Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Swimming behaviour of Daphnia clones: differentiation through predator infochemicals

We studied variation in small-scale swimming behavior (SSB) in four clones of Daphnia galeata (water flea) in response to predator infochemicals. The aim of this study was 3-fold. First, we tested for differences in SSB in Daphnia; second, we examined the potential of differences in SSB to explain survival probability under predation; and third we tested the effect of differences in SSB on survival under predation. Four treatments were applied: one kairomone-free control, one Chaoborus- (phantom midge) and one Perca (perch)-conditioned treatment, and a mixed treatment containing both infochemicals. All of the three tested behavioral parameters (swimming speed, trajectory length and vertical distribution) were affected by the presence of the Chaoborus infochemical, and swimming speed and vertical distribution were also affected by the presence of Perca infochemical. The effect of the treatment was interfered with by a clone effect: genetic differences were pronounced in all traits. These results illustrate that clones can be responsive in only a subset of traits. The general theory that clones are either responsive or non-responsive is not valid for SSB. The outcome of the predation trial confirms that a decrease in activity is a main factor in lowering Daphnia vulnerability to Chaoborus predation.
Teaming up for Women's Health: The 2015 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting

In response to major practice changes in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), the 2015 Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists responded with modification of the program organization, methods of presenting the information (debates, hands on, flip classrooms) and increased emphasis on current clinical research. The Presidential Program covered broad themes of changes in healthcare technology, teamwork in OB/GYN practice and the importance of advocating for patients. Over 400 abstracts representing a broad range of clinical and basic science research were presented. Changes in the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting should allow the membership to be more prepared and pro-active as the practice of OB/GYN evolves.
An Inducible and Secreted Eukaryote-Like Serine/Threonine Kinase of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Promotes Intracellular Survival and Pathogenesis

ABSTRACT Eukaryote-like serine/threonine kinases (eSTKs) constitute an important family of bacterial virulence factors. Genome analysis had predicted putative eSTKs in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, although their functional characterization and the elucidation of their role in pathogenesis are still awaited. We show here that the primary sequence and secondary structure of the t4519 locus of Salmonella Typhi Ty2 have all the signatures of eukaryotic superfamily kinases. t4519 encodes a ∼39-kDa protein (T4519), which shows serine/threonine kinase activities in vitro. Recombinant T4519 (rT4519) is autophosphorylated and phosphorylates the universal substrate myelin basic protein. Infection of macrophages results in decreased viability of the mutant (Ty2Δt4519) strain, which is reversed by gene complementation. Moreover, reactive oxygen species produced by the macrophages signal to the bacteria to induce T4519, which is translocated to the host cell cytoplasm. That T4519 may target a host substrate(s) is further supported by the activation of host cellular signaling pathways and the induction of cytokines/chemokines. Finally, the role of T4519 in the pathogenesis of Salmonella Typhi is underscored by the significantly decreased mortality of mice infected with the Ty2Δt4519 strain and the fact that the competitive index of this strain for causing systemic infection is 0.25% that of the wild-type strain. This study characterizes the first eSTK of Salmonella Typhi and demonstrates its role in promoting phagosomal survival of the bacteria within macrophages, which is a key determinant of pathogenesis. This, to the best of our knowledge, is the first study to describe the essential role of eSTKs in the in vivo pathogenesis of Salmonella spp.
Quinone sensing by the circadian input kinase of the cyanobacterial circadian clock

Circadian rhythms are endogenous cellular programs that time metabolic and behavioral events to occur at optimal times in the daily cycle. Light and dark cycles synchronize the endogenous clock with the external environment through a process called entrainment. Previously, we identified the bacteriophytochrome-like circadian input kinase CikA as a key factor for entraining the clock in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Here, we present evidence that CikA senses not light but rather the redox state of the plastoquinone pool, which, in photosynthetic organisms, varies as a function of the light environment. Furthermore, CikA associates with the Kai proteins of the circadian oscillator, and it influences the phosphorylation state of KaiC during resetting of circadian phase by a dark pulse. The abundance of CikA varies inversely with light intensity, and its stability decreases in the presence of the quinone analog 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB). The pseudo-receiver domain of CikA is crucial for sensitivity to DBMIB, and it binds the quinone directly, a demonstration of a previously unrecognized ligand-binding role for the receiver fold. Our results suggest that resetting the clock in S. elongatus is metabolism-dependent and that it is accomplished through the interaction of the circadian oscillator with CikA.
Objective: The Complete Sequence of a Plant Genome.

