Photorhabdus adhesion modification protein (Pam) binds extracellular polysaccharide and alters bacterial attachment.

Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tBACKGROUND: Photorhabdus are Gram-negative nematode-symbiotic and insect-pathogenic bacteria. The species Photorhabdus asymbiotica is able to infect humans as well as insects. We investigated the secreted proteome of a clinical isolate of P. asymbiotica at different temperatures in order to identify proteins relevant to the infection of the two different hosts. RESULTS: A comparison of the proteins secreted by a clinical isolate of P. asymbiotica at simulated insect (28 degrees C) and human (37 degrees C) temperatures led to the identification of a small and highly abundant protein, designated Pam, that is only secreted at the lower temperature. The pam gene is present in all Photorhabdus strains tested and shows a high level of conservation across the whole genus, suggesting it is both ancestral to the genus and probably important to the biology of the bacterium. The Pam protein shows limited sequence similarity to the 13.6 kDa component of a binary toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis. Nevertheless, injection or feeding of heterologously produced Pam showed no insecticidal activity to either Galleria mellonella or Manduca sexta larvae. In bacterial colonies, Pam is associated with an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS)-like matrix, and modifies the ability of wild-type cells to attach to an artificial surface. Interestingly, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) binding studies revealed that the Pam protein itself has adhesive properties. Although Pam is produced throughout insect infection, genetic knockout does not affect either insect virulence or the ability of P. luminescens to form a symbiotic association with its host nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. CONCLUSIONS: We studied a highly abundant protein, Pam, which is secreted in a temperature-dependent manner in P. asymbiotica. Our findings indicate that Pam plays an important role in enhancing surface attachment in insect blood. Its association with exopolysaccharide suggests it may exert its effect through mediation of EPS properties. Despite its abundance and conservation in the genus, we find no evidence for a role of Pam in either virulence or symbiosis.BBSRCWellcome TrustEMBEK

Professionally and personally inviting teacher practices as related to affective course outcomes reported by dental hygiene students

This study investigated (I) the relationship between teacher practices and student affective outcomes (i.e., level of satisfaction) within the context of Invitational Teaching, which is a perceptually based self-concept approach to the teaching-learning process; (2) the relationship between professionally inviting teacher practices, which encourage students to learn and appreciate course content, and Personally inviting teacher practices, which encourage students to feel good about themselves and their abilities in general; and (3) the differences in Professionally and Personally inviting practices in their relationships to student affective outcomes. Data were collected by surveying 1045 students of 74 dental hygiene teachers in 22 schools in the southeastern United States. The Invitational Teaching Survey (ITS) (Amos, Purkey, & Tobias, 1984) identified and measured professionally and personally inviting teacher practices. Subscores under professionally inviting practices include coordination, proficiency, and expectation and under personally inviting practices include consideration and commitment. The Student Affective Outcome Measures (SAOM) instrument was developed and validated to assess students' level of satisfaction with the course, the subject matter, the instructor, and the self-as-learner

The haunted world of C. S. Lewis : a study of his space trilogy

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that C. S. Lewis In his space trilogy la not so much a maker of myths as a reteller of myths. He uses older myth to affirm his belief that man lives in a world haunted by the supernatural. The first chapter is a study of the idea of myth, with special emphasis on Lewis's attitude toward myth, as seen in the trilogy. For Lewis, myth is more than a form of literature; It is a "thing" (divorced from language), which has the power to fill the human heart with awe. Lewis's space trilogy does not symbolize the truth about human life so much as it emphasizes "questions" about human life. It brings to the surface all of the longings of the human heart

The use of keyboard instruments in the religious services of selected Black Baptist churches in Central Piedmont North Carolina

In this study, emphasis placed on Keyboard styles and musical practices present in the "Low" Baptist churches - those churches operating on levels that are more overly emotional than other Baptist churches. Other objectives of this study to assess the levels of performance and training of Keyboardists and to investigate the relationship of these factors to the demographics of the pastor and his congregation. One hundred seventy-five churches were identified through examination of state and regional Black Baptist church association directories and through interviews with church leaders. From the master list of 127 churches, 25 were randomly selected to be contacted by mail. Each of the 25 pastors was requested to participate in the study. Fifteen agreed but three of these were eliminated due to over-representation from two geographic areas. One Sunday worship service was visited and tape recorded at each of the 12 churches involved in the study. The pastor and Keyboardist(s) at each church completed a questionnaire and were interviewed by the investigator. The recordings, interviews, and questionnaires provided the data for this study

Statistical methods for the determination of content validity

Determination of the content validity of standardized tests is a central problem at all levels of education and in the professions. The problem investigated in this research was that of developing operational rules and statistical guidelines for estimating the content validity of standardized achievement tests. Rating and matching techniques were examined as alternative methods for eliciting judgments about the content validity of test items. These methods of eliciting judgments and newly developed quantitative indices of the content validity of test items and tests were used to validate the Greensboro Public Schools' Mathematics Promotion Standard tests for Grade 4. Rating items on the basis of their "Overall" quality and a matching method were found to be more accurate procedures for eliciting judgments than was a method that required rating items on a given set of dimensions of judgment; however, judges were more consistent in their judgments of test items over domains with the latter method. The assumptions and implications of using the newly developed indices of content validity with tests designed for criterion-referenced interpretations were discussed

