bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dissection of the Antibody Response against Herpes Simplex Virus Glycoproteins in Naturally Infected Humans
Authors: Cairns Tina M. , Huang Zhen-Yu , Whitbeck J. Charles , Ponce de Leon Manuel , Lou Huan , Wald Anna , Krummenacher Claude , Eisenberg Roselyn J. , Cohen Gary H.
Published: August 2014

Relatively little is known about the extent of the polyclonal antibody (PAb) repertoire elicited by herpes simplex virus (HSV) glycoproteins during natural infection and how these antibodies affect virus neutralization. Here, we examined IgGs from 10 HSV-seropositive individuals originally classified as high or low virus shedders. All PAbs neutralized virus to various extents. We determined which HSV entry glycoproteins these PAbs were directed against: glycoproteins gB, gD, and gC were recognized by all sera, but fewer sera reacted against gH/gL. We previously characterized multiple mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and mapped those with high neutralizing activity to the crystal structures of gD, gB, and gH/gL. We used a biosensor competition assay to determine whether there were corresponding human antibodies to those epitopes. All 10 samples had neutralizing IgGs to gD epitopes, but there were variations in which epitopes were seen in individual samples. Surprisingly, only three samples contained neutralizing IgGs to gB epitopes. To further dissect the nature of these IgGs, we developed a method to select out gD- and gB-specific IgGs from four representative sera via affinity chromatography, allowing us to determine the contribution of antibodies against each glycoprotein to the overall neutralization capacity of the serum. In two cases, gD and gB accounted for all of the neutralizing activity against HSV-2, with a modest amount of HSV-1 neutralization directed against gC. In the other two samples, the dominant response was to gD.

IMPORTANCEAntibodies targeting functional epitopes on HSV entry glycoproteins mediate HSV neutralization. Virus-neutralizing epitopes have been defined and characterized using murine monoclonal antibodies. However, it is largely unknown whether these same epitopes are targeted by the humoral response to HSV infection in humans. We have shown that during natural infection, virus-neutralizing antibodies are principally directed against gD, gB, and, to a lesser extent, gC. While several key HSV-neutralizing epitopes within gD and gB are commonly targeted by human serum IgG, others fail to induce consistent responses. These data are particularly relevant to the design of future HSV vaccines.
Naturally Arising Strains of Polyomaviruses with Severely Attenuated MicroRNA Expression
Authors: Chen Chun Jung , Burke James M. , Kincaid Rodney P. , Azarm Kristopher D. , Mireles Noel , Butel Janet S. , Sullivan Christopher S.
Published: August 2014

Several different polyomaviruses (PyVs) encode microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate viral as well as host gene expression. However, the functions of polyomaviral miRNAs, particularly during
in vivo
infection, remain poorly understood. Here we identify rare naturally arising PyVs that are severely attenuated or null for miRNA expression. We identify hypomorphic or null strains for miRNA expression from rhesus macaque simian virus 40 (SV40) and human JC virus. These strains were isolated from immunocompromised hosts and derive from insertions or deletions in the viral DNA that preserve the amino acid reading frame of opposing-strand large T antigen gene. Characterization of the SV40 miRNA hypomorph, K661, shows that it is inhibited at the early miRNA biogenesis step of Drosha-mediated processing. Despite having a nonrearranged enhancer, which a previous study has shown renders some PyVs more susceptible to the autoregulatory activities of the miRNA, restoring miRNA expression to K661 has little effect on virus growth in either immortalized or primary monkey kidney cells. Thus, in addition to any effect of accompanying genomic elements, these results suggest that the cellular context also determines susceptibility to PyV miRNA-mediated effects. Combined, these results demonstrate that polyomaviruses lacking miRNAs can arise infrequently and that the functional importance of polyomaviral miRNAs is context dependent, consistent with an activity connected to the immune status of the host.

IMPORTANCE
Diverse virus families encode miRNAs, yet much remains unknown about viral miRNA function and contribution to the infectious cycle. Polyomaviruses (PyVs) are small DNA viruses, long known to be important as etiological agents of rare diseases and valuable models of DNA virus infection. Here, in immunosuppressed hosts, we uncover rare naturally arising variants of different PyVs that have lost the ability to express miRNAs. This represents some of the only known natural viruses to have lost miRNA expression. By probing the biogenesis pathways of these variants, we uncover that miRNA expression is lost via small insertions or deletions that render the transcripts resistant to early steps of miRNA biogenesis while preserving the reading frame of the opposing T antigen transcripts. Overall, our study informs how miRNA genes evolve/devolve in viruses and suggests that miRNA function is exquisitely dependent not only on viral genomic context but also on the cellular and host environment.
Gammaherpesvirus Latency Differentially Impacts the Generation of Primary versus Secondary Memory CD8+T Cells during Subsequent Infection
Authors: Barton Erik S. , Rajkarnikar Sujana , Langston P. Kent , Price Madeline J. , Grayson Jason M.
Published: August 2014

