Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic Plasticity in Bacterial Plasmids

Plasmid pB15 was previously shown to evolve increased horizontal (infectious) transfer at the expense of reduced vertical (intergenerational) transfer and vice versa, a key trade-off assumed in theories of parasite virulence. Whereas the models predict that susceptible host abundance should determine which mode of transfer is selectively favored, host density failed to mediate the trade-off in pB15. One possibility is that the plasmid's transfer deviates from the assumption that horizontal spread (conjugation) occurs in direct proportion to cell density. I tested this hypothesis using Escherichia coli/pB15 associations in laboratory serial culture. Contrary to most models of plasmid transfer kinetics, my data show that pB15 invades static (nonshaking) bacterial cultures only at intermediate densities. The results can be explained by phenotypic plasticity in traits governing plasmid transfer. As cells become more numerous, the plasmid's conjugative transfer unexpectedly declines, while the trade-off between transmission routes causes vertical transfer to increase. Thus, at intermediate densities the plasmid's horizontal transfer can offset selection against plasmid-bearing cells, but at high densities pB15 conjugates so poorly that it cannot invade. I discuss adaptive vs. nonadaptive causes for the phenotypic plasticity, as well as potential mechanisms that may lead to complex transfer dynamics of plasmids in liquid environments.
Histologic analysis of clinical biopsies taken 6 months and 3 years after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with 80% bovine hydroxyapatite and 20% autogenous bone mixed with fibrin glue.

BACKGROUND Bovine hydroxyapatite (Bio-Oss, Geistlich Pharmaceutical, Wollhausen, Switzerland) has been suggested to be used in maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedures prior to or in conjunction with implant placement. However, the long-term histologic fate of this material is not well understood. PURPOSE The aim with this study was to histologically evaluate the tissue response in patients to a mixture of bovine hydroxyapatite (BH), autogenous bone, and fibrin glue 6 months and 3 years after a maxillary sinus floor augmentation procedure. MATERIALS AND METHOD Biopsies were taken from a group of 20 consecutive patients 6 months (n = 16) and 3 years (n = 12) after maxillary sinus floor augmentation with a mixture of BH (80%), autogenous bone (20%), and fibrin glue and prepared for histologic analysis. RESULTS Light microscopy and morphometry from biopsies taken after 6 months showed various amounts of mineralized bone tissue. The specimen area was occupied by 54.1 +/- 12.6% nonmineralized tissue, followed by 21.2 +/- 24.5% lamellar bone, 14.5 +/- 10.3% BH particles, and 10.2 +/- 13.4% woven bone. The nonmineralized tissue seen in bone-forming areas consisted of a loose connective tissue, rich with vessels and cells. There were no signs of resorption of the BH particles. The lamellar bone appeared to have originated from the recipient site and was seldom in contact with the BH particles. After 3 years, the nonmineralized tissue area had decreased to 36.0 +/- 19.0% (p < .05) and consisted mainly of bone marrow tissue. The surface area of lamellar bone had increased to 50.7 +/- 22.8% (p < .05), and there was almost no immature bone. The mean specimen area occupied by BH particles, was 12.4 +/- 8.7% and had not changed from 6 months (not significant). Moreover, the sizes of the particles were similar after 6 months and 3 years. The degree of BH particle-bone contact had increased from 28.8% +/- 19.9% after 6 months to 54.5 +/- 28.8% after 3 years (p < .05). CONCLUSION Histology of specimens from maxillary sinuses augmented with 80% BH particles, 20% autogenous bone, and fibrin glue showed a positive bone tissue response after 6 months and 3 years after augmentation of the maxillary sinus floor prior to implant placement in a group fo 20 patients. The bone surrounding and in contact with the BH particles after 6 months was mainly immature woven bone, which with time was replaced by mature lamellar bone filling the interparticle space as observed in the 3-year specimens. Moreover, bone-integrated BH particles seem to be resistant to resorption. The results indicate that the procedure may be considered when only small amounts of intraoral autogenous bone graft are available.
CcpA-Mediated Repression of Streptolysin S Expression and Virulence in the Group A Streptococcus