A study of velopharyngeal closure in children with vocal nodules

The etiology of vocal nodules has eluded speech pathologists and physicians alike. The literature reporting incidence and etiology has been inconclusive. Few studies have suggested a physiological disorder as the etiology of vocal nodules. However, McWilliams, Bluestone, and Musgrave (1969), in noting the high frequency of vocal nodules in a population of cleft palate children, have suggested that velopharyngeal inadequacy may be a cause of vocal nodules in these children. The possibility that non-cleft palate children with vocal nodules also have minimal velopharyngeal inadequacy was proposed. The method for data collection consisted of obtaining airflow measures on nine children with vocal nodules. These children ranged in age from eight to twelve years. In addition, an individual record was compiled on each child. This record contained information regarding the child's medical history, onset and development of hoarseness, variables affecting hoarseness, and history of vocal use. In addition, a space was provided on the record to note the occurrence of other speech disorders in the families of the subjects. The results of the study revealed that all nine subjects had adequate velopharyngeal closure as measured by the airflow procedure. Therefore the hypothesis that these non-cleft palate children with vocal nodules also have velopharyngeal inadequacy must be rejected. The individual record results supported the literature in suggesting that vocal abuse, particularly during a time when the vocal cords are inflamed, is related etiologically to vocal nodules. The results on two subjects supported the theory that tension may be related to vocal abuse

Glucose Availability and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Link Energy Metabolism and Innate Immunity in the Bovine Endometrium

Defences against the bacteria that usually infect the endometrium of postpartum cattle are impaired when there is metabolic energy stress, leading to endometritis and infertility. The endometrial response to bacteria depends on innate immunity, with recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns stimulating inflammation, characterised by secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-8. How metabolic stress impacts tissue responses to pathogens is unclear, but integration of energy metabolism and innate immunity means that stressing one system might affect the other. Here we tested the hypothesis that homeostatic pathways integrate energy metabolism and innate immunity in bovine endometrial tissue. Glucose deprivation reduced the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 from ex vivo organ cultures of bovine endometrium challenged with the pathogen-associated molecular patterns lipopolysaccharide and bacterial lipopeptide. Endometrial inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide were also reduced by small molecules that activate or inhibit the intracellular sensor of energy, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). However, inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin, which is a more global metabolic sensor than AMPK, had little effect on inflammation. Similarly, endometrial inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide were not affected by insulin-like growth factor-1, which is an endocrine regulator of metabolism. Interestingly, the inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide increased endometrial glucose consumption and induced the Warburg effect, which could exacerbate deficits in glucose availability in the tissue. In conclusion, metabolic energy stress perturbed inflammatory responses to pathogen-associated molecular patterns in bovine endometrial tissue, and the most fundamental regulators of cellular energy, glucose availability and AMPK, had the greatest impact on innate immunity

Severe early onset preeclampsia: short and long term clinical, psychosocial and biochemical aspects

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy specific disorder commonly defined as de novo hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks gestational age. It occurs in approximately 3-5% of pregnancies and it is still a major cause of both foetal and maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide1. As extensive research has not yet elucidated the aetiology of preeclampsia, there are no rational preventive or therapeutic interventions available. The only rational treatment is delivery, which benefits the mother but is not in the interest of the foetus, if remote from term. Early onset preeclampsia (<32 weeks’ gestational age) occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies. It is, however often associated with maternal morbidity as the risk of progression to severe maternal disease is inversely related with gestational age at onset2. Resulting prematurity is therefore the main cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity in patients with severe preeclampsia3. Although the discussion is ongoing, perinatal survival is suggested to be increased in patients with preterm preeclampsia by expectant, non-interventional management. This temporising treatment option to lengthen pregnancy includes the use of antihypertensive medication to control hypertension, magnesium sulphate to prevent eclampsia and corticosteroids to enhance foetal lung maturity4. With optimal maternal haemodynamic status and reassuring foetal condition this results on average in an extension of 2 weeks. Prolongation of these pregnancies is a great challenge for clinicians to balance between potential maternal risks on one the eve hand and possible foetal benefits on the other. Clinical controversies regarding prolongation of preterm preeclamptic pregnancies still exist – also taking into account that preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal mortality in the Netherlands5 - a debate which is even more pronounced in very preterm pregnancies with questionable foetal viability6-9. Do maternal risks of prolongation of these very early pregnancies outweigh the chances of neonatal survival? Counselling of women with very early onset preeclampsia not only comprises of knowledge of the outcome of those particular pregnancies, but also knowledge of outcomes of future pregnancies of these women is of major clinical importance. This thesis opens with a review of the literature on identifiable risk factors of preeclampsia

Measurements of the pp → ZZ production cross section and the Z → 4ℓ branching fraction, and constraints on anomalous triple gauge couplings at √s = 13 TeV

Four-lepton production in proton-proton collisions, pp -> (Z/gamma*)(Z/gamma*) -> 4l, where l = e or mu, is studied at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1). The ZZ production cross section, sigma(pp -> ZZ) = 17.2 +/- 0.5 (stat) +/- 0.7 (syst) +/- 0.4 (theo) +/- 0.4 (lumi) pb, measured using events with two opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs produced in the mass region 60 4l) = 4.83(-0.22)(+0.23) (stat)(-0.29)(+0.32) (syst) +/- 0.08 (theo) +/- 0.12(lumi) x 10(-6) for events with a four-lepton invariant mass in the range 80 4GeV for all opposite-sign, same-flavor lepton pairs. The results agree with standard model predictions. The invariant mass distribution of the four-lepton system is used to set limits on anomalous ZZZ and ZZ. couplings at 95% confidence level: -0.0012 < f(4)(Z) < 0.0010, -0.0010 < f(5)(Z) < 0.0013, -0.0012 < f(4)(gamma) < 0.0013, -0.0012 < f(5)(gamma) < 0.0013