bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Hydrophobic Domain of Infectious Bronchitis Virus E Protein Alters the Host Secretory Pathway and Is Important for Release of Infectious Virus
Authors: Ruch Travis R. , Machamer Carolyn E. 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT
The coronavirus (CoV) E protein plays an important role in virus assembly. The E protein is made in excess during infection and has been shown to have ion channel activity in planar lipid bilayers. However, a role in infection for the unincorporated E or its ion channel activity has not been described. To further investigate the function of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) E protein, we developed a recombinant version of IBV in which the E protein was replaced by a mutant containing a heterologous hydrophobic domain. The mutant virus, IBV-EG3, was defective in release of infectious virus particles. Further characterization of IBV-EG3 revealed that damaged particles appeared to accumulate intracellularly. The phenotype of IBV-EG3 suggested that the hydrophobic domain of IBV E may be important for the forward trafficking of cargo, so we determined whether IBV E facilitated the delivery of cargo to the plasma membrane. Surprisingly, we found that IBV E, but not EG3, dramatically reduced the delivery of cargo to the plasma membrane by impeding movement through the Golgi complex. Furthermore, we observed that overexpression of IBV E, but not EG3, induced the disassembly of the Golgi complex. Finally, we determined that the delivery of IBV S to the plasma membrane was reduced in cells infected with wild-type-IBV compared to those infected with IBV-EG3. Our results indicated that the hydrophobic domain of IBV E alters the host secretory pathway to the apparent advantage of the virus.
African Great Apes Are Naturally Infected with Polyomaviruses Closely Related to Merkel Cell Polyomavirus
Authors: Leendertz Fabian H. , Scuda Nelly , Cameron Kenneth N. , Kidega Tonny , Zuberbühler Klaus , Leendertz Siv Aina J. , Couacy-Hymann Emmanuel , Boesch Christophe , Calvignac Sébastien , Ehlers Bernhard 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT
The oncogenic Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) infects humans worldwide, but little is known about the occurrence of viruses related to MCPyV in the closest phylogenetic relatives of humans, great apes. We analyzed samples from 30 wild chimpanzees and one captive gorilla and identified two new groups of polyomaviruses (PyVs). These new viruses are by far the closest relatives to MCPyV described to date, providing the first evidence of the natural occurrence of PyVs related to MCPyV in wild great apes. Similar to MCPyV, the prevalence of these viruses is relatively high (>30%). This, together with the fact that humans in West and Central Africa frequently hunt and butcher primates, may point toward further MCPyV-like strains spreading to, or already existing in, our species.
Complement Opsonization Enhances Friend Virus Infection of B Cells and Thereby Amplifies the Virus-Specific CD8
+
T Cell Response
Authors: Bila Custodio , Oberhauser Verena , Ammann Christoph G. , Ejaz Asim , Huber Georg , Schimmer Simone , Messer Ron , Pekna Marcela , von Laer Dorothee , Dittmer Ulf , Hasenkrug Kim J. , Stoiber Heribert , Bánki Zoltán 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT

B cells are one of the targets of Friend virus (FV) infection, a well-established mouse model often used to study retroviral infections
in vivo
. Although B cells may be effective in stimulating cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses, studies involving their role in FV infection have mainly focused on neutralizing antibody production. Here we show that polyclonal activation of B cells promotes their infection with FV both
in vitro
and
in vivo
. Furthermore, we demonstrate that complement opsonization of Friend murine leukemia virus (F-MuLV) enhances infection of B cells, which correlates with increased potency of B cells to activate FV-specific CD8
+
T cells.
