Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Like Will to Like: Abundances of Closely Related Species Can Predict Susceptibility to Intestinal Colonization by Pathogenic and Commensal Bacteria

The intestinal ecosystem is formed by a complex, yet highly characteristic microbial community. The parameters defining whether this community permits invasion of a new bacterial species are unclear. In particular, inhibition of enteropathogen infection by the gut microbiota ( = colonization resistance) is poorly understood. To analyze the mechanisms of microbiota-mediated protection from Salmonella enterica induced enterocolitis, we used a mouse infection model and large scale high-throughput pyrosequencing. In contrast to conventional mice (CON), mice with a gut microbiota of low complexity (LCM) were highly susceptible to S. enterica induced colonization and enterocolitis. Colonization resistance was partially restored in LCM-animals by co-housing with conventional mice for 21 days (LCMcon21). 16S rRNA sequence analysis comparing LCM, LCMcon21 and CON gut microbiota revealed that gut microbiota complexity increased upon conventionalization and correlated with increased resistance to S. enterica infection. Comparative microbiota analysis of mice with varying degrees of colonization resistance allowed us to identify intestinal ecosystem characteristics associated with susceptibility to S. enterica infection. Moreover, this system enabled us to gain further insights into the general principles of gut ecosystem invasion by non-pathogenic, commensal bacteria. Mice harboring high commensal E. coli densities were more susceptible to S. enterica induced gut inflammation. Similarly, mice with high titers of Lactobacilli were more efficiently colonized by a commensal Lactobacillus reuteri RR strain after oral inoculation. Upon examination of 16S rRNA sequence data from 9 CON mice we found that closely related phylotypes generally display significantly correlated abundances (co-occurrence), more so than distantly related phylotypes. Thus, in essence, the presence of closely related species can increase the chance of invasion of newly incoming species into the gut ecosystem. We provide evidence that this principle might be of general validity for invasion of bacteria in preformed gut ecosystems. This might be of relevance for human enteropathogen infections as well as therapeutic use of probiotic commensal bacteria.
Cross-Lingual Classification of Topics in Political Texts

In this paper, we propose an approach for cross-lingual topical coding of sentences from electoral manifestos of political parties in different languages. To this end, we exploit continuous semantic text representations and induce a joint multilingual semantic vector spaces to enable supervised learning using manually-coded sentences across different languages. Our experimental results show that classifiers trained on multilingual data yield performance boosts over monolingual topic classification.
Repeated exposure to aerosolized brevetoxin-3 induces prolonged airway hyperresponsiveness and lung inflammation in sheep

Context: During a Florida red tide, brevetoxins (PbTxs) produced by Karenia brevis become aerosolized and can cause both immediate and prolonged airway symptoms in humans, especially in those with preexisting airway disease (e.g., asthma). Although environmental monitoring indicates that toxins remain airborne for up to 4 consecutive days, there is little information on airway responses after multiple-day exposures. Objectives: To delineate putative mechanisms leading to pulmonary dysfunction after PbTx exposure, we studied airway responses before and after multiple exposures to aerosol PbTx-3, the most potent PbTx produced, in nonallergic (healthy) and in allergic sheep, which serve as a surrogate for patients with compromised airways. Methods: Both groups were exposed to 20 breaths of increasing concentrations of PbTx-3 (30–300 pg/mL) for 4 consecutive days. Airway responsiveness to carbachol (1 and 8 days after) and airway inflammation as assessed by bronchoalveolar lavage (0 and 7 days after) were measured. Results: Both groups developed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) 1 day after challenge; the severity was concentration dependent and more severe in the allergic group. AHR remained after 8 days, but the difference in the severity between the groups was lost. Both groups developed an inflammatory response after exposure to 300 pg/mL PbTx-3. Immediately after exposure, lung neutrophilia was prominent. This neutrophilia persisted for 7 days in addition to increases in total cells and macrophages. Conclusion: Repeated exposures to PbTx-3 result in prolonged AHR and lung inflammation. These pathophysiologic responses could be underlying contributors to the prolonged respiratory symptoms in humans after red tides.
Group work at university: significance of personal goals in the regulation strategies of students with positive and negative appraisals

This paper examines the mediating role of students’ goals in group work at university. Research on cooperative and collaborative learning has provided empirical support for the cognitive, motivational and social benefits of group work but the antecedents of motivation and ongoing management of emerging motivational and socio‐emotional issues have received less attention. A theory of self‐regulation that incorporates students’ personal goals and perceptions of context, combined with a sociocultural perspective on co‐regulation of individuals and contexts, can help understand why and how some groups resolve their social challenges while others are less successful. An empirical study highlighted the mediating role of students’ goals in their appraisals of group assignments, perceptions of various aspects of the contexts, and in turn regulation strategies to achieve their goals. Qualitative differences were found in the regulation strategies of students with positive and negative appraisals.
Experience with the management of technological innovations within the australian construction industry

