bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of kleptomania with fluvoxamine
Authors: Chong S. A. , Iow B. L.
Published: August 2007

Chong SA, Low BL. Treatment of kleptomania with fluvoxamine.

Scand 1996: 93: 314–315. © Munksgaard 1996.

We report a patient fulfilling DSM‐IV criteria for kleptomania who failed to respond to psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and pharmacotherapy with clomipramine, imipramine and lithium. He was successfully treated with the serotonergic agent fluvoxamine.
The Nordic comparative studv on sectorized psychcatry. Part IV. The influence of patient social characteristics on treated incidence
Authors: Vinding H. R. , Hansson L. , Zandrén T. , Göstas G. , Lindhardt A. , Saarento O. , Sandlund M. , Öiesvold T.
Published: August 2007

Vinding HR, Hansson L, Zandrén T, Göstas G, Lindhardt A, Saarento O, Sandlund M, Öiesvold T. The Nordic comparative study on sectorized psychiatry. Part IV. The influence of patient social characteristics on treated incidence.

Acta Psychiatr Scand 1996: 93: 339–344. © Munksgaard 1996.

As part of a Nordic comparative study on sectorized psychiatry, sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age and marital status) were studied in relation to treated incidence in eight diagnostic subgroups. One‐year incidence cohorts in seven sectorized psychiatric services were used. Women with a neurosis diagnosis had a significantly higher relative probability of contact with all services. Men with a dependence diagnosis had a significantly higher relative probability of contact with four of the seven services. Older people had a significantly higher relative risk for affective psychosis in six of the seven centres, and younger individuals had a significantly higher relative risk for personality disorders in six of the seven centres. Unmarried people showed a higher relative risk for functional psychosis and personality disorders in five of the seven services.
Perceived parental rearing behaviour in patients with a schizophrenic disorder and its relationship to aspects of the course of the illness
Authors: Skagerlind L. , Perris C. , Eisemann M.
Published: August 2007

Skagerlind L, Perris C, Eisemann M. Perceived parental rearing behaviour in patients with a schizophrenic disorder and its relationship to aspects of the course of the illness.

Acta Psychiatr Scand 1996: 93: 403–406. © Munksgaard 1996.

A total of 57 patients of both sexes (27 women and 30 men) with a definite diagnosis of a schizophrenic disorder completed the EMBU, a Swedish instrument designed to assess the experience of parental behaviour, that has been extensively used in cross‐national studies. As in previous studies in different patient populations, three factors, ‘rejection’, ‘emotional warmth’ and ‘overprotection’, have been taken into account. The results obtained in the patient group were compared with those obtained in a control sample of healthy Swedish subjects. Schizophrenic patients rated both parents higher than controls on the factor ‘rejection’, and rated their mothers lower on the factor ‘emotional warmth’. No correlation was found between EMBU score and age at the first hospitalization, or number of rehospitalizations within 1 year after discharge at the index episode. The present results cross‐validate those obtained by other authors in other cultural settings, and suggest that negative experiences of parental rearing might be an important factor contributing to the development of ‘vulnerability’ in a person who will subsequently develop a schizophrenic disorder.
Psychosocial predictors of major affective recurrences in bipolar disorder: a 4‐year longitudinal study of patients on prophylactic treatment
Authors: Stefos G. , Bauwens F. , Staner L. , Pardoen D. , Mendlewicz J.
Published: August 2007

A total of 21 recovered bipolar patients on prophylactic treatment were prospectively followed up for a period of 1 year. Data for major recurrences were retrospectively collected for an additional 3–year period. During the entire 4–year period, over half of the patients (52%) had no major affective recurrences. Eight patients experienced a major depressive episode, while only two experienced a manic one. Psychosocial and clinical variables were assessed at entry to the study. The effect of these variables on the subsequent 4–year illness course was analysed using survivorship curves. The results show that the following psychosocial variables significantly predicted the occurrence of a major affective episode: low level of social support, maladjustment in social and leisure activities, and poor quality of relationships with extended family. In contrast, clinical variables which characterize illness history were not significantly associated with major recurrences.
Care utilization and the incidence of suicide: suicide victims' contacts with primary health care and psychiatry in six psychiatric districts in the County of Stockholm from 1979 to 1990
Authors: Hydén L‐C.
Published: August 2007

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether suicide victims had ever been in contact with a primary health‐care centre, a psychiatric out patient treatment centre or any form of institutional psychiatric care, and whether there had been any change in such patterns over time. The results show an increase in the number of suicide victims seeking help from the primary health‐care centres. The transformation within psychiatry from hospitalized care to out‐patient care resulted in a corresponding increase in the number of suicide victims who applied to psychiatric out‐patient care services. The move towards non‐institutional forms of care has probably contributed to the decrease in the total number of suicides observed during the study period.
Age of onset in familial and sporadic schizoph4.4.renia
Authors: Alda M. , Ahrens B. , Lit W. , Dvorakova M. , Labelle A. , Zvolsky P. , Jones B.
Published: August 2007

We have studied the gender and family history differences with regard to age of onset of schizophrenia. These differences have often been viewed as an important clue to the aetiology of the illness. Patients from three centres in Europe and Canada were included in the study. A sample of 1089 subjects was categorized according to the subject's sex, family history of schizophrenia, and the centre. The principal statistical method was analysis of variance. Patients with no family history of schizophrenia had a consistently higher average age of onset. This effect was seen in both male and female subjects across all three groups. These results support the relationship between familial risk and early onset, but no interaction of gender and family history was found.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING FEATURES OF ORBITAL INFLAMMATION WITH INTRACRANIAL EXTENSION IN FOUR DOGS
Authors: KNEISSL SIBYLLE , KONAR MARTIN , FUCHS‐BAUMGARTINGER ANDREA , NELL BARBARA
Published: August 2007

