Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Light regulation of sink metabolism in tomato fruit : I. Growth and sugar accumulation.

Light/dark effects on growth and sugar accumulation in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) fruit during early development were studied on intact plants (in vivo) and in tissue culture (in vitro). Through the use of an in vitro culture of tomato fruit, it was possible to investigate the direct effects of light on sink metabolism by eliminating the source tissue. Similar growth patterns were found in vivo and in vitro. Fruit growth in different sugars indicated that sucrose was the best source of carbon for in vitro fruit growth. Fruit growth increased as sucrose concentration increased up to 8%. Darkening the fruit decreased fruit dry weight about 40% in vivo and in vitro. The differences in the CO(2) exchange rate between light and dark grown fruit indicated that light stimulation of fruit growth was due to mechanisms other than photosynthesis. Supporting this conclusion was the fact that light intensities ranging from 40 to 160 micromoles per square meter per second had no significant influence on fruit growth, and light did not increase growth of fruit cultured with glucose or fructose as a carbon source. However, light stimulated fruit growth significantly when sucrose was used as the carbon source. Light-grown fruit took up 30% more sucrose from the same source and accumulated almost twice as much hexose and starch as dark-grown fruit. A possible expansion of an additional sink for carbon by light stimulation of starch synthesis during early development will be discussed.
Resolution of fever in patients on chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis.

Thirty-nine febrile and 37 afebrile patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were compared. Fever was defined as oral temperature of more than 37. 2_C. Afebrile status on chemotherapy was presumed to have been achieved if patients remained without fever for at least seven consecutive days. Both groups were given short-course supervised chemotherapy in hospital consisting of isoniazid (INH), rifampin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide for the first two months and INH and rifampicin for the next four months. The two groups did not differ demographically or by the presence of cavitary disease. However, more patients with fever had anemia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) than afebrile patients. Resolution of fever occurred in 92% by four weeks. However, two female patients had fever lasting more than 60 days even though almost 1/4th of patients were afebrile one day after the start of chemotherapy and 1/3rd after three days.
Wound botulism associated with black tar heroin among injecting drug users.

CONTEXT Wound botulism (WB) is a potentially lethal, descending, flaccid, paralysis that results when spores of Clostridium botulinum germinate in a wound and elaborate neurotoxin. Since 1988, California has experienced a dramatic increase in WB associated with injecting "black tar" heroin (BTH), a dark, tarry form of the drug. OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for WB among injecting drug users (IDUs). DESIGN Case-control study based on data from in-person and telephone interviews. PARTICIPANTS Case patients (n=26) were IDUs who developed WB from January 1994 through February 1996. Controls (n=110) were IDUs newly enrolled in methadone detoxification programs in 4 counties. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Factors associated with the development of WB. RESULTS Among the 26 patients, the median age was 41.5 years, 15 (58%) were women, 14 (54%) were non-Hispanic white, 11 (42%) were Hispanic, and none were positive for the human immunodeficiency virus. Nearly all participants (96% of patients and 97% of controls) injected BTH, and the mean cumulative dose of BTH used per month was similar for patients and controls (27 g and 31 g, respectively; P=.6). Patients were more likely than controls to inject drugs subcutaneously or intramuscularly (92% vs 44%, P<.001) and used this route of drug administration more times per month (mean, 67 vs 24, P<.001), with a greater cumulative monthly dose of BTH (22.3 g vs 6.3 g, P<.001). A dose-response relationship was observed between the monthly cumulative dose of BTH injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly and the development of WB (chi2 for linear trend, 26.5; P<.001). In the final regression model, subcutaneous or intramuscular injection of BTH was the only behavior associated with WB among IDUs (odds ratio, 13.7; 95% confidence interval, 3.0-63.0). The risk for development of WB was not affected by cleaning the skin, cleaning injection paraphernalia, or sharing needles. CONCLUSIONS Injection of BTH intramuscularly or subcutaneously is the primary risk factor for the development of WB. Physicians in the western United States, where BTH is widely used, should be aware of the potential for WB to occur among IDUs.
An evaluation of life satisfaction and health - Quality of life of senior citizens.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Modern medicine is still searching for the antecedents which will lead to successful aging. The article discusses the self-perception of life satisfaction and health of senior citizens. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between self-evaluation of life satisfaction and health by senior citizens in comparison to different age groups. MATERIALS AND METHOD The study included 463 persons - 230 men and 233 women. The age of the participants was in the range 16 - 83 years. All participants were asked to fill the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire (Fragebogen zur Lebenszufriedenheit - FLZ). The FLZ questionnaire assesses the global life satisfaction of a person and health domain separately. RESULTS The results show age-related differences in the evaluation of life satisfaction. Accordingly, there is a significant change in health evaluations in different age groups, but there are no significant gender differences in health self-report data. The senior citizens' assessment of general health, although the lowest among all the age-subgroups, showed significant difference only in relation to the people below 45 years of age. The significant differences in satisfaction from mental health occurred only for the elderly and participants aged 25-34 and 35-44. CONCLUSIONS Life satisfaction is associated with subjective health evaluations. There are two domains (mental health and performance) that are positively evaluated by more than two-thirds of senior citizens. The observed differences challenge stereotypes and prejudices relating to negative aging process. Senior citizens can improve their control beliefs and develop self-regulation and coping skills.
DRAGON and DRAGON View: Information Annotation and Visualization Tools for Large‐Scale Expression Data

