Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phospholipase Dα1 and Phosphatidic Acid Regulate NADPH Oxidase Activity and Production of Reactive Oxygen Species in ABA-Mediated Stomatal Closure in Arabidopsis[C][W][OA]

We determined the role of Phospholipase Dα1 (PLDα1) and its lipid product phosphatidic acid (PA) in abscisic acid (ABA)-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. The pldα1 mutant failed to produce ROS in guard cells in response to ABA. ABA stimulated NADPH oxidase activity in wild-type guard cells but not in pldα1 cells, whereas PA stimulated NADPH oxidase activity in both genotypes. PA bound to recombinant Arabidopsis NADPH oxidase RbohD (respiratory burst oxidase homolog D) and RbohF. The PA binding motifs were identified, and mutation of the Arg residues 149, 150, 156, and 157 in RbohD resulted in the loss of PA binding and the loss of PA activation of RbohD. The rbohD mutant expressing non-PA-binding RbohD was compromised in ABA-mediated ROS production and stomatal closure. Furthermore, ABA-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) was impaired in pldα1 guard cells. Disruption of PA binding to ABI1 protein phosphatase 2C did not affect ABA-induced production of ROS or NO, but the PA–ABI1 interaction was required for stomatal closure induced by ABA, H2O2, or NO. Thus, PA is as a central lipid signaling molecule that links different components in the ABA signaling network in guard cells.
Higher organism load associated with failure of azithromycin to treat rectal chlamydia

SUMMARY Repeat rectal chlamydia infection is common in men who have sex with men (MSM) following treatment with 1 g azithromycin. This study describes the association between organism load and repeat rectal chlamydia infection, genovar distribution, and efficacy of azithromycin in asymptomatic MSM. Stored rectal chlamydia-positive samples from MSM were analysed for organism load and genotyped to assist differentiation between reinfection and treatment failure. Included men had follow-up tests within 100 days of index infection. Lymphogranuloma venereum and proctitis diagnosed symptomatically were excluded. Factors associated with repeat infection, treatment failure and reinfection were investigated. In total, 227 MSM were included – 64 with repeat infections [28·2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 22·4–34·5]. Repeat positivity was associated with increased pre-treatment organism load [odds ratio (OR) 1·7, 95% CI 1·4–2·2]. Of 64 repeat infections, 29 (12·8%, 95% CI 8·7–17·8) were treatment failures and 35 (15·4%, 95% CI 11·0–20·8) were reinfections, 11 (17·2%, 95% CI 8·9–28·7) of which were definite reinfections. Treatment failure and reinfection were both associated with increased load (OR 2·0, 95% CI 1·4–2·7 and 1·6, 95% CI 1·2–2·2, respectively). The most prevalent genovars were G, D and J. Treatment efficacy for 1 g azithromycin was 83·6% (95% CI 77·2–88·8). Repeat positivity was associated with high pre-treatment organism load. Randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to evaluate azithromycin's efficacy and whether extended doses can overcome rectal infections with high organism load.
Consonant and syllable complexity of toddlers with Down syndrome and mixed-aetiology developmental delays

Abstract This study examines whether speech sound production of toddlers with Down syndrome (DS) is on par with or more severely impaired than that of mental age (MA) peers with developmental delay due to aetiologies other than Down syndrome at two points within an 18-month period near the onset of spoken word production. The utterances of 26 children with DS, aged 24–33 months, with a mean MA of 14.3 months, originally studied by Fey et al. and Warren et al. were compared to those of a group of 22 children with similar intellectual and communication delay but no DS (NDS). Phonological measures included the size of the consonant inventory, syllable shape complexity, and number of communication acts with canonical vocalizations. At Time 1, the DS group performed as well as or better than the NDS group on these measures of speech production. At Time 2, 18 months later, the DS group was behind the NDS group on the same measures. Results extended the pattern of more severe impairment in children with DS than NDS peers commonly noted in expressive language to measures of phonological development.
Intravascular ultrasound elastography.

