Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age-related increase of β1-adrenergic receptor gene expression in rat liver: a potential mechanism contributing to increased β-adrenergic receptor density and responsiveness during aging

In this study we examined whether the levels of gene expressions of the three β- adrenergic receptor (βAR) subtypes, β1, β2, and β3, contribute to age-related increase in βAR density. Liver membranes and total RNA were prepared from young (4- to 6-month-old) and old (24-month-old) male Fischer 344 rats. βAR density (Bmax) in liver membranes was measured by a radioligand receptor binding assay using the receptor subtype nonselective βAR antagonist 125I-pindolol as the radioligand. Steady-state levels of β2AR mRNA in rat liver were measured by Northern blot analysis; because of the low abundance of β1AR and β3AR mRNA in rat liver, the expressions of these genes were measured by a semiquantitative RT-PCR or an RT-PCR. Scatchard analysis of saturation binding curves of the binding assay confirmed an age-related increase in Bmax (young: 7.1 ± 0.8 fmol/mg protein vs. old: 18.1 ± 4.3 fmol/mg protein). No age-related differences were found in the levels of β2AR mRNA. However, semiquantitative RT-PCR revealed an approximately twofold increase in β1AR mRNA level between young and old rats (P < 0.05). β1AR mRNA levels were also correlated with Bmax values for 125I-pindolol binding sites in individual rats (r = 0.67; P = 0.012). β3AR mRNA, which was demonstrable in rat white adipose tissue by RT-PCR, was generally not detected in livers from young or old rats, with the exception of two old rats with the highest Bmax. These results suggest that an age-related increase of β1AR gene expression contributes to increased βAR density and β adrenergic responsiveness in rat liver during aging.
Expression of heat shock protein 70 and NKG2D ligands in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines

Membrane-bound heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was found to be tumor-specific and was proposed as a target for immunotherapy. In the present study, we analyzed cell surface and relative gene expression of HSP70 in cell lines established from patients with different acute myeloid leukemia (AML) subtypes, together with the expression of natural killer (NK) cell activation/inhibitory ligands. Materials and methods: Six AML cell lines were included in this study. The relative gene expression of HSP70 was analyzed using the real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Surface expression of HSP70 and NK cell ligands was analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: All cell lines overexpressed HSP70; however, its mRNA levels were not elevated. The expression of NKG2D activation ligands was heterogeneous. Conclusion: Our study is the first to describe long-term stationary cell surface expression of HSP70 in different subtypes of AML. Combined with the results of the gene expression experiments these data provide more evidence to the idea of a self-limiting mechanism for HSP70 expression.
The role of heavy-metal ATPases, HMAs, in zinc and cadmium transport in rice

The P1B-type heavy metal ATPases (HMAs) are diverse in terms of tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and metal specificity. Functional studies of HMAs have shown that these transporters can be divided into two subgroups based on their metal-substrate specificity: a copper (Cu)/silver (Ag) group and a zinc (Zn)/cobalt (Co)/cadmium (Cd)/lead (Pb) group. Studies on Arabidopsis thaliana and metal hyperaccumulator plants indicate that HMAs play an important role in the translocation or detoxification of Zn and Cd in plants. Rice possesses nine HMA genes, of which OsHMA1–OsHMA3 belong to the Zn/Co/Cd/Pb subgroup. OsHMA2 plays an important role in root-to-shoot translocation of Zn and Cd, and participates in Zn and Cd transport to developing seeds in rice. OsHMA3 transports Cd and plays a role in the sequestration of Cd into vacuoles in root cells. Modification of the expression of these genes might be an effective approach for reducing the Cd concentration in rice grains.
In vitro selection and field responses of somaclonal variant plants of rice cv PR113 for drought tolerance

