Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physiological Roles of the Light, Oxygen, or Voltage Domains of Phototropin 1 and Phototropin 2 in Arabidopsis1[OA]

Phototropins (phot1 and phot2) are plant blue-light receptors that mediate phototropism, chloroplast movement, stomatal opening, rapid inhibition of growth of etiolated seedlings, and leaf expansion in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Their N-terminal region contains two light, oxygen, or voltage (LOV) domains, which bind flavin mononucleotide and form a covalent adduct between a conserved cysteine and the flavin mononucleotide chromophore upon photoexcitation. The C-terminal region contains a serine/threonine kinase domain that catalyzes blue-light-activated autophosphorylation. Here, we have transformed the phot1 phot2 (phot1-5 phot2-1) double mutant with PHOT expression constructs driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. These constructs encode either wild-type phototropin or phototropin with one or both LOV-domain cysteines mutated to block their photochemistry. We selected multiple lines in each of the eight resulting categories of transformants for further physiological analyses. Specifically, we investigated whether LOV1 and LOV2 serve the same or different functions for phototropism and leaf expansion. Our results show that the LOV2 domain of phot1 plays a major role in phototropism and leaf expansion, as does the LOV2 domain of phot2. No complementation of phototropism or leaf expansion was observed for the LOV1 domain of phot1. However, phot2 LOV1 was unexpectedly found to complement phototropism to a considerable level. Similarly, transformants carrying a PHOT transgene with both LOV domains inactivated developed strong curvatures toward high fluence rate blue light. However, we found that the phot2-1 mutant is leaky and produces a small level of full-length phot2 protein. In vitro experiments indicate that cross phosphorylation can occur between functional phot2 and inactivated phot1 molecules. Such a mechanism may occur in vivo and therefore account for the functional activities observed in the PHOT transgenics with both lov domains inactivated. The implications of this mechanism with respect to phototropin function are discussed.
The Invisible Flood: The Chemistry, Ecology, and Social Implications of Coastal Saltwater Intrusion

Saltwater intrusion is the leading edge of sea-level rise, preceding tidal inundation, but leaving its salty signature far inland. With climate change, saltwater is shifting landward into regions that previously have not experienced or adapted to salinity, leading to novel transitions in biogeochemistry, ecology, and human land uses. We explore these changes and their implications for climate adaptation in coastal ecosystems. Biogeochemical changes, including increases in ionic strength, sulfidation, and alkalinization, have cascading ecological consequences such as upland forest retreat, conversion of freshwater wetlands, nutrient mobilization, and declines in agricultural productivity. We explore the trade-offs among land management decisions in response to these changes and how public policy should shape socioecological transitions in the coastal zone. Understanding transitions resulting from saltwater intrusion—and how to manage them—is vital for promoting coastal resilience.
Development of a germfree mouse model of Vibrio cholerae infection

A mouse model of Vibrio cholerae infection was successfully developed with germfree mice. Three- to four-week-old germfree mice were orally inoculated with strains of V. cholerae to be tested and then moved to normal housing after inoculation. Stool culture, measurement of serum vibriocidal antibody titers, and determination of immune responses to the cholera toxin B subunit demonstrated that germfree mice are readily colonized by V cholerae and develop systemic and mucosal immune responses to antigens expressed by these organisms. Immune responses to the B subunit of Shiga toxin 1, which was expressed from a V. cholerae vaccine vector, were less pronounced. This model should be valuable for studying immune responses to V. cholerae infection and immunization, including responses to heterologous antigens expressed by cholera vector strains.
Activation of human nerves by ischemia; Trousseau's phenomenon in tetany.

ISCHEMIA plays an important role in the pathophysiology of the nervous system. This paper is an experimental study of the activity induced by ischemia in a definite system, the human A fibers, previously investigated from other points of view 1 with the aid of compression by a pneumatic cuff. If a pneumatic cuff is distended over the site of determination of the systolic pressure on the upper arm, paresthesia in the hand, spreading up toward the wrist, will develop within about a minute. This sensory disturbance is due to the fact that the fibers transmitting light touch are beginning to discharge in the proximal part of the longest ischemic nerve fibers. The ischemia increases the excitability of the nerve, thus precipitating the discharge. When the excitability subsides, owing to the continuation of the ischemia, the paresthesia ceases. If the calcium content of the blood is reduced, or if its alkalinity
Pharmacodynamic considerations in the use of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors in cancer treatment

