One can’t stand on its own: Are non-luminescence traits necessary for V. fischeri colonization of E. scolopes?

Vibrio fischeri and Euprymna scolopes squid establish mutualistic symbiosis and select for each other in the natural environment. V. fischeri provides bioluminescent camouflage for E. scolopes while E. scolopes provides nutrients for V. fischeri. The most intriguing aspect of this relationship is that E. scolopes is highly selective and only allows sustained colonization by luminous, but not dark V. fischeri. Luminescence is the key symbiosis trait; however, other bacterial factors may also allow squid recognition. We hypothesized that there are luminescence linked traits that contribute to colonization. V. fischeri with luminescence variation was isolated and tested for oxidative resistance, morphology, siderophore, biofilm, chitinase activity, motility, and auxotrophy. Siderophore and chitinase activity demonstrated correlation with luminescence while all other phenotypes didn’t demonstrate direct relations

Reasoning with Forest Logic Programs and f-hybrid Knowledge Bases

Open Answer Set Programming (OASP) is an undecidable framework for integrating ontologies and rules. Although several decidable fragments of OASP have been identified, few reasoning procedures exist. In this article, we provide a sound, complete, and terminating algorithm for satisfiability checking w.r.t. Forest Logic Programs (FoLPs), a fragment of OASP where rules have a tree shape and allow for inequality atoms and constants. The algorithm establishes a decidability result for FoLPs. Although believed to be decidable, so far only the decidability for two small subsets of FoLPs, local FoLPs and acyclic FoLPs, has been shown. We further introduce f-hybrid knowledge bases, a hybrid framework where \SHOQ{} knowledge bases and forest logic programs co-exist, and we show that reasoning with such knowledge bases can be reduced to reasoning with forest logic programs only. We note that f-hybrid knowledge bases do not require the usual (weakly) DL-safety of the rule component, providing thus a genuine alternative approach to current integration approaches of ontologies and rules

Rewritability in Monadic Disjunctive Datalog, MMSNP, and Expressive Description Logics

We study rewritability of monadic disjunctive Datalog programs, (the complements of) MMSNP sentences, and ontology-mediated queries (OMQs) based on expressive description logics of the ALC family and on conjunctive queries. We show that rewritability into FO and into monadic Datalog (MDLog) are decidable, and that rewritability into Datalog is decidable when the original query satisfies a certain condition related to equality. We establish 2NExpTime-completeness for all studied problems except rewritability into MDLog for which there remains a gap between 2NExpTime and 3ExpTime. We also analyze the shape of rewritings, which in the MMSNP case correspond to obstructions, and give a new construction of canonical Datalog programs that is more elementary than existing ones and also applies to formulas with free variables

Characterising Fixed Parameter Tractability for Query Evaluation over Guarded TGDs

We consider the parameterized complexity of evaluating Ontology Mediated Queries (OMQ) based on Guarded TGDs (GTGD) and Unions of Conjunctive Queries, in the case where relational symbols have unrestricted arity and where the parameter is the size of the OMQ. We establish exact criteria for fixed-parameter tractable (fpt) evaluation of recursively enumerable (r.e.) classes of such OMQs (under the widely held Exponential Time Hypothesis). One of the main technical tools introduced in the paper is an fpt-reduction from deciding parameterized uniform CSPs to parameterized OMQ evaluation. The reduction preserves measures known to be essential for classifying r.e. classes of parameterized uniform CSPs: submodular width (according to the well known result of Marx for unrestricted-arity schemas) and treewidth (according to the well known result of Grohe for bounded-arity schemas). As such, it can be employed to obtain hardness results for evaluation of r.e. classes of parameterized OMQs based on GTGD both in the unrestricted and in the bounded arity case. Previously, for bounded arity schemas, this has been tackled using a technique requiring full introspection into the construction employed by Grohe

