modern contraceptives matters in places where couples want large families.
A World of Chronic Disease
Authors: Reardon Sara
Published: July 2011

The public health community is sounding the alarm about the global epidemic of chronic diseases, but there are no easy fixes.
Immunogenicity, Boostability, and Sustainability of the Immune Response after Vaccination against Influenza A Virus (H1N1) 2009 in a Healthy Population
Authors: Huijskens Elisabeth , Rossen John , Mulder Paul , van Beek Ruud , van Vugt Hennie , Verbakel Johannes , Rimmelzwaan Guus , Koopmans Marion , Peeters Marcel
Published: July 2011

The emergence of a new influenza A virus (H1N1) variant in 2009 led to a worldwide vaccination program, which was prepared in a relatively short period of time. This study investigated the humoral immunity against this virus before and after vaccination with a 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1) monovalent MF59-adjuvanted vaccine, as well as the persistence of vaccine-induced antibodies. Our prospective longitudinal study included 498 health care workers (mean age, 43 years; median age, 44 years). Most (89%) had never or only occasionally received a seasonal influenza virus vaccine, and 11% were vaccinated annually (on average, for >10 years). Antibody titers were determined by a hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay at baseline, 3 weeks after the first vaccination, and 5 weeks and 7 months after the second vaccination. Four hundred thirty-five persons received two doses of the 2009 vaccine. After the first dose, 79.5% developed a HI titer of ≥40. This percentage increased to 83.3% after the second dose. Persistent antibodies were found in 71.9% of the group that had not received annual vaccinations and in 43.8% of the group that had received annual vaccinations. The latter group tended to have lower HI titers (P=0.09). With increasing age, HI titers decreased significantly, by 2.4% per year. A single dose of the 2009 vaccine was immunogenic in almost 80% of the study population, whereas an additional dose resulted in significantly increased titers only in persons over 50. Finally, a reduced HI antibody response against the 2009 vaccine was found in adults who had previously received seasonal influenza virus vaccination. More studies on the effect of yearly seasonal influenza virus vaccination on the immune response are warranted.
Mycobacterium bovis BCG-Mediated Protection against W-Beijing Strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Is Diminished Concomitant with the Emergence of Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Ordway Diane J. , Shang Shaobin , Henao-Tamayo Marcela , Obregon-Henao Andres , Nold Laura , Caraway Megan , Shanley Crystal A. , Basaraba Randall J. , Duncan Colleen G. , Orme Ian M.
Published: July 2011

Despite issues relating to variable efficacy in the past, the
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG vaccine remains the basis for new-generation recombinant vaccines currently in clinical trials. To date, vaccines have been tested mostly against laboratory strains and not against the newly emerging clinical strains. In this study, we evaluated the ability of BCG Pasteur to protect mice from aerosol infections with two highly virulent W-Beijing clinical strains, HN878 and SA161. In a conventional 30-day protection assay, BCG was highly protective against both strains, but by day 60 of the assay, this protection was diminished. Histological examination of the lungs of vaccinated animals showed reduced lung consolidation and smaller and more-organized granulomas in the vaccinated mice after 30 days, but in both cases, these tissues demonstrated worsening pathology over time. Effector T cell responses were increased in the vaccinated mice infected with HN878, but these diminished in number after day 30 of the infections concomitant with increased CD4
+
Foxp3
+
T cells in the lungs, draining lymph nodes, and the spleen. Given the concomitant decrease in effector immunity and continued expansion of regulatory Foxp3
+
cells observed here, it is reasonable to hypothesize that downregulation of effector immunity by these cells may be a serious impediment to the efficacy of BCG-based vaccines.
Neutralizing Activity of Saliva against Cytomegalovirus
Authors: Saccoccio Frances M. , Gallagher Mary K. , Adler Stuart P. , McVoy Michael A.
Published: July 2011

