Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Parthenogenesis” in Schistosoma mattheei

Experimental studies in mice have shown that with single sex female infections of S. mattheei there is a slow maturation of the worms with evidence of incomplete parthenogenesis; at 9 weeks no eggs were produced but at 17 weeks there was an average of 500 eggs per mouse. These were all non viable. Under similar conditions S. mansoni females failed to produce eggs. When the females of S. mattheei were paired with males of S. mansoni, the females reached full maturity and produced large numbers of eggs typical of their own species-many of the eggs were non viable but some contained active miracidia.It is considered that this is an example of parthenogenesis and not hybridisation. Cross specific pairings of schistosomes must occur frequently in man particularly with S. haematobium, S. mansoni and S. mattheei and this phenomenon could be of considerable clinical, epidemiological and biological significance. Parthenogenesis in mixed infections probably accounts for the large number of non-viable S. haematobium eggs seen in rectal biopsies, and it may also be important in reducing the transmission potential of schistosomes to man since cross pairing must result in the “sterilisation” of a considerable proportion of the female worms in mixed infections. This phenomenon may also explain the observed reproductive isolation of schistosome species which simultaneously infect the same host.
Statistical error analysis of time and polarization resolved ultrasonic measurements

The time and polarization resolved ultrasonic technique which we previously developed has been demonstrated to simultaneously provide measurements of the wave velocity in the coupling liquid, and the leaky surface wave and leaky longitudinal wave velocities in solid samples. To document the measurement precision associated with this technique, a statistical method is employed for the data fit and error analysis. With the help of statistical analysis, the simple ray model used to determine wave velocities in this technique is first confirmed by theoretical data which are predicted by the Green's function. Error analysis is then applied to the experimental data. The results show that this technique has a relative expanded uncertainty (equal to twice the standard deviation) of 0.03% for the wave velocity in water, and an uncertainty less than 0.2% and 2%, respectively, for the leaky surface and leaky longitudinal wave velocities in a crown glass sample. The uncertainty in the repeatability for leaky surface wave measurements is observed to be much less than the expanded uncertainty of a single measurement set. This methodology also has been applied to a set of steel samples. The results allow that the expanded uncertainty for leaky surface wave velocities is less than 0.07%, enabling a correlation of the measured velocities with specific sample heat treatments.
[Effect of intermittent fasting on physiology and gut microbiota in presenium rats].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of intermittent fasting on metabolize and gut microbiota in obese presenium rats fed with high-fat-sugar-diet. METHODS We fed the Wistar rats with high-fat and high-sugar diet to induce adiposity, and the rats for intermittent fasting were selected base on their body weight. The rats were subjected to fasting for 72 h every 2 weeks for 18 weeks. OGTT test was performed and fasting blood samples and fecal samples were collected for measurement of TC, TG, HDL-C and LDL-C and sequence analysis of fecal 16S rRNA V4 tags using Illumina. Gut microbial community structure was analyzed with QIIME and LEfSe. RESULTS After the intervention, the body weight of the fasting rats was significantly lower than that in high-fat diet group (P<0.01). OGTT results suggested impairment of sugar tolerance in the fasting group, which showed a significantly larger AUC than compared with the high-fat diet group (P<0.05). Intermittent fasting significantly reduced blood HDL-C and LDL-C levels (P<0.05) and partially restored liver steatosis, and improved the gut microbiota by increasing the abundance of YS2, RF32 and Helicobacteraceae and reducing Lactobacillus, Roseburia, Erysipelotrichaceae and Ralstonia. Bradyrhizobiaceae was found to be positively correlated with CHOL and HDL-C, and RF39 was inversely correlated with the weight of the rats. CONCLUSION Intermittent fasting can decrease the body weight and blood lipid levels and restore normal gut microbiota but can cause impairment of glucose metabolism in obese presenium rats.
Role for Gamma Interferon in Control of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Reactivation

