Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudomonas syringae Exchangeable Effector Loci: Sequence Diversity in Representative Pathovars and Virulence Function in P. syringae pv. syringae B728a

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas syringae is a plant pathogen whose pathogenicity and host specificity are thought to be determined by Hop/Avr effector proteins injected into plant cells by a type III secretion system. P. syringae pv. syringae B728a, which causes brown spot of bean, is a particularly well-studied strain. The type III secretion system in P. syringae is encoded by hrp (hypersensitive response and pathogenicity) and hrc (hrp conserved) genes, which are clustered in a pathogenicity island with a tripartite structure such that the hrp/hrc genes are flanked by a conserved effector locus and an exchangeable effector locus (EEL). The EELs of P. syringae pv. syringae B728a, P. syringae strain 61, and P. syringae pv. tomato DC3000 differ in size and effector gene composition; the EEL of P. syringae pv. syringae B728a is the largest and most complex. The three putative effector proteins encoded by the P. syringae pv. syringae B728a EEL—HopPsyC, HopPsyE, and HopPsyV—were demonstrated to be secreted in an Hrp-dependent manner in culture. Heterologous expression of hopPsyC, hopPsyE, and hopPsyV in P. syringae pv. tabaci induced the hypersensitive response in tobacco leaves, demonstrating avirulence activity in a nonhost plant. Deletion of the P. syringae pv. syringae B728a EEL strongly reduced virulence in host bean leaves. EELs from nine additional strains representing nine P. syringae pathovars were isolated and sequenced. Homologs of avrPphE (e.g., hopPsyE) and hopPsyA were particularly common. Comparative analyses of these effector genes and hrpK (which flanks the EEL) suggest that the EEL effector genes were acquired by horizontal transfer after the acquisition of the hrp/hrc gene cluster but before the divergence of modern pathovars and that some EELs underwent transpositions yielding effector exchanges or point mutations producing effector pseudogenes after their acquisition.
Discriminating Five Forms of Job Satisfaction: Investigating Their Relevance for Occupational Health Research and Practice

This study analyzed the relation and discrimination between five forms of job satisfaction (stabilized, progressive and resigned satisfaction; constructive and fixated dissatisfaction) regarding health, work-related determinants of health and demographic variables. Job satisfaction was assessed with a forced-choice survey item in 10 Swiss companies (768 employees). Significant differences between forms of job satisfaction with respect to health status, effort-reward imbalance, job control, work engagement, age and sex were found. The five forms of job satisfaction were discriminated, but classifying only 49.9% of the cases correctly. General utility of this forced-choice item therefore must be relativized.
SHIFT IN EGG‐LAYING STRATEGY TO AVOID PLANT DEFENSE LEADS TO REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN MUTUALISTIC AND CHEATING YUCCA MOTHS

Through the process of ecological speciation, insect populations that adapt to new host plant species or to different plant tissues could speciate if such adaptations cause reproductive isolation. One of the key issues in this process is identifying the mechanisms by which adaptation in ecological traits leads directly to reproductive isolation. Here I show that within a radiation of specialist moths that pollinate and feed on yuccas, shifts in egg placement resulted in changes in female moth egg‐laying structures that led to concomitant changes in male reproductive morphology. As pollinator moths evolved to circumvent the ability of yuccas to selectively abscise flowers that contain pollinator eggs, ovipositor length became shorter. Because mating occurs through the ovipositor, shortening of the ovipositor also led to significantly shorter and wider male intromittent organs. In instances where two pollinator moth species occur in sympatry and on the same host plant species, there is one short and one long ovipositor species that are reproductively isolated. Given that many plant‐feeding insects lay eggs into plant tissues, changes in ovipositor morphology that lead to correlated changes in reproductive morphology may be a mechanism that maintains reproductive isolation among closely related species using the same host plant species.
Binding of Bacterial Peptidoglycan to CD14*

