bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An empirical model for the equivalent translational compliance of steel studs
Authors: Davy John L. , Guigou-Carter Catherine , Villot Michel
Published: June 2012

The effect of the resilience of the steel studs on the sound insulation of steel stud cavity walls can be modeled as an equivalent translational compliance in simple models for predicting the sound insulation of walls. Recent numerical calculations have shown that this equivalent translational compliance varies with frequency. This paper determines the values of the equivalent translational compliance of steel studs which make a simple sound insulation theory agree best with experimental sound insulation data for 126 steel stud cavity walls with gypsum plaster board on each side of the steel studs and sound absorbing material in the wall cavity. These values are approximately constant as a function of frequency up to 400 Hz. Above 400 Hz they decrease approximately as a non-integer power of the frequency. The equivalent translational compliance also depends on the mass per unit surface area of the cladding on each side of the steel studs and on the width of the steel studs. Above 400 Hz, this compliance also depends on the stud spacing. The best fit approximation is used with a simple sound insulation prediction model to predict the sound insulation of steel stud cavity walls whose sound insulation has been determined experimentally.
The influence of linguistic and musical experience on Cantonese word learning
Authors: Cooper Angela , Wang Yue
Published: June 2012

Adult non-native speech perception is subject to influence from multiple factors, including linguistic and extralinguistic experience such as musical training. The present research examines how linguistic and musical factors influence non-native word identification and lexical tone perception. Groups of native tone language (Thai) and non-tone language listeners (English), each subdivided into musician and non-musician groups, engaged in Cantonese tone word training. Participants learned to identify words minimally distinguished by five Cantonese tones during training, also completing musical aptitude and phonemic tone identification tasks. First, the findings suggest that either musical experience or a tone language background leads to significantly better non-native word learning proficiency, as compared to those with neither musical training nor tone language experience. Moreover, the combination of tone language and musical experience did not provide an additional advantage for Thai musicians above and beyond either experience alone. Musicianship was found to be more advantageous than a tone language background for tone identification. Finally, tone identification and musical aptitude scores were significantly correlated with word learning success for English but not Thai listeners. These findings point to a dynamic influence of musical and linguistic experience, both at the tone dentification level and at the word learning stage.
Relationship between listening difficulty rating and objective measures in reverberant and noisy sound fields for young adults and elderly persons
Authors: Sato Hayato , Morimoto Masayuki , Wada Megumi
Published: June 2012

Listening difficulty ratings [Morimoto et al., J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 116, 1607–1613 (2004)] were obtained for 20 young adult listeners and 34 elderly listeners in reverberant and noisy sound fields simulated in an anechoic room. The listening difficulty ratings were compared with acoustical objective measures. The results and analyses showed the following: (i) The correlation between listening difficulty ratings and the revised speech transmission index (STIr), and that for the useful-detrimental ratio (U50) were high, regardless of the age of the listeners. (ii) STIr and U50 need to be increased by 0.12 and 4.2 dB, respectively, to equalize the listening difficulty ratings for the elderly listeners with those for the young listeners. (iii) The estimation accuracies for STIr and U50 can be improved by calculating them with the Leq of background noise linearly increased by 4 to 10 dB, which depends on the age of the listeners and the objective measures. However, the improvement was not statistically significant for the elderly listeners.
Evoked magnetoencephalographic responses to omission of a tone in a musical scale
Authors: Nemoto Iku
Published: June 2012

The musical scale is a basis for melodies and can be a simple melody by itself. The present study investigated magnetoencephalographic (MEG) responses to omissions of one tone out of the C major scale. The tone preceding the omitted “target” tone was either prolonged or repeated. In another series, the tone after the target tone was repeated. In “normal” oddball experiments, the complete C major scale was presented more frequently than an incomplete scale lacking one tone, and in “reverse” oddball experiments, the roles were exchanged. In the normal oddball experiments, omission of any tone produced a response significantly different in amplitude from the standard response in the group of non-musicians, although the responses differed depending on the types of omission. The leading tone (B in the C major scale) was shown to elicit a large response when omitted and also when its presence was emphasized. The Reverse oddball experiments showed that repeated presentation of an incomplete scale lacking one tone temporarily reduced the influence of the complete scale but could not even temporarily replace it working as “standard.” In addition, an auxiliary study was done to see possible influence of rhythmic variations.
p53 Dynamics Control Cell Fate
Authors: Purvis Jeremy E. , Karhohs Kyle W. , Mock Caroline , Batchelor Eric , Loewer Alexander , Lahav Galit
Published: June 2012

Dynamic Responses

Expression of the tumor suppressor p53 is activated in response to cell stress. The dynamics of p53 activation can vary, depending on the stressor, resulting in either pulsatile or constant p53 levels; however, the functional consequence of these different dynamics is unclear.

Purvis
et al.

(p.
1440
) developed a method to control p53 dynamics in human cells. Pulsing p53 selectively activated genes involved in cell cycle arrest and DNA repair, allowing recovery from DNA damage. In contrast, sustained p53 promoted induction of terminal genes leading to cellular senescence. Thus, protein dynamics can affect cell fate decisions.
A Histone Acetyltransferase Regulates Active DNA Demethylation in
Arabidopsis
Authors: Qian Weiqiang , Miki Daisuke , Zhang Heng , Liu Yunhua , Zhang Xi , Tang Kai , Kan Yunchao , La Honggui , Li Xiaojie , Li Shaofang , Zhu Xiaohong , Shi Xiaobing , Zhang Kangling , Pontes Olga , Chen Xuemei , Liu Renyi , Gong Zhizhong , Zhu Jian-Kang
Published: June 2012

To Silence or Not to Silence

Repressed genes commonly have methylated DNA, and/or covalent histone modifications associated with silent chromatin, and/or associated small interfering (si)RNAs. All three features are components of gene-silencing systems (see the Perspective by

Jacob and Martienssen

). In a screen for components of DNA methylation gene-silencing systems in the flowering plant,

Moissiard
et al.

