Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improvement of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic calluses from maize elite inbred lines

SummaryThis study was carried out to evaluate the effects of purine synthesis inhibitor mizoribine, purine and pyrimidine synthesis inhibitors azaserine and acivicin, and surfactant Silwet L-77 on Agrobacterium-mediated transformation efficiency of embryogenic calluses from maize elite inbred lines Qi 319 and Ye 515. After transformation and three rounds of selection on 2.8 μM chlorsulfuron, resistant calluses were obtained subsequently, and morphologically normal plantlets were regenerated from 80 to 90% of the resistant calluses treated with the compounds. There were no obvious discrepancies between the frequencies of plantlet regeneration and the ratio of PCR positive plantlets of calluses treated with different compounds. Results of PCR assay with primers for betA showed that 40.2% (103/256) of the regenerated plantlets were positive. The percentage of resistant calluses was 2–3-fold higher than the control after being treated with 0.19–0.27 mM mizoribine. The most suitable concentration of azaserin was 0.36 mM, which gave a 4-fold increase in the percentage of resistant calluses. Acivicin at 0.28–0.84 mM yielded a 3–5-fold increase in the percentage of resistant calluses, which is significantly better than the control. When the calluses were treated with 0.01 or 0.02% Silwet L-77, the percentages of resistant calluses were 34.89 and 25.60%, respectively. We concluded that purine synthesis inhibitors, purine and pyrimidine synthesis inhibitor and the surfactant Silwet L-77 at optimal concentrations significantly improved the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of maize calluses.
Implications for Dynamic Visual Acuity with Changes in Age and Sex

Using a Landolt ring with a gap of 40' of arc which moved at a decreasing velocity until the gap was discriminated, we measured the dynamic visual acuity of 826 subjects, males and females ages 5 to 92 years, and found rapid development between the ages of 5 and 15 years. This experiment showed that dynamic discrimination peaked at age 15 and then declined at a constant rate from age 20 on. The discrimination of male subjects was superior to that of female subjects at most ages, but a significant sex difference was observed only at age 5. We speculate that males may have better discrimination than females but variability is substantial.
Infinite horizon discounted dynamic programming subject to total variation ambiguity on conditional distribution

We analyze the infinite horizon minimax discounted cost Markov Control Model (MCM), for a class of controlled process conditional distributions, which belong to a ball, with respect to total variation distance metric, centered at a known nominal controlled conditional distribution with radius R ∈ [0, 2], in which the minimization is over the control strategies and the maximization is over conditional distributions. Through our analysis (i) we derive a new discounted dynamic programming equation, (ii) we show the associated contraction property, and (iii) we develop a new policy iteration algorithm. Finally, the application of the new dynamic programming and the corresponding policy iteration algorithm are shown via an illustrative example.
Intrusiveness of rheumatoid arthritis on sexuality in male and female patients living with a spouse.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether physical disability, pain, depressive mood, and criticism by the spouse are differentially related to intrusiveness of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on sexuality in male and female patients. METHODS Physical and psychological aspects of health were assessed in 102 male and 118 female RA patients who were living with a spouse. Patients were classified into 3 levels of intrusiveness of RA on sexuality. The data were analyzed by means of analysis of covariance and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS Greater intrusiveness of RA on sexuality was related to greater physical disability, pain, and depression in male and female RA patients. Female patients, compared with male patients, appeared to have lower levels of mobility and self-care. Male and female patients did not differ in their level of intrusiveness of RA on sexuality. CONCLUSION Physical disability, pain, and, to a lesser extent, depression were found to contribute to intrusiveness of RA on sexuality. It is suggested that differences in sexual motivation between men and women might have been influential in the absence of gender differences in intrusiveness.
Wealthier is healthier

