Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological cost induced by the maternally-transmitted endosymbiont Wolbachia in the Drosophila parasitoid Leptopilina heterotoma

Endosymbiotic bacteria of the genus Wolbachia infect a number of invertebrate species in which they induce various alterations in host reproduction, mainly cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). In contrast to most other maternally transmitted parasites, manipulation of host reproduction makes the spread of Wolbachia possible even if they induce a physiological cost on their hosts. Current studies have shown that fitness consequences of Wolbachia infection could range from positive (mutualist) to negative (parasitic) but, in most cases, Wolbachia do not have strong deleterious effects on host fitness and the status of association remains unclear. Here, we show that in the Drosophila parasitoid wasp Leptopilina heterotoma, Wolbachia infection has a negative impact on several host fitness traits of both sexes. Fecundity, adult survival and locomotor performance are significantly reduced, whereas circadian rhythm, development time and offspring sex-ratio are not affected. Although the cost of bacterial infection can be overcome by effects on host reproduction i.e. cytoplasmic incompatibility, it could influence the spread of the bacterium at the early stages of the invasion process. Clearly, results underline the wide spectrum of phenotypic effects of Wolbachia infection and, to our knowledge, Wolbachia infection of L. heterotoma appears to be one of the most virulent that has ever been observed in insects.
Molecular and structural analysis of mosaic variants of penicillin-binding protein 2 conferring decreased susceptibility to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins in Neisseria gonorrhoeae: role of epistatic mutations.

Mutations in penicillin-binding protein 2 (PBP 2) encoded by mosaic penA alleles are crucial for intermediate resistance to the expanded-spectrum cephalosporins ceftriaxone and cefixime in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Three of the ∼60 mutations present in mosaic alleles of penA, G545S, I312M, and V316T, have been reported to be responsible for increased resistance, especially to cefixime [Takahata, S. , et al. (2006) Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50, 3638-3645]. However, we observed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of penicillin, ceftriaxone, and cefixime for a wild-type strain (FA19) containing a penA gene with these three mutations increased only 1.5-, 1.5-, and 3.5-fold, respectively. In contrast, when these three mutations in a mosaic penA allele (penA35) were reverted back to the wild type and the gene was transformed into FA19, the MICs of the three antibiotics were reduced to near wild-type levels. Thus, these three mutations display epistasis, in that their capacity to increase resistance to β-lactam antibiotics is dependent on the presence of other mutations in the mosaic alleles. We also identified an additional mutation, N512Y, that contributes to the decreased susceptibility to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins. Finally, we investigated the effects of a mutation (A501V) currently found only in nonmosaic penA alleles on decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone and cefixime, with the expectation that this mutation may arise in mosaic alleles. Transfer of the mosaic penA35 allele containing an A501V mutation to FA6140, a chromosomally mediated penicillin-resistant isolate, increased the MICs of ceftriaxone (0.4 μg/mL) and cefixime (1.2 μg/mL) to levels above their respective break points. The proposed structural mechanisms of these mutations are discussed in light of the recently published structure of PBP 2.
The Sensitivity of Life Insurance Firms to Interest Rate Changes

The authors examine the interest rate risk of life insurers by estimating the sensitivity of their stock returns to changes in the return on bonds over a time frame that includes a relatively calm period before the recent financial crisis, the financial crisis itself, and the recent period of low interest rates. They find that when bonds increase in value (that is, when interest rates fall), stocks of large insurance firms decrease in value more than those of their smaller counterparts.
High-sensitivity analysis of neutral underivatized oligosaccharides by nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry.

Nanoscale electrospray ionization (nano-ESI) overcomes the sensitivity problems found and reported for neutral oligosaccharides in conventional microscale forced-flow ESI. For a series of compounds ranging from trisaccharides to larger polymers with molecular masses up to 6 kDa, sample concentrations of 10(-5) M, i.e., 10 pmol total sample load, yielded very intense singly or multiply cationized molecule ions in an ion-trap mass spectrometer. In a dilution series, it is exemplified that, at the 10(-8) M level, molecule ion signals can be clearly registered with a S/N ratio of about 7. Only 100 amol of sample has been consumed in this experiment. Investigation of an oligosaccharide-peptide mixture revealed that the oligosaccharide is suppressed in conventional ESI, whereas in nano-ESI both analytes are detected at comparable and high intensities. Mechanistic implications are discussed, emphasizing the influence of surface activity for the two ESI techniques. The very low flow rates inherent to nano-ESI of about 30 nL/min, together with the high signal intensity, make it possible to fully employ the MSn capabilities of an ion-trap mass spectrometer for structural analysis. From less than 1 microL of sample solution it is possible to make consecutive fragmentation experiments up to MS7 to obtain valuable information about the structure of complex oligosaccharides.
Postnatal overgrowth by 15q-trisomy and intrauterine growth retardation by 15q-monosomy due to familial translocation t(13;15): dosage effect of IGF1R?