(p.
1448
, published online 3 May) identified the genes
AtMoRC1
and
AtMORC6
, which are homologs of the mouse
Microrchidia1
gene. AtMORC1 and AtMORC6 are involved in silencing transposable elements and genes corresponding to DNA-methylated loci, and yet neither gene is required for maintenance of DNA methylation. Instead,
AtMoRC1
and
AtMORC6
are related to proteins that remodel chromatin superstructure, and they seem to control gene-silencing through the higher-order compaction of methylated and silent chromatin.

Qian
et al.

(p.
1445
) identified an
Arabidopsis
gene, IDM1 (increased DNA methylation 1), that is involved in regulating DNA methylation at loci enriched for repeats and multigene families containing highly homologous genes. IDM1 protects target genes from DNA silencing and recognizes both histone H3 and methylated DNA at target loci and is able to acetylate histone H3.
Fear of Predation Slows Plant-Litter Decomposition
Authors: Hawlena Dror , Strickland Michael S. , Bradford Mark A. , Schmitz Oswald J.
Published: June 2012

Fear Itself

A direct connection exists between aboveground communities and belowground soil microbiota: Soil microbes break down detrital inputs from above. Generally, it has been assumed that this relationship is largely driven by the soil community and the quality of the unconsumed plant-matter that makes up the majority of detritus in most ecosystems. However,

Hawlena
et al.

(p.
1434
) found that grasshoppers exposed to the threat of spider predation have an altered carbon to nitrogen ratio. When these grasshopper carcasses were subsequently integrated into the plant litter, they significantly slowed the decomposition rate, although there was no impact on the rate of decomposition of the grasshoppers themselves. Thus, the mere presence of predators, and the stress they impose, can have cascading trophic impacts and even influence the process of decomposition.
Ambient-Temperature Isolation of a Compound with a Boron-Boron Triple Bond
Authors: Braunschweig Holger , Dewhurst Rian D. , Hammond Kai , Mies Jan , Radacki Krzysztof , Vargas Alfredo
Published: June 2012

B-B Bond

Alkynes contain carbon-carbon triple bonds and represent a diverse class of organic compounds. In principle, valence rules suggest that the boron analog of an alkyne, with a B-B triple bond, ought to be accessible by appending a two-electron donor to each B atom.

Braunschweig
et al.

(p.
1420
; see the Perspective by

Frenking and Holzmann

) now present the synthesis, isolation, and crystallization of a solid, triple-bonded diboryne, with N-heterocyclic carbenes as the terminal substituents, which contains the expected linear bonding geometry.
Dipolar Antiferromagnetism and Quantum Criticality in LiErF
4
Authors: Kraemer Conradin , Nikseresht Neda , Piatek Julian O. , Tsyrulin Nikolay , Piazza Bastien Dalla , Kiefer Klaus , Klemke Bastian , Rosenbaum Thomas F. , Aeppli Gabriel , Gannarelli Ché , Prokes Karel , Podlesnyak Andrey , Strässle Thierry , Keller Lukas , Zaharko Oksana , Krämer Karl W. , Rønnow Henrik M.
Published: June 2012

Dropping a Dimension?

In most magnetic materials, the exchange interaction causes the spins on the neighboring sites of a crystal lattice to align. In the absence of exchange interactions, dipolar interactions, which are highly orientation dependent, are also expected to be able to cause magnetism.

Kraemer
et al.

(p.
1416
) present evidence for antiferromagnetism in a dipolar-coupled material, LiErF
4
. Although a three-dimensional system, its critical behavior was more reminiscent of a two-dimensional material.
Let's Finnish Schooling
Finnish Lessons
What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland?

by Pasi Sahlberg

Teachers College Press, New York, 2011. 191 pp. Paper, $34.95. ISBN 9780807752579.
Authors: Saalbach Henrik
Published: June 2012

Sahlberg describes how Finland has reshaped its educational system since 1980 and suggests how its experiences might help guide policy in other countries.
Known Unknowns
Ignorance
How It Drives Science

by Stuart Firestein

Oxford University Press, New York, 2012. 207 pp. $21.95, £14.99. ISBN 9780199828074.
Authors: Cerf Moran
Published: June 2012

Stressing the importance of "not knowing," Firestein argues that ignorance plays several crucial roles in driving research.
Avoiding Empty Ocean Commitments at Rio+20
Authors: Veitch Liane , Dulvy Nicholas K. , Koldewey Heather , Lieberman Susan , Pauly Daniel , Roberts Callum M. , Rogers Alex D. , Baillie Jonathan E. M.
Published: June 2012

To improve sustainability of ocean ecosystems, implementation of existing commitments should be prioritized.
The Heartbeat of Ecosystems
Authors: Palmer Margaret A. , Febria Catherine M.
Published: June 2012