Barriers to Implementation of Point-Of-Care Ultrasound in Primary Care: Interval Change

https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1849/thumbnail.jp

Treating Cartilage Injuries in Young Patients

Young people tend to suffer from cartilage injuries caused by extraneous trauma. There are many treatments for cartilage injuries. This article recommends treatments for different cartilage injuries targeted towards young patients. For young patients with mild or asymptomatic symptoms without cartilage displacement, this article recommends mandatory conservative treatment for young patients. Depending on the recovery condition of conservative treatment, the surgeon can subsequently plan for surgical treatment. Depending on lesion size, this article recommends the following operations. For lesions less than 1 cm2, arthroscopic debridement is recommended. For lesions between 1 and 4 cm2, MACI is recommended. For lesions larger than 4 cm2, OCA is recommended as a priority. If OCA is not feasible, OAT can be considered

Alterações comportamentais e do metabolismo energético no transtorno do humor bipolar: evidências pré-clínicas e clínicas

Tese de Doutorado apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, da Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense – UNESC, para a obtenção do título de Doutor em Ciências da Saúde.O modelo animal de mania induzido por dextroanfetamina (d-AMPH) é descrito na literatura como um bom modelo animal de transtorno bipolar (TB). Entretanto, tem sido relatado diferenças entre os tipos de anfetaminas em induzir alterações comportamentais e neuroquímicas. Além disso, vários estudos sugerem que o TB está associado à disfunções no metabolismo energético. No presente estudo foi avaliado a diferença entre d-AMPH e metanfetamina (m-AMPH) sobre o comportamento e disfunção no metabolismo energético no cérebro de ratos. Foi avaliado também os efeitos de lítio (Li) e valproato (VPA) sobre as alterações comportamentais e sobre metabolismo energético induzidos por m-AMPH. Finalmente, comparamos os níveis de creatina quinase (CK) no soro de pacientes bipolares nas fases depressiva, maníaca e eutímica. Para tanto, o trabalho foi dividido em três partes. Parte 1: Ratos Wistar receberam uma injeção intraperitoneal (i.p) de salina, d-AMPH (2mg/kg) ou m-AMPH (0,25, 0,5, 1 ou 2mg/kg) e foram submetidos ao teste do campo aberto para avaliação comportamental 2 h após. Foi avaliada também a atividade das enzimas do ciclo de Krebs (citrato sintase, succinato desidrogenase e malato desidrogenase), dos complexos da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial (I, II, II-III, IV) e da CK no cérebro dos ratos. Parte 2: Foi administrado m-AMPH ou salina i.p em ratos Wistar durante 14 dias e entre o 8º e o 14º dia os animais eram tratados com Li, VPA ou salina via i.p. Os animais foram submetidos aos mesmos testes comportamentais e bioquímicos descritos na Parte1. Parte 3: Foram avaliados os níveis de CK no soro de pacientes bipolares - eutímicos, depressivos e em mania – que foram comparados com voluntários saudáveis. Na primeira parte do trabalho foi demonstrado que d-AMPH e m-AMPH aumentaram a atividade locomotora nos ratos. As visitas ao centro do campo aberto aumentaram com a administração de ambas as drogas na dose de 2mg/kg. A administração de m-AMPH na dose de 2mg/kg aumentou o comportamento estereotipado dos animais (sniffing). A administração tanto de d-AMPH quanto de m-AMPH diminuiu a atividade das enzimas do ciclo de Krebs, dos complexos da cadeia respiratória mitocondrial e da CK; entretanto, estes efeitos variam de acordo com a região cerebral avaliada. Na segunda parte do trabalho foi demonstrado que Li e VPA revertem a hiperatividade e alterações no metabolismo energético induzida por m-AMPH. Por fim, na terceira parte do trabalho foi demonstrado que durante a mania, os níveis de CK estão aumentados no soro dos pacientes bipolares quando comparado com voluntários saudáveis. Estes dados demonstram que a m-AMPH, mas não d-AMPH, induz comportamento estereotípico em ratos; porém, as duas drogas parecem ter efeitos similares sobre o metabolismo energético; e que, assim como a d-AMPH, a m-AMPH é capaz de induzir hiperatividade e disfunção no metabolismo energético que são revertidos por Li e VPA. As fases maníaca, depressiva e eutímica do TB, além de apresentarem sintomatologia distinta, também podem ser diferenciadas pelo nível de CK presente no soro dos pacientes. Entretanto, mais estudos são necessários para entender as diferenças observadas na atividade da CK durante as fases do TB.The animal model of mania induced by dextroamphetamine (d-AMPH) has been considered a good model for the study of bipolar disorder (BD). However, some studies have shown differences between amphetamines to induce both behavioral and biochemical changes. Besides, several studies have suggested that dysfunctional energy metabolism have a central role in BD. In the present study was investigated the potency of the d-AMPH and methamphetamine (m-AMPH) on the behavior and energetic dysfunction in the brain of rats. Were investigated also the effects of the lithium (Li) and valproate (VPT) on behavioral and energy metabolism changes in brain of rats undergoing treatment with the m-AMPH. Finally, was to compare serum creatine kinase (CK) levels between bipolar disorder patients, in the various phases (depressive, manic, and euthymic). The work was divided into three parts. Part 1: Wistar rats were given single intraperitoneal (i.p) injections of saline, d-AMPH (2 mg/kg) or m-AMPH (0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2 mg/kg). Locomotor behavior was assessed using the open-field task and activities of Krebs cycle enzymes (citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase), mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes (I, II, III and IV) and CK were measured in brain of rats. Part 2: Wistar rats were first given m-AMPH or saline for 14 days, and then, between days 8 and 14, rats were treated with Li, VPA or saline i.p. The animals were submitted to the same behavioral and biochemical tests described in Part 1. Part 3: Was compared serum CK levels between BD patients, in the various phases (depressive, manic, and euthymic), and healthy volunteers. In the first part of the study was demonstrated that d-AMPH and m-AMPH (all doses administered) increased locomotor activity of animals. The numbers of visits to the centre were increased by d-AMPH and m-AMPH at 2 mg/kg. The m-AMPH administration at 2mg/kg increased the amount of stereotypic behavior. The amphetamines significantly decreased the activities of Krebs cycle enzymes, mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes and CK; nevertheless, this effect varied depending on the brain region evaluated. In the second part of this study we found that Li and VPA reversed m-AMPH-induced hyperactivity. Besides, Li and VPA reversed m-AMPH-induced energetic metabolism dysfunction; however, the effects of Li and VPA were dependent on the brain region analyzed. Finally, in the third part of this study was demonstrated that CK levels were higher in the manic patients than in the controls. Together these data show that: 1) at high doses, m-AMPH increased stereotyped (sniffing) behavior in rats, but d-AMPH did not. However, this study shows that d-AMPH and m-AMPH seem to have similar effects on the brains energetic metabolism; and the d-AMPH, m-AMPH is able to induced hyperactivity and energetic metabolism dysfunction, both seen in BD. In addition, Li and VPA reversed m-AMPH’s effects on locomotor activity and energetic metabolism. The clinical differences among the depressive, manic, and euthymic phases of BD are paralleled by contrasting levels of CK. However, further studies are needed in order to understand the state-dependent differences observed in serum CK activity

