bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drinking expectancies and motives: a genetic study of young adult women
Authors: Agrawal Arpana , Dick Danielle M. , Bucholz Kathleen K. , Madden Pamela A. F. , Cooper M. Lynne , Sher Kenneth J. , Heath Andrew C. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTBackground  Constructs such as drinking expectancies (beliefs regarding the effects of alcohol) and motives (drinking alcohol to achieve a valued end) have been shown to be associated with various stages of alcohol use behaviors. However, little is known of the extent to which genetic and environmental influences contribute to individual differences in expectancies and motives.Methods  Using data from 3656 young adult same‐sex female twins, we examined the association between measures of drinking expectancies and motives and drinking behaviors. Using twin models, we estimated the extent to which genetic, shared and non‐shared environmental factors influenced individual differences in expectancies and motives and also tested whether the extent of the genetic and environmental contributions on expectancies varied across abstainers and users of alcohol.Results  Expectancies predicted initiation of alcohol use. Both motives and expectancies were associated with frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption and drinks‐to‐intoxication. There was no evidence for heritable influences on expectancies and enhancement motives, with familial similarity for these traits being due to shared environment. Heritable influences on social, coping and conformity motives ranged from 11% to 33%. When expectancies were stratified by alcohol use, significant heritable influences (31–39%) were found for cognitive–behavioral impairment and risk‐taking/negative self‐perception (RT/NSP) in abstainers only, while environmental influences contributed to familial variance for other measures of expectancies in alcohol users.Conclusions  Environmental influences (both familial and individual‐specific) shape alcohol expectancies, while heritable influences may predispose to motives for drinking. Individual differences in expectancies are moderated by alcohol use, suggesting that sources of individual differences in expectancies may vary in drinkers versus abstainers.
A two‐step wavelet‐based regularization for linear inversion of geophysical data
Authors: Gholami Ali , Siahkoohi Hamid Reza 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTRegularization methods are used to recover a unique and stable solution in ill‐posed geophysical inverse problems. Due to the connection of homogeneous operators that arise in many geophysical inverse problems to the Fourier basis, for these operators classical regularization methods possess some limitations that one may try to circumvent by wavelet techniques.In this paper, we introduce a two‐step wavelet‐based regularization method that combines classical regularization methods with wavelet transform to solve ill‐posed linear inverse problems in geophysics. The power of the two‐step wavelet‐based regularization for linear inversion is twofold. First, regularization parameter choice is straightforward; it is obtained froma prioriestimate of data variance. Second, in two‐step wavelet‐based regularization the basis can simultaneously diagonalize both the operator and the prior information about the model to be recovered. The latter is performed by wavelet‐vaguelette decomposition using orthogonal symmetric fractional B‐spline wavelets.In the two‐step wavelet‐based regularization method, at the first step where fully classical tools are used, data is inverted for the Moore‐Penrose solution of the problem, which is subsequently used as a preliminary input model for the second step. Also in this step, a model‐independent estimate of data variance is made using nonparametric estimation and L‐curve analysis. At the second step, wavelet‐based regularization is used to partially recover the smoothness properties of the exact model from the oscillatory preliminary model.We illustrated the efficiency of the method by applying on a synthetic vertical seismic profiling data. The results indicate that a simple non‐linear operation of weighting and thresholding of wavelet coefficients can consistently outperform classical linear inverse methods.
Influence of post fit and post length on fracture resistance
Authors: Büttel L. , Krastl G. , Lorch H. , Naumann M. , Zitzmann N. U. , Weiger R. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim  To investigate (i) the impact of post fit (form‐congruence) and (ii) the influence of post length on the fracture resistance of severely damaged root filled extracted teeth.Methodology  Ninety‐six single‐rooted human teeth were root filled and divided into four groups (n = 24 per group). Post spaces were prepared with a depth of 6 mm (group 1, 3) and 3 mm (group 2, 4). Form‐congruence with a maximal fit of the post within the root canal space was obtained in groups 1 and 2, whereas there was no form‐congruence in groups 3 and 4. In all groups, glass fibre reinforced composite (FRC) posts were adhesively cemented and direct composite crown build‐ups were fabricated without a ferrule. After thermo‐mechanical loading (1200000×, 5–50 °C), static load was applied until failure. Loads‐to‐failure [in N] were compared amongst the groups.Results  Post fit did not have a significant influence on fracture resistance, irrespective of the post length. Both groups with post insertion depths of 6 mm resulted in significantly higher mean failure loads (group 1, 394 N; group 3, 408 N) than the groups with post space preparation of 3 mm (group 2, 275 N; group 4, 237 N).Conclusions  Within the limitations of this study, the fracture resistance of teeth restored with FRC posts and direct resin composite crowns without ferrules was not influenced by post fit within the root canal. These results imply that excessive post space preparation aimed at producing an optimal circumferential post fit is not required to improve fracture resistance of roots.
Effects of MAOA‐Genotype, Alcohol Consumption, and Aging on Violent Behavior
Authors: Tikkanen Roope , Sjöberg Rickard L. , Ducci Francesca , Goldman David , Holi Matti , Tiihonen Jari , Virkkunen Matti 
Published: December 2008

