bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying isolated, multispeaker Mandarin tones from brief acoustic input: A perceptual and acoustic study
Authors: Lee Chao-Yang
Published: February 2009

Lexical tone identification relies primarily on the processing of F0. Since F0 range differs across individuals, the interpretation of F0 usually requires reference to specific speakers. This study examined whether multispeaker Mandarin tone stimuli could be identified without cues commonly considered necessary for speaker normalization. The sa syllables, produced by 16 speakers of each gender, were digitally processed such that only the fricative and the first six glottal periods remained in the stimuli, neutralizing the dynamic F0 contrasts among the tones. Each stimulus was presented once, in isolation, to 40 native listeners who had no prior exposure to the speakers’ voices. Chi-square analyses showed that tone identification accuracy exceeded chance as did tone classification based on F0 height. Acoustic analyses showed contrasts between the high- and low-onset tones in F0, duration, and two voice quality measures (F1 bandwidth and spectral tilt). Correlation analyses showed that F0 covaried with the voice quality measures and that tone classification based on F0 height also correlated with these acoustic measures. Since the same acoustic measures consistently distinguished the female from the male stimuli, gender detection may be implicated in F0 height estimation when no context, dynamic F0, or familiarity with speaker voices is available.
Mesoscale variations in acoustic signals induced by atmospheric gravity waves
Authors: Chunchuzov Igor , Kulichkov Sergey , Perepelkin Vitaly , Ziemann Astrid , Arnold Klaus , Kniffka Anke
Published: February 2009

The results of acoustic tomographic monitoring of the coherent structures in the lower atmosphere and the effects of these structures on acoustic signal parameters are analyzed in the present study. From the measurements of acoustic travel time fluctuations (periods 1 min–1 h) with distant receivers, the temporal fluctuations of the effective sound speed and wind speed are retrieved along different ray paths connecting an acoustic pulse source and several receivers. By using a coherence analysis of the fluctuations near spatially distanced ray turning points, the internal wave-associated fluctuations are filtered and their spatial characteristics (coherences, horizontal phase velocities, and spatial scales) are estimated. The capability of acoustic tomography in estimating wind shear near ground is shown. A possible mechanism describing the temporal modulation of the near-ground wind field by ducted internal waves in the troposphere is proposed.
Trapping of shear acoustic waves by a near-surface distribution of cavities
Authors: Aristégui C. , Shuvalov A. L. , Poncelet O. , Caleap M.
Published: February 2009

For a halfspace containing random and uniform distribution of empty cylindrical cavities within finite depth beneath the surface, the dispersion spectrum of coherent shear horizontal waves is calculated and analyzed based on the effective-medium approach. The scattering-induced dispersion and attenuation are coupled with the effect of a surface waveguide filled with scatterers. As a result, the obtained spectrum bears certain essential particularities in comparison with the standard Love-wave pattern. Simple analytical estimates enable a direct evaluation of the concentration of scatterers from the dispersion data.
High-frequency click-evoked otoacoustic emissions and behavioral thresholds in humans
Authors: Goodman Shawn S. , Fitzpatrick Denis F. , Ellison John C. , Jesteadt Walt , Keefe Douglas H.
Published: February 2009

Relationships between click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) and behavioral thresholds have not been explored above 5kHz due to limitations in CEOAE measurement procedures. New techniques were used to measure behavioral thresholds and CEOAEs up to 16kHz. A long cylindrical tube of 8mm diameter, serving as a reflectionless termination, was used to calibrate audiometric stimuli and design a wideband CEOAE stimulus. A second click was presented 15dB above a probe click level that varied over a 44dB range, and a nonlinear residual procedure extracted a CEOAE from these click responses. In some subjects (age 14–29years) with normal hearing up to 8kHz, CEOAE spectral energy and latency were measured up to 16kHz. Audiometric thresholds were measured using an adaptive yes-no procedure. Comparison of CEOAE and behavioral thresholds suggested a clinical potential of using CEOAEs to screen for high-frequency hearing loss. CEOAE latencies determined from the peak of averaged, filtered temporal envelopes decreased to 1ms with increasing frequency up to 16kHz. Individual CEOAE envelopes included both compressively growing longer-delay components consistent with a coherent-reflection source and linearly or expansively growing shorter-delay components consistent with a distortion source. Envelope delays of both components were approximately invariant with level.
Further examination of pitch discrimination interference between complex tones containing resolved harmonics
Authors: Gockel Hedwig E. , Carlyon Robert P. , Plack Christopher J.
Published: February 2009

Pitch discrimination interference (PDI) is an impairment in fundamental frequency (F0) discrimination between two sequentially presented complex (target) tones produced by another complex tone (the interferer) that is filtered into a remote spectral frequency region. Micheyl and Oxenham [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 121, 1621–1631 (2007)] reported a modest PDI for target tones and interferers both containing resolved harmonics when the F0 difference between the two target tones (ΔF0) was small. When the interferer was in a lower spectral region than the target, a much larger PDI was observed when ΔF0 was large (14%–20%), and, under these conditions, performance in the presence of an interferer was worse than at smaller ΔF0s. The present study replicated the occurrence of PDI for complex tones containing resolved harmonics for small ΔF0s. In contrast to Micheyl and Oxenham’s findings, performance in the presence of an interferer always increased monotonically with increasing ΔF0. However, when the interferer was in a lower spectral region than the target (and not vice versa), some subjects needed verbal instructions or modified stimuli to choose the correct cue, indicating an asymmetry in spontaneous obviousness of the correct listening cue across conditions.
Postnatal development of sound pressure transformations by the head and pinnae of the cat: Monaural characteristics
Authors: Tollin Daniel J. , Koka Kanthaiah
Published: February 2009

