Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Profiling of Sorghum Induced by Methyl Jasmonate, Salicylic Acid, and Aminocyclopropane Carboxylic Acid Reveals Cooperative Regulation and Novel Gene Responses1[w]

We have conducted a large-scale study of gene expression in the C4 monocot sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) L. Moench cv BTx623 in response to the signaling compounds salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), and the ethylene precursor aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid. Expression profiles were generated from seedling root and shoot tissue at 3 and 27 h, using a microarray containing 12,982 nonredundant elements. Data from 102 slides and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR data on mRNA abundance from 171 genes were collected and analyzed and are here made publicly available. Numerous gene clusters were identified in which expression was correlated with particular signaling compound and tissue combinations. Many genes previously implicated in defense responded to the treatments, including numerous pathogenesis-related genes and most members of the phenylpropanoid pathway, and several other genes that may represent novel activities or pathways. Genes of the octadecanoic acid pathway of jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis were induced by SA as well as by MeJA. The resulting hypothesis that increased SA could lead to increased endogenous JA production was confirmed by measurement of JA content. Comparison of responses to SA, MeJA, and combined SA+MeJA revealed patterns of one-way and mutual antagonisms, as well as synergistic effects on regulation of some genes. These experiments thus help further define the transcriptional results of cross talk between the SA and JA pathways and suggest that a subset of genes coregulated by SA and JA may comprise a uniquely evolved sector of plant signaling responsive cascades.
Parent psychopathology as a mediator of the relationship between anxiety and sleep problems in children.

INTRODUCTION Sleep problems exert a negative impact on youths and their families. Parent and child mental health represent 2 posited, yet understudied, risk factors for sleep problems in youths. As such, this study sought to examine the role that parental psychopathology may play in mediating the relationship between child anxiety and sleep problems utilizing Internet sampling procedures. METHOD Parents (n = 83; 90.4% female) answered questions about their own mental health, and about their child's (n = 83; 77.1% female) anxiety and sleep. RESULTS Analyses found that parent anxiety and stress mediated the relationship between child anxiety and sleep problems. DISCUSSION This is the first study to examine the joint roles of parent psychopathology and child anxiety in explaining sleep problems in youths. Limitations notwithstanding, these results suggest that both parent- and child-level variables are important for developing a more comprehensive understanding of child sleep problems. Future areas of research are discussed.
Fluoride Excess in Coccidioidomycosis Patients Receiving Long-Term Antifungal Therapy: an Assessment of Currently Available Triazoles

ABSTRACT The use of voriconazole, a trifluorinated antifungal, has been associated with the development of fluoride excess and periostitis/exostoses. We evaluated a cohort of patients on long-term triazole therapy and found that other fluorinated triazoles (fluconazole and posaconazole) conferred no risk for the development of hyperfluorosis and its complications in our cohort.
Quantification of head motion in children during various fMRI language tasks

Head motion during functional MRI scanning can lead to signal artifact, a problem often more severe with children. However, the documentation for the characteristics of head motion in children during various language functional tasks is very limited in the current literature. This report characterizes head motion in children during fMRI as a function of age, sex, and task.
The Columbia Suicide Screen: validity and reliability of a screen for youth suicide and depression.

OBJECTIVE This study reports on the psychometric properties of a brief, self-administered screening questionnaire, the Columbia Suicide Screen (CSS), intended to identify high school students at risk for suicide. METHOD Seventeen hundred twenty-nine 9th- to 12th-grade students completed the CSS and Beck Depression Inventory during school hours in 1991 to 1994. Three hundred fifty-six students who screened positively and 285, group matched on age, gender, and ethnicity, who screened negatively were examined on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC), version 2.3, to assess validity. The DISC-based suicide risk criterion was suicidal ideation or prior suicide attempt and a DSM-III-R diagnosis of major depression or dysthymia or substance use. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a subsample of 85. RESULTS The most balanced algorithm had a sensitivity of 0.75, specificity 0.83, and positive predictive value 16%. Suicidal ideation and prior attempt item reliabilities (kappa) were 0.48 and 0.58, respectively. Eight-day test-retest reliability for the most balanced scoring algorithm was 0.32. CONCLUSIONS The CSS demonstrated good sensitivity and reasonable specificity identifying students at risk for suicide. A second-stage evaluation would be needed to reduce the burden of low specificity.
The Risks and Benefits of Conducting Sensitive Research to Understand Parental Experiences of Caring for Infants With Hypoxic–Ischemic Encephalopathy

