Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The 5′UTR Intron of Arabidopsis GGT1 Aminotransferase Enhances Promoter Activity by Recruiting RNA Polymerase II

The 5′UTR intron of GGT1 determines maximum transcript abundance and affects RNA polymerase II binding. Photorespiration is essential for the detoxification of glycolate and recycling of carbon to the Calvin Benson Bassham cycle. Enzymes participating in the pathway have been identified, and investigations now focus on the regulation of photorespiration by transporters and metabolites. However, regulation of photorespiration on the gene level has not been intensively studied. Here, we show that maximum transcript abundance of Glu:glyoxylate aminotransferase 1 (GGT1) is regulated by intron-mediated enhancement (IME) of the 5′ leader intron rather than by regulatory elements in the 5′ upstream region. The intron is rich in CT-stretches and contains the motif TGTGATTTG that is highly similar to the IME-related motif TTNGATYTG. The GGT1 intron also confers leaf-specific expression of foreign promoters. Quantitative PCR analysis and GUS activity measurements revealed that IME of the GGT1 5′UTR intron is controlled on the transcriptional level. IME by the GGT1 5′UTR intron was at least 2-fold. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that the abundance of RNA polymerase II binding to the intron-less construct is reduced.
Effect of canthaxanthin content of the maternal diet on the antioxidant system of the developing chick

1. Effects of canthaxanthin supplementation of the maternal diet on the antioxidant system of the developing chick were investigated. 2. Three hundred and twenty female broiler breeder birds were housed in one of 4 controlled environment rooms with 3 replicates for all treatments, with the exception of the control treatment of which there were 4 replicates. All birds received one of 5 diets: control low xanthophyll diet, or the same diet supplemented with 3, 6, 12 or 24 mg/kg canthaxanthin in the form of Carophyll® Red. At 30 weeks of age 60 eggs from each of the 5 groups were incubated. At d 16 of the embryo development, at d 1 and d 7 posthatch tissue samples were collected and analysed by HPLC-based methods. 3. Canthaxanthin accumulation in the egg yolk was proportional to dietary content. Furthermore, at 12 to 24 mg/kg canthaxanthin was associated with an increase in γ-tocopherol concentration in the egg yolk. Canthaxanthin was transferred from the egg yolk to the developing embryo and, as a result, its concentration in the liver of the embryo at 16 and in 1-d-old chicks was increased. Even at d 7 posthatch canthaxanthin concentration in the chicken liver was elevated. 4. Canthaxanthin supplementation of the maternal diet at 12 mg/kg was associated with an increased α-tocopherol concentration in the liver of 1-d-old chicks and resulted in decreased tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. 5. Canthaxanthin supplementation at 6 to 24 mg/kg was also associated with a delay in α-tocopherol depletion from the liver for 7-d posthatch. As a result of the increased canthaxanthin and vitamin E concentrations in the liver of 7-d-old chicks, tissue susceptibility to lipid peroxidation decreased. 6. The results support an idea that dietary carotenoids can modulate antioxidant systems of the developing chicken.
Biological investigations of the ethanol extract of the aerial part (leaf) of Coccinia grandis L

In this present study, the leaf extracts of Coccinia grandis L. , were subjected to evaluation of the phytochemical screenings, thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. The ethanol extract showed 43.71% clot lysis as compared to 65.16% clot lysis produced by standard streptokinase. In vitro membrane stabilizing activity for hypotonic solution and heat induced haemolysis the ethanol extract inhibited 79.53% and 90.30% haemolysis of RBCs as compared to 71.90% and 77.20% produced by acetyl salicylic acid respectively. In vitro antioxidant activity revealed that the ethanol extracts of C. grandis exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 1.15 g/ml in comparison with the standard 5.80 g/ml. Leave extracts of Coccinia grandis L. revealed moderate antimicrobial activity against some gram positive and gram negative microorganisms. Leave extracts showed strong inhibitory effect on brine shrimp lethality with LC50 at 24.20 μg/ml.
Role of cortisol in the ontogenic control of pulmonary and renal angiotensin‐converting enzyme in fetal sheep near term