Abstract Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are classified in the family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases, which can degrade various components of an extracellular matrix and a basement membrane. Studies have demonstrated that MMPs relate to the development of malignant tumors and induce angiogenesis, resulting in the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. MMPs are highly expressed in malignant tumors and are related to cancer patients’ malignant phenotype and poor prognosis. Therefore, blocking the expression or activity of MMPs may be a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Areas Covered: This study aimed to explain the MMP structure, regulatory mechanism, and carcinogenic effect; investigate the matrix metalloproteinase-inhibitors (MMPIs) that are currently used in clinical trials for cancer treatment; and summarize the trial results. Expert Opinion: Currently, the results of clinical trials that have used MMPIs as anticancer agents are unsatisfactory. However, MMPs remain an attractive target for cancer treatment. For example, development of the specific peptide or antibodies in targeting the hemopexin domain of MMP-2 may be a new therapeutic direction. The design and development of MMPIs that have selectivity will be the primary focus in future studies.
Plasma Carbon Monoxide Levels inTerm Newborn Infants with Sepsis

Carbon monoxide (CO) has been implicated as a new endogenously produced mediator similar to nitric oxide (NO). CO was measured in plasma samples from 7 term newborn infants with sepsis and from 30 healthy neonates. Plasma CO levels were significantly higher in the group with sepsis at the time of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit than in the healthy controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, the elevated plasma CO levels were significantly related to increased NO production, as indicated by plasma nitrite/nitrate levels (p < 0.05). The present study suggests that, in addition to NO, CO might be another important mediator taking part in the pathogenesis of neonatal sepsis.
Obstetrician–Gynecologists' Knowledge and Practice Regarding Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening

OBJECTIVE: To gather more information regarding prenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing by examining the practice patterns of obstetrician–gynecologists. METHODS: Survey questionnaires were sent to 1,032 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Fellows and Junior Fellows in practice. Questionnaires included inquiries about obstetrician–gynecologist characteristics, testing practices, and knowledge regarding HIV screening. RESULTS: A total of 582 surveys (56%) were returned. We found that 1) most (97%) obstetrician–gynecologists reported recommending HIV testing to all of their pregnant patients, 2) almost half (48%) of the physicians reported using the opt-out approach to prenatal HIV testing, and 3) respondents were sometimes unaware of whether their state requires recommending HIV testing during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The finding that some obstetrician–gynecologists are unaware of their state regulations regarding prenatal HIV testing suggests that they would benefit from an increased awareness of state laws and regulations and having timely access to these requirements. The finding that most obstetrician–gynecologists offer HIV testing to all of their pregnant patients is consistent with the literature regarding prenatal HIV screening and with federal and national recommendations. However, study results also suggest that obstetrician–gynecologists may benefit from additional information to increase knowledge and strengthen perinatal HIV testing practice patterns. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III
Relationship between primary payer and use of proactive immunization practices: a national survey.

OBJECTIVE To quantify the national use and determinants of proactive immunization practices by examining the relationship to the primary practice payer. STUDY DESIGN A standardized survey was conducted in 1995 by trained personnel using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. PATIENTS AND METHODS A stratified random sample of family physicians, pediatricians, and general practitioners across the United States was selected from the American Medical Association master file of physicians list, which included nonmembers. The main outcome measures were use of reminder systems and assessment of immunization rates. RESULTS Of the 1769 physicians who were contacted, 1236 participated. Use of reminder systems varied by the practice's primary payer: 31% of health maintenance organization (HMO), 41% of Medicaid, 27% of fee-for-service (FFS), and 28% of no predominant payment source physicians reported using a reminder system (P < 0.01). Use of computerized reminders also varied according to practice primary payer (HMO, 68%; Medicaid, 34%; FFS, 51%; and no predominant payment source, 42%; P < 0.01) as did assessment of immunization rates in the practice (HMO, 57%; Medicaid, 40%; FFS, 28%; and no predominant payment source, 30%; P < 0.01). A majority of Medicaid physicians (84%) required a physical examination before immunization, compared to 49% of HMO, 56% of FFS, and 63% of no predominant source physicians (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The primary payment source of a practice appears to influence use of proactive immunization practices.
Testing the Rationality of Exchange Rate and Interest Rate Expectations: An Empirical Study of Australian Survey Based Expectations

