Explaining microbial population genomics through phage predation

The remarkable diversity of genes within the pool of prokaryotic genomes belonging to the same species or pan-genome is difficult to reconcile with the widely accepted paradigm which asserts that periodic selection within bacterial populations would regularly purge genomic diversity by clonal replacement. Recent evidence from metagenomics indicates that even within a single sample a large diversity of genomes can be present for a single species. We have found that much of the differential gene content affects regions that are potential phage recognition targets. We therefore propose the operation of Constant-Diversity dynamics in which the diversity of prokaryotic populations is preserved by phage predation. We provide supporting evidence for this model from metagenomics, mathematical analysis and computer simulations. Periodic selection and phage predation dynamics are not mutually exclusive; we compare their predictions to indicate under which ecological circumstances each dynamics could predominate

Manejo de microembalses para el cultivo extensivo de carpa común (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) en la región de Zacapu, Michoacán, México

This study provides an assessment of the carrying capacity of water bodies in the area of Zacapu, Michoacan for extensive and semintensive aquaculture with carp (Cyprinus carpio) by means of experimental trials in 27 ponds. A 3 x 3 factorial analysis with three densities (DB = 0.5 org. m-2, DM=1 org. m-2 and DA= 2 orgs. m-2) and three feeding regimes (R0 = without fertilization, RF = fertilization and R+ = farming by-products) included nine combined treatments between densities and feeding regimes with three replicates for each case. The combination of low density and natural food, analog to an extensive aquaculture in small water reservoirs, attained a maximum yield equivalent to 5,000 orgs. ha-1. Empirical trials accomplished at seven temporary basins (<10 ha) under conditions of different stocking densities from 1,500 to 6,000 orgs. ha-1 lead to fairly similar yields to those obtained in the ponds. Thus, the general index used in Mexico for extensive aquaculture of 1 org. m-2 overloads the regional temporary ecosystems and only the possibility of supplying additional food allows rearing of a double amount of organisms and improves the results of this productive activityEl presente estudio apora, mediante pruebas experimenales, una estimación de la capacidad de carga de los microembalses de la región de Zacapu, Michoacán para ser utilizada en la acuicultura extensiva y semintensiva de carpa común (Cyprinus carpio). Un análisis factorial (3 x 3) con tres densidades (DB = 0.5 org. m-2, DM = 1 org. m-2 y DA = 2 orgs. m-2) y tres regímenes de alimentación (R0= sin fertilizar o con el alimento natural, RF= con fertilización y R+= suplementada con subproductos agrícolas) incluyó nueve tratamientos combinados entre densidades y regímenes alimenticios con tres réplicas en cada caso. La combinación de baja densidad y alimentación natural, análoga a una acuicultura extensiva en microembalses, alcanzó un rendimiento máximo equivalente a 5,000 orgs. ha-1. Pruebas empíricas realizadas a la par en siete microembalses temporales (<10 ha), bajo condiciones de densidad de 1,500 a 6,000 orgs. ha-1, produjeron un rendimiento similar. Así, el índice general usado en México para acuicultura extensiva de 1 org. m-2 sobrecarga los ecosistemas acuáticos temporales y únicamente administrando alimento adicional es que se puede duplicar la cantidad de organismos en cultivo y mejorar los resultados derivados de esta actividad productiva

Macroscopic noncontextuality as a principle for almost-quantum correlations

Quantum mechanics allows only certain sets of experimental results (or "probabilistic models") for Bell-type quantum non-locality experiments. A derivation of this set from simple physical or information theoretic principles would represent an important step forward in our understanding of quantum mechanics, and this problem has been intensely investigated in recent years. "Macroscopic locality," which requires the recovery of locality in the limit of large numbers of trials, is one of several principles discussed in the literature that place a bound on the set of quantum probabilistic models. A similar question can also be asked about probabilistic models for the more general class of quantum contextuality experiments. Here, we extend the Macroscopic Locality principle to this more general setting, using the hypergraph approach of Ac\'in, Fritz, Leverrier and Sainz [Comm. Math. Phys. 334(2), 533-628 (2015)], which provides a framework to study both phenomena of nonlocality and contextuality in a unified manner. We find that the set of probabilistic models allowed by our Macroscopic Non-Contextuality principle is equivalent to an important and previously studied set in this formalism, which is slightly larger than the quantum set. In the particular case of Bell Scenarios, this set is equivalent to the set of "Almost Quantum" models, which is of particular interest since the latter was recently shown to satisfy all but one of the principles that have been proposed to bound quantum probabilistic models, without being implied by any of them (or even their conjunction). Our condition is the first characterisation of the almost quantum set from a simple physical principle.Comment: 21 pages (main text 12 pages); v2 minor typos corrected, extended presentation and discussion, published versio

Spartan Daily, May 19, 1970

Volume 57, Issue 123https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/spartandaily/5391/thumbnail.jp