Which indicators of ecosystem structure and function must be measured to assess ecosystem health?
A Boron-Boron Triple Bond
Authors: Frenking Gernot , Holzmann Nicole
Published: June 2012

A complex with a boron-boron triple bond expands the range of genuine triple bonds known to chemists.
From Industrial Toward Ecological in China
Authors: Pan Jiahua
Published: June 2012

Having transitioned from developing country into the world’s second largest economy, China is taking steps toward more sustainable modes of development.
Absolute Dating of Cave Art
Authors: Hellstrom John
Published: June 2012

Use of uranium-thorium dating shows that cave art in Spain is older than expected.
Creating the New Development Ecosystem
Authors: Dehgan Alex
Published: June 2012

Developing countries are sources of solutions, moving us from a handful of traditional development agencies toward 7 billion development agents.
Analyzing Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Brito Lidia
Published: June 2012

The global scientific community must lead the analysis and cooperative design of new sustainable development goals.
Systems Science for Policy Evaluation
Authors: Kabat Pavel
Published: June 2012

Multiscale models integrating social, economic, and environmental aspects are critical for evaluating proposed policies.
Rigorous Evaluation of Human Behavior
Authors: Duflo Esther
Published: June 2012

Randomized controlled trials explore how to improve human adoption of promising technologies.
The Reluctant Toad Killer
Authors: Zielinski Sarah
Published: June 2012

Australia's cane toad problem has distracted Rick Shine from the animals he truly loves, but the biologist may have an effective way to slow their invasion.
Comparison of Mother and Child Antibodies That Target High-Molecular-Mass Toxoplasma gondii Antigens by Immunoblotting Improves Neonatal Diagnosis of Congenital Toxoplasmosis
Authors: L'Ollivier Coralie , Wallon Martine , Faucher Benoit , Piarroux Renaud , Peyron François , Franck Jacqueline
Published: June 2012

This retrospective study proposes a new reading of immunoblotting (IB) in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. Our findings demonstrate that a three-IgM-band association at 75, 90, and 100 kDa called the IgM triplet increases the sensitivity to 95.8% when combined with prenatal and serological neonatal tests.
A Recombinant Attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis Vaccine Strain Is Safe in Immunosuppressed Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Infant Macaques
Authors: Jensen Kara , Ranganathan Uma Devi K. , Van Rompay Koen K. A. , Canfield Don R. , Khan Imran , Ravindran Resmi , Luciw Paul A. , Jacobs William R. , Fennelly Glenn , Larsen Michelle H. , Abel Kristina
Published: June 2012

Many resource-poor countries are faced with concurrent epidemics of AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) andMycobacterium tuberculosis, respectively. Dual infections with HIV andM. tuberculosisare especially severe in infants. There is, however, no effective HIV vaccine, and the only licensed TB vaccine, theMycobacterium bovisbacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, can cause disseminated mycobacterial disease in HIV-infected children. Thus, a pediatric vaccine to prevent HIV andM. tuberculosisinfections is urgently needed. We hypothesized that a highly attenuatedM. tuberculosisstrain containing HIV antigens could be safely administered at birth and induce mucosal and systemic immune responses to protect against HIV and TB infections, and we rationalized that vaccine safety could be most rigorously assessed in immunocompromised hosts. Of three vaccine candidates tested, the recombinant attenuatedM. tuberculosisstrain mc26435 carrying a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) Gag expression plasmid and harboring attenuations of genes critical for replication (panCDandleuCD) and immune evasion (secA2), was found to be safe for oral or intradermal administration to non-SIV-infected and SIV-infected infant macaques. Safety was defined as the absence of clinical symptoms, a lack of histopathological changes indicative ofM. tuberculosisinfection, and a lack of mycobacterial dissemination. These data represent an important step in the development of novel TB vaccines and suggest that a combination recombinant attenuatedM. tuberculosis-HIV vaccine could be a safe alternative to BCG for the pediatric population as a whole and, more importantly, for the extreme at-risk group of HIV-infected infants.
Prevalence of Chronic Q Fever in Patients with a History of Cardiac Valve Surgery in an Area Where Coxiella burnetii Is Epidemic
Authors: Kampschreur Linda M. , Oosterheert Jan Jelrik , Hoepelman Andy I. M. , Lestrade Peter J. , Renders Nicole H. M. , Elsman Peter , Wever Peter C.
Published: June 2012

Chronic Q fever develops in 1 to 5% of patients infected withCoxiella burnetii. The risk for chronic Q fever endocarditis has been estimated to be ∼39% in case of preexisting valvulopathy and is potentially even higher for valvular prostheses. Since 2007, The Netherlands has faced the largest Q fever outbreak ever reported, allowing a more precise risk estimate of chronic Q fever in high-risk groups. Patients with a history of cardiac valve surgery were selected for microbiological screening through a cardiology outpatient clinic in the area where Q fever is epidemic. Blood samples were analyzed for phase I and II IgG againstC. burnetii, and if titers were above a defined cutoff level,C. burnetiiPCR was performed. Chronic Q fever was considered proven ifC. burnetiiPCR was positive and probable if the phase I IgG titer was ≥1:1,024. Among 568 patients, the seroprevalence ofC. burnetiiantibodies (IgG titer greater than or equal to 1:32) was 20.4% (n= 116). Proven or probable chronic Q fever was identified among 7.8% of seropositive patients (n= 9). Valve characteristics did not influence the risk for chronic Q fever. Patients with chronic Q fever were significantly older than patients with past Q fever. In conclusion, screening of high-risk groups is a proper instrument for early detection of chronic Q fever cases. The estimated prevalence of chronic Q fever is 7.8% among seropositive patients with a history of cardiac valve surgery, which is substantially higher than that in nonselected populations but lower than that previously reported. Older age seems to increase vulnerability to chronic Q fever in this population.
Biochemical Analysis of the Complex between the Tetrameric Export Adapter Protein Rec of HERV-K/HML-2 and the Responsive RNA Element RcRE pck30
Authors: Langner Janina S. , Fuchs Nina V. , Hoffmann Jan , Wittmann Alexander , Brutschy Bernhard , Löwer Roswitha , Suess Beatrix
Published: June 2012