This retrospective study describes the clinical and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of chronic orbital inflammation with intracranial extension in four dogs (two Dachshunds, one Labrador, one Swiss Mountain). Intracranial extension was observed through the optic canal (n=1), the orbital fissure (n=4), and the alar canal (n=1). On T1‐weighted images structures within the affected skull foramina could not be clearly differentiated, but were all collectively isointense to hypointense compared with the contralateral, unaffected side, or compared with gray matter. On T2‐, short tau inversion recovery (STIR)‐, or fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)‐weighted images structures within the affected skull foramina appeared hyperintense compared with gray matter, and extended with increased signal into the rostral cranial fossa (n=1) and middle cranial fossa (n=4). Contrast enhancement at the level of the affected skull foramina as well as at the skull base in continuity with the orbital fissure was observed in all patients. Brain edema or definite meningeal enhancement could not be observed, but a close anatomic relationship of the abnormal tissue to the cavernous sinus was seen in two patients. Diagnosis was confirmed in three dogs (one cytology, two biopsy, one necropsy) and was presumptive in one based on clinical improvement after treatment. This study is limited by its small sample size, but provides evidence for a potential risk of intracranial extension of chronic orbital inflammation. This condition can be identified best by abnormal signal increase at the orbital fissure on transverse T2‐weighted images, on dorsal STIR images, or on postcontrast transverse or dorsal images.
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF KIDNEY‐TO‐AORTA RATIO AS A METHOD OF ESTIMATING RENAL SIZE IN DOGS
Authors: MARESCHAL AUGUSTIN , D'ANJOU MARC‐ANDRÉ , MOREAU MAXIM , ALEXANDER KATE , BEAUREGARD GUY
Published: August 2007

Renal size is an important parameter in the assessment of renal disease in dogs. However, because of the great variability in body conformation, absolute renal measurements cannot solely be used when evaluating kidneys with ultrasonography. The use of a ratio comparing renal length and aortic luminal diameter (K/Ao) was investigated. After confirming the reproducibility of these measurements, K/Ao ratios were obtained in 92 dogs without clinical evidence of renal disease. Left and right K/Ao ratios were statistically similar. Based on 95% confidence intervals, renal size should be considered reduced if the K/Ao ratio is <5.5 and increased when > 9.1.
EFFECT OF ULTRASOUND BEAM ANGLE ON EQUINE ARTICULAR CARTILAGE THICKNESS MEASUREMENT
Authors: BARTHEZ P. Y. , BAIS R. J. , VERNOOIJ J. C. M.
Published: August 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine if variation in the ultrasound beam angle would affect cartilage thickness measurement performed with B‐mode ultrasonography. Transverse sections of six fresh equine middle phalanges were obtained from necropsy. Ultrasonographic images of the proximal articular cartilage were obtained in a water bath, in a plane parallel and adjacent to the section plane using a 5–10 MHz linear transducer. Static images were acquired for all six bone specimens with an ultrasound beam angle of 0°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. Proximal articular cartilage thickness was measured on ultrasonographic images and on the bone specimen at the same level. A linear mixed‐effects model was used to compare articular cartilage thickness measured on specimen and on ultrasonographic images using different ultrasound beam angle. Mean±SD cartilage thickness was 1.82±0.35 mm on bone specimens, 1.72±0.29 with a 0° angle, 1.99±0.34 with 30°, 2.06±0.34 with 45°, and 2.3±0.38 with 60°. There was a significant difference between macroscopic measurements and ultrasonographic measurements performed with ultrasound angles at 30°, 45°, and 60°. There was a significant increase in cartilage thickness when the ultrasound beam angle decreased (P=0.0157; R2=0.969). Cartilage thickeness measured on ultrasonographic images varies with the ultrasound beam angle and may not be accurate because ultrasound speed in cartilage may be different than the speed used by the ultrasonographic unit for distance calculation.
A NINE‐DAY ACCELERATED RADIATION PROTOCOL FOR FELINE SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA
Authors: FIDEL JANEAN L. , SELLON RANCE K. , HOUSTON ROBERT K. , WHEELER BETSY A.
Published: August 2007

Nine cats with oral squamous cell carcinoma were treated with an accelerated radiation protocol (14 fractions of 3.5 Gy in 9 days). Radiation was administered twice daily with a 6 hour break between treatments. Median overall survival was 86±110 days. Median survival for cats with a partial response (n=6) was 60±7 days, while median survival for cats with a complete response (n=3) was 298±187 days (P=0.0639). The accelerated protocol was well tolerated and toxicity in the early and late period was manageable in all cats. Further modification of the protocol is warranted to extend survival.
Existentialism, the Rule of Law and Article 2 of the Uniform Commercial Code
Authors: BONSIGNORE JOHN J.
Published: August 2007

Books reviewed in this article:

“¨¨ I have no fatuous notion that the judicial process can be made perfect. It is a human process, involving inherent human failings and weaknesses¨¨ (T)o better it requires a recognition of its unavoidably human, fallible character.” Jerome Frank.
AUTHOR'S RESPONSE
Authors: CROSS FRANK B.
Published: August 2007

