Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of cotJ, a sigma E-controlled operon affecting the polypeptide composition of the coat of Bacillus subtilis spores

The outermost protective structure found in endospores of Bacillus subtilis is a thick protein shell known as the coat, which makes a key contribution to the resistance properties of the mature spore and also plays a role in its interaction with compounds able to trigger germination. The coat is organized as a lamellar inner layer and an electron-dense outer layer and has a complex polypeptide composition. Here we report the cloning and characterization of an operon, cotJ, located at about 62 degrees on the B. subtilis genetic map, whose inactivation results in the production of spores with an altered pattern of coat polypeptides. The cotJ operon was identified by screening a random library of lacZ transcriptional fusions for a conditional (inducer-dependent) Lac+ phenotype in cells of a strain in which the structural gene (spoIIGB) for the early-acting, mother-cell-specific transcriptional factor sigma E was placed under the control of the IPTG (isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside)-inducible Pspac promoter. Sequence analysis of cloned DNA from the cotJ region complemented by genetic experiments revealed a tricistronic operon preceded by a strong sigma E-like promoter. Expression of an SP beta-borne cotJ-lacZ fusion commences at around h 2 of sporulation, as does expression of other sigma E-dependent genes, and shows an absolute requirement for sigma E. Studies with double-reporter strains bearing a cotJ-gusA fusion and lacZ fusions to other cot genes confirmed that expression of cotJ is initiated during sporulation prior to activation of genes known to encode coat structural proteins (with the sole exception of cotE). An in vitro-constructed insertion-deletion mutation in cotJ resulted in the formation of spores with no detectable morphological or resistance deficiency. However, examination of the profile of electrophoretically separated spore coat proteins from the null mutant revealed a pattern that was essentially identical to that of a wild-type strain in the range of 12 to 65 kDa, except for polypeptides of 17 and 24 kDa, the putative products of the second (cotJB) and third (cotJC) cistrons of the operon, that were missing or reduced in amount in the coat of the mutant. Polypeptides of the same apparent sizes are detected in spores of a cotE null mutant, on which basis we infer that the products of the cotJ operon are required for the normal formation of the inner layers of the coat or are themselves structural components of the coat. Because the onset of cotJ transcription is temporally coincident with the appearance of active sigma E, we speculate that the cotJ-encoded products may be involved in an early state of coat assembly.
Sperm Swimming Velocity Predicts Competitive Fertilization Success in the Green Swordtail Xiphophorus helleri

Sperm competition is expected to favour the evolution of traits that influence the performance of sperm when they compete to fertilize a female's eggs. While there is considerable evidence that selection favours increases in sperm numbers, much less is known about how sperm quality contributes towards competitive fertilization success. Here, we determine whether variation in sperm quality influences competitive fertilization success in the green swordtail Xiphophorus helleri, a highly promiscuous livebearing fish. We use artificial insemination as a method of controlled sperm delivery and show that sperm swimming velocity is the primary determinant of fertilization success when ejaculates from two males compete to fertilize a female's eggs. By contrast, we found no evidence that sperm length had any effect on siring success. We also found no evidence that pre- and postcopulatory sexual traits were phenotypically integrated in this species, suggesting that the previous observation that reproductive skew favours males with high mating rates is unlikely to be due to any direct association between sperm quality and male sexual ornamentation.
How do therapists make sense of their reactions towards clients? : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study attempts to contribute to our understanding of therapists‟ personal reactions (cognitive, affective, sensory or behavioural) towards their clients by adopting an in depth qualitative analysis. This study consists of semi structured interviews with six therapists who work mainly from a psychodynamic orientation. The transcribed interviews were analysed according to the principles of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Three analytic themes were derived from the analysis: (1) self as a “measuring instrument”, (2) managing reactions, and (3) therapist self care. The findings highlight the different ways that therapists understand and manage their reactions. The analysis of the interviews also reveals support for the theoretical trend in psychodynamic approaches towards a relational/intersubjective understanding of the therapeutic relationship. It is argued that therapists are embedded within the client‟s relational pattern, and furthermore, this is inevitable and to be welcomed.
How to Tame Rectangles: Solving Independent Set and Coloring of Rectangles via Shrinking

