Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The defense response of germinating maize embryos against fungal infection: A proteomics approach

Pathogen attack on plants results in numerous host‐specific biochemical responses, the activation of some of them being critical for the ability of the plant to withstand disease. We have used high‐resolution two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) and mass spectrometry to identify proteins that are differentially expressed in response to fungal infection in maize embryos. Differential spots corresponding to induced or repressed proteins were apparent in silver stained 2‐DE gels of proteins extracted from sterile and fungal‐infected germinating embryos. Selected spots were subjected to tryptic digestion followed by identification using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight‐mass spectrometry and nanospray ion‐trap tandem mass spectrometry. Among the proteins induced in response to infection are proteins involved in protein synthesis, or in protein folding and stabilization, as well as proteins involved in oxidative stress tolerance. Additionally, the accumulation of specific pathogenesis‐related proteins in tissues of the fungal‐infected germinating embryos was studied by 2‐DE and immunoblotting.
The second agent effect: Interpersonal predictive coding in people with schizophrenia

ABSTRACT Interpersonal predictive coding (IPC) enables one to use the information conveyed by the communicative action of one agent to predict the response of another agent. IPC relies both on explicit reflective processes (processing of communicative intentions) and automatic reflexive processes (motor resonance). Predictive coding deficits may underlie positive symptoms in people with schizophrenia (SCZ), yet IPC has not been analyzed in SCZ. Thirty-nine SCZ and 22 controls (HC) completed a simultaneous masking detection task, during which they observed either communicative (Com) or individual (Ind) actions of agent A and had to report the presence of the agent B, who was shown in half of the trials. In line with previous findings, detection criterion was lowered after Com as compared to Ind, suggesting a higher tendency to report the presence of a second agent after observing agent A’s communicative gestures . Surprisingly, this effect was found to a similar extent in both groups. Communicative criterion was linked to mentalizing abilities, but not to symptoms in SCZ. Finding that SCZ show similar IPC as HC adds to the previous evidence that reflexive processes may be relatively intact in patients. Furthermore, the level of reflective processes may be crucial for patients’ social functioning.
Density and temperature of fermions and bosons from quantum fluctuations

A novel method to determine the density and temperature of a system constituted by fermions and/or bosons is proposed based on quantum fluctuations. For fermions system,the results in the limit where the reached temperature T is small and where there is no constraint for the reached temperature T compared to the Fermi energy ef at a given density ρ are given,respectively. Quadrupole and multiplicity fluctuation relations are derived in terms of T/ef. We compared the two set results in the limit when T is much smaller compared to Fermi energy ef and they are consistent,as expected. The classical limit is also obtained for high temperatures and low densities. For bosons system,quadrupole and multiplicity fluctuations using Landau's theory of fluctuations near the critical point for a Bose-Einstein condensate(BEC) at a given density ρ are derived. As an example,we apply our approach to heavy ion collisions using the Constrained Molecular Dynamics model(CoMD) which includes the fermionic statistics. The multiplicity fluctuation quenching for fermions is found in the model and confirmed by experimental data. To reproduce the available experimental data better,we propose a modification of the collision term in the approach to include the possibility of α-α collisions. The relevant Bose-Einstein factor in the collision term is properly taken into account. This approach increases the yields of bosons relative to fermions closer to data. Boson fluctuations become larger than one as expected.
Association of Socio-Economic Position with Technique Failure and Mortality in Australian Non-Indigenous Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

Background: Few studies have examined the relationship between socio-economic position (SEP) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes, particularly at a country level. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between SEP, technique failure, and mortality in PD patients undertaking treatment in Australia. Methods: The study included all Australian non-indigenous incident PD patients between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2014, using Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry data. The SEP was assessed by quartiles of postcode-based Australian Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), including Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD – primary index), Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD), Index of Economic Resources (IER), and Index of Education and Occupation (IEO). Technique and patient survival were evaluated by multivariable Cox proportional hazards survival analyses. Results: The study included 9,766 patients (mean age 60.6 ± 15 years, 57% male, 38% diabetic). Using multivariable Cox regression, no significant association was observed between quartiles of IRSAD and technique failure (30-day definition p = 0.65, 180-day definition p = 0.68). Similar results were obtained using competing risks regression. However, higher SEP, defined by quartiles of IRSAD, was associated with better patient survival (Quartile 1 reference; Quartile 2 adjusted hazards ratio [HR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86 – 1.06; Quartile 3 HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77 – 0.99; Quartile 4 HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76 – 0.97). Similar results were found when IRSD was analyzed, but results were no longer statistically significant for IER and IEO. Conclusions: In Australia, where there is universal free healthcare, SEP was not associated with PD technique failure in non-indigenous PD patients. Higher SEP was generally associated with improved patient survival.
Phycotoxins from blue-green algae