Host Alternation of Chikungunya Virus Increases Fitness while Restricting Population Diversity and Adaptability to Novel Selective Pressures
Authors: Coffey Lark L. , Vignuzzi Marco 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACT
The mechanisms by which RNA arboviruses, including chikungunya virus (CHIKV), evolve and maintain the ability to infect vertebrate and invertebrate hosts are poorly understood. To understand how host specificity shapes arbovirus populations, we studied CHIKV populations passaged alternately between invertebrate and vertebrate cells (invertebrate ↔ vertebrate) to simulate natural alternation and contrasted the results with those for populations that were artificially released from cycling by passage in single cell types. These CHIKV populations were characterized by measuring genetic diversity, changes in fitness, and adaptability to novel selective pressures. The greatest fitness increases were observed in alternately passaged CHIKV, without drastic changes in population diversity. The greatest increases in genetic diversity were observed after serial passage and correlated with greater adaptability. These results suggest an evolutionary trade-off between maintaining fitness for invertebrate ↔ vertebrate cell cycling, where maximum adaptability is possible only via enhanced population diversity and extensive exploration of sequence space.
Psychological predictors of injuries in circus artists: an exploratory study
Authors: Shrier Ian , Hallé Madeleine 
Published: November 2010

ObjectivesTo explore the relationship between potential psychological risk factors and injury risk in circus artists.DesignHistorical cohort study.SettingCirque du Soleil training programme.ParticipantsForty-seven circus artists training to become Cirque du Soleil artists.Assessment of risk factorsArtists completed the validated REST-Q questionnaire (19 domains) during their first 2 weeks of training.Main outcomeInjury risk ratio.ResultsOf the five a priori exposures of interest, injury, emotional exhaustion, self-efficacy and fatigue were associated with an increase in injury risk (risk ratios between 1.8 and 2.8), but Conflicts/Pressure was not (risk ratio=0.8). Of the several specific psychological aspects that are considered risk factors for injury, low self-efficacy had the strongest relationship.ConclusionsMost of the strong psychological risk factors for injuries previously identified in athletes also appear to be risk factors in circus artists.
Lichenized unicellular cyanobacteria fix nitrogen in the light
Authors: Crittenden P. D. , Llimona X. , Sancho L. G. 
Published: November 2010

Diurnal variation in N2-fixation (acetylene reduction) rate was measured in Thyrea girardii (Durieu & Mont.) Bagl. & Carestia and Thyrea confusa Henssen, lichens containing a unicellular cyanobacterial photobiont. In field assays, mean acetylene-reduction rates in the light were 25.8 ± 8.9 (n = 11) and 21.0 ± 5.6 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1(n = 13) for T. girardii and T. confusa, respectively, and the respective mean rates in the dark were 8.2 ± 1.8 (n = 26) and 13.5 ± 5.4 (n = 8) nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1. In laboratory assays under relatively isothermal conditions (ca. 19–22 °C), the maximum acetylene reduction rate (52.0 ± 6.0 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1) was recorded in the light and the minimum rate (20.2 ± 6.0 nmol C2H4·g–1·h–1) in the dark. This diurnal pattern is contrary to expectations for unicellular cyanobacteria. We suggest carbon flow to the fungal symbiont reduces the potential for nitrogenase activity in the dark.
Strong Convergence to Common Fixed Points for Countable Families of Asymptotically Nonexpansive Mappings and Semigroups
Authors: Wattanawitoon Kriengsak , Kumam Poom 
Published: November 2010

AbstractWe prove strong convergence theorems for countable families of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings and semigroups in Hilbert spaces. Our results extend and improve the recent results of Nakajo and Takahashi (2003) and of Zegeye and Shahzad (2008) from the class of nonexpansive mappings to asymptotically nonexpansive mappings.
Decreasing the Adverse Effects of Cancer Therapy: National Cancer Institute Guidance for the Clinical Development of Radiation Injury Mitigators
Authors: Movsas Benjamin , Vikram Bhadrasain , Hauer-Jensen Martin , Moulder John E. , Basch Ethan , Brown Stephen L. , Kachnic Lisa A. , Dicker Adam P. , Coleman C. Norman , Okunieff Paul 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Recently, many agents have been identified that target molecular pathways that can mitigate radiation toxicity. To date, no drugs have been approved as radiation injury mitigators, which are defined as agents administered after irradiation but before toxicity is manifest. In order to accelerate the application of potential mitigators for cancer patients, a meeting sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was held in January 2010. This article presents an algorithm to guide clinical trials for such agents in patients receiving radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. It reviews the mechanisms of radiation injury, the clinical problem, the preclinical and clinical development of candidate agents, and the design and conduct of clinical trials. The central role of patient reported outcomes is outlined, as well as key lessons learned from prior clinical trials. Ultimately, the goal is to be able to apply such promising agents to improve the quality of life for patients receiving radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 17(2); 222–28. ©2010 AACR.