Unlike laboratory animals, humans are infected with multiple pathogens, including the highly prevalent herpesviruses. The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of gammaherpesvirus latency on T cell number and differentiation during subsequent heterologous viral infections. Mice were first infected with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68), a model of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and then after latency was established, they were challenged with the Armstrong strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). The initial replication of LCMV was lower in latently infected mice, and the maturation of dendritic cells was abated. Although the number of LCMV-specific effector CD8+T cells was not altered, they were skewed to a memory phenotype. In contrast, LCMV-specific effector CD4+T cells were increased in latently infected mice compared to those in mice infected solely with LCMV. When the memory phase was reached, latently infected mice had an LCMV-specific memory T cell pool that was increased relative to that found in singly infected mice. Importantly, LCMV-specific memory CD8+T cells had decreased CD27 and increased killer cell lectin-like receptor G1 (KLRG1) expression. Upon secondary challenge, LCMV-specific secondary effector CD8+T cells expanded and cleared the infection. However, the LCMV-specific secondary memory CD8+T cell pool was decreased in latently infected animals, abrogating the boosting effect normally observed following rechallenge. Taken together, these results demonstrate that ongoing gammaherpesvirus latency affects the number and phenotype of primary versus secondary memory CD8+T cells during acute infection.

IMPORTANCECD8+T cells are critical for the clearance of intracellular pathogens, including viruses, certain bacteria, and tumors. However, current models for memory CD8+T cell differentiation are derived from pathogen-free laboratory mice challenged with a single pathogen or vaccine vector. Unlike laboratory animals, all humans are infected with multiple acute and chronic pathogens, including the highly prevalent herpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex viruses (HSV), and varicella-zoster virus (VZV). The purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of gammaherpesvirus latency on T cell number and differentiation during subsequent heterologous viral infections. We observed that ongoing gammaherpesvirus latency affects the number and phenotype of primary versus secondary memory CD8+T cells during acute infection. These results suggest that unlike pathogen-free laboratory mice, infection or immunization of latently infected humans may result in the generation of T cells with limited potential for long-term protection.
Epstein-Barr Virus Blocks the Autophagic Flux and Appropriates the Autophagic Machinery To Enhance Viral Replication
Authors: Granato Marisa , Santarelli Roberta , Farina Antonella , Gonnella Roberta , Lotti Lavinia Vittoria , Faggioni Alberto , Cirone Mara
Published: August 2014

Autophagy is a catabolic pathway that helps cells to survive under stressful conditions. Cells also use autophagy to clear microbiological infections, but microbes have learned how to manipulate the autophagic pathway for their own benefit. The experimental evidence obtained in this study suggests that the autophagic flux is blocked at the final steps during the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) from latency. This is indicated by the level of the lipidated form of LC3 that does not increase in the presence of bafilomycin and by the lack of colocalization of autophagosomes with lysosomes, which correlates with reduced Rab7 expression. Since the inhibition of the early phases of autophagy impaired EBV replication and viral particles were observed in autophagic vesicles in the cytoplasm of producing cells, we suggest that EBV exploits the autophagic machinery for its transportation in order to enhance viral production. The autophagic block was not mediated by ZEBRA, an immediate-early EBV lytic gene, whose transfection in Ramos, Akata, and 293 cells promoted a complete autophagic flux. The block occurred only when the complete set of EBV lytic genes was expressed. We suggest that the inhibition of the early autophagic steps or finding strategies to overcome the autophagic block, allowing viral degradation into the lysosomes, can be exploited to manipulate EBV replication.

IMPORTANCE
This study shows, for the first time, that autophagy is blocked at the final degradative steps during EBV replication in several cell types. Through this block, EBV hijacks the autophagic vesicles for its intracellular transportation and enhances viral production. A better understanding of virus-host interactions could help in the design of new therapeutic approaches against EBV-associated malignancies.
Bilateral distal tibial stress fractures in a healthy field-hockey goalkeeper
Authors: O'Neill Barry James , Ryan Katie , Burke Neil G , Moroney Paul John
Published: August 2014

Stress fractures occurring within the lower limbs are relatively common in athletes and military personnel. The specific bones affected are often predictable when the patient's activities are considered. We present an unusual case of bilateral distal tibial stress fractures sustained while playing as a goalkeeper in field hockey, in an otherwise healthy 46-year-old woman.
Peripheral labour market position and risk of disability pension: a prospective population-based study
Authors: Gustafsson Klas , Aronsson Gunnar , Marklund Staffan , Wikman Anders , Floderus Birgitta
Published: August 2014

Objective

To investigate what impact individuals’ position in a labour market core–periphery structure may have on their risk of disability pension (DP) in general and specifically on their risk of DP based on mental or musculoskeletal diagnoses.

Methods

The study comprised 45 567 individuals who had been interviewed for the annual Swedish Surveys of Living Conditions (1992–2007). The medical DP diagnoses were obtained from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (1993–2011). The assumed predictors were studied in relation to DP by Cox's proportional hazards regression. The analyses were stratified on sex and age, controlling for social background and self-reported long-standing illness at baseline.

