Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction of somatic embryogenesis in explants of shoot cultures established from adult Eucalyptus globulus and E. saligna × E. maidenii trees.

A reproducible procedure for induction of somatic embryogenesis (SE) from adult trees of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and the hybrid E. saligna Smith × E. maidenii has been developed for the first time. Somatic embryos were obtained from both shoot apex and leaf explants of all three genotypes evaluated, although embryogenic frequencies were significantly influenced by the species/genotype, auxin and explant type. Picloram was more efficient for somatic embryo induction than naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), with the highest frequency of induction being obtained in Murashige and Skoog medium containing 40 µM picloram and 40 mg l(-1) gum Arabic, in which 64% of the shoot apex explants and 68.8% of the leaf explants yielded somatic embryos. The embryogenic response of the hybrid was higher than that of the E. globulus, especially when NAA was used. The cultures initiated on picloram-containing medium consisted of nodular embryogenic structures surrounded by a mucilaginous coating layer that emerged from a watery callus developed from the initial explants. Cotyledonary somatic embryos were differentiated after subculture of these nodular embryogenic structures on a medium lacking plant growth regulators. Histological analysis confirmed the bipolar organization of the somatic embryos, with shoot and root meristems and closed procambial tissue that bifurcated into small cotyledons. The root pole was more differentiated than the shoot pole, which appeared to be formed by a few meristematic layers. Maintenance of the embryogenic lines by secondary SE was attained by subculturing individual cotyledonary embryos or small clusters of globular and torpedo embryos on medium with 16.11 µM NAA at 4- to 5-week intervals. Somatic embryos converted into plantlets after being transferred to liquid germination medium although plant regeneration remained poor.
The Cdc42 Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor FGD6 Coordinates Cell Polarity and Endosomal Membrane Recycling in Osteoclasts*

Background: The guanine exchange factor (GEF) FGD6 is a Src substrate in osteoclasts. Results: FGD6 is found in several protein complexes, which regulate the formation of podosomes/sealing zones and retromer-dependent membrane recycling. Conclusion: A single GEF controls several actin-based processes to coordinate cell polarity and membrane recycling. Significance: FGD6 is essential for osteoclast function in bone degradation. The initial step of bone digestion is the adhesion of osteoclasts onto bone surfaces and the assembly of podosomal belts that segregate the bone-facing ruffled membrane from other membrane domains. During bone digestion, membrane components of the ruffled border also need to be recycled after macropinocytosis of digested bone materials. How osteoclast polarity and membrane recycling are coordinated remains unknown. Here, we show that the Cdc42-guanine nucleotide exchange factor FGD6 coordinates these events through its Src-dependent interaction with different actin-based protein networks. At the plasma membrane, FGD6 couples cell adhesion and actin dynamics by regulating podosome formation through the assembly of complexes comprising the Cdc42-interactor IQGAP1, the Rho GTPase-activating protein ARHGAP10, and the integrin interactors Talin-1/2 or Filamin A. On endosomes and transcytotic vesicles, FGD6 regulates retromer-dependent membrane recycling through its interaction with the actin nucleation-promoting factor WASH. These results provide a mechanism by which a single Cdc42-exchange factor controlling different actin-based processes coordinates cell adhesion, cell polarity, and membrane recycling during bone degradation.
Co-ordination among leaf water relations and xylem vulnerability to embolism of Eucalyptus trees growing along a depth-to-groundwater gradient.