The RNA export adaptor protein Rec, encoded for by the human endogenous retrovirus HERV-K/HML-2 elements, binds to the Rec responsive element (RcRE) located in the 3′ untranslated region of HERV-K/HML-2 transcripts. Binding allows the nucleocytoplasmic export of unspliced viral RNA, thereby overcoming host restriction. Chemical probing of the secondary structure of the RcRE corroborated the theory that the RcRE forms a complex folded structure with seven stem-loop regions. Laser-induced liquid beam ion desorption mass spectrometry revealed that Rec forms stable tetramers, which are further stabilized upon RNA binding. The RNA protein complex consists of three Rec tetramers, which bind to multiple sites on the RcRE—preferentially to purine-rich motifs—which represent several low-affinity binding sites. Mutated RcREs, with one to three purine-rich motifs deleted, were still bound and exported by Rec, indicating that the complex folded structure of the RcRE is important for Rec binding. This suggests a binding model where up to three Rec tetramers bind to the complex folded structure of the RcRE and the binding seems to be tightened by recognition of the purine-rich motifs.
Evolution of Novel Reassortant A/H3N2 Influenza Viruses in North American Swine and Humans, 2009–2011
Authors: Nelson Martha I. , Vincent Amy L. , Kitikoon Pravina , Holmes Edward C. , Gramer Marie R.
Published: June 2012

Novel H3N2 influenza viruses (H3N2v) containing seven genome segments from swine lineage triple-reassortant H3N2 viruses and a 2009 pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm09) matrix protein segment (pM) were isolated from 12 humans in the United States between August and December 2011. To understand the evolution of these novel H3N2 viruses in swine and humans, we undertook a phylogenetic analysis of 674 M sequences and 388 HA and NA sequences from influenza viruses isolated from North American swine during 2009–2011, as well as HA, NA, and M sequences from eight H3N2v viruses isolated from humans. We identified 34 swine influenza viruses (termed rH3N2p) with the same combination of H3, N2, and pM segments as the H3N2v viruses isolated from humans. Notably, these rH3N2p viruses were generated in swine via reassortment events between H3N2 viruses and the pM segment approximately 4 to 10 times since 2009. The pM segment has also reassorted with multiple distinct lineages of H1 virus, especially H1δ viruses. Importantly, the N2 segment of all H3N2v viruses isolated from humans is derived from a genetically distinct N2 lineage that has circulated in swine since being acquired by reassortment with seasonal human H3N2 viruses in 2001–2002, rather than from the N2 that is associated with the 1998 H3N2 swine lineage. The identification of this N2 variant may have implications for influenza vaccine design and the potential pandemic threat of H3N2v to human age groups with differing levels of prior exposure and immunity.
Proteomic Analysis of Frankliniella occidentalis and Differentially Expressed Proteins in Response toTomato Spotted Wilt VirusInfection
Authors: Badillo-Vargas I. E. , Rotenberg D. , Schneweis D. J. , Hiromasa Y. , Tomich J. M. , Whitfield A. E.
Published: June 2012

Tomato spotted wilt virus(TSWV) is transmitted byFrankliniella occidentalisin a persistent propagative manner. Despite the extensive replication of TSWV in midgut and salivary glands, there is little to no pathogenic effect onF. occidentalis. We hypothesize that the first-instar larva (L1) ofF. occidentalismounts a response to TSWV that protects it from pathogenic effects caused by virus infection and replication in various insect tissues. A partial thrips transcriptome was generated using 454-Titanium sequencing of cDNA generated fromF. occidentalisexposed to TSWV. Using these sequences, the L1 thrips proteome that resolved on a two-dimensional gel was characterized. Forty-seven percent of the resolved protein spots were identified using the thrips transcriptome. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of virus titer in L1 thrips revealed a significant increase in the normalized abundance of TSWV nucleocapsid RNA from 2 to 21 h after a 3-h acquisition access period on virus-infected plant tissue, indicative of infection and accumulation of virus. We compared the proteomes of infected and noninfected L1s to identify proteins that display differential abundances in response to virus. Using four biological replicates, 26 spots containing 37 proteins were significantly altered in response to TSWV. Gene ontology assignments for 32 of these proteins revealed biological roles associated with the infection cycle of other plant- and animal-infecting viruses and antiviral defense responses. Our findings support the hypothesis that L1 thrips display a complex reaction to TSWV infection and provide new insights toward unraveling the molecular basis of this interaction.
The “Bridge” in the Epstein-Barr Virus Alkaline Exonuclease Protein BGLF5 Contributes to Shutoff Activity during Productive Infection
Authors: Horst Daniëlle , Burmeister Wim P. , Boer Ingrid G. J. , van Leeuwen Daphne , Buisson Marlyse , Gorbalenya Alexander E. , Wiertz Emmanuel J. H. J. , Ressing Maaike E.
Published: June 2012