ABSTRACT Observation of chronic inflammatory cells and associated high-level gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production in ganglia during herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) latent infection in mice (E. M. Cantin, D. R. Hinton, J. Chen, and H. Openshaw, J. Virol. 69:4898–4905, 1995) prompted studies to determine a role of IFN-γ in maintaining latency. Mice lacking IFN-γ (GKO mice) or the IFN-γ receptor (RGKO mice) were inoculated with HSV-1, and the course of the infection was compared with that in IFN-γ-competent mice with the same genetic background (129/Sv//Ev mice). A time course study showed no significant difference in trigeminal ganglionic viral titers or the timing of establishment of latency. Spontaneous reactivation resulting in infectious virus in the ganglion did not occur during latency in any of the mice. However, 24 h after the application of hyperthermic stress to mice, HSV-1 antigens were detected in multiple neurons in the null mutant mice but in only a single neuron in the 129/Sv//Ev control mice. Mononuclear inflammatory cells clustered tightly around these reactivating neurons, and by 48 h, immunostaining was present in satellite cells as well. The incidence of hyperthermia-induced reactivation as determined by recovery of infectious virus from ganglia was significantly higher in the null mutant than in control mice: 11% in 129/Sv//Ev controls, 50% in GKO mice (P = 0.0002), and 33% in RGKO mice (P = 0.03). We concluded that IFN-γ is not involved in the induction of reactivation but rather contributes to rapid suppression of HSV once it is reactivated.
Performance of vehicle wheel slip controller combined with passive suspension

A PID wheel slip controller for Antilock Brake System (ABS) is developed. The slip controller is integrated with a passive suspension system with the goal of reducing the braking distance over using just ABS. A quarter car model is used with hydraulic braking system. The performance of the integrated system is evaluated using a sinusoidal road disturbance condition. The ride comfort of the vehicle is found to be within set limits as required by standards as well as achieving shorter stopping distance. The simulation results presented demonstrates the importance of integrating auto-subsystems in optimising performance in a cost effective manner.
A Systematic Review of Parent-Oriented Programs to Prevent Children's Use of Alcohol and other Drugs

The purpose of this review was to analyze systematically the characteristics of twenty-two instructor-led parent-oriented programs. An objective of each of these programs was to prepare parents to prevent their children's alcohol and other drug use. To conduct this program review, the author developed 120 criteria for analyzing and reviewing the characteristics of the programs. The criteria were grouped under five main topics or components: 1) general characteristics, 2) instructional characteristics, 3) skills addressed, 4) generalization methods, and 5) evaluation. The author then trained two uninformed reviewers to review with reliability each program. The results of the reviews are summarized according to program characteristics. Recommendations are based upon the review results. These results and recommendations can help prospective users make an informed decision before they adopt or invest in a program.
The virulence factor AvrXa 7 of Xanthomonas oryzae pv . oryzae is a type III secretion pathway-dependent nuclear-localized double-stranded DNA-binding protein

AvrXa7 is a member of the avrBs3 avirulence gene family, which encodes proteins targeted to plant cells by a type III secretion apparatus. AvrXa7, the product of avrXa7, is also a virulence factor in strain PXO86 of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Avirulence and virulence specificities are associated with the central repeat domain, which, in avrXa7, consists of 25.5 direct repeat units. Mutations in three C-terminal nuclear localization signal motifs eliminated avirulence and virulence activities in rice and severely reduced nuclear localization in a yeast assay system. Both pathogenicity functions and nuclear localization were restored on the addition of the sequence for the nuclear localization signal motif from SV40 T-antigen. The loss of avirulence activity because of mutations in the acidic transcriptional activation domain was restored by addition of the activation domain from the herpes simplex viral protein VP16. The activation domain was also required for virulence activity. However, the VP16 domain could not substitute for the endogenous domain in virulence assays. In gel shift assays, AvrXa7 bound double-stranded DNA with a preference for dAydT rich sequences. The results indicate that products of the avrBs3-related genes are virulence factors targeted to host cell nuclei and have the potential to interact with the host DNA and transcriptional machinery as part of their mode of action. The results also suggest that the host defensive recognition mechanisms are targeted to the virulence factor site of action.
Using Metrics to Track Code Review Performance