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is the leading cause of permanent disability in neonates in the United States. Neutralizing antibodies in saliva may protect against maternal CMV infection by blocking viral entry into oral epithelial cells, but the antibody response to CMV in the saliva following natural infection is not well characterized. Saliva specimens from naturally infected individuals were tested for CMV-neutralizing activity using epithelial and fibroblast cells. Saliva from seronegative adults had no inherent anti-CMV activity. Neutralizing activity of saliva from naturally infected adults was not detectable using fibroblast cells, and saliva from young children, adolescents, and Towne vaccine recipients did not have activity using either cell type. However, when using epithelial cells, neutralizing activity was present in saliva from 50% of seropositive adults, correlated with serum-neutralizing activity, and was more prevalent in mothers of children in day care than in non-day care-associated adults. Three day care mothers with high salivary neutralizing activities (>1:20) had exceptionally high serum-neutralizing titers (3- to 8-fold higher than typical seropositives) and were immunoblot positive for serum antibodies to the epithelial entry mediator UL130. These results suggest that salivary neutralizing activities are attainable by induction of high serum IgG levels and could be utilized to evaluate candidate cytomegalovirus vaccines.
Bursopentine as a Novel Immunoadjuvant Enhances both Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses to Inactivated H9N2 Avian Influenza Virus in Chickens
Authors: Li Deyuan , Xue Maoyun , Wang Chen , Wang Junbao , Chen Puyan
Published: July 2011

There is an urgent need for identification of a new adjuvant capable of selectively promoting an efficient immune response for use with vaccines and especially subunit vaccines. Our pervious study showed that Bursopentine (BP5) is a novel immunomodulatory peptide and has the ability to significantly stimulate an antigen-specific immune response in mice. In this study, the potential adjuvant activities of BP5 were examined in chickens by coinjection of BP5 and an inactivated avian influenza virus (AIV) (A/Duck/Jiangsu/NJ08/05 [AIV H9N2 subtype]). The results suggested that BP5 markedly elevated serum hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers and antigen-specific antihemagglutinin (anti-HA) antibody (IgG) levels, induced both Th1 (interleukin 2 [IL-2] and gamma interferon [IFN-γ])- and Th2 (IL-4)-type cytokines, promoted the proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes, and increased populations of CD3+T cells and their subsets CD4+(CD3+CD4+) T cells and CD8+(CD3+CD8+) T cells. Furthermore, a virus challenge experiment revealed that BP5 contributes to protection against homologous avian influenza virus challenge by reducing viral replication in chicken lungs. This study indicates that the combination of inactivated AIVs and BP5 gives a strong immune response at both the humoral and cellular levels and implies that BP5 is a novel immunoadjuvant suitable for vaccine design.
Diverse Cytokine Profile from Mesenteric Lymph Node Cells of Cull Cows Severely Affected with Johne's Disease
Authors: Shu Dairu , Subharat Supatsak , Wedlock D. Neil , Luo Dongwen , de Lisle Geoffrey W. , Buddle Bryce M.
Published: July 2011

Mycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne's disease, is able to dampen or distort immune responses at the mucosal sites and coexist with a massive infiltration of immune cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Knowledge of the mechanism by whichM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosissubverts the immune response at the mucosal level in cattle is important for the development of improved disease control strategies, including new vaccines and diagnostic tests. In this study, 38 cull cows from herds infected withM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosiswere divided into four groups, based onM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosisculture from gut tissues and histopathological lesion scores. Cytokine gene expression and secretion fromM. aviumsubsp.paratuberculosissonicate-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cultures of the animals were compared. Antigen stimulation of MLN cells from the severely lesioned group resulted in significant upregulation of the mRNA expression of five cytokines, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-13, IL-17A, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which have a diverse range of functions, while there was no significant upregulation of these cytokines by the other groups. There were major differences between the responses of the PBMC and MLN cultures, with higher levels of secreted IFN-γ released from the MLN cultures and, conversely, higher levels of IL-10 released from the PBMC cultures. The upregulation of all five cytokines from cells at the site of infection in the severely lesioned animals suggested a dysregulated immune response, contributing to a failure to clear infection in this group of animals.
Adhesin-Encoding Genes from Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Are More Prevalent in Atypical than in Typical Enteropathogenic E. coli
Authors: Gomes Tânia A. T. , Hernandes Rodrigo T. , Torres Alfredo G. , Salvador Fábia A. , Guth Beatriz E. C. , Vaz Tânia M. I. , Irino Kinue , Silva Rosa M. , Vieira Mônica A. M.
Published: July 2011