Books reviewed in this article:

Book Reviewed in this article:

Tracy Dobson, Book Review, ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED CANCER AND THE LAW: RISKS, REGULATION AND VICTIM COMPENSATION. Frank B. Cross, Quorum Books, 1989. Pp. 229, published in 29 AMERICAN BUSINESS LAW JOURNAL xxx (1991).
THE EVOLUTION OF THE GOVERNMENT‐BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES: COLONIAL TIMES TO PRESENT
Authors: BALLAM DEBORAH A.
Published: August 2007

Everything has a history. At least part of the answer to any question about the contemporary world can come from studying the circumstances that led up to it⃜The more you understand about these past influences, the more you will know about the present subject to which they are related.1
PSR B1828–11: a precession pulsar torqued by a quark planet?
Authors: Liu K. , Yue Y. L. , Xu R. X.
Published: August 2007

The pulsar PSR B1828–11 has long-term, highly periodic and correlated variations in both pulse shape and the rate of slow-down. This phenomenon may provide evidence for the precession of the pulsar as suggested previously within the framework of free precession as well as forced. On a presumption of forced precession, we propose a quark planet model to this precession phenomenon instead, in which the pulsar is torqued by a quark planet. We construct this model by constraining the mass of the pulsar (Mpsr), the mass of the planet (Mpl) and the orbital radius of the planet (rpl). Five aspects are considered: the derived relation between Mpsr and rpl, the movement of the pulsar around the centre of mass, the ratio of Mpsr and Mpl, the gravitational wave radiation time-scale of the planetary system, and the death-line criterion. We also calculate the range of the precession period derivative and the gravitational wave strength (at earth) permitted by the model. Under reasonable parameters, the observed phenomenon can be understood by a pulsar (∼10−4–10−1M⊙) with a quark planet (∼10−8–10−3M⊙) orbiting it. According to the calculations presented, the pulsar would be a quark star because of its low mass, which might eject a lump of quark matter (to become an orbiting planet) during its birth.
Postmortem Biochemical Behavior of Giant Squid (Dosidicus gigas) Mantle Muscle Stored in Ice and its Relation with Quality Parameters
Authors: Márquez‐Ríos E. , Morán‐Palacio E.F. , Lugo‐Sánchez M.E. , Ocano‐Higuera V.M. , Pacheco‐Aguilar R.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT:  Several freshness and spoilage indicators were monitored to characterize the postmortem biochemistry of giant squid (Dosidicus gigas) mantle muscle. Squid samples were obtained directly from the sea and kept at 0 °C during a 15‐d storage period. Data at zero time were obtained from cryogenically frozen samples at time of capture. The adenosine 5'‐triphosphate (ATP) degradation followed a different pattern as compared with that from fish species. ATP was almost completely depleted at 24‐h postcatch from 6.54 to <1 μmol/g, while at the same time Hx was the predominant catabolite with a concentration of 4 μmol/g, reaching 6.85 μmol/g at day 15. K‐value data followed a logarithmic pattern with time instead of a linear one, with no change after day 3, thus reducing its suitability as a freshness index. The coefficient Hx/AMP seems to be an adequate alternative for this purpose due to its constant increment with time. The high NH4Cl content in mantle muscle (461.3 ± 24.5 mg of NH4+/100 g) derived from its physiological importance for the species compromises the use of the distillation step of the TVB‐N analysis commonly used as a spoilage index. This fact explains why the initially high value of TVB‐N detected in mantle muscle (243.7 mg N/100 g) did not correlate with the initial low TMA‐N content (1.5 ± 0.1 mg/100 g of muscle). The results suggested that under the experimental conditions the shelf life of squid exceeds 15 d.
Development of a Microbial Population within a Hot‐Drinks Vending Machine and the Microbial Load of Vended Hot Chocolate Drink
Authors: Hall A. , Short K. , Saltmarsh M. , Fielding L. , Peters A.
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACT:  In order to understand the development of the microbial population within a hot‐drinks vending machine a new machine was placed in a staff area of a university campus vending only hot chocolate. The machine was cleaned weekly using a detergent based protocol. Samples from the mixing bowl, dispense area, and drink were taken over a 19‐wk period and enumerated using plate count agar. Bacillus cereus was identified using biochemical methods. Vended drinks were sampled at 0, 3, 6, and 9 min after vending; the hot chocolate powder was also sampled. Over the 1st 8 wk, a significant increase in the microbial load of the machine components was observed. By the end of the study, levels within the vended drink had also increased significantly. Inactivation of the automatic flush over a subsequent 5‐wk period led to a statistically but not operationally significant increase in the microbial load of the dispense area and vended drink. The simple weekly clean had a significant impact on the microbial load of the machine components and the vended drink. This study demonstrated that a weekly, detergent‐based cleaning protocol was sufficient to maintain the microbial population of the mixing bowl and dispense point in a quasi‐steady state below 3.5 log CFU/cm2 ensuring that the microbial load of the vended drinks was maintained below 3.4 log CFU/mL. The microbial load of the drinks showed no significant changes over 9 min after vending, suggesting only spores are present in the final product.
Turbulent Flow Structure in a Cylinder-on-Cone Cyclone
Authors: Wong W. O. , Wang X. W. , Zhou Y.
Published: August 2007

