Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Sequencing of Tomato Fruit Sucrose Synthase cDNA

Suc synthase (EC 2. 4. 1. 13) catalyzes the reversible reaction: Suc + UDP c-, UDP-Glc + Fru. In plants, its main physiological function is to cleave Suc and generate UDPGlc, which is used in such diverse pathways as starch synthesis, cell wall component synthesis, and energy generation (Huber and Akazawa, 1986; Sung et al., 1988). It has been demonstrated that Suc synthase is a key enzyme during the early stages of tomato fruit development. Its activity positively correlates with tomato fruit relative growth rate and starch accumulation in the early stages of fruit development (Robinson et al., 1988; Wang et al., 1993). It has been proposed that Suc synthase activity is a valuable biochemical marker of tomato fruit sink strength (Sun et al., 1992). To gain a better understanding of the role and regulation of Suc synthase in tomato fruit development, we isolated a Suc synthase cDNA clone, designated TOMSSF, from a cDNA library prepared from mRNA of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv VF 36) pistils from flowers at anthesis (Gasser et al., 1989) (Table I). The cDNA is 2725 bp long and contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 805 amino acids with an ATG at position 63 and the stop codon TGA at position 2478. The DNA sequence of the 5’ noncoding open reading frame and 3’ noncoding regions of TOMSSF has 97%, 97%, and 75% sequence similarity to the analogous regions of the potato Suc synthase cDNA clone isolated from a developing tuber cDNA library (Salanoubat and Belliard, 1987). Mismatches in the 5‘ noncoding region were found at positions -2 and -3 relative to the ATG initiation codon. The CTATAATGG sequence, within which the translation initiation codon resides, is unique compared with its counterparts in other plant Suc synthase sequences as well. The predicted amino acid sequence is very similar to the Suc synthase sequences of other plants. There is a C-rich region in the 3’ untranslated region (from 2569-2599 bp; C content in this region is 87%). Hydropathy analysis revealed that the deduced protein did not contain a hydrophobic region at the amino terminal and does not contain a signal sequence (Von
Elevated CD4+/CD25+ T cell frequency and function during acute hepatitis C presage chronic evolution

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) determines an acute hepatitis evolving to persistent infection in 50–80% of patients.1 Different mechanisms have been proposed to explain disease evolution, including viral escape, failure of the T helper immune network, and host genetic factors.2 Among CD4+ T cell subsets, lymphocytes expressing constitutively CD25 (interleukin 2 receptor alpha chain), namely T regulatory cells (Treg), appear to play a critical role in controlling chronic evolution of HCV mediated liver diseases.3 Here we investigate the frequency and functional activity of CD3+/CD4+/CD25+ Tregs in acute HCV infection in relation to its evolution over time. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and included 16 consecutive patients with acute hepatitis C (AHC), 15 consecutive patients with acute hepatitis A (AHA), and …
Weekly variability in outcome expectations: Examining associations with related physical activity experiences during physical activity initiation

Little is known about how outcome expectations change after physical activity initiation and whether changes are associated with physical activity experiences. In a diary study, physically inactive adults (N = 102) initiated an exercise regimen and reported their experiences daily (e.g. progress toward goals) and corresponding outcome expectations weekly (e.g. how much progress they expect this week). Average levels (between-person effects) for eight experiences (ps < .01) and deviations from the average levels (within-person effects) for three experiences (ps < .05) were associated with changes in outcome expectations. The findings demonstrate that outcome expectations for exercise vary over time and are associated with people’s subjective experiences.
Many cliques in $H$-free subgraphs of random graphs