The importance of groundwater resources in arid and semi-arid areas for plant survival is well documented. However, there have been few studies examining the importance and impacts of groundwater availability in mesic environments. The aim of this study was to determine how depth-to-groundwater (DGW) impacts on leaf water relations, leaf structure and branch xylem vulnerability to embolism in a mesic environment. We hypothesize that increasing DGW results in increased resistance to drought stress and that this will be manifested across leaf and branch attributes pertaining to water relations. We further investigate whether there is co-ordination across leaf and branch-scale level responses to increased DGW. Four species were used in this study: Eucalyptus globoidea Blakely, E. piperita Sm. , E. sclerophylla (Blakely) L.A. S.Johnson & Blaxell and E. sieberi L.A. S.Johnson. Six sites were chosen along an 11 km transect to span a range of average DGW: 2.4, 4.3, 9.8, 13, 16.3 and 37.5 m. Leaf water relations of trees showed less sensitivity to drought stress as DGW increased. This was reflected in significantly lower leaf turgor loss point and maximum osmotic potential, increased maximum turgor and a reduced leaf relative water content as DGW increased. At shallow DGW sites, minimum diurnal leaf water potentials were generally more negative than leaf water potential at zero turgor, but the reverse was observed at deep sites, indicating a larger growth potential safety margin at deep sites compared with shallow sites. Leaf cell wall elasticity varied independently of DGW. Xylem vulnerability to embolism was quantified as the water potential associated with 50% loss of conductance (P 50). In both summer and winter P 50 was significantly and negatively correlated with DGW. Co-ordination between leaf- and branch-level responses to increase in DGW was apparent, which strongly supports the conclusion that groundwater supply influenced woodland structure and functional behaviour.
Consumer Satisfaction with Emergency Department Nursing: a Descriptive Correlational Study

This descriptive, correlational study was designed to describe levels of consumer satisfaction with emergency department (ED) nursing and to identify the key determinants of satisfaction with ED nursing in a regional New Zealand hospital. The relationship between satisfaction with ED nursing and with overall satisfaction with the ED visit was also explored. Satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of healthcare and an understanding of satisfaction and its determinants has the potential to improve healthcare services and consumer health outcomes. The study employed a survey design using the Consumer Emergency Care Satisfaction Scale (CECSS) which is an internationally recognised tool that has demonstrable reliability and validity. It consists of 19 items divided between two subscales - Caring and Teaching. Respondents indicate on a five point Likert scale the extent to which they agree or disagree with each item. In addition to the 19 items in the scale, respondents were also asked to provide some consumer characteristic data and to answer two open-ended questions. The survey was posted to a convenience sample of 410 ED attendees within 24-48 hours of their visit to the emergency department. The final sample comprised 100 completed or partially completed surveys. The majority (n = 65, 88%) were either satisfied or very satisfied with ED nursing. There were no statistically significant relationships between any consumer characteristics and satisfaction; however the following visit characteristics were demonstrated to affect levels of satisfaction - triage category, self-rated acuity, the times consumers arrived at and were discharged from the ED, being able to differentiate between health professionals, being kept informed about the visit and any delays, length of stay (LOS), and number of previous visits to the emergency department. There was a strong positive correlation (r = 0.571, p = 0.000) between consumer satisfaction with ED nursing and with overall satisfaction with the visit. Thematic analysis of the data from the question about what consumers liked about ED nursing revealed four themes - personal qualities of the nurse, professional qualities of the nurse, interpersonal qualities of the nurse, and miscellaneous comments. Thematic analysis of the data from the question about what the nurse could have done to make the visit better also revealed four themes - nothing, staffing/service, information giving, and the environment. The study concludes that ED consumers want to know who their nurses are and to have nurses who communicate well with them and keep them informed about their visit. The most significant implications and challenges for researchers are in exploring the area around the consumer health journey as it is these visit characteristics that this study has demonstrated affect levels of satisfaction with ED nursing.
Does reduced precipitation trigger physiological and morphological drought adaptations in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)? Comparing provenances across a precipitation gradient.