Turbulent flow structure in a cylinder-on-cone cyclone was experimentally investigated. Measurements were conducted at a fixed geometrical swirl number. Experiments were performed at a swirl number of 3 and Reynolds numbers from 37,100 to 74,200, based on the inlet velocity and the cyclone body diameter. The flow field in planes normal to and through the cyclone axis was measured in detail using a two-component laser Doppler velocimetry (LDA) and a particle imaging velocimetry (PIV). Two dominant frequencies of vortical structures were identified based on LDA-measured tangential and axial velocity spectra. Although one of them agreed quite well with those in literature, the other was reported for the first time. One explanation was proposed.
Numerical Evaluation of Contemporary Low-Speed Wind Tunnel Contraction Designs
Authors: Doolan Con J.
Published: August 2007

A potential flow and viscous flow solver have been coupled to produce a robust computational tool useful for the design of low-speed wind tunnel contractions. After validation against published numerical and experimental wind tunnel data, the method is used to evaluate recently proposed contraction shapes from the literature. The results show that, on balance, a fifth-order polynomial provides a good design solution. Newly proposed shapes will either improve available flow area at the expense of contraction outlet flow uniformity or vice versa.
Comment on Papers by Evans
et al
. and Mekel-Bobrov
et al
. on Evidence for Positive Selection of
MCPH1
and
ASPM
Authors: Timpson Nicholas , Heron Jon , Smith George Davey , Enard Wolfgang
Published: August 2007

Evans
et al
. and Mekel-Bobrov
et al
. (Reports, 9 September 2005, p. 1717 and 1720, respectively) reported that human genetic variants of
Microcephalin
(
MCPH1
) and
abnormal spindle-like microcephaly associated
(
ASPM
) are under strong positive selection. We genotyped these variants in 9000 children and find no meaningful associations with brain size and various cognitive measures, which indicates that contrary to previous speculations,
ASPM
and
MCPH1
have not been selected for brain-related effects.
Video Ergo Sum: Manipulating Bodily Self-Consciousness
Authors: Lenggenhager Bigna , Tadi Tej , Metzinger Thomas , Blanke Olaf
Published: August 2007

Humans normally experience the conscious self as localized within their bodily borders. This spatial unity may break down in certain neurological conditions such as out-of-body experiences, leading to a striking disturbance of bodily self-consciousness. On the basis of these clinical data, we designed an experiment that uses conflicting visual-somatosensory input in virtual reality to disrupt the spatial unity between the self and the body. We found that during multisensory conflict, participants felt as if a virtual body seen in front of them was their own body and mislocalized themselves toward the virtual body, to a position outside their bodily borders. Our results indicate that spatial unity and bodily self-consciousness can be studied experimentally and are based on multisensory and cognitive processing of bodily information.
Temporal Fragmentation of Speciation in Bacteria
Authors: Retchless Adam C. , Lawrence Jeffrey G.
Published: August 2007

Because bacterial recombination involves the occasional transfer of small DNA fragments between strains, different sets of niche-specific genes may be maintained in populations that freely recombine at other loci. Therefore, genetic isolation may be established at different times for different chromosomal regions during speciation as recombination at niche-specific genes is curtailed. To test this model, we separated sequence divergence into rate and time components, revealing that different regions of the
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella enterica
chromosomes diverged over a ∼70-million-year period. Genetic isolation first occurred at regions carrying species-specific genes, indicating that physiological distinctiveness between the nascent
Escherichia
and
Salmonella
lineages was maintained for tens of millions of years before the complete genetic isolation of their chromosomes.
Monkeypox-Induced Immunity and Failure of Childhood Smallpox Vaccination To Provide Complete Protection
Authors: Karem Kevin L. , Reynolds Mary , Hughes Christine , Braden Zach , Nigam Pragati , Crotty Shane , Glidewell John , Ahmed Rafi , Amara Rama , Damon Inger K.
Published: August 2007

Following the U.S. monkeypox outbreak of 2003, blood specimens and clinical and epidemiologic data were collected from cases, defined by standard definition, and household contacts of cases to evaluate the role of preexisting (smallpox vaccine-derived) and acquired immunity in susceptibility to monkeypox disease and clinical outcomes. Orthopoxvirus-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgM, CD4, CD8, and B-cell responses were measured at ∼7 to 14 weeks and 1 year postexposure. Associations between immune responses, smallpox vaccination, and epidemiologic and clinical data were assessed. Participants were categorized into four groups: (i) vaccinated cases, (ii) unvaccinated cases, (iii) vaccinated contacts, and (iv) unvaccinated contacts. Cases, regardless of vaccination status, were positive for orthopoxvirus-specific IgM, IgG, CD4, CD8, and B-cell responses. Antiorthopoxvirus immune responses consistent with infection were observed in some contacts who did not develop monkeypox. Vaccinated contacts maintained low levels of antiorthopoxvirus IgG, CD4, and B-cell responses, with most lacking IgM or CD8 responses. Preexisting immunity, assessed by high antiorthopoxvirus IgG levels and childhood smallpox vaccination, was associated (in a nonsignificant manner) with mild disease. Vaccination failed to provide complete protection against human monkeypox. Previously vaccinated monkeypox cases manifested antiorthopoxvirus IgM and changes in antiorthopoxvirus IgG, CD4, CD8, or B-cell responses as markers of recent infection. Antiorthopoxvirus IgM and CD8 responses occurred most frequently in monkeypox cases (vaccinated and unvaccinated), with IgG, CD4, and memory B-cell responses indicative of vaccine-derived immunity. Immune markers provided evidence of asymptomatic infections in some vaccinated, as well as unvaccinated, individuals.
Down-Regulation of the Trypanosomatid Signal Recognition Particle Affects the Biogenesis of Polytopic Membrane Proteins but Not of Signal Peptide-Containing Proteins
Authors: Lustig Yaniv , Vagima Yaron , Goldshmidt Hanoch , Erlanger Avigail , Ozeri Vered , Vince James , McConville Malcolm J. , Dwyer Dennis M. , Landfear Scott M. , Michaeli Shulamit
Published: August 2007

Protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum is mediated by the signal recognition particle (SRP). In this study, the SRP pathway in trypanosomatids was down-regulated by two approaches: RNA interference (RNAi) silencing of genes encoding SRP proteins in
Trypanosoma brucei
and overexpression of dominant-negative mutants of 7SL RNA in
Leptomonas collosoma
. The biogenesis of both signal peptide-containing proteins and polytopic membrane proteins was examined using endogenous and green fluorescent protein-fused proteins. RNAi silencing of SRP54 or SRP68 in
T. brucei
resulted in reduced levels of polytopic membrane proteins, but no effect on the level of signal peptide-containing proteins was observed. When SRP deficiency was achieved in
L. collosoma
by overexpression of dominant-negative mutated 7SL RNA, a major effect was observed on polytopic membrane proteins but not on signal peptide-containing proteins. This study included two trypanosomatid species, tested various protein substrates, and induced depletion of the SRP pathway by affecting either the levels of SRP binding proteins or that of SRP RNA. Our results demonstrate that, as in bacteria but in contrast to mammalian cells, the trypanosome SRP is mostly essential for the biogenesis of membrane proteins.
Comparison of Single- and Multilocus Sequence Typing and Toxin Gene Profiling for Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Cai Yongwei , Kong Fanrong , Wang Qinning , Tong Zhongsheng , Sintchenko Vitali , Zeng Xianyu , Gilbert Gwendolyn L.
Published: August 2007

We compared three novel methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) genotyping methods with multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and
spa
typing to assess their utility for routine strain typing. The new methods were
femA
and
nuc
sequence typing and toxin gene profiling (TGP), using a multiplex-PCR-based reverse line blot assay to detect 13 pyrogenic superantigen and exfoliative toxin genes. Forty-two well-characterized MRSA strains, representing 15 MLSTs or 9 clonal clusters (CCs), were genotyped by all methods. Twenty-two
spa
, nine
femA
, and seven
nuc
sequence types were identified. The
femA
sequence types correlated exactly with CCs;
nuc
sequences types were less discriminatory but generally correlated well with
femA
types and CCs. Ten isolates contained none of 13 toxin genes; TGPs of the remainder comprised 1 to 5 toxin genes. The combination of
spa
typing and TGPs identified 26 genotypes among the 42 strains studied. A combination of two or three rapid, inexpensive genotyping methods could potentially provide rapid MRSA strain typing as well as useful information about clonal origin and virulence.
Specific Asparagine-Linked Glycosylation Sites Are Critical for DC-SIGN- and L-SIGN-Mediated Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Entry
Authors: Han Dong P. , Lohani Motashim , Cho Michael W.
Published: August 2007

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is caused by a newly emerged coronavirus (CoV) designated SARS-CoV. The virus utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as the primary receptor. Although the idea is less clear and somewhat controversial, SARS-CoV is thought to use C-type lectins DC-SIGN and/or L-SIGN (collectively referred to as DC/L-SIGN) as alternative receptors or as enhancer factors that facilitate ACE2-mediated virus infection. In this study, the function of DC/L-SIGN in SARS-CoV infection was examined in detail. The results of our study clearly demonstrate that both proteins serve as receptors independently of ACE2 and that there is a minimal level of synergy between DC/L-SIGN and ACE2. As expected, glycans on spike (S) glycoprotein are important for DC/L-SIGN-mediated virus infection. Site-directed mutagenesis analyses have identified seven glycosylation sites on the S protein critical for DC/L-SIGN-mediated virus entry. They include asparagine residues at amino acid positions 109, 118, 119, 158, 227, 589, and 699, which are distinct from residues of the ACE2-binding domain (amino acids 318 to 510). Amino acid sequence analyses of S proteins encoded by viruses isolated from animals and humans suggest that glycosylation sites N227 and N699 have facilitated zoonotic transmission.
Cooperation of NF-κB2/p100 Activation and the PDZ Domain Binding Motif Signal in Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax1 but Not HTLV-2 Tax2 Is Crucial for Interleukin-2-Independent Growth Transformation of a T-Cell Line
Authors: Higuchi Masaya , Tsubata Chikako , Kondo Rie , Yoshida Sakiko , Takahashi Masahiko , Oie Masayasu , Tanaka Yuetsu , Mahieux Renaud , Matsuoka Masao , Fujii Masahiro
Published: August 2007