ABSTRACT CcpA is the global mediator of carbon catabolite repression (CCR) in gram-positive bacteria, and growing evidence from several pathogens, including the group A streptococcus (GAS), suggests that CcpA plays an important role in virulence gene regulation. In this study, a deletion of ccpA in an invasive M1 GAS strain was used to test the contribution of CcpA to pathogenesis in mice. Surprisingly, the ΔccpA mutant exhibited a dramatic “hypervirulent” phenotype compared to the parental MGAS5005 strain, reflected as increased lethality in a model of systemic infection (intraperitoneal administration) and larger lesion size in a model of skin infection (subcutaneous administration). Expression of ccpA in trans from its native promoter was able to complement both phenotypes, suggesting that CcpA acts to repress virulence in GAS. To identify the CcpA-regulated gene(s) involved, a transcriptome analysis was performed on mid-logarithmic-phase cells grown in rich medium. CcpA was found to primarily repress 6% of the GAS genome (124 genes), including genes involved in sugar metabolism, transcriptional regulation, and virulence. Notably, the entire sag operon necessary for streptolysin S (SLS) production was under CcpA-mediated CCR, as was SLS hemolytic activity. Purified CcpA-His bound specifically to a cre within sagAp, demonstrating direct repression of the operon. Finally, SLS activity is required for the increased virulence of a ΔccpA mutant during systemic infection but did not affect virulence in a wild-type background. Thus, CcpA acts to repress SLS activity and virulence during systemic infection in mice, revealing an important link between carbon metabolism and GAS pathogenesis.
Completely positive inner products and strong morita equivalence

We develop a general framework for the study of strong Morita equivalence in which C*-algebras and hermitian star products on Poisson manifolds are treated in equal footing. We compare strong and ring-theoretic Morita equivalences in terms of their Picard groupoids for a certain class of unital *-algebras encompassing both examples. Within this class, we show that both notions of Morita equivalence induce the same equivalence relation but generally define different Picard groups. For star products, this difference is expressed geometrically in cohomological terms.
A CROSS-AGE STUDY: A Cross-Age Study on the Understanding of Heat and Temperature

The aims of this study were considered below under three headings. At these headings; the first was to elicit misconceptions that students had on the terms heat and temperature. The second was to understand how students’ prior learning affected their misconceptions. The third was to determine if students were able to make a connection between their own knowledge and physics in everyday life. To achieve these aims, a paper andpencil test composed of 14 multiple-chosen questions was designed, but only five questions related to heat and temperature. The test was administered to 342 students from different grades that ranged from grade 6 with students aged 11-12 years to Grade 8 with students aged 14-15 years. For this research qualitative methods were used. As a result of the analyses undertaken, it was found that students’ misunderstanding about the heat and temperature influenced their knowledge about these terms. Moreover, it was found that students had difficulties making connections between their knowledge and life experiences. Therefore, it was concluded that although students’ conceptions and misconceptions were acquired and stored, they occurred without ostensible links between everyday life and school experiences. Furthermore, depending on the instruction students received and over time, it was deduced that their conceptual understanding showed a steady increase from Grade 6 to Grade 8, except in the case of Item 1.
Optimization of Elastically Tailored Tow-Placed Plates with Holes

Elastic stiffness tailoring of laminated composite panels by allowing the fibers to curve within the plane of the laminate is a design concept that has been demonstrated to be both beneficial and practical. The objective of the present paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of stiffness tailoring through the use of curvilinear fibers to reduce stress concentrations around the hole and improve the load carrying capability of panels. Preliminary panel designs that are to be manufactured and tested were determined through design studies for flat plates without holes under axial compression using an optimization program. These candidate designs were then analyzed with finite element models that accurately reflect the test conditions and geometries in order to decide upon the final designs for manufacture and testing. An advanced tow-placement machine is used to manufacture the test panels with varying fiber orientation angles. A total of six large panels measuring three feet by six feet, each of which is used to produce four specimens with or without holes, are fabricated. The panels were machined into specimens with holes and tested at NASA Langley Research Center. Buckling response and failure of panels without holes and with two different hole dimensions are presented. Buckling and failure loads of tow-steered specimens are significantly greater than the buckling and failure loads of traditional straight-fiber specimens.
Men’s netball or gender-neutral netball?