Results

All three indicators underlying the categorisation of the core–periphery structure: employment income, work hours and unemployment, increased the risk of DP in all strata. The risk of DP tended to increase gradually the more peripheral the labour market position was. The risk estimates for DP in general and for DP based on mental diagnoses were particularly high among men aged 20–39 years.

Conclusions

The core–periphery position of individuals, representing their labour market attachment, was found to be a predictor of future DP. The association was most evident among individuals below 40 years of age with regard to DP based on mental diagnoses. This highlights the need for preventative measures that increase the participation of young people in working life.
Risk factors for suicidal thoughts in adolescence-a prospective cohort study: the Young-HUNT study
Authors: Strandheim Arve , Bjerkeset Ottar , Gunnell David , Bjørnelv Sigrid , Holmen Turid Lingaas , Bentzen Niels
Published: August 2014

Objectives

Examining the associations between health and lifestyle factors recorded in the participants’ early teens and development of suicidal thoughts recorded 4 years later.

Design

Population-based prospective cohort study.

Settings

All students in the two relevant year classes in Nord-Trøndelag County were invited, 80% attended both waves of data collection.

Participants

2399 secondary school students who participated in the Young-HUNT1 study in 1995–1997 (13–15 years old) were included in a follow-up study 4 years later (17–19 years old).

Primary outcome measure

Suicidal thoughts reported at age 17–19 years.

Results

408 (17%, 95% CI 15.5% to 18.5%) of the adolescents reported suicidal thoughts at follow-up, 158 (14.2%, CI 13.6% to 16.4%) boys and 250 (19.5%, CI 18.8% to 22.0%) girls. Baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.9, CI 1.4 to 2.6), conduct problems (aOR 1.8, CI 1.3 to 2.6), overweight (aOR 1.9 CI 1.4 to 2.4), and muscular pain and tension (aOR 1.8, CI 1.4 to 2.4), were all associated with reporting suicidal thoughts at follow-up.

Conclusions

One in six young adults experienced suicidal thoughts, girls predominating. Suicidal thoughts were most strongly associated with symptoms of anxiety/depression, conduct problems, pain/tension and overweight reported when participants were 13–15 years old. Specific preventive efforts in these groups might be indicated. Future research should investigate whether similar associations are seen with suicide/suicidal attempts as endpoints.
Age at obesity and association with subsequent dementia: record linkage study
Authors: Wotton Clare J , Goldacre Michael J
Published: August 2014

Objective

Obesity in mid-life may increase the risk of subsequent dementia. Our objective was to study this risk, focusing on differences by age at the time of recording of obesity, in a large defined population.

Methods

A record linkage cohort study was undertaken using national administrative statistical data on hospital care and mortality in England, 1999–2011. A cohort of 451 232 people with obesity and a control cohort was constructed. Results were expressed as age-specific risk ratios comparing the two cohorts.

Results

The risk ratio for dementia in people admitted to hospital with obesity aged 30–39 years was significantly increased at 3.5 (95% CI 2.1 to 5.6). Risk ratios for dementia then gradually reduced with increasing age at obesity from 1.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.2) in people aged 40–49 years when obesity was first recorded to 1.4 (95% CI 1.3 to 1.5) in those aged 60–69 years. People in their 70s when obesity was recorded had neither an increased nor a reduced risk of subsequent dementia at 0.97 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.01), and those aged ≥80 years had a reduced risk of subsequent dementia at 0.78 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.82).

Conclusions

Obesity is associated with a risk of dementia in a way that appears to vary with age. Investigation of the mechanisms mediating this association might give insights into the biology of both conditions.
Complementary use of motion-activated cameras and unbaited wire snares for DNA sampling reveals diel and seasonal activity patterns of brown bears (Ursus arctos) foraging on adult sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Authors: Quinn Thomas P. , Wirsing Aaron J. , Smith Brendan , Cunningham Curry J. , Ching Jason
Published: August 2014

The seasonal and diel movements of predators to take advantage of shifts in prey availability are fundamental elements of their foraging ecology, and also have consequences for the prey populations. In this study, we used complementary noninvasive techniques (motion-activated cameras and hair snares) to investigate seasonal and diel activity of brown bears (Ursus arctos L., 1758) along six proximate streams supporting spawning populations of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka (Walbaum in Artedi, 1792)) in southwestern Alaska. Camera records over 3 years showed a rapid increase in bear activity around the time salmon arrived in the streams, with differences among streams corresponding to differences in salmon phenology. Bears were active throughout the day and night, but there were clear crepuscular peaks when camera data were pooled. When wire snares (to collect hair samples) were paired with cameras, the data showed similar seasonal patterns, but each technique detected bears missed by the other. Roughly equal numbers of bears left hair but no camera image, and images but no hair, at paired sites. Taken together, the results indicated a close correspondence between bear activity and salmon timing, differences in diel timing among streams, and the complementarity of data obtained by motion-activated cameras and hair snares.
Cosmic wiggly strings around black hole in spacetimes with a cosmological constant
Authors: Suzuki Hiromi
Published: August 2014