During 2015, some members of the Xen Project Advisory Board became worried about the performance of their code review process. The Xen Project is a free, open source software project developing one of the most popular virtualization platforms in the industry. They use a pre-commit peer review process similar to that in the Linux kernel, based on email messages. They had observed a large increase over time in the number of messages related to code review, and were worried about how this could be a signal of problems with their code review process. To address these concerns, we designed and conducted, with their continuous feedback, a detailed analysis focused on finding these problems, if any. During the study, we dealt with the methodological problems of Linux-like code review, and with the deeper issue of finding metrics that could uncover the problems they were worried about. For having a benchmark, we run the same analysis on a similar project, which uses very similar code review practices: the Linux Netdev (Netdev) project. As a result, we learned how in fact the Xen Project had some problems, but at the moment of the analysis those were already under control. We found as well how different the Xen and Netdev projects were behaving with respect to code review performance, despite being so similar from many points of view. In this paper we show the results of both analyses, and propose a comprehensive methodology, fully automated, to study Linux-style code review. We discuss also the problems of getting significant metrics to track improvements or detect problems in this kind of code review.
A Numerical Simulation of a Tidal Bore Flow

A numerical model was developed based on the Cubic-Interpolated Pseudo-particle (CIP) Combined Unified Procedure (CIP-CUP or C-CUP) method equipped with a Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model and a re-initialization method. The model was validated and applied to the tidal bore flow with a weak breaking front. In the tidal bore flow, the model equipped with a LES turbulence model reproduced accurately the large deformation of the free surface during the bore formation by rapid closure of a downstream gate. The free- surface profile and surge front celerity data were in good agreement with the experimental data of [Koch and Chanson 2009, J. Hyd. Res. IAHR]. At a fixed sampling location, the numerical results showed the existence of some short-lived flow reversal next to the bed immediately after the bore front passage. This flow feature was documented by [Koch and Chanson 2009] and [Chanson 2009, Eur. J. Mech. B. Fluids].
Susceptibility of Nocardia asteroides to 46 antibiotics, including 22 beta-lactams

Twelve Nocardia asteroides isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 46 antibiotics by the agar dilution method. N-Formimidoyl thienamycin was the most active of 22 beta-lactam antibiotics, inhibiting 11 of the 12 strains at 1 microgram/ml. Penicillins, including ureidopenicillins, showed poor activity. Cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and especially cefuroxime had the best activities of the cephalosporins tested. Among the other antibiotics, amikacin and minocycline, respectively, inhibited all of the strains tested at 0.5 and 4 micrograms/ml.
Relationship between induced phytoplankton blooms and the structure and dynamics of the free-living heterotrophic bacterial community

Bacterial community activity and structure are thought to be directly or indirectly related to phytoplankton development and, in particular, to the phytoplankton species dominating specific algal blooms. To test this hypothesis, we performed a mesocosm experiment designed to generate blooms of different types of phytoplankton through the additions of silicate, urea and phosphorus to oligotrophic water from the Blanes Bay Microbial Observatory (NW Mediter- ranean). Over 10 d of incubation bacterial activity, bacterial abundance, nutrient composition and free-living bacterial community structure were monitored, as well as phytoplankton composition and the fluorescence characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM). While we found clear effects of the different nutrient additions on chlorophyll levels, bacterial production and the type of dominant DOM, bacterial abundance followed a similar pattern across different nutrient treat- ments, which deviated from that observed in the control. While phytoplankton composition in the treatment with added silicate evolved differently with respect to the other treatments, free-living bacterial community structure (as determined with DGGE) did not show conspicuous differences between treatments. Our results reveal that the changes in bacterial community composition were mostly due to the variation in grazing pressure with time, with a small contribution from changes in bottom-up nutrient supply mediated by the shifts in phytoplankton composition.
Differential Effects of Emotional Content on Event-Related Potentials in Word Recognition Memory