Background:  Environmental factors appear to interact with a functional polymorphism (MAOA‐LPR) in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) in determining some forms of antisocial behavior. However, how MAOA‐LPR modulates the effects of other factors such as alcohol consumption related to antisocial behavior is not completely understood.Methods:  This study examines the conjunct effect of MAOA‐LPR, alcohol consumption, and aging on the risk for violent behavior. Recidivism in severe impulsive violent behavior was assessed after 7 to 15 years in a sample of 174 Finnish alcoholic offenders, the majority of whom exhibited antisocial or borderline personality disorder or both, and featured impulsive temperament traits.Results:  The risk for committing new acts of violence increased by 2.3% for each kilogram of increase in yearly mean alcohol consumption (p = 0.004) and decreased by 7.3% for every year among offenders carrying the high activity MAOA genotype. In contrast, alcohol consumption and aging failed to affect violent behavior in the low activity MAOA genotyped offenders. MAOA‐LPR showed no main effect on the risk for recidivistic violence.Conclusions:  Violent offenders carrying the high activity MAOA genotype differ in several ways from carriers with the low activity MAOA risk allele previously associated with antisocial behavior. Finnish high activity MAOA genotyped risk alcoholics exhibiting antisocial behavior, high alcohol consumption, and abnormal alcohol‐related impulsive and uncontrolled violence might represent an etiologically distinct alcohol dependence subtype.
Combined Scopolamine and Ethanol Treatment Results in a Locomotor Stimulant Response Suggestive of Synergism That is Not Blocked by Dopamine Receptor Antagonists
Authors: Scibelli Angela C. , Phillips Tamara J. 
Published: December 2008

Background: Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are well positioned to mediate ethanol’s stimulant effects. To investigate this possibility, we examined the effects of scopolamine, a receptor subtype nonselective mAChR antagonist, on ethanol‐induced stimulation in genotypes highly sensitive to this effect of ethanol. We also investigated whether the dopamine D1‐like receptor antagonist, SCH‐23390 or the dopamine D2‐like receptor antagonist, haloperidol, could block the extreme stimulant response found following co‐administration of scopolamine and ethanol.Methods: Scopolamine (0, 0.0625, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg) was given 10 minutes prior to saline or ethanol (0.75 to 2 g/kg) to female FAST (Experiment I) or DBA/2J (Experiment II) mice that were then tested for locomotion for 30 minutes. In Experiments III and IV, respectively, SCH‐23390 (0, 0.015, or 0.03 mg/kg) was given 10 minutes prior, and haloperidol (0, 0.08, or 0.16 mg/kg) was given 2 minutes prior, to scopolamine (0 or 0.5 mg/kg), followed 10 minutes later by saline or ethanol (1.5 g/kg) and female DBA/2J mice were tested for locomotion for 30 minutes.Results: FAST and DBA/2J mice displayed a robust enhancement of the locomotor effects of ethanol following pretreatment with scopolamine that was suggestive of synergism. SCH‐23390 had no effect on the response to the scopolamine + ethanol drug combination, nor did it attenuate ethanol‐ or scopolamine‐induced locomotor activity. Haloperidol, while attenuating the effects of ethanol, was not able to block the effects of scopolamine or the robust response to the scopolamine‐ethanol drug combination.Conclusions: These results suggest that while muscarinic receptor antagonism robustly enhances acute locomotor stimulation to ethanol, dopamine receptors are not involved in the super‐additive interaction of scopolamine and ethanol treatment. They also suggest that in addition to cautions regarding the use of alcohol when scopolamine is clinically prescribed due to enhanced sedative effects, enhanced stimulation may also be a concern.
Sensitization, Duration, and Pharmacological Blockade of Anxiety‐Like Behavior Following Repeated Ethanol Withdrawal in Adolescent and Adult Rats
Authors: Wills Tiffany A. , Knapp Darin J. , Overstreet David H. , Breese George R. 
Published: December 2008