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) but not HTLV-2 is associated with adult T-cell leukemia, and the distinct pathogenicity of these two closely related viruses is thought to stem from the distinct biological functions of the respective transforming proteins, HTLV-1 Tax1 and HTLV-2 Tax2. In this study, we demonstrate that Tax1 but not Tax2 interacts with NF-κB2/p100 and activates it by inducing the cleavage of p100 into the active transcription factor p52. Using RNA interference methods, we further show that NF-κB2/p100 is required for the transformation induced by Tax1, as determined by the ability to convert a T-cell line (CTLL-2) from interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent to -independent growth. While Tax2 shows a reduced transforming activity relative to Tax1, Tax2 fused with a PDZ domain binding motif (PBM) present only in Tax1 shows transforming activity equivalent to that of Tax1 in CTLL-2 cells expressing an inducer of p52 processing. These results reveal that the activation of NF-κB2/p100 plays a crucial role in the Tax1-mediated transformation of T cells and that NF-κB2/p100 activation and PBM function are both responsible for the augmented transforming activity of Tax1 relative to Tax2, thus suggesting that these Tax1-specific functions play crucial roles in HTLV-1 leukemogenesis.
Analysis of Human Cell Heterokaryons Demonstrates that Target Cell Restriction of Cyclosporine-Resistant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Mutants Is Genetically Dominant
Authors: Song Chisu , Aiken Christopher
Published: August 2007

The host cell protein cyclophilin A (CypA) binds to CA of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and promotes HIV-1 infection of target cells. Disruption of the CypA-CA interaction, either by mutation of the CA residue at G89 or P90 or with the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine (CsA), reduces HIV-1 infection. Two CA mutants, A92E and G94D, previously were identified by selection for growth of wild-type HIV-1 in cultures of CD4+HeLa cell cultures containing CsA. Interestingly, infection of some cell lines by these mutants is enhanced in the presence of CsA, while in other cell lines these mutants are minimally affected by the drug. Little is known about this cell-dependent phenotype of the A92E and G94D mutants, except that it is not dependent on expression of the host factor TRIM5α. Here, we show that infection by the A92E and G94D mutants is restricted at an early postentry stage of the HIV-1 life cycle. Analysis of heterokaryons between CsA-dependent HeLa-P4 cells and CsA-independent 293T cells indicated that the CsA-dependent infection by A92E and G94D mutants is due to a dominant cellular restriction. We also show that addition of CsA to target cells inhibits infection by wild-type HIV-1 prior to reverse transcription. Collectively, these results support the existence of a cell-specific human cellular factor capable of restricting HIV-1 at an early postentry step by a CypA-dependent mechanism.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Evades Antiviral Signaling: Role of nsp1 and Rational Design of an Attenuated Strain
Authors: Wathelet Marc G. , Orr Melissa , Frieman Matthew B. , Baric Ralph S.
Published: August 2007

The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic was caused by the spread of a previously unrecognized infectious agent, the SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). Here we show that SARS-CoV could inhibit both virus- and interferon (IFN)-dependent signaling, two key steps of the antiviral response. We mapped a strong inhibitory activity to SARS-CoV nonstructural protein 1 (nsp1) and show that expression of nsp1 significantly inhibited the activation of all three virus-dependent signaling pathways. We show that expression of nsp1 significantly inhibited IFN-dependent signaling by decreasing the phosphorylation levels of STAT1 while having little effect on those of STAT2, JAK1, and TYK2. We engineered an attenuated mutant of nsp1 in SARS-CoV through reverse genetics, and the resulting mutant virus was viable and replicated as efficiently as wild-type virus in cells with a defective IFN response. However, mutant virus replication was strongly attenuated in cells with an intact IFN response. Thus, nsp1 is likely a virulence factor that contributes to pathogenicity by favoring SARS-CoV replication.
Differential Effects of Mutations in NS4B on West Nile Virus Replication and Inhibition of Interferon Signaling
Authors: Evans Jared D. , Seeger Christoph
Published: August 2007

West Nile virus (WNV) is a human pathogen that can cause symptomatic infections associated with meningitis and encephalitis. Previously, we demonstrated that replication of WNV inhibits the interferon (IFN) signal transduction pathway by preventing the accumulation of phosphorylated Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and tyrosine kinase 2 (Tyk2) (J. T. Guo et al., J. Virol. 79:1343-1350, 2005). Through a genetic analysis, we have now identified a determinant on the nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B) that controls IFN resistance in HeLa cells expressing subgenomic WNV replicons lacking the structural genes. However, in the context of infectious genomes, the same determinant did not influence IFN signaling. Thus, our results indicate that NS4B may be sufficient to inhibit the IFN response in replicon cells and suggest a role for structural genes, or as yet unknown interactions, in the inhibition of the IFN signaling pathway during WNV infections.
Differential Virus Replication, Cytokine Production, and Antigen-Presenting Function by Microglia from Susceptible and Resistant Mice Infected with Theiler's Virus
Authors: Jin Young-Hee , Mohindru Mani , Kang Min H. , Fuller Alyson C. , Kang Bongsu , Gallo Daniel , Kim Byung S.
Published: August 2007

Infection with Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) in the central nervous system (CNS) causes an immune system-mediated demyelinating disease similar to human multiple sclerosis in susceptible but not resistant strains of mice. To understand the underlying mechanisms of differential susceptibility, we analyzed viral replication, cytokine production, and costimulatory molecule expression levels in microglia and macrophages in the CNS of virus-infected resistant C57BL/6 (B6) and susceptible SJL/J (SJL) mice. Our results indicated that message levels of TMEV, tumor necrosis factor alpha, beta interferon, and interleukin-6 were consistently higher in microglia from virus-infected SJL mice than in those from B6 mice. However, the levels of costimulatory molecule expression, as well as the ability to stimulate allogeneic T cells, were significantly lower in TMEV-infected SJL mice than in B6 mice. In addition, microglia from uninfected naïve mice displayed differential viral replication, T-cell stimulation, and cytokine production, similar to those of microglia from infected mice. These results strongly suggest that different levels of intrinsic susceptibility to TMEV infection, cytokine production, and T-cell activation ability by microglia contribute to the levels of viral persistence and antiviral T-cell responses in the CNS, which are critical for the differential susceptibility to TMEV-induced demyelinating disease between SJL and B6 mice.
Adeno-Associated Viruses Can Induce Phosphorylation of eIF2α via PKR Activation, Which Can Be Overcome by Helper Adenovirus Type 5 Virus-Associated RNA
Authors: Nayak Ramnath , Pintel David J.
Published: August 2007