This paper examines the rationality of the Australian survey-based expectations, 1- and 4-week-ahead $US/$A exchange rate and 2 and 4-week-ahead Australian 90-day bank bill and 10-year bond rates. The actual and expected variables are found to be cointegrated, indicating that the expected future values and the future realizations of the exchange rate and interest rates have long-run equilibrium relationships. OLS estimations with the Newey - West corrections are employed for testing the unbiased expectations hypothesis (UEH) where the frequency of the expectations data is finer than the forecast horizons, and the exponential-GARCH models that take into account the time-varying nature of the forecasterror variance are employed for testing the weak rational expectations hypothesis (WREH). The evidence shows that the WREH could not be rejected in any case, except for the two-week-ahead forecast of the 90-day interest rate, which indicates that all available information is used at the time of forming relevant forecasts. The UEH, however, is decisively rejected in all cases. This indicates that strong rationality, which requires both UEH and WREH, is rejected in all cases. It is concluded that forecasters are weakly rational; however, their forecasts are not unbiased because the data available to them when forming expectations are inadequate.
Adenoviral infections and a prospective trial of cidofovir in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Adenoviral (ADV) infections are increasingly recognized as a cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We reviewed our experience with ADV infections in HSCT patients hospitalized for transplantation at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles January 1998 through December 1998. ADV was detected in 47% of patients, with recipients of HSCT from alternative donors (matched unrelated, unrelated cord, and mismatched related donors) being more frequently culture positive than recipients of HSCT from matched siblings (62% versus 27%, P = .04). Detection of ADV from 2 or more sites was associated with organ injury, eg, hemorrhagic cystitis, enteritis, and hepatitis. Because of the high incidence of ADV culture-positive patients and the lack of effective anti-ADV therapy, we initiated a prospective trial to evaluate cidofovir (CDV) in the treatment of ADV infections in HSCT recipients. Eight patients were enrolled on a dosage schedule of 1 mg/kg 3 times weekly. AD of these patients eventually achieved long-term viral suppression and clinical improvement, although 6 patients needed prolonged CDV therapy for up to 8 months before CDV could be stopped without ADV recurrence. We did not observe dose-limiting nephrotoxicity, and the discontinuation of the drug was not required in any patients. Prospective controlled trials to further define the role of CDV in the treatment of ADV infections in HSCT patients are warranted.
Opisthobranchia from Brazil

O trabalho precedente contem as descricoes de 32 especies e subespecies de Gastropoda Euthyneura marinhos, convencionalmente chamados de Opisthobranchia, provindos da costa do estado de Sao Paulo, principalmente da Ilha de Sao Sebastiao. Sao novas 23 especies; uma das ja conhecidas, Catriona coerulea (Mtg.), ainda nao foi assinalada no Brasil.
Technical and Biological Complications Related to Crown to Implant Ratio: A Systematic Review

Aim:To review the occurrence of prosthetic failure and biological complications with respect to the crown to implant (C/I) ratio. Methods:Accurate search was made on the subject C/I ratio with the following criteria: (1) studies on humans with data on prosthetic failure and/or biological complications related to C/I ratio; (2) partial edentulous patients; (3) randomized clinical trials, prospective, longitudinal, retrospective, and multicenter studies with a minimum of 48 months mean follow-up; (4) language: English; (5) radiographic measurements by peri-apical x-ray; (6) implant material: titanium; and (7) no implant type selection was applied. Results:Six articles were considered eligible for full-text analysis. Unfavorable C/I ratio can be considered a potential risk factor for single crown and abutment loosening (C/I ratio ≥1.46) and abutment fractures in posterior areas (C/I ratio ≥2.01). Conclusions:Despite the limited data, high C/I ratio may be related to some prosthetic failures. Unfavorable C/I ratio does not affect biological complications and implant failure.
The Development of Pragmatic Markers in Canadian English

The Development of Pragmatic Markers in Canadian English Derek Denis Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Department of Linguistics University of Toronto 2015 This thesis examines the mechanisms of linguistic change involved in the actuation and subsequent development of pragmatic markers (PMs). Using the variationist method, I test the predictions of analysts who have argued that the development of PMs unfolds according to grammaticalization theory (inter alia Hopper and Traugott 1995). In doing so, I address two desiderata suggested in the literature for a better understanding of how PMs change: 1) an examination of both realand apparent-time data (Pichler and Levey 2011), and 2) an examination of multiple features (Tagliamonte and Denis 2010). The data come from several collections of recorded Ontario English. I examine the Toronto English Archive (Tagliamonte 2006b), a contemporary sociolinguistic corpus, and two collections of oral history interviews recorded in 1975 and 1984, the Belleville Oral History Project and the Farm Work and Farm Life Since 1890 Oral History Collection. Together, these represent an apparent-time span of over one hundred years. The features are general extenders and epistemic parentheticals both of which have been argued to show evidence of ongoing grammaticalization (e.g., Cheshire 2007; Thompson and Mulac 1991). The analysis of the general extenders system finds a lack of evidence for phonetic reduction, decategorialization, and semantic-pragmatic shift of the innovative variant and stuff —each of these changes is a critical component of grammaticalization
High fall incidence and fracture rate in elderly dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Although it is recognised that the dialysis population is ageing rapidly, geriatric complications such as falls are poorly appreciated, despite the many risk factors for falls in this population. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, complications and risk factors for falls in an elderly dialysis population. METHODS A one-year observational study of chronic dialysis patients aged ≥ 70 years. At baseline, patient characteristics were noted and during follow-up the vital parameters and laboratory values were recorded. Patients were questioned weekly about falls, fall circumstances and consequences by trained nurses. RESULTS 49 patients were included with a median age of 79.3 years (70-89 years). During follow-up 40 fall accidents occurred in 27 (55%) patients. Falls resulted in fractures in 15% of cases and in hospital admissions in 15%. In haemodialysis (HD) patients, the mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) before HD was lower in fallers compared with non-fallers (130 vs. 143 mmHg). Several patients in the lower blood pressure category received antihypertensive medication. For every 5 mmHg lower SBP (before HD) the fall risk increased by 30% (hazard ratio (HR) 1.30, 95% CI 1.03-1.65, p = 0.03). Furthermore, fall risk increased by 22% for every 10 pmol/l rise of parathyroid hormone (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.06-1.39, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Elderly dialysis patients have a high incidence of falls accompanied by a high fracture rate. Given the high complication rate, elderly patients at risk of falling should be identified and managed. Reduction of blood pressure-lowering medication might be a treatment strategy to reduce falls.
Sequential egocentric strategy is acquired as early as allocentric strategy: Parallel acquisition of these two navigation strategies