Background: Repeated ethanol withdrawal sensitizes anxiety‐like behavior in adult rats and causes anxiety‐like behavior and decreased seizure thresholds in adolescent rats. Current experiments determined if adolescent rats exhibit sensitized anxiety‐like behavior, the duration of this effect, if drug pretreatments blocked these effects, and if these effects differed from those seen in adults.Methods: Male adolescent rats received three 5‐day cycles of 2.5% ethanol diet (ED) separated by two 2‐day withdrawal periods, continuous 15 days of 2.5%ED, or a single 5‐day cycle of 2.5%ED. Male adult rats received three 5‐day cycles of either 2.5% or 3.5%ED. These groups were tested 5 hours into the final withdrawal for social interaction (SI) deficits (an index of anxiety‐like behavior). Ethanol intake was monitored throughout and blood concentrations were obtained from separate groups of rats. Additionally, adolescent rats were tested for SI 1, 2, 7, 14, and 18 days and adults 1 and 2 days after the final withdrawal. Some adolescent rats were also pretreated with the CRF1antagonist CP‐154,526, the 5‐HT1Aagonist buspirone, or the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil during the first 2 withdrawals.Results: SI was reduced in adolescent rats following repeated withdrawals of 2.5%ED while neither a continuous or single cycle ED exposure caused this effect. Adult rats also had reduced SI following repeated withdrawals from both 2.5% and 3.5%ED. This effect was present up to 1 week following the final withdrawal in adolescents but returned to baseline by 1 day in adults. CP‐154,526, buspirone, or flumazenil prevented this reduction in SI in adolescent rats.Conclusions: Adolescent rats exhibit sensitized anxiety‐like behavior following repeated withdrawals at ED concentrations similar to those used in adults. However, this effect is longer lasting in adolescent rats. Drugs modulating CRF, 5‐HT, or GABA systems during initial withdrawals prevent the development of anxiety‐like behavior otherwise manifest during a final withdrawal in adolescent rats.
Changes in the Episodic Memory and Executive Functions of Abstinent and Relapsed Alcoholics Over a 6‐Month Period
Authors: Pitel Anne Lise , Rivier Julia , Beaunieux Hélène , Vabret François , Desgranges Béatrice , Eustache Francis 
Published: December 2008

Background:  It is still unclear whether episodic memory and executive functions capacities can return to normal in abstinent patients over a 6‐month period. Furthermore, the role of interim drinking in cognitive recovery is still not well known. Finally, further research is required to specify the predictive value of cognitive abilities at initial testing in the treatment outcome (abstinence or relapse). The aims of the present study were therefore to measure changes in episodic memory and executive functions over a 6‐month period in abstinent and relapsed alcoholics and to ascertain whether neuropsychological results at treatment entry can predict treatment outcome at follow‐up.Methods:  Fifty‐four alcoholic patients and 54 matched control subjects performed baseline neuropsychological tasks assessing episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities. At the follow‐up session (i.e., 6 months later), episodic memory and 3 executive functions (inhibition, flexibility, and updating) were re‐examined in the alcoholic patients.Results:  Results showed that over the 6‐month interval, the abstainers’ episodic memory and executive performances had returned to normal, whereas the relapsers performed lower than before in the flexibility task. Episodic memory and executive functions recovery was correlated, in abstainers, with drinking history and age respectively. Finally, there was no significant difference regarding neuropsychological scores at baseline between abstainers and relapsers.Discussion:  Over the 6‐month interval, abstainers normalized episodic memory and executive performances whereas relapsers obtained executive results which were more severely impaired, emphasizing the influence of interim drinking on cognitive changes. Episodic memory, executive functions, the slave systems of working memory and attentional abilities did not appear to be reliable predictors of treatment outcome over a 6‐month interval.
Small‐molecule peptides inhibit Z α1‐antitrypsin polymerization
Authors: Chang Yi‐Pin , Mahadeva Ravi , Chang Wun‐Shaing W. , Lin Sheng‐Chieh , Chu Yen‐Ho 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe Z variant of α1‐antitrypsin (AT) polymerizes within the liver and gives rise to liver cirrhosis and the associated plasma deficiency leads to emphysema. In this work, a combinatorial approach based on the inhibitory mechanism of α1‐AT was developed to arrest its pathogenic polymerization. One peptide, Ac‐TTAI‐NH2, emerged as the most tight‐binding ligand for Z α1‐AT. Characterization of this tetrapeptide by gel electrophoresis and biosensor analysis revealed its markedly improved binding specificity and affinity compared with all previously reported peptide inhibitors. In addition, the peptide is not cytotoxic to lung cell lines. A model of the peptide‐protein complex suggests that the peptide interacts with nearby residues by hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and cavity‐filling stabilization. The combinatorially selected peptide not only effectively blocks the polymerization but also promotes dissociation of the oligomerized α1‐AT. These results are a significant step towards the potential treatment of Z α1‐AT related diseases.
Repeated measures of macular pigment optical density to test reproducibility of heterochromatic flicker photometry
Authors: Hagen Stefan , Krebs Ilse , Glittenberg Carl , Binder Susanne 
Published: December 2008