In this article I examine whether justice in New Zealand is better served through the provision of gender-inclusive or gender-segregated men’s netball competitions (where netball began as a late 19th century women’s version of basketball). While the New Zealand Men’s Netball Association (henceforth called the ‘men’s association’) was initially established in 1984 under an inclusive ethos rooted in Māori community-based and fa’afafine1-based competitions, by the end of that most overtly transgender and fa’afafine players were excluded so as to boost the association’s heterosexist credentials. This process culminated in 2004 when the men’s association was replaced by the New Zealand Men’s and Mixed Netball Association (henceforth called the ‘mixed association’). While in principle medically verified postoperative transgender women may now play in mixed-gender leagues, virtually none do. Furthermore, anyone who foregoes such treatment – including fa’afafine – must dress as a man in order to play. If it is the coercion that makes coercive gender segregation problematic then perhaps justice would be best served if men’s netball was a gender-neutral activity. This seems consistent with the gendered history of both netball and men’s netball in New Zealand.
Preparing to Compete: A Season-Long Investigation with Collegiate Wrestlers

In order to extend Gould, Eklund, and Jackson’s (1992a) investigation with 1988 U.S. Olympic wrestlers, Eklund (1994) reported results from a season-long investigation of cognition during performance among collegiate wrestlers. This manuscript expands the account of that season-long investigation by reporting precompetitive cognition and affect—the psychological experience immediately prior to match performance—associated with performance. Qualitative data were collected from 6 NCAA Division I wrestlers via indepth retrospective interviews regarding all-time best and worst performances within 2’days of 38 season matches. Observable patterns in the organization and content of precompetitive psychological experience were identified in high, moderate, and low quality performances and observations made regarding associations with the competitive psychological experience.
Lack of the Central Nervous System- and Neural Crest-Expressed Forkhead Gene Foxs1 Affects Motor Function and Body Weight

ABSTRACT To gain insight into the expression pattern and functional importance of the forkhead transcription factor Foxs1, we constructed a Foxs1-β-galactosidase reporter gene “knock-in” (Foxs1β-gal/β-gal) mouse, in which the wild-type (wt) Foxs1 allele has been inactivated and replaced by a β-galactosidase reporter gene. Staining for β-galactosidase activity reveals an expression pattern encompassing neural crest-derived cells, e.g., cranial and dorsal root ganglia as well as several other cell populations in the central nervous system (CNS), most prominently the internal granule layer of cerebellum. Other sites of expression include the lachrymal gland, outer nuclear layer of retina, enteric ganglion neurons, and a subset of thalamic and hypothalamic nuclei. In the CNS, blood vessel-associated smooth muscle cells and pericytes stain positive for Foxs1. Foxs1β-gal/β-gal mice perform significantly better (P < 0.01) on a rotating rod than do wt littermates. We have also noted a lower body weight gain (P < 0.05) in Foxs1β-gal/lβ-gal males on a high-fat diet, and we speculate that dorsomedial hypothalamic neurons, expressing Foxs1, could play a role in regulating body weight via regulation of sympathetic outflow. In support of this, we observed increased levels of uncoupling protein 1 mRNA in Foxs1β-gal/β-gal mice. This points toward a role for Foxs1 in the integration and processing of neuronal signals of importance for energy turnover and motor function.
Attentional processes in mosquito-eating jumping spiders: search imagesand cross-modality priming