We study the classical motion of cosmic wiggly strings around black hole in spacetimes with a cosmological constant. The solutions for the cosmic wiggly string exhibit open strings lying along the circular orbit in the equatorial plane outside horizon.
Majorana phases and neutrino–antineutrino oscillations
Authors: Xing Zhi-Zhong
Published: August 2014

If massive neutrinos are the Majorana particles, how to pin down the Majorana CP-violating phases will eventually become an unavoidable question relevant to the future neutrino experiments. I argue that a study of neutrino–antineutrino oscillations will greatly help in this regard, although the issue remains purely academic at present. In this talk I first derive the probabilities and CP-violating asymmetries of neutrino–antineutrino oscillations in the three-flavor framework, and then illustrate their properties in two special cases: the normal neutrino mass hierarchy with m1 = 0 and the inverted neutrino mass hierarchy with m3 = 0. I demonstrate the significant contributions of the Majorana phases to the CP-violating asymmetries, even in the absence of the Dirac phase.
Probing new physics with $B^0_s\to\mu^+\mu^-$: Status and perspectives
Authors: Fleischer Robert
Published: August 2014

The rare decay [Formula: see text] plays a key role for the testing of the Standard Model. It is pointed out that the sizable decay width difference ΔΓsof the Bs-meson system affects this channel in a subtle way. As a consequence, its calculated Standard Model branching ratio has to be upscaled by about 10%. Moreover, the sizable ΔΓsmakes a new observable through the effective [Formula: see text] lifetime accessible, which probes New Physics in a way complementary to the branching ratio and adds an exciting new topic to the agenda for the high-luminosity upgrade of the LHC. Further probes of New Physics are offered by a CP-violating rate asymmetry. Correlations between these observables and the [Formula: see text] branching ratio are illustrated for specific models of New Physics.
Links between flavor and electroweak symmetry breaking
Authors: Hou George Wei-Shu
Published: August 2014

Fermion mass generation in the standard model was invented by Weinberg, while it is an old notion that strong Yukawa coupling could be the agent of electroweak symmetry breaking. Observation of the 126 GeV boson has crashed the prospects for such a heavy chiral quark doublet Q. However, the dilaton possibility can only be ruled out by confirming vector boson fusion with Run 2 data at the LHC, which starts only in 2015. We recast the [Formula: see text] condensation scenario as Fermi–Yang model v2.0. A Gap Equation has been constructed, with numerical solution demonstrating dynamical mQ generation; scale invariance of this equation may be consistent with a dilaton. Other consequences to be checked are [Formula: see text] "annihilation stars," and enhanced Bd →μ+μ-, KL →π0νν, and possibly sin ϕs. If verified in Nature, the Agent of BEH mechanism would differ from current perception, the 126 GeV boson would be the first New Physics at the LHC, and we would have enough CP violation for baryogenesis.
Endowing the Standard Model with a new r-symmetry
Authors: Chang Ngee-Pong
Published: August 2014

In the Standard Model, there is the single Higgs field, ϕ, which gives rise to constituent quark and lepton masses. The Yukawa coupling is a highly complex set of 3 × 3 matrices, resulting in many textures of quark and lepton masses.

In this talk, we propose to transfer the complexity of the Yukawa coupling matrices to a family of Higgs fields, so that the Yukawa coupling itself becomes a simple interaction.

In the context of an Enriched Standard Model, we introduce a new r-symmetry in the extended SU(2)L × U(1)Y × U(1)R model and show how a particularly simple scenario results in a near degeneracy of masses in the 126 GeV region, with a hierarchy of heavier masses suggested by the quark and lepton texture mass matrices.
Lepton textures and neutrino oscillations
Authors: Verma Rohit
Published: August 2014

A systematic analysis of the textures arising in lepton mass matrices have been carried out using unitary transformations and condition of naturalness for the Dirac and Majorana neutrino possibilities. It is observed that the recent three neutrino oscillation data together with the effective mass in neutrinoless double beta decay provide vital clues in predicting the general structures of these lepton mass matrices.
Mass generation in QCD — Oscillating quarks and gluons
Authors: Minkowski Peter
Published: August 2014

The present lecture is devoted to embedding the approximate genuine harmonic oscillator structure of valence [Formula: see text] mesons and in more detail the qqq configurations for u, d, s flavored baryons in QCD for three light flavors of quark. It includes notes, preparing the counting of "oscillatory modes of N fl = 3 light quarks, u, d, s in baryons," using the [Formula: see text] broken symmetry classification, extended to the harmonic oscillator symmetry of 3 paired oscillator modes. [Formula: see text] stands for the space rotation group generated by the sum of the 3 individual angular momenta of quarks in their c.m. system. The oscillator extension to valence gauge boson states is not yet developed to a comparable level.
High extraction efficiency inGaN-based light-emitting diodes with air-hole photonic crystal slab
Authors: Liu Dan , Liu Hui , Hou Jin , Gao Yihua
Published: August 2014