Unpredictable poisonings of livestock and wildlife by waterblooms or scums of freshwater cyanophytes (cyanobacteria) occur when toxic strains of the common spe.cies dominate composition sufficiently to provide above-threshold levels of phycótoxins by susceptible animals. Known phycotoxins from freshwater cyanophytes are alkaloids, polypeptides or pteridines. New toxins produced by new strains have been described recently. Freshwater cyanophyte waterblooms can cause allergic reactions and, in water supplies, are suspected of causing outbreaks of human gastroenteritis. The structures of dermatitis-producing and non-dermatitis-producing phycotoxins from species of marine cyanophytes have been reported recently.
Paraoxonase 1 Activity: A New Vascular Marker of Dementia?

Abstract: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an A‐esterase with peroxidase‐like activity present on the surface of HDL, decreases the peroxidation of LDL. Serum PON1 activity (PON1a) decreases with aging and in disorders associated with a high risk of adverse cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, and chronic renal failure). The implication of vascular factors in Alzheimer‐type dementia (ATD) is strongly suspected. We measured PON1a by spectrophotometry using the paraoxon substrate in 180 healthy subjects (controls; mean age: 75.3 ± 8.9 years; 98 women) and 154 patients admitted for cognitive testing. According to criteria, 45 patients had mild cognitive impairments (MCI; mean age: 75.6 ± 9.3 years; 28 women), 60 had ATD (mean age: 75.6 ± 8.3 years; 47 women), and 49 had vascular dementia (VaD; mean age: 77.5 ± 7.2 years; 33 women). Mean PON1a was lower in VaD (0.25 ± 0.1 U/mL) than in controls or ATD (both 0.41 ± 0.2 U/mL, p < 0.01). Mean PON1a values in MCI (0.34 ± 0.2 U/mL) and ATD (0.41 ± 0.2 U/mL) were not significantly different. In multiple linear regression, PON1a was negatively correlated with male sex, age, and VaD, and positively correlated with ATD (each correlation p < 0.001). As shown in other high‐risk cardiovascular disorders, PON1a seems to be a reliable marker of VaD. Its modification in Alzheimer's disease supports the implication of vascular risk factors in this type of dementia.
Survival and Migration of Human Dendritic Cells Are Regulated by an IFN-α-Inducible Axl/Gas6 Pathway1

Axl, a prototypic member of the transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor family, is known to regulate innate immunity. In this study, we show that Axl expression is induced by IFN-α during human dendritic cell (DC) differentiation from monocytes (IFN/DC) and that constitutively Axl-negative, IL-4-differentiated DC (IL-4/DC) can be induced to up-regulate Axl by IFN-α. This effect is inhibited by TLR-dependent maturation stimuli such as LPS, poly(I:C), TLR7/8 ligand, and CD40L. LPS-induced Axl down-regulation on the surface of human IFN-α-treated DC correlates with an increased proteolytic cleavage of Axl and with elevated levels of its soluble form. GM6001 and TAPI-1, general inhibitors of MMP and ADAM family proteases, restored Axl expression on the DC surface and diminished Axl shedding. Furthermore, stimulation of Axl by its ligand, Gas6, induced chemotaxis of human DC and rescued them from growth factor deprivation-induced apoptosis. Our study provides the first evidence that Gas6/Axl-mediated signaling regulates human DC activities, and identifies Gas6/Axl as a new DC chemotaxis pathway. This encourages one to explore whether dysregulation of this novel pathway in human DC biology is involved in autoimmunity characterized by high levels of IFN-α.
Ocena metodami akustycznymi procesu niszczenia betonów samozagęszczonych