For two fixed graphs $T$ and $H$ let $ex(G(n,p),T,H)$ be the random variable counting the maximum number of copies of $T$ in an $H$-free subgraph of the random graph $G(n,p)$. We show that for the case $T=K_m$ and $\chi(H)> m$ the behavior of $ex(G(n,p),K_m,H)$ depends strongly on the relation between $p$ and $m_2(H)=\max_{H'\subset H, |V(H')|'\geq 3}\left\{ \frac{e(H')-1}{v(H')-2} \right\}$. When $m_2(H)> m_2(K_m)$ we prove that with high probability, depending on the value of $p$, either one can maintain almost all copies of $K_m$, or it is asymptotically best to take a $\chi(H)-1$ partite subgraph of $G(n,p)$. The transition between these two behaviors occurs at $p=n^{-1/m_2(H)}$. When $m_2(H) 0$ small at $p=n^{-1/m_2(H)+\delta}$ one can typically still keep most of the copies of $K_m$ in an $H$-free subgraph of $G(n,p)$. Thus, the transition between the two behaviors in this case occurs at some $p$ significantly bigger than $n^{-1/m_2(H)}$. To show that the second case is not redundant we present a construction which may be of independent interest. For each $k \geq 4$ we construct a family of $k$ chromatic graphs $G(k,\epsilon_i)$ where $m_2(G(k,\epsilon_i))$ tends to $\frac{(k+1)(k-2)}{2(k-1)} (< m_2(K_{k-1}))$ as $i$ tends to infinity. This is tight for all values of $k$
The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Transition Economies

This research investigates the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in transition economies (TEs). We identify how ICT spending influences the transition process of TEs with respect to socioeconomic and sociopolitical changes in the three groups of TEs from 2004 to 2010. These groups include the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), Latin America, and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China). Our results suggest that while ICT spending is positively correlated with overall economic freedom and job creation, such investments do not significantly improve the democratic values or mitigate the existing high wealth-inequality level. Furthermore, the results from individual regions show that the impacts of ICT spending on transition processes differ according to the intention of ICT uses. These findings have implications for theorizing about the role of ICT and harnessing the potential of ICT in the transition processes in new economies.
Abnormality of gait as a predictor of non-Alzheimer's dementia.

BACKGROUND Neurologic abnormalities affecting gait occur early in several types of non-Alzheimer's dementias, but their value in predicting the development of dementia is uncertain. METHODS We analyzed the relation between neurologic gait status at base line and the development of dementia in a prospective study involving 422 subjects older than 75 years of age who lived in the community and did not have dementia at base line. Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis was used to calculate hazard ratios with adjustment for potential confounding demographic, medical, and cognitive variables. RESULTS At enrollment, 85 subjects had neurologic gait abnormalities of the following types: unsteady gait (in 31 subjects), frontal gait (in 12 subjects), hemiparetic gait (in 11 subjects), neuropathic gait (in 11 subjects), ataxic gait (in 10 subjects), parkinsonian gait (in 8 subjects), and spastic gait (in 2 subjects). During follow-up (median duration, 6.6 years), there were 125 newly diagnosed cases of dementia, 70 of them cases of Alzheimer's disease and 55 cases of non-Alzheimer's dementia (47 of which involved vascular dementia and 8 of which involved other types of dementia). Subjects with neurologic gait abnormalities had a greater risk of development of dementia (hazard ratio, 1.96 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.30 to 2.96]). These subjects had an increased risk of non-Alzheimer's dementia (hazard ratio, 3.51 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.98 to 6.24]), but not of Alzheimer's dementia (hazard ratio, 1.07 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.57 to 2.02]). Of non-Alzheimer's dementias, abnormal gait predicted the development of vascular dementia (hazard ratio, 3.46 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.86 to 6.42]). Among the types of abnormal gait, unsteady gait predicted vascular dementia (hazard ratio, 2.61), as did frontal gait (hazard ratio, 4.32) and hemiparetic gait (hazard ratio, 13.13). CONCLUSIONS The presence of neurologic gait abnormalities in elderly persons without dementia at base line is a significant predictor of the risk of development of dementia, especially non-Alzheimer's dementia.
Lung cancer: performance of automated lung nodule detection applied to cancers missed in a CT screening program.