In this paper, extraction efficiency in simplified and layered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) of GaN photonic crystal with periodic air holes is studied by three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain method. Photonic band structures of the photonic crystal are obtained by plane-wave expansion method. The results about simplified GaN -LED show that extraction efficiency is very sensitive to the structure parameters tuning, and increases considerably inside the transverse-electric-like gap region. A maximum extraction efficiency above 90% can be achieved. The effects of the PC thickness and air-hole radius on relative extraction efficiency of layered GaN -LED are analyzed. They show optimal values to obtain high relative extraction efficiency.
Perturbative quantum gravity comes of age
Authors: Woodard R. P.
Published: August 2014

I argue that cosmological data from the epoch of primordial inflation is catalyzing the maturation of quantum gravity from speculation into a hard science. I explain why quantum gravitational effects from primordial inflation are observable. I then review what has been done, both theoretically and observationally, and what the future holds. I also discuss what this tells us about quantum gravity.
Quantum nonthermal radiation of nonstationary rotating de Sitter cosmological model
Authors: Meitei Irom Ablu , Singh T. Ibungochouba , Singh K. Yugindro
Published: August 2014

Using the Hamilton–Jacobi method a study of quantum nonthermal radiation of nonstationary rotating de Sitter cosmological model is carried out. It is shown that there exist seas of positive and negative energy states in the vicinity of the cosmological event horizon and there also exists a forbidden energy gap between the two seas. The forbidden energy gap vanishes on the surface of the cosmological event horizon so that the positive and negative energy levels overlap. The width of the forbidden energy gap and the energy of the particle at the cosmological event horizon are found to depend on the cosmological constant, the rotation parameter, positions of the particle and the cosmological event horizon, angular momentum of the particle, evaporation rate and shape of the cosmological event horizon. The tunneling probability of the emitted particles constituting Hawking radiation is also deduced for stationary nonrotating de Sitter cosmological model and the standard Hawking temperature is recovered.
Preferential Resource Allocation in Stream Processing Systems
Authors: Works Karen , Rundensteiner Elke A.
Published: August 2014

Overloaded data stream management systems (DSMS) cannot process all tuples within their response time. For some DSMS it is crucial to allocate the precious resources to process the most significant tuples. Prior work has applied shedding and spilling to permanently drop or temporarily place to disk insignificant tuples. However neither approach considers that tuple significance can be multi-tiered nor that significance determination can be costly. These approaches consider all tuples not dropped to be equally significant. Unlike these prior works, we take a fresh stance by pulling the most significant tuples forward throughout the query pipeline. Proactive Promotion (PP), a new DSMS methodology for preferential CPU resource allocation, selectively pulls the most significant tuples ahead of less significant tuples. Our optimizer produces an optimal PP plan that minimizes the processing latency of tuples in the most significant tiers in this multi-tiered precedence scheme by strategically placing significance determination operators throughout the query pipeline at compile-time and by agilely activating them at run-time. Our results substantiate that PP lowers the latency and increases the throughput for significant results when compared to the state-of-the-art shedding and traditional DSMS approaches (between 2 and 18 fold for a rich diversity of datasets) with negligible overhead.
The changing landscape for derivatives
Authors: Hull John
Published: August 2014

This paper describes the changes taking place in derivatives markets as a result of the 2007–2009 credit crisis. It discusses the developments of new platforms for trading, the use of central counterparties for clearing, the role of trade repositories, and the requirements for the posting of collateral. It explains the way in which the over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivatives markets are converging and argues that liquidity is becoming as important as capital to banks in their decision making.
The complexity of the comparator circuit value problem
Authors: Cook Stephen A. , Filmus Yuval , Lê Dai Tri Man
Published: August 2014

In 1990, Subramanian [1990] defined the complexity class CC as the set of problems log-space reducible to the comparator circuit value problem (CCV). He and Mayr showed that NL ⊆ CC ⊆ P, and proved that in addition to CCV several other problems are complete for CC, including the stable marriage problem, and finding the lexicographically first maximal matching in a bipartite graph. Although the class has not received much attention since then, we are interested in CC because we conjecture that it is incomparable with the parallel class NC which also satisfies NL ⊆ NC ⊆ P, and note that this conjecture implies that none of the CC-complete problems has an efficient polylog time parallel algorithm. We provide evidence for our conjecture by giving oracle settings in which relativized CC and relativized NC are incomparable.

We give several alternative definitions of CC, including (among others) the class of problems computed by uniform polynomial-size families of comparator circuits supplied with copies of the input and its negation, the class of problems AC0-reducible to Ccv, and the class of problems computed by uniform AC0 circuits with AXccv gates. We also give a machine model for CC, which corresponds to its characterization as log-space uniform polynomial-size families of comparator circuits. These various characterizations show that CC is a robust class. Our techniques also show that the corresponding function class FCC is closed under composition. The main technical tool we employ is universal comparator circuits.

Other results include a simpler proof of NL ⊆ CC, a more careful analysis showing the lexicographically first maximal matching problem and its variants are CC-complete under AC0 many-one reductions, and an explanation of the relation between the Gale--Shapley algorithm and Subramanian’s algorithm for stable marriage.

