Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polyamines affect the cellular growth and structure of pro-embryogenic masses in Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cultures through the modulation of proton pump activities and endogenous levels of polyamines.

Polyamines (PAs) are abundant polycationic compounds involved in many physiological processes in plants, including somatic embryogenesis. This study investigates the role of PAs on cellular growth and structure of pro-embryogenic masses (PEMs), endogenous PA and proton pump activities in embryogenic suspension cultures of Araucaria angustifolia. The embryogenic suspension cultures were incubated with putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), spermine (Spm) and the inhibitor methylglyoxal-bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG), respectively (1 mM). After 24 h and 21 days, the cellular growth and structure of PEMs, endogenous PA contents and proton pump activities were analyzed. The addition of Spm reduced the cellular growth and promoted the development of PEMs in embryogenic cultures, which could be associated with a reduction in the activities of proton pumps, such as H(+) -ATPase P- and V-types and H(+) -PPases, and alterations in the endogenous PA contents. Spm significantly affected the physiology of the A. angustifolia somatic embryogenesis suspension, as it potentially affects cellular growth and structure of PEMs through the modulation of proton pump activities. This work demonstrates the involvement of exogenous PAs in the modulation of cellular growth and structure of PEMs, endogenous PA levels and proton pump activities during somatic embryogenesis. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report a relationship between PAs and proton pump activities in these processes. The results obtained in this study offer new perspectives for studies addressing the role of PAs and proton pump on somatic embryogenesis in this species.
Electric stimulation parameters for an epi-retinal prosthesis

This work was undertaken to contribute to the development of an epi-retinal prosthesis which may someday restore vision to patients blinded by outer retinal degenerations like retinitis pigmentosa. By stimulating surviving cells in tens or hundreds of distinct regions across the retinal surface, the prosthesis might convey the visual scene in the same way that images are represented on a computer screen. The anatomical and functional arrangement of retinal neurons, however, poses a potential obstacle to the success of this approach. Stimulation of ganglion cell axons—which lie in the optic nerve fiber layer between stimulating electrodes and their intended targets, and which originate from a relatively diffuse peripheral region—would probably convey the perception of a peripheral blur, detracting from the usefulness of the imagery. Inspired by related findings in brain and peripheral nerve stimulation, experiments were performed in the isolated rabbit retina to determine if excitation thresholds for ganglion cell axons could be raised by orienting the stimulating electric field perpendicularly to the axons’ path. Using a custom-designed apparatus, axon (and possibly dendrite) thresholds were measured for stimulation through a micro-fabricated array of disk electrodes each having a diameter of ten microns. The electrodes were driven singly versus a distant return (monopolar stimulation) and in pairs (bipolar stimulation) oriented along fibers (longitudinal orientation) or across fibers (transverse orientation). Transverse thresholds were measured for a range of fiber displacements between the two poles of the bipolar electrode pair, and compared in each case with the monopolar threshold for the closer pole. Transverse/monopolar threshold ratios were near unity when one of the poles was directly over the fiber, but rose rapidly with improved centering of the bipolar pair. Longitudinal/monopolar threshold ratios were near unity over the same range of displacements. As in previous work by others, thresholds were highest for perpendicular stimulating fields. Practical application of this result will require electrode designs which minimize longitudinal fringing fields. Thesis Supervisor: John L. Wyatt, Jr. Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering
Türk zeytinyağlarının bazı kalite ve saflık kriterlerinin belirlenmesi