The hypothesis that soluble peptidoglycan (sPGN, a macrophage-activator from Gram-positive bacteria) binds to CD14 (a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor) was tested. sPGN specifically bound to CD14 in the following three assays: binding of soluble32P-CD14 (sCD14) to agarose-immobilized sPGN, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and photoaffinity cross-linking. sCD14 also specifically bound to agarose-immobilized muramyl dipeptide or GlcNAc-muramyl dipeptide but not to PGN pentapeptide. Binding of sCD14 to both sPGN and ReLPS (where ReLPS is LPS from Salmonella minnesota Re 595) was competitively inhibited by unlabeled sCD14, 1–152 N-terminal fragment of sCD14, sPGN, smooth LPS, ReLPS, lipid A, and lipoteichoic acid but not by dextran, dextran sulfate, heparin, ribitol teichoic acid, or soluble low molecular weight PGN fragments. Binding of sCD14 to sPGN was slower than to ReLPS but of higher affinity (K D = 25 nm versus41 nm). LPS-binding protein (LBP) increased the binding of sCD14 to sPGN by adding another lower affinity K D and another higher B max, but for ReLPS, LBP increased the affinity of binding by yielding twoK D with significantly higher affinity (7.1 and 27 nm). LBP also enhanced inhibition of sCD14 binding by LPS, ReLPS, and lipid A. Binding of sCD14 to both sPGN and ReLPS was inhibited by anti-CD14 MEM-18 mAb, but other anti-CD14 mAbs showed differential inhibition, suggesting conformational binding sites on CD14 for sPGN and LPS, that are partially identical and partially different.
Localization Effect for a Spectral Problem in a Perforated Domain with Fourier Boundary Conditions

This paper is aimed at homogenization of an elliptic spectral problem stated in a perforated domain, Fourier boundary conditions being imposed on the boundary of perforation. The presence of a locally periodic coefficient in the boundary operator gives rise to the effect of localization of the eigenfunctions. Moreover, the limit behavior of the lower part of the spectrum can be described in terms of an auxiliary harmonic oscillator operator. We describe the asymptotics of the eigenpairs and derive estimates for the rate of convergence.
Gate-controlled negative differential resistance in drain current characteristics of AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs pseudomorphic MODFETs

The observation of negative differential resistance (NDR) and negative transconductance at high drain and gate fields in depletion-mode AlGaAs/InGaAs/GaAs MODFETs with gate lengths L/sub g/ approximately 0.25 mu m is discussed. It is shown that under high bias voltage conditions, V/sub ds/>2.5 V and V/sub gs/>0 V, the device drain current characteristic switches from a high current state to a low current state, resulting in reflection gain in the drain circuit of the MODFET. The decrease in the drain current of the device corresponds to a sudden increase in the gate current. It is shown that the device can be operated in two regions: (1) standard MODFET operation for V/sub gs/<0 V resulting in f/sub max/ values of >120 GHz, and (2) a NDR region which yields operation as a reflection gain amplifier for V/sub gs/ >0 V and V/sub ds/>2.5 V, resulting in 2 dB of reflection gain at 26.5 GHz. The NDR is attributed to the redistribution of charge and voltage in the channel caused by electrons crossing the heterobarrier under high-field conditions. The NDR gain regime, which is controllable by gate and drain voltages, is a new operating mode for MODFETs under high bias conditions. <<ETX>>
ULTRASONIC STUDY OF FOLLICULAR MATURATION, OVULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CORPUS LUTEUM DURING NORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES

Abstract. Ovarian follicular growth, ovulation and development of corpus luteum was monitored with ultrasound in 29 normal menstrual cycles in 14 women. Results were correlated to changes in serum estradiol, LH and progesterone levels. The follicles reached a maximum diameter of 20.5±2.70 mm (mean±SD) with an intercycle variation of 16 to 25 mm, and growth rates ranged between —2 and 6 mm from the day before the LH peak to the day of the LH peak. Cumulus echoes were observed in all follicles with a maximum diameter of more than 17 mm and the cumulus appeared from 1 to 3 days before ovulation. On the day after the LH peak, the follicle was still present in two cycles and had disappeared from 15 cycles. In 11 cases different morphologic patterns could be visualized at the former sites of the follicles. In the middle of the luteal phase the mature corpus luteum was seen as an echogenic area in 16 cases and as a cyst in 1 case.
An Open Study of Fluvoxamine Augmentation of Neuroleptics in Schizophrenia with Obsessive and Compulsive Symptoms