At least two main cognitive strategies can be used to solve a complex navigation task: the allocentric or map‐based strategy and the sequential egocentric or route‐based strategy. The sequential egocentric strategy differs from a succession of independent simple egocentric responses as it requires a sequential ordering of events, possibly sharing functional similarity with episodic memory in this regard. To question the possible simultaneous encoding of sequential egocentric and allocentric strategies, we developed a paradigm in which these two strategies are spontaneously used or imposed. Our results evidenced that sequential egocentric strategy can be spontaneously acquired at the onset of the training as well as allocentric strategy. Allocentric and sequential egocentric strategies could be used together within a trial, and bidirectional shifts (between trials) were spontaneously performed during the training period by 30% of the participants. Regardless of the strategy used spontaneously during the training, all participants could execute immediate shifts to the opposite non previously used strategy when this strategy was imposed. Altogether, our findings suggest that subjects acquire different types of spatial knowledge in parallel, namely knowledge permitting allocentric navigation as well as knowledge permitting sequential egocentric navigation. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute dissociation and cardiac reactivity to script-driven imagery in trauma-related disorders

Background : Potential acute protective functions of dissociation include modulation of stress-induced psychophysiological arousal. This study was designed to explore whether acute dissociative reactions during a stress experiment would override the effects of reexperiencing. Methods : Psychophysiological reactions during exposure to script-driven trauma imagery were studied in relation to acute responses of reexperiencing and dissociative symptoms in 61 patients with histories of exposure to a variety of traumas. Acute symptomatic responses were assessed with the Responses to Script-Driven Imagery Scale (RSDI), and participants were divided into four groups by median splits of RSDI reexperiencing and dissociation subscale scores. Results : In a comparison of the high RSDI reexperiencing groups with low versus high acute dissociative symptoms, the high dissociators exhibited significantly lower heart rate (HR) during trauma script and a significantly smaller script-induced decrease in parasympathetic cardiac activity. HR reactivity to the trauma script was negatively correlated with acute dissociative symptom severity. Conclusions : Acute dissociative reactions are a potential moderator of response to experimental paradigms investigating psychologically traumatized populations. We therefore suggest that future research on psychophysiological stress reactions in traumatized samples should routinely assess for acute dissociative symptoms. For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files under Reading Tools online
Neither single‐marker nor haplotype analyses support an association between the dopamine transporter gene and heroin dependence in Han Chinese

Much evidence suggests that dysfunction of dopamine transporter‐mediated dopamine transmission may be involved in the pathophysiology of substance abuse and dependence. The aim of this study was to examine whether the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1; SLC6A3) is associated with the development of heroin dependence (HD) and whether DAT1 influences personality traits in patients with HD. Polymorphisms of DAT1 were analyzed in a case–control study of 1046 Han Chinese (615 patients and 431 controls). All participants were screened using a Chinese version of the modified Schedule of Affective Disorder and Schizophrenia‐Lifetime and all patients met the criteria for HD. Furthermore, a Chinese version of the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) was used to assess personality traits in the patient group and examine the association between their personality traits and DAT1 polymorphisms. Of the patient group, 271 completed the TPQ. No statistically significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies of all investigated variants between HD patients and controls were observed. In haplotype analyses, four haplotype blocks of DAT1 were not associated with the development of HD. These DAT1 polymorphisms did not influence novelty seeking and harm avoidance scores in HD patients. This study suggests that the DAT1 gene may not contribute to the risk of HD and specific personality traits in HD among the Han Chinese population.