Re-hashing Haiti: Empowering The People

Thesis contends that integrating an architecture at a local level that economic and political sectors will produce a community that temporarily manifests a relationship among existing social actively contributes to aself sustaining haiti of the future

Reasoning biases and delusions

We know little about the formation and maintenance of delusional beliefs. Two main approaches have dominated the scant literature. These seek to account for delusions as primarily disturbances of perception (Maher, 1988) or as differences in reasoning (Garety, 1991). The concern here is with reasoning biases. Garety and Hemsley (1994) have proposed a model in which delusions’ are caused by a "failure to utilise previously acquired information". This leads to people with delusions exhibiting characteristic information processing biases in reasoning (i.e. hastiness and overconfidence). The aim of the present research was to compare the performance on reasoning tasks of people with delusions with that of psychiatric and normal control subjects in order to examine whether these subjects exhibited die proposed characteristics of delusional thought. The reasoning tasks were manipulated in both the form of reasoning (deductive, probabilistic etc.) and in content to examine the effect of reasoning with different types of material (neutral or emotional).The results of the six studies demonstrated both abnormal and normal reasoning by people with delusions. These people were no more confident than control subjects in the certainty of the correctness of their answers (Experiment 2). Nor were people with delusions excessively swayed by information currently present in the environment (Experiments 1 and 5) which is a supposed consequence of the inability to use past experience. However, people with delusions were shown to be hasty in their decisions relative to comparison subjects (Experiment 5). This hastiness was further exaggerated when the material reasoned with was self referent in content (Experiment 6). In addition, people with delusions were significantly poorer at reasoning on one of the most researched paradigms the Wason Selection Task (Experiments 3 and 4). The relevance of these findings for theories of delusions was examined

A Newly Discovered Bordetella Species Carries a Transcriptionally Active CRISPR-Cas with a Small Cas9 Endonuclease

Background Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated genes (cas) are widely distributed among bacteria. These systems provide adaptive immunity against mobile genetic elements specified by the spacer sequences stored within the CRISPR. Methods The CRISPR-Cas system has been identified using Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) against other sequenced and annotated genomes and confirmed via CRISPRfinder program. Using Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) and Sanger DNA sequencing, we discovered CRISPRs in additional bacterial isolates of the same species of Bordetella. Transcriptional activity and processing of the CRISPR have been assessed via RT-PCR. Results Here we describe a novel Type II-C CRISPR and its associated genes—cas1, cas2, and cas9—in several isolates of a newly discovered Bordetella species. The CRISPR-cas locus, which is absent in all other Bordetella species, has a significantly lower GC-content than the genome-wide average, suggesting acquisition of this locus via horizontal gene transfer from a currently unknown source. The CRISPR array is transcribed and processed into mature CRISPR RNAs (crRNA), some of which have homology to prophages found in closely related species B. hinzii. Conclusions Expression of the CRISPR-Cas system and processing of crRNAs with perfect homology to prophages present in closely related species, but absent in that containing this CRISPR-Cas system, suggest it provides protection against phage predation. The 3,117-bp cas9 endonuclease gene from this novel CRISPR-Cas system is 990 bp smaller than that of Streptococcus pyogenes, the 4,017-bp allele currently used for genome editing, and which may make it a useful tool in various CRISPR-Cas technologies

Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial SAR of benzyl and phenyl guanidine and aminoguanidine hydrazone derivatives

A series of benzyl, phenyl guanidine, and aminoguandine hydrazone derivatives was designed and in vitro antibacterial activities against two different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) were determined. Several compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against the bacterial strains evaluated, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the low µg/mL range. Of all guanidine derivatives, 3-[2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)]-benzyloxy derivative 9m showed the best potency with MICs of 0.5 µg/mL (S. aureus) and 1 µg/mL (E. coli), respectively. Several aminoguanidine hydrazone derivatives also showed good overall activity. Compounds 10a, 10j, and 10r–s displayed MICs of 4 µg/mL against both S. aureus and E. coli. In the aminoguanidine hydrazone series, 3-(4-trifluoromethyl)-benzyloxy derivative 10d showed the best potency against S. aureus (MIC 1 µg/mL) but was far less active against E. coli (MIC 16 µg/mL). Compound 9m and the para-substituted derivative 9v also showed promising results against two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These results provide new and potent structural leads for further antibiotic optimisation strategies

Synthesis and in vitro antimicrobial SAR of benzyl and phenyl guanidine and aminoguanidine hydrazone derivatives

A series of benzyl, phenyl guanidine and aminoguandine hydrazone derivatives was designed and in vitro antibacterial activities against two different bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) were determined. Several compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against the bacterial strains evaluated, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in the low μg/mL range. Of all guanidine derivatives, 3-[2-chloro-3-(trifluoromethyl)]-benzyloxy deriva-tive 9m showed the best potency with MICs of 0.5 μg/mL (S. aureus) and 1 μg/mL (E. coli), respec-tively. Several aminoguanidine hydrazone derivatives also showed good overall activity. Com-pounds 10a, 10j and 10r-s displayed MICs of 4 μg/mL against both S. aureus and E. coli. In the ami-noguanidine hydrazone series, 3-(4-trifluoromethyl)-benzyloxy derivative 10d showed the best po-tency against S. aureus (MIC 1 μg/mL), but was far less active against E. coli (MIC 16 μg/mL). Com-pound 9m and the para-substituted derivative 9v also showed promising results against two strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These results provide new and potent struc-tural leads for further antibiotic optimisation strategies