1 This study examined the ontogeny of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) concentration in the lungs and kidneys of fetal, newborn and adult sheep, and investigated the effects of cortisol infusion on tissue and plasma ACE in the chronically catheterised ovine fetus. 2 Pulmonary and renal ACE in utero increased from 113 days of gestation towards term; peak tissue ACE concentrations were observed in fetuses studied at 143 days (term, 145 ± 2 days). The high level of ACE seen in the fetal lungs close to term was maintained in the lambs and adult ewes whereas renal ACE decreased immediately after birth and rose to a maximal value in the adult ewes. In all groups of animals studied, higher mean concentrations of ACE were observed in the kidneys than in the lungs. Ontogenic increments in pulmonary and renal ACE in utero were coincident with the prepartum cortisol surge. In untreated and saline‐infused fetuses, plasma cortisol correlated with both pulmonary (r= 0.83, P < 0.0001) and renal (r= 0.53, P < 0.01) ACE concentrations, irrespective of gestational age. 3 An intravenous infusion of cortisol (2‐3 mg kg−1 day−1) at either 113 or 129 days raised plasma cortisol to the level seen near term and caused an increase in pulmonary ACE at both gestational ages. Pulmonary ACE concentration in the cortisol‐infused fetuses at 129 days, but not at 113 days, was similar to that observed in the fetuses near term. In contrast, cortisol infusion had no effect on renal ACE concentration at either 113 or 129 days of gestation. Plasma ACE concentration was also increased by exogenous cortisol at 129 days. 4 Therefore, these findings suggest that the ontogenic rise in ACE concentration observed in the lungs of the sheep fetus near term is induced, at least in part, by the prepartum cortisol surge.
Zero-Inflated Generalized Poisson Regression Model with an Application to Domestic Violence Data

The generalized Poisson regression model has been used to model dispersed count data. It is a good competitor to the negative binomial re- gression model when the count data is over-dispersed. Zero-inflated Poisson and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models have been proposed for the situations where the data generating process results into too many zeros. In this paper, we propose a zero-inflated generalized Poisson (ZIGP) regression model to model domestic violence data with too many zeros. Es- timation of the model parameters using the method of maximum likelihood is provided. A score test is presented to test whether the number of zeros is too large for the generalized Poisson model to adequately fit the domestic violence data.
POLİTİK YETENEKLER VE ÖZ YÖNLENDİRMENİN (KENDİNİ KURGULAMANIN) ALGILANAN KARİYER BAŞARISI ÜZERİNDEKİ ETKİSİNİ BELİRLEMEYE YÖNELİK BİR ARAŞTIRMA

Politik yetenek, diger bireyleri etkilemek icinguven, samimiyet ve dogruluk uyandiran cazip ve sempatik bir tavir icinde; sosyal zekâ, iyi iliski kurma ve davranislarini farkli durumlara gore ayarlayabilme yetenegini kombine eden, sosyal bir yetenektir. Politik yetenegin sosyal zekâ, kisilerarasi iliskilerde etkileme, iliski agi olusturma ve durust ve samimi gorunme olmak uzere dort temel boyutu vardir. Oz-yonlendirme (kendini kurgulama) ise, topluma uygun hale getirmek icin, kisinin kendi oz-sunumunu (self-presentation) denetleme ve degistirme egilimidir. Politik yetenekler ve oz-yonlendirme, amaclara ulasma noktasinda bireyin digerlerini etkilemesini ve farkli sosyal aglara ulasabilmesini sagladigi icin kariyer basarisini olumlu yonde etkileyebilir. Bu kapsamda, yapilan calismanin temel amaci politik yeteneklerin ve oz-yonlendirmenin kariyer basarisi uzerindeki etkilerini belirlemektir. Arastirma verileri Kayseri OSB’de faaliyet gosteren sekiz buyuk sanayi isletmesinin idari personelinden toplanmis, politik yetenekler, oz-yonlendirme ve kariyer basarisi arasinda anlamli ve pozitif yonlu iliskiler oldugu tespit edilmistir. Jel Kodu: M12, M19
Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints…?