PURPOSE To evaluate the performance of a fully automated computerized method for the detection of lung nodules in computed tomographic (CT) scans in the identification of lung cancers that may be missed during visual interpretation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A database of 38 low-dose CT scans with 50 lung nodules was obtained from a lung cancer screening program. Thirty-eight of the nodules represented biopsy-confirmed lung cancers that had not been reported during initial clinical interpretation. A computer detection method that involved the use of gray-level thresholding techniques to identify three-dimensionally contiguous structures within the lungs was applied to the CT data. Computer-extracted volume was used to determine whether a structure became a nodule candidate. A rule-based scheme and a cascaded automated classifier were applied to the set of nodule candidates to distinguish actual nodules from areas of normal anatomy. Overall performance of the computer detection method was evaluated with free-response receiver operating characteristic (FROC) analysis. RESULTS At a specific operating point on the FROC curve, the method achieved a sensitivity of 80% (40 of 50 nodules), with an average of 1.0 false-positive detection per section. Missed cancers were detected by the computerized method with a sensitivity of 84% (32 of 38 nodules) and a false-positive rate of 1.0 per section. CONCLUSION With an automated lung nodule detection method, a large fraction (84%, 32 of 38) of missed cancers in a database of low-dose CT scans were detected correctly.
Estimation of multilayer soil parameters using genetic algorithms

A methodology has been proposed according to which, after carrying out a set of soil's resistivity measurements, one can compute the parameters of the multilayer earth structure using a genetic algorithm (GA). The results provided by the GA constitute the indispensable data that can be used in circuital or field simulations of grounding systems. The methodology, developed on the base of the PC Opera software package, allows to proceed toward a very efficient simulation of the grounding system and an accurate calculation of potential on the ground's surface.
On the validity of the wedge assemblage method for pressure-release sinusoids

In the past, the wedge assemblage (WA) method for calculating the acoustic scattering from rough, long‐crested, or corrugated surfaces has been compared with both experimental data and exact theory with good results. Nevertheless, significant questions about what physics is included in the method and its realm of validity remain unanswered. In this paper, the WA method is applied to scattering from pressure‐release sinusoidal surfaces in order to further explore these topics. Comparisons with accurate benchmark calculations are carried out over a broad range of kh and kΛ (k is the acoustic wave number; h and Λ are the amplitude and wavelength of the sinusoid, respectively) indicate that the primary limitation of the WA method stems from its current failure to include multiple scattering effects. It is also shown that quite good agreement with the benchmark can be achieved by a ‘‘diffraction‐only’’ WA model even when kh≪1 and ‘‘reflection‐like’’ scattering patterns are observed.
Effects of climate warming on net primary productivity in China during 1961–2010

Abstract The response of ecosystems to different magnitudes of climate warming and corresponding precipitation changes during the last few decades may provide an important reference for predicting the magnitude and trajectory of net primary productivity (NPP) in the future. In this study, a process‐based ecosystem model, Carbon Exchange between Vegetation, Soil and Atmosphere (CEVSA), was used to investigate the response of NPP to warming at both national and subregional scales during 1961–2010. The results suggest that a 1.3°C increase in temperature stimulated the positive changing trend in NPP at national scale during the past 50 years. Regardless of the magnitude of temperature increase, warming enhanced the increase in NPP; however, the positive trend of NPP decreased when warming exceeded 2°C. The largest increase in NPP was found in regions where temperature increased by 1–2°C, and this rate of increase also contributed the most to the total increase in NPP in China's terrestrial ecosystems. Decreasing precipitation depressed the positive trend in NPP that was stimulated by warming. In northern China, warming depressed the increasing trend of NPP and warming that was accompanied by decreasing precipitation led to negative changing trends in NPP in large parts of northern China, especially when warming exceeded 2°C. However, warming stimulated the increase in NPP until warming was greater than 2°C, and decreased precipitation helped to increase the NPP in southern China.
Root morphology of young Glycine max, Senna obtusifolia, and Amaranthus palmeri