There were several major developments in studies of the Arabidopsis ge? nome during 1996. The purpose of this letter is to summarize these advances; to describe the Arabidopsis Genome Initiative (AGI), the new multinational effort to sequence the entire Arabidopsis genome; and to discuss how the AGI will affect plant science and biotechnol? ogy in the future. In 1990, the Arabidopsis Multina? tional Science Steering Committee declared that the Arabidopsis genome should be sequenced by the year 2000. In the intervening years, some impor? tant steps have been taken toward this ambitious goal. These steps culminated recently in the establishment of the AGI during a meeting that was held be? tween August 20-22, 1996, at the National Science Foundation in Wash? ington, DC. The AGI aims to facilitate cooperation among international sequencing projects in the USA, Japan, and the European Union (EU) so that the se? quence of the genome can be completed as rapidly and efficiently as possible. The participating groups and their specific goals within the AGI are outlined in Table 1. Further details, in? cluding the text of the international agreement that established the AGI, can be found at http://genome-www. stanford.edu/Arabidopsis/AGI. Because over 90% of the potential protein coding regions of the Arabidop? sis nuclear genome has yet to be se? quenced systematically, it is necessary to establish an orderly approach to this large task. First, to integrate the sequence-ready maps produced by the
Influenza seasonality: Lifting the fog

Seasonal variation in the incidence of communicable diseases is among the oldest observations in population biology, dating back at least to ancient Greece, yet our understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remains hazy at best. Influenza is perhaps the seasonal disease of most profound interest, because it is responsible for much of the seasonal variation in other infectious and noninfectious causes of morbidity and mortality (1–4). Influenza virus activity displays strong seasonal cycles in temperate areas of the world and less defined seasonality in tropical regions (5), suggesting that environmental factors may drive seasonal patterns. In a recent issue of PNAS, Shaman and Kohn (6) move us a step closer to understanding influenza seasonality by clarifying the impact of environmental factors on influenza virus transmission and survival. The authors demonstrate an impressive statistical association between vapor pressure, influenza transmission, and virus survival.
Effect of Vitamin D supplement on Gingivitis and Salivary Parameters in Patients with Vitamin D deficiency

Background : Vitamin D, play a role in maintain oral health through it is effect on bone and mineral metabolism as well as it is effect on innate immunity. In addition most recent studies confirmed it is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect.Aims: To evaluate the effect of Vitamin D supplement on gingival index, salivary Immnoglobuline A ( SIgA) secretion rate,salivary flow rate( SFR) and salivary PH. As antimicrobial and anti-inflmmtory effect.Subjects and methods: Out of 132 patients, 28 with vit.D deficiency and gingivitis currently on initial supplement with vit.D was chosen to participate in this study. Patients who take the medication regularly throughout the study were considered as patients group and who did not take the medication due to any reason were assigned as control group. Gingival index ,Salivary Immunoglobuline A (SIgA),Salivary flow rate (SFR) and salivary PH were assessed pre and post administration of vitamin D.Results:- The result of current study revealed that the gingival index was significantly reduced post supplement of vit.D in patients who were taken the medication regularly (pre=2.7, post 1.8, p=0.01) while nonsignificant difference was seen in control group (pre=2.9, post 2.6, p=0.6). The salivary IgA, SFR and salivary PH was significantly increased(p≤0.05) after supplement of vit.D with patients who were taken the medication regularly (pre=434.3, post=687.7)(pre=0.9, post=1.8)( pre=6.7, post=7.1) respectively while nonsignificant difference(p≥0.05) was reported with control group (pre=424.3, post=467.7)9pre=0.8, post=1.1)(pre=6.5, post=6.8) respectively.Conclusion :- According to results inthis study, we conclude that, the using of Vitamin D supplement lead to asignificant anti-inflammatory effect and also and also patient with gingivitis to be screened for Vit. D deficiency.
Guided Care: A New Frontier for Adults With Chronic Conditions