Since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, population growth and increases in consumption in many parts of the world have added to humanity’s ecological burden on the planet without a corresponding increase in the Earth’s natural resources. The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2004 noted that humanity’s ecological footprint grew to exceed the Earth’s biological carrying capacity by 20%. 1 Based on the relationship between humanity and the biosphere, an ecological footprint (EF) is a measurement of the land area required to sustain a population of any size. This methodology was first described in 1992 by Drs William Rees and Mathis Wackernagel at the University of British Columbia in Canada.2 Under prevailing technology, an EF measures the amount of arable land and aquatic resources that must be used to continuously sustain a population, based on its consumption levels at a given point in time. This measurement incorporates water and energy use, uses of land for infrastructure and different forms of agriculture and forests, and all other forms of energy and material “inputs” that people require in their day to …
Salmon lice infection on wild salmonids in marine protected areas: an evaluation of the Norwegian 'National Salmon Fjords'

In Norway, 29 fjords and 52 rivers have been designated for protection in order to prevent the infection of important populations of wild salmonids with salmon lice of farm origin. We evaluated the effect of this protection on the lice infection pressure for wild salmonids based on lice counts performed on wild-caught sea trout and Arctic charr inside one- third of these protected fjords (known as 'National Salmon Fjords'). Results indicate that these areas may provide a certain extent of protection against lice of farm origin, but their configuration will play a key role in their success. When the size and shape of a protected area are such that fish farms are kept at a minimum distance (calculated here as at least 30 km, but this distance is likely site-dependent), wild fish seem unaffected by the direct lice infection pressure imposed by fish farms. In contrast, the effects of small protected fjords were strongly dependent on the pro- duction pattern of the aquaculture industry in the surrounding area, and we found a clear correlation between lice levels on wild salmonids and lice pro- duction in nearby salmon farms. To establish more precise management practices, both in National Sal mon Fjords and other fjord systems along the Norwegian coast, the development and validation of accurate distribution and abundance models for the dispersion of planktonic lice larvae is needed; this could also be the basis for an area management system based on 'maximum sustainable lice loads' or 'lice quotas. '
Macrophages act as effectors of tissue damage in acute renal allograft rejection

Background. Macrophages constitute 38% to 60% of infiltrating cells during acute renal allograft rejection. Their contribution to tissue damage during acute rejection was examined by depleting macrophages in a rat model. Methods. Lewis rats underwent bilateral nephrectomy and then received a Dark Agouti renal allograft and liposomal-clodronate, control phosphate-buffered saline liposomes, or saline intravenously (n=7 per group) on days 1 and 3 postsurgery. Grafts were harvested on day 5. Results. Liposomal-clodronate treatment resulted in a 70% reduction in blood ED1+ monocytes and 60% reduction in intragraft ED1+ macrophages (both P <0.01). Half of all remaining interstitial ED1+ cells were undergoing apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling+/ED1+), and thus functional depletion of more than 75% of macrophages was achieved. Histologic and functional parameters of acute rejection were attenuated: interstitial infiltrate, tubulitis, and glomerulitis (P <0.01); tubular cell apoptosis (P <0.001); tubular cell proliferation (P <0.001); and serum creatinine (P <0.01). Production of inducible nitric oxide synthase by infiltrating cells and urinary nitric oxide excretion was reduced by 90% (P <0.001). In contrast, no reduction in the number of other leukocytes was seen (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and natural killer cells). Activation of lymphocytes (CD25+) and production of lymphocyte effector molecules (granzyme B) were unaltered. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that macrophages contribute to tissue damage during acute rejection.
Presence of a Richardson's regime in kinematic simulations.