Although there have been many anatomical, physiological, and psychophysical studies of auditory development in cat, there have been no comparable studies of the development of the sound pressured transformations by the cat head and pinnae. Because the physical dimensions of the head and pinnae determine the spectral and temporal transformations of sound, as head and pinnae size increase during development, the magnitude and frequency ranges of these transformations are hypothesized to systematically change. This hypothesis was tested by measuring directional transfer functions (DTFs), the directional components of head-related transfer functions, and the linear dimensions of the head and pinnae in cats from the onset of hearing (∼1.5 weeks) through adulthood. Head and pinnae dimensions increased by factors of ∼2 and ∼2.5, respectively, reaching adult values by ∼23 and ∼16 weeks, respectively. The development of the spectral notch cues to source location, the spatial- and frequency-dependent distributions of DTF amplitude gain (acoustic directionality), maximum gain, and the acoustic axis, and the resonance frequency and associated gain of the ear canal and concha were systematically related to the dimensions of the head and pinnae. These monaural acoustical properties of the head and pinnae in the cat are mature by 16 weeks.
Perceptual recalibration of speech sounds following speech motor learning
Authors: Shiller Douglas M. , Sato Marc , Gracco Vincent L. , Baum Shari R.
Published: February 2009

The functional sensorimotor nature of speech production has been demonstrated in studies examining speech adaptation to auditory and/or somatosensory feedback manipulations. These studies have focused primarily on flexible motor processes to explain their findings, without considering modifications to sensory representations resulting from the adaptation process. The present study explores whether the perceptual representation of the /s-ʃ/ contrast may be adjusted following the alteration of auditory feedback during the production of /s/-initial words. Consistent with prior studies of speech adaptation, talkers exposed to the feedback manipulation were found to adapt their motor plans for /s/-production in order to compensate for the effects of the sensory perturbation. In addition, a shift in the /s-ʃ/ category boundary was observed that reduced the functional impact of the auditory feedback manipulation by increasing the perceptual “distance” between the category boundary and subjects’ altered /s/-stimuli—a pattern of perceptual adaptation that was not observed in two separate control groups. These results suggest that speech adaptation to altered auditory feedback is not limited to the motor domain, but rather involves changes in both motor output and auditory representations of speech sounds that together act to reduce the impact of the perturbation.
Effects of room acoustics on the intelligibility of speech in classrooms for young children
Authors: Yang W. , Bradley J. S.
Published: February 2009

This paper reports new measurements of the intelligibility of speech in conditions representative of elementary school classrooms. The speech test material was binaurally recorded in simulated classroom conditions and played back to subjects over headphones. Subjects included grade 1, 3, and 6 students (6, 8, and 11year olds) as well as adults. Recognizing that reverberation time is not a complete descriptor of room acoustics conditions, simulated conditions included realistic early-to-late arriving sound ratios as well as varied reverberation time. For conditions of constant signal-to-noise ratio, intelligibility scores increased with decreasing reverberation time. However, for conditions including realistic increases in speech level with varied reverberation time for constant noise level, intelligibility scores were near maximum for a range of reverberation times. Young children’s intelligibility scores benefited from added early reflections of speech sounds similar to adult listeners. The effect of varied reverberation time on the intelligibility of speech for young children was much less than the effect of varied signal-to-noise ratio. The results can be used to help to determine ideal conditions for speech communication in classrooms for younger listeners.
Lexical encoding of the second language vowel length contrasts.
Authors: Han Jeong-Im
Published: February 2009

Given the previous results for the L2 learners’ processing difficulties of suprasegmentals as compared to segmentals, this study tests whether L2 late learners lack a proper phonological representation of suprasegmentals they could use to encode those contrasts. In Experiment 1, two groups of Korean late learners of Japanese (beginner versus advanced) as well as Japanese controls took a simple AX discrimination of the nonword pairs that varied in vowel length only, and showed that both groups of Korean learners had no difficulty to perceive the acoustic differences of the long versus short vowels in Japanese. However, in Experiment 2, when the same groups of learners participated in a more demanding lexical decision task using word-nonword pairs with vowel length differences, they had much difficulty in the use of such vowel length to access the lexicon. Even though there was significant improvement between the beginner and the advanced groups, there were still significant differences between the advanced group and the Japanese natives. These results suggest that L2 late learners might have a true processing deficits for suprasegmental properties in their phonological representation which were not in their L1, which cannot be easily eliminated with a significant exposure to L2.
Prolonged Protection against Intranasal Challenge with Influenza Virus following Systemic Immunization or Combinations of Mucosal and Systemic Immunizations with a Heat-Labile Toxin Mutant
Authors: Zhou Fengmin , Goodsell Amanda , Uematsu Yasushi , Vajdy Michael
Published: February 2009

