bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipid and Glucose Alterations in HIV-Infected Children Beginning or Changing Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Chantry Caroline J. , Hughes Michael D. , Alvero Carmelita , Cervia Joseph S. , Meyer William A. , Hodge Janice , Borum Peggy , Moye Jack ,   for the PACTG 1010 Team
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to describe lipid profiles and glucose homeostasis in HIV-positive children after initiating or changing antiretroviral therapy and their associations with viral, immune, antiretroviral therapy, and growth factor parameters.

METHODS. Ninety-seven prepubertal HIV-positive children aged 1 month to <13 years were observed for 48 weeks after beginning or changing antiretroviral therapy. Fasting lipid panels, serum glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 and binding proteins-1 and -3, plasma viral load, and CD4% were measured. Each child was matched on age, gender, and race/ethnicity to children from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, used to give z scores for each child's lipid values. Multivariate regression was used to evaluate the association of changes in z scores over 48 weeks with suppression of HIV-1 RNA, change in CD4% and growth factors, and antiretroviral therapy, adjusted for entry z score, CD4%, log10 HIV-1 RNA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention category, and total fat and cholesterol dietary intake.

RESULTS. Lipid, apolipoprotein, and insulin levels all increased significantly by 48 weeks. Multivariate analysis of changes demonstrated that increased HDL and decreased total-HDL cholesterol ratio were associated with CD4% increase and with insulin-like growth factor-1, which increased to normal (versus remained stable or became low) over 48 weeks. Total cholesterol levels increased among children who achieved HIV-1 RNA of <400 copies per mL. Antiretroviral therapy regimens that included both a protease inhibitor and a non–nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor were associated with greater increases in total-HDL cholesterol ratio than regimens that contained a protease inhibitor or a non–nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor but not both.

CONCLUSIONS. In these HIV-positive children with predominantly mild-to-moderate disease, initiation or change in antiretroviral therapy was associated with significant increases in multiple lipid measures and insulin resistance. Favorable lipid changes were associated with CD4% increases, suggesting a protective effect of immune reconstitution on atherosclerosis, and with increased insulin-like growth factor-1 levels, supporting the theory that reduced growth hormone resistance may be a mechanism by which lipid profiles are improved. Finally, antiretroviral therapy regimens that contain both a non–nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and a protease inhibitor are associated with worse lipid profiles than regimens that contain 1 but not both of these drug classes.
Using Health-Related Quality of Life Assessments to Evaluate Care Support Within Medicaid
Authors: Meenan Richard T. , Feeny David , Labby David , Spofford Mark , Mosen David , Ramsay Rebecca
Published: June 2008

CareOregon, an Oregon-based not-for-profit Medicaid health plan, successfully piloted a “CareSupport” model that identifies high-risk members and clinically stratifies them for intervention. Internal analyses indicate that CareSupport lowers utilization and cost; CareOregon, however, has lacked patient-reported outcome data on the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of CareSupport participants. Between September 2005 and November 2006, we conducted a pilot study in which the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), a generic preference-based measure of health status and HRQL, was integrated into CareOregon’s existing screening algorithm for possible admission into CareSupport. We obtained baseline data on 616 CareSupport candidates and 4-month HUI3 follow-up data on 143 candidates (104 CareSupport, 39 non-CareSupport). On a 0.00 (dead)-to-1.00 (perfect health) scale, the mean overall baseline HUI3 score for CareSupport patients was 0.18 (0.20 for non-CareSupport patients), comparable to baseline means reported elsewhere for much older patients immediately after suffering serious acute medical events, such as stroke or hip fracture. A 0.05 mean 4-month improvement in overall HRQL among CareSupport enrollees relative to non-CareSupport enrollees was clinically important but not statistically significant. A 0.10 improvement in HUI3 emotion was both statistically significant and clinically important. Study results provide good preliminary evidence of the value of patient-reported outcomes in clarifying individual illness burden and assessing intervention effectiveness.
Case Management and Outreach: Similarities and Differences in Worker Tasks
Authors: Macan Therese , Cunningham Jennifer , Lemming Matthew R. , Calsyn Robert J.
Published: June 2008

Case management and outreach are two important services provided to many individuals, particularly people with multiple problems. Unfortunately, no taxonomy or measuring instrument has been developed that captures the many dimensions of the jobs performed by both case managers and outreach workers. This study conducted a job analysis that led to the development of an instrument that has a variety of potential uses. It can be (a) a method for classifying both case management and outreach programs on a number of dimensions that can be used in comparing different models of case management and outreach, (b) a means to identify specific case management and outreach activities that might be correlated with client outcomes, and (c) a tool for developing selection criteria as well as performance appraisal dimensions to assess case management and outreach work activities.
Assessment of an approach to estimating aquatic bioconcentration factors using reduced sampling
Authors: Springer Timothy A , Guiney Patrick D , Krueger Henry O , Jaber Mark J
Published: June 2008