Oxygen cost of dynamic or isometric exercise relative to recruited muscle mass

BACKGROUND: Oxygen cost of different muscle actions may be influenced by different recruitment and rate coding strategies. The purpose of this study was to account for these strategies by comparing the oxygen cost of dynamic and isometric muscle actions relative to the muscle mass recruited via surface electrical stimulation of the knee extensors. METHODS: Comparisons of whole body pulmonary Δ [Formula: see text] O(2 )were made in seven young healthy adults (1 female) during 3 minutes of dynamic or isometric knee extensions, both induced by surface electrical stimulation. Recruited mass was quantified in T(2 )weighted spin echo magnetic resonance images. RESULTS: The Δ [Formula: see text] O(2 )for dynamic muscle actions, 242 ± 128 ml • min(-1 )(mean ± SD) was greater (p = 0.003) than that for isometric actions, 143 ± 99 ml • min(-1). Recruited muscle mass was also greater (p = 0.004) for dynamic exercise, 0.716 ± 282 versus 0.483 ± 0.139 kg. The rate of oxygen consumption per unit of recruited muscle ([Formula: see text]) was similar in dynamic and isometric exercise (346 ± 162 versus 307 ± 198 ml • kg(-1 )• min(-1); p = 0.352), but the [Formula: see text] calculated relative to initial knee extensor torque was significantly greater during dynamic exercise 5.1 ± 1.5 versus 3.6 ± 1.6 ml • kg(-1 )• Nm(-1 )• min(-1 )(p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: These results are consistent with the view that oxygen cost of dynamic and isometric actions is determined by different circumstances of mechanical interaction between actin and myosin in the sarcomere, and that muscle recruitment has only a minor role

Comparing plasma and faecal measures of steroid hormones in Adelie penguins Pygoscelis adeliae

Physiological measurements of both stress and sex hormones are often used to estimate the consequences of natural or human-induced change in ecological studies of various animals. Different methods of hormone measurement exist, potentially explaining variation in results across studies; methods should be cross-validated to ensure that they correlate. We directly compared faecal and plasma hormone measurements for the first time in a wild free-living species, the Adelie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae). Blood and faecal samples were simultaneously collected from individual penguins for comparison and assayed for testosterone and corticosterone (or their metabolites). Sex differences and variability within each measure, and correlation of values across measures were compared. For both hormones, plasma samples showed greater variation than faecal samples. Males had higher mean corticosterone concentrations than females, but the difference was only statistically significant in faecal samples. Plasma testosterone, but not faecal testosterone, was significantly higher in males than females. Correlation between sample types was poor overall, and weaker in females than in males, perhaps because measures from plasma represent hormones that are both free and bound to globulins, whereas measures from faeces represent only the free portion. Faecal samples also represent a cumulative measure of hormones over time, as opposed to a plasma ‘snapshot’ concentration. Our data indicate that faecal sampling appears more suitable for assessing baseline hormone concentrations, whilst plasma sampling may best define immediate responses to environmental events. Consequently, future studies should ensure that they select the most appropriate matrix and method of hormone measurement to answer their research questions

Complete Genome Sequence and Comparative Metabolic Profiling of the Prototypical Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli Strain 042

Background \ud Escherichia coli can experience a multifaceted life, in some cases acting as a commensal while in other cases causing intestinal and/or extraintestinal disease. Several studies suggest enteroaggregative E. coli are the predominant cause of E. coli-mediated diarrhea in the developed world and are second only to Campylobacter sp. as a cause of bacterial-mediated diarrhea. Furthermore, enteroaggregative E. coli are a predominant cause of persistent diarrhea in the developing world where infection has been associated with malnourishment and growth retardation. \ud \ud Methods \ud In this study we determined the complete genomic sequence of E. coli 042, the prototypical member of the enteroaggregative E. coli, which has been shown to cause disease in volunteer studies. We performed genomic and phylogenetic comparisons with other E. coli strains revealing previously uncharacterised virulence factors including a variety of secreted proteins and a capsular polysaccharide biosynthetic locus. In addition, by using Biolog™ Phenotype Microarrays we have provided a full metabolic profiling of E. coli 042 and the non-pathogenic lab strain E. coli K-12. We have highlighted the genetic basis for many of the metabolic differences between E. coli 042 and E. coli K-12. \ud \ud Conclusion \ud This study provides a genetic context for the vast amount of experimental and epidemiological data published thus far and provides a template for future diagnostic and intervention strategies

Comparative analysis of subtyping methods against a whole-genome-sequencing standard for Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis.

A retrospective investigation was performed to evaluate whole-genome sequencing as a benchmark for comparing molecular subtyping methods for Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis and survey the population structure of commonly encountered S. enterica serotype Enteritidis outbreak isolates in the United States. A total of 52 S. enterica serotype Enteritidis isolates representing 16 major outbreaks and three sporadic cases collected between 2001 and 2012 were sequenced and subjected to subtyping by four different methods: (i) whole-genome single-nucleotide-polymorphism typing (WGST), (ii) multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA), (iii) clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats combined with multi-virulence-locus sequence typing (CRISPR-MVLST), and (iv) pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). WGST resolved all outbreak clusters and provided useful robust phylogenetic inference results with high epidemiological correlation. While both MLVA and CRISPR-MVLST yielded higher discriminatory power than PFGE, MLVA outperformed the other methods in delineating outbreak clusters whereas CRISPR-MVLST showed the potential to trace major lineages and ecological origins of S. enterica serotype Enteritidis. Our results suggested that whole-genome sequencing makes a viable platform for the evaluation and benchmarking of molecular subtyping methods