2,286 research outputs found
Evolution of Salmonella within Hosts
Within-host evolution has resulted in thousands of variants of Salmonella that exhibit remarkable diversity in host range and disease outcome, from broad host range to exquisite host restriction, causing gastroenteritis to disseminated disease such as typhoid fever. Within-host evolution is a continuing process driven by genomic variation that occurs during each infection, potentiating adaptation to a new niche resulting from changes in animal husbandry, the use of antimicrobials, and emergence of immune compromised populations. We discuss key advances in our understanding of the evolution of Salmonella within the host, inferred from (i) the process of host adaptation of Salmonella pathovars in the past, and (ii) direct observation of the generation of variation and selection of beneficial traits during single infections
Shedding light on social learning
Culture involves the origination and transmission of ideas, but the
conditions in which culture can emerge and evolve are unclear. We constructed
and studied a highly simplified neural-network model of these processes. In
this model ideas originate by individual learning from the environment and are
transmitted by communication between individuals. Individuals (or "agents")
comprise a single neuron which receives structured data from the environment
via plastic synaptic connections. The data are generated in the simplest
possible way: linear mixing of independently fluctuating sources and the goal
of learning is to unmix the data. To make this problem tractable we assume that
at least one of the sources fluctuates in a nonGaussian manner. Linear mixing
creates structure in the data, and agents attempt to learn (from the data and
possibly from other individuals) synaptic weights that will unmix, i.e., to
"understand" the agent's world. For a variety of reasons even this goal can be
difficult for a single agent to achieve; we studied one particular type of
difficulty (created by imperfection in synaptic plasticity), though our
conclusions should carry over to many other types of difficulty. We previously
studied whether a small population of communicating agents, learning from each
other, could more easily learn unmixing coefficients than isolated individuals,
learning only from their environment. We found, unsurprisingly, that if agents
learn indiscriminately from any other agent (whether or not they have learned
good solutions), communication does not enhance understanding. Here we extend
the model slightly, by allowing successful learners to be more effective
teachers, and find that now a population of agents can learn more effectively
than isolated individuals. We suggest that a key factor in the onset of culture
might be the development of selective learning.Comment: 11 pages 8 figure
MANDATORY ADOPTION OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) BY NIGERIAN LISTED BANKS: ANY IMPLICATION FOR VALUE RELEVANCE?
In January 2012 Nigeria adopted IFRS. Sequel to that adoption, the pressing question agitating the minds
of researchers as well as other stakeholders in financial reporting is whether the mandatory adoption of
IFRS has given rise to an enhanced value relevance (or quality) of financial information in Nigerian banks.
To address this, we relied on the fundamental Ohlson (1995) model which has also been severally employed
in prior researches. By means of criterion based sampling technique, we selected 13 out of the 21 listed
commercial banks in Nigeria for our study. Our findings revealed that Book Value of Equity (BVE) and
Earnings per Share (EPS) are positively associated with share price. We also observed that BVE is less
associated with share price than EPS. We recommended inter alia that sustainable development of Nigerian
Stock Exchange (NSE) can be boosted through credible financial information. When the integrity of the
Financial Report is being threatened, investors (both local and international) are likely to shun or shrink
from investing adequately in Nigerian Capital Marke
Competitive exclusion of Salmonella enteritidis by Salmonella gallinarum in poultry.
Salmonella Enteritidis emerged as a major egg-associated pathogen in the late 20th century. Epidemiologic data from England, Wales, and the United States indicate that S. Enteritidis filled the ecologic niche vacated by eradication of S. Gallinarum from poultry, leading to an epidemic increase in human infections. We tested this hypothesis by retrospective analysis of epidemiologic surveys in Germany and demonstrated that the number of human S. Enteritidis cases is inversely related to the prevalence of S. Gallinarum in poultry. Mathematical models combining epidemiology with population biology suggest that S. Gallinarum competitively excluded S. Enteritidis from poultry flocks early in the 20th century
Universal Behaviour of the Superfluid Fraction and Tc of He-3 in 99.5% Open Aerogel
We have investigated the superfluid transition of He-3 in a 99.5% porosity
silica aerogel. This very dilute sample shows behaviour intermediary between
bulk He-3 and He-3 confined to the denser aerogels previously studied. We
present data on both the superfluid transition temperature and the superfluid
density and compare our results with previous measurements. Finally, we show
that the suppression of the superfluid transition temperature and suppression
of the superfluid density of He-3 in aerogel follow a universal relation for a
range of aerogel samples.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures; 1 new figure, minor change
Carbon Nanotubes by a CVD Method. Part I: Synthesis and Characterization of the (Mg, Fe)O Catalysts
The controlled synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition requires tailored and wellcharacterized catalyst materials. We attempted to synthesize Mg1-xFexO oxide solid solutions by the combustion route, with the aim of performing a detailed investigation of the influence of the synthesis conditions (nitrate/urea ratio and the iron content) on the valency and distribution of the iron ions and phases. Notably, characterization of the catalyst materials is performed using 57Fe Mošssbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Several iron species are detected including Fe2+ ions substituting for Mg2+ in the MgO lattice, Fe3+ ions dispersed in the octahedral sites of MgO, different clusters of Fe3+ ions, and MgFe2O4-like nanoparticles. The dispersion of these species and the microstructure of the oxides are discussed. Powders markedly different from one another that may serve as model systems for further study are identified. The formation of carbon nanotubes upon reduction in a H2/CH4 gas atmosphere of the selected powders is reported in a companion paper
Neoliberalisation and 'lad cultures' in higher education
This paper links HE neoliberalisation and âlad culturesâ, drawing on interviews and focus groups with women students. We argue that retro-sexist âladdishâ forms of masculine competitiveness and misogyny have been reshaped by neoliberal rationalities to become modes of consumerist sexualised audit. We also suggest that neoliberal frameworks scaffold an individualistic and adversarial culture among young people that interacts with perceived threats to menâs privilege and intensifies attempts to put women in their place through misogyny and sexual harassment. Furthermore, âlad culturesâ, sexism and sexual harassment in higher education may be invisibilised by institutions to preserve marketability in a neoliberal context. In response, we ask if we might foster dialogue and partnership between feminist and anti-marketisation politics
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