For a broad range of circumstances, we show that reliable bioconcentration factor (BCF) estimates can be made using a study design that is based on standard regulatory guideline test procedures but that uses significantly fewer animals and resources. This minimized design involves taking tissue samples only twice during a 14-d depuration period. The utility of the minimized test design was first assessed by resampling data from a series of standard guideline tests and calculating the BCF estimates that would have been obtained if the test had been performed using the minimized design. Data from 25 bioconcentration curves giving BCF estimates ranging from approximately 0.3 to over 20,000 were used. The correlation of log BCF estimates from the guideline study with log BCF estimates from the simulated minimized tests was r2 = 0.99, and the slope of the regression line was 0.96. The robustness of BCF estimates to random variation in measurement of chemicals in fish and water (coefficients of variation of concentrations ranging up to 25%) was evaluated using Monte Carlo simulations. For chemicals with depuration half-lives of less than the length of the depuration period, median BCF estimates from the Monte Carlo simulations of the minimized design were always within 7% of the true BCF. The ratio of the 95th to the 5th percentile BCF estimates was always less than or equal to 3.7. Furthermore, the span from the 95th to the 5th percentile of BCF estimates was only 15% wider in the minimized test than in the full guideline test, even though animal use and analytical effort was markedly reduced.
Atrazine and increased male production byDaphnia: The importance of combining field and laboratory approaches
Authors: Stoeckel James A , González María J , Oris James T , Kovach Mathew J , Mace Kimberly M
Published: June 2008

Atrazine is one of the most commonly applied herbicides in North America and annually pulses through many midwestern stream and reservoir systems. Previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the ability of atrazine to stimulate male production by Daphnia, an effect hypothesized to lower population growth rates during a period of intense larval fish predation. In the present study, populations of Daphnia parvula and Daphnia ambigua exhibited high proportions of males but no ephippial females when atrazine pulsed into Acton Lake, a small midwestern reservoir. Field results thus supported the hypothesis of excess male production by Daphnia during the spring herbicide pulse. In laboratory studies, dose–response studies, and population-level assays revealed no effect of atrazine on male production or population growth rate of multiple clones differing in reproductive strategy and exposure history. However, D. parvula increased male production in response to an endogenous crustacean hormone (methyl farnesoate). Excess male production observed in the field population was therefore not likely caused by atrazine, although we cannot rule out the possibility of interactive effects of atrazine and some other stressor. Apparent signs of endocrine disruption in the presence of high concentrations of a suspected agent should be viewed with caution in the absence of parallel laboratory studies involving individuals from the populations of interest.
Making species salinity sensitivity distributions reflective of naturally occurring communities: Using rapid testing and Bayesian statistics
Authors: Hickey Graeme L , Kefford Ben J , Dunlop Jason E , Craig Peter S
Published: June 2008

Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) may accurately predict the proportion of species in a community that are at hazard from environmental contaminants only if they contain sensitivity data from a large sample of species representative of the mix of species present in the locality or habitat of interest. With current widely accepted ecotoxicological methods, however, this rarely occurs. Two recent suggestions address this problem. First, use rapid toxicity tests, which are less rigorous than conventional tests, to approximate experimentally the sensitivity of many species quickly and in approximate proportion to naturally occurring communities. Second, use expert judgements regarding the sensitivity of higher taxonomic groups (e.g., orders) and Bayesian statistical methods to construct SSDs that reflect the richness (or perceived importance) of these groups. Here, we describe and analyze several models from a Bayesian perspective to construct SSDs from data derived using rapid toxicity testing, combining both rapid test data and expert opinion. We compare these new models with two frequentist approaches, Kaplan–Meier and a log-normal distribution, using a large data set on the salinity sensitivity of freshwater macroinvertebrates from Victoria (Australia). The frequentist log-normal analysis produced a SSD that overestimated the hazard to species relative to the Kaplan–Meier and Bayesian analyses. Of the Bayesian analyses investigated, the introduction of a weighting factor to account for the richness (or importance) of taxonomic groups influenced the calculated hazard to species. Furthermore, Bayesian methods allowed us to determine credible intervals representing SSD uncertainty. We recommend that rapid tests, expert judgements, and novel Bayesian statistical methods be used so that SSDs reflect communities of organisms found in nature.
High within-individual variation in total mercury concentration in seabird feathers
Authors: Bond Alexander L , Diamond Antony W
Published: June 2008

To our knowledge, no rigorous assessment of the variation in mercury concentrations within individual seabirds has been made using multiple body feathers. We analyzed five feathers from individual Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea Pontoppidan), common terns (Sterna hirundo L.), and Leach's storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa Veillot) and found levels of within-individual variability higher than population or time-series variation. Using a randomization procedure, we found a large range of possible mercury concentrations if only one feather per individual had been sampled. Researchers should report within-individual variability in future studies.
Dense-Timed Petri Nets: Checking Zenoness, Token liveness and Boundedness
Authors: Abdulla Parosh , Mahata Pritha , Mayr Richard
Published: June 2008