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of this report is to describe the parental experience of the emotional and physical risks and participant burden of participation in sensitive research about caring for an infant with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy. Background: Protecting the ethical rights of participants in research is a main focus of investigators. Evaluating the effect of current methods employed to protect participants in sensitive research is necessary to determine if the participants’ ethical rights are protected. Little research has addressed the parental perspective of participating in sensitive research. Design: The design of this study is a qualitative, descriptive methodology with structured interviews with parents. Methods: Participants were asked to describe their experience of participating in sensitive research. The qualitative data collected were analyzed using content analysis. Interviews were conducted between July 2010 and February 2012. Results: Thirteen parents of infants with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy were interviewed. Parents did not report harm or participant burden. Most of these parents found continued participation to be beneficial because they could express intense emotions in a nonjudgmental environment and also reflect on the milestones their child has reached since the traumatic birth experience. Conclusions: This study provides additional evidence to researchers regarding the risks and benefits to participants in sensitive research studies. Individuals are willing to participate in sensitive research, even during stressful times in their lives. The interviews allow participants an outlet to discuss thoughts and feelings and to reflect on past events and gain perspective. Participants do not report experiencing harm when participating in interviews about sensitive research.
The potential of o‐bromo‐trans‐decalinvesamicol as a new PET ligand for vesicular acetylcholine transporter imaging

We investigated the characteristics of the regional rat brain distribution of radio‐brominated o‐bromo‐decalinvesamicol (OBDV) in vivo to evaluate its potential as a PET ligand for vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). In in vivo biodistribution study, the specific brain regional accumulation of [77Br]OBDV was revealed 30 min after intravenous injection. The specific brain regional accumulation of [77Br]OBDV was significantly inhibited by co‐injection of (+/−)‐vesamicol. In contrast, no significant inhibition of the uptake of [77Br]OBDV in all brain regions was observed with co‐injection of (+)‐pentazocine (selective σ‐1 receptor agonist) and (+)−3‐(3‐hydroxyphenyl)‐N‐propylpiperidine, [(+)−3‐PPP] (σ‐1 and σ‐2 receptor agonist) with [77Br]OBDV. [77Br]OBDV accumulation in VAChT‐rich brain regions was observed in ex vivo autoradiography. These results showed that [77Br]OBDV selectively bound to VAChT with high affinity in rat brain in vivo. Hence, OVBDV radiolabelled with more suitable 76Br was suggested to be a potent VAChT ligand for PET. Synapse 68:445–453, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT OF HABROBRACON HEBETOR (HYM.: BRACONIDAE) REARED ON LARVAE OF GALLERIA MELLONELLA (LEP.: PYRALIDAE)

The development times and the survival rates of different stages of Habrobracon hebetor Say reared on the last instar larvae of Galleria mellonella (L.) were compared at ten different constant temperatures (16 38 oC). The development time of immature stages of the parasitoid, H. hebetor, decreased as the temperature increased in the range of 16 to 38 oC. However, no larvae could survive and develop at 16 oC. Development time from egg to adult females was the shortest (8.368 ± 0.069 days) at 35 oC and the longest (32.667 ± 0.33 days) at 18 oC. Egg incubation period, larval and pupal development times were significantly different at various constant temperatures. No significant difference was found between two sexes in their developmental periods from eggs to adult stage. The survival rate of the egg stage ranged between 94.90 and 100% at all temperature levels, but larval survival rates was significantly different at various temperatures. Although significant difference was found in the survival rate of pupal stage (P < 0.05), the trend of survival rate for pupae was similar to those of larvae. The relationship between temperature and the developmental rate of the parasitoid well described by linear regression model (R = 0.89, P = 0.0001, at the egg stage and R = 0.95, P = 0.0001, at the egg-adult stage). The lowest threshold temperature was obtained for all developmental stages of the parasitoid. Degree-days requirements (DD) for egg, larva, pupa and egg-female stages were 22.73, 56.82, 109.89 and 188.68, respectively. The results in this study showed that the temperature range between 25 and 32 oC provide a favourable condition for mass rearing of this parasitoid.
A GACS modeling approach for MPEG broadcast video

Accurate MPEG source models are needed to support high speed networks such as ATM and Internet. In this paper, we propose a video model called Gaussian auto-regressive and chi-square processes (GACS) for MPEG coded video traffic. The GACS models the sizes of MPEG I, P, and B frames according to the MPEG syntax I-frame>P-frame>B-frame. This is done by decomposing the process of each frame size into a weighted sum of a number of chi-square sequences. Each chi-square sequence is then obtained by squaring a Gaussian process, which is efficiently generated by using an auto-regressive (AR) model whose parameters are determined from an estimated covariance matrix. We evaluate the effectiveness of our model by conducting a series of experiments using a wide variety of long empirical video sequences. The results show that the proposed model leads to excellent data fit and accurate prediction of queuing performance.
Heterogeneous Post‐Translational Modification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Fimbrillin

Fresh isolates of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans produce bundle‐forming fimbriae. The exact molecular mass of A. actinomycetemcomitans fimbrillin, a structural subunit of fimbriae, was determined by liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Three major molecular species with 6,226.0, 6,366.0, and 6,513.0 Da were detected in a purified fimbrial fraction from the strain 310‐a. These molecular masses were significantly higher than the molecular weight (5,118 Da) calculated from nucleotide sequence data of the fimbrillin gene, flp, suggesting that the fimbrial peptides were post‐translationally modified. Modification of the fimbrial peptides was also suggested by an N‐terminal amino acid sequence analysis of fimbrillin peptic fragments, with the modified amino acids being due to seven serine or asparagine residues located in the C‐terminal region. A periodate oxidation/biotin‐hydrazide labeling assay of fimbrillin suggested that it might be glycosylated.
Effectiveness of psychotherapy with children and adolescents: a meta-analysis for clinicians.

