Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concomitant Conjugal Transfer of Reduced-Bacteriophage-Sensitivity Mechanisms with Lactose- and Sucrose-Fermenting Ability in Lactic Streptococci

Ten previously reported lactose-positive (Lac+) transconjugants from Streptococcus lactis, S. cremoris, and S. lactis subsp. diacetylactis and one sucrose-positive (Suc+) transconjugant from S. lactis were examined for their sensitivity to prolate- and small isometric-headed bacteriophages. Four of the Lac+ transconjugants showed a 10- to 100-fold reduction in the efficiency of plating (EOP) as well as a reduced plaque size for the prolate phage c2 and were insensitive to the small isometric phage 712. A fifth Lac+ transconjugant demonstrated a similar reduced sensitivity to phage c2; however, this transconjugant was able to plaque phage 712, but with a reduced plaque size and EOP. The other five Lac+ transconjugants were sensitive to both c2 and 712 phages. The Suc+ transconjugant plaqued phage 712 with a reduced plaque size and EOP, but no reduction in plaque size or EOP was observed for phage c2. The Lac+ and reduced bacteriophage sensitivity (Rbs+) phenotypes were correlated with specific plasmids in the Lac+ transconjugants. As four of the Lac+ transconjugants exhibited a phenotypically indistinguishable Rbs+, one (AB001) was selected for further study. The Rbs+ in AB001 for both small isometric- and prolate-headed phages was not related to adsorption, and the reduced EOP for phage c2 was not related to the presence of a restriction and modification system. The latent period for phage c2 was unchanged, but the burst size was reduced 80%. The presence of the plasmid coding for Rbs+ retarded the lysis of a mitomycin C-induced prophage-containing strain. The Rbs+ mechanism appears to be abortive phage infection. This study supports previous observations that Rbs+ and conjugal transfer ability are physically linked among some group N streptococci. The results presented have implications in the identification of plasmids coding for Rbs+ and may also aid in explaining the dissemination of Rbs+ genes among lactic streptococci.
Clinical Experience With a Novel Electromyographic Approach to Preventing Phrenic Nerve Injury During Cryoballoon Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation

Background—Phrenic nerve palsy remains the most frequent complication associated with cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. We sought to characterize our experience using a novel monitoring technique for the prevention of phrenic nerve palsy. Methods and Results—Two hundred consecutive cryoballoon-based PV isolation procedures between October 2010 and October 2013 were studied. In addition to standard abdominal palpation during right phrenic nerve pacing from the superior vena cava, all patients underwent diaphragmatic electromyographic monitoring using surface electrodes. Cryoablation was terminated on any perceived reduction in diaphragmatic motion or a 30% decrease in the compound motor action potential (CMAP). During right-sided ablation, a ≥30% reduction in CMAP amplitude occurred in 49 patients (24.5%). Diaphragmatic motion decreased in 30 of 49 patients and was preceded by a 30% reduction in CMAP amplitude in all. In 82% of cases, this reduction in CMAP amplitude occurred during right superior PV isolation. The baseline CMAP amplitude was 946.5±609.2 mV and decreased by 13.8±13.8% at the end of application. This decrease was more marked in the 33 PVs with a reduction in diaphragmatic motion than in those without (40.9±15.3% versus 11.3±10.5%; P<0.001). In 3 cases, phrenic nerve palsy persisted beyond the end of the procedure, with all cases recovering within 6 months. Despite the shortened application all veins were isolated. At repeat procedure the right-sided PVs reconnected less frequently than the left-sided PVs in those with phrenic nerve palsy. Conclusions—Electromyographic phrenic nerve monitoring using the surface CMAP is reliable, easy to perform, and offers an early warning to impending phrenic nerve injury.
Clonal Groups of Penicillin-Nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in Baltimore, Maryland: a Population-Based, Molecular Epidemiologic Study