Drought is the major environmental stress that limits rice productivity worldwide. In vitro somaclonal variation using different selection agents has been used for crop improvement. Here, rice plants of cv PR113 were selected in vitro on 30, 50 and 70 g L-1 polyethylene glycol 6,000 (PEG). Callus growth, proliferation, calli volume (first and second culture) and plantlet regeneration (third culture) were found to be decreased upto a certain level to acquire tolerance to PEG-induced drought. From the field data, 30 g L-1 PEG lines showed higher vegetative growth (plant height, tiller number, leaf number, shoot weight and root growth) as compared with 50 g L-1 PEG selected somaclone lines under limited irrigation. The yield parameters-panicle length, panicle weight, grains per panicle, 1,000-grain weight, grain yield per plant, harvest index and grain straw ratio were also higher in 30 g L-1 PEG lines as compared with 50 g L-1 PEG lines. The results, therefore indicate that 30 g L-1 PEG selected somaclone lines were more suited than 50 g L-1 PEG selected somaclone lines under stress as compared with WT. The finding suggests that rice cv PR113 somaclones generated on PEG are found to be drought tolerant under field condition with better yield.
Something old, something new: Auxin and strigolactone interact in the ancient mycorrhizal symbiosis

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, formed between more than 80% of land plants and fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota, is an ancient association that is believed to have evolved as plants moved onto land more than 400 mya.1,2 Similarly ancient, the plant hormones auxin and strigolactone are thought to have been present in the plant lineage since before the divergence of the bryophytes in the case of auxin and before the colonisation of land in the case of strigolactones.3,4 The discovery of auxin in the 1930s predates the discovery of strigolactones as a plant hormone in 2008 by over 70 y.5-7 Recent studies in pea suggest that these two signals may interact to regulate mycorrhizal symbiosis.8 Furthermore, the first quantitative studies are presented that show that low auxin content of the root is correlated with low strigolactone production,8 an interaction that has implications for how these plant hormones regulate several developmental programs including shoot branching, secondary growth and root development.9-12 With recent advances in our understanding of auxin and strigolactone biosynthesis,13,14 together with the discovery of the fungal signals that activate the plant host,15 the stage is set for real breakthroughs in our understanding of the interactions between plant and fungal signals in mycorrhizal symbiosis.
Induction of epidermal cell fate in Arabidopsis shoots

Land plants have evolved a cuticle-bearing epidermis to protect themselves from environmental stress and pathogen attack. Despite its important role, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating shoot epidermal cell identity. In a recent study, we found that the Arabidopsis thaliana ATML1 gene is possibly a master regulator of shoot epidermal cell fate. We revealed that ATML1 has the ability to confer shoot epidermis-related traits to non-epidermal cells of the seedlings. These data are consistent with the previous loss-of-function mutant analyses, which implied a positive role of ATML1 in epidermal cell differentiation. Importantly, ectopic epidermal cells induced in ATML1-overexpressing lines provide a novel tool to assess the intrinsic properties of epidermal cells and to study epistatic interactions among genes involved in epidermal/mesophyll differentiation. Using this system, we obtained data revealing that ATML1 negatively influenced mesophyll cell fate. In addition, we provided a working model of how division planes in epidermal cells are determined.
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) contributes to fetal lung fibroblast injury induced by mechanical stretch

Abstract Context: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is critical for normal fetal lung development. However, the role of this receptor in lung injury induced by mechanical ventilation is controversial. Objective: To investigate in vitro whether EGFR plays a protective role or contributes to stretch-induced lung injury. Methods: Fetal lung fibroblasts were isolated from wild-type and EGFR knockout mice and exposed to physiologic stretch (2.5% elongation) or injurious stretch (20% distention). Cells were evaluated for necrosis, apoptosis, proliferation and inflammation. Results: Injurious stretch increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release to similar degree in wild-type and knockout cells. In contrast, 20% stretch increased cleaved caspase-3 and decreased proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) only in wild-type cells. Furthermore, 20% stretch increased macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) by 3–5 fold in wild-type cells. In contrast, in knockout cells MIP-2 decreased by 50% and MCP-1 only increased by 60% when compared to physiologic stretch. Conclusion: Our data show a decrease of apoptosis and inflammation and absence of decreased proliferation after injurious stretch of fetal fibroblasts lacking EGFR. These data suggest that EGFR contributes to lung injury mediated by stretch. We speculate that EGFR may contribute to the arrest of lung development observed after mechanical ventilation by decreasing the population of lung fibroblasts.
Dynamics of the concentration of IAA and some of its conjugates during the induction of somatic embryogenesis in Coffea canephora