The BRITE Project (Building Research Innovation Technology and Environment) was established by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Construction Innovation to encourage and report on innovative developments in the construction industry. Using both case studies and extensive industry surveys the BRITE Project has examined the creation, adoption and diffusion of innovations. A nexus is reported between technological innovations and the adoption of advanced management practices. Indeed the management of the innovation process is found to be critical to the successful implementation of technological innovations. The BRITE Project’s combination of specific detailed case studies with a broad industry-wide survey allows the testing of the hypothesis that organizational and technological innovations are linked from two different perspectives. In both instances, a strong correlation is observed between high technological innovators and the proactive management of organizational knowledge with emphasis on continuing education and training. In contrast, the low innovators surveyed were characterized by a lack of business strategies to improve and monitor performance and by minimal investment in research and development. Technological innovations were found to be significantly more likely to occur in those firms with good profitability and with managers who seek out a broad range of sources for new ideas as well as actively working to capture project learning for ongoing reference. Such ongoing active management involvement fosters the appropriate atmosphere for new technological innovations to occur. The BRITE Project experience highlights the primacy of management skills for the encouragement of ongoing technological advancement within the often conservative construction and engineering sector.
Global and segmental kinematic changes following sequential resection of posterior osteoligamentous structures in the lumbar spine: An in vitro biomechanical investigation using pure moment testing protocols

Lumbar spinal surgeries may compromise the integrity of posterior osteoligamentous structures implicating mechanical stability. Circumstances necessitating a concomitant surgery to achieve restabilisation are not well understood. The main objective of this in vitro study was to quantify global and segmental (index and adjacent levels) kinematic changes in the lumbar spine following sequential resection of the posterior osteoligamentous structures using pure moment testing protocols. Six fresh frozen cadaveric kangaroo lumbar spines (T12–S1) were tested under a bending moment in flexion–extension, bilateral bending, and axial torsion in a 6-degree-of-freedom Kinematic Spine Simulator. Specimens were tested in the following order: intact state (D0), after interspinous and supraspinous ligaments transection between L4 and L5 (D1), further after a total bilateral facetectomy between L4 and L5 (D2). Segmental motions at the cephalad, damaged, and caudal levels were recorded using an infrared-based motion tracking device. Following D1, no significant change in the global range of motion was observed in any of the bending planes. Following D2, a significant increase in the global range of motion from the baseline (D0) was observed in axial torsion (median normalised change +20%). At the damaged level, D2 resulted in a significant increase in the segmental range of motion in flexion–extension (+77%) and axial torsion (+492%). Additionally, a significant decrease in the segmental range of motion in axial torsion (−35%) was observed at the caudal level following D2. These results suggest that a multi-segment lumbar spine acts as a mechanism for transmitting motions, and that a compromised joint may significantly alter motion transfer to adjacent segments. We conclude that the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments play a modest role in restricting global spinal motions within physiologic limits. Following interspinous and supraspinous ligaments transection, a total bilateral facetectomy resulted in a significant increase in axial torsion motion, both at global and damaged levels, accompanied with a compensatory decrease in motion at the caudal level.
Literacy and Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior About Mammography in Latinas

This cross-sectional study explored the association between functional health literacy and the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior about mammography and self-breast examination in a sample of Latinas attending community health clinics in Philadelphia. The results show that 70% of Latinas had inadequate or marginal functional health literacy. In Latinas, functional health literacy is only weakly associated with knowledge and not associated with beliefs and attitudes about screening mammography, but is significantly associated with having ever had a mammogram. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, functional health literacy was significantly associated with having ever had a mammogram (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.27). These findings suggest that Latinas with poor functional health literacy are less likely to undergo mammography. Future research should target increasing the knowledge about and rates of screening mammography in patients with low functional health literacy.
Midterm Patency After Femoropopliteal Interventions