The Database Referencing of Array Genes ONline (DRAGON) database system consists of information derived from publicly available databases including UniGene, SWISS‐Prot, Pfam, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Through a Web‐accessible interface, the DRAGON Annotate tool rapidly supplies information pertaining to a range of biological characteristics of all the genes in any large‐scale gene expression data set. The subsequent inclusion of this information during data analysis and visualization allows for deeper insight into gene expression patterns. The set of DRAGON View tools provides methods for the analysis and visualization of expression patterns in relation to annotated information. Instead of incorporating the standard set of clustering and graphing tools available in many large‐scale expression data analysis software packages, DRAGON View has been specifically designed to allow for the analysis of expression data in relation to the biological characteristics of gene sets.
Parental occupation, Hispanic ethnicity, and risk of selected congenital malformations in offspring.

OBJECTIVES Evidence suggests that parental occupation and Hispanic ethnicity may be risk factors for some birth defects. Because few studies have examined the effect of Hispanic ethnicity on occupational associations, we examined whether risk associated with certain occupations was heightened in Hispanics compared with non-Hispanic Whites. DESIGN In this case-control study among Texas births occurring from 1996 through 2000, cases of neural tube defects, isolated oral clefts, and chromosomal anomalies were linked to their respective live birth certificates. A random sample of 4965 live births without documented congenital malformations served as the comparison group. Parental occupations were categorized into groups according to previously published associations. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the selected congenital malformations in relation to parental occupations. RESULTS Maternal occupations as cook or nurse were associated with oral clefts (OR 3.3, 95% CI .6-16.0) and neural tube defects (OR 3.1, 95% CI .5-13.1), respectively, among births to Hispanic mothers, but not with births to non-Hispanic White mothers. Hispanic fathers who were electricians were more likely to have offspring with chromosomal anomalies, especially trisomy 18 (OR 7.4, 95% CI 1.6-25.5), associations not seen among offspring of non-Hispanic White fathers. Risk estimates also differed by Hispanic ethnicity between oral clefts and paternal occupations of electronic equipment operator, farmworker, janitor, police officer, and printer. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we found differences for risk of several congenital malformations by Hispanic ethnicity in relation to parental occupation. We recommend further study of these risks in other Hispanic populations.
Chromosomal alterations in human pancreatic endocrine tumors