Purpose This article describes “Guided Care,” a promising new model of case management that includes disease management, self-management, transitional care, and caregiver support for multimorbid patients and their families. Primary Practice Settings Guided Care nurses, based at primary care practices, extend services to the home and all the other settings where their patients receive care. Findings and Conclusions Guided Care nurses take responsibility for 50—60 multimorbid patients. For each patient, the nurse performs a home assessment and creates an evidence-based plan of care. In partnership with the primary physician, the Guided Care nurse then monitors and coaches the patient monthly, coordinates the patient's transitions between providers and sites of care, educates and supports family caregivers, and facilitates access to community resources. Implications for Case Management Practice As a next stage in the evolution of case management, Guided Care may be supported by Medicare and, therefore, adopted widely throughout the American healthcare.
Demande de réserves et aléa moral dans une Union Monétaire [Demand for reserves and moral hazard in a Monetary Union]

L’objectif de ce papier est d’examiner l’existence ou non d’un comportement d’alea moral dans la demande de reserve internationale des pays membres d’une union monetaire, avec application a la CEMAC. Il se base sur des elements de statistiques descriptives et se veut le debut d’une analyse plus poussee a l’aide d’outils econometriques adequats. De nos analyses, il ressort que les reserves internationales sont un instrument important qui permet de resorber les desequilibres de payements, et de ce fait, leur demande dans une union monetaire entraine un comportement d’alea moral. Ce comportement se caracterisant par un laxisme dans la gestion economique et un tirage abusif sur le pooling. Ce comportement a ete clairement mis en evidence dans le cas de la CEMAC, mais a des degres divers pour les pays. Une solution a ce probleme, qui ne devrait pas detruire l’union, serait de categoriser les pays suivant leur risque de deficit afin d’exiger de chacun un cout de participation prealable a l’union.
Hearing Preservation after Cochlear Implantation Using Deeply Inserted Flex Atraumatic Electrode Arrays

The aim of this study was to investigate hearing preservation in adults receiving cochlear implants with Flex arrays. Fifteen adults (19 ears) implanted with Flex EAS® (n = 4) or Flex Soft® (n = 15; MedEL, Innsbruck, Austria) were included in this retrospective study. The mean array insertion length was 25 ± 0.9 mm (n = 19), and the mean cochlear coverage was 435 ± 14.5° (n = 19), with no difference between EAS and Soft arrays. Residual low-frequency hearing was preserved in all implanted ears but deteriorated [pure-tone average (125–1000 Hz) 55.1 ± 2.90 dB before vs. 81.0 ± 3.02 dB after surgery (n = 19, p < 0.01)]. Both Flex arrays allow deep insertion with reproducible hearing preservation.
Strong rainbow vertex-connection of cubic graphs

The rainbow vertex - connection number, rvc(G), of a connected graph is the minimum number of colors needed to color its vertices such that every pair of vertices is connected by at least one path whose internal vertices have distinct colors. Rainbow coloring has received much attention recently in the field of interconnection networks. Computing the rainbow connection number of a graph is NP- hard and it finds its applications in the secure transfer of classified information between agencies and in cellular network. In this paper we characterize some families of cubic graphs and its strong rainbow connection numbers have been found.
Does the Market Pick Up on the Total Value Added to the Peruvian Companies by a Devaluation of the Peruvian Nuevo Sol?