Replication of the human herpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus drastically impairs cellular protein synthesis. This shutoff phenotype results from mRNA degradation upon expression of the early lytic-phase protein BGLF5. Interestingly, BGLF5 is the viral DNase, or alkaline exonuclease, homologues of which are present throughout the herpesvirus family. During productive infection, this DNase is essential for processing and packaging of the viral genome. In contrast to this widely conserved DNase activity, shutoff is only mediated by the alkaline exonucleases of the subfamily of gammaherpesviruses. Here, we show that BGLF5 can degrade mRNAs of both cellular and viral origin, irrespective of polyadenylation. Furthermore, shutoff by BGLF5 induces nuclear relocalization of the cytosolic poly(A) binding protein. Guided by the recently resolved BGLF5 structure, mutants were generated and analyzed for functional consequences on DNase and shutoff activities. On the one hand, a point mutation destroying DNase activity also blocks RNase function, implying that both activities share a catalytic site. On the other hand, other mutations are more selective, having a more pronounced effect on either DNA degradation or shutoff. The latter results are indicative of an oligonucleotide-binding site that is partially shared by DNA and RNA. For this, the flexible “bridge” that crosses the active-site canyon of BGLF5 appears to contribute to the interaction with RNA substrates. These findings extend our understanding of the molecular basis for the shutoff function of BGLF5 that is conserved in gammaherpesviruses but not in alpha- and betaherpesviruses.
Genome, Integration, and Transduction of a Novel Temperate Phage of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Luo Cheng-Hung , Chiou Pei-Yu , Yang Chiou-Ying , Lin Nien-Tsung
Published: June 2012

Helicobacter pyloriis a common human pathogen that has been identified to be carcinogenic. This study isolated the temperate bacteriophage 1961P from the lysate of a clinical strain ofH. pyloriisolated in Taiwan. The bacteriophage has an icosahedral head and a short tail, typical of thePodoviridaefamily. Its double-stranded DNA genome is 26,836 bp long and has 33 open reading frames. Only 9 of the predicted proteins have homologs of known functions, while the remaining 24 are only similar to unknown proteins encoded byHelicobacterprophages and remnants. Analysis of sequences proximal to the phage-host junctions suggests that 1961P may integrate into the host chromosome via a mechanism similar to that of bacteriophage lambda. In addition, 1961P is capable of generalized transduction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation, characterization, genome analysis, integration, and transduction of aHelicobacter pyloriphage.
Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) bZIP Factor Requires Cellular Transcription Factor JunD To Upregulate HTLV-1 Antisense Transcription from the 3′ Long Terminal Repeat
Authors: Gazon Hélène , Lemasson Isabelle , Polakowski Nicholas , Césaire Raymond , Matsuoka Masao , Barbeau Benoit , Mesnard Jean-Michel , Peloponese Jean-Marie
Published: June 2012

Infection with the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) results in a variety of diseases including adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), a fatal malignancy characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of virally infected CD4
+
T cells. The HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) is believed to contribute to development and maintenance of ATL. Unlike the other HTLV-1 genes, the
hbz
gene is encoded on the complementary strand of the provirus and therefore is not under direct control of the promoter within the 5′ long terminal repeat (LTR) of the provirus. This promoter can undergo inactivating genetic or epigenetic changes during the course of ATL that eliminates expression of all viral genes except that of
hbz
. In contrast, repressive modifications are not known to occur on the
hbz
promoter located in the 3′ LTR, and
hbz
expression has been consistently detected in all ATL patient samples. Although Sp1 regulates basal transcription from the HBZ promoter, other factors that activate transcription remain undefined. In this study, we used a proviral reporter construct deleted of the 5′ LTR to show that HBZ upregulates its own expression through cooperation with JunD. Activation of antisense transcription was apparent in serum-deprived cells in which the level of JunD was elevated, and elimination of JunD expression by gene knockout or shRNA-mediated knockdown abrogated this effect. Activation through HBZ and JunD additionally required Sp1 binding at the
hbz
promoter. These data favor a model in which JunD is recruited to the promoter through Sp1, where it heterodimerizes with HBZ thereby enhancing its activity. Separately,
hbz
gene expression led to an increase in JunD abundance, and this effect correlated with emergence of features of transformed cells in immortalized fibroblasts. Overall, our results suggest that JunD represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of ATL.
Selected Drugs with Reported Secondary Cell-Differentiating Capacity Prime Latent HIV-1 Infection for Reactivation
Authors: Shishido Takao , Wolschendorf Frank , Duverger Alexandra , Wagner Frederic , Kappes John , Jones Jennifer , Kutsch Olaf
Published: June 2012