How effective is psychotherapy with children and adolescents? The question was addressed by metaanalysis of 108 well-designed outcome studies with 4-18-year-old participants. Across various outcome measures, the average treated youngster was better adjusted after treatment than 79% of those not treated. Therapy proved rnore effective for children than for adolescents, particularly when the therapists were paraprofessionals (e.g., parents, teachers) or graduate students. Professionals (with doctor's or master's degrees) were especially effective in treating overcontrolled problems (e.g., phobias, shyness) but were not more effective than other therapists in treating undercontrolled problems (e.g., aggression, impulsivity). Behavioral treatments proved more effective than nonbehavioral treatments regardless of client age, therapist experience, or treated problem. Overall, the findings revealed significant, durable effects of treatment that differed somewhat with client age and treatment method but were reliably greater than zero for most groups, most problems, and most methods.
Microglial cells in the brain of Pleurodeles waltl (urodela, salamandridae) after wallerian degeneration in the primary visual system using Bandeiraea simplicifolia isolectin B4‐cytochemistry

In the brain of the salamander Pleurodeles waltl, microglial cells were investigated cytochemically with isolectin B4 (IB4) of Bandeiraea simplicifolia after optic nerve transection and during subsequent regeneration. Double‐labeling with an antibody directed against the glial fibrillary acidic protein of astrocytes revealed no immunoreactivity in microglial cells and confirmed the absence of non‐radial, free astroglial cells in the tectum. After two days, IB4‐labeled microglial cells began to populate the rostral parts of the primary visual system. The origin of these early vimentin‐immunoreactive microglial cells seemed to be mainly IB4‐labeled cells in a perivascular position and meningeal macrophages. After 12 days, microglial cells infiltrated the tectum in four layers: one in the ependyma, one in the outermost periventricular grey, and two in the degenerating visual neuropil where activated microglial cells displayed a ramified mor‐phology. After 3 weeks, microglial cells accumulated within the degenerating neuropil while reducing their processes. After 7 weeks, the number of microglial cells was still increased on the affected side. The subarachnoid space above the neuropil where regenerating retinal afferents arrived was filled with IB4‐labeled macrophages.
Aquatic plyometric training increases vertical jump in female volleyball players.

PURPOSE Numerous studies have reported that land-based plyometrics can improve muscular strength, joint stability, and vertical jump (VJ) in athletes; however, due to the intense nature of plyometric training, the potential for acute muscle soreness or even musculoskeletal injury exists. Performance of aquatic plyometric training (APT) could lead to similar benefits, but with reduced risks due to the buoyancy of water. Unfortunately, there is little information regarding the efficacy of APT. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of APT on VJ and muscular strength in volleyball players. METHODS Nineteen female volleyball players (aged 15 +/- 1 yr) were randomly assigned to perform 6 wk of APT or flexibility exercises (CON) twice weekly, both in addition to traditional preseason volleyball training. Testing of leg strength was performed at baseline and after 6 wk, and VJ was measured at baseline and after 2, 4, and 6 wk. RESULTS Similar increases in VJ were observed in both groups after 4 wk (APT = 3.1%, CON = 4.9%; both P < 0.05); however, the APT group improved by an additional 8% (P < 0.05) from week 4 to week 6, whereas there was no further improvement in the CON group (-0.9%; P = NS). After 6 wk, both groups displayed significant improvements in concentric peak torque during knee extension and flexion at 60 and 180 degrees x s(-1) (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The combination of APT and volleyball training resulted in larger improvements in VJ than in the CON group. Thus, given the likely reduction in muscle soreness with APT versus land-based plyometrics, APT appears to be a promising training option.
Investigation of iterative image reconstruction in three-dimensional optoacoustic tomography