W pracy przedstawiono ocene procesu niszczenia betonow samozageszczonych i wyznaczenia dla nich poziomu naprezen inicjujących i krytycznych w funkcji przyrostu naprezen ściskających. Badania przeprowadzono z uzyciem metod akustycznych: ultradźwiekowej i emisji akustycznej
Common genetic changes in leiomyosarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumour: implication for ataxia telangiectasia mutated involvement

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. Formerly GISTs were commonly classified histologically as leiomyosarcomas; however, they are now known to arise from the interstitial cells of Cajal. Majority of GISTs overexpress KIT and have characteristic mutations within the gene, which are the targets of drug treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour of smooth muscle differentiation and falls into a group of sarcomas that show complex karyotypic changes with no consistent recurrent genetic abnormality. We have used comparative genomic hybridization in combination with fluorescence in situ hybridization to determine genetic differences between the tumour types. We found leiomyosarcomas and GISTs share common regions of chromosomal 13q and 11q imbalance, in addition to more specific 1p and 8p losses in leiomyosarcoma and 15q and 22q losses in GISTs. More importantly, we have shown for the first time a deletion in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene locus with decreased/absent expression of ATM protein, and amplification in the region 13q21–q32 in both tumour types, suggesting both regions may play a role in leiomyosarcoma and GIST biology.
Radio Wave Propagation Prediction Based on 3-D Building Structures Extracted From 2-D Images

A new method is proposed for the extraction of three-dimensional (3-D) building structures for simulating radio waves propagation in urban environments. The procedure is based on obtaining readily available high-resolution 2-D images (satellite and/or aerial photos) and images on the Internet (e.g., the google earth); and building accurate 3-D models of structures through a process of coordinates and dimensions matching. The new method provides an efficient and economic way for 3-D structure extraction. Combined with the computationally efficient ray-tracing algorithms recently developed by our group and reported in the literature, it is now possible to carry out radio wave propagation predictions for many outdoor urban areas efficiently and accurately.
Acute-phase serum amyloid A: Perspectives on its physiological and pathological roles

Serum amyloid A (SAA), a protein originally of interest primarily to investigators focusing on AA amyloidogenesis, has become a subject of interest to a very broad research community. SAA is still a major amyloid research topic because AA amyloid, for which SAA is the precursor, is the prototypic model of in vivo amyloidogenesis and much that has been learned with this model has been applicable to much more common clinical types of amyloid. However, SAA has also become a subject of considerable interest to those studying (i) the synthesis and regulation of acute phase proteins, of which SAA is a prime example, (ii) the role that SAA plays in tissue injury and inflammation, a situation in which the plasma concentration of SAA may increase a 1000-fold, (iii) the influence that SAA has on HDL structure and function, because during inflammation the majority of SAA is an apolipoprotein of HDL, (iv) the influence that SAA may have on HDL’s role in reverse cholesterol transport, and therefore, (v) SAA’s potential role in atherogenesis. However, no physiological role for SAA, among many proposed, has been widely accepted. None the less from an evolutionary perspective SAA must have a critical physiological function conferring survival-value because SAA genes have existed for at least 500 million years and SAA’s amino acid sequence has been substantially conserved. An examination of the published literature over the last 40 years reveals a great deal of conflicting data and interpretation. Using SAA’s conserved amino acid sequence and the physiological effects it has while in its native structure, namely an HDL apolipoprotein, we argue that much of the confounding data and interpretation relates to experimental pitfalls not appreciated when working with SAA, a failure to appreciate the value of physiologic studies done in the 1970–1990 and a current major focus on putative roles of SAA in atherogenesis and chronic disease. When viewed from an evolutionary perspective, published data suggest that acute-phase SAA is part of a systemic response to injury to recycle and reuse cholesterol from destroyed and damaged cells. This is accomplished through SAA’s targeted delivery of HDL to macrophages, and its suppression of ACAT, the enhancement of neutral cholesterol esterase and ABC transporters in macrophages. The recycling of cholesterol during serious injury, when dietary intake is restricted and there is an immediate and critical requirement of cholesterol in the generation of myriads of cells involved in inflammation and repair responses, is likely SAA’s important survival role. Data implicating SAA in atherogenesis are not relevant to its evolutionary role. Furthermore, in apoE−/– mice, domains near the N- and C- termini of SAA inhibit the initiation and progression of aortic lipid lesions illustrating the conflicting nature of these two sets of data.
Nutritional Qualities of Three Medicinal Plant Parts (Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra) commonly used by Pregnant Women in the Western Part of Nigeria