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to investigate changes in DNA copy numbers in 25 paraffin‐embedded samples of pancreatic endocrine tumors from 23 patients. Insulin was the dominant hormone in 12, glucagon in 7, somatostatin in 1, and pancreatic polypeptide in 2 tumors. One to 15 (mean, 8.1) changes in DNA copy numbers were observed in 22 of the 25 tumors. The most recurrent aberration, found in 68% of the tumors, involved gains in chromosome 7 with a minimal overlapping region at 7q11.2. Other frequent gains included chromosomes 19 (60%) and 14 (56%). Chromosome arm 20q was amplified in 48% of the cases with the minimal overlapping region of 20q11.1–13.1. The two most frequent DNA losses were found at 11q21–22 in 32% and at 11p13–15 in 24% of the cases. The amplified chromosomal regions contain several candidate genes that may be involved in islet cell tumorigenesis. The regions with most frequent losses are likely to contain still uncharacterized tumor suppressor genes. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 29:83–87, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polski przemysł na tle przemysłu Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej

Przemysl jest tą dziedziną polskiej gospodarki, ktorą szok transformacji gospodarczej po 1989 roku dotknąl w szczegolnie gleboki sposob. Priorytetowa rola tego dzialu w okresie wcześniejszym, widoczna m.in. w jego uprzywilejowaniu w nakladach inwestycyjnych oraz przewaga duzych zakladow i kapitalochlonnośc produkcji, uczynily go mniej podatnym na dostosowanie sie do nowych warunkow gospodarki rynkowej. Znajduje to wyraz w generalnie wolniejszym rozwoju przemyslu niz wielu uslug w Polsce i w innych krajach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej, co nie jest jednak rownoznaczne z mniejszą skalą zmian. Warto w tej sytuacji przyjrzec sie przemianom przemyslu Polski w ostatnich kilkunastu latach na tle analogicznych zmian w innych krajach postsocjalistycznych. Jest to szczegolnie uzasadnione wobec faktu, ze wokol rozwoju polskiego przemyslu w ostatnich latach naroslo wiele mitow. Celem niniejszego opracowania jest porownanie procesu rozwoju oraz wspolczesnych cech przemyslu Polski ze zmianami i cechami przemyslu innych krajow Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej. W pierwszej cześci analizowane są tendencje zmian w wielkości produkcji przemyslowej od 1989 do 2001 roku i dyskutowane czynniki warunkujące owe zmiany. Nastepnie rozwazane są kolejno cechy strukturalne i jakościowe, takie jak struktura branzowa, wydajnośc pracy oraz zdolności eksportowe przemyslu. Blizszą uwage poświecono inwestycjom zagranicznym. Dane statystyczne, na ktorych oparta jest analiza, pochodzą z publikacji OECD, Banku Światowego, Eurostatu, Wiener Institut fur Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche oraz statystyk poszczegolnych krajow. Odrebnym, pominietym w niniejszym artykule zagadnieniem jest regionalne i lokalne zroznicowanie procesow zmian przemyslu Polski.
Switching off calcium-dependent inactivation in l-type calcium channels by an autoinhibitory domain

The retinal l-type Ca2+ channel Cav1.4 is distinguished from all other members of the high voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ channel family by lacking Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent inactivation. In synaptic terminals of photoreceptors and bipolar cells, this feature is essential to translate graded membrane depolarizations into sustained Ca2+ influx and tonic glutamate release. The sequences conferring Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) are conserved throughout the HVA calcium channel family, raising the question of how Cav1.4 manages to switch off CDI. Here, we identify an autoinhibitory domain in the distal C terminus of Cav1.4 that serves to abolish CDI. We show that this domain (ICDI, inhibitor of CDI) uncouples the molecular machinery conferring CDI from the inactivation gate by binding to the EF hand motif in the proximal C terminus. Deletion of ICDI completely restores Ca2+-calmodulin-mediated CDI in Cav1.4. CDI can be switched off again in the truncated Cav1.4 channel by coexpression of ICDI, indicating that ICDI works as an autonomous unit. Furthermore, we show that in the Cav1.2 l-type Ca2+-channel replacement of the distal C terminus by the corresponding sequence of Cav1.4 is sufficient to block CDI. This finding suggests that autoinhibition of CDI can be introduced principally into other Ca2+ channel types. Our data provide a previously undescribed perspective on the regulation of HVA calcium channels by Ca2+.
Degree of correspondence between daily monitoring and retrospective recall of alcohol use among men and women with comorbid AUD and PTSD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The majority of studies that have identified good correspondence between daily monitoring and retrospective recall of alcohol use have included participants who are relatively stable, are moderate drinkers, report abstinence, and are not diagnosed with comorbid disorders. The current study examined degree of correspondence between alcohol use that was reported daily via interactive voice response (IVR) telephone monitoring and retrospectively using an abbreviated Form-90 (Form-35) covering the same 35-day time period. METHODS Participants were 54 men and women with comorbid alcohol dependence and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who reported drinking during the time period. RESULTS Results indicated that participants reported more drinking days via IVR. Correspondence was strong between the reporting methods for aggregate-level alcohol use variables, including presence/absence of drinking days and heavy drinking days and standard drinks, and associations increased for weeks closer to the assessment date for drinking days and heavy drinking days. Day-to-day agreement was moderate for drinking days and heavy drinking days, though there was large between-person variability in correspondence between reporting methods. Post-hoc analyzes suggested that men and participants who drink more tend to have lower correspondence between assessment methods. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Overall, findings partially replicated previous research and extend our knowledge of alcohol assessment in a comorbid sample. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE Findings highlight the importance of considering the influence that moderating variables have on reporting of alcohol use.
Predictors of slow‐wave sleep in a clinic‐based sample