Four of six adhesin-encoding genes (
lpfA
,
paa
,
iha
, and
toxB
) from Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
strains were detected in typical and atypical enteropathogenic
E. coli
(EPEC) strains of various serotypes. Although the most prevalent gene was
lpfA
in both groups,
paa
was the only potential diarrhea-associated gene in atypical EPEC.
Native Valve Endocarditis Due to a Novel Strain of Legionella
Authors: Pearce Meghan M. , Theodoropoulos Nicole , Noskin Gary A. , Flaherty John P. , Stemper Mary E. , Aspeslet Teresa , Cianciotto Nicholas P. , Reed Kurt D.
Published: July 2011

Legionellae are Gram-negative bacteria which are capable of causing disease, most commonly in the form of pneumonia. We describe a case of native valve endocarditis caused by a
Legionella
strain which by genotypic (16S rRNA and
mip
gene sequencing) and phenotypic analyses is unlike previously described strains of
Legionella
.
Rapid Identification of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin Resistance by Flow Cytometry Using a Peptide Nucleic Acid Probe
Authors: Shrestha Nabin K. , Scalera Nikole M. , Wilson Deborah A. , Brehm-Stecher Byron , Procop Gary W.
Published: July 2011

A total of 56
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates incubated for 2 h in the presence or absence of oxacillin were analyzed by flow cytometry after labeling with an
S. aureus
-specific peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe. Two defined ratios, the paired signal count ratio (PSCR) and the gate signal count ratio (GSCR), differentiated methicillin-resistant
S. aureus
(MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
(MSSA) with sensitivities of 100% each and specificities of 96% and 100%, respectively.
Genotypic Characterization of Ureaplasma Serovars from Clinical Isolates by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis
Authors: Xiao Li , Crabb Donna M. , Moser Stephen A. , Duffy Lynn B. , Glass John I. , Paralanov Vanya , Waites Ken B.
Published: July 2011

Genetic relationships within ureaplasma serovars were investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). One hundred thirteen
Ureaplasma parvum
isolates and 78
Ureaplasma urealyticum
isolates were different from their ATCC serovar type strains and different within the same serovars. The organisms were geographically widespread. No unique patterns were associated with invasive disease.
Multiple-Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Genotyping of Human Brucella Isolates from Turkey
Authors: Kılıç Selçuk , Ivanov Ivan N. , Durmaz Rıza , Bayraktar Mehmet Refik , Ayaşlıoğlu Ergin , Uyanık M. Hamidullah , Alışkan Hikmet , Yaşar Ekrem , Bayramoğlu Gülçin , Arslantürk Ahmet , Vergnaud Gilles , Kantardjiev Todor V.
Published: July 2011

A multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) was applied to investigate the epidemiological relationship and genetic diversity among 162 human
Brucella
isolates collected from all geographic regions of Turkey in an 8-year period (2001 to 2008). The isolates were genotyped by using an MLVA assay developed in Orsay, France (MLVA-16
Orsay
) including eight minisatellite (panel 1) and eight microsatellite (panel 2, subdivided into 2A and 2B) markers. Panels 1 and 2A distinguish 14 genotypes; two of these represented 85% of the strains. Panel 2B displayed a very high discriminatory power. Three loci from panel 2B had diversity index values higher than 0.74. MLVA-16
Orsay
yielded 105 genotypes; 73 were represented by a unique isolate, and 32 included two to eight isolates. The isolates from different patients within the same outbreak or from the same patient before first-line therapy and after relapse showed identical genotypes. A number of MLVA genotypes appeared to be partially restricted to some geographic areas and displayed no annual variation, possibly reflecting persistence of genotypes in certain areas for a time span of at least a decade. This study, representing the first molecular typing results of human
Brucella
isolates from Turkey, indicated that Turkish human
Brucella melitensis
isolates were most closely related to the neighboring countries' isolates included in the East Mediterranean group.