Root development and the associated acquisition of water and nutrients are an important part of weed competitiveness. Characterization of root morphological development, however, is inherently problematic because of the complexities of soil–plant interactions. In this study, we used hydroponically grown plants and digital imaging to examine root characteristics of Glycine max and the competing weeds Senna obtusifolia and Amaranthus palmeri. The purpose was to define inherent differences in root length and surface area that would contribute to growth responses during the establishment phase in the field. The methodology involved growing plants for 16 to 22 d, dissecting and staining root segments, mounting subsamples on slides, and imaging using a stereomicroscope and digital camera. Microscopy was required because of the small diameters of a significant proportion of the weed roots. With plants of similar root fresh weights (4.5 to 5.0 g), counting of individual roots revealed that 5. obtusifolia and A. palmeri had 2 and 3.7 times more roots than G. max (4,616 and 7,781 vs. 2,120, respectively). The imaging analyses indicated that roots of S. obtusifolia and A. palmeri had 2.9 and 5 times more length than G. max (10,042 and 17,192 cm vs. 3,418 cm, respectively). Furthermore, the analysis of length in different root diameter classes indicated that weed roots were noticeably finer then those of G. max. Approximately 84% of S. obtusifolia root length was contributed by roots in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range, whereas 45% of the G. max roots were in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range and 48% were in the 0.25- to 0.75-mm range. In contrast, 68% of A. palmeri length was contributed by roots smaller than 0.1 mm in diameter with 26% in the 0.1- to 0.25-mm range. Based on the expression of root characteristics observed here, root systems of these weed species would have finer roots with much greater length that would occupy a much larger volume of soil than those of G. max. Presumably, this would result in a competitive advantage in the acquisition of water and nutrients, especially when availability is limited.
Physiological Responses to Firefighting in Extreme Temperatures Do Not Compare to Firefighting in Temperate Conditions

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine physiological responses to two different simulated firefighting exercises: a firefighting exercise with flashovers, smoke, poor visibility and extreme temperatures (300°) in a burning container and a standard firefighting exercise in temperate conditions. Furthermore, a second purpose of the study was to find out if the contribution of strength and endurance capacities to firefighting performance changes when the demands of the firefighting exercise change. Methods: Sixteen professional firefighters performed a maximum treadmill test, strength testing, a standard simulated firefighting exercise (SFE) without heat and flashovers and a firefighting exercise with a simulation of the flashover phenomenon in a burning container (FOT). The treadmill testing was used to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), ventilatory threshold (VT1) and respiratory compensation point (RCP). Three intensity zones were identified according to heart rate (HR) values corresponding to VT1 and RCP: zone 1–HR below VT1, zone 2-HR between VT1 and RCP, zone 3–HR above RCP. Firefighting performance was determined by a simple time-strain-air depletion model (TSA) taking the sum of z-transformed parameters of time to finish the exercise, strain in terms of mean heart rate, and air depletion from the breathing apparatus. Correlations were then established between TSA based firefighting performance parameters and fitness variables representing strength and endurance. Results: HR was significantly lower during SFE (79.9 ± 6.9%HRmax) compared to FOT (85.4 ± 5.2%HRmax). During SFE subjects spent 24.6 ± 30.2% of time in zone 1, 65.8 ± 28.1% in zone 2 and 9.7 ± 16.6% in zone 3. During FOT subjects spent 16.3 ± 12.8% in zone 1, 50.4 ± 13.2% in zone 2 and 33.3 ± 16.6% in zone 3. Out of all correlations, relative VO2peak showed the highest relation to mean HR during SFE (−0.593) as well as FOT (−0.693). Conclusions: Endurance in terms of VO2peak is an important prerequisite for both firefighting exercises. However, for standard simulated firefighting exercises it is important to work below VT1. For firefighting exercises in extreme temperatures with smoke, poor visibility and unexpected flashovers a high fitness level is required in order to keep the time spent above RCP as short as possible.
Spontaneous breathing trial with low pressure support protocol for weaning respirator in surgical ICU.