Intravascular Ultrasound Blastography. The response of a tissue to mechanical excitation is a function of its mechanical properties. Excitation can be dynamic or quasistatic in nature. The response (e.g. displacement, velocity, compression) can be measured via ultrasound. This is the main principle underlying ultrasound elasticity imaging, sonoelasticity imaging, or ultrasound elastography. It is of great interest to know the local hardness of vessel wall and plaques. Intravascular elastography yields information unavailable or inconclusive if obtained from IVUS alone and thus contributes to more correct diagnosis. Potentially it can be used for therapy guidance. During the last decade several working groups used elastography in intravascular applications with varying success. In this paper we discuss the various approaches by different working groups. Focus will be on the approach of the Rotterdam group. Using a 30 MHz IVUS catheter, RF data are acquired from vessels in vitro at different intraluminal pressures. Local tissue displacement estimation by cross-correlation is followed by computation of the local strain. The resulting image supplies local information on the elastic properties of the vessel and plaque with high spatial resolution. Feasibility and usefulness are shown by means of phantom measurements. Furthermore, initial in vitro results of femoral arteries and correlation with histology are discussed. Phantom data show that the elastograms reveal information not presented by the echogram. In vitro artery data prove that in principle elastography is capable of identifying plaque composition where echography fails.
THE INFLUENCE OF IRON DEFICIENT INDICES ON WHOLE BLOOD VISCOSITY IN POLYCYTHAEMIA

PEARSON, T.C. , GRIMES, A.J., SLATER, N.G. P. & WETHERLEY-MEIN, G. (198 1) Viscosity and iron 46 7-4 73. deficiency in treated polycythaemia. British journal of Haematology, 49, 123-127. PEARSON, T.C. , RING, C.P. 81 WETHERLEY-MEIN, G. (1980) Plasma and whole blood viscosity in treated primary polycythaemia. Clinical and Laboratory Haematology, 2, 73-82. PEARSON, T.C. & WETHERLEY-MEIN, G. (1982) Iron deficiency and whole blood viscosity in polycythaemia. Clinical and Laboratory Haematology, 4, 93.
MONETARY POLICY SHOCKS AND ISLAMIC BANKS DEPOSITS IN INDONESIAN DUAL BANKING SYSTEM AFTER THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

Use of riba (usury) in the economic system remained a key factor that led to financial crisis since theinception of modern economy in the late of 17th century. Implementation of interest based monetary policystipulated rampant speculation as common practices in the global financial sector. Although Islamic bankingwas governed by syariah (Divine Law), which was assumed to be resilient from distress, the volatility ofinterest movement would generally affect Islamic banks operations in a dual banking system. This paperwould look at this issue and would empirically explore the dynamic inter-relationships between deposits ofIslamic banks with monetary policy variables in Indonesia. In terms of market share, as of 2009, Islamicbanking asset in Indonesia was a meager 2%. The industry had been affected by few monetary policy shockson its deposits and financing. The study would employ vector auto regression model (VAR) to explore thedynamics between the variables. The study would focus on data from 2004 to 2008 or performance after theAsian financial crisis. The results from these tests determined that shariah based deposits played significantrole in transmitting monetary policy effects to the economy. This study found that Islamic banking depositsin Indonesia were not sensitive to monetary policy changes. This study also concluded that IndonesianIslamic banks were resilient to financial crisis.
Market entry in the Euro zone - an integrated assessment of sovereign risk