Patients whose schizophrenia is characterized by marked obsessive-compulsive features can be difficult to treat successfully and often require a combination treatment. The aim of this open-label study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an addition of fluvoxamine—a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)—to standard neuroleptics in treatment of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia. Sixteen patients with schizophrenia were treated with conventional neuroleptics and fluvoxamine in doses of 100–200 mg/d for 8 weeks. The patients were assessed with use of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Yale Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS) at baseline and endpoint. Results included considerable reduction in BPRS (39.4%) and Y-BOCS (32.9%) scores. None of the patients showed an acute exacerbation during the whole study period. Side effects were clinically insignificant. This open-label trial supports previous suggestions that coadministration of SSRIs and neuroleptics in patients with schizophrenia with OC symptoms is associated with robust improvements of these symptoms. Therefore, the use of SSRIs in patients with schizophrenia with OC symptomatology may be warranted and safe.
Parasitic diseases as causes of mortality in dogs in Kenya. A retrospective study of 351 cases (1984–1998)

A 15-year (1984 1998) retrospective study using post mortem records was carried out at the University of Nairobi Veterinary School to evaluate the role of parasitic diseases as causes of mortality in dogs. Of the 2492 dogs presented, 351 (14%) were diagnosed as having died from parasitic causes. Gastro-intestinal helminths accounted for 68% of all parasitic conditions with ancylostomiasis as the leading cause of mortality (41%). Ancylostomiasis mainly affected young puppies. Spirocercosis was the second most important parasitic condition with 78 dogs (22%) affected with this disease. There was a marked decline in the number of spirocercosis cases during the last three years of the study (19961998). Introduction The expected prevalence of parasites and the resulting mortality rates of companion animals are important information for the veterinarian. This is because the positive predictive value of diagnostic tests (i.e. the probability that the result reflects the true disease status) declines with prevalence (1). Public health control measures also depend on knowledge of the prevalence, as does the routine task of making a preliminary diagnosis. A number of surveys have been conducted on the prevalence and mortality from internal parasites of dogs. The studies have mainly been conducted in the developed countries especially in North America. The most frequently observed parasites include hookworms, whipworms, ascarids, coccidia, tapeworms, and heartworms (2, 3, 4). Most of the parasites affect the dog subclinically. The only exception is the hookworm, which causes serious blood loss due to its blood-sucking activity. Acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage and anaemia due to rapidly developing blood loss, especially in pups, may result in death. Spirocercosis is common in warm climatic zones in Kenya and its prevalence is reportedly high due to the increased access of dogs to the larvae of the worm in the coprophagous beetles, which act as the intermediate host (5). Very little information is available on the role of parasites causing mortality in dogs in Kenya. This information is important in evaluating and recommending parasite control measures in canine health programmes. The following retrospective study was undertaken to gather information on parasitic diseases in areas within a 15-Km radius of the University of Nairobi Veterinary School. Materials and Methods The study examined the records of the University of Nairobi Veterinary School from 1984-1998 inclusive. The School mainly receives necropsies from veterinary clinics in the neighbouring areas of Kiambu district and Nairobi province. Most of the dogs, especially those from Nairobi are well cared for. Exotic breeds (Alsatians, Dobermans and Labradors) accounted for 60% of all dogs presented at the post-mortem facility. The study compared the number of dogs dying from various parasitic diseases to the total number of dogs killed by all diseases.
Increasing African-American Living Kidney Donors

Abstract This article endeavors to suggest that there may be a better chance of attenuating the gap between the supply and demand of kidney organs for African-American patients, by increasing the number of living donors. Among the multiple issues focused on are the contrasting dynamics between cadaver and living kidney donations with this population. The dual importance of adequate information and providing it in a face-to-face approach with African-American family members is also discussed. The final focus is on the strategic position of nephrology nurses and social workers, in potentially helping to increase the number of African-American living kidney donors.
Exercise rapidly increases eukaryotic elongation factor 2 phosphorylation in skeletal muscle of men