Reactivation of latent HIV-1 infection is considered our best therapeutic means to eliminate the latent HIV-1 reservoir. Past therapeutic attempts to systemically trigger HIV-1 reactivation using single drugs were unsuccessful. We thus sought to identify drug combinations consisting of one component that would lower the HIV-1 reactivation threshold and a synergistic activator. With aclacinomycin and dactinomycin, we initially identified two FDA-approved drugs that primed latent HIV-1 infection in T cell lines and in primary T cells for reactivation and facilitated complete reactivation at the population level. This effect was correlated not with the reported primary drug effects but with the cell-differentiating capacity of the drugs. We thus tested other cell-differentiating drugs/compounds such as cytarabine and aphidicolin and found that they also primed latent HIV-1 infection for reactivation. This finding extends the therapeutic promise of
N
′-
N
′-hexamethylene-bisacetamide (HMBA), another cell-differentiating agent that has been reported to trigger HIV-1 reactivation, into the group of FDA-approved drugs. To this end, it is also noteworthy that suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA), a polar compound that was initially developed as a second-generation cell-differentiating agent using HMBA as a structural template and which is now marketed as the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor vorinostat, also has been reported to trigger HIV-1 reactivation. Our findings suggest that drugs with primary or secondary cell-differentiating capacity should be revisited as HIV-1-reactivating agents as some could potentially be repositioned as candidate drugs to be included in an induction therapy to trigger HIV-1 reactivation.
Paramecium bursaria Chlorella Virus 1 Proteome Reveals Novel Architectural and Regulatory Features of a Giant Virus
Authors: Dunigan David D. , Cerny Ronald L. , Bauman Andrew T. , Roach Jared C. , Lane Leslie C. , Agarkova Irina V. , Wulser Kurt , Yanai-Balser Giane M. , Gurnon James R. , Vitek Jason C. , Kronschnabel Bernard J. , Jeanniard Adrien , Blanc Guillaume , Upton Chris , Duncan Garry A. , McClung O. William , Ma Fangrui , Van Etten James L.
Published: June 2012

The 331-kbp chlorovirus
Paramecium bursaria
chlorella virus 1 (PBCV-1) genome was resequenced and annotated to correct errors in the original 15-year-old sequence; 40 codons was considered the minimum protein size of an open reading frame. PBCV-1 has 416 predicted protein-encoding sequences and 11 tRNAs. A proteome analysis was also conducted on highly purified PBCV-1 virions using two mass spectrometry-based protocols. The mass spectrometry-derived data were compared to PBCV-1 and its host
Chlorella variabilis
NC64A predicted proteomes. Combined, these analyses revealed 148 unique virus-encoded proteins associated with the virion (about 35% of the coding capacity of the virus) and 1 host protein. Some of these proteins appear to be structural/architectural, whereas others have enzymatic, chromatin modification, and signal transduction functions. Most (106) of the proteins have no known function or homologs in the existing gene databases except as orthologs with proteins of other chloroviruses, phycodnaviruses, and nuclear-cytoplasmic large DNA viruses. The genes encoding these proteins are dispersed throughout the virus genome, and most are transcribed late or early-late in the infection cycle, which is consistent with virion morphogenesis.
Antiretroviral Agents Effectively Block HIV Replication after Cell-to-Cell Transfer
Authors: Permanyer Marc , Ballana Ester , Ruiz Alba , Badia Roger , Riveira-Munoz Eva , Gonzalo Encarna , Clotet Bonaventura , Esté José A.
Published: June 2012

Cell-to-cell transmission of HIV has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to virus escape to the action of antiretrovirals and a mode of HIV persistence during antiretroviral therapy. Here, cocultures of infected HIV-1 cells with primary CD4
+
T cells or lymphoid cells were used to evaluate virus transmission and the effect of known antiretrovirals. Transfer of HIV antigen from infected to uninfected cells was resistant to the reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) zidovudine (AZT) and tenofovir, but was blocked by the attachment inhibitor IgGb12. However, quantitative measurement of viral DNA production demonstrated that all anti-HIV agents blocked virus replication with similar potency to cell-free virus infections. Cell-free and cell-associated infections were equally sensitive to inhibition of viral replication when HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR)-driven green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in target cells was measured. However, detection of GFP by flow cytometry may incorrectly estimate the efficacy of antiretrovirals in cell-associated virus transmission, due to replication-independent Tat-mediated LTR transactivation as a consequence of cell-to-cell events that did not occur in short-term (48-h) cell-free virus infections. In conclusion, common markers of virus replication may not accurately correlate and measure infectivity or drug efficacy in cell-to-cell virus transmission. When accurately quantified, active drugs blocked proviral DNA and virus replication in cell-to-cell transmission, recapitulating the efficacy of antiretrovirals in cell-free virus infections and
in vivo
.
Lineage-Specific Differences between Human and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Regulation of gp120 Trimer Association and CD4 Binding
Authors: Finzi Andrés , Pacheco Beatriz , Xiang Shi-Hua , Pancera Marie , Herschhorn Alon , Wang Liping , Zeng Xing , Desormeaux Anik , Kwong Peter D. , Sodroski Joseph
Published: June 2012

Metastable conformations of the gp120 and gp41 envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) must be maintained in the unliganded state of the envelope glycoprotein trimer. Binding of gp120 to the primary receptor, CD4, triggers the transition to an open conformation of the trimer, promoting interaction with the CCR5 chemokine receptor and ultimately leading to gp41-mediated virus-cell membrane fusion and entry. Topological layers in the gp120 inner domain contribute to gp120-trimer association in the unliganded state and to CD4 binding. Here we describe similarities and differences between HIV-1 and SIVmac gp120. In both viruses, the gp120 N/C termini and the inner domain β-sandwich and layer 2 support the noncovalent association of gp120 with the envelope glycoprotein trimer. Layer 1 of the SIVmac gp120 inner domain contributes more to trimer association than the corresponding region of HIV-1 gp120. On the other hand, layer 1 plays an important role in stabilizing the CD4-bound conformation of HIV-1 but not SIVmac gp120 and thus contributes to HIV-1 binding to CD4. In SIVmac, CD4 binding is instead enhanced by tryptophan 375, which fills the Phe 43 cavity of gp120. Activation of SIVmac by soluble CD4 is dependent on tryptophan 375 and on layer 1 residues that determine a tight association of gp120 with the trimer. Distinct biological requirements for CD4 usage have resulted in lineage-specific differences in the HIV-1 and SIV gp120 structures that modulate trimer association and CD4 binding.
SEARCHING FOR NEW PHYSICS BEYOND THE STANDARD MODEL IN ELECTRIC DIPOLE MOMENT
Authors: FUKUYAMA TAKESHI
Published: June 2012

