Forced patterns near a Turing-Hopf bifurcation

We study time-periodic forcing of spatially-extended patterns near a Turing-Hopf bifurcation point. A symmetry-based normal form analysis yields several predictions, including that (i) weak forcing near the intrinsic Hopf frequency enhances or suppresses the Turing amplitude by an amount that scales quadratically with the forcing strength, and (ii) the strongest effect is seen for forcing that is detuned from the Hopf frequency. To apply our results to specific models, we perform a perturbation analysis on general two-component reaction-diffusion systems, which reveals whether the forcing suppresses or enhances the spatial pattern. For the suppressing case, our results explain features of previous experiments on the CDIMA chemical reaction. However, we also find examples of the enhancing case, which has not yet been observed in experiment. Numerical simulations verify the predicted dependence on the forcing parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Rapid Evolution of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in Humans and Other Primates

The maintenance of chromosomal integrity is an essential task of every living organism and cellular repair mechanisms exist to guard against insults to DNA. Given the importance of this process, it is expected that DNA repair proteins would be evolutionarily conserved, exhibiting very minimal sequence change over time. However, BRCA1, an essential gene involved in DNA repair, has been reported to be evolving rapidly despite the fact that many protein-altering mutations within this gene convey a significantly elevated risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Results: To obtain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of BRCA1, we analyzed complete BRCA1 gene sequences from 23 primate species. We show that specific amino acid sites have experienced repeated selection for amino acid replacement over primate evolution. This selection has been focused specifically on humans and our closest living relatives, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). After examining BRCA1 polymorphisms in 7 bonobo, 44 chimpanzee, and 44 rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) individuals, we find considerable variation within each of these species and evidence for recent selection in chimpanzee populations. Finally, we also sequenced and analyzed BRCA2 from 24 primate species and find that this gene has also evolved under positive selection. Conclusions: While mutations leading to truncated forms of BRCA1 are clearly linked to cancer phenotypes in humans, there is also an underlying selective pressure in favor of amino acid-altering substitutions in this gene. A hypothesis where viruses are the drivers of this natural selection is discussed.National Institutes of Health R01-GM-093086, 8U42OD011197-13National Science Foundation BCS-07115972Burroughs Wellcome FundMolecular Bioscience

An experiment in voice identification

The paper studies the role of hearing aids in voice identification by hearing-impaired children

Characterization of Pro-Inflammatory Flagellin Proteins Produced by Lactobacillus ruminis and Related Motile Lactobacilli

peer-reviewedLactobacillus ruminis is one of at least twelve motile but poorly characterized species found in the genus Lactobacillus. Of these, only L. ruminis has been isolated from mammals, and this species may be considered as an autochthonous member of the gastrointestinal microbiota of humans, pigs and cows. Nine L. ruminis strains were investigated here to elucidate the biochemistry and genetics of Lactobacillus motility. Six strains isolated from humans were non-motile while three bovine isolates were motile. A complete set of flagellum biogenesis genes was annotated in the sequenced genomes of two strains, ATCC25644 (human isolate) and ATCC27782 (bovine isolate), but only the latter strain produced flagella. Comparison of the L. ruminis and L. mali DSM20444T motility loci showed that their genetic content and gene-order were broadly similar, although the L. mali motility locus was interrupted by an 11.8 Kb region encoding rhamnose utilization genes that is absent from the L. ruminis motility locus. Phylogenetic analysis of 39 motile bacteria indicated that Lactobacillus motility genes were most closely related to those of motile carnobacteria and enterococci. Transcriptome analysis revealed that motility genes were transcribed at a significantly higher level in motile L. ruminis ATCC27782 than in non-motile ATCC25644. Flagellin proteins were isolated from L. ruminis ATCC27782 and from three other Lactobacillus species, while recombinant flagellin of aflagellate L. ruminis ATCC25644 was expressed and purified from E. coli. These native and recombinant Lactobacillus flagellins, and also flagellate L. ruminis cells, triggered interleukin-8 production in cultured human intestinal epithelial cells in a manner suppressed by short interfering RNA directed against Toll-Like Receptor 5. This study provides genetic, transcriptomic, phylogenetic and immunological insights into the trait of flagellum-mediated motility in the lactobacilli.This work was supported by a Principal Investigator Award (07/IN.1/B1780) from Science Foundation Ireland to PWOT. BAN was the recipient of an Embark studentship from the Irish Research Council for Science Engineering and Technology. TD and KN were supported by the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, funded by Science Foundation Ireland

Inland extent of the Weddell Sea Rift imaged by new aerogeophysical data

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Regulating Target Marketing and Other Race-Based Advertising Practices