Seasonal influenza virus infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality in the world, and there is a serious threat of a pandemic influenza with the potential to cause millions of deaths. Therefore, practical influenza vaccines and vaccination strategies that can confer protection against intranasal infection with influenza viruses are needed. In this study, we demonstrate that using LTK63, a nontoxic mutant of the heat-labile toxin fromEscherichia coli, as an adjuvant for both mucosal and systemic immunizations, systemic (intramuscular) immunization or combinations of mucosal (intranasal) and intramuscular immunizations protected mice against intranasal challenge with a lethal dose of live influenza virus at 3.5 months after the second immunization.
Truncated Human Cytidylate-Phosphate-Deoxyguanylate-Binding Protein for Improved Nucleic Acid Amplification Technique-Based Detection of Bacterial Species in Human Samples
Authors: Sachse Svea , Straube Eberhard , Lehmann Marc , Bauer Michael , Russwurm Stefan , Schmidt Karl-Hermann
Published: February 2009

A trunk of human cytidylate-phosphate-deoxyguanylate-binding protein/CXXC finger protein 1 (CFP1), immobilized onto an aminohexyl-Sepharose column, can be used as a preanalytical tool for the selective enrichment of bacterial DNA from mixed solutions with high amounts of human background DNA for nucleic acid amplification technique-based detection of pathogens. The transcriptional activator protein exhibits a high affinity for nonmethylated CpG dinucleotide motifs, which are differentially distributed in prokaryotic and higher eukaryotic genomes. The feasibility of the affinity chromatography (AC) step was tested with DNA from severely septic patients. AC using 16S rRNA gene primers substantially increased PCR sensitivity. Approximately 90% of eukaryotic DNA was removed, which significantly increased the signal-to-noise ratio. Threshold cycle values revealed that sensitivity was elevated at least 10-fold. The change in the ratio of bacterial DNA to human DNA increased from 26% to 74% the likelihood of culture-independent PCR-based identification of bacterial presence. Compared to the results seen with blood culture (which is the clinical gold standard for systemic infections, exhibiting 28% positives), the combination of AC and PCR achieves a significant increase in sensitivity and contributes to shortening the time to results for the initiation of guided antibiotic therapy.
Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B Is Required for Virus Entry and Cell-to-Cell Spread but Not for Virion Attachment, Assembly, or Egress
Authors: Isaacson Marisa K. , Compton Teresa
Published: February 2009

Glycoprotein B (gB) homologs are conserved throughout the family
Herpesviridae
and appear to serve essential, universal functions, as well as specific functions unique to a particular herpesvirus. Genetic analysis is a powerful tool to analyze protein function, and while it has been possible to generate virus mutants, complementation of essential virus knockouts has been problematic. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) gB (UL55) plays an essential role in the replication cycle of the virus. To define the function(s) of gB in HCMV infection, the BAC system was used to generate a recombinant virus in which the UL55 gene was replaced with
galK
(pAD/CreΔUL55). UL55 deletions in the viral genome have been made before, demonstrating that UL55 is an essential gene. However, without being able to successfully complement the genetic defect, a phenotypic analysis of the mutant virus was impossible. We generated fibroblasts expressing HCMV gB that complement pAD/CreΔUL55 and produce infectious virions lacking the UL55 gene but containing wild-type gB on the virion surface (ΔUL55-gB HCMV). This is the first successful complementation of an HCMV mutant with a glycoprotein deleted. To characterize ΔUL55 infection in the absence of gB, noncomplementing cells were infected with ΔUL55-gB virus. All stages of gene expression were detected, and significant amounts of DNase-resistant viral DNA genomes, representing whole intact virions, were released into the infected cell supernatant. Gradient purification of these virions revealed they lacked gB but contained other viral structural proteins. The gB-null virions were able to attach to the cell surface similarly to wild-type gB-containing virions but were defective in virus entry and cell-to-cell spread. Glycoprotein B-null virions do, however, contain infectious DNA, as IE gene expression can be detected in fibroblasts following treatment of attached gB-null virions with a membrane fusion agent, polyethylene glycol. Taken together, our results indicate that gB is required for virus entry and cell-to-cell spread of the virus. However, HCMV gB is not absolutely required for virus attachment or assembly and egress from infected cells.
RING and Coiled-Coil Domains of Baculovirus IE2 Are Critical in Strong Activation of the Cytomegalovirus Major Immediate-Early Promoter in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Liu Catherine Yen-Yen , Wang Chia-Hung , Hsiao Wen-Kai , Lo Huei-Ru , Wu Carol P. , Chao Yu Chan
Published: February 2009

In recent years, baculovirus has emerged as a tool for high-efficiency gene transfer into mammalian cells. However, the level of gene expression is often limited by the strength of the mammalian promoter used. Here, we show that the baculovirus RING protein IE2 is a strong, promiscuous
trans
-activator in mammalian cells, dramatically upregulating the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter in both Vero E6 and U-2OS cells. Further study of the cellular mechanism for the activation led to the discovery of a novel IE2 nuclear body structure which contains a high concentration of G-actin and closely associates with RNA polymerase II, PML, and SUMO1. IE2 mutagenesis studies indicated that the RING and coiled-coil domains of IE2 were necessary for nuclear body formation, as well as for strong activation of the CMV promoter in mammalian cells. Overall, this study shows that the IE2
trans
-activator could significantly advance the use of baculovirus in mammalian gene transfer and protein production.
Bunyamwera Orthobunyavirus S-Segment Untranslated Regions Mediate Poly(A) Tail-Independent Translation
Authors: Blakqori Gjon , van Knippenberg Ingeborg , Elliott Richard M.
Published: February 2009

