Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brassinosteroid Mediated Cell Wall Remodeling in Grasses under Abiotic Stress

Unlike animals, plants, being sessile, cannot escape from exposure to severe abiotic stresses such as extreme temperature and water deficit. The dynamic structure of plant cell wall enables them to undergo compensatory changes, as well as maintain physical strength, with changing environments. Plant hormones known as brassinosteroids (BRs) play a key role in determining cell wall expansion during stress responses. Cell wall deposition differs between grasses (Poaceae) and dicots. Grass species include many important food, fiber, and biofuel crops. In this article, we focus on recent advances in BR-regulated cell wall biosynthesis and remodeling in response to stresses, comparing our understanding of the mechanisms in grass species with those in the more studied dicots. A more comprehensive understanding of BR-mediated changes in cell wall integrity in grass species will benefit the development of genetic tools to improve crop productivity, fiber quality and plant biomass recalcitrance.
BRCA1 Localization to the Telomere and Its Loss from the Telomere in Response to DNA Damage*

BRCA1, a tumor suppressor, participates in DNA damage signaling and repair. Previously, we showed that BRCA1 overexpression caused inhibition of telomerase activity and telomere shortening in breast and prostate cancer cells. We now report that BRCA1 knockdown causes increased telomerase reverse transcriptase expression, telomerase activity, and telomere length; but studies utilizing a combination of BRCA1 and telomerase reverse transcriptase small interfering RNAs suggest that BRCA1 also regulates telomere length independently of telomerase. Using telomeric chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we detected BRCA1 at the telomere and demonstrated time-dependent loss of BRCA1 from the telomere following DNA damage. Further studies suggest that BRCA1 interacts with TRF1 and TRF2 in a DNA-dependent manner and that some of the nuclear BRCA1 colocalizes with TRF1/2. Our findings further suggest that Rad50 is required to localize BRCA1 at the telomere and that the association of BRCA1 with Rad50 does not require DNA. Finally, we found that BRCA1 regulates the length of the 3′ G-rich overhang in a manner that is dependent upon Rad50. Our findings suggest that BRCA1 is recruited to the telomere in a Rad50-dependent manner and that BRCA1 may regulate telomere length and stability, in part through its presence at the telomere.
The Effects of a Mediterranean Diet on the Need for Diabetes Drugs and Remission of Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes: Follow-up of a Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE To assess the long-term effects of dietary interventions on glycemic control, need for diabetes medications, and remission of type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Originally, in a two-arm trial design, overweight, middle-aged men and women with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were randomized to a low-carbohydrate Mediterranean diet (LCMD; n = 108) or a low-fat diet (n = 107). After 4 years, participants who were still free of diabetes medications were further followed up until the primary end point (need of a diabetic drug); remission of diabetes (partial or complete) and changes in weight, glycemic control, and cardiovascular risk factors were also evaluated. RESULTS The primary end point was reached in all participants after a total follow-up of 6.1 years in the low-fat group and 8.1 years in the LCMD group; median survival time was 2.8 years (95% CI 2.4–3.2) and 4.8 years (4.3–5.2), respectively. The unadjusted hazard ratio for the overall follow-up was 0.68 (0.50–0.89; P < 0.001). LCMD participants were more likely to experience any remission (partial or complete), with a prevalence of 14.7% (13.0–16.5%) during the first year and 5.0% (4.4–5.6%) during year 6 compared with 4.1% (3.1–5.0%) at year 1 and 0% at year 6 in the low-fat diet group. CONCLUSIONS In patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, an LCMD resulted in a greater reduction of HbA1c levels, higher rate of diabetes remission, and delayed need for diabetes medication compared with a low-fat diet.
Cable-Climbing Robots for Power Transmission Lines Inspection

Power transmission line inspection is of utmost importance for power companies towards having sustainable electricity supply to vast number of customers in major industries as well as households in a city. Inspection provides valuable data from status of the line, thus helps line engineers to plan for necessary repair or replacement works before any major damages which may result in outage. Constant energy supply to the customers requires performing all the inspection tasks without de-energizing the line, so live line inspection methods are of the most interest to power companies. These companies perform patrol inspection mainly using helicopters equipped with infrared and corona cameras to detect observable physical damages as well as some internal deterioration to the line and line equipment. However, aerial inspection is costly and always there is a risk of contact with live lines and loss of life. Moreover, there are some critical specifications of the line such as internal corrosion of steel reinforced aluminium conductors that should be inspected precisely from close distances to the line that are not accessible by a mobile platform such as a helicopter or even an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Hence, power companies have endeavored to make especial cable-climbing robots to accomplish inspection tasks from close distances to the hot line. Thanks to technological advances, utilizing robots as reliable substitutes for human beings in hazardous environments such as live lines has become possible. For many tasks requiring high precision over a long period of time, robots even do their job better than human operators. However, power companies have mainly focused on automating inspection tasks more willingly than making autonomous systems to perform repair works on the live line due to the fact that repair works are often complex to be accomplished by a robot. In the past two decades, researchers have endeavored to make fully autonomous and intelligent cable-climbing robots equipped with necessary sensors for hot line inspection, aiming at making a cable-climbing mechanism with obstacle avoidance capability to pass the line equipment and the tower. Also some research has been done to devise a durable power supply method for the hot line inspection robots to make them sufficiently durable to perform inspection over long distances of live lines without interruptions for recharging the power source. Inspection data quality enhancement has been another challenging issue in this field due to the fact that swinging of the inspection robot in windy climates and even
Exact minimum-repair-bandwidth cooperative regenerating codes for distributed storage systems

