Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recruitment of Members from the Rare Biosphere of Marine Bacterioplankton Communities after an Environmental Disturbance

ABSTRACT A bacterial community may be resistant to environmental disturbances if some of its species show metabolic flexibility and physiological tolerance to the changing conditions. Alternatively, disturbances can change the composition of the community and thereby potentially affect ecosystem processes. The impact of disturbance on the composition of bacterioplankton communities was examined in continuous seawater cultures. Bacterial assemblages from geographically closely connected areas, the Baltic Sea (salinity 7 and high dissolved organic carbon [DOC]) and Skagerrak (salinity 28 and low DOC), were exposed to gradual opposing changes in salinity and DOC over a 3-week period such that the Baltic community was exposed to Skagerrak salinity and DOC and vice versa. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and clone libraries of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes showed that the composition of the transplanted communities differed significantly from those held at constant salinity. Despite this, the growth yields (number of cells ml−1) were similar, which suggests similar levels of substrate utilization. Deep 454 pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA genes showed that the composition of the disturbed communities had changed due to the recruitment of phylotypes present in the rare biosphere of the original community. The study shows that members of the rare biosphere can become abundant in a bacterioplankton community after disturbance and that those bacteria can have important roles in maintaining ecosystem processes.
Relationships between Free-Living Protozoa, Cultivable Legionella spp., and Water Quality Characteristics in Three Drinking Water Supplies in the Caribbean

ABSTRACT The study whose results are presented here aimed at identifying free-living protozoa (FLP) and conditions favoring the growth of these organisms and cultivable Legionella spp. in drinking water supplies in a tropical region. Treated and distributed water (±30°C) of the water supplies of three Caribbean islands were sampled and investigated with molecular techniques, based on the 18S rRNA gene. The protozoan host Hartmannella vermiformis and cultivable Legionella pneumophila were observed in all three supplies. Operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with the highest similarity to the potential or candidate hosts Acanthamoeba spp. , Echinamoeba exundans, E. thermarum, and an Neoparamoeba sp. were detected as well. In total, 59 OTUs of FLP were identified. The estimated protozoan richness did not differ significantly between the three supplies. In supply CA-1, the concentration of H. vermiformis correlated with the concentration of Legionella spp. and clones related to Amoebozoa predominated (82%) in the protozoan community. These observations, the low turbidity (<0.2 nephelometric turbidity units [NTU]), and the varying ATP concentrations (1 to 12 ng liter−1) suggest that biofilms promoted protozoan growth in this supply. Ciliophora represented 25% of the protozoan OTUs in supply CA-2 with elevated ATP concentrations (maximum, 55 ng liter−1) correlating with turbidity (maximum, 62 NTU) caused by corroding iron pipes. Cercozoan types represented 70% of the protozoan clones in supply CA-3 with ATP concentrations of <1 ng liter−1 and turbidity of <0.5 NTU in most samples of distributed water. The absence of H. vermiformis in most samples from supply CA-3 suggests that growth of this protozoan is limited at ATP concentrations of <1 ng liter−1.
Response of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 to Increased NADH and ATP Demand

