Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Effects of Aeration and Fire on Invasion of Exotic Grasses in Mixed-Brush Plant Communities

Abstract Invasion of exotic grasses into grasslands dominated by native plants changes fire cycles and reduces biodiversity. Brush management practices that create soil disturbance, such as aeration, may potentially result in invasion of exotic grasses and replacement of native vegetation. We tested the hypothesis that a long-term effect of aeration and prescribed burning is an increase in exotic grasses. The study was conducted at the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in the western south Texas plains where four treatments were evaluated: aeration, warm-season burn, aeration followed by a warm-season burn, and no treatment (control). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replicates. We estimated percentage canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, bare ground, and woody and succulent plants in 2007. There was a multivariate main effect among treatments for the dependent variables absolute canopy cover of exotic grasses, native grasses, forbs, litter, and bare ground (Wilks's Lambda F15,179.84 = 2.78, P = 0.001). Variables that contributed to the significant overall effect included litter (F3,69 = 4.32, P = 0.008) and native grasses (F3,69 = 6.11, P = 0.001). The multivariate main effect of treatment was significant (Wilks's Lambda F9,180.25 = 2.04, P = 0.038) for the relative canopy cover of herbaceous species. Relative cover of exotic grasses was 31% higher (P = 0.024) in control than in the prescribed burn treatment. Native grasses relative cover was 30% higher (P = 0.003) in prescribed burn than in the control treatment. We did not detect differences among treatments in the percentage of total woody and succulent plants canopy cover (P = 0.083). Under the environmental conditions at the time of the study, aeration and/or prescribed burning do not increase exotic grasses.
Breathing pattern and hypercapnia in patients with obstructive pulmonary disease.

Pulmonary gas exchange and breathing pattern were studied in 91 patients with chronic obstructive pul· . monary disease breathing room air. All patients were clinically and functionally stable at the time of the study. The patients were divided in two groups with distinctly different Peo,: nonhypercapnic subjects had arterial Peo, < 45 mm Hg; hypercapnic subjects, arterial Peo, ~ 55 mm Hg. When results of pulmonary function tests (total lung capacity, residual volume, vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second to forced vital ca­ pacity) were expressed as percentages of predicted values, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The ratio ofresidual volume to total lung capacity, however, was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the hypercapnic patients. No correlation was found between forced expiratory volume in one se­ cond and arterial Peo,. Metabolic production of CO, physiologic dead space, and respiratory frequency were similar the two both groups. Hypercapnic patients were characterized by a highly significant (p < 0.001) decrease in minute ventilation that led to alveolar hypoventilation; this was entirely explained by a significant decrease in tidal volume (p < 0.001), which appears to be an important factor in CO, retention.
Bacteriophage Mu as a genetic tool to study Erwinia amylovora pathogenicity and hypersensitive reaction on tobacco

Erwinia amylovora 1430 was shown to be sensitive to Mu G(-) particles. Infection resulted either in lytic development or in lysogenic derivatives with insertion of the Mu genome at many sites in the bacterial chromosome. We used the Mu d1Bx::Tn9 (lac Apr Cmr) derivative, called Mu dX, to identify mutants affected in pathogenicity and in their ability to induce a hypersensitive reaction (HR) on tobacco plants. Inoculation of 1,400 lysogenic derivatives on apple root calli led to the identification of 12 mutants in three classes: (i) class 1 mutants were nonpathogenic and unable to induce an HR on tobacco plants; (ii) class 2 mutants were nonpathogenic but retained the ability to induce an HR; and (iii) class 3 mutants showed attenuated virulence. Of the 12 mutants, 8 had a single insertion of the Mu dX prophage. For class 1 and 2 mutants, reversion to pathogenicity was concomitant with the loss of the Mu dX prophage. Furthermore, revertants from the class 1 mutants also recovered the ability to induce an HR on tobacco plants. Five of the six class 3 mutants were impaired in exopolysaccharide production. No changes of the envelope structure (lipopolysaccharide and outer membrane proteins) were correlated with differences in pathogenicity. One class 3 mutant did not produce any functional siderophore, suggesting that iron uptake could be involved in pathogenicity.
The spleen and sickle cell disease: the sick(led) spleen