The nutritional potentials of three medicinal plant parts used by pregnant women in the western part of Nigeria Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were evaluated through their proximate compositions as well as percentage mineral elements composition. Blighia sapida was high in crude fibre (44.09±2.20%) compared with Parinari polyandra and Xylopia aethiopica that were 4.21±1.10% and 12.14±0.70% respectively. Moisture contents of Xylopia aethiopica and Blighia sapida were 16.04±1.25% and 10.17±2.60% respectively while that of Parinari polyandra was 30.65±5.02%. The total ash contents of Parinari polyandra, Blighia sapida and Xylopia aethiopica were 2.53±1.20%, 3.66±1.20% and 4.37±0.85% respectively. The total fat of Xylopia aethiopica, Blighia sapida and Parinari polyandra were 9.55±2.10%, 1.25±0.20% and 0.53±0.15% respectively while the total protein of Blighia sapida, Xylopia aethiopica and Parinari polyandra were 2.1±0.25%, 2.1±0.20% and 7.09±0.20% respectively. The total carbohydrate of Xylopia aethiopica was 55.80±4.26%, that of Parinari polyandra was 54.27±3.20% and that of Blighia sapida was 39.45±2.20%. Xylopia aethiopica can be a good source of magnesium (2.236±0.095), phosphorus (0.620±0.04) and potassium (0.510±0.04) as the amount of these mineral elements were higher than that of the other plant parts with the exception of Parinari polyandra having 0.690±0.11% phosphorus. Blighia sapida is also a good source of phosphorus (0.400±0.20), magnesium (0.430±0.20) and calcium (0.348±0.15). Other mineral elements detected in reasonable amounts were calcium, zinc and sodium. Further tests revealed that heavy metals such as lead, chromium and cadmium were not detected. The results of this research indicated that the three plants parts have nutritional qualities that could provide the users with additional nutrients.
TNFα Decreases Gluconeogenesis in Hepatocytes Isolated from 10-Day-Old Rats

Gluconeogenesis decreases during septic shock, but its mechanism is not well known. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which is a key cytokine in septic shock, can increase GLUT1 gene expression and glucose uptake in muscles and fatty tissues. TNF-α does not alter the metabolism of hepatocytes in which GLUT2 is the predominant glucose transporter. However, GLUT1 is the predominant glucose transporter in hepatocytes of 10-d-old rats. Thus, we hypothesized that TNF-α might increase glucose uptake and glycolysis in those cells, and decrease gluconeogenesis. In the present study, hepatocytes isolated from 10-d-old rats were incubated with TNF-α at the concentrations of 0, 0.98, 9.8, 98, and 980 ng/mL to evaluate TNF-α effects on gluconeogenesis and glucose uptake. TNF-α increased glucose uptake (41.1 ± 8 to 114 ± 21.4 μmol/106 cells at the concentration of 980 ng/mL of TNF-α) in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased gluconeogenesis (98.2 ± 8.2 to 1.1 ± 3.2 μmol/106 cells at the concentration of 980 ng/mL of TNF-α) in a dose-dependent manner. The decrease of glucokinase mRNA and GLUT1 mRNA abundance correlated with glucose uptake (r = 0.988 and 0.997, respectively), and the decrease of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA abundance correlated with the decrease of gluconeogenesis (r = 0.972). The decrease of gluconeogenesis by TNF-α correlated with the increase of glucose uptake (r = −0.988). We concluded that TNF-α reciprocally suppressed gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes isolated from 10-d-old rats.
Postactivation Potentiation Enhances Swim Performance in Collegiate Swimmers