Slow‐wave sleep has been associated with several physiological phenomena, including glucose metabolism, sympathetic nervous system activity, hormonal secretion and blood pressure regulation. The aim of these analyses was to determine which sociodemographic and medical factors were associated with slow‐wave sleep duration in a large clinical sample. We conducted cross‐sectional analysis of clinical data from 1019 consecutive adults over a 10‐month period who had their first in‐laboratory polysomnogram for suspicion of obstructive sleep apnea. Patients either underwent in‐laboratory full‐night polysomnogram followed by full‐night continuous positive airway pressure titration or split‐night polysomnogram. Patients also completed questionnaires to assess race, education, marital status and medical co‐morbidities. A multiple linear regression model that predicted the natural log of slow‐wave sleep in minutes indicated that African Americans had approximately 48% less slow‐wave sleep than non‐African Americans. Increasing age and male gender were also associated with less slow‐wave sleep. Overweight and obese individuals had significantly less slow‐wave sleep than those not overweight, even after adjustment for obstructive sleep apnea severity. Finally, those with severe obstructive sleep apnea had significantly less slow‐wave sleep than those with less severe obstructive sleep apnea even after adjustment for obesity. Results remained unchanged when patients who had a split‐night polysomnogram were excluded. We observed less slow‐wave sleep in African Americans, a group at increased risk of diabetes and hypertension compared with Caucasians, and in those who are overweight and obese and those with severe obstructive sleep apnea. Future research needs to explore potential reasons for reduced slow‐wave sleep in these individuals.
2nd Australia–China Biomedical Research Conference (ACBRC2009) Oestrogen, telomerase, ovarian ageing and cancer