The mRNAs of Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), the prototype of the
Bunyaviridae
family, possess a 5′ cap structure but lack a 3′ poly(A) tail, a common feature of eukaryotic mRNAs that greatly enhances translation efficiency. Viral mRNAs also contain untranslated regions (UTRs) that flank the coding sequence. Using model virus-like mRNAs that harbor the
Renilla
luciferase reporter gene, we found that the 3′ UTR of the BUNV small-segment mRNA mediated efficient translation in the absence of a poly(A) tail. Viral UTRs did not increase RNA stability, and polyadenylation did not significantly enhance reporter activity. Translation of virus-like mRNAs in transfected cells was unaffected by knockdown of poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) but was markedly reduced by depletion of eukaryotic initiation factor 4G, suggesting a PABP-independent process for translation initiation. In BUNV-infected cells, translation of polyadenylated but not virus-like mRNAs was inhibited. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the viral nucleocapsid protein binds to, and colocalizes with, PABP in the cytoplasm early in infection, followed by nuclear retention of PABP. Our results suggest that BUNV corrupts PABP function in order to inhibit translation of polyadenylated cellular mRNAs while its own mRNAs are translated in a PABP-independent process.
Glycosphingolipid Composition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Particles Is a Crucial Determinant for Dendritic Cell-Mediated HIV-1
trans
-Infection
Authors: Hatch Steven C. , Archer Jacob , Gummuluru Suryaram
Published: February 2009

Interactions of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) with dendritic cells (DCs) are multifactorial and presumably require nonredundant interactions between the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and molecules expressed on the DC surface that define the cellular fate of the virus particle. Surprisingly, neutralization of HIV-1 gp120-dependent binding interactions with DCs was insufficient to prevent HIV-1 attachment. Besides gp120, HIV-1 particles also incorporate host cell-derived proteins and lipids in their particle membrane. In this study, we demonstrate a crucial role for host cell-derived glycosphingolipids (GSLs) for the initial interactions of HIV-1 particles with both immature and mature DCs. Production of HIV-1 particles from virus producer cells treated with ceramide synthase inhibitor fumonisin B1 or glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) resulted in the production of virus particles that, although capable of binding previously defined HIV-1 gp120-specific attachment factors CD4, DC-SIGN, and syndecans, were attenuated in their ability to be captured by both immature and mature DCs. Furthermore, GSL-deficient HIV-1 particles were inhibited in their ability to establish productive infections in DC-T-cell cocultures. These studies provide initial evidence for the role of HIV-1 particle membrane-associated GSLs in virus invasion of DCs and also provide additional novel cellular targets, GSL biosynthetic pathways and GSL-dependent HIV-1 interactions with DCs, for development of antiviral therapy.
Human Cytomegalovirus Protein pUL38 Induces ATF4 Expression, Inhibits Persistent JNK Phosphorylation, and Suppresses Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Induced Cell Death
Authors: Xuan Baoqin , Qian Zhikang , Torigoi Emi , Yu Dong
Published: February 2009

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a key organelle involved in sensing and responding to stressful conditions, including those resulting from infection of viruses, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Three signaling pathways collectively termed the unfolded protein response (UPR) are activated to resolve ER stress, but they will also lead to cell death if the stress cannot be alleviated. HCMV is able to modulate the UPR to promote its infection. The specific viral factors involved in such HCMV-mediated modulation, however, were unknown. We previously showed that HCMV protein pUL38 was required to maintain the viability of infected cells, and it blocked cell death induced by thapsigargin. Here, we report that pUL38 is an HCMV-encoded regulator to modulate the UPR. In infection, pUL38 allowed HCMV to upregulate phosphorylation of PKR-like ER kinase (PERK) and the α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α), as well as induce robust accumulation of activating transcriptional factor 4 (ATF4), key components of the PERK pathway. pUL38 also allowed the virus to suppress persistent phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), which was induced by the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 pathway. In isolation, pUL38 overexpression elevated eIF-2α phosphorylation, induced ATF4 accumulation, limited JNK phosphorylation, and suppressed cell death induced by both thapsigargin and tunicamycin, two drugs that induce ER stress by different mechanisms. Importantly, ATF4 overexpression and JNK inhibition significantly reduced cell death in pUL38-deficient virus infection. Thus, pUL38 targets ATF4 expression and JNK activation, and this activity appears to be critical for protecting cells from ER stress induced by HCMV infection.
A
cis
Element within
Flowering Locus T
mRNA Determines Its Mobility and Facilitates Trafficking of Heterologous Viral RNA
Authors: Li Chunyang , Zhang Ke , Zeng Xianwu , Jackson Stephen , Zhou Yu , Hong Yiguo
Published: February 2009