Most of the somatic embryogenesis (SE) process requires the presence, either before or during the embryogenic process, of at least one exogenous auxin. This exogenous auxin induces the presence of endogenous auxins, which appears to be essential for SE induction. We found that during the preincubation period of SE in Coffea canephora, there is an important increase in both free and conjugated indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), as well as indole-3-butyric acid. This increase is accompanied by an increase in the expression of YUCCA (CcYUC), TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASE OF ARABIDOPSIS 1 (CcTAA1), and GRETCHEN HAGEN 3 (GH3) genes. On the other hand, most of the IAA compounds decreased during the induction of SE. The results presented in this research suggest that a balance between free IAA and its amide conjugates is necessary to allow the expression of SE-related genes.
Mangiferin in cancer chemoprevention and treatment: pharmacokinetics and molecular targets

Abstract A variety of bioactive food components have been shown to modulate inflammatory responses and to attenuate carcinogenesis. Polyphenols isolated several years ago from various medicinal plants now seem to have a prominent role in the prevention and therapy of a variety of ailments. Mangiferin, a unique, important, and highly investigated polyphenol, has attracted much attention of late for its potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent against various types of cancer. Mangiferin has been shown to target multiple proinflammatory transcription factors, cell- cycle proteins, growth factors, kinases, cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory enzymes. These targets can potentially mediate the chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of mangiferin by inhibiting the initiation, promotion, and metastasis of cancer. This review not only summarizes the diverse molecular targets of mangiferin, but also gives the results of various preclinical studies that have been performed in the last decade with this promising polyphenol.
Physiological response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes to elevated nitrogen applied under field conditions

Field experiment was conducted at G.B. P.U. A.T. Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, India in rainy season of 2008 and 2009 to study the impacts of increased nitrogen doses on growth dynamics, biomass partitioning, chaffy grain and nitrogen use efficiency in 4 rice genotypes viz., Vasumati, Tulsi, Kasturi and Krishna Hamsa. Four doses (N0, N50, N100 and N200 kg N ha−1) of nitrogen in the form of urea were applied in 3 split. Increased trend in growth dynamics during active tillering and flowering stage, and biomass partitioning at the time of active tillering and flowering stage was observed with respect to nitrogen doses. Chaffy grain number and chaffy grain weight per 5 panicles was significantly increased with enhancing nitrogen doses and was highest for Vasumati. Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) was increased up to N100 kg N ha−1 and it was declined with rising nitrogen doses (N200 kg N ha−1). The highest values for NUE was achieved by rice genotype Krishna Hamsa whereas lowest by Vasumati. In addition to this, a significant correlation between nitrogen doses and growth dynamics, biomass partitioning and chaffy grain was observed. These findings suggest that growth dynamics, biomass partitioning, chaffy grain could be enhanced by the input of high rate of nitrogen fertilizer but not nitrogen use efficiency. Therefore, this study is useful to screen most N efficient genotypes which can be strongly suggested to rice growers to enhance crop yield irrespective of use of high dose of N fertilizers.
Predisposing Factors of the Utilization of Antenatal Care (ANC) and Delivery Based on Customer Driven

In Indonesia, the utilization of antenatal care by health workers is only 66% and decreases as childbirth takes place, since as much as 46% pregnant women who examines their pregnancy to health workers do not give childbirth in a health facility. The average number of visits of pregnant women less than 4 times during pregnancy. The maternal mortality rate in Balikpapan has increased over the last three years, i.e. in 2009, as many as 6 cases, and 8 cases in 2010 and 9 cases in 2011. Likewise, the antenatal visit was low (90.96%), below the national target (95%), childbirth helped by health workers was as much as 90%, High-quality health care is highly demanded to meet the needs, desires expectations of the customer in antenatal care and delivery. The type of the study is a survey research, with a cross sectional study. Sampling technique Multistage Random Sampling. Analysis technique used was structural equation called the Partial Least Square (PLS). The result showed predisposing factors (preference, expectation) are significantly related to antenatal care (0.424), predisposing factors (preference, expectation,) are significantly related to delivery (0.414), there is no relation between antenatal and delivery (0.041). The study has shown that place where the mother check ups expected to be the birth mother. Antenatal and delivery services provided by the provider to be associated with a customer driven towards the preferences, desires customer demand, thus increasing service quality, completeness of facilities will be met and customers are satisfied.
Tubular actin filaments in tobacco guard cells