Global warming and associated decreases in summer rainfall may threaten tree vitality and forest productivity in many regions of the temperate zone in the future. One option for forestry to reduce the risk of failure is to plant genotypes which combine high productivity with drought tolerance. Growth experiments with provenances from different climates indicate that drought exposure can trigger adaptive drought responses in temperate trees, but it is not well known whether and to what extent regional precipitation reduction can increase the drought resistance of a species. We conducted a common garden growth experiment with five European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) populations from a limited region with pronounced precipitation heterogeneity (816-544 mm year(-1)), where phylogenetically related provenances grew under small to large water deficits. We grew saplings of the five provenances at four soil moisture levels (dry to moist) and measured ∼30 morphological (leaf and root properties, root : shoot ratio), physiological (leaf water status parameters, leaf conductance) and growth-related traits (above- and belowground productivity) with the aim to examine provenance differences in the drought response of morphological and physiological traits and to relate the responsiveness to precipitation at origin. Physiological traits were more strongly influenced by provenance (one-third of the studied traits), while structural traits were primarily affected by water availability in the experiment (two-thirds of the traits). The modulus of leaf tissue elasticity ϵ reached much higher values late in summer in plants from moist origins resulting in more rapid turgor loss and a higher risk of hydraulic failure upon drought. While experimental water shortage affected the majority of morphological and productivity-related traits in the five provenances, most parameters related to leaf water status were insensitive to water shortage. Thus, plant morphology, and root growth in particular, did respond to reduced water availability with higher phenotypic plasticity than did physiology. We conclude that beech provenances exposed to different precipitation regimes have developed some genotypic differences with respect to leaf water status regulation, but these adaptations are associated with only minor adaptation in plant morphology and they do not affect the growth rate of the saplings.
Electronic medical records for appropriate timing of arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyse whether electronic medical records (EMRs) of total hip and knee arthroplasty can be used to manage the optimal time of surgery. DESIGN Retrospective registry study. SETTING Data on waiting time for operation, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), operable condition pre-operatively and the functional scores at 3 and 12 months after arthroplasty were obtained from EMRs and from an electronic implant database. PARTICIPANTS The participants of the study were 162 arthroplasty patients. RESULTS An increase in waiting time of hip patients decreased significantly the change in functional scores at 3 months (P = 0.006, n = 56). The score reductions of older patients were more marked than of younger patients and of patients of normal weight compared with overweight patients. In patients undergoing knee arthroplasty, the association between a longer waiting time and profound change in functional score was statistically significant after 1 year (P = 0.03, n = 75). After adjustment of the results for pre-operative scores, age group, BMI class, American Society of Anesthesiologists class and gender, the waiting time turned out to affect only the scores of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at 3 months post-operatively. CONCLUSIONS Data from electronic patient entries complemented with data of the operable condition can be used for defining the optimal operation time with regard to the pre-operative condition of the patients. The implication of prolonged waiting times was not very profound, but elderly patients benefit from a short waiting time.
INTRODUCTION TO IRANIAN BLOOD TRANSFUSION ORGANIZATION AND BLOOD SAFETY IN IRAN

Currently, in Iran blood transfusion is an integral part of the national health system and blood donation is voluntary and nonremunerated and blood and its components may not be a source of profit. In 1974 and following establishment of Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) all blood transfusion activities from donor recruitment to production of blood components and delivery of blood and blood products were centralized. The activities of IBTO are followed the laws and regulations of Ministry of Health and criteria of Iran National Regulatory Authority. In order to meet the country's demand in 2007 IBTO collected about 1.7 millions units of blood from the population of 70 millions. In 1979 coincided with the Islamic revolution the number of blood units collected throughout the country were 124,000 units or 3.4 unit per 1000 population whereas after about 30 years this increased to about 25 unit per 1000 population. With improving the pool of voluntary donors, IBTO has been successful in excluding "family replacement" donation since 2007 and reached to 100% voluntary and nonremunerated blood donation. Currently more than 92% of blood donors in Iran are male and contribution of female in blood donation is less than 8%. Although all donated blood in Iran screened for HBsAg since 1974, screening of blood units for HIV and HCV started since 1989 and 1996, respectively. The frequency of HBV infection in blood donors showed a significant decline from 1.79% in 1998 to 0.4% in 2007. The overall frequency of HCV and HIV infection are 0.13% and 0.004% respectively.
2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Promotes Transcription Factor EB-mediated Activation of Autophagy