With cross-country, time series data on health (infant and child mortality, and life expectancy) and per capita income, the authors estimate the effect of income on health. They use instrumental variables estimation to identify the effect of income on health that is structural and causal, isolated from reverse causation (healthier workers are more productive and hence wealthier) or incidental association (some other factor may cause both better health and greater wealth). The long-run income elasticity of infant and child mortality in developing countries lies between 0.2 and 0.4. Using those estimates, they calculate that in 1990 alone, more than half a million child deaths in the developing world could be attributed to poor economic performance in the 1980s.
6‐hydroxydopamine induces dopaminergic cell degeneration via a caspase‐9‐mediated apoptotic pathway that is attenuated by caspase‐9dn expression

This study showed that primary dopaminergic neurons or the dopaminergic cell line MN9D, when exposed to 15 min of the parkinsonian toxin 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) in the range of 30–100 μM, underwent delayed degeneration and exhibited hallmarks of apoptosis. These results, along with the absence of any increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release from the degenerated cells, imply that apoptosis was the dominant mode of cell death. Moreover, a distinct elevation in the measured cellular activities of caspase‐9 and ‐3 but not of caspase‐8 points to the caspase‐9/caspase‐3 cascade as the predominant apoptotic pathway in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and MN9D cells. In addition, the presence of caspase‐9 or ‐3 peptide inhibitors but not of caspase‐8 inhibitor attenuated cell death significantly, supporting the notion that only the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is utilized to achieve cell death. Finally, overexpression of a mutant caspase‐9 with dominant negative phenotype (caspase‐9dn) in MN9D cells and primary dopaminergic neurons via the adenovirus and adenoassociated virus gene delivery system, respectively, conferred marked increases in tolerance to the toxicity of 6‐OHDA. These results point to the intrinsic caspase‐9/caspase‐3 cascade as the predominant signaling pathway underlying dopaminergic cell death induced by 6‐OHDA and suggest that gene delivery of caspase‐9dn can attenuate this pathway and its degenerative consequences. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Reduced primary antigen‐specific T‐cell precursor frequencies in neonates is associated with deficient interleukin‐2 production

Clinical evidence has indicated that the neonatal cell‐mediated immune response to primary infection is delayed when compared to that of adults with the same primary infection. The mechanisms regulating the development of antigen‐specific T‐cell immunity in neonates remain to be elucidated. We examined the primary immune response to the non‐recall antigen, keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) in adults and neonates in vitro. We report here that conventional bulk culture methods show reduced proliferative responses in neonates although statistical significance was not achieved. Using limiting dilution analysis, the frequencies of KLH‐specific T lymphocytes were 10–100‐fold lower in neonates when compared to adults. Interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) production was significantly lower in the supernatants of neonatal mononuclear cells (MNC) stimulated with KLH when compared to adults. Addition of exogenous IL‐2 increased precursor frequencies twofold in both adult and newborn cultures. In contrast to the secreted IL‐2 levels, IL‐2 mRNA expression was higher in antigen‐stimulated neonatal MNC preparations, even though proliferation was lower. These observations indicate differential in vitro responsiveness in neonates and adults to primary antigenic challenge. Since no IL‐2 was detected in cell lysates, the presence of high levels of IL‐2 mRNA and low IL‐2 production suggests inability by neonatal MNC to translate IL‐2. This deficiency in IL‐2 production may explain the reduced precursor frequencies, suggesting failure to recruit T lymphocytes in order to expand the KLH‐specific T‐cell response. These observations are important for the understanding of the development of primary immune responses and immunological maturation in neonates.
Increased TLR2 expression on blood monocytes in irritable bowel syndrome patients