The
Arabidopsis flowering locus T
(
FT
) gene encodes the mobile florigen essential for floral induction. While movement of the FT protein has been shown to occur within plants, systemic spread of
FT
mRNA remains to be unequivocally demonstrated. Utilizing novel RNA mobility assay vectors based on two distinct movement-defective viruses,
Potato virus X
and
Turnip crinkle virus
, and an agroinfiltration assay, we demonstrate that nontranslatable
FT
mRNA, independent of the FT protein, moves throughout
Nicotiana benthamiana
and mutant
Arabidopsis
plants and promotes systemic trafficking of viral and green fluorescence protein RNAs. Viral ectopic expression of FT induced flowering in the short-day
N. tabacum
Maryland Mammoth tobacco under long-day conditions. Recombinant
Potato virus X
bearing
FT
RNA spread and established systemic infection more quickly than the parental virus. The
cis
-acting element essential for RNA movement was mapped to the nucleotides 1 to 102 of the
FT
mRNA coding sequence. These data demonstrate that a plant self-mobile RNA molecule can mediate long-distance trafficking of heterologous RNAs and raise the possibility that
FT
RNA, along with the FT protein, may be involved in the spread of the floral stimulus throughout the plant.
CD4 T-Cell-Mediated Heterologous Immunity between Mycobacteria and Poxviruses
Authors: Mathurin Keisha S. , Martens Gregory W. , Kornfeld Hardy , Welsh Raymond M.
Published: February 2009

The bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) strain ofMycobacterium bovisis used in many parts of the world as a vaccine againstMycobacterium tuberculosis. Some epidemiological evidence has suggested that BCG immunization may have unpredicted effects on resistance to other pathogens. We show here in a mouse model that BCG immunization followed by antibiotic treatment to clear the host of the pathogen rendered three strains of mice partially resistant to infection with vaccinia virus (VV) but not to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). VV-challenged BCG-immune mice developed a striking splenomegaly and elevated CD4 and CD8 T-cell responses by 6 days postinfection (p.i.). However, resistance to VV infection could be seen as early as 1 to 2 days p.i. and was lost after antibody depletion of CD4 T-cell populations. BCG- but not LCMV-immune memory phenotype CD4 T cells preferentially produced gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in vivo after VV challenge. In contrast, LCMV-immune CD8 T cells preferentially produced IFN-γ in vivo in response to VV infection. In BCG-immune mice the resistance to VV infection and VV-induced CD4 T-cell IFN-γ production were ablated by cyclosporine A, which inhibits signaling through the T-cell receptor. This study therefore demonstrates CD4 T-cell-mediated heterologous immunity between a bacterium and virus. Further, it poses the question of whether BCG immunization of humans alters resistance to unrelated pathogens.
Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nonstructural Protein NS2 Antagonizes the Activation of Beta Interferon Transcription by Interacting with RIG-I
Authors: Ling Zhenhua , Tran Kim C. , Teng Michael N.
Published: February 2009

A wide variety of RNA viruses have been shown to produce proteins that inhibit interferon (IFN) production and signaling. For human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the nonstructural NS1 and NS2 proteins have been shown to block IFN signaling by causing the proteasomal degradation of STAT2. In addition, recombinant RSVs lacking either NS1 or NS2 induce more IFN production than wild-type (wt) RSV in infected cells. However, the mechanisms by which the NS proteins perform this function are unknown. In this study, we focused on defining the mechanism by which NS2 inhibits the induction of IFN transcription. We find that NS2 is required for the early inhibition of IFN transcription since the infection of cells with NS2-deletion RSV resulted in a higher level of IRF3 activation at early time points postinfection compared with that of wt or NS1-deletion RSV infection. In addition, NS2 expression inhibits IFN transcription induced by both the RIG-I and TLR3 pathways. Furthermore, we show that NS2 inhibits RIG-I-mediated IFN promoter activation by binding to the N-terminal CARD of RIG-I and inhibiting its interaction with the downstream component MAVS (IPS-1, VISA, Cardif). Thus, the RSV NS2 protein is a multifunctional IFN antagonist that targets specific components of both the IFN induction and IFN signaling pathways.
TheCOL1A1gene and acute soft tissue ruptures: Figure 1
Authors: Collins Malcolm , Posthumus Michael , Schwellnus Martin P
Published: February 2009

Three studies have suggested that the rare TT genotype of the functional Sp1 binding site polymorphism within intron 1 ofCOL1A1is associated with cruciate ligament ruptures (CL), shoulder dislocations (SD) and/or Achilles tendon ruptures. Similar genotype distributions were reported for the control and the injury groups in all three studies. In this report, the data from these studies were combined and analyzed. The TT genotype, when compared to the control group (4.1%, n=24 of 581), was significantly under-represented in the (1) CL (0.3%, n=1 of 350, OR=15.0, P=0.0002), (2) CL and SD (0.4% TT genotype, n=2 of 476, OR=10.2, P<0.0001), and (3) CL, SD and Achilles tendon ruptures (0.4% TT genotype, n=2 of 517, OR=11.1, P<0.0001) groups. This combined analysis indicates that the TT genotype appears to be protective against acute soft tissue ruptures and should be incorporated into multifactorial models determining risk of acute soft tissue ruptures.
A METHOD BASED ON THE DYNAMIC WEIGHTED GEOMETRIC AGGREGATION OPERATOR FOR DYNAMIC HYBRID MULTI-ATTRIBUTE GROUP DECISION MAKING
Authors: XU Z. S.
Published: February 2009