This article continues the previous work of Cook et al. [2011], which focused on Cook-Nguyen style uniform proof complexity, answering several open questions raised in that article.
Integrative and interdisciplinary challenges in translational bioinformatics
Authors: Ma Tianle
Published: August 2014

Translational bioinformatics (TBI) is an emerging interdisciplinary field, which aims to bridge the gap between molecular world and clinical world. Translational bioinformatics employs data mining and machine learning techniques to analyze increasingly massive biomedical data and generate knowledge for clinical applications. One of the major challenges in TBI is to integrate multi-dimensional heterogeneous biomedical information sources in order to elucidate new biomedical knowledge. The integrative methodologies that are used to interpret these data require expertise in different disciplines, such as biology, medicine, mathematics, statistics and bioinformatics, and they pose great interdisciplinary challenges. Bioinformatics, system biology and network science together with knowledge engineering and reverse engineering have great potential to push TBI forward. In this paper, we introduce the background of TBI and the great variety of biomedical data, discuss the computational tools for integrative analyses, and summarize several crucial interdisciplinary challenges and future directions in TBI.
News of the GP bibliography
Authors: Langdon William B.
Published: August 2014

New features of the genetic programming bibliography include graphical displays of recent Internet based paper down load activity, html web pages identifying centres of GP expertise, new papers and a blog.
EvoStar 2014 event report
Authors: Petke Justyna
Published: August 2014

In April Spain hosted five conferences: EuroGP, EvoCOP, EvoBIO, EvoMUSART and EvoApplications under the umbrella of EvoStar in the lovely city of Granada. The aim of the conferences is to bring together renowned researchers from all over the world using evolutionary computation and algorithms inspired by biology. Each conference focuses on particular applications of these methods. EvoStar history goes back to 1998, when EuroGP was first held in Paris, France. It has been held every year since and increasing number of conferences and workshops has been added over the years that led to establishing the EvoStar name in 2007. The 'Star' aims to mean all-inclusive, since * can stand for anything in a regular expression.
A current understanding of vascular calcification in CKD
Authors: Paloian Neil J. , Giachelli Cecilia M.
Published: August 2014

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that is in part due to the development of vascular calcification. Vascular calcification is an active, highly regulated process that shares many similarities with normal bone formation. New discoveries related to extracellular vesicles, microRNAs, and calciprotein particles continue to reveal the mechanisms that are involved in the initiation and progression of vascular calcification in CKD. Further innovations in these fields are critical for the development of biomarkers and therapeutic options for patients with CKD and ESRD.
Flocculus Purkinje cell signals in mouse Cacna1a calcium channel mutants of escalating severity: an investigation of the role of firing irregularity in ataxia
Authors: Stahl John S. , Thumser Zachary C.
Published: August 2014

Mutation of the Cacna1a gene for the P/Q (CaV2.1) calcium channel invariably leads to cerebellar dysfunction. The dysfunction has been attributed to disrupted rhythmicity of cerebellar Purkinje cells, but the hypothesis remains unproven. If irregular firing rates cause cerebellar dysfunction, then the irregularity and behavioral deficits should covary in a series of mutant strains of escalating severity. We compared firing irregularity in floccular and anterior vermis Purkinje cells in the mildly affected rocker and moderately affected tottering Cacna1a mutants and normal C57BL/6 mice. We also measured the amplitude and timing of modulations of floccular Purkinje cell firing rate during the horizontal vestibuloocular reflex (VOR, 0.25–1 Hz) and the horizontal and vertical optokinetic reflex (OKR, 0.125–1 Hz). We recorded Purkinje cells selective for rotational stimulation about the vertical axis (VAPCs) and a horizontal axis (HAPCs). Irregularity scaled with behavioral deficit severity in the flocculus but failed to do so in the vermis, challenging the irregularity hypothesis. Mutant VAPCs exhibited unusually strong modulation during VOR and OKR, the response augmentation scaling with phenotypic severity. HAPCs exhibited increased OKR modulation but in tottering only. The data contradict prior claims that modulation amplitude is unaffected in tottering but support the idea that attenuated compensatory eye movements in Cacna1a mutants arise from defective transfer of Purkinje cell signals to downstream circuitry, rather than attenuated synaptic transmission within the cerebellar cortex. Shifts in the relative sizes of the VAPC and HAPC populations raise the possibility that Cacna1a mutations influence the development of floccular zone architecture.
Reversible deactivation of higher-order posterior parietal areas. II. Alterations in response properties of neurons in areas 1 and 2
Authors: Goldring Adam B. , Cooke Dylan F. , Baldwin Mary K. L. , Recanzone Gregg H. , Gordon Adam G. , Pan Tingrui , Simon Scott I. , Krubitzer Leah
Published: August 2014