ABSTRACT Adenosine phosphate and NAD cofactors play a vital role in the operation of cell metabolism, and their levels and ratios are carefully regulated in tight ranges. Perturbations of the consumption of these metabolites might have a great impact on cell metabolism and physiology. Here, we investigated the impact of increased ATP hydrolysis and NADH oxidation rates on the metabolism of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 by titration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) and overproduction of a water-forming NADH oxidase, respectively. Both perturbations resulted in a reduction of the biomass yield and, as a consequence of the uncoupling of catabolic and anabolic activities, in an amplification of the net NADH regeneration rate. However, a stimulation of the specific carbon uptake rate was observed only when P. putida was challenged with very high 2,4-dinitrophenol concentrations and was comparatively unaffected by recombinant NADH oxidase activity. This behavior contrasts with the comparably sensitive performance described, for example, for Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The apparent robustness of P. putida metabolism indicates that it possesses a certain buffering capacity and a high flexibility to adapt to and counteract different stresses without showing a distinct phenotype. These findings are important, e.g., for the development of whole-cell redox biocatalytic processes that impose equivalent burdens on the cell metabolism: stoichiometric consumption of (reduced) redox cofactors and increased energy expenditures, due to the toxicity of the biocatalytic compounds.
Suboptimal glycaemic control enhances the risk of impaired prothrombotic state in youths with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Objective: To estimate markers of prothrombotic state and endothelial dysfunction in youths with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and investigate possible associations with anthropometric/demographic data, glycaemic control and lipid profile. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, we recruited 155 youths with T1DM and determined levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1-antigen (PAI-1-Ag), von Willebrand factor-antigen (vWF-Ag), fibrinogen (FB), lipids and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Results: Of all the participants, 76 (49%) had increased levels of at least one of prothrombotic factors. Suboptimal glycaemic control was associated with a worse lipid profile and an eightfold increased risk of elevated vWF-Ag levels. Higher vWF-Ag concentrations were also correlated with impaired lipid profile and increased HbA1c values, whereas PAI-1-Ag was positively correlated only with triglyceride levels. After adjustment for potential confounders, only HbA1c contributed independently to the variation in vWF-Ag levels. Conclusion: Impaired prothrombotic state and consequently endothelial dysfunction are present in youths with T1DM, representing a cumulative risk factor for future cardiovascular disease (CVD). Achievement and maintenance of euglycaemia and normolipidaemia are crucial to decelerate progress of this process.
Ovarian Antral Follicular Dynamics and Follicular Fluid Composition in Non-descript Goats of Karnataka

A study was carried out to elucidate the ovarian antral follicular dynamics and the profile of certain biochemical components in ovarian antral follicular fluid of non-descript goats of Karnataka. Three hundred ovaries were collected from two to five year old healthy non-descript goats slaughtered at Civil Meat Processing and Production Centre, Bangalore during the months of September to December, 2012. The surface ovarian antral follicles were categorized into three groups based on the diameter as Group I (small, 1 to 2.9 mm), Group II (medium, 3 to 5 mm) and Group III (large, >5 mm) follicles. The follicular fluid was collected and pooled as per the different groups of follicles and it was analysed for the levels of glucose, total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, estradiol-17β, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase activities. The results of the present study revealed that the number of medium sized follicles were significantly (P 0.05) between various groups of follicles. It was concluded that the findings of the present study on ovarian antral follicular dynamics and biochemical profile of follicular fluid could be useful for the scientists working on in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization in goats.
Metagenomic Analysis of Stress Genes in Microbial Mat Communities from Antarctica and the High Arctic

ABSTRACT Polar and alpine microbial communities experience a variety of environmental stresses, including perennial cold and freezing; however, knowledge of genomic responses to such conditions is still rudimentary. We analyzed the metagenomes of cyanobacterial mats from Arctic and Antarctic ice shelves, using high-throughput pyrosequencing to test the hypotheses that consortia from these extreme polar habitats were similar in terms of major phyla and subphyla and consequently in their potential responses to environmental stresses. Statistical comparisons of the protein-coding genes showed similarities between the mats from the two poles, with the majority of genes derived from Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria; however, the relative proportions differed, with cyanobacterial genes more prevalent in the Antarctic mat metagenome. Other differences included a higher representation of Actinobacteria and Alphaproteobacteria in the Arctic metagenomes, which may reflect the greater access to diasporas from both adjacent ice-free lands and the open ocean. Genes coding for functional responses to environmental stress (exopolysaccharides, cold shock proteins, and membrane modifications) were found in all of the metagenomes. However, in keeping with the greater exposure of the Arctic to long-range pollutants, sequences assigned to copper homeostasis genes were statistically (30%) more abundant in the Arctic samples. In contrast, more reads matching the sigma B genes were identified in the Antarctic mat, likely reflecting the more severe osmotic stress during freeze-up of the Antarctic ponds. This study underscores the presence of diverse mechanisms of adaptation to cold and other stresses in polar mats, consistent with the proportional representation of major bacterial groups.
Current Status of Basic Instruction Programs in Physical Education at American Colleges and Universities