The paper investigates the dynamic hybrid multi-attribute group decision making problems, in which the decision information, provided by multiple decision makers at different periods, is expressed in real numbers, interval numbers or linguistic labels (linguistic labels can be described by triangular fuzzy numbers), respectively. We define the concepts of argument variable and dynamic weighted geometric aggregation (DWGA) operator, etc., and give an approach to determining the weights of periods based on the basic unit-interval monotonic (BUM) function, and then propose a dynamic hybrid multi-attribute group decision making method based on the hybrid geometric aggregation (HGA) operator and the DWGA operator. The method first utilizes three different TOPSISs (real-valued TOPSIS, interval-valued TOPSIS and fuzzy-valued TOPSIS) to calculate the individual closeness coefficient of each alternative to the positive and negative ideal alternatives based on the decision information expressed in real numbers, interval numbers and linguistic labels, respectively, provided by each decision maker at each period, and then employs the HGA operator to aggregate all individual closeness coefficients into the collective closeness coefficient corresponding to each alternative at each period. After doing so, the method uses the DWGA operator to fuse the collective closeness coefficients at different periods into the overall closeness coefficient corresponding to each alternative. These overall closeness coefficients are then used to rank and select the given alternatives. We can also reduce the above method to solve the dynamic multi-attribute group decision making problems, in which the decision information, provided by multiple decision makers at different periods, is expressed by means of values from the same type, either real numbers, or interval numbers or linguistic labels. Finally, the developed method is applied to multi-period investment decision making.
E-VAGUE POSITIVE CLASS
Authors: SOYLU GÜLTEKİN
Published: February 2009

In this paper the concept of similarity based vague positive class is introduced. It is shown that under some conditions there exists a one to one correspondence between the vague positive class and the linear fuzzy strict ordering as in the classical theory. Finally a purely similarity-based construction of the vague positive class is proposed.
INTERVAL METHODS IN KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION
Authors: Kreinovich Vladik
Published: February 2009

This section is maintained by Vladik Kreinovich. Please send your abstracts (or copies of papers that you want to see reviewed here) to vladik@utep.edu, or by regular mail to: V. Kreinovich, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
DECOHERENCE-FREE MULTIPARTITE ATOMIC ENTANGLEMENT IN A CAVITY QED SYSTEM
Authors: BINA MATTEO , CASAGRANDE FEDERICO , LULLI ALFREDO
Published: February 2009

We present analytical results on entanglement and decoherence in a system of N strongly driven two-level atoms resonantly coupled to a dissipative cavity mode. In the specific cases of N = 3 and 4 qubits we show the existence of decoherence-free subspaces for the whole system and/or the atomic subsystem and we discuss examples where a multipartite qubit entanglement remains preserved. Also we illustrate the conditional preparation of cat-like states of the cavity field and the generation of atomic correlations.
QUANTUM CORRELATION BOUNDS FOR WIGNER'S INEQUALITY GENERALIZED PARAMETRIZATION
Authors: DEGIOVANNI IVO PIETRO , BOVINO FABIO ANTONIO
Published: February 2009

Bounds of quantum correlation associated to the modified Wigner inequality according to most general possible parametrization are investigated, finding the configuration for its maximal violation. Furthermore we extended this analysis to the implementation of the Ekert's protocol for quantum key distribution based on Wigner
TWO-PHOTON QUANTUM-STATISTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE SINGLE-MODE CAVITY FIELD INTERACTING WITH A PAIR OF COLD ATOMS
Authors: KOROLI V. I.
Published: February 2009

The interaction between the pair of cold two-level atoms and the single-mode cavity field is investigated. The two-level atoms in the pair are supposed to be indistinguishable. This problem generalizes the two-photon Jaynes-Cummings model of a single two-level atom interacting with the squeezed vacuum. The model of the pair of indistinguishable two-level atoms is equivalent to the problem of the equidistant three-level radiator with equal dipole moment matrix transition elements between the adjacent energy levels. Supposing that at the initial moment the field is in the squeezed vacuum state we obtain the exact analytical solution for the atom-field state-vector. By using this solution the quantum-statistical and squeezing properties of the radiation field are investigated. The obtained results are compared with those for the single two-level atom system. We observe that in the model of the pair of cold two-level atoms the exact periodicity of the squeezing revivals is violated by the analogy with the single two-level atom one.
BRAIDING AND ENTANGLEMENT IN SPIN NETWORKS: A COMBINATORIAL APPROACH TO TOPOLOGICAL PHASES
Authors: KÁDÁR ZOLTÁN , MARZUOLI ANNALISA , RASETTI MARIO
Published: February 2009

The spin network quantum simulator relies on the su(2) representation ring (or its q-deformed counterpart at q = root of unity) and its basic features naturally include (multipartite) entanglement and braiding. In particular, q-deformed spin network automata are able to perform efficiently approximate calculations of topological invarians of knots and 3-manifolds. The same algebraic background is shared by 2D lattice models supporting topological phases of matter that have recently gained much interest in condensed matter physics. These developments are motivated by the possibility to store quantum information fault-tolerantly in a physical system supporting fractional statistics since a part of the associated Hilbert space is insensitive to local perturbations. Most of currently addressed approaches are framed within a "double" quantum Chern–Simons field theory, whose quantum amplitudes represent evolution histories of local lattice degrees of freedom.