Protein synthesis in skeletal muscle is known to decrease during contractions but the underlying regulatory mechanisms are unknown. Here, the effect of exercise on skeletal muscle eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) phosphorylation, a key component in protein translation machinery, was examined. Eight healthy men exercised on a cycle ergometer at a workload eliciting ∼67% peak pulmonary oxygen consumption with skeletal muscle biopsies taken from the vastus lateralis muscle at rest as well as after 1, 10, 30, 60 and 90 min of exercise. In response to exercise, there was a rapid (i.e. < 1 min) 5‐ to 7‐fold increase in eEF2 phosphorylation at Thr56 that was sustained for 90 min of continuous exercise. The in vitro activity of skeletal muscle eEF2 kinase was not altered by exercise indicating that the increased activity of eEF2 kinase to eEF2 is not mediated by covalent mechanisms. In support of this, the increase in AMPK activity was temporally unrelated to eEF2 phosphorylation. However, skeletal muscle eEF2 kinase was potently activated by Ca2+–calmodulin in vitro, suggesting that the higher eEF2 phosphorylation in working skeletal muscle is mediated by allosteric activation of eEF2 kinase by Ca2+ signalling via calmodulin. Given that eEF2 phosphorylation inhibits eEF2 activity and mRNA translation, these findings suggest that the inhibition of protein synthesis in contracting skeletal muscle is due to the Ca2+‐induced stimulation of eEF2 kinase.
Executive summary of the AVMA One Health Initiative Task Force report.

Lonnie J. King, dvm, ms, mpa, dacvpm; Larry R. Anderson, dvm, md; Carina G. Blackmore, dvm, phd; Michael J. Blackwell, dvm, mph; Elizabeth A. Lautner, dvm, ms; Leonard C. Marcus, vmd, md; Travis E. Meyer, bs; Thomas P. Monath, md; James E. Nave, dvm; Joerg Ohle; Marguerite Pappaioanou, dvm, mpvm, phd, dacvpm; Justin Sobota, ms, dvm; William S. Stokes, dvm, daclam; Ronald M. Davis, md; Jay H. Glasser, phd; Roger K. Mahr, dvm
Anhedonia and the Intentional Communication of Emotion

This study evaluated the accuracy and expressiveness of emotional communication by college students identified as anhedonic or control (ns = 24), based on their scores on the Physical Anhedonia Scale, using an emotional communication task and self-report indices of emotional expressiveness and self-monitoring. As expected, the anhedonic group reported significantly less emotional expressiveness in real-life social situations. However, contrary to the hypotheses, they did not differ from controls on measures from a laboratory communication task or on self-monitoring.
Gene Knockout Mice in the Study of Parturitions

Objective: To review recent studies of parturition control in mice with relevance to understanding the control of human parturition. Methods: Assimilation of published studies of gene knockout mice with mutations in neuropeptides, prostaglandin synthetic enzymes and receptors, and other molecules implicated in parturition. Results: The central role of prostaglandins in murine labor is demonstrated by mice with gene mutations at multiple levels of the prostaglandin synthetic pathway. In addition, novel molecules such as steroid 5α-reductase are found to play an essential role in the progression of labor. Surprisingly, deficiency of neuropeptides such as oxytocin and corticotropin-releasing hormone have little effect on parturition. Conclusion: Molecular genetic analyses in mice provide an efficient way to define molecules critical for murine parturition. Extrapolation of the importance of these molecules to human parturition provides the next challenge.
Factors influencing symbolic adoption of ERP systems in the Middle-East

Prior quantitative studies on factors that influence IT adoption in the Middle East have mostly been conducted in a voluntary situation (where the population has the choice of accepting or rejecting the use of IT). In a mandatory context of IS adoption, however, the study population (for example, employees of an organization) does not have a choice to reject the system. ERP adoption is a good example of a mandatory context. In this paper, we study the relationship between cultural and behavioural dimensions and symbolic adoption of ERP in Saudi Arabia. Based on a sample of 230 employees, our analysis shows that effect of cultural dimensions is not significant, however, effort expectancy and perceived compatibility have a statistically significant influence on symbolic adoption.
Emerging roles for bone morphogenetic proteins in central nervous system glial biology