Seit einigen Jahren befindet sich eine Reihe von Europaischen Volkswirtschaften in einer Abwartsspirale gefangen. Im Zuge der gemeinhin als „Europaische Staatsschuldenkrise“ bezeichneten Entwicklung, kamen Zweifel an der Nachhaltigkeit der offentlichen Staatshaushalte zutage. Insbesondere die hohen Schuldenstande hatten massive Herabstufungen durch die grosen Ratingagenturen zur Folge. An vorderster Front geriet Griechenland ins Kreuzfeuer der Kritik, aber auch Portugal, Spanien, Irland, Island und Zypern befanden sich zeitweilig in einer Schieflage, die vorerst durch diverse Rettungsmasnahmen abgedampft werden konnte. Die Suche nach dem Ursprung zeigt, dass die aktuellen Entwicklungen nicht unter einer einheitlichen Krisendefinition zusammengefasst werden konnen. Erstens hat jedes Land mit seiner eigenen Krise zu kampfen. Zweitens ware die Annahme, dass sich die Effekte auf einzelne Staaten beschranken, speziell in einem hochgradig integrierten Wirtschaftsraum wie der Eurozone unrealistisch. Unter diesen Gesichtspunkten wird klar, dass Entscheidungstrager in Firmen, aber auch in der Politik solide Entscheidungsgrundlagen benotigen. Im Nachhinein betrachtet kamen die meisten Fehlentwicklungen nicht uberraschend. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es somit eine integrierte Landerrisikobewertung der Eurozone zu erstellen. Basierend auf Arbeiten, wie Fink et al. (2007), Paripovic (2009) und Schicklgruber (2010), erweitere ich den Rahmen der Analyse auf die gesamte Eurozone. Die von mir angewandte Methode, das Fink Country Scoring Model (1981, 1993, 1995), ist ein Scoringmodell, das Projektionen berechnet um die Entwicklung der folgenden funf Jahre bei gleich bleibender Politik darzustellen. Mein Mehrwert zu vorangegangen Arbeiten lasst sich in den folgenden drei Punkten zusammenfassen. Erstens wende ich das Modell auf alle Eurozonenlander an (inkl. Litauen) um zu zeigen, ob es in den Krisenstaaten seit 2009 bereits Anzeichen auf eine Entspannung der Situation gibt und ob auch in den bislang noch als stabil geltenden Landern auffallende Fehlentwicklungen festzustellen sind. Zweitens entwickle ich das so genannte „interactive Fink Country Scoring Model“ um Handels- und Verschuldungsverknupfungen in die Landerrisikobewertung miteinfliesen zu lassen. Hohe Handelsvolumina mit niedrig gerateten Landern und ein Portfolio risikoreicher Schuldner losen somit Abwertungen der Einzelratings aus um die isolierte Betrachtung zu verfeinern. 154 Drittens erweitere ich die jahrlichen Bewertungen um Quartalsdatenberechnungen um die Qualitat der Projektionen zu verbessern. Dadurch werden die jungsten Entwicklungen auch miteinbezogen und somit ergibt sich eine aktuellere Entscheidungsgrundlage. Die Schlusse, die aus dieser Arbeit gezogen werden konnen, betreffen grenzuberschreitend expandierende Firmen, sowie politische Entscheidungstrager, Investoren und Kreditgeber. Das hier entwickelte Modell folgt dem Ruf nach transparenten, verstandlichen und auf Fakten basierenden Bewertungsmethoden, die auch als Fruhwarnmechanismus zur Anwendung kommen konnen.
Air Atmosphere Annealing Effects on LSO:Ce Crystal

Cerium-doped lutetium oxyorthosilicate Lu2SiO5:Ce crystal is a well-known scintillator with an excellent figure-of-merit. In this paper, air annealing was used to further improve its scintillation properties. The samples cut from Czochralski grown Lu2SiO5:Ce crystals were annealed in air atmosphere at 1400°C for 10 h. Based on the analysis of the difference in the crystal's spectra (such as absorption, emission, and thermoluminescence) obtained before and after annealing, we investigate the nature of the observed effects. To investigate the annealing effects on the valence state of cerium ion, synchrotron radiation was used in this work as an energy source to measure the X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy of cerium ions. It is supposed that annealing in air atmosphere helps to reduce the content of deep traps, which possibly include oxygen vacancy, lower the intensity of afterglow, shorten the decay time of afterglow, and increase the luminescence intensity of Ce2 (6-oxygen-coordinated). However, this may also cause cerium ion to be oxidized to +4 charge state, which may introduce an additional nonradiative trap center, thereby weakening luminescence.
Suppression of Syndecan-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α*