We propose here a novel combinatorial approach based on "state sum" models of the Turaev–Viro type associated with SU(2)q-colored triangulations of the ambient 3-manifolds. We argue that boundary 2D lattice models (as well as observables in the form of colored graphs satisfying braiding relations) could be consistently addressed. This is supported by the proof that the Hamiltonian of the Levin–Wen condensed string net model in a surface Σ coincides with the corresponding Turaev–Viro amplitude on Σ × [0,1] presented in the last section.
QUANTUM COMPUTATION WITH GENERALIZED BINOMIAL STATES IN CAVITY QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS
Authors: FRANCO ROSARIO LO , COMPAGNO GIUSEPPE , MESSINA ANTONINO , NAPOLI ANNA
Published: February 2009

We study universal quantum computation in the cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED) framework exploiting two orthonormal two-photon generalized binomial states as qubit and dispersive interactions of Rydberg atoms with high-Q cavities. We show that an arbitrary qubit state may be generated and that controlled-NOT and 1-qubit rotation gates can be realized via standard atom-cavity interactions.
ERGODICITY IN RANDOMLY COLLIDING QUBITS
Authors: GENNARO GIUSEPPE , BENENTI GIULIANO , PALMA G. MASSIMO
Published: February 2009

The dynamics of a single qubit randomly colliding with an environment consisting of just two qubits is discussed. It is shown that the system reaches an equilibrium state which coincides with a pure random state of three qubits. Furthermore the time average and the ensemble averages of the quantities used to characterize the approach to equilibrium (purity and tangles) coincide, a signature of ergodic behavior.
QUANTUM ESTIMATION FOR QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY
Authors: PARIS MATTEO G. A.
Published: February 2009

Several quantities of interest in quantum information, including entanglement and purity, are nonlinear functions of the density matrix and cannot, even in principle, correspond to proper quantum observables. Any method aimed to determine the value of these quantities should resort to indirect measurements and thus corresponds to a parameter estimation problem whose solution, i.e. the determination of the most precise estimator, unavoidably involves an optimization procedure. We review local quantum estimation theory and present explicit formulas for the symmetric logarithmic derivative and the quantum Fisher information of relevant families of quantum states. Estimability of a parameter is defined in terms of the quantum signal-to-noise ratio and the number of measurements needed to achieve a given relative error. The connections between the optmization procedure and the geometry of quantum statistical models are discussed. Our analysis allows to quantify quantum noise in the measurements of non observable quantities and provides a tools for the characterization of signals and devices in quantum technology.
SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE PDC SPECKLE STRUCTURE FOR QUANTUM IMAGING APPLICATIONS
Authors: BRIDA G. , GENOVESE M. , MEDA A. , RUO BERCHERA I. , PREDAZZI E.
Published: February 2009

Sub shot noise imaging of weak object by exploiting Parametric Down Converted light represents a very interesting technological development. A precise characterization of PDC speckle structure in dependence of pump beam parameters is a fundamental tool for this application. In this paper we present a first set of data addressed to this purpose.
Preadipocyte transplantation: an in vivo study of direct leptin signaling on adipocyte morphogenesis and cell size
Authors: Guo Kaiying , Mogen Jonathan , Struzzi Samuel , Zhang Yiying
Published: February 2009

Leptin has profound effects on adipose tissue metabolism. However, it remains unclear whether direct leptin signaling in adipocytes is involved. We addressed this question by transplanting inguinal adipose tissue stromal vascular cells (SVCs) from 4- to 5-wk-old wild-type (WT) and leptin receptor-deficient [ Leprdb/db( db)] mice to inguinal and sternal subcutaneous sites in Ncr nude mice. Both WT and db SVCs gave rise to mature adipocytes with normal morphologies 3 mo after the transplantation. The average adipocyte size (μm2/cell) was not significantly different between WT and db transplants at either the inguinal (1,630 ± 103 vs. 1,491 ± 74) or the sternal site (1,788 ± 107 vs. 1,596 ± 92). Expression levels of β3-adrenergic receptor, a major mediator of lipid mobilization, were indistinguishable between WT and db transplants and similar to those of the hosts. Additionally, adipocyte sizes of inguinal transplants and endogenous inguinal adipose tissues were closely correlated (β = 0.76, P < 0.001), suggesting that the metabolic milieu of host mice has significant effects on adipocyte size of the transplants. Contrary to the indifference to donor's Lepr genotype, adipocyte size of the transplants was significantly affected by the donor's sex in a leptin receptor-dependent manner. In WT transplants, female SVCs gave rise to smaller adipocytes than male SVCs (1,358 ± 127 vs. 2,133 ± 171, P < 0.05). However, this sex difference was not significant in db transplants (1,537 ± 121 vs. 1,655 ± 140, P = 0.22). These data suggest that: 1) long-form receptor-mediated direct leptin signaling has no significant cell-autonomous effect on adipocyte differentiation and metabolism in adult mice, 2) sex may affect adipocyte metabolism via genetic and/or epigenetic programming, and 3) leptin may potentiate sexual dimorphism in adipocyte metabolism.
The impact of obesity, sex, and diet on hepatic glucose production in cats
Authors: Kley Saskia , Hoenig Margarethe , Glushka John , Jin Eunsook S. , Burgess Shawn C. , Waldron Mark , Jordan Erin T. , Prestegard James H. , Ferguson Duncan C. , Wu Shaoxiong , Olson Darin E.
Published: February 2009