Abstract.Purpose:  To report the reproducibility of macular pigment optical density (MPOD) values assessed with heterochromatic flicker photometry (HFP) in healthy individuals.Methods:  Twenty‐four volunteers from our department underwent MPOD testing of both eyes by flicker photometry on three separate occasions. To test reproducibility of MPOD, the coefficient of variance was calculated separately for right and left eyes. In addition, we investigated MPOD averages of right and left eyes and interocular correlations (Pearson’s r) at every visit.Results:  The mean MPODs at the first visit were 0.61 ± 0.24 and 0.72 ± 0.27 in right and left eyes, respectively. Mean values of 0.58 ± 0.29 and 0.60 ± 0.21 (second visit) and 0.62 ± 0.27 and 0.63 ± 0.24 (third visit) were assessed for right and left eyes, respectively. Differences of the mean values between eyes were not significant. Correlations were weak at visits one and two (r = 0.49, p < 0.014 and r = 0.43, p < 0.038, respectively) and moderate at visit three (r = 0.58, p < 0.003). The coefficients of variance were 36.1% and 23% for right and left eyes, respectively.Conclusion:  Our mean MPODs are higher and the interocular correlations weaker compared to the literature. The coefficient of variance in both eyes is high and does not imply good reproducibility of obtained MPOD values.
Heightened Cytotoxic Responses and Impaired Biogenesis Contribute to Early Pathogenesis in the Oral Mucosa of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Rhesus Macaques
Authors: George Michael D. , Verhoeven David , Sankaran Sumathi , Glavan Tiffany , Reay Elizabeth , Dandekar Satya 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTSimian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection disseminated into the oropharyngeal tissues of rhesus macaques 6 weeks following intravenous inoculation. Severe local CD4+T-cell depletion coincided with increases in NK cell and proinflammatory biomarkers and the disruption of growth-associated gene transcription, demonstrating the rapid establishment of pathogenesis in the oral mucosa.
Predicting the Impact of Blocking Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nef In Vivo
Authors: Wick W. David , Gilbert Peter B. , Yang Otto O. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTHuman immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Nef is a multifunctional protein that confers an ability to evade killing by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) as well as other advantages to the virus in vivo. Here we exploited mathematical modeling and related statistical methods to estimate the impact of Nef activity on viral replication in vivo in relation to CTLs. Our results indicate that downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) A and B by wild-type Nef confers an advantage to the virus of about 82% in decreased CTL killing efficiency on average, meaning that abolishing the MHC-I downregulation function of Nef would increase killing by more than fivefold. We incorporated this estimate, as well as prior estimates of replicative enhancement by Nef, into a previously published model of HIV-1 and CTLs in vivo (W. D. Wick, O. O. Yang, L. Corey, and S. G. Self, J. Virol. 79:13579-13586, 2005), generalized to permit CTL recognition of multiple epitopes. A sequence database analysis revealed that 92.9% of HIV-1 epitopes are A or B restricted, and a previous study found an average of about 19 epitopes recognized (M. M. Addo et al., J. Virol. 77:2081-2092, 2003). We combined these estimates in the model in order to predict the impact of inhibiting Nef function in the general (chronically infected) population by a drug. The predicted impact on viral load ranged from negligible to 2.4 orders of magnitude, depending on the effects of the drug and the CTL dynamical scenario assumed. We conclude that inhibiting Nef could make a substantial reduction in disease burden, lengthening the time before the necessity of undertaking combination therapy with other antiretroviral drugs.
Transmission and Long-Term Stability of Compensated CD8 Escape Mutations
Authors: Schneidewind Arne , Brumme Zabrina L. , Brumme Chanson J. , Power Karen A. , Reyor Laura L. , O'Sullivan Kristin , Gladden Adrianne , Hempel Ursula , Kuntzen Thomas , Wang Yaoyu E. , Oniangue-Ndza Cesar , Jessen Heiko , Markowitz Martin , Rosenberg Eric S. , Sékaly Rafick-Pierre , Kelleher Anthony D. , Walker Bruce D. , Allen Todd M. 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