Arastirma 2006-2008 yillarinda Ankara Universitesi Muhendislik Fakultesi Gida\r\nMuhendisligi Anabilim Dali, Yag Teknolojisi laboratuarlarinda yurutulmustur. \r\nCalismada, Turkiye’nin Kuzey Ege (Canakkale-Bursa-Balikesir-zmir-Manisa), Guney Ege\r\n(Aydin-Mugla), Akdeniz (Antalya-Adana-Mersin-Hatay) ve Guneydogu Anadolu\r\n(Gaziantep-Kilis) bolgelerinden 1. Uretim Yili uretim yilinda hasat edilmis 40, 2. Uretim\r\nYili uretim yilinda hasat edilmis 59 farkli zeytin orneginin dane agirliklari, et/cekirdek\r\noranlari, kuru madde ve yag miktarlari ile bu zeytinlerden elde edilen yaglarin serbest\r\nasitlik, peroksit, konjuge dien, K232, GK ve kirilma indisi degerleri, yag asidi dagilimlari,\r\niyot sayilari ve sabunlasma sayilari arastirilmistir. Bu ornekler; memecik, uslu, gemlik,\r\nedremit yaglik, celebi, gulumbe, domat, antalya yaglik, girit, mersin yaglik, saurani, halhali,\r\nhasabi, kalamata, nizip yaglik, kilis yaglik cesitleridir. \r\nBulgulara gore, Guneydogu Anadolu Bolgesi’nden (Gaziantep-Kilis) elde edilen zeytin\r\norneklerinin dane agirliklari en dusuk (2.18 g), kuru madde miktarlari (% 61.06) ve yag\r\nmiktarlari en yuksek (% 25.81), buna karsin Guney Ege Bolgesi’nden hasat edilen\r\norneklerin dane agirliklari en yuksek (3.87 g), kuru madde miktarlari (% 45.58) ve yag\r\nmiktarlari en dusuktur (% 17.25). Guneydogu Anadolu Golgesi’nden elde edilen yaglarin\r\nserbest asitlik ve peroksit degerleri digerlerine gore daha yuksektir. Guney Ege bolgesi\r\nyaglarinin oleik asit miktarlari diger bolgelere gore yuksek (% 73.77), linoleik asit\r\nmiktarlari daha dusuk (% 8.74), buna karsin Akdeniz Bolgesi yaglarinin oleik asit\r\nmiktarlari en dusuk (% 69.30), linoleik asit miktarlari da en yuksektir (% 11.44). Ayrica\r\nGuneydogu Anadolu Bolgesi yaglarinin palmitik asit miktarlari en yuksektir (% 15.23).
CALL FOR PAPERS Sex and Gender Differences in Pain and Inﬂammation Cross-organ interactions between reproductive, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts: modulation by estrous stage and involvement of the hypogastric nerve

Berkley. Cross-organ interactions between reproductive, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts: modulation by estrous stage and involvement of the hypogastric nerve. Am J Physiol Regul Comp Physiol nervous system neurons process information converging from the uterus, colon, and bladder, partly via the hypogastric nerve. This processing is inﬂuenced by the estrous cycle, suggesting the existence of an estrous-modiﬁable central nervous system substrate by which input from one pelvic organ can inﬂuence functioning of other pelvic organs. Here, we tested predictions from this hypothesis that acute inﬂammation of colon, uterine horn, or bladder would produce signs of inﬂammation in the other uninﬂamed organs (increase vascular permeability) and that cross-organ effects would vary with estrous and be eliminated by hypogastric neurectomy (HYPX). Under urethane anesthesia, the colon, uterine horn, or bladder of rats in proestrus or metestrus, with or without prior HYPX, was treated with mustard oil or saline. Two hours later, Evans Blue dye extravasation was measured to assess vascular permeability. Extravasation was increased in all inﬂamed organs, regardless of estrous stage. For rats in proestrus, but not metestrus, either colon or uterine horn inﬂammation signiﬁcantly increased extravasation in the uninﬂamed bladder. Much smaller cross-organ effects were seen in colon and uterine horn. HYPX reduced extravasation in the inﬂamed colon and inﬂamed uterine horn, but not the inﬂamed bladder. HYPX eliminated the colon-to-bladder and uterine horn-to-bladder effects. These results demonstrate that inﬂaming one pelvic organ can produce estrous-modiﬁable signs of inﬂammation in other pelvic organs, particularly bladder, and suggest that the cross-organ effects involve the hypogastric nerve and are at least partly centrally mediated. Such effects could contribute to cooccurrence and cyclicity of distressing pelvic disorders in women.
Characterization of Unusual Escape Variants of Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from a Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Negative Subject