We consider Dense-Timed Petri Nets (TPN), an extension of Petri nets in which
each token is equipped with a real-valued clock and where the semantics is lazy
(i.e., enabled transitions need not fire; time can pass and disable
transitions). We consider the following verification problems for TPNs. (i)
Zenoness: whether there exists a zeno-computation from a given marking, i.e.,
an infinite computation which takes only a finite amount of time. We show
decidability of zenoness for TPNs, thus solving an open problem from [Escrig et
al.]. Furthermore, the related question if there exist arbitrarily fast
computations from a given marking is also decidable. On the other hand,
universal zenoness, i.e., the question if all infinite computations from a
given marking are zeno, is undecidable. (ii) Token liveness: whether a token is
alive in a marking, i.e., whether there is a computation from the marking which
eventually consumes the token. We show decidability of the problem by reducing
it to the coverability problem, which is decidable for TPNs. (iii) Boundedness:
whether the size of the reachable markings is bounded. We consider two versions
of the problem; namely semantic boundedness where only live tokens are taken
into consideration in the markings, and syntactic boundedness where also dead
tokens are considered. We show undecidability of semantic boundedness, while we
prove that syntactic boundedness is decidable through an extension of the
Karp-Miller algorithm.
Logic Meets Algebra: the Case of Regular Languages
Authors: Tesson Pascal , Therien Denis
Published: June 2008

The study of finite automata and regular languages is a privileged meeting
point of algebra and logic. Since the work of Buchi, regular languages have
been classified according to their descriptive complexity, i.e. the type of
logical formalism required to define them. The algebraic point of view on
automata is an essential complement of this classification: by providing
alternative, algebraic characterizations for the classes, it often yields the
only opportunity for the design of algorithms that decide expressibility in
some logical fragment.
We survey the existing results relating the expressibility of regular
languages in logical fragments of MSO[S] with algebraic properties of their
minimal automata. In particular, we show that many of the best known results in
this area share the same underlying mechanics and rely on a very strong
relation between logical substitutions and block-products of pseudovarieties of
monoid. We also explain the impact of these connections on circuit complexity
theory.
Automata with Nested Pebbles Capture First-Order Logic with Transitive Closure
Authors: Engelfriet Joost , Hoogeboom Hendrik Jan
Published: June 2008

String languages recognizable in (deterministic) log-space are characterized
either by two-way (deterministic) multi-head automata, or following Immerman,
by first-order logic with (deterministic) transitive closure. Here we elaborate
this result, and match the number of heads to the arity of the transitive
closure. More precisely, first-order logic with k-ary deterministic transitive
closure has the same power as deterministic automata walking on their input
with k heads, additionally using a finite set of nested pebbles. This result is
valid for strings, ordered trees, and in general for families of graphs having
a fixed automaton that can be used to traverse the nodes of each of the graphs
in the family. Other examples of such families are grids, toruses, and
rectangular mazes. For nondeterministic automata, the logic is restricted to
positive occurrences of transitive closure.
The special case of k=1 for trees, shows that single-head deterministic
tree-walking automata with nested pebbles are characterized by first-order
logic with unary deterministic transitive closure. This refines our earlier
result that placed these automata between first-order and monadic second-order
logic on trees.
A Finite Semantics of Simply-Typed Lambda Terms for Infinite Runs of Automata
Authors: Aehlig Klaus
Published: June 2008

Model checking properties are often described by means of finite automata.
Any particular such automaton divides the set of infinite trees into finitely
many classes, according to which state has an infinite run. Building the full
type hierarchy upon this interpretation of the base type gives a finite
semantics for simply-typed lambda-trees.
A calculus based on this semantics is proven sound and complete. In
particular, for regular infinite lambda-trees it is decidable whether a given
automaton has a run or not. As regular lambda-trees are precisely recursion
schemes, this decidability result holds for arbitrary recursion schemes of
arbitrary level, without any syntactical restriction.
Relating two standard notions of secrecy
Authors: Cortier Veronique , Rusinovitch Michael , Zalinescu Eugen
Published: June 2008

Two styles of definitions are usually considered to express that a security
protocol preserves the confidentiality of a data s. Reachability-based secrecy
means that s should never be disclosed while equivalence-based secrecy states
that two executions of a protocol with distinct instances for s should be
indistinguishable to an attacker. Although the second formulation ensures a
higher level of security and is closer to cryptographic notions of secrecy,
decidability results and automatic tools have mainly focused on the first
definition so far.
This paper initiates a systematic investigation of the situations where
syntactic secrecy entails strong secrecy. We show that in the passive case,
reachability-based secrecy actually implies equivalence-based secrecy for
digital signatures, symmetric and asymmetric encryption provided that the
primitives are probabilistic. For active adversaries, we provide sufficient
(and rather tight) conditions on the protocol for this implication to hold.
Probabilistic Interval Temporal Logic and Duration Calculus with Infinite Intervals: Complete Proof Systems
Authors: Guelev Dimitar P.
Published: June 2008