The aim of this study was to delineate the influence of the emotional content of stimuli to be remembered on the recognition performance of normal subjects by means of the event-related potential (ERP) technique. When words are presented repeatedly, brain responses to repeated and recognized items are characterized by a more positive waveform, referred to as ‘old/new effect’. Words judged for their emotional connotation (‘negative’, ‘positive’ and ‘neutral’) were presented successively on a video monitor to subjects, who had the task to indicate whether a given word occurred for the first (‘new’) or second (‘old’) time within the list by pressing one of two buttons. For each word category, the ERPs of the old words were more positive compared to those of the new items from about 250 ms after stimulus. The old/new effect was significantly enhanced for the negative and positive items compared to the neutral stimuli between 450 and 650 ms after stimulus pointing to a significant influence of the emotional content of words on verbal memory processes. This paradigm appears to be feasible to investigate interactions of emotion and cognition in psychiatric patients.
Health Promotion in Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients through the Use of a High-Intensity Interval Training Protocol

According to the American Heart Association’s (AHA) recent statistical update, over 2150 Americans die each day from cardiovascular disease (CVD), which equals approximately 1 death every 40 seconds; many of which were under the age of 65 years old [1]. In 2009, 386,324 people, 1 in 6 Americans, died as a result of coronary artery disease (CAD) alone [1]. They also estimate 150,000 people have “silent” heart attacks each year [1]. Even though the number of cardiovascular disease deaths has declined in the last 10 years, they still accounted for 32.3% of American deaths [1]. As a result, the AHA updated their 2020 goals to improve the nation’s cardiovascular health by 20% [1]. One of these methods is through the use of cardiac rehabilitation. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a health promotion strategy to help return cardiac patients to their previous level of functioning, increase health, decrease comorbidities and promote education and lifestyle change. For select patients, another alternative exercise plan may exist to gain even better results. High intensity interval training (HIIT) has shown positive training results for athletes and many studies show that it may also be an effective exercise modality for many cardiac patients instead of the traditional circuit training method. This article will review current literature on the effects of HIIT on CR patients as well as a sample HIIT protocol for instituting this treatment with appropriate patients.
Different roles of pummelo furanocoumarin and cytochrome P450 3A5*3 polymorphism in the fate and action of felodipine.

OBJECTIVE Herein we aim to test if pummelo furanocoumarins can inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A both in vitro and in vivo, and to explore the influence of CYP3A5*3 (GenBank AC005020: A22893-->G) polymorphism in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacological response to felodipine. METHOD Fruit juices of pummelo grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf., G), 'Guanximiyou' (C. grandis Osbeck vs. Guanxi, P) and 'Changshanhuyou' (C. changshanhuyou Y.B. Chang, H) were selected by screening Citrus fruit juices for their furanocoumarin contents and their inhibition of testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation in human liver microsomes. Twelve healthy male Chinese were administered 250 mL G, P, H or water (W) alternatively with 26-mumol (10-mg) plain tablet felodipine, and were observed for 12 h. RESULTS G had more furanocoumarins and at higher levels than P while H had none, and their potencies for in vitro CYP3A inhibition were in the order as G > P > H. The geometric mean and 90% confidence intervals of pharmacokinetic parameters for human oral felodipine with G, P, H and W were respectively as follows: peak plasma concentration (nmol.L(-1)), 37 (32-44), 25 (21-29), 19 (16-22) and 18 (15-21); area under the plasma concentration-time curve (nmol.h.L(-1)), 118 (103-136), 84 (73-97), 64 (56-74) and 59 (51-68). Subjects showed higher heart rates with G than with H or W. CYP3A5*3 polymorphism showed no significant effect on felodipine pharmacokinetics and related hemodynamic changes. CONCLUSIONS This work supports the hypothesis that CYP3A inhibition by furanocoumarins caused pummelo fruit juice-drug interaction; while the role of CYP3A5 in the population pharmacokinetics of felodipine and blood pressure response appear to be limited.
Determining Pathways to Improvements in Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register for Rheumatoid Arthritis

There is debate as to the role of inflammatory disease activity in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)–related fatigue. We undertook this study to determine the relationship of fatigue to disease activity by examining pathways associated with change in fatigue in subjects starting anti–tumor necrosis factor (anti‐TNF) therapy for the first time.
Is Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Effective in Preventing Secondary Meniscal Tears and Osteoarthritis?