ABSTRACT Hepatitis B virus DNA was extracted from serial serum samples of a hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patient with antibodies to the core protein as the only marker of an infection with hepatitis B virus. This patient showed no symptoms of hepatic injury. Sequencing of the amplified viral DNA demonstrated multiple amino acid changes clustering in surface-exposed regions of the surface protein. Synthesis and association of the middle (M) and small (S) surface proteins could be shown in vitro. The variant surface antigens were recognized neither by monoclonal antibodies to the surface antigen nor by the vaccinee’s sera. Consequences for hepatitis B surface antigen testing and vaccine development are discussed.
Diversités moléculaire et phénotypique de souches autochtones oenologiques de Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolées au Liban.

Nous avons explore dans la presente etude la diversite de la flore fermentaire indigene libanaise de Saccharomyces cerevisiae en collectant des echantillons de mouts de raisins en cours de fermentations naturelles de diverses localites dispersees sur le territoire libanais. Une grande diversite moleculaire de la flore libanaise a ete mise en evidence, que ce soit entre differentes localites geographiques, au sein des caves ou au sein des fermentations naturelles. En depit de cette diversite, plusieurs cas de dominance et de perennite de souches ont ete observes dans les caves vinicoles ou les fermentations semblent etre conduites par des lignees de souches apparentees. Une telle parente a aussi ete observee dans des zones geographiques restreintes, mais plus la zone s'elargissait moins apparente etait la parente entre souches. La flore libanaise, en depit de sa diversite, pourrait etre dotee d'une certaine specificite en comparaison aux autres flores vinicoles. L'influence du milieu de fermentation sur la parente des isolats semble en outre plus importante que l'effet geographique. Nous avons aussi evalue les methodes moleculaires utilisees pour l'exploration de la diversite ; deux methodes deja mises au point auparavant (amplifications de sequences entre deux elements delta et de loci microsatellites) et une nouvelle methode que nous avons teste, le MLST. Les deux premieres methodes se sont averees tres utiles pour le typage vu la grande variabilite de leurs marqueurs et par consequent leur grande capacite de discrimination. Par contre le schema MLST a montre une capacite de discrimination inferieure a celle des deux autres methodes. Il pourrait neanmoins etre ameliore par l'utilisation de loci plus variables. Mais contrairement aux deux autres methodes, le MLST est apparu plus utile pour l'inference des relations phylogeniques, particulierement pour les souches peu apparentees. La diversite phenotypique accompagnant la diversite moleculaire a ete examinee elle aussi en vue d'une potentielle selection de souches et pour envisager son eventuelle congruence avec la diversite moleculaire. Les souches etudiees de S. cerevisiae ont presente des capacites fermentaires differentes ce qui pourrait etre exploite pour pousser la selection entamee dans cette etude en vue de futures utilisations oenologiques, notamment dans l'industrie vinicole libanaise. La diversite phenotypique qui a accompagne la diversite moleculaire a montre une certaine congruence avec elle. Cette congruence a ete particulierement reliee a la production elevee d'acetaldehyde de certains profils moleculaires et elle pourrait eventuellement aider a predire la production d'acetaldehyde pour certaines souches.
The longitudinal relationship between generalized self-efficacy and physical activity in school-aged children