Objectives The understanding of the mechanisms for increased immune activation in subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is incomplete. We hypothesized that monocytes are more activated in patients with IBS than in the healthy population. We therefore examined activation phenotype and cytokine secretion of blood monocytes. Methods Blood samples from 74 patients with IBS and 30 controls were obtained. The activation phenotype of CD11c+CD14+ monocytes and cytokine secretion in serum and in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultured with or without lipopolysaccharide was determined. Gastrointestinal and psychological symptom severity and quality of life were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results Monocytes from patients demonstrated an increased expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, whereas the expression on monocytes of TLR4, HLA-DR, CD40, CD80 and CD86 was comparable in patients and controls. The expression of activation markers on monocytes did not correlate with gastrointestinal or extracolonic symptom severity, but the expressions of TLR2, HLA-DR and CD86 were associated with less severe psychological symptoms and better social and physical well-being. Cytokine secretion in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures was comparable in patients and controls. A subgroup of patients (15%) who had TLR2 and HLA-DR expression intensity above the level seen in controls reported less severe psychosocial symptoms. Conclusion Patients with IBS have increased expression of TLR2 on monocytes and the activation level on monocytes correlates with less severe psychological symptoms and better quality of life. Thus, our data implicate less importance of psychosocial factors and increased importance of immunological parameters for symptom generation in a subgroup of patients with IBS.
Media and information literacy among children on three continents: insights into the measurement and mediation of well-being

In understanding and promoting positive outcomes for children’s internet use, media and information literacies play a crucial mediating role, both by enabling opportunities to learn, create, express oneself and participate, and by facilitating coping and building resilience. Given the importance of these literacies, and bearing in mind the history of debates about their definition and measurement, this chapter explains the approach taken by Global Kids Online (GKO), a multinational research partnership seeking to generate robust evidence that can inform policy and practice regarding children’s internet use in diverse countries and internationally. The chapter presents the rationale for GKO’s multidimensional approach to media and information literacy, and issues of measurement, social desirability and cross-national comparison. It shows recent findings showing cross-national similarities in higher levels of operational than creative skills as well as differences between higher and lower income countries; it is noteworthy that gender differences in children’s digital skills are found to be small. Having shown that the GKO quantitative research toolkit successfully operationalises the range of media and information literacies also addressed by comparable international frameworks, we commend it to future researchers, concluding with evidence that the results of the GKO research are now being used to inform national policy and practice regarding children’s learning in a digital age
Patients with peripheral arterial disease in the CHARISMA trial.

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine whether clopidogrel plus aspirin provides greater protection against major cardiovascular events than aspirin alone in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). METHODS AND RESULTS This is a post hoc analysis of the 3096 patients with symptomatic (2838) or asymptomatic (258) PAD from the CHARISMA trial. The rate of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI), or stroke (primary endpoint) was higher in patients with PAD than in those without PAD: 8.2% vs. 6.8% [hazard ratio (HR), 1.25; 95% CI 1.08, 1.44; P = 0.002]. Among the patients with PAD, the primary endpoint occurred in 7.6% in the clopidogrel plus aspirin group and 8.9% in the placebo plus aspirin group (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.66-1.08; P = 0.18). In these patients, the rate of MI was lower in the dual antiplatelet arm than the aspirin alone arm: 2.3% vs. 3.7% (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.96; P = 0.029), as was the rate of hospitalization for ischaemic events: 16.5% vs. 20.1% (HR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.68-0.95; P = 0.011). The rates of severe, fatal, or moderate bleeding did not differ between the groups, whereas minor bleeding was increased with clopidogrel: 34.4% vs. 20.8% (odds ratio, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.69-2.34; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION Dual therapy provided some benefit over aspirin alone in PAD patients for the rate of MI and the rate of hospitalization for ischaemic events, at the cost of an increase in minor bleeding.
Fatty Acid Transport Protein 4 (FATP4) Prevents Light-Induced Degeneration of Cone and Rod Photoreceptors by Inhibiting RPE65 Isomerase