The paper presents probabilistic extensions of interval temporal logic (ITL)
and duration calculus (DC) with infinite intervals and complete Hilbert-style
proof systems for them. The completeness results are a strong completeness
theorem for the system of probabilistic ITL with respect to an abstract
semantics and a relative completeness theorem for the system of probabilistic
DC with respect to real-time semantics. The proposed systems subsume
probabilistic real-time DC as known from the literature. A correspondence
between the proposed systems and a system of probabilistic interval temporal
logic with finite intervals and expanding modalities is established too.
From Nondeterministic B\"uchi and Streett Automata to Deterministic Parity Automata
Authors: Piterman Nir
Published: June 2008

In this paper we revisit Safra's determinization constructions for automata
on infinite words. We show how to construct deterministic automata with fewer
states and, most importantly, parity acceptance conditions. Determinization is
used in numerous applications, such as reasoning about tree automata,
satisfiability of CTL*, and realizability and synthesis of logical
specifications. The upper bounds for all these applications are reduced by
using the smaller deterministic automata produced by our construction. In
addition, the parity acceptance conditions allows to use more efficient
algorithms (when compared to handling Rabin or Streett acceptance conditions).
Verification of Ptime Reducibility for system F Terms: Type Inference in Dual Light Affine Logic
Authors: Atassi Vincent , Baillot Patrick , Terui Kazushige
Published: June 2008

In a previous work Baillot and Terui introduced Dual light affine logic
(DLAL) as a variant of Light linear logic suitable for guaranteeing complexity
properties on lambda calculus terms: all typable terms can be evaluated in
polynomial time by beta reduction and all Ptime functions can be represented.
In the present work we address the problem of typing lambda-terms in
second-order DLAL. For that we give a procedure which, starting with a term
typed in system F, determines whether it is typable in DLAL and outputs a
concrete typing if there exists any. We show that our procedure can be run in
time polynomial in the size of the original Church typed system F term.
A proof of strong normalisation using domain theory
Authors: Coquand Thierry , Spiwack Arnaud
Published: June 2008

Ulrich Berger presented a powerful proof of strong normalisation using
domains, in particular it simplifies significantly Tait's proof of strong
normalisation of Spector's bar recursion. The main contribution of this paper
is to show that, using ideas from intersection types and Martin-Lof's domain
interpretation of type theory one can in turn simplify further U. Berger's
argument. We build a domain model for an untyped programming language where U.
Berger has an interpretation only for typed terms or alternatively has an
interpretation for untyped terms but need an extra condition to deduce strong
normalisation. As a main application, we show that Martin-L\"{o}f dependent
type theory extended with a program for Spector double negation shift.
Model Checking Synchronized Products of Infinite Transition Systems
Authors: Wöhrle Stefan , Thomas Wolfgang
Published: June 2008

Formal verification using the model checking paradigm has to deal with two
aspects: The system models are structured, often as products of components, and
the specification logic has to be expressive enough to allow the formalization
of reachability properties. The present paper is a study on what can be
achieved for infinite transition systems under these premises. As models we
consider products of infinite transition systems with different synchronization
constraints. We introduce finitely synchronized transition systems, i.e.
product systems which contain only finitely many (parameterized) synchronized
transitions, and show that the decidability of FO(R), first-order logic
extended by reachability predicates, of the product system can be reduced to
the decidability of FO(R) of the components. This result is optimal in the
following sense: (1) If we allow semifinite synchronization, i.e. just in one
component infinitely many transitions are synchronized, the FO(R)-theory of the
product system is in general undecidable. (2) We cannot extend the expressive
power of the logic under consideration. Already a weak extension of first-order
logic with transitive closure, where we restrict the transitive closure
operators to arity one and nesting depth two, is undecidable for an
asynchronous (and hence finitely synchronized) product, namely for the infinite
grid.
A Characterisation of First-Order Constraint Satisfaction Problems
Authors: Larose Benoit , Loten Cynthia , Tardif Claude
Published: June 2008

We describe simple algebraic and combinatorial characterisations of finite
relational core structures admitting finitely many obstructions. As a
consequence, we show that it is decidable to determine whether a constraint
satisfaction problem is first-order definable: we show the general problem to
be NP-complete, and give a polynomial-time algorithm in the case of cores. A
slight modification of this algorithm provides, for first-order definable
CSP's, a simple poly-time algorithm to produce a solution when one exists. As
an application of our algebraic characterisation of first order CSP's, we
describe a large family of L-complete CSP's.
The Church Synthesis Problem with Parameters
Authors: Rabinovich Alexander
Published: June 2008