In this paper we investigate kinematic simulation (KS) consistency with the theory of Richardson [Proc. Roy. Soc. A 110, 24 (1926)] for two-particle diffusivity. In particular we revisit the sweeping problem. It has been argued by Thomson and Devenish [J. Fluid Mech. 526, 277 (2005). ] that due to the lack of sweeping of small scales by large scales in kinematic simulation, the validity of Richardson's power law might be affected. Here, we argue that the discrepancies between authors on the ability of kinematic simulation to predict Richardson power law may be linked to the inertial subrange they have used. For small inertial subranges, KS is efficient and the significance of the sweeping can be ignored, as a result we limit the KS agreement with the Richardson scaling law t(3) for inertial subranges k(N0/k(1)≤10000. For larger inertial range KS does not fully follow the t(3) law. Unfortunately, there is no experimental data to compare KS with and draw conclusions for such large inertial subranges. It cannot be concluded either that the discrepancy between KS and Richardson's theory for larger inertial subranges is exactly taken into account by the theory developed in Thomson and Devenish [J. Fluid Mech. 526, 277 (2005). ].
Venous thromboembolism and coffee: critical review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Among the various risk factors of venous thromboembolism (VTE), nutrients seem to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of this condition. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between coffee intake and venous thrombosis, and we performed a critical review of clinical studies that have been published so far. METHODS An electronic search was carried out in Medline, Scopus and ISI Web of Science with the keywords "coffee" AND "venous thromboembolism" OR "deep vein thrombosis" OR "pulmonary embolism" in "Title/Abstract/Keywords", with no language and date restriction. RESULTS According to our criteria, three studies (two prospective and one case-control) were finally selected (inter-study heterogeneity: 78%; P<0.001). Cumulative data suggests that a modest intake of coffee (i.e., 1-4 cups/day) may be associated with an 11% increased risk of VTE compared to abstainers, whereas a larger intake (i.e., ≥5 coffee/day) may be associated with a 25% decreased risk. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis of published data seemingly confirm the existence of a U-shape relationship between coffee intake and VTE, thus exhibiting a trend that overlaps with that previously reported for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
HIV/hepatitis C co-infection and hepatic fibrosis: looking beyond HIV-associated immune suppression; the contribution of hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance

It is estimated that up to a third of the world’s HIV-infected population is co-infected with hepatitis C (HCV). 1 Liver disease contributes significantly to overall morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected individuals.2 The interaction between these two viruses appears to be unidirectional. There is now ample data describing increased risk of hepatic fibrosis progression and faster progression to end-stage liver disease in HIV/HCV co-infected patients compared to HCV mono-infected patients.3 On the other hand there seems to be little effect of HCV on HIV-related progression of immune suppression or response to combination antiretroviral therapies (cART). 4 Although, pegylated-interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy are standard of care for HCV treatment in this group of patients, sustained viral clearance rates are much lower than those seen in mono-infected patients.5 There is therefore an urgent need to understand and perhaps modify factors that may contribute to fibrosis progression whilst we await the arrival of more effective specifically-targeted antiviral therapies. HIV-related immune suppression has a profound and complex effect on HCV-associated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.6 This causes immune dysregulation in response to HCV that in turn promotes inflammation and fibrosis and is also associated with very high HCV viral loads. Furthermore, HIV may have direct or indirect effects on hepatic stallete cells leading to activation and promotion of fibrogenesis.7 Intuitively, cART-related suppression of HIV replication and reversal of immune suppression would thus be expected to slow down fibrosis progression and ultimately the risk of progression to end-stage liver disease. Although studies in the early cART era suggested a beneficial effect …
The role of NF-kappaB in the angiogenic response of coronary microvessel endothelial cells.

The activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB by 12(R)-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid [12(R)-HETrE], an arachidonic acid metabolite with potent stereospecific proinflammatory and angiogenic properties, was examined and its role in the angiogenic response was determined in capillary endothelial cells derived from coronary microvessels. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assay of nuclear protein extracts from cells treated with 12(R)-HETrE demonstrated a rapid and stereospecific time- and concentration-dependent increase in the binding activity of NF-kappaB, which was inhibitable by the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine, butylated hydroxyanisole, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and was partially attenuated by the protein kinase C inhibitors, staurosporine and calphostin C. Neither 12(S)-HETrE nor other related eicosanoids--e.g., 12(R)-HETE, 12(S)-HETE, and leukotriene B4--stimulated the activation of NF-kappaB relative to 12(R)-HETrE, substantiating the claim for a specific receptor-mediated mechanism. 12(R)-HETrE stimulated the formation of capillary-like cords of microvessel endothelial cells distinguishable from a control; this effect was comparable to that observed with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Inhibition of NF-kappaB activation resulted in inhibition of capillary-like formation of endothelial cells treated with 12(R)-HETrE by 80% but did not affect growth observed with bFGF. It is suggested that 12(R)-HETrE's angiogenic activity involves the activation of NF-kappaB, possibly via protein kinase C stimulation and the generation of reactive oxygen intermediates for downstream signaling.
Characterization of big, big prolactin in patients with hyperprolactinaemia