ABSTRACT Few data are available on the molecular subtypes of all penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP) from a defined population base. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), serotyping, and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed for all available invasive PNSP isolates for which the penicillin (MIC) was ≥0.1 μg/ml from Baltimore, Md. , during 1995–1996 (n = 143). The dendrogram analysis of PFGE patterns included 32 distinct clonal groups. Six major clonal groups included two-thirds of the PNSP strains. Major clonal groups 2, 3, 4, and 6 strains were genetically related to four previously described international clones and were all multidrug resistant. Major clonal group 3 was genetically related to the Tennessee23F-4 clone and contained all four strains for which the penicillin MIC was 8 μg/ml. Most of the clonal group 1 and 5 strains had intermediate susceptibility to penicillin and were rarely multidrug resistant. The latter clonal groups represent two previously undescribed penicillin-intermediate pneumococcal clones. Clonal group homogeneity was greater for serotype 9V, 19A, and 23F strains than for serotype 6A, 6B, 14, and 19F strains. The classification of PNSP strains into clonal groups is essential for future population-based epidemiologic studies of PNSP.
Observation of low-pass performance from novel trapezoidal slotted dumbbell shape EBGS

A novel modified dumbbell shape electromagnetic bandgap structure (EBGSs), trapezoidal slotted dumbbell shape EBGS, has been introduced. Very wide stopband and improved low-pass performances have been reported for particular designs using them. These designs are compared with conventional dumbbell shape EBGS. Trapezoidal slotted dumbbell pattern has shown very attractive performance with very sharp attenuation and significantly reduced ripple heights in insertion loss curve.
Host races of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum differ in male wing phenotypes

Abstract The evolution of reproductive isolation without geographic isolation (sympatric speciation) has recently gained strong theoretical and empirical supports. It is now widely admitted that many host-specific phytophagous insect species have arisen through shifting and adapting to new plants. The pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum has received considerable attention in this context and is now considered as a probable case of incipient sympatric speciation through host specialization. In Europe, three host races have been described so far, one on annual plants (pea and broad bean) and two on perennial plants (red clover and alfalfa, respectively). These host races are genetically differentiated and exhibit strong ecological specialization affecting their preferences and performances on alternative plants. Here, we investigate whether other life-history traits of ecological importance are associated with host specialization in the species. In particular, because A. pisum shows a genetically determined male wing variation, we tested if its host races also differ in their proportion of winged/wingless male phenotypes. We used a large collection of pea aphid lineages sampled on pea, broad bean, red clover and alfalfa and analyzed their male production by placing them in conditions inducing the sexual phase in A. pisum. Striking differences in the frequency of male dispersal genotypes were found between host populations; aphids producing winged males were in high proportion among lineages from annual hosts, while those producing wingless males were in high proportion on perennial ones. The evolutionary maintenance and ecological consequences of this association between habitat specialization and male wing variation are discussed.
Context-based Re-ranking and Grounding Classification of N-Best Hypotheses

In this project we explore re-ranking of speech recognition N-Best list hypotheses and classification of these into a dialogue system’s grounding categories. We have carried out two experiments with human subjects to investigate their ability to rank and classify recognition hypotheses. In addition, we have carried out a machine learning experiment to classify and rank speech recognition hypotheses automatically by using recognition and contextual information available at runtime in our dialogue system. An evaluation of the ranking task on the same test set shows that both the human subjects and the automatic classifier outperform the baseline (i.e. always choosing the topmost of an N-Best list) and that they perform better and better the more dialogue context is made available. Actually, the automatic classifier performs slightly better than the human subjects on the task of re-ranking and reduces sentence error rate 48% in comparison to the baseline.
Delta Method, Infinite Dimensional

The infinite-dimensional delta method including higher order and set-valued variants is presented. The relevant underlying material on weak convergence, Hadamard directional derivatives and on hyperspaces of closed sets is discussed. Some examples of Hadamard directional differentiable functions and of the delta method, including M-estimation, are given. Keywords: statistical functional; first order asymptotics; hadamard directional derivative; weak convergence; central limit theorem; delta method; asymptotic normality; non-normality; M-estimation; Z-estimation
Effect of microwave power on foam-mat drying of tomato pulp