Mutants of adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) virus-associated RNA I deficient in inhibiting the activation and subsequent phosphorylation of protein kinase R (PKR) could neither function as helpers for adeno-associated virus type 5 (AAV5) replication nor enhance AAV5 protein accumulation in either the presence or absence of Ad5 E4Orf6 and E2a. Furthermore, a short region of the AAV5 capsid gene RNA leader sequence surrounding the AUG of VP1 could induce the phosphorylation of eIF2α. Both short interfering RNA directed against PKR and the addition of the herpes simplex virus ICP34.5 protein enhanced the accumulation of AAV5 capsid protein in the presence of the AAV5 capsid gene PKR-inducing element, suggesting that VA RNA acted to overcome direct AAV5-induced activation of PKR that led to the phosphorylation of eIF2α. The expression of both the closely related goat-derived AAV and the prototype AAV2 capsid gene transcription units also induced the phosphorylation of eIF2α, suggesting that the induction of the PKR/eIF2α cellular response may be a previously unrecognized general feature of at least the
Dependovirus
genus of the
Parvovirinae
.
Experimental Transmission ofPospiviroidPopulations to Weed Species Characteristic of Potato and Hop Fields
Authors: Matoušek J. , Orctová L. , Ptáček J. , Patzak J. , Dědič P. , Steger G. , Riesner D.
Published: August 2007

Weed plants characteristic for potato and hop fields have not been considered in the past as potential hosts that could transmit and lead to spreading of potato spindle tuber (PSTVd) and hop stunt (HSVd) viroids, respectively. To gain insight into this problem, we biolistically inoculated these weed plants with viroid populations either as RNA or as cDNA. New potential viroid host species, collected in central Europe, were discovered. From 12 weed species characteristic for potato fields, high viroid levels, detectable by molecular hybridization, were maintained after both RNA and DNA transfers inChamomilla reculitaandAnthemis arvensis. Low viroid levels, detectable by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) only, were maintained after plant inoculations with cDNA inVeronica argensisandAmaranthus retroflexus. In these two species PSTVd concentrations were 105and 103times, respectively, lower than in tomato as estimated by real-time PCR. From 14 weeds characteristic for hop fields, high HSVd levels were detected inGalinsoga ciliataafter both RNA and DNA transfers. HSVd was found, however, not to be transmissible by seeds of this weed species. Traces of HSVd were detectable by RT-PCR in HSVd-cDNA-inoculatedAmaranthus retroflexus. Characteristic monomeric (+)-circular and linear viroid RNAs were present in extracts from weed species propagating viroids to high levels, indicating regular replication, processing, and circularization of viroid RNA in these weed species. Sequence analyses of PSTVd progenies propagated inC. reculitaandA. arvensisshowed a wide spectrum of variants related to various strains, from mild to lethal variants; the sequence variants isolated fromA. retroflexusandV. argensisexhibited similarity or identity to the superlethal AS1 viroid variant. All HSVd clones fromG. ciliatacorresponded to a HSVdg variant, which is strongly pathogenic for European hops.
The p122 Subunit of
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Replicase Is a Potent Silencing Suppressor and Compromises both Small Interfering RNA- and MicroRNA-Mediated Pathways
Authors: Csorba Tibor , Bovi Aurelie , Dalmay Tamás , Burgyán József
Published: August 2007

One of the functions of RNA silencing in plants is to defend against molecular parasites, such as viruses, retrotransposons, and transgenes. Plant viruses are inducers, as well as targets, of RNA silencing-based antiviral defense. Replication intermediates or folded viral RNAs activate RNA silencing, generating small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are the key players in the antiviral response. Viruses are able to counteract RNA silencing by expressing silencing-suppressor proteins. It has been shown that many of the identified silencing-suppressor proteins bind long double-stranded RNA or siRNAs and thereby prevent assembly of the silencing effector complexes. In this study, we show that the 122-kDa replicase subunit (p122) of crucifer-infecting
Tobacco mosaic virus
(cr-TMV) is a potent silencing-suppressor protein. We found that the p122 protein preferentially binds to double-stranded 21-nucleotide (nt) siRNA and microRNA (miRNA) intermediates with 2-nt 3′ overhangs inhibiting the incorporation of siRNA and miRNA into silencing-related complexes (e.g., RNA-induced silencing complex [RISC]) both in vitro and in planta but cannot interfere with previously programmed RISCs. In addition, our results also suggest that the virus infection and/or sequestration of the siRNA and miRNA molecules by p122 enhances miRNA accumulation despite preventing its methylation. However, the p122 silencing suppressor does not prevent the methylation of certain miRNAs in
hst-15
mutants, in which the nuclear export of miRNAs is compromised.
Identification of Novel Small-Molecule Inhibitors of West Nile Virus Infection
Authors: Noueiry Amine O. , Olivo Paul D. , Slomczynska Urszula , Zhou Yi , Buscher Ben , Geiss Brian , Engle Michael , Roth Robert M. , Chung Kyung Min , Samuel Melanie , Diamond Michael S.
Published: August 2007