OBJECTIVE Compare the effectiveness between spontaneous breathing trial with low-pressure support protocol and liberal or non-protocol directed method. MATERIAL AND METHOD The authors conducted a retrospective study involving 577 patients who were arranged and appropriate to weaning from mechanical ventilation on general surgical intensive care unit between July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2007. Two hundred and twenty two patients were weaned by their host surgeons or team (liberal group). Three hundred and fifty five patients underwent once daily spontaneous breathing trial with low-pressure support protocol. Patients assigned to this protocol had the pressure support level decreased to 5-7 cm of water for up to two hours each day. If signs of intolerance occurred, the process was restrained while patients who tolerated the two-hour trial without signs of distress were extubated. The authors collected demographic data, cause of ICU admission, APACHE II score at arranged time to weaning, weaning process time, ventilator day, and ICU length of stay. RESULTS There was statistical difference between liberal and protocol in age (59.2 +/- 19.3 vs. 55.6 +/- 19.8; p = 0.03) but there was no statistical difference in gender (male 74.3 vs. 67.9%; p = 0.2) and APACHE II score at arranged time to wean (14.7 +/- 7.4 vs. 15.3 +/- 6.3; p = 0.2). The median (inter-quartile) range duration of weaning process (29.5 (48) vs. 2.25 (2.9), p < 0.001), ventilator day (3 (4) vs. 2 (3), p < 0.001), and length of ICU stay (5 (5) vs. 3 (3), p < 0.001) were shorter in the protocol group than the liberal group. Multivariate linear regression model also revealed significantly less duration of weaning process in the protocol group than the liberal group in terms of weaning time (-63.6 (-74.7 to -2.6) hours), ventilator day (-3.0 (-3.7 to -2.2) days), and length of ICU stay (-2.9 days (-3.7 to -2.0); p < 0.001) (95% confidence interval). CONCLUSION Spontaneous breathing trial with low-pressure support protocol for liberal from mechanical ventilator was effective to reduce weaning time, ventilator day, and length of ICU stay in general surgical intensive care units.
Comorbid personality disorders in subjects with bipolar I disorder

Objective. The purpose of this study was to present the frequencies of personality disorders in a sample of bipolar I patients and to investigate whether the presence of comorbid personality disorders affect the course of bipolar illness. Methods: Seventy euthymic bipolar I patients were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID II). Bipolar patients with comorbid personality disorder were compared with those of without personality disorder comorbidity on demographic and clinical variables. Results: Forty bipolar I patients (57%) had at least one comorbid personality disorder. The most common personality disorder cluster was cluster C (36%), followed by cluster B (17%) and cluster A (17%) personality disorders. The most prevalent personality disorder in the whole group was obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (21%). Patients with comorbid personality disorders had an earlier age of onset than those of without comorbidity. Conclusion: Although the rates of comorbid personality disorders are high in bipolar I patients, the presence of comorbidity has no relevant impact on the course of bipolar I patients except for earlier age of onset of bipolar I disorder.
Declining bone mass in men with chronic pulmonary disease: contribution of glucocorticoid treatment, body mass index, and gonadal function.

BACKGROUND Men with chronic lung disease (CLD) are at risk for osteoporosis, but the relative contributions of their chronic pulmonary disease, glucocorticoid therapy, and other factors toward loss of bone has not been established. Understanding the relative importance of these factors would assist in selecting patients for bone densitometry screening and in policy decisions regarding Medicare reimbursement. OBJECTIVE To identify patients with CLD who are most likely to benefit from bone densitometry screening based on clinical and biochemical measures. DESIGN Cross-sectional medical survey. PATIENTS Patients with CLD who were treated with either oral, inhaled, or no glucocorticoid therapy. A control group without lung disease was recruited from the same clinic population. MEASUREMENTS Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was obtained for each group, and the association between bone mass and clinical variables, glucocorticoid use, gonadal hormones, and biochemical markers of bone metabolism was determined. RESULTS Osteoporosis (a T score < -2.5 at the hip or spine) was five times as likely in patients with CLD as in control subjects. Although the prevalence of osteoporosis was higher (ninefold) after chronic glucocorticoid therapy, patients with CLD who had never been treated with glucocorticoids had a substantial (fourfold) risk of osteoporosis. Chronic inhaled glucocorticoid therapy offered no protection from bone loss compared to treatment with oral glucocorticoids. Of the clinical and biochemical measures that were obtained, bone mass was weakly correlated with body mass index (BMI), serum estradiol-17beta, and N-telopeptide, but not with testosterone, alkaline phosphatase, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, or osteocalcin. CONCLUSION Patients with CLD should be considered for bone densitometry screening regardless of glucocorticoid use. Those patients with a low BMI and/or decreased serum estradiol-17beta comprise a subgroup with increased risk for osteoporosis.