Background: The drug delivery vehicle 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) prevents cholesterol storage. Results: HPβCD treatment induces TFEB mediated activation of autophagy and clearance of the autophagic substrate ceroid lipopigment. Conclusion: HPβCD administration results in enhancement of the innate autophagic clearance capacity. Significance: Dissecting the cellular pathways impacted by HPβCD is crucial to design HPβCD-based therapeutic modalities. 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) is a Food and Drug Administration-approved excipient used to improve the stability and bioavailability of drugs. Despite its wide use as a drug delivery vehicle and the recent approval of a clinical trial to evaluate its potential for the treatment of a cholesterol storage disorder, the cellular pathways involved in the adaptive response that is activated upon exposure to HPβCD are still poorly defined. Here, we show that cell treatment with HPβCD results in the activation of the transcription factor EB, a master regulator of lysosomal function and autophagy, and in enhancement of the cellular autophagic clearance capacity. HPβCD administration promotes transcription factor EB-mediated clearance of proteolipid aggregates that accumulate due to inefficient activity of the lysosome-autophagy system in cells derived from a patient with a lysosomal storage disorder. Interestingly, HPβCD-mediated activation of autophagy was found not to be associated with activation of apoptotic pathways. This study provides a mechanistic understanding of the cellular response to HPβCD treatment, which will inform the development of safe HPβCD-based therapeutic modalities and may enable engineering HPβCD as a platform technology to reduce the accumulation of lysosomal storage material.
Reactive Oxygen Species, AMP-activated Protein Kinase, and the Transcription Cofactor p300 Regulate α-Tubulin Acetyltransferase-1 (αTAT-1/MEC-17)-dependent Microtubule Hyperacetylation during Cell Stress*

Background: Tubulin acetylation is a hallmark of microtubule stabilization, which may modulate the binding of microtubule-associated proteins. Results: Microtubules are hyperacetylated because of stress-induced cellular signaling upstream of the tubulin acetyltransferase MEC-17/αTAT1. Conclusion: MEC-17/αTAT1 is regulated by p300, reactive oxygen species, and AMP-activated protein kinase. Significance: Microtubule hyperacetylation is important for cell adaptation to stress through autophagy induction and for cell survival. Beyond its presence in stable microtubules, tubulin acetylation can be boosted after UV exposure or after nutrient deprivation, but the mechanisms of microtubule hyperacetylation are still unknown. In this study, we show that this hyperacetylation is a common response to several cellular stresses that involves the stimulation of the major tubulin acetyltransferase MEC-17. We also demonstrate that the acetyltransferase p300 negatively regulates MEC-17 expression and is sequestered on microtubules upon stress. We further show that reactive oxygen species of mitochondrial origin are required for microtubule hyperacetylation by activating the AMP kinase, which in turn mediates MEC-17 phosphorylation upon stress. Finally, we show that preventing microtubule hyperacetylation by knocking down MEC-17 affects cell survival under stress conditions and starvation-induced autophagy, thereby pointing out the importance of this rapid modification as a broad cell response to stress.
Structural Determinants for the Interaction of Formyl Peptide Receptor 2 with Peptide Ligands*

Background: Formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1) and FPR2 are highly homologous but bind fMet-Leu-Phe with very different affinities. Results: Asp-281 provides a negative charge that renders FPR2 more sensitive to the length and composition of formyl peptides than FPR1. Conclusion: Asp-281 is a major determinant for FPR2 binding. Significance: This work provides a structural basis for differential interaction between formyl peptides and their receptors. Unlike formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), FPR2/ALX (FPR2) interacts with peptides of diverse sequences but has low affinity for the Escherichia coli-derived chemotactic peptide fMet-Leu-Phe (fMLF). Using computer modeling and site-directed mutagenesis, we investigated the structural requirements for FPR2 to interact with formyl peptides of different length and composition. In calcium flux assay, the N-formyl group of these peptides is necessary for activation of both FPR2 and FPR1, whereas the composition of the C-terminal amino acids appears more important for FPR2 than FPR1. FPR2 interacts better with pentapeptides (fMLFII, fMLFIK) than tetrapeptides (fMLFK, fMLFW) and tripeptide (fMLF) but only weakly with peptides carrying negative charges at the C terminus (e.g. fMLFE). In contrast, FPR1 is less sensitive to negative charges at the C terminus. A CXCR4-based homology model of FPR1 and FPR2 suggested that Asp-2817.32 is crucial for the interaction of FPR2 with certain formyl peptides as its negative charge may be repulsive with the terminal COO- group of fMLF and negatively charged Glu in fMLFE. Asp-2817.32 might also form a stable interaction with the positively charged Lys in fMLFK. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to remove the negative charge at position 281 in FPR2. The D2817.32G mutant showed improved affinity for fMLFE and fMLF and reduced affinity for fMLFK compared with wild type FPR2. These results indicate that different structural determinants are used by FPR1 and FPR2 to interact with formyl peptides.
New Hyperekplexia Mutations Provide Insight into Glycine Receptor Assembly, Trafficking, and Activation Mechanisms*