Comparing three body condition indices in amphibians: a case study of yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata
Authors: Plăiaşu Rodica , Hartel Tibor , Băncilă Raluca Ioana , Cogălniceanu Dan , Smets Joost 
Published: November 2010

AbstractBody condition is important because it is correlated with population and habitat quality parameters. Since the direct measurements are either lethal or unreliable, a wide range of non-lethal body condition indices has been proposed. The aim of our study was to apply and compare three body condition indices (Fulton's index, relative body condition mass index and residual index) using body size indicator – body mass data for 24 populations of the yellow bellied toad (Bombina variegata). The condition index should be independent of body size indicator, in this case snout vent length (SVL). Therefore we tested all three indices for the statistical independence of SVL and for the normality of distribution. Fulton's index violated the independence assumption, whereas the relative body condition mass index did not have a normal distribution. Residual index was found both independent of SVL and normally distributed. Moreover, the residual index highlighted biological significant differences on the basis of altitude and season. Our results recommend the residual index as a useful tool in amphibian monitoring and conservation.
Spatial and temporal patterns of richness and abundance in the anuran assemblage of an artificial water reservoir from the semiarid central region of Argentina
Authors: Jofré Mariana Beatriz , Caviedes-Vidal Enrique , Cid Fabricio Damián 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis constitutes the first study of anuran fauna composition of an artificial permanent water reservoir, in a semiarid ecosystem of San Luis. Species richness, relative abundance, spatial distribution and pattern of summer activity were estimated in the anuran community of the Embalse La Florida, an artificial water reservoir in the semiarid central region of the sierras of San Luis, Argentina. This reservoir represents one of the few sources of water available for reproduction and early development of amphibian species in the zone. We identified anurans using call surveys during two summers at fifteen sites, belonging to four zones around the shorelines of the reservoir. Eight amphibian species (Rhinella arenarum, Melanophryniscus stelzneri, Leptodactylus bufonius, Leptodactylus mystacinus, Odontophrynus americanus, Odontophrynus occidentalis, Pleurodema tucumanum and Hypsiboas cordobae) were recorded at the shores of the embalse. The highest species richness (seven) was detected in the preserve located on the north shore. Species richness analyzed by month or survey was not correlated with weather variables. The highest relative abundance of anurans was detected at the highly modified campsites area, which may provide stable food and refugia. Relative abundance of all anuran species was positively correlated with precipitation. This permanent water reservoir may act as an important site of amphibian fauna concentration, which is important to monitor and preserve.
The Spread Wings Motif on Armenian Steles: Its Meaning and Parallels in Sasanian Art
Authors: Compareti Matteo 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper is a study on the so-called “spread wings”—a particular element of the Sasanian art that is attested also in other regions of the Persian Empire in Late Antiquity, including the western coast of the Persian Gulf and the Caucasus. The spread wings can be observed on Sasanian coins above the royal crowns, which are considered specific for every Sasanian sovereign, supporting astronomical elements, like the crescent, star, and, possibly, the sun. The Arabs and the peoples of the Caucasus who adopted Christianity used the spread wings element as a pedestal for the cross. In Armenian literature, there are some connections between those spread wings and glory, so that a kind of pedestal could be considered a device to exalt or glorify the element above it. The floating ribbons attached to Sasanian crowns had possibly the same meaning and were adopted also outside of proper Persia. In the same way, it could be considered correct to identify those luminaries on Sasanian crowns as divine elements connected with the religion of pre-Islamic Persia.