2 Chapter 1: Introduction 3 Chapter 2: Mate-odour identification by both sexes of Evarcha 36 culicivora, an East African jumping spider Chapter 3: Blood as perfume and the mate-choice decisions of 43 a mosquito-eating jumping spider Chapter 4: The effect of draglines from other salticids on 63 Evarcha culicivora’s behaviour Chapter 5: Complex display behaviour on two plant species by 83 Evarcha culicivora, an East African mosquito-eating jumping spider Chapter 6: Odour-mediated response to plants by Evarcha 101 culicivora, a blood-feeding jumping spider from East Africa Chapter 7: Dancing to different odours: a case of spidernip? 108 Chapter 8: How cross-modality effects during intraspecific 122 interactions of jumping spiders differ depending on whether a female-choice or mutual-choice mating system is adopted Chapter 9: Cross-modality priming of visual and olfactory 130 selective attention by a spider that feeds indirectly on vertebrate blood Chapter 10: Cross-modality effects of prey odour on intraspecific 157 interactions of jumping spiders Chapter 11: Innate prey-finding and mate-finding search images 179 by Evarcha culicivora, a jumping spider from East Africa Chapter 12: Innate olfactory search images for prey and for potential 201 mates by Evarcha culicivora, a jumping spider from East Africa Chapter 13: Discussion 230 Acknowledgements 253 Appendix 1: From eight-legged automatons to thinking spiders 258 Appendix 2: Influence of seeing a female on the male-male 289 interactions of a jumping spider, Hypoblemum albovittatum Appendix 3: Influence of optical cues from conspecific females on 298 escalation decisions during male-male interactions of jumping spiders Appendix 4: Cross-modality effects during male-male interactions of 305 jumping spiders Appendix 5: Male and female mate-choice decisions by Evarcha 313 culicivora, an East African jumping spider Appendix 6: Complex display behaviour of Evarcha culicivora, an 322 East African mosquito-eating jumping spider
A Review of Telmisartan in the Treatment of Hypertension: Blood Pressure Control in the Early Morning Hours

Measurement of blood pressure in the clinic may provide a false impression of blood pressure control. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) allows the automatic recording of the circadian variation in blood pressure and evaluation of the efficacy of antihypertensive medication throughout the dosing interval. Ambulatory blood pressure provides more effective prediction of cardiovascular risk; blood pressure control at the time of heightened risk in the early morning after waking and before taking the next dose of medication is becoming important in order to improve long-term prognosis. To achieve blood pressure control in the early morning, a long-acting antihypertensive agent is essential. Telmisartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, as well as having a terminal elimination halflife of 24 h, has a large volume of distribution due to its high lipophilicity. The efficacy of telmisartan 80 mg monotherapy has been demonstrated using ABPM, with superior reduction in mean values for the last 6 h of the dosing interval compared with ramipril 10 mg and valsartan 80 mg. In addition, telmisartan 80 mg provides superior blood pressure control after a missed dose compared with valsartan 160 mg. When combined with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5 mg, telmisartan 40 mg and 80 mg is more effective than losartan/HCTZ (50/12.5 mg) at the end of the dosing interval. Furthermore, greater reductions in last 6 h mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) are achieved with telmisartan/HCTZ (80/12.5 mg) than with valsartan/HCTZ (160/12.5 mg) in obese patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Recent data from a large group of patients show that telmisartan 80 mg controls the early morning blood pressure surge more effectively than ramipril 5–10 mg and, thus, may have a greater beneficial effect on long-term cardiovascular risk. This supposition is being tested in the ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) programme
Distributed Energy Management for Vehicle-to-Grid Networks

Making full use of V2G services, EVs with batteries may assist the smart grid in alleviating peaks of energy consumption. Aiming to develop a systematic understanding of the interplay between smart grid and EVs, an architecture for the V2G networks with the EV aggregator is designed to maintain the balance between energy suppliers (the grid side) and consumers (the EV side). We propose a combined control and communication approach considering distributed features and vehicle preferences in order to ensure efficient energy transfer. In our model, the integrated communication and control unit can achieve realtime and intelligent management with the logic controller and collected data. On the consumers' side, we theoretically analyze how to satisfy the charging constraints that we incorporate in the form of willingness to pay, and propose a distributed framework to coordinate the energy delivery behaviors for satisfying service demands. Moreover, illustrative results indicate that the proposed approach can yield higher revenue than the conventional pricing mechanism in V2G networks.
Market Liquidity and Liquid Wealth