Background: Hyperekplexia mutations have provided much information about glycine receptor structure and function. Results: We identified and characterized nine new mutations. Dominant mutations resulted in spontaneous activation, whereas recessive mutations precluded surface expression. Conclusion: These data provide insight into glycine receptor activation mechanisms and surface expression determinants. Significance: The results enhance our understanding of hyperekplexia pathology and glycine receptor structure-function. Hyperekplexia is a syndrome of readily provoked startle responses, alongside episodic and generalized hypertonia, that presents within the first month of life. Inhibitory glycine receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels with a definitive and clinically well stratified linkage to hyperekplexia. Most hyperekplexia cases are caused by mutations in the α1 subunit of the human glycine receptor (hGlyR) gene (GLRA1). Here we analyzed 68 new unrelated hyperekplexia probands for GLRA1 mutations and identified 19 mutations, of which 9 were novel. Electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that the dominant mutations p.Q226E, p.V280M, and p.R414H induced spontaneous channel activity, indicating that this is a recurring mechanism in hGlyR pathophysiology. p.Q226E, at the top of TM1, most likely induced tonic activation via an enhanced electrostatic attraction to p.R271 at the top of TM2, suggesting a structural mechanism for channel activation. Receptors incorporating p.P230S (which is heterozygous with p.R65W) desensitized much faster than wild type receptors and represent a new TM1 site capable of modulating desensitization. The recessive mutations p.R72C, p.R218W, p.L291P, p.D388A, and p.E375X precluded cell surface expression unless co-expressed with α1 wild type subunits. The recessive p.E375X mutation resulted in subunit truncation upstream of the TM4 domain. Surprisingly, on the basis of three independent assays, we were able to infer that p.E375X truncated subunits are incorporated into functional hGlyRs together with unmutated α1 or α1 plus β subunits. These aberrant receptors exhibit significantly reduced glycine sensitivity. To our knowledge, this is the first suggestion that subunits lacking TM4 domains might be incorporated into functional pentameric ligand-gated ion channel receptors.
Effect of different active fungicides molecules on the management of rice blast disease.

Evaluation of different fungicides against rice blast disease was carried out during Kharif 2008 and 2009, at State Adaptive Research Farm, Khirpai, Pachim Medinipur, West Bengal. A rice variety MTU 7029 was transplanted in Randomized Complete Block Design and the application of various fungicides viz Nativo 75WG, Gain 75 WP, Score 250 EC, Hexacon Super 5%SC, and Tilt 25 EC, were made with dose rates of 0.4 g l−1 water, 0.6 g l−1 water, 1.25 ml l−1 water, 1.5 ml l−1 water, 1 ml l−1 water. All the fungicides proved to be effective in the management of rice blast disease but, Nativo, Gain and Score proved effective in all the three weeks in reducing the disease percentage more in 3rd week with 10.15%, 12.85% and 11.46%. The control of disease in case of neck blast was shown by Score, Tilt and Nativo with 11.63%, 14.29% and 18.98% disease respectively. Tilt was proved the least effective in controlling leaf blast and Hexacone Super neck blast.