Shaggy or Shaved? The Symbolism of Hair among Persian Qalandar Sufis
Authors: Ridgeon Lloyd 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe Qalandars have usually been considered antinomian Sufis, a view that may have been perpetuated by their shocking appearance (the shaving of head-hair, eyebrows, moustache and beard, that is, the so-called “four-shaves”, chahār-żarb, which runs against the normative Islamic tradition. This paper briefly highlights the significance of hair in the Islamic tradition with reference to the sacred sources (the Qur'ān, Hadīth and biographies of the Prophet). Subsequently the general Sufi perspective on hair is considered, and then the study focuses on the Qalandars. Following a brief investigation of the term, four seemingly different Qalandar explanations for the origins of the chahār-żarb are presented. Despite the apparent dissimilarity in these emic sources, it is argued that they hold significant parallels. An understanding of the contents of these stories reveals the Qalandars to be located firmly within a normative Sufi tradition; rather than having an unbounded, intoxicated and antinomian lifestyle, these stories suggest that the Qalandars were deeply attached to Qur'ānic and Islamic referents, and wished to uphold an ethic by which they were able to devote their focus on the divine.
MÜSİAD, the Green Capital of Turkey, and Armenia
Authors: Kluge Pascal 
Published: November 2010

AbstractIn Armenian-Turkish relations, politics reached a breakthrough in October 2009 with the signing of the Swiss-mediated protocols, whereby it was agreed to open the common borders and establish diplomatic relations. This outcome generally met with great praise internationally. However, as there was also strong domestic and international resistance to the rapprochement, the process soon stalled and the protocols were suspended. Politics failed. In such a situation, is it possible for social organisations to step in and press the process ahead? Stressing the economic advantages of a further rapprochement, MÜSİAD, as an influential entrepreneurs' association in Turkey, is in favour of amelioration of Armenian-Turkish relations and an opening of the borders. Yet, it is also positioned at the junction of political Islam and political economics and, thus, might have reservations against Turkey's Christian neighbour. As the situation is complex, there are various factors influencing the stance of this interest group towards the issue: its view of historical questions, its role vis-à-vis the institutions of political Islam, the economic entanglement within the region, and the Turkish-Azerbaijani relations. Relations with Azerbaijan Republic seem to be particularly relevant in this matter. Azerbaijan reacted negatively to the protocols because it wants to isolate Armenia and thus stifle the latter's military help to the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region that declared its independence in 1992. The strong economic connections between Turkey and Azerbaijan Republic and, more importantly, the linguistic and religious bonds between the two countries pushed MÜSİAD into a pro-Azerbaijani stance and simultaneously pulled it away from the peace process with Armenia. MÜSİAD's close bonds to the conservative-religious AKP-government of Turkey, which was one of the signatories of the protocols, explain this reaction even more. It is, thus, not the cultural-religious differences with Armenia, but the close relationship to Azerbaijan Republic, which governs the process. In addition, seeing as MÜSİAD regards the Armenian genocide claims categorically as unjustified and false, viewing them solely as malevolent interferences of foreign powers in the Turkish interests, one has to conclude that the organisation is only limitedly capable of changing the course of Turkey's relations with Armenia. Hence, the one-sided approach to historical questions and the close Turkish-Azerbaijani relations with their economic and cultural implications collide with the organisation's explicit objective to improve relations with Armenia.
Legislative Approaches towards Human Trafficking in Pre- versus Post-Islamic Revolution Iran
Authors: Fehresti Zahra 
Published: November 2010

AbstractHuman trafficking, in particular the trafficking of women and children, is considered a syndicated international phenomenon, and numerous international agreements have consequently been signed to combat the crime. Iran is one of the many countries that passed legislated laws to battle this evil industry. In the present article, the author examines and compares Iran's legislative approaches towards human trafficking before and after the Islamic Revolution. The Iranian legislation combating human trafficking generally suffers from some serious shortcomings; particularly, the inconsistency regarding this issue between the civil and the Islamic Penal Codes and Iran's Constitution is its most prominent weakness.