The role that posterior parietal (PPC) and motor cortices play in modulating neural responses in somatosensory areas 1 and 2 was examined with reversible deactivation by transient cooling. Multiunit recordings from neurons in areas 1 and 2 were collected from six anesthetized adult monkeys ( Macaca mulatta) before, during, and after reversible deactivation of areas 5L or 7b or motor cortex (M1/PM), while select locations on the hand and forelimb were stimulated. Response changes were quantified as increases and decreases to stimulus-driven activity relative to baseline and analyzed during three recording epochs: during deactivation (“cool”) and at two time points after deactivation (“rewarm 1,” “rewarm 2”). Although the type of response change observed was variable, for neurons at the recording sites tested >90% exhibited a significant change in response during cooling of 7b while cooling area 5L or M1/PM produced a change in 75% and 64% of sites, respectively. These results suggest that regions in the PPC, and to a lesser extent motor cortex, shape the response characteristics of neurons in areas 1 and 2 and that this kind of feedback modulation is necessary for normal somatosensory processing. Furthermore, this modulation appears to happen on a minute-by-minute basis and may serve as the substrate for phenomena such as somatosensory attention.
Interest of active posturography to detect age-related and early Parkinson's disease-related impairments in mediolateral postural control
Authors: Bonnet Cédrick T. , Delval Arnaud , Defebvre Luc
Published: August 2014

Patients with Parkinson's disease display impairments of postural control most particularly in active, challenging conditions. The objective of the present study was to analyze early signs of disease-related and also age-related impairments in mediolateral body extension and postural control. Fifty-five participants (18 Hoehn and Yahr stage 2 patients in the off-drug condition, 18 healthy elderly control subjects, and 19 young adults) were included in the study. The participants performed a quiet stance task and two active tasks that analyzed the performance in mediolateral body motion: a limit of stability and a rhythmic weight shift task. As expected, the patients displayed significantly lower and slower body displacement (head, neck, lower back, center of pressure) than elderly control subjects when performing the two body excursion tasks. However, the behavioral variability in both tasks was similar between the groups. Under these active conditions, the patients showed significantly lower contribution of the hip postural control mechanisms compared with the elderly control subjects. Overall, the patients seemed to lower their performance in order to prevent a mediolateral postural instability. However, these patients, at an early stage of their disease, were not unstable in quiet stance. Complementarily, elderly control subjects displayed slower body performance than young adults, which therefore showed an additional age-related impairment in mediolateral postural control. Overall, the study illustrated markers of age-related and Parkinson's disease impairments in mediolateral postural control that may constrain everyday activities in elderly adults and even more in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Persistent beneficial impact of H-reflex conditioning in spinal cord-injured rats
Authors: Chen Yi , Chen Lu , Wang Yu , Wolpaw Jonathan R. , Chen Xiang Yang
Published: August 2014

Operant conditioning of a spinal cord reflex can improve locomotion in rats and humans with incomplete spinal cord injury. This study examined the persistence of its beneficial effects. In rats in which a right lateral column contusion injury had produced asymmetric locomotion, up-conditioning of the right soleus H-reflex eliminated the asymmetry while down-conditioning had no effect. After the 50-day conditioning period ended, the H-reflex was monitored for 100 [±9 (SD)] (range 79–108) more days and locomotion was then reevaluated. After conditioning ended in up-conditioned rats, the H-reflex continued to increase, and locomotion continued to improve. In down-conditioned rats, the H-reflex decrease gradually disappeared after conditioning ended, and locomotion at the end of data collection remained as impaired as it had been before and immediately after down-conditioning. The persistence (and further progression) of H-reflex increase but not H-reflex decrease in these spinal cord-injured rats is consistent with the fact that up-conditioning improved their locomotion while down-conditioning did not. That is, even after up-conditioning ended, the up-conditioned H-reflex pathway remained adaptive because it improved locomotion. The persistence and further enhancement of the locomotor improvement indicates that spinal reflex conditioning protocols might supplement current therapies and enhance neurorehabilitation. They may be especially useful when significant spinal cord regeneration becomes possible and precise methods for retraining the regenerated spinal cord are needed.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect ofEmblica officinalisin Rodent Models of Acute and Chronic Inflammation: Involvement of Possible Mechanisms
Authors: Golechha Mahaveer , Sarangal Vikas , Ojha Shreesh , Bhatia Jagriti , Arya Dharmveer S.
Published: August 2014

Emblica officinalis, commonly known as amla in Ayurveda, is unarguably the most important medicinal plant for prevention and treatment of various ailments. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract ofEmblica officinalis(HAEEO). Acute inflammation in rats was induced by the subplantar injection of carrageenan, histamine, serotonin, and prostaglandin E2and chronic inflammation was induced by the cotton pellet granuloma. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of HAEEO at all the tested doses (300, 500, and 700 mg/kg) significantly(P<0.001)inhibited rat paw edema against all phlogistic agents and also reduced granuloma formation. However, at the dose of 700 mg/kg, HAEEO exhibited maximum anti-inflammatory activity in all experimental models, and the effects were comparable to that of the standard anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, in paw tissue the antioxidant activity of HAEEO was also measured and it was found that HAEEO significantly(P<0.001)increased glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity and subsequently reduced lipid peroxidation evidenced by reduced malondialdehyde. Taken all together, the results indicated that HAEEO possessed potent anti-inflammatory activity and it may hold therapeutic promise in the management of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.
Weed Control and Corn (Zea mays) Response to Planting Pattern and Herbicide Program with High Seeding Rates in North Carolina
Authors: Williams Mitchell K. , Heiniger Ronnie W. , Everman Wesley J. , Jordan David L.
Published: August 2014