In the Maximum Weight Independent Set of Rectangles (MWISR) problem, we are given a collection of weighted axis-parallel rectangles in the plane. Our goal is to compute a maximum weight subset of pairwise non-overlapping rectangles. Due to its various applications, as well as connections to many other problems in computer science, MWISR has received a lot of attention from the computational geometry and the approximation algorithms community. However, despite being extensively studied, MWISR remains not very well understood in terms of polynomial time approximation algorithms, as there is a large gap between the upper and lower bounds, i.e., O(log n\ loglog n) v.s. NP-hardness. Another important, poorly understood question is whether one can color rectangles with at most O(omega(R)) colors where omega(R) is the size of a maximum clique in the intersection graph of a set of input rectangles R. Asplund and Grunbaum obtained an upper bound of O(omega(R)^2) about 50 years ago, and the result has remained asymptotically best. This question is strongly related to the integrality gap of the canonical LP for MWISR. In this paper, we settle above three open problems in a relaxed model where we are allowed to shrink the rectangles by a tiny bit (rescaling them by a factor of 1-delta for an arbitrarily small constant delta > 0. Namely, in this model, we show (i) a PTAS for MWISR and (ii) a coloring with O(omega(R)) colors which implies a constant upper bound on the integrality gap of the canonical LP. For some applications of MWISR the possibility to shrink the rectangles has a natural, well-motivated meaning. Our results can be seen as an evidence that the shrinking model is a promising way to relax a geometric problem for the purpose of better algorithmic results.
Lipid Reorganization Induced by Shiga Toxin Clustering on Planar Membranes

The homopentameric B-subunit of bacterial protein Shiga toxin (STxB) binds to the glycolipid Gb3 in plasma membranes, which is the initial step for entering cells by a clathrin-independent mechanism. It has been suggested that protein clustering and lipid reorganization determine toxin uptake into cells. Here, we elucidated the molecular requirements for STxB induced Gb3 clustering and for the proposed lipid reorganization in planar membranes. The influence of binding site III of the B-subunit as well as the Gb3 lipid structure was investigated by means of high resolution methods such as fluorescence and scanning force microscopy. STxB was found to form protein clusters on homogenous 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/cholesterol/Gb3 (65∶30∶5) bilayers. In contrast, membranes composed of DOPC/cholesterol/sphingomyelin/Gb3 (40∶35∶20∶5) phase separate into a liquid ordered and liquid disordered phase. Dependent on the fatty acid composition of Gb3, STxB-Gb3 complexes organize within the liquid ordered phase upon protein binding. Our findings suggest that STxB is capable of forming a new membrane phase that is characterized by lipid compaction. The significance of this finding is discussed in the context of Shiga toxin-induced formation of endocytic membrane invaginations.
Design and measurement of a spiral-cell PMC for metamaterial applications

Simulations and measurements have been carried out of a 1-layer metamaterial slab made of spiral resonators that shows an AMC behavior, with an equivalent electrical width of lambda/12 for the thickness (z dimension) of the slab. This behavior has been experimentally verified through radiation pattern measurements. The results show that similar results are obtained by placing a PEC at a lambda/4 distance and by placing the antenna close to the AMC. This latter solution is lower profile
ATPase Activity of Myosin Correlated with Speed of Muscle Shortening