Syndecan-1 is a cell surface proteoglycan that binds extracellular matrix components and modulates the activity of heparin-binding growth factors. The expression of syndecan-1 is modified during development, carcinogenesis, and tissue regeneration. During cutaneous wound healing, syndecan-1 expression is transiently induced in newly-formed capillaries of granulation tissue as well as in proliferating keratinocytes. To study the mechanisms underlying this regulation we investigated the effects of several growth factors/cytokines on syndecan-1 expression in two human cell lines: EA.hy 926 endothelial cells and HaCaT keratinocytes. None of these factors significantly altered syndecan-1 mRNA expression in cultured keratinocytes, but when given to endothelial cells, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) specifically and dose-dependently suppressed syndecan-1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels. TNF-α reduced the amount of syndecan-1 protein in EA.hy 926 cells in both the presence and absence of serum and, at the same time, induced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The suppressive effect of TNF-α on endothelial syndecan-1 expression was reproducible in in vivo experiments in which TNF-α-coated beads were administered directly to healing skin wounds of mice. Data supporting these findings were further obtained by injecting TNF-α into an experimental rat granulation tissue model. In this tissue TNF-α suppressed syndecan-1 mRNA expression by approximately 80%. These results indicate that TNF-α is capable of down-regulating syndecan-1 expression in endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo and suggest that similar mechanisms may be responsible for the changes in syndecan-1 expression observed during various regenerative, developmental, and malignant processes.
Promoting the return of lapsed blood donors: a seven-arm randomized controlled trial of the question-behavior effect.

OBJECTIVE This study tested key variations in the question-behavior effect against a control condition or an implementation intention condition on returning to give blood among lapsed donors (individuals who had not given blood in the past 2 years). DESIGN At baseline, 7,000 lapsed donors were randomized to 1 of 6 experimental conditions or to a control condition. Participants in the experimental conditions were asked to complete a 6-item postal questionnaire assessing intentions only, interrogative intention, moral norm plus intention, anticipated regret plus intention, positive self-image plus intention, or implementation intentions. OBJECTIVE measures of behavior were obtained 6 and 15 months later. The frequency of registrations to give blood over the next 6 and 15 months was measured. RESULTS Intention-to-treat analysis of the frequency of registrations (GENMOD procedure, Poisson distribution) indicated main effects for condition (experimental vs. control) at both 6 months, χ²(1) = 4.64, p < . 05, and 15 months, χ²(1) = 5.88, p < . 05. Positive self-image and implementation intention interventions outperformed the control condition at 6 months. At 15 months, standard intention, interrogative intention, and regret plus intention conditions showed more frequent registrations compared with control and were just as effective as implementation intention formation. Moderation analysis showed that the moral norm and positive self-image conditions were significant for first-time (1 previous donation) but not repeat (2 or more previous donations) donors. CONCLUSION The question-behavior effect can be used to reinvigorate blood donation among lapsed donors, and can be as effective as forming implementation intentions.
Association of burning mouth syndrome with xerostomia and medicines.

OBJECTIVE A case control study to identify risk factors for burning mouth syndrome (BMS). MATERIAL AND METHODS Quantitative analysis was carried out on the total salivary flow at rest and stimulated; subjective xerostomia, ingestion of medicines and the psychological states of anxiety and depression in 40 patients with BMS and 40 controls. RESULTS The ANOVA analysis showed significant differences in the means of the number of medicines/day, number of xerostomising agents/day, subjective xerostomia, anxiety and depression, between the groups studied. No significant differences were seen in the at rest or stimulated saliva flow rates. The odds ratio analysis determined the association of BMS with xerostomia and the consumption of hypotensives and diuretics. CONCLUSIONS From the results of this study, it can be shown that the consumption of hypotensives and diuretics was a risk factor for the development of BMS. The function of the salivary glands in patients with BMS is not affected.
Effects of posture on respiratory mechanics in obesity.