The experiments were conducted to study the effect of microwave power on drying characteristics vis-a-vis on quality attributes of foamed tomato pulp-egg albumin mixture in a microwave assisted foam-mat drying system. Samples were prepared using tomato pulp by incorporating 10% egg albumin as foaming agent and whipping for 5 min. 10 mm thick layer of foamed tomato pulp was spread on a tray and dried in the dryer at different microwave power levels (0, 480 W, 640 W and 800 W) at an inlet air temperature of 45oC. The increase of microwave power accelerated the dehydration of the foam and it was observed that the drying time reduced about 15-16 times in case of microwave assisted foam-mat drying as compared to simple foam-mat drying. There was no adverse effect on colour, titrable acidity and pH of the product, and the retention of ascorbic acid, in samples dried in microwave assisted foam-mat drying, was also better as compared to that in samples dried in air convection foam-mat dried system. Keywords: foam-mat drying, tomato, microwave drying, tomato powder
Locus of frequency‐dependent depression identified with multiple‐probability fluctuation analysis at rat climbing fibre‐Purkinje cell synapses

1 EPSCs were recorded under whole‐cell voltage clamp at room temperature from Purkinje cells in slices of cerebellum from 12‐ to 14‐day‐old rats. EPSCs from individual climbing fibre (CF) inputs were identified on the basis of their large size, paired‐pulse depression and all‐or‐none appearance in response to a graded stimulus. 2 Synaptic transmission was investigated over a wide range of experimentally imposed release probabilities by analysing fluctuations in the peak of the EPSC. Release probability was manipulated by altering the extracellular [Ca2+] and [Mg2+]. Quantal parameters were estimated from plots of coefficient of variation (CV) or variance against mean conductance by fitting a multinomial model that incorporated both spatial variation in quantal size and non‐uniform release probability. This ‘multiple‐probability fluctuation’ (MPF) analysis gave an estimate of 510 ± 50 for the number of functional release sites (N) and a quantal size (q) of 0.5 ± 0.03 nS (n= 6). 3 Control experiments, and simulations examining the effects of non‐uniform release probability, indicate that MPF analysis provides a reliable estimate of quantal parameters. Direct measurement of quantal amplitudes in the presence of 5 mM Sr2+, which gave asynchronous release, yielded distributions with a mean quantal size of 0.55 ± 0.01 nS and a CV of 0.37 ± 0.01 (n= 4). Similar estimates of q were obtained in 2 mM Ca2+ when release probability was lowered with the calcium channel blocker Cd2+. The non‐NMDA receptor antagonist 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX; 1 μM) reduced both the evoked current and the quantal size (estimated with MPF analysis) to a similar degree, but did not affect the estimate of N. 4 We used MPF analysis to identify those quantal parameters that change during frequency‐dependent depression at climbing fibre‐Purkinje cell synaptic connections. At low stimulation frequencies, the mean release probability (P̄r) was unusually high (0.90 ± 0.03 at 0.033 Hz, n= 5), but as the frequency of stimulation was increased, pr fell dramatically (0.02 ± 0.01 at 10 Hz, n= 4) with no apparent change in either q or N. This indicates that the observed 50‐fold depression in EPSC amplitude is presynaptic in origin. 5 Presynaptic frequency‐dependent depression was investigated with double‐pulse and multiple‐pulse protocols. EPSC recovery, following simultaneous release at practically all sites, was slow, being well fitted by the sum of two exponential functions (time constants of 0.35 ± 0.09 and 3.2 ± 0.4 s, n= 5). EPSC recovery following sustained stimulation was even slower. We propose that presynaptic depression at CF synapses reflects a slow recovery of release probability following release of each quantum of transmitter. 6 The large number of functional release sites, relatively large quantal size, and unusual dynamics of transmitter release at the CF synapse appear specialized to ensure highly reliable olivocerebellar transmission at low frequencies but to limit transmission at higher frequencies.
A controlled trial of amantadine in drug-induced extrapyramidal disorders.