The dynamic remodeling of actin filaments in guard cells functions in stomatal movement regulation. In our previous study, we found that the stochastic dynamics of guard cell actin filaments play a role in chloroplast movement during stomatal movement. In our present study, we further find that tubular actin filaments are present in tobacco guard cells that express GFP-mouse talin; approximately 2.3 tubular structures per cell with a diameter and height in the range of 1-3 µm and 3-5 µm, respectively. Most of the tubular structures were found to be localized in the cytoplasm near the inner walls of the guard cells. Moreover, the tubular actin filaments altered their localization slowly in the guard cells of static stoma, but showed obvious remodeling, such as breakdown and re-formation, in moving guard cells. Tubular actin filaments were further found to be colocalized with the chloroplasts in guard cells, but their roles in stomatal movement regulation requires further investigation.
The Profile of Injection Drug Users in Chennai, India: Identification of Risk Behaviours and Implications for Interventions

We characterize the demographics, injection practices and risk behaviours of 1,158 injection drug users (IDUs) in Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu in southern India, who were recruited during 2005–2006 by community outreach. The median age was 35 years; the majority of IDUs were male, of Tamil ethnicity and married, and earning less than US$$75 per month. Most (76%%) had injected in the prior month. The median age at first injection was 25 years; the most common drug injected was heroin (80%%) followed by buprenorphine. High risk behaviours were common and included needle-sharing, unsafe disposal, and inappropriate cleaning of needles as well as limited condom use. IDUs in India need to be educated on harm reduction and safe-injection practices; Pharmacies could serve as potential venues for HIV prevention interventions among IDUs in India, as most IDUs obtain their needles from pharmacies without prescription.
Koroner Kalp Hastalığının Anatomik Risk Faktörleri

Amac: Calismanin amaci koroner anjiografi kullanarak sol koroner arterin vaskuler geometrik ozellikleri gibi konjenital kalp hastaliklarinin muhtemel anatomik risk faktorlerini aciklamakti. Hastalar ve Yontemler: Sol koroner arterin trunk uzunlugu (T), arteria interventricularis anterior (LAD)’un donus acisi, LAD ve arteria circumflexa (Cx) arasindaki bifurkasyon acisi 77 hastada (yas araligi 20-83, ort. 58.9±11.68) olculdu. Bulgular: Arteria interventricularis anterior (LAD) ve Cx’de aterosklerotik plak varligi arastirildi. Sol koroner arterin trunk uzunlugu, LAD donus acisi ve LAD-Cx bifurkasyon acilari degerleri sirasiyla ortalama 12.86 mm, 140.99° ve 94.07° idi. Arteria interventricularis anterior’de aterosklerotik plagi olan hastalarda ortalama T degerleri LAD’leri intakt olan hastalarinkinden 2.5 mm daha kisa bulundu (p=0.020). Diger taraftan LAD donus acisi ile bifurkasyon acisi arasinda negatif korelasyon bulundu (p < 0.001). Sonuc: Sonuclarimiza gore LAD ve dallarinin geometrik ozellikleri, baska risk faktoru olmayan CHD’li hastalarin gelisiminde bir risk faktoru olabilir
Disordered Eating and Substance Use Among a Female Sample of Mexican Adolescents

The relation between disordered eating and substance use was examined among Mexican female adolescents in a probabilistic sample of 2537 high school students in central Mexico, stratified by marginalization status and migratory intensity, obtained during –2007 school year. The Brief Disordered Eating Questionnaire and the World Health Organization and United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs recommendations for substance use assessments were used. Prevalence and odds ratios for disordered eating and substance use items were calculated separately across low and high marginalization groups. Study's implications and limitations are noted, as well as future research and prevention strategies are suggested.
Quantifying the Psychological Effects of Ketamine: From Euphoria to the k-Hole