For a two-variable formula ψ(X,Y) of Monadic Logic of Order (MLO) the
Church Synthesis Problem concerns the existence and construction of an operator
Y=F(X) such that ψ(X,F(X)) is universally valid over Nat.
B\"{u}chi and Landweber proved that the Church synthesis problem is
decidable; moreover, they showed that if there is an operator F that solves the
Church Synthesis Problem, then it can also be solved by an operator defined by
a finite state automaton or equivalently by an MLO formula. We investigate a
parameterized version of the Church synthesis problem. In this version ψ
might contain as a parameter a unary predicate P. We show that the Church
synthesis problem for P is computable if and only if the monadic theory of
<Nat,<,P> is decidable. We prove that the B\"{u}chi-Landweber theorem can be
extended only to ultimately periodic parameters. However, the MLO-definability
part of the B\"{u}chi-Landweber theorem holds for the parameterized version of
the Church synthesis problem.
Algebraic Pattern Matching in Join Calculus
Authors: Ma Qin , Maranget Luc
Published: June 2008

We propose an extension of the join calculus with pattern matching on
algebraic data types. Our initial motivation is twofold: to provide an
intuitive semantics of the interaction between concurrency and pattern
matching; to define a practical compilation scheme from extended join
definitions into ordinary ones plus ML pattern matching. To assess the
correctness of our compilation scheme, we develop a theory of the applied join
calculus, a calculus with value passing and value matching. We implement this
calculus as an extension of the current JoCaml system.
A Distribution Law for CCS and a New Congruence Result for the pi-calculus
Authors: Hirschkoff Daniel , Pous Damien
Published: June 2008

We give an axiomatisation of strong bisimilarity on a small fragment of CCS
that does not feature the sum operator. This axiomatisation is then used to
derive congruence of strong bisimilarity in the finite pi-calculus in absence
of sum. To our knowledge, this is the only nontrivial subcalculus of the
pi-calculus that includes the full output prefix and for which strong
bisimilarity is a congruence.
A lower bound on web services composition
Authors: Muscholl Anca , Walukiewicz Igor
Published: June 2008

A web service is modeled here as a finite state machine. A composition
problem for web services is to decide if a given web service can be constructed
from a given set of web services; where the construction is understood as a
simulation of the specification by a fully asynchronous product of the given
services. We show an EXPTIME-lower bound for this problem, thus matching the
known upper bound. Our result also applies to richer models of web services,
such as the Roman model.
Leaching Behavior of a Fluorescent Pyoverdin Immobilized in Sol-Gel Glass
Authors: Yoder Michael F. , Kisaalita William S.
Published: June 2008

The leaching behavior of fluorescent siderophore, pyoverdin (iron biosensor), immobilized in acid-catalyzed
sol-gel glass is examined. By varying the R value (molar ratio of water:silicon), three different formulations of pyoverdindoped
sol-gel glass pellets (R = 5.6, 8.2, 10.8) were made with tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS). At three different aging
times (2, 4, and 6 weeks), 7-day leaching experiments were conducted on whole and ground pellets. Two different leaching
solutions were used: 0.1 M acetate buffer, pH 5.0, and 1 M HCl. Pyoverdin immobilization resulted in conformation
changes as suggested by the appearance of two emission peaks centered at 440 and 505 nm. As expected, pyoverdin
leached more rapidly from the ground glass; 61 % of the pyoverdin leached from the ground glass within the first 20 minutes,
while after 3 hours, only 54 % of the pyoverdin had leached from the whole pellets. As the sol-gel glass aged from 2
to 6 weeks, the initial fluorescence of the ground glass decreased by 34 – 46 % for the three sol-gel formulations, and the
7-day cumulative leachate decreased by 13 – 31 %. However, sol-gel with the lowest R value (5.6) retained pyoverdin better
that sol-gels at higher R values. The release of pyoverdin was also characterized by the diffusional exponent (n), which
ranged from 0.527 to 0.802 for the ground glass, and from 0.276 to 0.415 for the whole pellets, confirming that whole pellets
retained pyoverdin better than ground glass. Taken together, the results suggest for a given sensor configuration, retention
of pyoverdin can be optimized with respect to pellet size, R value and aging time.
Exploitation of for the Heterologous Production of Cellulases and Hemicellulases
Authors: Rose S.H. , Zyl W.H. van
Published: June 2008

Filamentous fungi of the group are native soil saprophytic fungi. Industrial strains of this
group have been extensively used for the production of plant degrading enzymes for the food and beverage, animal feed
and paper-and-pulp industries. Recombinant DNA technology allows for the overproduction of these enzymes in copious
amounts. The advantages and limitations of A. niger as recombinant host for enzyme production are briefly discussed.
Specific attention is devoted to the overproduction of several cellulases and hemicellulases to high homogeneity in the
protease-deficient strain A. niger D15. The size, temperature and pH optima of the heterologous enzymes were shown to
be similar to that of their natively produced counter parts. The optimization of enzyme production in dilute sugar cane
molasses, using a recombinant strain producing the xylanase II of Trichoderma reesei as example, was also demonstrated.
C-Kit Ligand Promotes Mast Cell Infection by Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Bidri Mohamed , Conti Marc , Hanoun Naïma , Kuen René Lai , Feger Frédéric , Taoufiq Zacharie , Arock Michel , Mazier Dominique , Vouldoukis Ioannis
Published: June 2008