Recognizing the significant role that advertising plays in American life, this article examines the phenomenon of race-based targeted marketing as a contributing factor to the racial tension of our media age and evaluates the role of government regulation in preventing the dissemination of racist messages through advertising. In Part I, the article first looks at the evolution of mass marketing into today\u27s standard use of targeted marketing techniques, and especially how those techniques can sometimes have racist effects. In Part II, the article discusses both measurable and esoteric harms of cultural racism. Part III examines existing laws designed to regulate advertising generally and specific laws that reach discriminatory advertising for particular products and services. Part IV specifically analyzes the Federal Trade Commission\u27s existing authority to regulate unfairness in advertising as it might be used to prevent advertising with racist effects. Finally, recognizing the difficulty of governmental intervention in the marketplace, this article suggests guidelines for use by advertisers who affirmatively wish to avoid advertising practices that cause racist harms

A temperate former West Antarctic ice sheet suggested by an extensive zone of bed channels

Several recent studies predict that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet will become increasingly unstable under warmer conditions. Insights on such change can be assisted through investigations of the subglacial landscape, which contains imprints of former ice-sheet behavior. Here, we present radio-echo sounding data and satellite imagery revealing a series of ancient large sub-parallel subglacial bed channels preserved in the region between the Möller and Foundation Ice Streams, West Antarctica. We suggest that these newly recognized channels were formed by significant meltwater routed along the icesheet bed. The volume of water required is likely substantial and can most easily be explained by water generated at the ice surface. The Greenland Ice Sheet today exemplifies how significant seasonal surface melt can be transferred to the bed via englacial routing. For West Antarctica, the Pliocene (2.6–5.3 Ma) represents the most recent sustained period when temperatures could have been high enough to generate surface melt comparable to that of present-day Greenland. We propose, therefore, that a temperate ice sheet covered this location during Pliocene warm periods

Immune-engineered H7N9 Influenza Hemagglutinin Improves Protection against Viral Influenza Virus Challenge

The influenza hemagglutinin (HA) isolated from avian H7N9 influenza virus strains elicit weak immune responses. This low immunogenicity may be due to a regulatory T cell (Treg)–stimulating epitopes in HA from the H7N9 isolate A/Anhui/1/2013 (Anh/13). In this report, this Treg stimulating sequence was removed from the wild-type (WT) H7 HA amino acid sequence and replaced with a conserved CD4 + T cell stimulating sequences from human seasonal H3N2 strains and designed OPT1 H7 HA. The effectiveness of this optimized H7 HA protein was determined using a humanized mouse (HLA-DR3) expressing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR3 allele. HLA-DR3 mice were pre-immunized by infecting with H3N2 influenza virus, A/Hong Kong/4108/2014 and then vaccinated intramuscularly with either the WT H7 HA from Anh/13 or the OPT1 H7 HA antigen without adjuvant. The OPT1 H7 HA vaccination group elicited higher H7 HA-specific IgG titers that resulted in a lower mortality, weight loss, and lung viral titer following lethal challenge with the H7N9 Anh/13 influenza virus compared to WT-vaccinated mice. Overall, T-cell epitope-engineered vaccines can improve the immunogenicity of H7 HA antigens resulting in enhanced survival and lower morbidity against H7N9 influenza virus challenge

How much do delayed health care seeking, delayed care provision and diversion from primary care contribute to the transmission of STIs

Objectives: To explore the changing pattern of condom use from 1990 to 2000; to identify sociodemographic and behavioural factors associated with condom use; and reasons for condom use in 2000. Methods: Large probability sample surveys administered among those resident in Britain aged 16–44 (n = 13 765 in 1990, n = 11 161 in 2000). Face to face interviews with self completion components collected sociodemographic, behavioural, and attitudinal data. Results: Condom use in the past year among sexually active 16–24 year old men increased from 61.0% in 1990 to 82.1% in 2000 (p<0.0001), and from 42.0% to 63.2% (p<0.0001) among women of the same age, with smaller increases among older age groups. Among individuals reporting at least two partners in the previous 4 week period, approximately two thirds reported inconsistent or no condom use (63.1% (95% CI 55.9% to 69.8%) of the men and 68.5% (95% CI 57.6% to 77.7%) of the women). Conclusions: Rates of condom use increased substantially between 1990 and 2000, particularly among young people. However, inconsistent condom use by individuals with high rates of partner acquisition may contribute significantly to the recent resurgence in STIs. This group is an important target for intensive and specific sexual health interventions

Pro-inflammatory flagellin proteins of prevalent motile commensal bacteria are variably abundant in the intestinal microbiome of elderly humans

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