This is a theoretical review of exploration of new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) in the electric dipole moment (EDM) in elementary particles, atoms and molecule. EDM is a very important CP violating phenomenon and sensitive to new physics. Starting with the estimations of EDM of quarks–leptons in SM, we explore new signals beyond SM. However, these works drive us to wider frontiers where we search fundamental physics using atoms and molecules and vice versa. Paramagnetic atoms and molecules have great enhancement factor on electron EDM. Diamagnetic atoms and molecules are very sensitive to nuclear P and T odd processes. Thus EDM becomes the keyword not only of New Physics but also of unprecedented fruitful collaborations among particle, atomic and molecular physics. This review intends to help such collaborations over a wide range of physicists.
DEVELOPING THE FRAMED STANDARD MODEL
Authors: BAKER MICHAEL J. , BORDES JOSÉ , CHAN HONG-MO , TSUN TSOU SHEUNG
Published: June 2012

The framed standard model (FSM) suggested earlier, which incorporates the Higgs field and three fermion generations as part of the framed gauge theory (FGT) structure, is here developed further to show that it gives both quarks and leptons hierarchical masses and mixing matrices akin to what is experimentally observed. Among its many distinguishing features which lead to the above results are (i) the vacuum is degenerate under a global su(3) symmetry which plays the role of fermion generations, (ii) the fermion mass matrix is "universal," rank-one and rotates (changes its orientation in generation space) with changing scale μ, (iii) the metric in generation space is scale-dependent too, and in general nonflat, (iv) the theta-angle term in the quantum chromodynamics (QCD) action of topological origin gets transformed into the CP-violating phase of the Cabibbo–Kobayashi–Maskawa (CKM) matrix for quarks, thus offering at the same time a solution to the strong CP problem.
NONZERO θ13 AND NEUTRINO MASSES FROM MODIFIED NEUTRINO MIXING MATRIX
Authors: DAMANIK ASAN
Published: June 2012

The nonzero and relatively large θ13 have been reported by Daya Bay, T2K, MINOS and Double Chooz Collaborations. In order to accommodate the nonzero θ13, we modified the tribimaximal (TB), bimaxima (BM) and democratic (DC) neutrino mixing matrices. From three modified neutrino mixing matrices, two of them (the modified BM and DC mixing matrices) can give nonzero θ13 which is compatible with the result of the Daya Bay and T2K experiments. The modified TB neutrino mixing matrix predicts the value of θ13 which is greater than the upper bound value of the latest experimental results. By using the modified neutrino mixing matrices and imposing an additional assumption that neutrino mass matrices have two zeros texture, we then obtain the neutrino mass in normal hierarchy when (Mν)22 = (Mν)33 = 0 for the neutrino mass matrix from the modified TB neutrino mixing matrix and (Mν)11 = (Mν)13 = 0 for the neutrino mass matrix from the modified DC neutrino mixing matrix. For these two patterns of neutrino mass matrices, either the atmospheric mass squared difference or the solar mass squared difference can be obtained, but not both of them simultaneously. From four patterns of two zeros texture to be considered on the obtained neutrino mass matrix from the modified BM neutrino mixing matrix, none of them can correctly predict the neutrino mass spectrum (normal or inverted hierarchy).
CODES AND SHIFTED CODES
Authors: HIRD J. T. , JING NAIHUAN , STITZINGER ERNEST
Published: June 2012

The action of the Bernstein operators on Schur functions was given in terms of codes by Carrell and Goulden (2011) and extended to the analog in Schur Q-functions in our previous work. We define a new combinatorial model of extended codes and show that both of these results follow from a natural combinatorial relation induced on codes. The new algebraic structure provides a natural setting for Schur functions indexed by compositions.
ON FREE SPECTRA OF VARIETIES OF LOCALLY THRESHOLD TESTABLE SEMIGROUPS
Authors: DOLINKA IGOR
Published: June 2012

A semigroup S is said to be ℓ-threshold k-testable if it satisfies all identities u = v where u, v is an arbitrary pair of words over a finite alphabet Σ such that they simultaneously belong or fail to belong to any ℓ-threshold k-testable (regular) language. We give an asymptotic formula for the free spectrum of the variety [Formula: see text] of all ℓ-threshold k-testable semigroups, thereby providing an asymptotic upper bound on the size of an arbitrary finitely generated locally threshold testable semigroup. The combinatorial interpretation of this task yields an enumeration problem for particular edge labelings of de Bruijn graphs.
SPECTRUM AND HEAT KERNEL ASYMPTOTICS ON GENERAL LAAKSO SPACES
Authors: BEGUÉ MATTHEW , DEVALVE LEVI , MILLER DAVID , STEINHURST BENJAMIN
Published: June 2012