Biological functions of mast cells include a functional role in innate immunity against parasitic infections.
Here, we demonstrated that mast cells could also play a role in the anti-microbial defenses regulation and might participate
as a parasite reservoir. We observed that Toxoplasma gondii infected massively in vitro mouse bone marrow derived
mast cells (BMMC), a mucosal mast cell (MMC) phenotype, followed by substantial cell lysis. This induced release of β-
hexosaminidase, but not of preformed or neosynthesized TNF-α. Culturing MMC in the presence of recombinant mouse
stem cell factor (c-kit ligand) led to their maturation into connective tissue-like mast cells (CTMC), which T. gondii was
able to adhere on and to infect more. T. gondii infection did not induce release of β-hexosaminidase and serotonin from
BMMC. These results demonstrated that mast cells interact with T. gondii and are massively infected, especially after
their maturation by c-kit ligand.
The S. japonicum-Based pGEX Vector: Commercial Outcomes from Analysis of Model Host-Parasite Relationships in a “North-South” Collaboration
Authors: Mitchell Graham F. , Davern Kathy M. , Tiu Wilfred U.
Published: June 2008

As judged by widespread utility in protein production from recombinant Escherichia coli and by the magnitude
of royalty payments to Melbourne’s Walter & Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), the expression vector pGEX, invented by Dr
Donald Smith, has been a significant commercial success. It is based on the 26kDa glutathione S-transferase of Schisto-soma japonicum(Philippines) termed Sj26GST, that emerged from work throughout the 1980’s on resistance to infection in a peculiar mouse strain, WEHI 129/J. Sj26GST was the lead vaccine candidate for this human helminth worm being pursued in a long-term collaboration between WEHI in Australia and Dr Edito Garcia’s1group at the College of Public
Health, University of the Philippines in Manila that commenced in 1980.

The product, pGEX, is an excellent example of commercial spin-off from basic research in mouse model systems that indeed
evolved into an applied research program but with a very different goal, namely rational molecular vaccine development.
Effects of Hypermedia-Infused Professional Development on Attitudes Toward Teaching Science
Authors: Hartshorne Richard
Published: June 2008

Recent calls for improvements in the teaching of science gave rise to the implementation of numerous reform strategies in the elementary classroom. Although, they have not met with success in all content areas, professional development workshops have been shown to be effective in producing changes in teachers, the teaching process, and ultimately student learning. The integration of hypermedia is one method of improving the effectiveness of elementary science professional development workshops. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the integration of hypermedia into professional development opportunities on elementary teachers' attitudes toward science. In this research, integrating hypermedia had a positive influence on elementary teachers' attitudes toward science and was an integral component of increases in their attitudes toward science. The study provides a foundation for future research related to integrating hypermedia into professional development settings.
Role of Central Nervous System Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptors in Enteric Glucose Sensing
Authors: Knauf Claude , Cani Patrice D. , Kim Dong-Hoon , Iglesias Miguel A. , Chabo Chantal , Waget Aurélie , Colom André , Rastrelli Sophie , Delzenne Nathalie M. , Drucker Daniel J. , Seeley Randy J. , Burcelin Remy
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—Ingested glucose is detected by specialized sensors in the enteric/hepatoportal vein, which send neural signals to the brain, which in turn regulates key peripheral tissues. Hence, impairment in the control of enteric-neural glucose sensing could contribute to disordered glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to determine the cells in the brain targeted by the activation of the enteric glucose-sensing system.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We selectively activated the axis in mice using a low-rate intragastric glucose infusion in wild-type and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor knockout mice, neuropeptide Y–and proopiomelanocortin–green fluorescent protein–expressing mice, and high-fat diet diabetic mice. We quantified the whole-body glucose utilization rate and the pattern of c-Fos positive in the brain.

RESULTS—Enteric glucose increased muscle glycogen synthesis by 30% and regulates c-Fos expression in the brainstem and the hypothalamus. Moreover, the synthesis of muscle glycogen was diminished after central infusion of the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1Rc) antagonist Exendin 9-39 and abolished in GLP-1Rc knockout mice. Gut-glucose–sensitive c-Fos–positive cells of the arcuate nucleus colocalized with neuropeptide Y–positive neurons but not with proopiomelanocortin-positive neurons. Furthermore, high-fat feeding prevented the enteric activation of c-Fos expression.