West Nile virus (WNV) has spread throughout the United States and Canada and now annually causes a clinical spectrum of human disease ranging from a self-limiting acute febrile illness to acute flaccid paralysis and lethal encephalitis. No therapy or vaccine is currently approved for use in humans. Using high-throughput screening assays that included a luciferase expressing WNV subgenomic replicon and an NS1 capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we evaluated a chemical library of over 80,000 compounds for their capacity to inhibit WNV replication. We identified 10 compounds with strong inhibitory activity against genetically diverse WNV and Kunjin virus isolates. Many of the inhibitory compounds belonged to a chemical family of secondary sulfonamides and have not been described previously to inhibit WNV or other related or unrelated viruses. Several of these compounds inhibited WNV infection in the submicromolar range, had selectivity indices of greater than 10, and inhibited replication of other flaviviruses, including dengue and yellow fever viruses. One of the most promising compounds, AP30451, specifically blocked translation of a yellow fever virus replicon but not a Sindbis virus replicon or an internal ribosome entry site containing mRNA. Overall, these compounds comprise a novel class of promising inhibitors for therapy against WNV and other flavivirus infections in humans.
TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENCE OF PROTON CONDUCTIVITY IN HYDROGEN-BONDED MOLECULAR SYSTEMS
Authors: PANG XIAO-FENG , DENG BO , ZHANG HUAI-WU , FENG YUAN-PING
Published: August 2007

The temperature-dependence of proton electric conductivity in hydrogen-bonded molecular systems with damping effect was studied. The time-dependent velocity of proton and its mobility are determined from the Hamiltonian of a model system. The calculated mobility of (3.57–3.76) × 10-6m2/ Vs for uniform ice is in agreement with the experimental value of (1 - 10) × 10-2m2/ Vs . When the temperature and damping effects of the medium are considered, the mobility is found to depend on the temperature for various electric field values in the system, i.e. the mobility increases initially and reaches a maximum at about 191 K, but decreases subsequently to a minimum at approximately 241 K, and increases again in the range of 150–270 K. This behavior agrees with experimental data of ice.
NON-LOCAL EFFECTS IN THIN FILM GROWTH
Authors: PELLICCIONE M. , LU T.-M.
Published: August 2007

We provide an overview of the background and recent developments in the study of the morphology evolution of thin film growth. In particular, complex non-local growth effects, including the shadowing effect and the re-emission effect, have been recently shown to significantly alter an evolving growth front. The physical principles behind these non-local effects are discussed, along with techniques used by researchers in the field to model such growth.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL BIFRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION: ITÔ AND TANAKA FORMULAS
Authors: ES-SEBAIY KHALIFA , TUDOR CIPRIAN A.
Published: August 2007

Using the Malliavin calculus with respect to Gaussian processes and the multiple stochastic integrals, we derive Itô's and Tanaka's formulas for the d-dimensional bifractional Brownian motion.
OPTIMIZING OF MAXIMALLY-ENTANGLED STATE BY MEANS OF NONLINEARITY
Authors: ATETO M. S.
Published: August 2007

New analytical formulas for the concurrence are introduced. A system of initially unentangled two two-level atoms entering a cavity successively and the effect of a nonlinear medium on the properties of their entanglement are studied. It is shown that a good periodical entanglement can be achieved with a weak nonlinear medium and low driving field, while the perfect is reached with high driving field and low or high parameters of nonlinearity.
ENTANGLEMENT AND DECOHERENCE IN SPIN GASES
Authors: CALSAMIGLIA J. , HARTMANN L. , DÜR W. , BRIEGEL H.-J.
Published: August 2007

We study the dynamics of entanglement in spin gases. A spin gas consists of a (large) number of interacting particles whose random motion is described classically while their internal degrees of freedom are described quantum-mechanically. We determine the entanglement that occurs naturally in such systems for specific types of quantum interactions. At the same time, these systems provide microscopic models for non–Markovian decoherence: the interaction of a group of particles with other particles belonging to a background gas are treated exactly, and differences between collective and non–collective decoherence processes are studied. We give quantitative results for the Boltzmann gas and also for a lattice gas, which could be realized by neutral atoms hopping in an optical lattice. These models can be simulated efficiently for systems of mesoscopic sizes (N ~ 105).
CONTINUOUS VARIABLE QUANTUM SIGNATURE ALGORITHM
Authors: ZENG GUIHUA , LEE MOONHO , GUO YING , HE GUANGQIANG
Published: August 2007

A true quantum signature algorithm based on continuous-variable entanglement state is proposed. In the suggested algorithm, a key-pair, i.e. private signature key and public verification key, is generated based on a one-way function. By employing the signature key, a message state is encoded into a 2k-particle entangled state and a two-particle entangled state is prepared. The resulting states are exploited as a signature of the message state. The signature can be decoded under the verification key when it needs to be verified. Subsequently, a decoded message state and a two-particle entangled state are obtained. To compare the decoded states and the original states, a quantum circuit for comparing these states is exploited. Making use of measurement results of the quantum circuit one can judge the authenticity of the received signature. According to the security requirement of the signature scheme, the suggested algorithm has been proven to be theoretically secure by using the Shannon information theory.