OBJECTIVE The present study was designed to characterize the clinical findings of patients with macroprolactin‐aemia (sustained hyperprolactinaemia where the predominant form of prolactin is of large molecular size) and to further assess the bioactivity and structure of big, big prolactin (BB‐PRL).
Maturation and Activation of Dendritic Cells Induced by Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (CD223)1

Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) is an MHC class II ligand expressed on activated T and NK cells. A LAG-3Ig fusion protein has been used in mice as an adjuvant protein to induce antitumor responses and specific CD8 and CD4 Th1 responses to nominal Ags. In this work we report on the effect of LAG-3Ig on the maturation and activation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC). LAG-3Ig binds MHC class II molecules expressed in plasma membrane lipid rafts on immature human DC and induces rapid morphological changes, including the formation of dendritic projections. LAG-3Ig markedly up-regulates the expression of costimulatory molecules and the production of IL-12 and TNF-α. Consistent with this effect on DC maturation, LAG-3Ig disables DC in their capacity to capture soluble Ags. These events are associated with the acquisition of professional APC function, because LAG-3Ig increases the capacity of DC to stimulate the proliferation and IFN-γ response by allogeneic T cells. These effects were not observed when using ligation of MHC class II by specific mAb. Class II-mediated signals induced by a natural ligand, LAG-3, lead to complete maturation of DC, which acquire the capacity to trigger naive T cells and drive polarized Th1 responses.
Factors affecting decision making about fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study

Please cite this paper as: Peddie V, Porter M, Barbour R, Culligan D, MacDonald G, King D, Horn J, Bhattacharya S. Factors affecting decision making about fertility preservation after cancer diagnosis: a qualitative study. BJOG 2012;119:1049–1057.
Development of H 5 subtype-specific monoclonal antibodies ( MAb ) and MAb-based assays for rapid detection of H 5 avian influenza

Avian influenza (AI) virology surveillance is the most important method to monitor AI virus (AIV) in poultry so as to effectively prevent and control AI outbreaks. Monoclonal antibodies (MAb)based assays are highly sensitive and specific for AIV detection, and much practical and economic for test-in-field or onsite. Many such assays have been developed and are still in developing since the H5N1 highly pathogenic AI (HPAI) outbreaks occurred in South East Asia in 2003. A MAb-based dot-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed in our lab during late 1990s and early 2000s. Meanwhile, AIV H7 and H5 subtype specific-MAbs have been successfully developed in our laboratory to enhance the Dot-ELISA and other MAb-based assays for AIV detection. Production and purification of the H7 and H5 MAbs were made to provide essential reagents for Dot-ELISA and other immunoassays, and the current development of a novel Biosensor technique for rapid detection of AIV from clinical and field specimens.
Thickness Dependence of Hole Mobility in Ultrathin SiGe-Channel p-MOSFETs

A fundamental understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the dependence of hole mobility on SiGe channel layer thickness is presented for channel thicknesses down to 1.8 nm. This understanding is critical to the design of strained SiGe p-MOSFETs, as lattice mismatch limits the thickness of SiGe that can be grown on Si and as Ge outdiffusion during processing reduces the Ge fraction. Temperature-dependent measurements are used to extract the phonon-limited mobility as a function of SiGe channel thickness for strained Si0.57Ge0. 43 heterostructures on bulk Si. The hole mobility is shown to degrade significantly for channel thickness below 4 nm due to a combination of phonon and interface scattering. Due to the finite nature of the quantum-well barrier, SiGe film thickness fluctuation scattering is not significant in this structure for channel thickness greater than 2.8 nm.