52 ketamine users were “opportunistically” recruited to take part in a survey of the psychological effects of the drug, in Manchester, United Kingdom in 2008. Twenty-seven ketamine-naïve respondents were also recruited for comparison in respect of “other” recreational drug use and level of schizotypy. Ketamine users attributed a wide range of appetitive, aversive, after-effect, and dissociative experiences to the drug. They also reported using a much wider range of other recreational drugs than ketamine non-users. Former users reported significantly fewer positive or dissociative experiences than current users.
Evaluation of an E-Therapy Program for Problem Drinkers: A Pilot Study

An e-therapy program with therapist involvement for problem drinkers was evaluated in a population of 527 Dutch-speaking patients. In a pre–post design weekly alcohol consumption, alcohol-consumption-related health problems, and motivation were assessed. Although the dropout rate was high, patients showed a significant decrease of alcohol consumption and alcohol-consumption-related health complaints. Patients’ satisfaction with the e-therapy program was high. The e-therapy program proved to be feasible and attracted patients who were otherwise unlikely to seek help. A randomized controlled trial has to provide more information about reasons for dropout, effectiveness, and the population that benefits most from the e-therapy program. The study's limitations are noted.
The M. truncatula SUNN gene is expressed in vascular tissue, similarly to RDN1, consistent with the role of these nodulation regulation genes in long distance signaling

Encoding a conserved protein of unknown function, the Medicago truncatula RDN1 gene is involved in autoregulation of nodulation through signaling in the root. In contrast, the SUNN kinase in M. truncatula has been shown by grafting of mutant scions to control nodule number in the root by communication of a signal from the shoot to the root. GUS staining patterns resulting from expression of the SUNN promoter fused to uidA showed expression of SUNN in most parts of plant including the root, but confined to the vascular tissue, a pattern that overlaps with that published for RDN1. Real Time qRT-PCR analysis showed levels of both SUNN RNA and RDN1 RNA did not change significantly during early nodulation signaling (0–72 h after inoculation). The similarity in expression in cell types strongly suggests vascular signaling for nodule number regulation, while the lack of changes over early nodule development suggest post transcriptional mechanisms such as protein association or phosphorylation transmit the signal.
Substance Use in the MSM Population of New York City during the Era of HIV/AIDS

This literature review considers the historical significance, emergence of, and interplay between the HIV and illicit drug use epidemics among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City (NYC). The continual rise in HIV infections in recent years among MSM, particularly among young MSM (YMSM), commands a need for the examination of the effectiveness of current HIV prevention strategies and a more comprehensive understanding of the complex biopsychosocial influences that place YMSM at risk. A chronological perspective of both the HIV and illicit drug use epidemics affecting NYC MSM is presented, followed by a review of the existing research on the synergistic relation between the two. Special consideration is given to the patterns and interconnectivity between HIV, substance use, and housing instability specific to YMSM, as they represent the demographic currently at greatest risk for HIV transmission in NYC. Thereafter, an overview of treatment research is provided. We conclude by offering recommendations for future research and best practices as we move forward in an attempt to reduce the incidence of HIV transmission.
Linking the Assessment of Self-Reported Functional Capacity With Abuse Experiences of Women With Disabilities

Women with disabilities are abused at rates similar to or greater than their nondisabled counterparts. Compared with nonabused women, women abused by an intimate partner have a greater risk of being disabled or having an illness that affects their activities of daily living. Although disabled women experience similar forms of abuse to those of nondisabled women, some forms of abuse are unique to disabled women due to the limitations that the disability itself presents. This article presents a conceptual analysis of abuse of disabled women and discusses assessment procedures that can assist in identifying abuse and informing service delivery. We propose a model of abuse assessment for women with disabilities composed of three elements: traditional assessment anchored on the Power and Control Wheel that encompasses the unique forms of abuse that disabled women experience; comprehensive functional assessment through self-reporting and self-rating; and attention to heterogeneity with regard to cultural sensitivity, structure of reporting, and nature of disability.