• Presently marketed antiparkinsonism drugs are potent anticholinergic agents that, while effective in treating extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), also are productive of or can exacerbate a number of side effects associated with psychotropic drugs. Some of these include gastrointestinal disturbances, visual difficulties, and tardive dyskinesia. A double-blind study was carried out to assess the efficacy (and adverse effects) of amantadine hydrochloride—an agent without appreciable anticholinergic activity—for the treatment of drug-induced EPS. Amantadine was found to be comparable in effect to benztropine mesylate, but with fewer side effects. The potential role of amantadine may be in the treatment of patients with druginduced EPS for whom medication with anticholinergic properties is contraindicated.
Complexity of the genetic basis of ageing in nature revealed by a clinal study of lifespan and methuselah, a gene for ageing, in Drosophila from eastern Australia

Clinal studies are a powerful tool for understanding the genetic basis of climatic adaptation. However, while clines in quantitative traits and genetic polymorphisms have been observed within and across continents, few studies have attempted to demonstrate direct links between them. The gene methuselah in Drosophila has been shown to have a major effect on stress response and longevity phenotypes based largely on laboratory studies of induced mutations in the mth gene. Clinal patterns in the most common mth haplotype and for lifespan (both increasing with latitude) have been observed in North American populations of D. melanogaster, implicating climatic selection. While these clinal patterns have led some to suggest that mth influences ageing in natural populations, limited evidence on the association between the two has so far been collected. Here, we describe a significant cline in the mth haplotype in eastern Australian D. melanogaster populations that parallel the cline in North America. We also describe a cline in mth gene expression. These findings further support the idea that mth is itself under selection. In contrast, we show that lifespan has a strong nonlinear clinal pattern, increasing southwards from the tropics, but then decreasing again from mid‐latitudes. Furthermore, in association studies, we find no evidence for a direct link between mth haplotype and lifespan. Thus, while our data support a role for mth variation being under natural selection, we found no link to naturally occurring variation in lifespan and ageing in Australian populations of D. melanogaster. Our results indicate that the mth locus likely has genetic background and environment‐specific effects.
Proteus mirabilis urease: genetic organization, regulation, and expression of structural genes

Proteus mirabilis, a cause of serious urinary tract infection, produces urease, an important virulence factor for this species. The enzyme hydrolyzes urea to CO2 and NH3, which initiates struvite or apatite stone formation. Genes encoding urease were localized on a P. mirabilis chromosomal DNA gene bank clone in Escherichia coli by deletion analysis, subcloning, Bal31 nuclease digestion, transposon Tn5 mutagenesis, and in vitro transcription-translation. A region of DNA between 4.0 and 5.4 kilobases (kb) in length was necessary for urease activity and was located within an 18.5-kb EcoRI fragment. The operon was induced by urea and encoded a multimeric, cytoplasmic enzyme comprising subunit polypeptides of 8,000, 10,000, and 73,000 daltons that were encoded by a single polycistronic mRNA and transcribed in that order. Seventeen urease-negative transposon insertions were isolated that synthesized either none of the structural subunit polypeptides, the 8,000-dalton polypeptide alone, or both the 8,000- and 10,000-dalton subunit polypeptides. The molecular weight of the native enzyme was estimated to be 212,000 by Superose-6 chromatography. Homologous sequences encoding the urease of Providencia stuartii synthesized subunit polypeptides of similar sizes and showed a similar genetic arrangement. However, restriction maps of the operons from the two species were distinct, indicating significant divergence.
A multi-walled carbon nanotube–aluminum bimorph nanoactuator

A multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) bimorph nanoactuator has been modeled, fabricated and characterized. A thin aluminum film was uniformly deposited on the sidewalls of MWNTs using a pulsed laser deposition method to create the bimorph nanostructure. For a temperature change from 290 to 690 K with measured dimensions of 100 ± 20 nm for the MWNT diameter, 40 ± 10 nm for the Al thickness, and 5.2 ± 0.5 µm for the bimorph length, the measured deflection was 550 ± 200 nm, which was in good agreement with the calculation. The actuation force was measured using a lateral force microscopy technique, and the measured values agreed well with the prediction based on the model. The nanoactuator generated a µN force at its tip.
Comment on "Clustering by Passing Messages Between Data Points"