The main goal of this paper is to test a form of market efficiency in the Lima Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores de Lima). This study examines how the individual stock prices of two selected companies are affected by three standard deviation changes in the exchange rate between the Peruvian Nuevo Sol and the US dollar. The main question that drives this paper is whether the market picks up on the total value added to these Peruvian companies by a devaluation of the Peruvian Nuevo Sol. Within this overall goal, the first objective is to determine if there is a relationship between the revenue and expense structure of the selected companies once a three standard deviation in the exchange rate has taken place, and the reaction of the market to these returns in the exchange rate. The findings of this study suggest that, in reference to the companies studied, the Peruvian, stock market does not impound instantly the impact that a change on the exchange rate has in the value of these corporations.
Spatial Frequency Selectivity Is Impaired in Dopamine D2 Receptor Knockout Mice

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter implicated in several brain functions, including vision. In the present study, we investigated the impacts of the lack of D2 dopamine receptors on the structure and function of the primary visual cortex (V1) of D2-KO mice using optical imaging of intrinsic signals. Retinotopic maps were generated in order to measure anatomo-functional parameters such as V1 shape, cortical magnification factor, scatter, and ocular dominance. Contrast sensitivity and spatial frequency selectivity (SF) functions were computed from responses to drifting gratings. When compared to control mice, none of the parameters of the retinotopic maps were affected by D2 receptor loss of function. While the contrast sensitivity function of D2-KO mice did not differ from their wild-type counterparts, SF selectivity function was significantly affected as the optimal SF and the high cut-off frequency (p < 0.01) were higher in D2-KO than in WT mice. These findings show that the lack of function of D2 dopamine receptors had no influence on cortical structure whereas it had a significant impact on the spatial frequency selectivity and high cut-off. Taken together, our results suggest that D2 receptors play a specific role on the processing of spatial features in early visual cortex while they do not seem to participate in its development.
The Lived Experience of Parents and Guardians Providing Care for Child Transplant Recipients

Context Little has been published about the caregiving experiences of the parents or guardians of children receiving liver or liver/intestinal transplants. Objective To describe the lived experiences of parents and guardians as they prepared for and provided postdischarge care to a child who received an isolated intestine or a liver/intestinal transplant and to assess the impact of transplants on parents' stress levels. Design Semistructured, audio-taped phone interviews of parents' and guardians' perceptions of their experiences preparing to and providing care to a child transplant recipient were transcribed verbatim and analyzed by the research team using established qualitative research methods. Participants Five parents or guardians (3 mothers, 1 foster mother, and 1 grandfather) of children who received a transplant between 2000 and 2008 at age 11 months to 6.7 years. Results Responses to the interviews gravitated toward 3 focal points: the parents' and guardians' perceptions of their interactions with the transplant team, their interactions with the local health care systems, and caring for themselves and their child at home. Conclusion In preparing parents and guardians to care for their children after discharge from the hospital, transplant teams need to be aware of differences between what we think we communicate and how it is interpreted by the parents and guardians, the relationships built between parents and guardians and health care teams, parents' attitudes and levels of stress, and the impact these factors have on care and the parents' and guardians' experience.
Gnu/Maverik: A Microkernel for Large-Scale Virtual Environments

This paper describes a publicly available virtual reality (VR) system, GNU/MAVERIK, which forms one component of a complete VR operating system. We give an overview of the architecture of MAVERIK, and show how it is designed to use application data in an intelligent way, via a simple, yet powerful, callback mechanism that supports an object-oriented framework of classes, objects, and methods. Examples are given to illustrate different uses of the system and typical performance levels.
Pricing Of Options In Emerging FinancialMarkets Using Martingale Simulation: AnExample From Turkey