The spleen has a combined function of immune defence and quality control of senescent or altered red cells. It is the first organ injured in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) with evidence of hyposplenism present before 12 months in the majority of children. Repeated splenic vaso‐occlusion leads to fibrosis and progressive atrophy of the organ (autosplenectomy), which is generally complete by 5 years in SCA. The precise sequence of pathogenic events leading to hyposplenism is unknown. Splenic injury is generally silent and progressive. It can be clinically overt with acute splenic sequestration of red cells, an unpredictable and life‐threatening complication in infants. Splenomegaly, with or without hypersplenism, can also occur and can coexist with loss of function. Hyposplenism increases the susceptibility of SCA children to infection with encapsulated bacteria, which is notably reduced by penicillin prophylaxis and immunization. Whether hyposplenism indirectly increases the risk of vaso‐occlusion or other circulatory complications remains to be determined.
microRNA expression in the neural retina: Focus on Müller glia

The neural retina hosts a unique specialized type of macroglial cell that not only preserves retinal homeostasis, function, and integrity but also may serve as a source of new neurons during regenerative processes: the Müller cell. Precise microRNA‐driven mechanisms of gene regulation impel and direct the processes of Müller glia lineage acquisition from retinal progenitors during development, the triggering of their response to retinal degeneration and, in some cases, Müller cell reprogramming and regenerative events. In this review we survey the recent reports describing, through functional assays, the regulatory role of microRNAs in Müller cell physiology, differentiation potential, and retinal pathology. We discuss also the evidence based on expression analysis that points out the relevance of a Müller glia–specific microRNA signature that would orchestrate these processes.
Effect of insulin, transferrin and selenium and epidermal growth factor on development of buffalo oocytes to the blastocyst stage in vitro in serum-free, semidefined media

The in vitro development of buffalo oocytes up to the blastocyst stage was studied in serum-free, semidefined media containing bovine serum albumin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), insulin, transferrin and selenium (ITS) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). In experiment 1, oocytes aspirated from abattoir-derived ovaries were cultured in eight serum-free, semidefined culture media containing different combinations of these four factors. In experiment 2, the maturation of buffalo oocytes and the development of the embryos were compared in a complex co-culture system and in the serum-free, semidefined media. Supplementation with FSH and EGF significantly (P0·05) increased the maturation rates of buffalo oocytes, and the yield of blastocysts was higher (P0·05) in media containing EGF and ITS. The yield of blastocysts was lower in the serum-free semidefined media (P0·05) than in the complex co-culture system.
[Relationship between ultrasonographic velocimetric parameters and microvessel density in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between velocimetric parameters by using color Doppler ultrasonography and microvessel density (MVD) in papillary thyroid carcinoma and its clinical significance for preoperative diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods Twenty-nine thyroid tumors were examined preoperatively by color Doppler ultrasonography. The velocimetric parameters including peak systolic velocity (V(max)), end-diastolic velocity (V(min)) were evaluated respectively and resistance index (RI) was calculated. Immunohistochemistry was applied by using polyclonal rabbit anti-human Von Willebrand factor in all cases after operation and microvessel density was calculated based on it. RESULTS Of the twenty-nine patients who underwent surgery, seventeen patients were diagnosed in papillary thyroid carcinoma and twelve patients in thyroid adenoma. In velocimetric analysis, the RI was significantly higher in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma than those with thyroid adenoma (t = 3.3108, P < 0.01). V(max) and Vmin were no significance in those two tumors respectively (Z = 0.9520, P > 0.05; Z = - 1.6618, P > 0.05). MVD was also significantly increased in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (t = 8.1991, P < 0.01). There was a significant positive association between RI and MVD (r = 0.7924, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Color Doppler ultrasonography could well display the blood flow of thyroid tissue and its nodules. The velocimetric parameter RI was higher in papillary thyroid carcinoma than in adenoma and was along with its MVD. RI may provide valuable information for diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma preoperatively.
Electrophoretic Mobilities of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Wild-Type Escherichia coliStrains