Although rhodopsin is essential for sensing light for vision, it also mediates light-induced apoptosis of photoreceptors in mouse. RPE65, which catalyzes isomerization of all-trans retinyl fatty acid esters to 11-cis-retinol (11cROL) in the visual cycle, controls the rhodopsin regeneration rate and photoreceptor susceptibility to light-induced degeneration. Mutations in RPE65 have been linked to blindness in affected children. Despite such importance, the mechanism that regulates RPE65 function remains unclear. Through unbiased expression screening of a bovine retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cDNA library, we have identified elongation of very long-chain fatty acids-like 1 (ELOVL1) and fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4), which each have very long-chain fatty acid acyl-CoA synthetase (VLCFA-ACS) activity, as negative regulators of RPE65. We found that the VLCFA derivative lignoceroyl (C24:0)-CoA inhibited synthesis of 11cROL, whereas palmitoyl (C16:0)-CoA promoted synthesis of 11cROL. We further found that competition of FATP4 with RPE65 for the substrate of RPE65 was also involved in the mechanisms by which FATP4 inhibits synthesis of 11cROL. FATP4 was predominantly expressed in RPE, and the FATP4-deficient RPE showed significantly higher isomerase activity. Consistent with these results, the regeneration rate of 11-cis-retinaldehyde and the recovery rate for rod light sensitivity were faster in FATP4-deficient mice than wild-type mice. Moreover, FATP4-deficient mice displayed increased accumulation of the cytotoxic all-trans retinaldehyde and hypersusceptibility to light-induced photoreceptor degeneration. Our findings demonstrate that ELOVL1, FATP4, and their products comprise the regulatory elements of RPE65 and play important roles in protecting photoreceptors from degeneration induced by light damage.
Toward greater ecological intelligence in the United States: ten statements with statistics and commentary regarding ecolabels

Abstract Those of us whose careers and personal lives focus on environmental issues do not want to admit any deficiency in ecological intelligence. Unfortunately, we have to face facts, and that includes me, which is part of the reason for writing this essay. Insufficient ecological intelligence results partly because of the phenomenon of information overload, but it is also due to the absence of systems, policies, or sometimes even intentions to make certain pieces of information open and public. Ecolabels are one way to remedy these problems. My own experience with the United States Green Building Council’s green building rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and its success as a tool for transforming the building sector has demonstrated that these labeling programs can create massive market change. This essay aims 1) to pull together in one place a wide variety of statistics related to ecological intelligence, 2) to distill ten statements worth consideration regarding ecolabels, and 3) to advance a discussion on the trends, potential, and limitations of ecolabels in order to make doing the right thing by the environment and our health, for both individuals and organizations, much easier than it is now.
Identification of a Novel PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ)-like Protein Interacting with the C Terminus of Presenilin-1*

Presenilin-1 (PS-1) is the most causative Alzheimer gene product, and its function is not well understood. In an attempt to elucidate the function of PS-1, we screened a human brain cDNA library for PS-1-interacting proteins using the yeast two-hybrid system and isolated a novel protein containing a PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ)-like domain. This novel PS-1-associated protein (PSAP) shares a significant similarity with a Caenorhabditis elegans protein of unknown function. Northern blot analysis revealed that PSAP is predominantly expressed in the brain. Deletion of the first four C-terminal amino acid residues of PS-1, which contain the PDZ domain-binding motif (Gln-Phe-Tyr-Ile), reduced the binding activity of PS-1 toward PSAP 4-fold. These data suggest that PS-1 may associate with a PDZ-like domain-containing protein in vivoand thus may participate in receptor or channel clustering and intracellular signaling events in the brain.
Membrane type 1‐matrix metalloproteinase is involved in the migration of human monocyte‐derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DC) are highly mobile APC. The trafficking of both immature and mature DC is crucial for their functions, which depends mainly on chemotactic attraction and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) activity. MMP that are in a transmembrane form belong to membrane type (MT)‐MMP, among which MT1‐MMP has been shown to possess strong proteolytic activity that is capable of degrading extracellular matrix molecules. Although it is well established that MMP are zinc‐dependent endopeptidases that collectively degrade most components of the extracellular matrix, relatively little is known about MT‐MMP‐mediated matrix degradation during DC migration. In this study, we showed that MT1‐MMP was expressed in human monocyte‐derived immature and mature DC by semi‐quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting analyses. Moreover, immunofluorescence microscopic studies showed that MT1‐MMP was expressed on the membrane surface of DC. Blocking of MT1‐MMP activity greatly reduced the invasion capacity of immature DC in Matrigel, whereas mature DC mobility was not affected. Taken together, our results show a novel functional link between MT1‐MMP and DC motility and suggest that MT1‐MMP may play an important role in modulating the migration of immature DC.
Gorlin–Goltz syndrome: A case series of 5 patients in North Indian population with comparative analysis of literature