Are securities markets more liquid when the economy is more liquid? If so, why? One possibility is that market depth depends on credit constrained intermediaries. This paper offers another explanation, which does not involve frictions or market segmentation. Measuring market illiquidity by the slope of the representative agent’s demand curve for a risky asset, I show that this slope is steeper when money-like investments (or liquid wealth) represent less of an economy’s assets. That is because an exchange of risky shares for money in such a state induces greater intertemporal substitution than it does when there are more liquid balances. Agents are not indifferent to this substitution, and so prices respond more to trade. Thus market illiquidity fluctuates naturally with the level of real liquidity. This observation has important implication for understanding the causes of liquidity risk and market fragility.
Reduction in acute myocardial infarction mortality in the United States: risk-standardized mortality rates from 1995-2006.

CONTEXT During the last 2 decades, health care professional, consumer, and payer organizations have sought to improve outcomes for patients hospitalized with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, little has been reported about improvements in hospital short-term mortality rates or reductions in between-hospital variation in short-term mortality rates. OBJECTIVE To estimate hospital-level 30-day risk-standardized mortality rates (RSMRs) for patients discharged with AMI. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Observational study using administrative data and a validated risk model to evaluate 3,195,672 discharges in 2,755,370 patients discharged from nonfederal acute care hospitals in the United States between January 1, 1995, and December 31, 2006. Patients were 65 years or older (mean, 78 years) and had at least a 12-month history of fee-for-service enrollment prior to the index hospitalization. Patients discharged alive within 1 day of an admission not against medical advice were excluded, because it is unlikely that these patients had sustained an AMI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Hospital-specific 30-day all-cause RSMR. RESULTS At the patient level, the odds of dying within 30 days of admission if treated at a hospital 1 SD above the national average relative to that if treated at a hospital 1 SD below the national average were 1.63 (95% CI, 1.60-1.65) in 1995 and 1.56 (95% CI, 1.53-1.60) in 2006. In terms of hospital-specific RSMRs, a decrease from 18.8% in 1995 to 15.8% in 2006 was observed (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.75-0.77). A reduction in between-hospital heterogeneity in the RSMRs was also observed: the coefficient of variation decreased from 11.2% in 1995 to 10.8%, the interquartile range from 2.8% to 2.1%, and the between-hospital variance from 4.4% to 2.9%. CONCLUSION Between 1995 and 2006, the risk-standardized hospital mortality rate for Medicare patients discharged with AMI showed a significant decrease, as did between-hospital variation.
Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of the caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMT) ortholog from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus)

We cloned the fill-length of the gene putatively encoding caffeic acid O-methyltransferase (COMTh from kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L) using degenerate primers and the RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) method COMT is an important methylating enzyme in the phenyipropanoid pathway that belongs to the SAM (S-adenosyl L-methionme)-dependent methyltransferases family We investigated the expression pattern of kenaf COMT dunng developmental stages in different tissues and organs as well as in response to diverse abiotic stresses [ ounding, salicylic acid (SA), NaC1, cold, H202 and methyl jasmonate (MeJA)] The hill-length COAIT ortholog is composed of a 1,098-bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 365 amino acids The deduced amino acid sequence indicated that kenaf COMT had the highest similarity (95%) ith that of Gossjpiurn hirsuturn Three- week-old stem tissues were used to analyze COAIT ortholog expression upon abiotic stresses The highest level of COMT transcript (32%, relative to ACTIAI) as detected at an early stage (4-week old) dunng stem development The transcnpt levels of COMT ortholog were almost constant during the developmental stages of leaves and flowers, while early induction of the COMT ortholog was detected following ounding, SA, cold and H202 treatments, and MeJA led late induction and NaC1 led to intemiediate induction of the COMT ortholog.