Abstract Our understanding of the longitudinal relationship between generalized self-efficacy (GSE) and physical activity in children and youth is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of GSE towards physical activity on sedentary behaviours and physical activity in school-aged children over time. A total of 2278 nine-year-old children (1120 girls and 1158 boys) were recruited at baseline and followed for seven waves of data collection from 2005 to 2008. All children completed questionnaires at each wave assessing their GSE (adequacy, predilection, and enjoyment), sedentary behaviours, free play, and organized activity. Mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in physical activity and GSE within individuals over time, controlling for gender and motor ability. The results showed that participation in free play significantly increased over time, whereas organized activity significantly decreased over the same period. Children with high perceived adequacy and predilection had higher free play and organized activity participation relative to other children over time. However, the effect of perceived adequacy diminished over time, while the gaps between groups with different levels of predilection widened over time. While sedentary behaviours were lower over time in children with high predilection, these behaviours were consistently higher in children with high enjoyment. The differences in sedentary behaviours between groups increased over time for both predilection and enjoyment. This study highlights the importance of different components of GSE on physical activity participation. In addition, interventions targeting the enhancement of predilection may facilitate physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours.
Is the Planet Full

What are the impacts of population growth? Can our planet support the demands of the ten billion people anticipated to be the world's population by the middle of this century? While it is common to hear about the problems of overpopulation, might there be unexplored benefits of increasing numbers of people in the world? How can we both consider and harness the potential benefits brought by a healthier, wealthier and larger population? May more people mean more scientists to discover how our world works, more inventors and thinkers to help solve the world's problems, more skilled people to put these ideas into practice? In this book, leading academics with a wide range of expertise in demography, philosophy, biology, climate science, economics and environmental sustainability explore the contexts, costs and benefits of a burgeoning population on our economic, social and environmental systems. Contributors to this volume - Anthony B. Atkinson, University of Oxford H. Charles J. Godfray, University of Oxford Ian Goldin, University of Oxford Sarah Harper, University of Oxford Anthony Hartwell, University of Oxford Ian Johnson, The Club of Rome Yadvinder Malhi, University of Oxford Mark New, University of Oxford Robyn Norton, University of Sydney Toby Ord, James Martin Fellow, University of Oxford
The Quality and Authenticity Markers of Tomato Ketchup

The selected quality and authenticity markers of to mato ketchup were determined in 3 sets of ketchup. The qualitative criteria (colour, pH, hydr oxymethylfurfural) were evaluated in commercial samples of ketchup. Authentic markers (formol number, citric and malic acid, pyrrolid-5-one-2-carboxylic acid, and minerals K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ ) were determined in model prepared samples and real samples with known natural tomato soluble solids content of the same producer.
Mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy and cardiovascular disease

Cardiac hypertrophy is often initiated as an adaptive response to haemodynamic stress or myocardial injury, and allows the heart to meet an increased demand for oxygen. Although initially beneficial, hypertrophy can ultimately contribute to the progression of cardiac disease, leading to an increase in interstitial fibrosis and a decrease in ventricular function. Metabolic changes have emerged as key mechanisms involved in the development and progression of pathological remodelling. As the myocardium is a highly oxidative tissue, mitochondria play a central role in maintaining optimal performance of the heart. ‘Mitochondrial dynamics’, the processes of mitochondrial fusion, fission, biogenesis and mitophagy that determine mitochondrial morphology, quality and abundance have recently been implicated in cardiovascular disease. Studies link mitochondrial dynamics to the balance between energy demand and nutrient supply, suggesting that changes in mitochondrial morphology may act as a mechanism for bioenergetic adaptation during cardiac pathological remodelling. Another critical function of mitochondrial dynamics is the removal of damaged and dysfunctional mitochondria through mitophagy, which is dependent on the fission/fusion cycle. In this article, we discuss the latest findings regarding the impact of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy on the development and progression of cardiovascular pathologies, including diabetic cardiomyopathy, atherosclerosis, damage from ischaemia–reperfusion, cardiac hypertrophy and decompensated heart failure. We will address the ability of mitochondrial fusion and fission to impact all cell types within the myocardium, including cardiac myocytes, cardiac fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. Finally, we will discuss how these findings can be applied to improve the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
Pandemic preparedness with live attenuated influenza vaccines based on A/Leningrad/134/17/57 master donor virus