Human immunodeficiency virus effectively evades CD8
+
T-cell responses through the development of CD8 escape mutations. Recent reports documenting reversion of transmitted mutations and the impact of specific escape mutations upon viral replication suggest that complex forces limit the accumulation of CD8 escape mutations at the population level. However, the presence of compensatory mutations capable of alleviating the impact of CD8 escape mutations on replication capacity may enable their persistence in an HLA-mismatched host. Herein, we illustrate the long-term stability of stereotypic escape mutations in the immunodominant HLA-B27-restricted epitope KK10 in p24/Gag following transmission when accompanied by a specific compensatory mutation.
ORF30 and ORF34 Are Essential for Expression of Late Genes in Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68
Authors: Wu Ting-Ting , Park Tina , Kim Hana , Tran Thuy , Tong Leming , Martinez-Guzman DeeAnn , Reyes Nichole , Deng Hongyu , Sun Ren 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACT

A hallmark of productive infection by DNA viruses is the coupling of viral late gene expression to genome replication. Here we report the identification of open reading frame 30 (ORF30) and ORF34 as viral
trans
factors crucial for activating late gene transcription following viral DNA replication during lytic infection of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68). The mutant virus lacking either ORF30 or ORF34 underwent normal DNA replication but failed to express viral late gene transcripts, leading to nonproductive infection. In a reporter assay system, ORF30 and ORF34 were required for MHV-68 to activate the viral late gene promoters. Furthermore, studies using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that the recruitment of RNA polymerase II to the viral late promoters during lytic infection was significantly reduced in the absence of ORF30 or ORF34. Together, the results suggest that ORF30 and ORF34 may play an important role in the assembly of the transcription initiation complex at the late gene promoters. Our discovery of the viral mutants that uncouple late gene transcription from DNA replication lays an important foundation to dissect the mechanism of this critical step of gene expression regulation.
Prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy: a population-based assessment from Theni District, south India
Authors: Namperumalsamy P , Kim R , Vignesh T P , Nithya N , Royes J , Gijo T , Thulasiraj R D , Vijayakumar V 
Published: December 2008

Abstract

Aims
To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the possible risk factors associated with DR, in a population of south India.

Methods
A cross-sectional sample of subjects aged 30 years and older was selected using a cluster sampling technique from Theni district of Tamilnadu state. Eligible subjects were identified through a door-to-door survey and fasting blood glucose estimation. History of diabetes was elicited, and height, weight and blood pressure were measured for all subjects. Ocular examinations including visual acuity and anterior and posterior segment examinations were performed at preselected sites within clusters.

Results
Among the 25 969 persons screened for diabetes mellitus (DM), 2802 (10.8%) (95% CI 9.3 to 12.2%) were found to have DM. DR was detected in 298 (1.2%) of 25 969 subjects. The age–gender-adjusted prevalence of DR is 0.05% (95% CI 0.04 to 0.06%) for rural and 1.03% (95% CI 0.89 to 1.12%) for urban areas. The overall age–gender-cluster adjusted prevalence of DR was 0.74% (95% CI 0.66 to 0.83%). Diabetic retinopathy was present in 12.2% (95% CI 10.4 to 14.1%) of the DM population.

Conclusion
Adequate training of ophthalmologists in treating DR and improvement in eye-care infrastructure are needed to tackle this major public health problem in India.