Objective: In Indian scenario, Gorlin–Goltz syndrome (nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome [NBCCS]) has been rarely reported. The clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings and major and minor criteria in five cases of NBCCS in North Indian population have been presented along with a discussion of the role of gene mutation analysis in early diagnosis of syndrome. Materials and Methods: The diagnostic findings of Gorlin–Goltz syndrome in 5 patients were compared with other reports in Indian population and with reports of this syndrome in other parts of the world. Results: The most common features seen were keratocystic odontogenic tumors (100%), calcifications of falx cerebri (60%), palmar-plantar pits (80%), rib anomalies (80%), macroencephaly (60%), ocular hypertelorism (80%), and frontal bossing (60%) in our series. Retained deciduous teeth seen in 80% patients whose association has not been previously reported has been presented. None of our patients had basal cell carcinoma, syndactyly or polydactyly, pectus deformity, bridging of sella turcica, pigmented nevi, or family history of this syndrome in contrast to such findings in other Indian patients. Medulloblastoma has not been reported in any Indian patient so far compared to this finding in other studies conducted worldwide. Conclusions: Combining the features of 48 patients in 38 cases of NBCCS being published in Indian literature with five cases of our series and on comparison with other studies in the world, a wide disparity in different ethnic groups and a wide variation in presentation of syndrome within the same population is suggested.
New Roles of Syntaxin-1A in Insulin Granule Exocytosis and Replenishment*

In type-2 diabetes (T2D), severely reduced islet syntaxin-1A (Syn-1A) levels contribute to insulin secretory deficiency. We generated β-cell-specific Syn-1A-KO (Syn-1A-βKO) mice to mimic β-cell Syn-1A deficiency in T2D. Glucose tolerance tests showed that Syn-1A-βKO mice exhibited blood glucose elevation corresponding to reduced blood insulin levels. Perifusion of Syn-1A-βKO islets showed impaired first- and second-phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) resulting from reduction in readily releasable pool and granule pool refilling. To unequivocally determine the β-cell exocytotic defects caused by Syn-1A deletion, EM and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy showed that Syn-1A-KO β-cells had a severe reduction in the number of secretory granules (SGs) docked onto the plasma membrane (PM) at rest and reduced SG recruitment to the PM after glucose stimulation, the latter indicating defects in replenishment of releasable pools required to sustain second-phase GSIS. Whereas reduced predocked SG fusion accounted for reduced first-phase GSIS, selective reduction of exocytosis of short-dock (but not no-dock) newcomer SGs accounted for the reduced second-phase GSIS. These Syn-1A actions on newcomer SGs were partly mediated by Syn-1A interactions with newcomer SG VAMP8.
Teaching critical thinking in primary schools in Cyprus: a collective case study

This case study explores the effects of participatory drama on groups of upper primary school students in Cyprus with the intention of enhancing their critical thinking. For the purposes of this research, a series of twenty-four drama workshops based on several drama contexts and stories were designed and carried out in three primary school classes, considered to be the three units of analysis of a collective case study. The research was also informed by elements of ethnography and reflective practice and explored the students’ voices, choices, actions and general responses to the drama contexts and issues they were presented with. At the same time, this project looks at the students’ and their teachers’ considerations and reflections on the learning experiences and explores the students’ stances and group decisions and how they related these to their real-life experiences and actions. The discussion of the findings focuses on what the research tells us about how drama might be considered important for children’s critical thinking. The constraints which hindered this research are also presented while questions related to the potential of drama to achieve similar goals are proposed for further exploration