Recent studies have reported on the utility of audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) in surveys of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors that involve a single assessment. This paper reports the results of a test of ACASI within a longitudinal study of HIV risk behavior and infection. Study participants (gay men (n = 1,974) and injection drug users (n = 903)) were randomly assigned to either ACASI or interviewer-administered assessment at their second follow-up visit 12 months after baseline. Significantly more of the sexually active gay men assessed via ACASI reported having sexual partners who were HIV antibody positive (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.72), and a higher proportion reported unprotected receptive anal intercourse. Among injection drug users (IDUs), our hypothesis was partially supported. Significantly more IDUs assessed via ACASI reported using a needle after another person without cleaning it (odds ratio = 2.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.34, 4.30). ACASI-assessed IDUs reported similar rates of needle sharing and needle exchange use but a lower frequency of injection. Participants reported few problems using ACASI, and it was well accepted among members of both risk groups. Sixty percent of the participants felt that the ACASI elicited more honest responses than did interviewer-administered questionnaires. Together, these data are consistent with prior research findings and suggest that ACASI can enhance the quality of behavioral assessment and provide an acceptable method for collecting self-reports of HIV risk behavior in longitudinal studies and clinical trials of prevention interventions.

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CD40 is a TNF receptor superfamily member that provides activation signals in antigen-presenting cells such as B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Multimerization of CD40 by its ligand initiates signaling by recruiting TNF receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) to the CD40 cytoplasmic domain. Recombinant human TRAF proteins overexpressed in insect cells were biochemically characterized and used to finely map TRAF binding regions in the human CD40 cytoplasmic domain. TRAF1, TRAF2, TRAF3, and TRAF6, but not TRAF4 or TRAF5, bound directly to the CD40 cytoplasmic domain. CD40 interactions with TRAF2 and TRAF3 were stronger than the interactions with TRAF1 and TRAF6. Full-length TRAF3 and TRAF5 formed hetero-oligomers, presumably through their predicted isoleucine zippers. TRAF3-TRAF5 hetero-oligomers interacted with CD40, indicating that TRAF5 can be indirectly recruited to the CD40 cytoplasmic domain. Overlapping peptides synthesized on cellulose membranes were used to map each TRAF interaction region. TRAF1, TRAF2, and TRAF3 interacted with the same region. The recognition site for TRAF6 was a nonoverlapping membrane proximal region. Using peptides with progressive deletions, a minimal TRAF1, TRAF2, and TRAF3 binding region was mapped to the PVQET sequence in the CD40 cytoplasmic domain. The minimal region for TRAF6 binding was the sequence QEPQEINF. These studies demonstrate that the CD40 cytoplasmic domain contains two nonoverlapping TRAF binding regions and suggest that TRAF1, TRAF2, and TRAF3 could bind competitively to one site. Relative affinities and competition of individual and hetero-oligomeric TRAF proteins for CD40 binding sites may contribute to receptor specificity and cell-type selectivity in CD40-dependent signaling.

This study combined parent and observational measures to examine the association between aberrant sensory features and restricted, repetitive behaviors in children with autism (N = 67) and those with developmental delays (N = 42). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to empirically validate three sensory constructs of interest: hyperresponsiveness, hyporesponsiveness, and sensory seeking. Examining the association between the three derived sensory factor scores and scores on the Repetitive Behavior Scales-Revised revealed the co-occurrence of these behaviors in both clinical groups. Specifically, high levels of hyperresponsive behaviors predicted high levels of repetitive behaviors, and the relationship between these variables remained the same controlling for mental age. We primarily found non-significant associations between hyporesponsiveness or sensory seeking and repetitive behaviors, with the exception that sensory seeking was associated with ritualistic/sameness behaviors. These findings suggest that shared neurobiological mechanisms may underlie hyperresponsive sensory symptoms and repetitive behaviors and have implications for diagnostic classification as well as intervention.

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