Background: Reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears may potentially prevent the development of secondary meniscal injuries and arthritis. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the protective benefit of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) in preventing subsequent meniscal tears or arthritis, (2) determine if earlier ACLR (<1 year after injury) offers greater protective benefits than delayed reconstruction (≥1 year after injury), and (3) evaluate factors predictive of long-term sequelae after ACLR. The hypothesis was that the incidence of secondary meniscal tears, arthritis, and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) would be higher in patients treated nonoperatively after ACL tears than patients treated with surgical reconstruction. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This retrospective study included a population-based incidence cohort of 964 patients with new-onset, isolated ACL tears between 1990 and 2000 as well as an age- and sex-matched cohort of 964 patients without ACL tears. A chart review was performed to collect information related to the initial injury, treatment, and outcomes. A total of 509 patients were treated with early ACLR, 91 with delayed ACLR, and 364 nonoperatively. All patients were retrospectively followed (range, 2 months to 25 years) to determine the development of subsequent meniscal tears, arthritis, or TKA. Results: At a mean follow-up of 13.7 years, patients treated nonoperatively after ACL tears had a significantly higher likelihood of developing a secondary meniscal tear (hazard ratio [HR], 5.4; 95% CI, 3.8-7.6), being diagnosed with arthritis (HR, 6.0; 95% CI, 4.3-8.4), and undergoing TKA (HR, 16.7; 95% CI, 5.0-55.2) compared with patients treated with ACLR. Similarly, patients treated with delayed ACLR had a higher likelihood of developing a secondary meniscal tear (HR, 3.9; 95% CI, 2.2-6.9) and being diagnosed with arthritis (HR, 6.2; 95% CI, 3.4-11.4) compared with patients treated with early ACLR. Age >21 years at the time of injury, articular cartilage damage, and medial/lateral meniscal tears were predictive of arthritis after ACLR. Conclusion: Patients treated with ACLR have a significantly lower risk of secondary meniscal tears, symptomatic arthritis, and TKA when compared with patients treated nonoperatively after ACL tears. Similarly, early ACLR significantly reduces the risk of subsequent meniscal tears and arthritis compared with delayed ACLR.
Author ' s personal copy 52 Landscape Legacies

Glossary Carbon (or nutrient)-accumulation rate The rate at which carbon or nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, accrue in biomass and soils. Deforestation The most intense form of timber extraction, wherein forests are converted for another land use either permanently or for a long term. Landscape legacy The long-term impact of historical events on ecosystem structure, composition, or function. Natural disturbances Any relatively discrete event in time that is not directly caused by humans; disrupts ecosystem, community, or population structure; and changes resources, substrate availability, or the physical environment (White and Pickett, 1985).
Implementing Joined-up Government: Lessons from the Australian Social Inclusion Agenda

Joined-up government' (JUG) approaches have emerged in many industrialized countries as a means to tackle persistent wicked' public and social policy problems (Pollit ). Despite this, limited evidence exists concerning their implementation or effectiveness. JUG' was popularized by the Blair Government (UK) with its focus on addressing social exclusion. Following in these footsteps, in 2007 the Australian Government launched the Social Inclusion Agenda: a joined-up approach to improving the wellbeing of all Australians and addressing disadvantage. This paper focuses on findings from a study that examined the SIA as a natural experiment in JUG. Drawing on the implementation experiences of federal policy makers, our findings lend weight to emerging research into JUG that suggests that compatibility and consistency between goals, instruments, and processes is critical to success. We argue that closer attention needs to be given to developing supportive architecture' around joined-up initiatives to facilitate implementation.