hysical education programs in American colleges and universities have a long and storied history. From the inception of such programs over 100 years ago, physical education courses for college students have been an enduring part of higher education. In the past century, we have seen the emergence of physical education, and more recently kinesiology and exercise science, as major fields of study. Yet the constant element in physical education programs throughout their history has been those courses offered for the general college student. These courses generally focus on the physical development and health needs of students, and they compose what have been called “activities programs,” “general education programs,” or “basic instruction programs,” among others. Although the name of such a program may vary from one institution to another, for the purposes of this article, the term “basic instruction program” (BIP) will be used. Arguably, the BIP is generally recognized by students and faculty as the most prominent part of the physical education program on most college campuses. The nature and status of BIPs in physical education have evolved considerably throughout the years, and these programs continue to be of prime importance to many physical educators, particularly those in higher education. This interest in BIPs has led to at least 11 national studies of such programs since the 1950s (Fornia, 1959; Greene, 1955; FIunsicker, 1954; Miller, Dowell, & ? ender, 1989; Oxendine, 1961, 1969, 1972; Oxendine & Roberts, 1978; rrimble & Hensley, 1984, 1990, 1993) i s well as numerous papers on various ispects of the subject. As part of a TOPERD feature focusing on BIPs in Jhysical education, Lumpkin and [enkins (1993) provided a brief history of, and traced the significant trends in, these programs, and Evaul and Hilsendager (1993) discussed the major issues facing BIPs. Although the Surgeon General’s report on physical activity and health (US . Department of Health and Human Services, 1996) has been viewed as a landmark document in promoting physical activity, health and physical education programs at all levels of education continue to struggle for their existence. As faculty and administrators strive to preserve and improve BIPs in physical education, information about contemporary practices and emerging trends is widely sought. In an effort to provide this needed information and to continue the periodic monitoring of physical education programs in higher education, this article will report the results of a 1998 survey that sought to determine the status and practices of BIPs in physical education at four-year colleges and universities in the United States.
Characterization of bla CMY-2 Plasmids in Salmonella and Escherichia coli Isolates from Food Animals in Canada

ABSTRACT One hundred thirty-four bla CMY-2 plasmids from Salmonella and Escherichia coli strains from animals and food in Canada were characterized. Five plasmid groups were identified based on replicon type and restriction profiles. Three groups contained E. coli plasmids only. IncA/C plasmids included most multiresistant plasmids and all those of bovine origin.
Multiple Plastids Collected by the Dinoflagellate Dinophysis mitra through Kleptoplastidy

ABSTRACT Kleptoplastidy is the retention of plastids obtained from ingested algal prey, which may remain temporarily functional and be used for photosynthesis by the predator. We showed that the marine dinoflagellate Dinophysis mitra has great kleptoplastid diversity. We obtained 308 plastid rbc L sequences by gene cloning from 14 D. mitra cells and 102 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Most sequences were new in the genetic database and positioned within Haptophyceae (227 sequences [73.7%], 80 OTUs [78.4%]), particularly within the genus Chrysochromulina. Others were closely related to Prasinophyceae (16 sequences [5.2%], 5 OTUs [4.9%]), Dictyochophyceae (14 sequences [4.5%], 5 OTUs [4.9%]), Pelagophyceae (14 sequences [4.5%], 1 OTU [1.0%]), Bolidophyceae (3 sequences [1.0%], 1 OTU [1.0%]), and Bacillariophyceae (1 sequence [0.3%], 1 OTU [1.0%]); however, 33 sequences (10.8%) as 9 OTUs (8.8%) were not closely clustered with any particular group. Only six sequences were identical to those of Chrysochromulina simplex, Chrysochromulina hirta, Chrysochromulina sp. TKB8936, Micromonas pusilla NEPCC29, Micromonas pusilla CCMP491, and an unidentified diatom. Thus, we detected >100 different plastid sequences from 14 D. mitra cells, strongly suggesting kleptoplastidy and the need for mixotrophic prey such as Laboea, Tontonia, and Strombidium-like ciliates, which retain numerous symbiotic plastids from different origins, for propagation and plastid sequestration.
Dapagliflozin attenuates human vascular endothelial cell activation and induces vasorelaxation: A potential mechanism for inhibition of atherogenesis