1. Oestrogen plays an important role in ageing and ageingrelated development. Lack of oestrogen prompts endocrine cell ageing of the ovary, whereas oestrogen overflow impacts on epithelial cell neoplastic development. 2. Recent studies indicate that oestrogen regulates cell proliferative fates by a mechanism of reprogramming the size of telomeres (ends of chromosomes) in the oestrogen target cells. This is achieved by upregulating the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene in a temporal and spatial manner. 3. Currently, the relationship between oestrogen and telomerase activity in regulating productive cell development and function remains elusive. A number of lines of evidence suggest that telomerase is a downstream target of oestrogen in oestrogendependent reproductive ageing and neoplastic development. 4. The present minireview discusses our current understanding of the mechanisms by which telomerase maintenance of telomere homeostasis mediates oestrogen-induced ageing and tumourigenesis in the ovary under physiological and pathological conditions.
Antineoplastic effect and toxicity of 1,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-vitamin D3 in athymic mice with Y-79 human retinoblastoma tumors.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the in vivo efficacy and toxicity of the 1,25-dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-vitamin D3 (16,23-D3) analogue in athymic nude mice injected with Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells and to compare the efficacy and toxicity of this compound with those of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (D3, calcitriol). METHODS Thirty athymic nude mice (4-6 weeks old) were injected subcutaneously with 1 x 10(7) Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells suspended in a 1:1 mixture of Iscove culture medium supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and basement membrane matrix suspension. Five days after tumor injection, the mice were randomized to 3 groups of 10 mice each. The first group served as a control group and received intraperitoneal injections of 0.25 mL of mineral oil (vehicle) 5 times a week. The second group received intraperitoneal injections of 0.05 microg of calcitriol in 0.25 mL of mineral oil intraperitoneally 5 times a week. The third group received intraperitoneal injections of 0.5 microg of 16,23-D3 in 0.25 mL of mineral oil 5 times a week. Injections were continued for 5 weeks, during which tumor size and mouse weight were individually measured. Toxicity was assessed by clinical measures such as lethargy, weight loss, and death. The mice were then killed and the size, volume, and weight of each tumor were determined. Also, in representative animals in each group, kidneys were evaluated for calcification and serum calcium concentration was measured. RESULTS All experimental and control animals developed tumors subcutaneously. The 16,23-D3-treated mice had significantly smaller average tumor size (1.55 cm3) than the control mice (3.45 cm3) (P = .02), less gain in average body weight from the beginning of treatment (2.4 g vs 5.5 g) (P= .06), and a 40% mortality. The calcitriol-treated mice did not have significantly smaller average tumor size (1.26 cm3) than the 16,23-D3-treated mice (P = .35), had significant body weight loss compared with the control animals (calcitriol-treated mice lost 4.03 g) (P =.001), and had a mortality of 90% by the completion of the experiment. Histologically, there was no difference in the degree of tumor necrosis and calcification between control and experimental mice. Serum calcium concentrations were equivalent between the control (2.15 mmol/L [8.6 mg/dL]) and experimental groups (calcitriol, 1.88 mmol/L [7.5 mg/dL] [P = .97]; 16,23-D3, 2.15 mmol/L [8.6 mg/dL] [P = .42]). Mild bilateral renal tubular calcification occurred in 3 of 4 mice in the calcitriol-treated group and in 2 of 4 mice in the 16,23-D3-treated group. CONCLUSIONS The growth of subcutaneous Y-79 human retinoblastoma cells in athymic nude mice is significantly reduced by treatment with intraperitoneal injections of 16,23-D3. The antineoplastic effect of calcitriol is not statistically significantly different but is associated with significantly more toxicity. 1,25-Dihydroxy-16-ene-23-yne-vitamin D3 may be a useful chemotherapeutic adjunct in the treatment of retinoblastoma.
The Effects of Household Characteristics and Energy Use Consciousness on the Effectiveness of Real-Time Energy Use Feedback: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Much research has been done to date examining the effect of energy feedback information on occupant behavior. The newest type of feedback, “real-time” or continuous energy use monitoring, has become popular through its application in educational and professional settings. This paper investigates whether continuous feedback is effective in a residential setting, and explores the effects of socioeconomic status and household characteristics on conservation practices and energy use consciousness. Ten households were randomly invited from a 60-household survey to receive a digital electricity monitor called The Energy Detective. Drawing on surveys, utility bill records, and semi-structured interviews with these households, we discuss the effectiveness of the monitor in each household. We conclude that the monitors have a greater effect on energy consciousness than on conservation behavior in both high-income and low-income homes. Recommendations are made for a more extensive study involving monitors with downloadable data.
Toxicity of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenin to cultured bovine kidney cells.

The cytotoxic effect of the sesquiterpene lactone, parthenin was studied IN VITRO using cultured bovine kidney cells. The drug inhibited macromolecular synthesis. Fifty percent inhibitions in RNA, DNA and protein synthesis were observed when the cells were treated with parthenin at a final concentration of 1 \mu g/ml. The cytotoxic effect of parthenin was also evident by its ability to markedly inhibit the activities of key cellular enzymes after treatment of the cells with the toxin for 24 h.