The objective of this study is to test the applicability of the empirical Martingale simulation approach in pricing of options in the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) market with the aim of providing a workable pricing model that offers realistic solutions for both practitioners and planners in Turkey. Two sets of five different European call options are created by changing the maturity, interest rate, strike price and the volatility. One set of options is assumed to be written on the ISE Composite Index and the other set assumed to be written on the most volatile stock included in the Istanbul Stock Exchange Composite Index, the Yapi Kredi Bank (YKB) stock. The prices for the five different options on the ISE Composite Index and on YKB stock are found by applying the Binomial model, Monte Carlo simulation and Martingale simulation, then they are compared with the results of the Black–Scholes formula. It is found that the Martingale simulation has performed better than the first two models and produced results with smaller or no price differences in most cases. Comparing the coefficient of variation of Monte Carlo simulation versus Martingale simulation revealed that Martingale results were more dependable and the dependability of Martingale results increased for the option contracts that initiated out-of-the-money.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in octogenarians: only when percutaneous coronary intervention is not feasible?

Purpose of review The aim of this study was to review recent literature reporting the results of coronary revascularization by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients older than 80 years. Recent findings The review of recent studies on octogenarians demonstrates a surgical CABG advantage in the case of patients with increasing baseline coronary risk, such as severe multivessel disease, chronic total occlusions, and left ventricular dysfunction. PCI seems to be more appropriate for less severe degree and distribution of coronary lesions, and for subgroups of patients with higher surgical risk, such as acute coronary syndromes, reoperations, malignancy, dementia, poor mobility, frailty, and serious comorbidities contraindicating extracorporeal circulation. Summary It is not the case that CABG is indicated only when there are contraindications to PCI. CABG confers more benefit than PCI in patients with increasing baseline cardiac risk, in the absence of serious systemic diseases that can reasonably reduce their life expectancy. CABG and PCI, with proper selection, should be considered complementary rather than competitive procedures in the therapy of octogenarians affected by coronary artery disease.
Cysteinyl Leukotrienes and Their Receptors: Cellular Distribution and Function in Immune and Inflammatory Responses1

The cysteinyl leukotrienes (cys-LTs) are a family of potent bioactive lipids that act through two structurally divergent G protein-coupled receptors, termed the CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors. The cloning and characterization of these two receptors has not only reconciled findings of previous pharmacologic profiling studies of contractile tissues, but also has uncovered their expression on a wide array of circulating and tissue-dwelling leukocytes. With the development of receptor-selective reagents, as well as mice lacking critical biosynthetic enzymes, transporter proteins, and the CysLT1 receptor, diverse functions of cys-LTs and their receptors in immune and inflammatory responses have been identified. We review cys-LT biosynthesis; the molecular biology and distribution of the CysLT1 and CysLT2 receptors; the functions of cys-LTs and their receptors in the recruitment and activation of effector leukocytes and induction of adaptive immunity; and the development of fibrosis and airway remodeling in animal models of lung injury and allergic inflammation.
Optimising the transition process for youth leaving out-of-home care: A positive psychological perspective

The positive psychological perspective advocates for a strength-based approach, and this approach resonates with the view of optimising the transition process for youth leaving out-of-home care. Youth in out-of-home care require support and assistance when transitioning; so that the individual may move forward to be on a pathway towards independence and growth. Having a focus that incorporates a positive institutional model moves past an individualistic ideology and places the onus back on governments as 'corporate parents. ' To apply this model to the process of transitioning for out-of-home care youth appears consistent with the guidelines advocated by the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children.
A 5-bit RF MEMS switch time delay line shifter

A 5-bit radio frequency micro-electromechanical system (RF MEMS) true-time-delay (TTD) phase shifter operating over frequency ranges 6–12 GHz is designed and fabricated. The TTD phase shifter provides five delay bits: λ, 2λ, 4λ, 8λ, 16λ, the biggest delay-bit time is 1680ps and the total time delay is 3255ps. The circuit uses twenty cantilever RF MEMS switches. The circuit is fabricated on four layers by using microwave multilayer printed circuit board technology (PCB). Measurements show that the return loss of every delay-bit is better than 12dB across the entire band and the insert losses are between −8dB and −10dB for all states. The circuit has high linearity of phase response across the entire band.