Effective weed control in corn (Zea maysL.) is important to optimize yield. Concern over environmental impact of atrazine and selection for glyphosate resistance has increased the need to develop alternative strategies that use herbicides other than atrazine and glyphosate and appropriate cultural practices to control weeds. Research was conducted during 2011 and 2012 to determine weed and corn response to herbicide programs containing dicamba, glufosinate, and glyphosate applied postemergence alone or with atrazine in single- and twin-row planting patterns. Planting pattern had no effect on common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL.) and Texas panicum (Panicum texanumL.) population and did not interact with herbicide program. Effective weed control hastened maturity in some but not all instances. Under weed-free conditions, corn grain yield was higher in 5 of 7 trials when planted in twin rows versus single rows at equivalent corn populations (141,000 plants ha−1). These results suggest that while planting pattern may not impact weed control dramatically, planting corn in twin rows may be an effective alternative to single-row planting patterns because of increased yield under high corn populations.
Serum Thyrotropin Is Positively Correlated with the Metabolic Syndrome Components of Obesity and Dyslipidemia in Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Zhang Jingfan , Jiang Ranhua , Li Ling , Li Ping , Li Xue , Wang Zinan , Li Liang , Teng Weiping
Published: August 2014

Metabolic syndrome is a medical disorder characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Thyroid hormone has been shown to affect many metabolic processes. This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between serum thyrotropin and components of metabolic syndrome in Chinese adolescents. Waist circumference (76.4 ± 10.7 versus 70.0 ± 10.6 cm,P= 0.006) and body mass index (23.90 ± 4.20 versus 21.51 ± 4.16 kg/m2,P= 0.011) were significantly greater among adolescents with subclinical hypothyroidism compared with euthyroid subjects. The risk of obesity in the subclinical hypothyroid group was 3.444 times that in the euthyroid group (odds ratio = 3.444, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.570–7.553). Serum TSH was significantly positively correlated with waist circumference (β= 1.512,P= 0.019), TC (β= 0.160,P= 0.003), LDL-C (β= 0.032,P= 0.008), and TG (β= 0.095,P= 0.001). The TSH level in the metabolic syndrome group was significantly higher than that in nonmetabolic syndrome group (2.65 [2.28–3.80] versus 2.53 [1.92–3.45] mIU/L,P= 0.032). Serum TSH within the reference range was positively associated with TC (β= 0.173,P= 0.013), LDL-C (β= 0.031,P= 0.043), and TG (β= 0.132,P= 0.021). Increased serum TSH in adolescents may be a potential risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
Challenges and Economic Implications in the Control of Foot and Mouth Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from the Zambian Experience
Authors: Sinkala Y. , Simuunza M. , Pfeiffer D. U. , Munang’andu H. M. , Mulumba M. , Kasanga C. J. , Muma J. B. , Mweene A. S.
Published: August 2014

Foot and mouth disease is one of the world’s most important livestock diseases for trade. FMD infections are complex in nature and there are many epidemiological factors needing clarification. Key questions relate to the control challenges and economic impact of the disease for resource-poor FMD endemic countries like Zambia. A review of the control challenges and economic impact of FMD outbreaks in Zambia was made. Information was collected from peer-reviewed journals articles, conference proceedings, unpublished scientific reports, and personal communication with scientists and personal field experiences. The challenges of controlling FMD using mainly vaccination and movement control are discussed. Impacts include losses in income of over US$ 1.6 billion from exports of beef and sable antelopes and an annual cost of over US$ 2.7 million on preventive measures. Further impacts included unquantified losses in production and low investment in agriculture resulting in slow economic growth. FMD persistence may be a result of inadequate epidemiological understanding of the disease and ineffectiveness of the control measures that are being applied. The identified gaps may be considered in the annual appraisal of the FMD national control strategy in order to advance on the progressive control pathway.
3D Road Scene Monitoring Based on Real-Time Panorama
Authors: Wu Yuezhou , Liu Changjiang , Lan Shiyong , Yang Menglong
Published: August 2014

Road monitoring helps to control the regional traffic situation so as to adjust the traffic flow. Real-time panorama is conducive to timely treat traffic accidents and to greatly improve traffic capacity. This paper designs a 3D road scene monitoring framework based on real-time panorama. The system is the combination of large scale panorama, satellite map textures, and 3D scene model, in which users can ramble freely. This paper has the following contributions. Firstly, land-points were extracted followed by motion detection, then comotion algorithm was applied to land-points from adjacent cameras, and homography matrix was constructed. Secondly, reference camera was chosen and transformed to overhead viewpoint; subsequently multiviews were morphed to the same viewpoint and stitched to panorama. Finally, the registration based on high-precision GPS information between 2D road panorama and 3D scene model was also proposed. The proposed framework has been successfully applied to a large road intersection monitoring. Experimental results are furnished at the end of the paper.