Background: Sodium glucose transporter type 2 inhibitors may reduce cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes. Our study aimed to determine the effect of the sodium glucose transporter type 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin on endothelial cell activation, vasoreactivity and atherogenesis using in vitro and in vivo models and identify associated molecular mechanisms. Methods: In vitro studies utilised human vascular endothelial cells stimulated with tumour necrosis factor α or hyperglycaemic conditions. In vivo studies were performed in C57Bl/6J mice to evaluate direct vasorelaxation responses evoked by acute dapagliflozin administration and acute vaso-protective effects of dapagliflozin on hyperglycaemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. Adult and aged Apolipoprotein E–deficient mice maintained on a high-fat diet were used to investigate endothelial-dependent vascular reactivity and atherogenesis. Dapagliflozin treatment (1.0 mg/kg/day) was administered for 4 weeks. Results: In vitro studies demonstrated dapagliflozin-mediated attenuation of tumour necrosis factor α- and hyperglycaemia-induced increases in intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 and NFκB expression. Acute dapagliflozin administration dose-dependently induced endothelium-independent vasorelaxation. Chronic dapagliflozin treatment improved endothelial function and significantly reduced in vivo vascular adhesion molecule and phospho-IκB expression together with macrophage vessel wall infiltration. Conclusion: These observations identify a potential role for dapagliflozin in the attenuation of atherogenesis and identify anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms associated with these effects.
Distinct Growth Strategies of Soil Bacteria as Revealed by Large-Scale Colony Tracking

ABSTRACT Our understanding of microbial ecology has been significantly furthered in recent years by advances in sequencing techniques, but comprehensive surveys of the phenotypic characteristics of environmental bacteria remain rare. Such phenotypic data are crucial for understanding the microbial strategies for growth and the diversity of microbial ecosystems. Here, we describe a high-throughput measurement of the growth of thousands of bacterial colonies using an array of flat-bed scanners coupled with automated image analysis. We used this system to investigate the growth properties of members of a microbial community from untreated soil. The system provides high-quality measurements of the number of CFU, colony growth rates, and appearance times, allowing us to directly study the distribution of these properties in mixed environmental samples. We find that soil bacteria display a wide range of growth strategies which can be grouped into several clusters that cannot be reduced to any of the classical dichotomous divisions of soil bacteria, e.g., into copiotophs and oligotrophs. We also find that, at early times, cells are most likely to form colonies when other, nearby colonies are present but not too dense. This maximization of culturability at intermediate plating densities suggests that the previously observed tendency for high density to lead to fewer colonies is partly offset by the induction of colony formation caused by interactions between microbes. These results suggest new types of growth classification of soil bacteria and potential effects of species interactions on colony growth.
Condition based maintenance optimization of an aircraft assembly process considering multiple objectives

The Commercial Aircraft Cooperation of China (COMAC) ARJ21 fuselage’s final assembly process is used as a case study. The focus of this paper is on the condition based maintenance regime for the (semi-) automatic assembly machines and how they impact the throughput of the fuselage assembly process. The fuselage assembly process is modeled and analyzed by using agent based simulation in this paper. The agent approach allows complex process interactions of assembly, equipment, and maintenance to be captured and empirically studied. In this paper, the built network is modeled as the sequence of activities in each stage, which are parameterized by activity lead time and equipment used. A scatter search is used to find multiobjective optimal solutions for the CBM regime, where the maintenance related cost and production rate are the optimization objectives. In this paper, in order to ease computation intensity caused by running multiple simulations during the optimization and to simplify a multiobjective formulation, multiple Min-Max weightings are used to trace Pareto front. The empirical analysis reviews the trade-offs between the production rate and maintenance cost and how sensitive the design solution is to the uncertainties.
THE CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF LEPTOSPIROSIS IN LOUISIANA

