Points and line representing the empirical and fitted variogram, respectively.

<p>Parameters for the fitted spherical variogram include: partial sill  = 0.79, nugget  = 2.4 and range  = 250.3 m (A). Permutation test of the variogram, which determines the general range of values that could occur due to random chance. The black line represents the true variogram, and the gray lines represent a 95% confidence envelope of 1000 variogram simulations of randomly permuted mistletoe volume measures; each using the same point locations as the original data (B).</p

Histogram of dispersal distances for western bluebird males (<i>Sialia Mexicana</i>) that wintered in their natal group in winter of 2001–2006 and bred on the study area the subsequent spring.

<p>Histogram of dispersal distances for western bluebird males (<i>Sialia Mexicana</i>) that wintered in their natal group in winter of 2001–2006 and bred on the study area the subsequent spring.</p

Graph of the observed Ripley's K-statistic for the true distribution (black line), showing the average number of trees parasitized with mistletoe within a given distance.

<p>The gray lines represent the 95% confidence envelopes for complete spatial randomness, based on 199 Monte Carlo simulations of 2658 random data points within the oak vegetation area (A). Graph of the observed O-ring statistic for the true distribution (black dotted line), as well as the 95% confidence envelopes (gray lines) for complete spatial randomness. This analysis was performed using a cell size of 6.2 m² and a ring width of 18.6 m. Both analyses were restricted to a maximum distance of 724 m (B).</p

Box plots demonstrating that for first-winter male western bluebirds wintering in their natal groups and surviving the winter, those present on the study area in spring had higher mistletoe volume within 100 m of their natal nest box than did those not present in spring.

<p>Box plots demonstrating that for first-winter male western bluebirds wintering in their natal groups and surviving the winter, those present on the study area in spring had higher mistletoe volume within 100 m of their natal nest box than did those not present in spring.</p

Kriged surface image of predicted mistletoe log-volume, overlaid by mapped winter territories (2004–2005, from a portion of the larger study area) and the minimum bounding convex polygon for all territories.

<p>White color represents high concentrations of mistletoe volume, while dark areas are indicative of lower intensity mistletoe volume.</p

Association of HIV diversity and virologic outcomes in early antiretroviral treatment: HPTN 052

<div><p>Higher HIV diversity has been associated with virologic outcomes in children on antiretroviral treatment (ART). We examined the association of HIV diversity with virologic outcomes in adults from the HPTN 052 trial who initiated ART at CD4 cell counts of 350–550 cells/mm³. A high resolution melting (HRM) assay was used to analyze baseline (pre-treatment) HIV diversity in six regions in the HIV genome (two in <i>gag</i>, one in <i>pol</i>, and three in <i>env</i>) from 95 participants who failed ART. We analyzed the association of HIV diversity in each genomic region with baseline (pre-treatment) factors and three clinical outcomes: time to virologic suppression after ART initiation, time to ART failure, and emergence of HIV drug resistance at ART failure. After correcting for multiple comparisons, we did not find any association of baseline HIV diversity with demographic, laboratory, or clinical characteristics. For the 18 analyses performed for clinical outcomes evaluated, there was only one significant association: higher baseline HIV diversity in one of the three HIV <i>env</i> regions was associated with longer time to ART failure (p = 0.008). The HRM diversity assay may be useful in future studies exploring the relationship between HIV diversity and clinical outcomes in individuals with HIV infection.</p></div

Associations of baseline HIV diversity and treatment outcomes^*.

<p>Associations of baseline HIV diversity and treatment outcomes^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0177281#t002fn002" target="_blank">*</a>}.</p

Virologic outcomes in early antiretroviral treatment: HPTN 052

<p><b>Introduction:</b> The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 052 trial demonstrated that early antiretroviral therapy (ART) prevented 93% of HIV transmission events in serodiscordant couples. Some linked infections were observed shortly after ART initiation or after virologic failure.</p> <p><b>Objective:</b> To evaluate factors associated with time to viral suppression and virologic failure in participants who initiated ART in HPTN 052.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> 1566 participants who had a viral load (VL) > 400 copies/mL at enrollment were included in the analyses. This included 832 in the early ART arm (CD4 350–550 cells/mm³ at ART initiation) and 734 in the delayed ART arm (204 with a CD4 < 250 cells/mm³ at ART initiation; 530 with any CD4 at ART initiation). Viral suppression was defined as two consecutive VLs ≤ 400 copies/mL after ART initiation; virologic failure was defined as two consecutive VLs > 1000 copies/mL > 24 weeks after ART initiation.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Overall, 93% of participants achieved viral suppression by 12 months. The annual incidence of virologic failure was 3.6%. Virologic outcomes were similar in the two study arms. Longer time to viral suppression was associated with younger age, higher VL at ART initiation, and region (Africa vs. Asia). Virologic failure was strongly associated with younger age, lower educational level, and lack of suppression by three months; lower VL and higher CD4 at ART initiation were also associated with virologic failure.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Several clinical and demographic factors were identified that were associated with longer time to viral suppression and virologic failure. Recognition of these factors may help optimize ART for HIV treatment and prevention.</p