Abstract Hancock, AP, Sparks, KE, and Kullman, EL. Postactivation potentiation enhances swim performance in collegiate swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 29(4): 912–917, 2015—This study examined postactivation potentiation (PAP) and its effect on performance during sprint swimming. After maximal muscular contraction, the muscles are in both a potentiated and fatigued state. However, fatigue dissipates faster than potentiation, creating a window of opportunity for possible performance enhancement. We observed 30 collegiate swimmers (15 men and 15 women) performing 2 swim trials in a randomized order. The control trial involved a standard swim warm-up, followed by a 6-minute rest and by a maximal 100-m freestyle swim effort. The PAP trial involved the same protocol; however, a PAP loading protocol involved the subjects completing 4 maximal 10-m swims at a 1-minute interval while attached to a resistive power rack and was completed before the 6-minute rest. Fifty-meter splits and blood lactates were also analyzed. There was a significant improvement in 100-m freestyle swim time (0.54 seconds) for the PAP trial vs. the control trial (p = 0.029). Both men and women improved during the PAP trial compared with the control trial, and there was no significant gender interaction. We conclude that PAP substantially enhances 100-m freestyle performance in collegiate swimmers and presents a valid technique for competitive performance enhancement.
Judgement of measured values of intestinal iron absorption.

The value of a medicinal iron preparation is influenced by several factors e.g. therapeutical efficacy, frequency of side effects, and prescriptions for intake. Since the accurate quantitation of therapeutical efficacy is difficult to establish, the value of fractional intestinal absorption of iron, which is a prerequisite for the effect on haemoglobin regeneration, represents a useful criterion for that particular factor. When intestinal absorption is investigated the selection of subjects is of importance. Studies should be performed on subjects with iron deficiency since the adaptation of intestinal absorption to the body's need is the basis of oral iron supplementation. Different methods have been used to assess intestinal absorption, some of which give almost identical results or show a close correlation. However, mixing data from different investigations in order to convert semi-quantitative values obtained from plasma iron tolerance curves into amounts of absorbed iron by means of regression equations estimated from studies on different subjects and under different conditions may lead to considerable uncertainties of the calculated results. Even more difficult to evaluate is the relation between fractional absorption and costs of therapy, since there are additional factors influencing the duration of supplementation and therefore the total amount of iron necessary.
Recasting the species–energy hypothesis: the different roles of kinetic and potential energy in regulating biodiversity

Introduction Understanding the causes and consequences of variation in biodiversity has long been a central focus of research in ecology and biogeography (von Humboldt, 1808; Hutchinson, 1959; MacArthur, 1969; Brown, 1981; Tilman, 1999; Hubbell, 2001; Clarke, this volume). Ecologists have been particularly fascinated by the latitudinal gradient of increasing biodiversity from the poles to the equator since at least the time of Darwin (1859) and Wallace (1878). Contemporary data indicate that this gradient holds for nearly all major groups of terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ectotherms, both plant and animal, and for endothermic birds and mammals (Rohde, 1992; Gaston, 2000; Allen, Brown & Gillooly, 2002; Willig, Kaufman & Stevens, 2003; Currie et al ., 2004; Pautasso & Gaston, 2005; Clarke, this volume; Currie, this volume). Furthermore, fossil data indicate that this gradient has been maintained for over 200 million years (Stehli, Douglas & Newell, 1969). Despite more than 150 years of inquiry, the mechanisms responsible for the gradient are still not well understood (Allen, Brown & Gillooly, 2003; Hawkins et al ., 2003; Huston et al ., 2003; Storch, 2003; Currie et al ., 2004; Clarke, this volume; Currie, this volume), but a large and growing list of hypotheses has been proposed to explain it (Rohde, 1992; Gaston, 2000; Hawkins et al ., 2003; Currie et al ., 2004). In recent years, particular attention has focused on what we will refer to as the species–energy hypothesis , which proposes that the latitudinal biodiversity gradient has somehow been generated and maintained as a direct consequence of greater energy availability towards the equator.