The classic description of infectious jaundice was presented by Weil1in 1886, who reported 4 cases in which there was a sudden onset of fever, chills, prostration, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, hemorrhagic tendency and renal failure. All 4 patients recovered. Inada and his associates2discovered the causative agent, and Noguchi3named it Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae. Stimson4described a spirochete in the organs of a patient in New Orleans who died presumably of yellow fever and called it Spirochaeta interrogans. Wadsworth5introduced laboratory methods for the diagnosis of Weil's disease in the United States. Jeghers,6Packchanian,7Larson8and others have reported numerous cases from this country. Spirochetal jaundice is not a proper term, because jaundice is present only in about two thirds of the cases. Weil's disease refers to infection with Leptospira icterohemorrhagiae. Leptospira canicola infections occur in man and dog. In this country canine leptospirosis
Theoretical and Empirical Base for Implementation Components of Health-Promoting Schools.

Purpose – Efforts to create a scientific base for the health‐promoting school approach have so far not articulated a clear “Science of Delivery”. There is thus a need for systematic identification of clearly operationalised implementation components. To address a next step in the refinement of the health‐promoting schools' work, this paper sets out to delineate implementation components of health‐promoting schools and to identify their mechanisms.Design/methodology/approach – The implementation components were identified through a narrative synthesis of documents describing implementation of health‐promoting school approaches. Studies were included if they were published between 1995 and June 2010 and could be identified in publicly accessible peer‐reviewed articles and grey literature, published in English. Eight sources were extracted, representing reports from all continents with the exception of Africa.Findings – Eight components were identified: preparing and planning for school development; policy a.
Consumer health information on the Internet: an evaluation report on the Nova Scotia Health Network

The Nova Scotia Health Network (NSHN) is a province-wide, Web-based consumer health information service provided through the cooperative efforts of various organizations, including public libraries, health sciences libraries, the Nova Scotia Provincial Library, and Dalhousie University. The primary intent of the NSHN was to build on existing community resources to provide a quality source of local and general health information. Objective – The purpose was to evaluate the NSHN from the perspective of its users in relation to the ease of use of the site and the usability of the information and content. Methods – A descriptive design was chosen to address the study objectives. Results – Study participants were those users of the NSHN site who agreed to complete and submit an online survey between June 2002 and June 2003. The majority of study respondents were white, middle-aged, English-speaking females, who resided in rural Nova Scotia. They were mostly able to find the information they wanted with little effort and in a reasonable time frame. One in four participants indicated that the information had been used to help them change their lifestyle, whereas one in three reported that they had shared the information with their health care provider. The content found on the site was very highly rated, with more than 90% reporting that the information was easy to understand, useful, and of high quality. Conclusion – The data obtained in this study was positive and encouraging. Sixty-six percent rated the site as a 4 or 5 (with 5 being the best rating) when compared with other health information sites they had visited. Individuals who visited the NSHN site in the past used the acquired information to change health care practices and (or) seek further treatment.
Streptomycin-Induced Expression in Bacillus subtilis of YtnP, a Lactonase-Homologous Protein That Inhibits Development and Streptomycin Production in Streptomyces griseus

ABSTRACT Bacillus subtilis induces expression of the gene ytnP in the presence of the antimicrobial streptomycin, produced by the Gram-positive bacterium Streptomyces griseus. ytnP encodes a lactonase-homologous protein that is able to inhibit the signaling pathway required for the streptomycin production and development of aerial mycelium in S. griseus.