We introduce a method of constructing a general Laakso space while calculating the spectrum and multiplicities of the Laplacian operator. Using this information, we find the leading term of the trace of the heat kernel and the spectral dimension on an arbitrary Laakso space.
EVALUATION OF BONE BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE EQUINE THIRD METACARPUS
Authors: Moreira Rodrigo Crispim , Pereira Cesar Augusto Martins , Frazão Paulo José Riccio , Selim Mariana Baroni , da Silva Luis Cláudio Lopes Correia , do Valle de Zoppa André Luis
Published: June 2012

Purpose: To compare biomechanical characteristics at different regions of the equine third metacarpal bone using standardized test specimens. Methods: Standardized test specimens were made from samples collected from each third metacarpal bone. Cortical bone samples were collected from the lateral (ts4L) and medial (ts4M) cortices of the mid-diaphysis and trabecular bone samples were collected from the distal (ts3) and proximal (ts2) epiphyses. A sample corresponding to the mid third of the third metacarpal bone was also collected (ts1). Test specimens were submitted to compressive testing for determination and comparison of biomechanical properties. Results: Stress and modulus of elasticity of ts4L and ts4M did not differ at the time of fracture. However, the modulus of elasticity of ts4L and ts4M differed from ts1. Maximum tension and modulus of elasticity differed between ts2 and ts3. A medium to high positive correlation between test specimen density and bone biomechanical properties was observed. Conclusion: The lateral and medial cortices of the equine third metacarpal bone have similar biomechanical characteristics. The proximal and distal epiphyses of the equine third metacarpal bone have different biomechanical properties that are correlated with bone density in these regions.
Pseudo-injective group algebra
Authors: Alahmadi Adel N.
Published: June 2012

A ring R is called right pseudo-injective if for every R-monomorphism from a right ideal I of R into R can be lifted to an R-homomorphism. In this paper we prove that if K[G] is self-pseudo-injective, then G is locally finite. Also, it is shown that if K[G] is self-pseudo-injective, then K[H] is self-pseudo-injective for every H < G.
THE 2-LOCAL RANKS OF LARGE SPORADIC GROUPS
Authors: WANG BAOSHAN
Published: June 2012

In this paper we mainly study sporadic groups in terms of p-local rank, especially the 2-local ranks of some sporadic groups (Conway simple group Co1, Janko simple group J4, Fisher simple groups, the Baby Monster 𝔹 and the Monster 𝕄) will be given which complete the problem of determining the p-local ranks of all sporadic simple groups for all primes p.
AFFINE SEMIGROUPS HAVING A UNIQUE BETTI ELEMENT
Authors: GARCÍA SÁNCHEZ P. A. , OJEDA I. , ROSALES J. C.
Published: June 2012

We characterize affine semigroups having one Betti element and we compute some relevant non-unique factorization invariants for these semigroups. As an example, we particularize our description to numerical semigroups.
ON A CHARACTERIZATION OF GEODESIC TRAJECTORIES AND GRAVITATIONAL MOTIONS
Authors: FATIBENE L. , FRANCAVIGLIA M. , MAGNANO G.
Published: June 2012

We shall here discuss a characterization of geodesics trajectories. We shall show that the action of the gravitational field on mass particles can be essentially identified with the force that cannot be absolutely eliminated. This leads to an alternative formulation of equivalence principle.
ON ASYMPTOTICALLY STABILIZING THE RABINOVICH DYNAMICAL SYSTEM
Authors: TUDORAN RAMONA A.
Published: June 2012

In this paper we give a method to stabilize asymptotically the nontrivial Lyapunov stable equilibrium states of the Rabinovich dynamical system.
Short-term exercise training augments sympathetic vasoconstrictor responsiveness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation in resting skeletal muscle
Authors: Jendzjowsky Nicholas G. , DeLorey Darren S.
Published: June 2012

We tested the hypotheses that 4 wk of exercise training would diminish the magnitude of vasoconstriction in response to sympathetic nerve stimulation and augment endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDD) in resting skeletal muscle in a training intensity-dependent manner. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sedentary time-control (S), mild- (M; 20 m/min, 5% grade), or heavy-intensity (H; 40 m/min, 5% grade) treadmill exercise groups. Animals trained 5 days/wk for 4 wk with training volume matched between groups. Rats were anesthetized and instrumented for study 24 h after the last training session. Arterial pressure and femoral artery blood flow were measured, and femoral vascular conductance (FVC) was calculated. Lumbar sympathetic chain stimulation was delivered continuously at 2 Hz and in patterns at 20 and 40 Hz. EDD was assessed by the vascular response to intra-arterial bolus injections of ACh. The response (% change FVC) to sympathetic stimulation increased ( P < 0.05) in a training intensity-dependent manner at 2 Hz (S: −20.2 ± 9.8%, M: −34.0 ± 6.7%, and H: −44.9 ± 2.0%), 20 Hz (S: −22.0 ± 10.6%, M: −31.2 ± 8.4%, and H: −42.8 ± 5.9%), and 40 Hz (S: H −24.5 ± 8.5%, M: −35.1 ± 8.9%, H: −44.9 ± 6.5%). The magnitude of EDD also increased in a training intensity-dependent manner ( P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that short-term exercise training augments the magnitude of vasoconstriction in response to sympathetic stimulation and EDD in resting skeletal muscle in a training intensity-dependent manner.