CONCLUSIONS—We conclude that the gut-glucose sensor modulates peripheral glucose metabolism through a nutrient-sensitive mechanism, which requires brain GLP-1Rc signaling and is impaired during diabetes.
Longitudinal Association of Glucose Metabolism With Retinopathy
Authors: Tapp Robyn J. , Tikellis Gabriella , Wong Tien Y. , Harper C. Alex , Zimmet Paul Z. , Shaw Jonathan E. ,   on behalf of the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Study Group
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—We determined the longitudinal association of glucose metabolism with retinopathy in a sample of the Australian population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study is a national, longitudinal study of adults aged ≥25 years from 42 randomly selected areas of Australia. Retinopathy was assessed at baseline in 1999–2000 and 5 years later in 2004–2005 in participants identified as having diabetes (based on self-report and oral glucose tolerance test) and impaired glucose metabolism and in a random sample with normal glucose tolerance. Complete retinal data were available for 1,192 participants. Photographs were graded at two time points according to a simplified version of the Wisconsin grading system.

RESULTS—The 5-year incidences of retinopathy were 13.9 and 3.0% among those with known and newly diagnosed diabetes at baseline, respectively. Of those who developed incident newly diagnosed diabetes at follow-up, 11.9% had retinopathy at baseline compared with 5.6% of those who did not progress to incident newly diagnosed diabetes (P = 0.037). After adjustment for factors identified as risk factors for diabetes, individuals with retinopathy signs at baseline were twice as likely to develop incident newly diagnosed diabetes compared with those who did not have retinopathy signs at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS—The 5-year incidence of retinopathy was 13.9% among individuals with known diabetes. Nondiabetic individuals with retinopathy signs at baseline had a twofold higher risk of developing incident newly diagnosed diabetes 5 years later. This result provides further evidence that mild retinopathy signs may be a preclinical marker of underlying microvascular disease and future diabetes risk.
Diabetes Complications in Youth
Authors: Buckloh Lisa M. , Lochrie Amanda S. , Antal Holly , Milkes Amy , Canas J. Atilio , Hutchinson Sally , Wysocki Tim
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—Youth with type 1 diabetes face long-term risks of health complications of the disease. Little is known about patients’ and parents’ knowledge, acquisition of information, and family communication regarding these complications. This paper reports qualitative analyses of parental focus-group discussions of this topic.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 47 participants (30 mothers, 14 fathers, and 3 others) representing 33 children between the ages of 8 and 18 years with type 1 diabetes participated in 1 of 13 focus groups. Open-ended questions focused on the type and amount of information about long-term complications presented to parents by health care professionals at different time points, as well as the way that information was presented. Questions also elicited details about parent-child communication and exposure to misconceptions about diabetes complications.

RESULTS—Qualitative analysis of the transcribed focus groups revealed that participants experienced significant anxiety about diabetes complications, with a shift from concern about daily management tasks to concern about long-term complications over time. Participants desired a flexible, collaborative educational approach, especially regarding the timing and type of information, relative to the child's age and duration of diabetes. Many parents wanted more sensitive communication and emotional support from health care providers. Motivating children appeared to be a particular challenge; family burnout with regard to diabetes care over time was reported. Knowledge was gained in many ways, yet misinformation was uncommon.

CONCLUSIONS—Obtaining information about long-term complications is an important process that changes over the course of the disease and with the child's developmental level. More research is needed, especially regarding youth knowledge, learning, and beliefs about diabetes complications.
Inflammation Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Diagnosed Diabetes in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Kim Catherine , Cheng Yiling J. , Beckles Gloria L.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—We compared inflammatory markers among women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (hGDM), women with diagnosed diabetes, and unaffected women in a population-based sample.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We conducted cross-sectional analyses of 6,346 nonpregnant women in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994). Women were classified as having hGDM (n = 87), diagnosed diabetes (n = 244), or neither condition (n = 6,015). Inflammatory markers included ferritin, leukocyte count, and C-reactive protein levels.

RESULTS—After adjustment, women with diagnosed diabetes had the most marked differences in inflammatory markers compared with unaffected women. Differences between unaffected women and women with hGDM were minimal.

CONCLUSIONS—Women with diagnosed diabetes have less favorable inflammation profiles than unaffected women and greater ferritin levels than women with hGDM. After adjustment, women with hGDM who have not developed diagnosed diabetes have inflammation profiles similar to those of unaffected women.
Increased Risk of Diabetes and Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Dioxins
Authors: Wang Shu-Li , Tsai Pei-Chien , Yang Chiu-Yueh , Leon Guo Yueliang
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are important and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in humans. Recent cross-sectional studies have detected increased concentrations of serum POPs in diabetic patients. We aimed to examine the association between previous high exposures to PCBs and PCDFs and the cumulative incidence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—During the late 1970s, the consumption of rice-bran oil laced with PCBs poisoned thousands of Taiwanese. Between 1993 and 2003, we examined 1,054 Yucheng (“oil disease”) victims against neighborhood reference subjects using a protocol blinded for POP exposure. Here, we report the results derived from 378 Yucheng subjects and 370 matched references.

RESULTS—The diabetes risk to members of the Yucheng cohort relative to their reference subjects was significantly increased for women (odds ratio [OR] 2.1 [95% CI 1.1–4.5]) but not for men after considering age, BMI, cigarette smoking, and alcohol intake. Yucheng women diagnosed with chloracne had adjusted ORs of 5.5 (95% CI 2.3–13.4) for diabetes and 3.5 (1.7–7.2) for hypertension compared with those who were chloracne free.