We report a 4-year-old boy, a 6-month-old girl, and a 17-week-old fetus all with a chromosomal imbalance derived from a balanced translocation t(13;15)(q34;q26.1) of their father. The boy had a partial trisomy for 15q26.1-qter (46,XY,der(13)t(13;15)(q34;q26.1)) and postnatal overgrowth, as well as craniosynostosis, facial anomalies, and finger joint contractures, while the girl with the same chromosomal aberration did not show overgrowth, although she had similar craniofacial and skeletal abnormalities. The fetus had a partial monosomy for 15q26.1-qter and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis with a BAC clone covering the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor gene (IGF1R) that is located to 15q25-q26 revealed three copies in the boy, one copy in the fetus, and two copies in their phenotypically normal father. Since deletion of IGF1Rhas repeatedly been reported to be associated with IUGR, it is tempting to speculate that the dosage of IGF1R may have determined growth in these children.
The diabetes online community: the importance of forum use in parents of children with type 1 diabetes

Online forums for chronic health conditions emerged as early as 30 yr ago and interest in their study has blossomed. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) forums have grown exponentially since 2005. Therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of these forums is needed. This study assesses the demographics and motivations of parents who use type 1 diabetes forums and the potential impact that forum membership (FM) has on parenting stress and hypoglycemic fear. One hundred and two parents were recruited through online T1D forums and asked to complete qualitative and quantitative measures of their experience with the T1D forums. Results of this study suggest that parents who use T1D forums mirror those who participate in clinic‐based research protocols and are primarily motivated to participate in forums to increase their diabetes knowledge and gain social support. Indeed, parents who use T1D forums report high levels of trust, social support, and perceived knowledge gained. However, FM was positively related to increased self‐reported parenting stress frequency and hypoglycemic fear behaviors. Taken together, the relationships formed within these communities may have a significant impact on the experience of these caregivers. The need for future research and potential implications for physicians, including parent debriefing, are discussed.
Inhibitory Effects of C2 to C10 1-Alkynes on Ammonia Oxidation in Two Nitrososphaera Species

ABSTRACT A previous study showed that ammonia oxidation by the Thaumarchaeota Nitrosopumilus maritimus (group 1.1a) was resistant to concentrations of the C8 1-alkyne, octyne, which completely inhibits activity by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. In this study, the inhibitory effects of octyne and other C2 to C10 1-alkynes were evaluated on the nitrite production activity of two pure culture isolates from Thaumarchaeota group 1.1b, Nitrososphaera viennensis strain EN76 and Nitrososphaera gargensis. Both N. viennensis and N. gargensis were insensitive to concentrations of octyne that cause complete and irreversible inactivation of nitrite production by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. However, octyne concentrations (≥20 μM) that did not inhibit N. maritimus partially inhibited nitrite production in N. viennensis and N. gargensis in a manner that did not show the characteristics of irreversible inactivation. In contrast to previous studies with an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, Nitrosomonas europaea, octyne inhibition of N. viennensis was: (i) fully and immediately reversible, (ii) not competitive with NH4 +, and (iii) without effect on the competitive interaction between NH4 + and acetylene. Both N. viennensis and N. gargensis demonstrated the same overall trend in regard to 1-alkyne inhibition as previously observed for N. maritimus, being highly sensitive to ≤C5 alkynes and more resistant to longer-chain length alkynes. Reproducible differences were observed among N. maritimus, N. viennensis, and N. gargensis in regard to the extent of their resistance/sensitivity to C6 and C7 1-alkynes, which may indicate differences in the ammonia monooxygenase binding and catalytic site(s) among the Thaumarchaeota.
Health and Digital Gaming

Psychologists have a tendency to focus on the negative side of life. Our discipline has become preoccupied with illness rather than health. Where the media are concerned we explore the consequences of unhealthy messages for the population in general or young people in particular. This commentary breaks with tradition by outlining ways in which digital games can enhance health. Positive health consequences of gaming are explored in relation to surgical training and therapeutic interventions, physical exercise, health education and community participation.
Use of the surface EMG signal for performance evaluation of back muscles

For well over a decade my associates and I have been developing an objective, noninvasive technique to evaluate the performance of low‐back muscles, with emphasis on being able to distinguish between healthy and dysfunctioned backs. Our approach is based on the well‐known fact that the EMG signal undergoes a compression in the frequency domain during a sustained muscle contraction. In particular we track the median frequency of EMG signals detected from six muscles in the lower back during an isometric extension of the trunk. The measurements are taken with the Back Analysis System which consists of a postural restraining device, special electrodes for detecting the EMG signals, a muscle fatigue monitor which calculates the median frequencies, and the appropriate software. We have found that the pattern of fatigue exhibited by the six median frequency curves can be used to distinguish individuals who have low‐back pain from those who do not with an accuracy of at least 84%. An even more relevant and timely application of our technique is for quantifying the progression of the performance of low‐back muscles during a rehabilitation program. Although more work is required to explore the intricacies of the technique, present results provide a convincing indication that it is reliable and that it is ready to be placed into practice. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Decline in diagnoses of schizophrenia in Tasmania during the period 1965–1990