Purpose: To describe and compare primary patency rates in patients undergoing endovascular femoropopliteal interventions with standard or interwoven nitinol stents or drug-coated balloons. Methods: A cohort of 1292 patients was treated for symptomatic femoropopliteal occlusive disease classified as Rutherford category ≥1 at a large vascular center between June 2006 and August 2013 using either standard nitinol stents (SNS; n=432), interwoven nitinol stents (INS; n=470), or drug-coated balloons (DCB; n=390). Primary patency rates were assessed by ultrasound or angiographic readings for over 3 years of follow-up. Propensity score–matched pairs were formed to compare each treatment with another using survival analysis. Results: Survival curves of primary patency favored INS compared with SNS in 368 propensity score–matched pairs (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 86.6%, 76.4%, and 68.9%, respectively, in the INS group vs 60.5%, 46.1%, and 42.1%, respectively, in the SNS group. No significant difference (p=0.232) was seen for the comparison of SNS vs DCB in 284 matched pairs over long-term follow-up (primary patency estimates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 79.8%, 53.8%, and 32.9%, respectively, in the DCB group vs 60.5%, 44.8%, and 40.3%, respectively, in the SNS group). Survival curves of primary patency favored INS over DCB in 254 matched pairs (p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimates at 1, 2, and 3 years were 79.0%, 51.2%, and 30.1%, respectively, in the DCB group vs 89.0%, 76.9%, and 66.2%, respectively, in the INS group. Conclusion: Propensity score–based analysis of primary patency suggests profound differences in restenosis rates between various treatment modalities for femoropopliteal disease for over 3 years of follow-up.
Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Proteins in a Novel Mechanism of Axon Guidance and Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

The low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptors 1 and 2 (LRP1 and LRP2) are emerging as important cell signaling mediators in modulating neuronal growth and repair. We examined whether LRP1 and LRP2 are able to mediate a specific aspect of neuronal growth: axon guidance. We sought to identify LRP1 and LRP2 ligands that could induce axonal chemoattraction, which might have therapeutic potential. Using embryonic sensory neurons (rat dorsal root ganglia) in a growth cone turning assay, we tested a range of LRP1 and LRP2 ligands for the ability to guide growth cone navigation. Three ligands were chemorepulsive: α-2-macroglobulin, tissue plasminogen activator, and metallothionein III. Conversely, only one LRP ligand, metallothionein II, was found to be chemoattractive. Chemoattraction toward a gradient of metallothionein II was calcium-dependent, required the expression of both LRP1 and LRP2, and likely involves further co-receptors such as the tropomyosin-related kinase A (TrkA) receptor. The potential for LRP-mediated chemoattraction to mediate axonal regeneration was examined in vivo in a model of chemical denervation in adult rats. In these in vivo studies, metallothionein II was shown to enhance epidermal nerve fiber regeneration so that it was complete within 7 days compared with 14 days in saline-treated animals. Our data demonstrate that both LRP1 and LRP2 are necessary for metallothionein II-mediated chemotactic signal transduction and that they may form part of a signaling complex. Furthermore, the data suggest that LRP-mediated chemoattraction represents a novel, non-classical signaling system that has therapeutic potential as a disease-modifying agent for the injured peripheral nervous system.
Flow y rendimiento en corredores de maratón

El flow es un estado subjetivo intensamente positivo y placentero que, por sus dimensiones y caracteristicas (e.g., equilibrio entre las de- mandas percibidas de la tarea y las habilidades personales para la accion requerida, objetivos claros, maxima concentracion, elevado control percibido sobre la ejecucion, etc.), se asocia a un rendimiento superior en comparacion con las actuaciones normales. La literatura senala que se puede experimentar en diferentes contextos y actividades, incluido el deporte. El objetivo de este estudio fue doble: Por un lado, quisimos comprobar si maratonianos de dis- tinto nivel de rendimiento experimentan flow y las caracteristicas de este fenomeno en este colectivo de deportistas, asi como conocer si las experiencias de flow eran diferentes en tres situaciones deportivas: Entrenamientos y carreras en general, la mejor carrera recordada y la ultima carrera; por otro lado, quisimos explorar la posible relacion entre las experiencias de flow y las marcas esperadas y conseguidas por los corredores en las carreras mejor y ultima. Colaboraron voluntariamente en este estudio 170 maratonianos que corrieron el Maraton de Sevilla 2010, los cuales completaron la Escala Breve de Flow (Godoy-Izquierdo, Velez, Rodriguez y Ramirez, 2009) antes y despues de participar en dicha carrera. Los participantes refirieron experimentar estados de flow en las tres situaciones deportivas exploradas, aunque se encontraron diferencias interindividuales respecto a la frecuencia y profundidad de este estado, asi como en la experimentacion de las distintas dimensiones del fenomeno. Los participantes informaron experimentar episodios de flow mas profundos, intensos y frecuentes en la mejor competicion recordada y en el ultimo maraton en comparacion con los entrenamientos y las carreras en general. Ademas, los corredores con mas experiencias de flow esperaron y obtuvieron mejores marcas. Como conclusion, el flow es un estado expe- rimentado con frecuencia, particularmente en las mejores carreras, por atletas de una especialidad tan exigente como el maraton. Saber que condiciones personales y contextuales llevan al flow ayudaria a disenar intervenciones psicologicas destinadas al incremento de las habilidades que permiten a los atletas alcanzar estados intensos de flow, lo que a su vez podria mejorar su ejecucion y resultados.
Proatherogenic flow conditions initiate endothelial apoptosis via thrombospondin-1 and the integrin-associated protein.