Obesity is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes in cats. The risk of developing diabetes is severalfold greater for male cats than for females, even after having been neutered early in life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different metabolic pathways in the regulation of endogenous glucose production (EGP) during the fasted state considering these risk factors. A triple tracer protocol using 2H2O, [U-13C3]propionate, and [3,4-13C2]glucose was applied in overnight-fasted cats (12 lean and 12 obese; equal sex distribution) fed three different diets. Compared with lean cats, obese cats had higher insulin ( P < 0.001) but similar blood glucose concentrations. EGP was lower in obese cats ( P < 0.001) due to lower glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis (GNG; P < 0.03). Insulin, body mass index, and girth correlated negatively with EGP ( P < 0.003). Female obese cats had ∼1.5 times higher fluxes through phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase ( P < 0.02) and citrate synthase ( P < 0.05) than male obese cats. However, GNG was not higher because pyruvate cycling was increased 1.5-fold ( P < 0.03). These results support the notion that fasted obese cats have lower hepatic EGP compared with lean cats and are still capable of maintaining fasting euglycemia, despite the well-documented existence of peripheral insulin resistance in obese cats. Our data further suggest that sex-related differences exist in the regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism in obese cats, suggesting that pyruvate cycling acts as a controlling mechanism to modulate EGP. Increased pyruvate cycling could therefore be an important factor in modulating the diabetes risk in female cats.
Glucagon induces the gene expression of aquaporin-8 but not that of aquaporin-9 water channels in the rat hepatocyte
Authors: Soria Leandro R. , Gradilone Sergio A. , Larocca M. Cecilia , Marinelli Raúl A.
Published: February 2009

Glucagon stimulates the vesicle trafficking of aquaporin-8 (AQP8) water channels to the rat hepatocyte canalicular membranes, a process thought to be relevant to glucagon-induced bile secretion. In this study, we investigated whether glucagon is able to modulate the gene expression of hepatocyte AQP8. Glucagon was administered to rats at 0.2 mg/100 g body wt ip in 2, 3, or 6 equally spaced doses for 8, 16, and 36 h, respectively. Immunoblotting analysis showed that hepatic 34-kDa AQP8 was significantly increased by 79 and 107% at 16 and 36 h, respectively. Hepatic AQP9 protein expression remained unaltered. AQP8 mRNA expression, assessed by real-time PCR, was not modified over time, suggesting a posttranscriptional mechanism of AQP8 protein increase. Glucagon effects on AQP8 were directly studied in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. Immunoblotting and confocal immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed the specific glucagon-induced AQP8 upregulation. The RNA polymerase II inhibitor actinomycin D was unable to prevent glucagon effect, providing additional support to the nontranscriptional upregulation of AQP8. Cycloheximide also showed no effect, suggesting that glucagon-induced AQP8 expression does not depend on protein synthesis but rather on protein degradation. Inhibitory experiments suggest that a reduced calpain-mediated AQP8 proteolysis could be involved. The action of glucagon on hepatocyte AQP8 was mimicked by dibutyryl cAMP and suppressed by PKA or phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors. In conclusion, our data suggest that glucagon induces the gene expression of rat hepatocyte AQP8 by reducing its degradation, a process that involves cAMP-PKA and PI3K signal pathways.
Deficiency in Six2 during prenatal development is associated with reduced nephron number, chronic renal failure, and hypertension inBr/+ adult mice
Authors: Fogelgren Ben , Yang Shiming , Sharp Ian C. , Huckstep Odaro J. , Ma Wenbin , Somponpun S. J. , Carlson Edward C. , Uyehara Catherine F. T. , Lozanoff Scott
Published: February 2009

The Br/+ mutant mouse displays decreased embryological expression of the homeobox transcription factor Six2, resulting in hertitable renal hypoplasia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the renal physiological consequences of embryonic haploinsuffiency of Six2 by analyzing renal morphology and function in the adult Br heterozygous mutant. Adult Br/+ kidneys weighed 50% less than those from wild-type mice and displayed glomerulopathy. Stereological analysis of renal glomeruli showed that Br/+ kidneys had an average of 88% fewer glomeruli than +/+ kidneys, whereas individual glomeruli in Br/+ mice maintained an average volume increase of 180% compared with normal nephrons. Immunostaining revealed increased levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), endothelin receptors A (ETA) and B (ETB), and Na-K-ATPase were present in the dilated renal tubules of mutant mice. Physiological features of chronic renal failure (CRF) including elevated mean arterial pressure, increased plasma creatinine, and dilute urine excretion were measured in Br/+ mutant mice. Electron microscopy of the Br/+ glomeruli revealed pathological alterations such as hypercellularity, extracellular matrix accumulation, and a thick irregular glomerular basement membrane. These results indicate that adult Br/+ mice suffer from CRF associated with reduced nephron number and renal hypoplasia, as well as glomerulopathy. Defects are associated with embryological deficiencies of Six2, suggesting that proper levels of this protein during nephrogenesis are critical for normal glomerular development and adult renal function.