Análisis estilístico de la música de Moros y Cristianos

Con esta investigación hemos pretendido dar a conocer un género musical en vías de desarrollo, pero que ha sido poco analizado y estudiado y que tiene su origen en Alcoy. Para ello hemos analizado desde el punto de vista musical y estilístico, las composiciones de Música Festera que obtuvieron el primer premio en el Concurso de Composición de Música Festera organizado por el Ayuntamiento de Alcoy, en su primera etapa (1949-1962), y por la Asociación de San Jorge en la convocatoria actual, a partir del año 1964 hasta el 2007; en total las piezas analizadas han sido 47 (18 pasodobles, 18 marchas moras y 11 marchas cristianas)

First records of marine tardigrades of the genus <i>Coronarctus</i> (Tardigrada, Heterotardigrada, Arthrotardigrada) from Mexico

Deep-water sampling in the Perdido Fold Belt, Gulf of Mexico, Mexican Economic Exclusive Zone yielded five specimens of tardigrades belonging to the genus Coronarctus Renaud-Mornant, 1974. The specimens represent the first records of the genus for Mexico. Two two-clawed larvae and two four-clawed larvae of Coronarctus mexicus Romano, Gallo, D’Addabbo, Accogli, Baguley & Montagna, 2011 and a single four-clawed larval specimen of an undescribed Coronarctus species were identified. Taxonomic analysis of the specimens contributed to the knowledge of deep-sea and Mexican marine tardigrades, two data-poor areas of study

Empire's inner theatre: interiority and power during the Neo-Assyrian period, c.750 - c. 650 BC

What role do concepts of the thinking and feeling self play in the processes of imperial rule? How do individuals within empire manage and subvert the government of the self the ecumenical power demands? I address these questions through an exploration of the inner theatre of operations of the Assyrian Empire, which dominated the Middle East in the early first millennium BC from its capitals in North Iraq. The key sources are the state correspondence, c.4,000 letters on clay tablets, written in the Semitic Akkadian language in the cuneiform script. They provide a window into the everyday practice of empire, supplemented by royal inscriptions on clay and stone. These texts have recently been edited and published in high quality interactive scholarly editions online. In the first part of the thesis, I propose the concept of an ‘intentional loop’ traversing the interior and exterior world. I explore the concepts of ṭemu ‘thought, intention, order, news’ and libbu ‘interior,’ which linked these worlds. Ṭemu, a thought traversing the libbu, unfolded through language and action, manifesting events which looped around into further thought and action. I then analyse techniques used by the Assyrians to shape the interiorities of subjects to satisfy the demands posed by these concepts, using the material to interrogate theories of governmentality and biopolitics. The second part of the thesis explores how subjects negotiated this regime of interiority through language, before proceeding to explore alternative relationships defined by kinship terminology, and finally antagonistic relationships. By employing methods inspired by linguistic anthropology’s application of Bakhtin’s insights into dialogue and quotation, the dyadic relations explored in this section are resituated in the larger currents of imperial ideology. Thus, building on the recent work by Pongratz-Leisten and Liverani, the thesis further advances our understanding of the Assyrian imperial phenomenon

Impact of Tumor LINE-1 Methylation Level and Neoadjuvant Treatment and Its Association with Colorectal Cancer Survival

Recent studies suggest that long-interspersed nucleotide element-1 (LINE-1) hypomethylation is commonly found in colorectal cancer (CRC), and is associated with worse prognosis. However, the utility of LINE-1 methylation on the prognosis of CRC is still controversial, and may be due to the fact that some clinical and pathological features may affect LINE-1 methylation. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of tumor LINE-1 methylation in CRC, through their association with the CRC clinical and pathological characteristics. Survival of sixty-seven CRC patients was evaluated according to the median of tumor LINE-1 methylation, as well as pathological and oncological variables. We also studied the association between LINE-1 methylation and pathological features, and finally, we assessed the overall and disease-free survival of LINE1 methylation, stratified by neoadjuvant treatment and further checked by multivariate Cox regression to assess the statistical interactions. LINE-1 was hypomethylated in the CRC tumor with respect to the tumor adjacent-free area (p < 0.05), without association with any other clinical and oncological features, nor with overall and disease-free survival rates for CRC. Relevantly, in neoadjuvant treatment, LINE-1 methylation was associated with survival rates. Thus, disease-free and overall survival rates of treated CRC patients were worse in the hypomethylated LINE-1 tumors than those with normal LINE-1 methylation (p = 0.004 and 0.0049, respectively). Indeed, LINE-1 was hypermethylated more in the treated patients than in the non-treated patients (p < 0.05). The present study showed that tumor LINE-1 hypomethylation was associated with worse survival rates in only treated patients. Our data suggest an interactive effect of neoadjuvant treatment and tumor LINE-1 methylation, which could be a specific-tissue biomarker to predict survival of the treated patients, and help to personalize treatment in CRC