Myosin was isolated from 14 different muscles (mammals, lower vertebrates, and invertebrates) of known maximal speed of shortening. These myosin preparations were homogeneous in the analytical ultracentrifuge or, in a few cases, showed, in addition to the main myosin peak, part of the myosin in aggregated form. Actin- and Ca++-activated ATPase activities of the myosins were generally proportional to the speed of shortening of their respective muscles; i.e. the greater the intrinsic speed, the higher the ATPase activity. This relation was found when the speed of shortening ranged from 0.1 to 24 muscle lengths/sec. The temperature coefficient of the Ca++-activated myosin ATPase was the same as that of the speed of shortening, Q10 about 2. Higher Q10 values were found for the actin-activated myosin ATPase, especially below 10°C. By using myofibrils instead of reconstituted actomyosin, Q10 values close to 2 could be obtained for the Mg++-activated myofibrillar ATPase at ionic strength of 0.014. In another series of experiments, myosin was isolated from 11 different muscles of known isometric twitch contraction time. The ATPase activity of these myosins was inversely proportional to the contraction time of the muscles. These results suggest a role for the ATPase activity of myosin in determining the speed of muscle contraction. In contrast to the ATPase activity of myosin, which varied according to the speed of contraction, the F-actin-binding ability of myosin from various muscles was rather constant.
Characterization and Discrimination of Ancient Grains: A Metabolomics Approach

Hulled, or ancient, wheats were the earliest domesticated wheats by mankind and the ancestors of current wheats. Their cultivation drastically decreased during the 1960s; however, the increasing demand for a healthy and equilibrated diet led to rediscovering these grains. Our aim was to use a non-targeted metabolomic approach to discriminate and characterize similarities and differences between ancient Triticum varieties. For this purpose, 77 hulled wheat samples from three different varieties were collected: Garfagnana T. turgidum var. dicoccum L. (emmer), ID331 T. monococcum L. (einkorn) and Rouquin T. spelta L. (spelt). The ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF) metabolomics approach highlighted a pronounced sample clustering according to the wheat variety, with an excellent predictability (Q2), for all the models built. Fifteen metabolites were tentatively identified based on accurate masses, isotopic pattern, and product ion spectra. Among these, alkylresorcinols (ARs) were found to be significantly higher in spelt and emmer, showing different homologue composition. Furthermore, phosphatidylcholines (PC) and lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPC) levels were higher in einkorn variety. The results obtained in this study confirmed the importance of ARs as markers to distinguish between Triticum species and revealed their values as cultivar markers, being not affected by the environmental influences.
UDRT-based Semantics Construction for LTAG - and what it tells us about the role of adjunction in LTAG

Lexicalized Tree Adjoining Grammars (LTAGs) [6] are tree rewriting systems consisting of a finite set of trees associated with lexical items, so-called elementary trees (etrees). Elementary trees represent extended projections of lexical items that encapsulate all their syntactic/semantic arguments. Due to this property, semantics construction in LTAG can be based on elementary trees as basic units, and is typically performed on the basis of the derivation tree, which records the history of how elementary trees are combined by substitution and adjunction operations. However, it has been argued by Frank and van Genabith [3] that the derivation tree is not an appropriate structure for principle-based semantics construction in that the derivation tree neither mirrors the phrase structure nor the dependency structure of the sentence. It is essentially due to the adjunction operation that dependencies that are crucial for principle-based semantics construction procedure are not available from the derivation tree. Instead, Frank and van Genabith propose to define semantics construction on the basis of the derived tree. In this paper we will have a closer look at the role that adjunction plays for semantics composition in LTAG and examine whether the semantics construction approach based on derivation trees can be rescued. The contributions of the paper are manifold. First, we show that the semantics construction approach for LDGs presented by Cimiano and Reyle [2] can in principle be applied to semantics construction for LTAG. We borrow from Cimiano and Reyle the idea of talking explicitly about labels and scope, which will turn out as a crucial component for principle-based semantics construction on the basis of the derivation tree. Second, we show that an adequate account of quantifier scope within LTAG is possible without necessarily leading to an extension of LTAG as
Results of a phase IIa study of VX-809, an investigational CFTR corrector compound, in subjects with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation

Background VX-809, a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator, has been shown to increase the cell surface density of functional F508del-CFTR in vitro. Methods A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of VX-809 in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (n=89) who were homozygous for the F508del-CFTR mutation. Subjects were randomised to one of four VX-809 28 day dose groups (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg) or matching placebo. Results The type and incidence of adverse events were similar among VX-809- and placebo-treated subjects. Respiratory events were the most commonly reported and led to discontinuation by one subject in each active treatment arm. Pharmacokinetic data supported a once-daily oral dosing regimen. Pharmacodynamic data suggested that VX-809 improved CFTR function in at least one organ (sweat gland). VX-809 reduced elevated sweat chloride values in a dose-dependent manner (p=0.0013) that was statistically significant in the 100 and 200 mg dose groups. There was no statistically significant improvement in CFTR function in the nasal epithelium as measured by nasal potential difference, nor were there statistically significant changes in lung function or patient-reported outcomes. No maturation of immature F508del-CFTR was detected in the subgroup that provided rectal biopsy specimens. Conclusions In this study, VX-809 had a similar adverse event profile to placebo for 28 days in F508del-CFTR homozygous patients, and demonstrated biological activity with positive impact on CFTR function in the sweat gland. Additional data are needed to determine how improvements detected in CFTR function secondary to VX-809 in the sweat gland relate to those measurable in the respiratory tract and to long-term measures of clinical benefit. Clinical trial number NCT00865904
Copeland voting: ties matter

We study the complexity of manipulation for a family of election systems derived from Copeland voting via introducing a parameter α that describes how ties in head-to-head contests are valued. We show that the thus obtained problem of manipulation for unweighted Copelandα elections is NP-complete even if the size of the manipulating coalition is limited to two. Our result holds for all rational values of α such that 0 < α < 1 except for α = 1/2. Since it is well known that manipulation via a single voter is easy for Copeland, our result is the first one where an election system originally known to be vulnerable to manipulation via a single voter is shown to be resistant to manipulation via a coalition of a constant number of voters.
Effects of gonadotropin treatment on ovarian follicle growth and granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts.

This experiment was conducted to compare the ability of USDA porcine FSH-B-1 (pFSH), USDA porcine LH-B-1 (pLH), and pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to grow large follicles and induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. Twenty-four gilts (164 d old) received one of four treatments by i.m. injection: 1) saline once, n = 8; 2) pFSH (8 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 5; 3) pLH (2 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 6; or 4) PMSG (15 IU/kg BW, once), n = 5. At slaughter, 72 h after the first injection, the ovaries to saline-treated gilts contained an average of 104 surface antral follicles 1 to 3 mm in diameter. compared to treatment with saline, pFSH increased (P less than .05) the number of follicles 46%, whereas pLH or PMSG decreased (P less than .05) the number by 70 and 84%, respectively. Compared with saline, treatment with PMSG or pLH induced growth of large follicles (7 to 9 mm) (10.8 and 4.8 follicles/gilt, respectively), increased plasma estrogen, increased granulosal cell aromatase activity, and decreased plasma FSH by 51 and 69%; treatment with pFSH had no significant effect on these traits. Results indicate that injected pFSH did not cause growth of large follicles or induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. In contrast, LH initiated growth and increased granulosal cell aromatase activity in a small number of follicles and accelerated atresia among the remaining follicles.
Low Sensitivity of NS1 Protein Tests Evidenced during a Dengue Type 2 Virus Outbreak in Santos, Brazil, in 2010

ABSTRACT In 2010, a large outbreak of dengue occurred in Santos, Brazil. The detection of the NS1 antigen was used for diagnosis in addition to the detection of IgG, IgM, and RNA. A large number of NS1 false-negative results were obtained. A total of 379 RNA-positive samples were selected for thorough evaluation. NS1 was reactive in 37.7% of cases. Most of the cases were characterized as a secondary infection by dengue 2 virus. Sequencing of NS1 positive and negative isolates did not reveal any mutation that could justify the diagnostic failure. Use of existing NS1 tests in the Brazilian population may present a low negative predictive value, and they should be used with caution, preferentially after performing a validation with samples freshly obtained during the ongoing epidemic.
Enhanced Virtual Synchronous Generator Control for Parallel Inverters in Microgrids

Virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control is a promising communication-less control method in a microgrid for its inertia support feature. However, active power oscillation and improper transient active power sharing are observed when basic VSG control is applied. Moreover, the problem of reactive power sharing error, inherited from conventional droop control, should also be addressed to obtain desirable stable state performance. In this paper, an enhanced VSG control is proposed, with which oscillation damping and proper transient active power sharing are achieved by adjusting the virtual stator reactance based on state-space analyses. Furthermore, communication-less accurate reactive power sharing is achieved based on inversed voltage droop control feature (V–Q droop control) and common ac bus voltage estimation. Simulation and experimental results verify the improvement introduced by the proposed enhanced VSG control strategy.
Examining Neurophysiological Responses to Attachment-Related Stimuli in Grieving Individuals

Bereavement as a Threat to Attachment • From birth, relationships mold an internal working model about the self in relation to significant others, and can provide a secure base of attachment from which one can explore the world (Bowlby, 1980). • Perceived threats to this attachment system activate fear modules and elicit proximity-seeking in order to connect to the secure base (Bowlby, 1980). • Bereavement can be considered a threat to attachment. The Current Study
Characteristics of Cervical Position Sense in Subjects with Forward Head Posture

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of forward head posture (FHP) on proprioception by determining the cervical position-reposition error. [Subjects and Methods] A sample population was divided into two groups in accordance with the craniovertebral angle: the FHP group and the control group. We measured the craniovertebral angle, which is defined as the angle between a horizontal line passing through C7 and a line extending from the tragus of the ear to C7. The error value of the cervical position sense after cervical flexion, extension, and rotation was evaluated using the head repositioning accuracy test. [Results] There were significant differences in the error value of the joint position sense (cervical flexion, extension, and rotation) between the FHP and control groups. In addition, there was an inverse correlation between the craniovertebral angle and error value of the joint position sense. [Conclusion] FHP is associated with reduced proprioception. This result implies that the change in the muscle length caused by FHP decreases the joint position sense. Also, proprioception becomes worse as FHP becomes more severe.
Efficient adaptation of TTS duration model to new speakers

This paper discusses a methodology using a minimal set of sentences to adapt an existing TTS duration model to capture interspeaker variations. The assumption is that the original duration database contains information of both language-specific and speaker-specific duration characteristics. In training a duration model for a new speaker, only the speaker-specific information needs to be modeled, therefore the size of the training data can be reduced drastically. Results from several experiments are compared and discussed.
The Role of Levosimendan in Patients with Decreased Left Ventricular Function Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

The postoperative low cardiac output is one of the most important complications following cardiac surgery and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The condition requires inotropic support to achieve adequate hemodynamic status and tissue perfusion. While catecholamines are utilised as a standard therapy in cardiac surgery, their use is limited due to increased oxygen consumption. Levosimendan is calcium sensitising inodilatator expressing positive inotropic effect by binding with cardiac troponin C without increasing oxygen demand. Furthermore, the drug opens potassium ATP (KATP) channels in cardiac mitochondria and in the vascular muscle cells, showing cardioprotective and vasodilator properties, respectively. In the past decade, levosimendan demonstrated promising results in treating patients with reduced left ventricular function when administered in peri- or post- operative settings. In addition, pre-operative use of levosimendan in patients with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction may reduce the requirements for postoperative inotropic support, mechanical support, duration of intensive care unit stay as well as hospital stay and a decrease in post-operative mortality. However, larger studies are needed to clarify clinical advantages of levosimendan versus conventional inotropes.