Continuously evolving avian influenza viruses pose a constant threat to the human public health. In response to this threat, a number of pandemic vaccine candidates have been prepared and evaluated in animal models and clinical trials. This review summarizes the data from the development and preclinical and clinical evaluation of pandemic live attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) based on Russian master donor virus A/Leningrad/134/17/57. LAIV candidates of H5N1, H5N2, H7N3, H1N1 and H2N2 subtypes were safe, immunogenic and protected animals from challenge with homologous and heterologous viruses. Clinical trials of the pandemic LAIVs demonstrated their safety and immunogenicity for healthy adult volunteers. The vaccine viruses were infectious, genetically stable and did not transmit to unvaccinated contacts. In addition, here we discuss criteria for the assessment of pandemic LAIV immunogenicity and efficacy necessary for their licensure.
The Pollution Haven Hypothesis, a Dynamic Perspective

In this paper we build a model to investigate the relation between trade and the environment in a dynamic setting. We extend a trade model similar to Copeland & Taylor (2003) by adding capital accumulation. We characterize optimal environmental policy in autarky and under international trade. Then we analyze the effects of parameter differences across countries on steady state specialization patterns. JEL Codes: F18, F43, O41, Q56.
Effect of an adrenal inhibitor in hypertensive patients with suppressed renin.

Patients with essential hypertension can be divided into subpopulations according to their plasma renin values. Approximately 80% have normal or near-normal plasma renin values while 20% have distinctly subnormal renin values in response to the double stimuli of upright posture and sodium depletion. In the present study, nine patients with suppressed renin activity were compared with five patients with normal renin values in search of other physiologic differences that might shed light on the pathophysiology of the hypertensive state. Hypertensive patients with suppressed renin activity differed from those with nonsuppressed renin activity in two respects: They had significantly higher exchangeable sodium values, and they responded to the adrenal inhibitor, aminoglutethimide, with significant decreases in blood pressure. From the results of this study one might infer either that some unidentified mineralocorticoid is present in excessive quantities in the patients with suppressed plasma renin activity or that even normal levels of aldosterone
Impaired Cardiorespiratory Function during Focal Limbic Seizures: A Role for Serotonergic Brainstem Nuclei

Seizures that impair consciousness and cardiorespiratory function have a significant, negative impact on patient safety and quality of life. If uncontrolled, such seizures can limit a patient's driving ability, productivity at school and work, or worse, lead to death ([Blumenfeld, 2012][1]). Sudden
Amyloid Precursor Protein and Presenilin1 Interact with the Adaptor GRB2 and Modulate ERK 1,2 Signaling*

The amyloid precursor protein (APP) and the presenilins 1 and 2 are genetically linked to the development of familial Alzheimer disease. APP is a single-pass transmembrane protein and precursor of fibrillar and toxic amyloid-β peptides, which are considered responsible for Alzheimer disease neurodegeneration. Presenilins are multipass membrane proteins, involved in the enzymatic cleavage of APP and other signaling receptors and transducers. The role of APP and presenilins in Alzheimer disease development seems to be related to the formation of amyloid-β peptides; however, their physiological function, reciprocal interaction, and molecular mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration are unclear. APP and presenilins are also involved in multiple interactions with intracellular proteins, the significance of which is under investigation. Among the different APP-interacting proteins, we focused our interest on the GRB2 adaptor protein, which connects cell surface receptors to intracellular signaling pathways. In this study we provide evidence by co-immunoprecipitation experiments, confocal and electron microscopy, and by fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments that both APP and presenilin1 interact with GRB2 in vesicular structures at the centrosome of the cell. The final target for these interactions is ERK1,2, which is activated in mitotic centrosomes in a PS1- and APP-dependent manner. These data suggest that both APP and presenilin1 can be part of a common signaling pathway that regulates ERK1,2 and the cell cycle.