Full Tone to Sound Feminine: Analyzing the Role of Tonal Variants in Identity Construction

Tone neutralization in Standard Mandarin requires syllables in a weakly-stressed position to be destressed and toneless (Chao, 1968), yet such a process is often incomplete in some Mandarin dialects, e.g., Taiwanese-accented Mandarin (Huang, 2012, 2018). For instance, the metrically weak syllable bai in míng2bai0 (‘to understand, clear’) is usually destressed in Standard Mandarin but fully realized as a rising tone (míng2bái2) in non-standard varieties. Recent studies have observed that Standard Mandarin speakers, especially young females, tend to performatively adopt this supraregional linguistic feature to index their “cosmopolitan” and “youthful” social personae (Zhang 2005, 2018). The current study provides a spoken-corpus analysis to address how the “cute” social persona is indexed in such prosodic variables. A sharp contrast in the full tone usage among the female speakers emerged, such that the speakers who adopted a “cute” persona use distinctively high percentages of full tones, as opposed to the speakers who were labelled “independent” and “strong-minded”. However, there was no split among males, in that their full tone percentages were generally low regardless of their social personae. Full tone usages also vary across topics, shown by a “cute” speaker that used full tones more frequently on cosmetic topics compared to formal topics. These results suggest that full tone realization is more likely a characteristic-specific feature, indexing the “cute” social persona of the speaker, instead of a purely “cosmopolitan-related” linguistic feature