Iterative image reconstruction algorithms for optoacoustic tomography (OAT), also known as photoacoustic tomography, have the ability to improve image quality over analytic algorithms due to their ability to incorporate accurate models of the imaging physics, instrument response and measurement noise. However, to date, there have been few reported attempts to employ advanced iterative image reconstruction algorithms for improving image quality in three-dimensional (3D) OAT. In this work, we implement and investigate two iterative image reconstruction methods for use with a 3D OAT small animal imager: namely a penalized least-squares (PLS) method employing a quadratic smoothness penalty and a PLS method employing a total variation norm penalty. The reconstruction algorithms employ accurate models of the ultrasonic transducer impulse responses. Experimental data sets are employed to compare the performances of the iterative reconstruction algorithms to that of a 3D filtered backprojection (FBP) algorithm. By the use of quantitative measures of image quality, we demonstrate that the iterative reconstruction algorithms can mitigate image artifacts and preserve spatial resolution more effectively than FBP algorithms. These features suggest that the use of advanced image reconstruction algorithms can improve the effectiveness of 3D OAT while reducing the amount of data required for biomedical applications.
Modulating Nucleation by Kosmotropes and Chaotropes : Testing the Waters

Water is a fundamental solvent sustaining life, key to the conformations and equilibria associated with solute species. Emerging studies on nucleation and crystallization phenomena reveal that the dynamics of hydration associated with mineral precursors are critical in determining material formation and growth. With certain small molecules affecting the hydration and conformational stability of co-solutes, this study systematically explores the effects of these chaotropes and kosmotropes as well as certain sugar enantiomers on the early stages of calcium carbonate formation. These small molecules appear to modulate mineral nucleation in a class-dependent manner. The observed effects are finite in comparison to the established, strong interactions between charged polymers and intermediate mineral forms. Thus, perturbations to hydration dynamics of ion clusters by co-solute species can affect nucleation phenomena in a discernable manner.
A Novel Family of Developmentally Regulated Mammalian Transcription Factors Containing the TEA/ATTS DNA Binding Domain*

We describe the molecular cloning of two novel human and murine transcription factors containing the TEA/ATTS DNA binding domain and related to transcriptional enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1). These factors bind to the consensus TEA/ATTS cognate binding site exemplified by the GT-IIC and Sph enhansons of the SV40 enhancer but differ in their ability to bind cooperatively to tandemly repeated sites. The human TEFs are differentially expressed in cultured cell lines and the mouse (m)TEFs are differentially expressed in embryonic and extra-embryonic tissues in early post-implantation embryos. Strikingly, at later stages of embryogenesis, mTEF-3 is specifically expressed in skeletal muscle precursors, whereas mTEF-1 is expressed not only in developing skeletal muscle but also in the myocardium. Together with previous data, these results point to important, partially redundant, roles for these TEF proteins in myogenesis and cardiogenesis. In addition, mTEF-1 is strongly coexpressed with mTEF-4 in mitotic neuroblasts, while accentuated mTEF-4 expression is also observed in the gut and the nephrogenic region of the kidney. These observations suggest additional roles for the TEF proteins in central nervous system development and organogenesis.
Endothelin-1 Inhibits Inward Rectifier K+ Channels in Rabbit Coronary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells Through Protein Kinase C

We studied inward rectifier K+ (Kir) channels in smooth muscle cells isolated from rabbit coronary arteries. In cells from small- (<100 μm, SCASMC) and medium-diameter (100 ∼ 200 μm, MCASMC) coronary arteries, Kir currents were clearly identified (11.2 ± 0.6 and 4.2 ± 0.6 pA pF−1 at -140 mV in SCASMC and MCASMC, respectively) that were inhibited by Ba2+ (50 μM). By contrast, a very low Kir current density (1.6 ± 0.4 pA pF−1) was detected in cells from large-diameter coronary arteries (>200 μm, LCASMC). The presence of Kir2.1 protein was confirmed in SCASMC in a Western blot assay. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) inhibited Kir currents in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of Kir currents by ET-1 was abolished by pretreatment with the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor staurosporine (100 nM) or GF 109203X (1 μM). The PKC activators phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) and 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG) reduced Kir currents. The ETA-receptor inhibitor BQ-123 prevented the ET-1-induced inhibition of Kir currents. The amplitudes of the ATP-dependent K+ (KATP), Ca2+-activated K+ (BKCa), and voltage-dependent K+ (KV) currents, and effects of ET-1 on these channels did not differ between SCASMC and LCASMC. From these results, we conclude that Kir channels are expressed at a higher density in SCASMC than in larger arteries and that the Kir channel activity is negatively regulated by the stimulation of ETA-receptors via the PKC pathway.
Performance of coherent phase-shift-keyed systems with intersymbol interference

In order to optimize the design of a coherent phase-shift-keyed (CPSK) system, it is necessary to estimate the amount of degradation produced by intersymbol interference. In this paper, an upper bound to the probability of error of m -ary CPSK systems is given when an ideal CPSK signal is passed through a linear time-invariant noisy filter. This bound can be used to estimate the maximum amount of deterioration produced by intersymbol interference, and hence to choose the filter and channel parameters appropriately. It is assumed that all m symbols have equal a priori probabilities and that the noise is Gaussian.