ABSTRACT The electrophoretic mobilities (EPMs) of a number ofEscherichia coli O157:H7 and wild-type E. colistrains were measured. The effects of pH and ionic strength on the EPMs were investigated. The EPMs of E. coli O157:H7 strains differed from those of wild-type strains. As the suspension pH decreased, the EPMs of both types of strains increased.
NCLX is an essential component of mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange

Mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux is linked to numerous cellular activities and pathophysiological processes. Although it is established that an Na+-dependent mechanism mediates mitochondrial Ca2+ efflux, the molecular identity of this transporter has remained elusive. Here we show that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger NCLX is enriched in mitochondria, where it is localized to the cristae. Employing Ca2+ and Na+ fluorescent imaging, we demonstrate that mitochondrial Na+-dependent Ca2+ efflux is enhanced upon overexpression of NCLX, is reduced by silencing of NCLX expression by siRNA, and is fully rescued by the concomitant expression of heterologous NCLX. NCLX-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ transport was inhibited, moreover, by CGP-37157 and exhibited Li+ dependence, both hallmarks of mitochondrial Na+-dependent Ca2+ efflux. Finally, NCLX-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ exchange is blocked in cells expressing a catalytically inactive NCLX mutant. Taken together, our results converge to the conclusion that NCLX is the long-sought mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.
Role of c-Abl in Directing Metabolic versus Mitogenic Effects in Insulin Receptor Signaling*

c-Abl is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase involved in several signal transduction pathways. Here we report that c-Abl is involved also in insulin receptor signaling. Indeed, c-Abl tyrosine kinase is activated upon insulin stimulation. Inhibition of c-Abl tyrosine kinase by STI571 attenuates the effect of insulin on Akt/GSK-3β phosphorylation and glycogen synthesis, and at the same time, it enhances the effect of insulin on ERK activation, cell proliferation, and migration. This effect of STI571 is specific to c-Abl inhibition, because it does not occur in Abl-null cells and is restored in c-Abl-reconstituted cells. Numerous evidences suggest that focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is involved in mediating this c-Abl effect. First, anti-phosphotyrosine blots indicate that c-Abl tyrosine kinase activation is concomitant with FAK dephosphorylation in response to insulin, whereas c-Abl inhibition is accompanied by FAK phosphorylation in response to insulin, a response similar to that observed with IGF-I. Second, the c-Abl effects on insulin signaling are not observed in cells devoid of FAK (FAK–/– cells). Taken together these results suggest that c-Abl activation by insulin, via a modification of FAK response, may play an important role in directing mitogenic versus metabolic insulin receptor signaling.
The Neuropeptide Nociceptin Is a Synaptically Released Endogenous Inhibitor of Hippocampal Long-Term Potentiation

Hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) of excitatory synaptic transmission has been regarded as a cellular model of learning and memory. Its induction is regulated by many functional molecules at synapses, including the neuropeptide nociceptin, which is identified as an endogenous ligand for the orphan opioid receptor. Mutant mice lacking the receptor exhibit enhanced LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory formation; however, the precise molecular and cellular mechanism is largely unknown. Here, we show that LTP in the hippocampal CA1 region is inhibited by nociceptin synaptically released from interneurons by tetanic stimulation. This endogenous nociceptin downregulates the excitability of pyramidal cells by the hyperpolarization induced by the activation of K+ channels, which are the common target shared with GABAB receptors, although the mode of action is considerably different. Interestingly, the modulation of LTP by endogenous nociceptin is not observed when theta-burst stimulation is used instead of tetanic stimulation, suggesting that relatively longer high-frequency synaptic activation is required for the release of endogenous nociceptin. These results indicate that, in addition to GABA, nociceptin released from interneurons by their high-frequency activation is a novel endogenous neuromodulator that negatively regulates LTP induction in the hippocampus through direct modulation of pyramidal cells.
Acupressure-acupuncture antiemetic prophylaxis in children undergoing tonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND Acupuncture or acupressure at the Nei-Guan (P.6) point on the wrist produces antiemetic effects in awake but not anesthetized patients. The authors studied whether a combined approach using preoperative acupressure and intra- and postoperative acupuncture can prevent emesis following tonsillectomy in children. METHODS Patients 2-12 yr of age were randomly assigned to study or placebo groups. Two Acubands with (study) and two without (placebo) spherical beads were applied bilaterally on the P.6 points; non-bead- and bead-containing Acubands, respectively, were applied on the sham points. All Acubands were applied before any drug administration. After anesthetic induction, acupuncture needles were substituted for the beads and remained in situ until the next day. All points were covered with opaque tape to prevent study group identification. A uniform anesthetic technique was used; postoperative pain was managed initially with morphine and later with acetaminophen and codeine. Emesis, defined as retching or vomiting, was assessed postoperatively. Ondansetron was administered only after two emetic episodes at least 2 min apart. Droperidol was added if emesis persisted. RESULTS One hundred patients were enrolled in the study. There were no differences in age, weight, follow-up duration, or perioperative opioid administration between groups. Retching occurred in 26% of the study patients and in 28% of the placebo patients; 51 and 55%, respectively, vomited; and 60 and 59%, respectively, did either. There were no significant differences between the groups. Redness occurred in 8.5% of acupuncture sites. CONCLUSION Perioperative acupressure and acupuncture did not diminish emesis in children following tonsillectomy.
The effect of supervised exercises on static and dynamic balance in Parkinson's disease patients.

BACKGROUND/AIM The aim of the this study was to examine the effects of supervised exercises on measures of static and dynamic balance Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study used a before-after study design. Seventeen PD patients with mild and moderate levels of disability were enrolled in the study. Patients followed an exercise program under a physiotherapist's supervision one day a week for 12 weeks. The standard Balance Master protocol was used before and after exercise to assess static and dynamic balance. RESULTS A statistically significant difference was observed in the unilateral balance test, one of the static balance assessments performed while standing on the left or right leg with eyes closed (p < 0.05). With respect to dynamic balance, a statistically significant difference in the maximum excursion of limits of stability (LOS), one of the balance tests used in the supervised exercise programs for patient with Parkinson's disease, between measurements taken before and after exercises was also detected (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The change of LOS revealed that dynamic balance improved due to the exercises. Thus, our supervised exercise program provided improvement in dynamic balance of PD patients.
Origin, development and significance of L-forms in bacterial cultures.

SUMMARY: Several Gram-negative bacteria produce pleuropneumonia-like (L-) forms, some under ordinary cultural conditions, others only when exposed to abnormal ones. The formation of these bodies starts with the production of small nuclear elements surrounded with a thin cytoplasmic layer; these elements fuse with neighbouring elements and the L-body is complete. Whereas some L-strains reproduce themselves indefinitely, others revert to the bacterial form. Thus the bacterial and the L-forms are now regarded as two different generations of the same organism and my symbiosis theory is abandoned.
Acquisition of neuronal and glial markers by neural crest–derived cells in the mouse intestine