Changes in the rates of diagnosis of schizophrenia in Tasmania, Australia during the period 1965–1990 were examined using records from the State mental health case register. Analyses were restricted to subjects with diagnoses recorded between the ages of 20 and 29 years in order to reduce possible errors caused by age‐standardized methods. There was a significant decrease in the rate of non‐paranoid subtypes of schizophrenia in female subjects, accompanied by a, commensurate rise in the rate of bipolar diagnoses in that group. Differential changes in male and female subjects support explanations of phenotypic shifts in presentation of psychosis as well as changes in diagnostic practice.
Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir fixed‐dose combination tablet in Taiwanese patients with chronic genotype 1 hepatitis C virus

Pegylated‐interferon‐alpha plus ribavirin is the current standard‐of‐care regimen for treating chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan; however, interferon‐based regimens can be poorly tolerated. The interferon‐free, two‐drug, fixed‐dose combination tablet ledipasvir/sofosbuvir is approved in Europe, the USA, and Japan for treating chronic genotype 1 HCV infection. Little is known about its efficacy/safety in Taiwanese patients.
KRAS alleles: The LCS6 3′UTR variant and KRAS coding sequence mutations in the NCI-60 panel

The KRAS-variant is a germline single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) within the 3′ UTR of the KRAS gene predicted to disrupt a complementary binding site (LCS6) for the let-7 microRNA (miRNA). The KRAS-variant is associated with increased risk of various cancers, including lung cancer, ovarian cancer and triple-negative breast cancer, and is associated with altered tumor biology in head and neck cancer, colon cancer and melanoma. To better understand the molecular pathways that may be regulated or affected by the presence of the KRAS-variant allele in cancer cells, we examined its prevalence in the NCI-60 panel of cell lines and sought to identify common features of the cell lines that carry the variant allele. This study provides a step forward towards understanding the molecular and pathological significance of the KRAS-variant.
Do Anatomic Variations of the Middle Turbinate Have an Effect on Nasal Septal Deviation or Paranasal Sinusitis?

Objectives: We evaluated the relationship between 1) anatomic variations of the middle turbinate and bony septal deviations and 2) chronic sinusitis. Methods: We compared 73 computed tomographic scans of healthy control patients with 461 scans performed for evaluation of nasal symptoms. Paranasal sinusitis was identified. We recorded the incidences of anatomic variation of the middle turbinate and of bony septal deviation. Results: The incidences of anatomic variation of the middle turbinate and of bony septal deviation were not significantly different between the control group and the symptomatic group. Anatomic variation of the middle turbinate was related to contralateral septal deviation. There was no statistical relationship between bony septal deviation or middle turbinate variation and sinusitis. Conclusions: Anatomic variations of the middle turbinate have an effect on bony septal deviations to the contralateral side. However, middle turbinate variations and bony septal deviation are not associated with chronic sinusitis.
Real-time PCR assay for improved detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in paraffin-embedded tissues.

OBJECTIVE To test the usefulness of a commercially available real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. RESULTS The examination of 24 specimens of patients with a final diagnosis of TB shows that the real-time PCR assay exhibits a higher sensitivity (66.7%) for the detection of MTBC DNA than an alternative in-house IS6110 PCR (33.3%), whereas staining detected acid-fast bacilli in only two cases (8.3%). CONCLUSION The real-time PCR assay provides a highly sensitive and specific means for the detection of MTBC DNA in histopathological specimens.
Microscale Vicariance and Diversification of Western Balkan Caddisflies Linked to Karstification