A Ground Validation Network for the Global Precipitation Measurement Mission
Authors: Schwaller Mathew R. , Morris K. Robert 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
A prototype Validation Network (VN) is currently operating as part of the Ground Validation System for NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The VN supports precipitation retrieval algorithm development in the GPM prelaunch era. Postlaunch, the VN will be used to validate GPM spacecraft instrument measurements and retrieved precipitation data products.
The period of record for the VN prototype starts on 8 August 2006 and runs to the present day. The VN database includes spacecraft data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) and coincident ground radar (GR) data from operational meteorological networks in the United States, Australia, Korea, and the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Satellite and ground radar data products are collected whenever the PR satellite track crosses within 200 km of a VN ground radar, and these data are stored permanently in the VN database. VN products are generated from coincident PR and GR observations when a significant rain event occurs.
The VN algorithm matches PR and GR radar data (including retrieved precipitation data in the case of the PR) by calculating averages of PR reflectivity (both raw and attenuation corrected) and rain rate, and GR reflectivity at the geometric intersection of the PR rays with the individual GR elevation sweeps. The algorithm thus averages the minimum PR and GR sample volumes needed to “matchup” the spatially coincident PR and GR data types. The result of this technique is a set of vertical profiles for a given rainfall event, with coincident PR and GR samples matched at specified heights throughout the profile.
VN data can be used to validate satellite measurements and to track ground radar calibration over time. A comparison of matched TRMM PR and GR radar reflectivity factor data found a remarkably small difference between the PR and GR radar reflectivity factor averaged over this period of record in stratiform and convective rain cases when samples were taken from high in the atmosphere. A significant difference in PR and GR reflectivity was found in convective cases, particularly in convective samples from the lower part of the atmosphere. In this case, the mean difference between PR and corrected GR reflectivity was −1.88 dBZ. The PR–GR bias was found to increase with the amount of PR attenuation correction applied, with the PR–GR bias reaching −3.07 dBZ in cases where the attenuation correction applied is &gt;6 dBZ. Additional analysis indicated that the version 6 TRMM PR retrieval algorithm underestimates rainfall in case of convective rain in the lower part of the atmosphere by 30%–40%.
Incorporating Ice Crystal Scattering Databases in the Simulation of Millimeter-Wavelength Radar Reflectivity
Authors: Molthan Andrew L. , Petersen Walter A. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
The Canadian CloudSat/Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) Validation Project (C3VP) was designed to acquire aircraft, surface, and satellite observations of particle size distributions during cold season precipitation events for the purposes of validating and improving upon satellite-based retrievals of precipitation and the representation of cloud and precipitation processes within numerical weather prediction schemes. During an intensive observation period on 22 January 2007, an instrumented aircraft measured ice crystal size distributions, ice and liquid water contents, and atmospheric state parameters within a broad shield of precipitation generated by a passing midlatitude cyclone. The 94-GHz CloudSat radar acquired vertical profiles of radar reflectivity within light to moderate snowfall, coincident with C3VP surface and aircraft instrumentation. Satellite-based retrievals of cold season precipitation require relationships between remotely sensed quantities, such as radar reflectivity or brightness temperature, and the ice water content present within the sampled profile.
In this study, three methods for simulating CloudSat radar reflectivity are investigated by comparing Mie spheres, single dendrites, and fractal aggregates represented within scattering databases or parameterizations. It is demonstrated that calculations of radar backscatter from nonspherical crystal shapes are required to represent the vertical trend in CloudSat radar reflectivity for this particular event, as Mie resonance effects reduce the radar backscatter from precipitation-sized particles larger than 1 mm. Remaining differences between reflectivity from nonspherical shapes and observations are attributed to uncertainty in the mass–diameter relationships for observed crystals and disparities between naturally occurring crystals and shapes assumed in the development of ice crystal scattering databases and parameterizations.