CONCLUSIONS—Yucheng women, who had endured previous exposure to PCBs and PCDFs, suffered from increased incidences of diabetes, particularly those who had retained significant levels of pollutant as evident from chloracne. When planning treatments against diabetes, the body burden of PCBs and dioxins should be carefully considered, especially for women.
Sexual Dysfunction in Jordanian Diabetic Women
Authors: Abu Ali Ruba M. , Al Hajeri Rabaa M. , Khader Yousef S. , Shegem Nadima S. , Ajlouni Kamel M.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—To estimate the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in diabetic and nondiabetic Jordanian women.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Data were collected from 1,137 married women using the Arabic translation of the Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire.

RESULTS—Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in diabetic women 50 years of age or older was 59.6 vs. 45.6% in nondiabetic women (P = 0.003). Diabetic women had more dysfunction of desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm than nondiabetic women. Glycemic control, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension, autonomic neuropathy, and peripheral neuropathy did not have a significant effect on FSD. Age, BMI, duration of diabetes, and the presence of coronary artery disease, nephropathy, and retinopathy had negative effects on FSD.

CONCLUSIONS—Prevalence of FSD among Jordanian women was found to be significantly higher in diabetic compared with nondiabetic women.
Explaining the Decline in Early Mortality in Men and Women With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Charlton Judith , Latinovic Radoslav , Gulliford Martin C.
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that changing utilization of lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, and oral hypoglycemic drugs may be associated with trends in all-cause mortality in men and women with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—This was a cohort study in 197 general practices in the U.K. General Practice Research Database including 48,579 subjects with type 2 diabetes first diagnosed between 1996 and 2006. Measures included all-cause mortality and prescription of hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, and antihypertensive drugs.

RESULTS—From 1996 to 2006, incidence of type 2 diabetes increased and the mean age at diagnosis declined in women. Prescription of statins within 12 months of diagnosis increased (1996, women 4.9%, men 5.1%; 2005, women 63.5%, men 71.0%), as did drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system (1996, women 19.4%, men 21.5%; 2005, women 45.5%, men 54.6%) and metformin (1996, women 19.1%, men 15.8%; 2005, women 45.5%, men 42.8%), whereas prescription of sulfonylureas declined. All-cause mortality in the first 24 months after diabetes diagnosis declined in men from 47.9 per 1,000 person-years for subjects with diabetes diagnosed in 1996 to 25.2 for subjects with diabetes diagnosed in 2006 and in women from 37.4 in 1996 to 27.6 in 2006. In a multiple regression model adjusting for age and comorbidity, prescription of statins before or after diagnosis, renin-angiotensin system drugs before or after diagnosis, and metformin after diagnosis were associated with lower mortality.

CONCLUSIONS—Widespread implementation of more effective prescribing to control lipids, blood glucose, and blood pressure may have contributed to recent declines in early mortality in men and women with type 2 diabetes.
Influence of Maternal Obesity on Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion in Offspring
Authors: Mingrone Geltrude , Manco Melania , Valera Mora Maria Elena , Guidone Caterina , Iaconelli Amerigo , Gniuli Donatella , Leccesi Laura , Chiellini Chiara , Ghirlanda Giovanni
Published: June 2008

OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects of maternal obesity on insulin sensitivity and secretion in offspring.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Fifty-one offspring of both sexes of obese (Ob group) and 15 offspring of normal-weight (control group) mothers were studied. Plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were measured during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Insulin sensitivity was calculated using the oral glucose insulin sensitivity index, and insulin secretion and β-cell glucose sensitivity were computed by a mathematical model. Fasting leptin and adiponectin were also measured. Body composition was assessed by dual-X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS—No birth weight statistical difference was observed in the two groups. Of the Ob group, 69% were obese and 19% were overweight. The Ob group were more insulin resistant than the control group (398.58 ± 79.32 vs. 513.81 ± 70.70 ml−1 · min−1 · m−2 in women, P < 0.0001; 416.42 ± 76.17 vs. 484.242 ± 45.76 ml−1 · min−1 · m−2 in men, P < 0.05). Insulin secretion after OGTT was higher in Ob group than in control group men (63.94 ± 21.20 vs. 35.71 ± 10.02 nmol · m−2, P < 0.01) but did not differ significantly in women. β-Cell glucose sensitivity was not statistically different between groups. A multivariate analysis of variance showed that maternal obesity and offspring sex concurred together with BMI and β-cell glucose sensitivity to determine the differences in insulin sensitivity and secretion observed in offspring.

CONCLUSIONS—Obese mothers can give birth to normal birth weight babies who later develop obesity and insulin resistance. The maternal genetic/epigenetic transmission shows a clear sexual dimorphism, with male offspring having a higher value of insulin sensitivity (although not statistically significant) associated with significantly higher insulin secretion than female offspring.