In Vivo validation of a bioinformatics based tool to identify reduced replication capacity in HIV-1.

Although antiretroviral drug resistance is common in treated HIV infected individuals, it is not a consistent indicator of HIV morbidity and mortality. To the contrary, HIV resistance-associated mutations may lead to changes in viral fitness that are beneficial to infected individuals. Using a bioinformatics-based model to assess the effects of numerous drug resistance mutations, we determined that the D30N mutation in HIV-1 protease had the largest decrease in replication capacity among known protease resistance mutations. To test this in silico result in an in vivo environment, we constructed several drug-resistant mutant HIV-1 strains and compared their relative fitness utilizing the SCID-hu mouse model. We found HIV-1 containing the D30N mutation had a significant defect in vivo, showing impaired replication kinetics and a decreased ability to deplete CD4+ thymocytes, compared to the wild-type or virus without the D30N mutation. In comparison, virus containing the M184V mutation in reverse transcriptase, which shows decreased replication capacity in vitro, did not have an effect on viral fitness in vivo. Thus, in this study we have verified an in silico bioinformatics result with a biological assessment to identify a unique mutation in HIV-1 that has a significant fitness defect in vivo

More Power to You: Securing Central Europeas Future Energy Supply

Single-track dependency amid dwindling global energy resources has lead to crises such as the one experienced in 2009 when Russia strangled Europe s energy stream as a result of the Ukrainian-Russian gas conflict between Gazprom and Naftohas Ukrainy over supplies prices and debts Past and current crises in the European Union EU -Russia energy relationship reveal the vulnerability of the Visegr dGroup V4 Poland Hungary Slovakia and Czech Republic which are among the most dependent countries within the EU on imports of oil and gas especially since the group s domestic production is largely incapable of meeting the current demands of its own consumers As a result of slow progress with the Nabucco Pipeline expected to be operational by 2017 the South Stream completion due by 2015 and Germany seeking to secure its own energy future with the Nord Stream project V4 countries face the threat of being left out in the cold Europe s renewed interest in energy security is influenced by internal and external factors Internally lack of coherent policy in securing newenergy sources for the V4 collectively as opposed to singular regional states and declining European energy production and fragmented energy markets externally have contributed to skepticism and fear over the V4 s energy future This paper examines the V4 s critical energy security challenges as well as its position within an arena of competition as Russia Norway and Algeria remain the major gas suppliers of Europe for the foreseeable future In addition to critical analyses of both primary and secondary sources a combined methodology of both qualitative and quantitative approaches is employed to assess V4 dependency on a variety of energy sources This paper argues that V4 countries can enhance the security of its collective energy future in two ways 1 the diversification of energy sources and 2 reconsidering its energy policy to make energy security a central pillar wi

Review Article: Minority languages in the linguistic landscape, edited by Durk Gorter, Heiko F. Marten and Luk Van Mensel (Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012)

Book revie

Developments in the Law of Confidentiality

Developments in the Law of Confidentialit

Tourist Attitudes toward Elk Management in the Pine Ridge Region of Northwestern Nebraska

We interviewed 200 tourists at Fort Robinson State Park and Chadron State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwestern Nebraska during July and August of 1997 to determine attitudes toward elk (Cervus elaphus) and elk management in Nebraska. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents were aware that elk occupied the Pine Ridge, 95% favored free-ranging elk, and 55% favored hunting as a means of managing the population. Nebraska residents were more aware of elk and elk hunting in the Pine Ridge than were nonresidents. Also, more residents had observed elk and were willing to drive longer distances to view elk in the Pine Ridge. Respondents in older age groups (55–64) were more knowledgeable about elk. More urban tourists were in favor of elk than those from rural communities, but attitudes toward elk hunting were similar between urban and rural residents. Seventy-six percent of respondents wanted an increase in the population of elk. Men were more aware of elk populations than women and more supportive of hunting as the best method to manage the population. We found no differences between gender for maintaining free-ranging elk, knowledge of hunting seasons, or willingness to drive, pay, or spend time to view elk. Our results revealed that tourists had positive attitudes toward free-ranging elk and management practices in Nebraska. Elk herds should be managed to provide maximum opportunity for both consumptive and non-consumptive uses while minimizing negative impacts to property owners and the ecosystem

Tourist Attitudes toward Elk Management in the Pine Ridge Region of Northwestern Nebraska

We interviewed 200 tourists at Fort Robinson State Park and Chadron State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwestern Nebraska during July and August of 1997 to determine attitudes toward elk (Cervus elaphus) and elk management in Nebraska. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents were aware that elk occupied the Pine Ridge, 95% favored free-ranging elk, and 55% favored hunting as a means of managing the population. Nebraska residents were more aware of elk and elk hunting in the Pine Ridge than were nonresidents. Also, more residents had observed elk and were willing to drive longer distances to view elk in the Pine Ridge. Respondents in older age groups (55–64) were more knowledgeable about elk. More urban tourists were in favor of elk than those from rural communities, but attitudes toward elk hunting were similar between urban and rural residents. Seventy-six percent of respondents wanted an increase in the population of elk. Men were more aware of elk populations than women and more supportive of hunting as the best method to manage the population. We found no differences between gender for maintaining free-ranging elk, knowledge of hunting seasons, or willingness to drive, pay, or spend time to view elk. Our results revealed that tourists had positive attitudes toward free-ranging elk and management practices in Nebraska. Elk herds should be managed to provide maximum opportunity for both consumptive and non-consumptive uses while minimizing negative impacts to property owners and the ecosystem

Defense Energy Resilience: Lessons from Ecology

Energy security is a fundamental requirement for national security, and global energy competition threatens to make Department of Defense (DoD) missions increasingly vulnerable to the whims of energy suppliers. DoD’s approach to energy security must accommodate a highly uncertain outlook for energy resource availability. Although U.S. energy security needs are currently met, the shrinking gap between global supply and demand draws the world closer to a point at which competition disrupts social and geopolitical normalizing forces, and conflict becomes likely. While DoD expresses concern over trends that are threatening energy security, Defense planners still operate as if adequate energy supplies will continue to be available without interruption into the extended future. What limited energy-related planning that is currently done addresses only the symptoms of a systemic over-reliance on very few energy resources. This analysis offers key insights into what a shifting energy security environment is, and the paper provides a novel theoretical framework for how the United States can best respond to this ever changing energy security environment.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1343/thumbnail.jp