Bone morphogenetic proteins, members of the TGFβ superfamily have been implicated in a variety of roles in the developing and mature nervous system. These divergent functions are a reflection of the closely defined spatial and temporal expression of BMPs in the CNS, and the potential interactions of the BMP signaling pathway with the STAT and MAP kinase pathways. In this review we discuss the roles of BMPs in early patterning of the CNS, determination of neural cell fate, and regulation of oligodendrocyte maturation during CNS development. Additional functions for members of the TGFβ superfamily in CNS injury responses are emerging suggesting these molecules represent useful targets for manipulating neural responses to CNS insults. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Personality Differences in Schizophrenia Are Related to Performance on Neuropsychological Tasks

Altered cognition and personality appear to emerge in tandem and adversely affect outcome in schizophrenia, yet little research has been done to determine whether these are related or independent domains. In this study, the relationship between the Big Five personality traits—neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness—and cognitive and motor performance in outpatients with chronic, clinically stable schizophrenia (N = 30) and age-matched healthy comparison subjects (N = 45) was examined. Subjects completed tests of attention, executive and motor functions, and the NEO-Five Factor Personality Inventory. Patients scored significantly higher on neuroticism and lower on extraversion and agreeableness, but after variance due to neuropsychological performance was statistically removed from NEO scale scores, personality dimensions and profiles no longer differed between groups. Neuropsychological performance and demographic variables, but not diagnosis, uniquely accounted for statistically significant amounts of personality variance, and neuropsychological task performance was correlated with personality dimensions in both patients and comparison subjects. These cross-sectional data provide preliminary evidence that personality dysfunction in schizophrenia may be mediated by disease-related changes in cognitive operations, or the neural processes underlying them. Longitudinal studies utilizing more comprehensive measures of neurocognitive performance are needed to define further the relationship between neuropsychological function and personality in schizophrenia.
Patient outcomes and evidence-based medicine in a preferred provider organization setting: a six-year evaluation of a physician pay-for-performance program.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether health plan members who saw physicians participating in a quality-based incentive program in a preferred provider organization (PPO) setting received recommended care over time compared with patients who saw physicians who did not participate in the incentive program, as per 11 evidence-based quality indicators. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING Administrative claims data for PPO members of a large nonprofit health plan in Hawaii collected over a 6-year period after the program was first implemented. STUDY DESIGN An observational study allowing for multiple member records within and across years. Levels of recommended care received by members who visited physicians who did or did not participate in a quality incentive program were compared, after controlling for other member characteristics and the member's total number of annual office visits. DATA COLLECTION Data for all PPO enrollees eligible for at least one of the 11 quality indicators in at least 1 year were collected. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We found a consistent, positive association between having seen only program-participating providers and receiving recommended care for all 6 years with odds ratios ranging from 1.06 to 1.27 (95 percent confidence interval: 1.03-1.08, 1.09-1.40). CONCLUSIONS Physician reimbursement models built upon evidence-based quality of care metrics may positively affect whether or not a patient receives high quality, recommended care.
Odontogenic Tumors in Childhood: A Retrospective Study of 86 Treated Cases. Importance of a Correct Histopathologic Diagnosis

Abstract: The odontogenic tumors are an unusual group of lesions of the jaws derived from embryologic tooth-forming tissues and presenting in a large number of histologic patterns. More common in pediatric age and adolescence than in adult age, the odontogenic tumors can be observed casually or after the appearance of nonspecific symptoms. Because of their slow-growth tendency, usually they do not cause pain. The odontogenic tumors grow in the jaw, through the haversian system, without metastasis but with and high probability of relapse. A retrospective study of 86 cases treated between 1997 and 2005 is reported. The percent of diagnosed cases that were benign was 98.8%, and just one case of malign neoplasm is reported. The most frequent tumor accounted for in the reported sample was odontoma (39.5%) followed by odontogenic fibroma (12.8%). Ameloblastoma and myxoma showed the same incidence (11.6%). Early diagnosis, together with a correct histologic diagnosis, allows a preservative and effective surgical treatment and is necessary to reduce the risk of relapse.