Recently it has been shown that vascular endothelial cells (EC) are completely devoid of apoptosis if cultivated under a steady laminar flow and that apoptosis is induced by turning off the flow. An autocrine loop of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and the alpha(v)beta(3) integrin/integrin-associated protein (IAP) complex has been identified as the molecular coupling device between flow and apoptosis. Lack of blood flow is a rare and mostly transient phenomenon whereas irregular flow conditions are permanently present at arterial bifurcations and sites of abnormal vessel morphology. Irregular flow conditions are established here either by the action of a cone-and-plate type flow apparatus generating a uniform turbulent flow or in a flow chamber by insertion of a local hindrance creating a zone of unsteady laminar flow with vortex formation and lowered shear stress. In both cases apoptosis is induced either throughout the entire monolayer or restricted to the locally defined area. Flow disturbance and apoptosis are coupled by the described autocrine loop of TSP-1 and the integrin/IAP receptor complex. In vivo atherosclerotic lesions occur predominantly at sites of flow irregularities, which are thought to be pro-atherogenic. Thus we propose a key role of the identified mechanosensitive apoptosis induction for the initiation of atherosclerosis.
Orthogonally multiplexed on-off-keyed amplitude and phase modulation families

By substituting the on-off-keyed signaling for the orthogonal group signaling adopted in two recently reported modulation formats, namely the orthogonally multiplexed orthogonal amplitude modulation (OMOAM) (Chung, 2002) and the orthogonally multiplexed orthogonal phase modulation (OMOPM) (Chung, 2003), the orthogonally multiplexed on-off-keyed amplitude modulation (OMO/sup 2/AM) family and the orthogonally multiplexed on-off-keyed phase modulation (OMO/sup 2/PM) family are proposed and investigated in this paper. The power spectral density characteristics of both OMO/sup 2/AM and OMO/sup 2/PM signals constructed from typical band-limited and time-limited basis signal sets are studied in terms of fractional power containments. Based on the maximum-likelihood principle, the optimum schemes for coherently demodulating uncoded OMO/sup 2/AM and OMO/sup 2/PM signals on the additive white Gaussian noise channel are developed. Union bounds and approximate upper bounds are analyzed and verified by simulation to evaluate the bit error probability characteristics of the optimum schemes. From numerical results, the OMO/sup 2/AM and OMO/sup 2/PM schemes are found to provide other good choices of power and spectral efficiencies ranging among the efficiencies achieved by the OMOAM and OMOPM families. When constructed from the practically realizable basis set with rectangularly pulsed quadrature carrier signals, improvement over certain orthogonally frequency-division-multiplexing modulation schemes in both power and spectral efficiencies is also achieved by some OMO/sup 2/AM and OMO/sup 2/AM schemes.
Continuous transversus abdominis plane block for renal transplant recipients.

To the Editor: Until recently, we have used transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in combination with morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) postoperatively in renal transplant recipients. However, as a result of the long duration of surgery, although TAP block decreases the need for intraoperative analgesia, the analgesic effect of the block fades postoperatively. To prolong the analgesic effect, we used a continuous infusion of local anesthetic via the TAP catheter, placed preoperatively under ultrasound guidance. The main problems experienced with this technique were technical: difficulty feeding the catheter into the TAP space; leakage of local anesthetic through the orifices at the sides of the catheter; a relatively low success rate (50%) in terms of catheter placement and, consequently, analgesic effect; and possible interference with the surgical field. We have subsequently developed a technique whereby the catheter is placed into the TAP plane by the surgeon under direct vision: the surgical dissection creates a small space (1 cm wide 3–5 cm long) between the transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles in the lateral side of the wound. The tip of a 16-gauge epidural needle (PortexTM Epidural Minipack, Smiths Medical Australasia Pty, Brisbane, Australia) is inserted through the dissected space, the internal and external oblique muscles, the subcutaneous tissue and the skin, passing through the skin approximately 2 cm from the upper end of the incision (Fig. 1). A multiorifice catheter is placed through an introducer epidural needle, leaving 5–6 cm of the catheter positioned between the transverse abdominis and internal oblique muscles (Fig. 2). The needle is removed and the surgical wound is then closed. The catheter is secured to the skin and a standard epidural catheter dressing applied. After closure of the surgical wound, before awakening the patient, 20 Figure 1. An epidural needle is inserted through the dissected space, the internal and external oblique muscles, the subcutaneous tissue, and the skin, passing through the skin approximately 2 cm from the upper end of the incision. A anterior; P posterior; L lateral; M medial.