Frey and Dueck (Reports, 16 February 2007, p. 972) described an algorithm termed “affinity propagation” (AP) as a promising alternative to traditional data clustering procedures. We demonstrate that a well-established heuristic for the p-median problem often obtains clustering solutions with lower error than AP and produces these solutions in comparable computation time.
Methotrexate-Loaded Chitosan- and Glycolchitosan-Based Nanoparticles: A Promising Strategy for the Administration of the Anticancer Drug to Brain Tumors

Brain tumor treatment employing methotrexate (MTX) is limited by the efflux mechanism of Pg-p on the blood–brain barrier. We aimed to investigate MTX-loaded chitosan or glycol chitosan (GCS) nanoparticles (NPs) in the presence and in the absence of a coating layer of Tween 80 for brain delivery of MTX. The effect of a low Tween 80 concentration was evaluated. MTX NPs were formulated following the ionic gelation technique and size and zeta potential measurements were acquired. Transport across MDCKII-MDR1 monolayer and cytotoxicity studies against C6 glioma cell line were also performed. Cell/particles interaction was visualized by confocal microscopy. The particles were shown to be cytotoxic against C6 cells line and able to overcome MDCKII-MDR1 cell barrier. GCS-based NPs were the most cytotoxic NPs. Confocal observations highlighted the internalization of Tween 80-coated fluorescent NPs more than Tween 80-uncoated NPs. The results suggest that even a low concentration of Tween 80 is sufficient for enhancing the transport of MTX from the NPs across MDCKII-MDR1 cells. The nanocarriers represent a promising strategy for the administration of MTX to brain tumors which merits further investigations under in vivo conditions.
The C. elegans ROR receptor tyrosine kinase, CAM-1, non-autonomously inhibits the Wnt pathway

Inhibitors of Wnt signaling promote normal development and prevent cancer by restraining when and where the Wnt pathway is activated. ROR proteins, a class of Wnt-binding receptor tyrosine kinases, inhibit Wnt signaling by an unknown mechanism. To clarify how RORs inhibit the Wnt pathway, we examined the relationship between Wnts and the sole C. elegans ROR homolog, cam-1, during C. elegans vulval development, a Wnt-regulated process. We found that loss and overexpression of cam-1 causes reciprocal defects in Wnt-mediated cell-fate specification. Our molecular and genetic analyses revealed that the CAM-1 extracellular domain (ECD) is sufficient to non-autonomously antagonize multiple Wnts, suggesting that the CAM-1/ROR ECD sequesters Wnts. A sequestration model is supported by our findings that the CAM-1 ECD binds to several Wnts in vitro. These results demonstrate how ROR proteins help to refine the spatial pattern of Wnt activity in a complex multicellular environment.
The Interaction of Syntactic and Lexical Information Sources in Language Processing: The Case of the Noun-verb Ambiguity

This paper reports the results of a lexical decision experiment and a selfpaced reading experiment that investigate the interaction between syntactic and lexical information in on-line language processing, using the noun-verb ambiguity in English. The results of both experiments provide support for the hypothesis whereby syntactic and lexical information are two independent factors in the process of sentence comprehension, consistent with previous work in the sense-ambiguity processing literature. Our results therefore add to the body of literature that demonstrates that the process of language comprehension is guided by numerous independent information sources, rather than syntactic information alone, as some of the earlier proposals in the field of sentence pro cessing hypothesized.
eButton: A wearable computer for health monitoring and personal assistance

Recent advances in mobile devices have made profound changes in people's daily lives. In particular, the impact of easy access of information by the smartphone has been tremendous. However, the impact of mobile devices on healthcare has been limited. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases are still initiated by occurrences of symptoms, and technologies and devices that emphasize on disease prevention and early detection outside hospitals are under-developed. Besides healthcare, mobile devices have not yet been designed to fully benefit people with special needs, such as the elderly and those suffering from certain disabilities, such blindness. In this paper, an overview of our research on a new wearable computer called eButton is presented. The concepts of its design and electronic implementation are described. Several applications of the eButton are described, including evaluating diet and physical activity, studying sedentary behavior, assisting the blind and visually impaired people, and monitoring older adults suffering from dementia.