Increased abdominal mass in obesity should enhance normal gravitational effects on supine respiratory mechanics. We have examined respiratory impedance (forced oscillation over 4-26 Hz applied at the mouth during tidal breathing), maximum inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (MIP and MEP), and maximum effort flow-volume curves seated and supine in seven obese subjects (O) (mean age 51 yr, body mass index 43.6 kg/m2) and seven control subjects (C) (mean age 50 yr, body mass index 21.8 kg/m2). Seated mean total lung capacity was smaller in O than in C (82 vs. 100% of predicted); ratio of functional residual capacity (FRC) to total lung capacity averaged 43% in O and 61% in C (P < 0.01). Total respiratory resistance (Rrs) at 6 Hz seated was higher in O (4.6 cmH2O.l-1.s) than in C (2.2 cmH2O.l-1.s; P < 0.001); total respiratory reactance (Xrs) at 6 Hz was lower in O than in C. In C, on changing to the supine posture, mean Rrs at 6 Hz rose to 2.9 cmH2O.l-1.s, FRC fell by 0.68 liter, and Xrs at 6 Hz showed a small fall. In O, despite no further fall in FRC, supine Rrs at 6 Hz increased to 7.3 cmH2O.l-1.s, and marked frequency dependency of Rrs and falls in Xrs developed. Seated, MIP and MEP in C and O were similar; supine there were small falls in MEP and maximum expiratory flow in O. The site and mechanism of the increase in supine Rrs and reduction in supine Xrs and the mechanism maintaining supine FRC in obesity all need further investigation.
Presence of IFN-γ Does Not Indicate Its Necessity for Induction of Coronary Arteritis in an Animal Model of Kawasaki Disease1

Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of vasculitis affecting children, and the leading cause of acquired heart disease in the developed world. To date, studies on the role of IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease have focused on peripheral production of IFN-γ, and have yielded conflicting results. Affected heart tissue is not available from children with Kawasaki disease. In this study, we use an animal model of Kawasaki disease, Lactobacillus casei cell wall extract (LCWE)-induced coronary arteritis, to examine the role of IFN-γ in the development of coronary artery lesions. We report the presence of IFN-γ, both at the mRNA and protein levels, in the affected vessels. Its biphasic expression, first at days 3–7 and again at days 28–42 post-LCWE injection, corresponds to the first appearance of inflammatory infiltrate in coronary arteries, and later to vascular wall disruption and aneurysm formation, respectively. Interestingly, ablation of IFN-γ expression did not dampen the inflammatory response, and IFN-γ-deficient lymphocytes proliferated more vigorously in response to LCWE than those of wild-type animals. Of more importance, the incidence of coronary arteritis was the same in IFN-γ-deficient and wild-type mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that IFN-γ regulates the immune response during development of coronary arteritis, but is not required for the induction of coronary artery disease.
Serum Lipoproteins Are Critical for Pulmonary Innate Defense against Staphylococcus aureus Quorum Sensing

Hyperlipidemia has been extensively studied in the context of atherosclerosis, whereas the potential health consequences of the opposite extreme, hypolipidemia, remain largely uninvestigated. Circulating lipoproteins are essential carriers of insoluble lipid molecules and are increasingly recognized as innate immune effectors. Importantly, severe hypolipidemia, which may occur with trauma or critical illness, is clinically associated with bacterial pneumonia. To test the hypothesis that circulating lipoproteins are essential for optimal host innate defense in the lung, we used lipoprotein-deficient mice and a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in which invasive infection requires virulence factor expression controlled by the accessory gene regulator (agr) operon. Activation of agr and subsequent virulence factor expression is inhibited by apolipoprotein B, the structural protein of low-density lipoprotein, which binds and sequesters the secreted agr-signaling peptide (AIP). In this article, we report that lipoprotein deficiency impairs early pulmonary innate defense against S. aureus quorum-sensing–dependent pathogenesis. Specifically, apolipoprotein B levels in the lung early postinfection are significantly reduced with lipoprotein deficiency, coinciding with impaired host control of S. aureus agr-signaling and increased agr-dependent morbidity (weight loss) and inflammation. Given that lipoproteins also inhibit LTA- and LPS-mediated inflammation, these results suggest that hypolipidemia may broadly impact posttrauma pneumonia susceptibility to both Gram-positive and -negative pathogens. Together with previous reports demonstrating that hyperlipidemia also impairs lung innate defense, these results suggest that maintenance of normal serum lipoprotein levels is necessary for optimal host innate defense in the lung.