Abstract: The karst areas in the Dinaric region of the Western Balkan Peninsula are a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity. Many investigators have examined diversification of the subterranean freshwater fauna in these karst systems. However, diversification of surface-water fauna remains largely unexplored. We assessed local and regional diversification of surface-water species in karst systems and asked whether patterns of population differentiation could be explained by dispersal—diversification processes or allopatric diversification following karstrelated microscale vicariance. We analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) sequence data of 4 caddisfly species (genus Drusus) in a phylogeographic framework to assess local and regional population genetic structure and Pliocene/Pleistocene history. We used BEAST software to assess the timing of intraspecific diversification of the target species. We compared climate envelopes of the study species and projected climatically suitable areas during the last glacial maximum (LGM) to assess differences in the species climatic niches and infer potential LGM refugia. The haplotype distribution of the 4 species (324 individuals from 32 populations) was characterized by strong genetic differentiation with few haplotypes shared among populations (16%) and deep divergence among populations of the 3 endemic species, even at local scales. Divergence among local populations of endemics often exceeded divergence among regional and continental clades of the widespread D. discolor. Major divergences among regional populations dated to 2.0 to 0.5 Mya. Species distribution model projections and genetic structure suggest that the endemic species persisted in situ and diversified locally throughout multiple Pleistocene climate cycles. The pattern for D. discolor was different and consistent with multiple invasions into the region. Patterns of population genetic structure and diversification were similar for the 3 regional endemic Drusus species and consistent with microscale vicariance after the onset of intensified karstification in the Dinaric region. Karstification may induce microscale vicariance of running surface-water habitats and probably promotes allopatric fragmentation of stream insects at small spatial scales.
Explaining the unexpected and continued use of an information system with the help of evolved evolutionary mechanisms

Explaining how, why, and to what extent humans use information systems has been at the heart of the information systems (IS) discipline, and although successful models have emerged, mostly relying on social and cognitive psychology in their theoretical underpinnings, there are still cases that remain unexplainable. In this article, we scrutinize one of these cases where the continued use of technology cannot be explained by one of the most prominent traditional IS models to date. We analyze our qualitative case study by juxtaposing two theoretical lenses: a traditional IS perspective (i.e., the “unified theory of acceptance and use” model) versus an evolutionary psychology perspective (i.e., the four‐drive model). We find that a more comprehensive understanding of continued IS usage is possible when including an evolutionary psychology perspective to the existing models. Specifically, we propose three new concepts, including evolved performance expectancy, evolved effort expectancy, and evolved social influence. We also demonstrate that, in some situations, cognitive and social constructs dominate, whereas in other situations, the evolutionary dependent constructs associated with human nature take over.
Treatment options for lipodystrophy in HIV-positive patients

The HIV-associated lipodystrophy syndrome is one of the major side effects of HIV-therapy. Its metabolic abnormalities may harbor a significant risk for cardiovascular disease with as yet unknown consequences. Present data indicate a rather multifactorial pathogenesis where HIV infection, its therapy and patient-related factors are major contributors. Therapeutic interventions in patients with lipodystrophy have so far been of only limited success in many cases. General recommendations include dietary changes and lifestyle modifications, altering antiretroviral drug therapy (substitution of stavudine and zidovdine with e.g., abacavir or tenofovir or replacement of protease inhibitors with non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors), and finally, the use of metabolically active drugs. Here, the treatment options of the HIV-lipodystrophy syndrome are summarized based on the present literature.
Reliability and concurrent criterion validity of a novel technique for analyzing hip kinematics during running

Abstract Excessive frontal plane hip kinematics during running has been associated with numerous running pathologies. Traditionally, assessment of hip kinematics during running required expensive and complex equipment and procedures making objective running assessment difficult for practicing clinicians. The aim of this study was to establish the reliability and validity of a novel technique designed for clinicians that allows for objective assessment of frontal plane hip kinematics during running. Hip angles and excursions were measured using videos and jpeg images of 10 subjects (five males and five females) running. A 2-D motion analysis system and computer algorithm served as reference measures. Six raters (three licensed physical therapists and three student physical therapists) took measures on two instances. Reliability was examined using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Validity was investigated with ICCs, 95% limits of agreement (LA), and mean absolute differences (MAD) by comparing each rater's 2-trial average to the criterion reference values. The ICCs for interrater and intrarater reliability for angle and excursion measures ranged from 0.82 to 0.99. The validity ICCs of all measures ranged from 0.89 to 0.99 with acceptable LA. The MAD ranged from 0.5°–1.5°. These results indicate that this novel technique is reliable and valid for measuring hip kinematics compared to the reference measures making it suitable for broad-based clinical use.
Permanent densification of compressed silica glass: a Raman-density calibration curve

Raman scattering experiments have been carried out to study persistent densification in SiO2 glass following hydrostatic compression at room temperature. A new relationship linking selective Raman parameters to the degree of densification in the glass has been developed here. This approach will allow quantification of the residual densification in silica following microindentation experiments, with the goal being the development of a constitutive law for amorphous silica.
Levels of arousal in the premenstrual phase.

The inconsistent findings of studies of physical and psychological changes throughout the menstrual cycle are reviewed in terms of three different forms of arousal-behavioural , autonomic, cortical. The review indicates that the premenstrual phase is characterized by increased levels of behavioural and of autonomic arousal. The nature of premenstrual changes in cortical arousal is unclear. It is suggested that differentiation and measurement of the various aspects of arousal throughout the cycle may lead to better understanding of the processes underlying the reported changes and of the practical implications of such information.