Enteric neurons and glia arise from the neural crest. The phenotype of crest‐derived cells was examined as they differentiated into neurons or glia in the mouse small and large intestine. Previous studies have shown that undifferentiated enteric crest–derived cells are Phox2b+/Ret+/p75+/Sox10+, and at embryonic day (E) 10.5, about 10–15% of the crest‐derived cells in the small intestine have started to differentiate into neurons. In the current study, by E12.5 and E14.5, about 25% and 47%, respectively, of Phox2b+ cells in the small intestine were immunoreactive to the pan‐neuronal protein, ubitquitin hydrolase (PGP9.5), and the percentage did not change dramatically from E14.5 onward. The differentiation of crest‐derived cells into neurons in the colon lagged behind that in the small intestine by several days. Differentiating enteric neurons showed high Ret, low p75, and undetectable Sox10 immunostaining. Glial precursors were identified by the presence of brain‐specific fatty acid binding protein (B‐FABP) and detected first in the fore‐ and rostral midgut at E11.5. Glial precursors appeared to be B‐FABP+/Sox10+/p75+ but showed low Ret immunostaining. S100b was not detected until E14.5. Adult glial cells were B‐FABP+/Sox10+/p75+/S100b+. A nucleic acid stain (to identify all ganglion cells) was combined with immunostaining for PGP9.5 and S100b to detect neurons and glial cells, respectively, in the postnatal intestine. At postnatal day 0, fewer than 5% and 10% of cells in myenteric ganglia of the small and large intestine, respectively, were neither PGP9.5+ nor S100b+. Because some classes of neurons are not present in significant numbers until after birth, the expression of PGP9.5 by developing enteric neurons appeared to precede the expression of neuron type–specific markers. J. Comp. Neurol. 456:1–11, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
DNA methylation alterations of rice in response to cold stress.

Rice is sensitive to cold stress, and cold tolerance in rice is a complex trait. In the present study, DNA methylation alterations induced by cold stress were examined in two contrasting rice genotypes, Li-Jiang-Xin-Tuan-Hei-Gu (LTH) and IR64, by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism analysis. At the seedling stage, a remarkable increase in DNA methylation under cold stress was detected only in the roots of the cold-tolerant genotype of LTH. Demethylation in the panicles of LTH under cold stress and subsequent recovery were determined. An increase in DNA methylation in the leaves and demethylation in the panicles were observed in IR64 at the booting stage under cold stress. These results indicate that cold-induced DNA methylation alterations are specific to genotypes and are dependent on the growth stage and tissue/organ types. Further analysis suggests that a number of cold-induced DNA methylation changes in both genotypes cannot be reverted after recovery, implying that these loci with alterations of DNA methylation may be mitotically heritable and involved in cold stress responsiveness.
Association of the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) genotype with depression in elderly persons after hip fracture.

OBJECTIVE The authors examined the serotonin transporter gene-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) as a predictor of major depressive disorder and depressive symptoms after hip fracture, a common stressful medical event. METHODS This was a prospective, observational study of 23 elderly rehabilitation-hospital patients during their inpatient stay. Depressive symptoms were assessed by Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (Ham-D) and PRIME-MD. Subjects were also genotyped for 5-HTTLPR. RESULTS Survival analysis showed that genotype significantly predicted time-to-major depressive episode. Subjects with an s allele (genotype s/l or s/s) had significantly higher Ham-D scores over 14 weeks of follow-up than those with the l/l genotype. CONCLUSION Depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder in elderly persons after a stressful medical event may be associated with 5-HTTLPR genotype. This finding requires confirmation in a larger sample.
Does prior administration of the RBANS influence performance on subsequent neuropsychological testing?

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine whether administration of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) prior to other neuropsychological testing improves performance on subsequent measures due to practice effects. Participants completed the RBANS and related neuropsychological measures of the same cognitive domain in one of two counterbalanced orders. A MANOVA and follow-up independent t-tests were used to examine whether or not completing one set of measures prior to the other was associated with score differences. Prior administration of the RBANS did not impact performance on subsequent testing. However, a significant effect of test order administration was found such that the group administered the RBANS second performed worse on RBANS delayed memory measures. This finding was likely due to proactive interference, given that items from initially administered memory measures presented as intrusions on subsequently administered memory measures. Current results indicate that the practice of administering the RBANS as a screener prior to administration of additional tests will not impact performance on the subsequent tests. Although practice effects were not found, clinicians and researchers administering memory measures with similar designs (e.g., verbal list-learning tasks) within a single testing session should be aware of the potential of interference effects.