In order to provide high data reliability, distributed storage systems disperse data with redundancy to multiple storage nodes. Regenerating codes is a new class of erasure codes to introduce redundancy for the purpose of improving the data repair performance in distributed storage. Most of the studies on regenerating codes focus on the single-failure recovery, but it is not uncommon to see two or more node failures at the same time in large storage networks. To exploit the opportunity of repairing multiple failed nodes simultaneously, a cooperative repair mechanism, in the sense that the nodes to be repaired can exchange data among themselves, is investigated. A lower bound on the repair-bandwidth for cooperative repair is derived and a construction of a family of exact cooperative regenerating codes matching this lower bound is presented.
Spatial integration of local transmitter responses in motoneurones of the turtle spinal cord in vitro.

1. Integration of responses to local activation of transmitter receptors in the dendrites of motoneurones was investigated in a slice preparation of the turtle spinal cord. Membrane‐active substances were applied from up to three independent iontophoresis electrodes during intracellular recording from the cell body. 2. Responses to glutamate could be evoked from dendrites closer than 20 microns from the tip of the glutamate electrode. The effects of other substances were more widespread. 3. In normal medium the configuration of a glutamate response was affected by time‐dependent anomalous rectification. In the presence of muscarine the sum of glutamate responses from two different dendrites recruited a voltage‐sensitive plateau potential. 4. The response to glutamate from one dendrite could be attenuated by local application of gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) without effects on soma conductance or glutamate responses from other dendrites. 5. The response to glutamate from one dendrite could be selectively enhanced by local application of tetraethylammonium (TEA) or N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) without effects on soma conductance or glutamate responses from other dendrites. 6. NMDA could convert a tonic glutamate response from one dendrite into a phasic response without affecting the configuration of glutamate responses from other dendrites. 7. The effects of TEA and NMDA were facilitated by depolarization and reduced by hyperpolarization. 8. We conclude that the cable structure of motoneurones and the distribution of synapses and voltage‐sensitive ion channels provide relative autonomy to non‐linear synaptic processing and modulation in confined dendritic regions.
Estime de soi et élèves en difficulté scolaire

Cette etude vise a identifier s'il existe des differences d'estime de soi globale dependantes du niveau de reussite scolaire des eleves. Autrement dit, elle s'interesse a la facon dont un enfant s'evaluera dans differents domaines de la vie quotidienne par rapport a ses camarades. Ainsi, 56 eleves âges de 8 a 12 ans et inscrits en classe de CE2, CM1 ou CM2 ont passe un questionnaire d'autoevaluation de soi base sur les comparaisons sociales. Le but etait de montrer qu'un eleve en difficulte scolaire s'accorderait moins de valeur qu'un eleve en reussite scolaire. De plus, un eleve en difficulte beneficiant d'une remediation par le Reseau d'Aide Specialise des Eleves en Difficulte (RASED) aurait une plus haute estime de soi qu'un eleve en difficulte ne profitant pas de ce soutien. Les premiers etant consideres comme mieux accompagnes pour faire face a la difficulte et aux relations interpersonnelles ou intergroupes au sein de la classe. Les resultats ne confirment pas ces hypotheses. Cependant, une distinction est observee dans la dimension cognitive de l'estime soi. Ainsi, cette recherche permet d'aborder les interactions entre estime de soi et reussite scolaire, et d'evoquer le role d'elements mediateurs.
Efficacy and Safety of Basiliximab with a Tacrolimus-Based Regimen in Liver Transplant Recipients

Background. Induction with monoclonal antibodies for prevention of acute cellular rejection (ACR) may avoid many of the adverse events associated with polyclonal antibodies. Basiliximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the α-chain of the interleukin 2 receptor (CD25), has been extensively evaluated as an induction therapy for kidney transplant recipients, more frequently in combination with a cyclosporine-based regimen. In this study, we assessed the efficacy and safety of basiliximab in combination with a tacrolimus-based regimen after liver transplantation. Methods. Fifty consecutive liver transplants (47 cadaveric donors; 3 living donors) were analyzed. All patients received two 20-mg doses of basiliximab (days 0 and 4 after transplantation) followed by tacrolimus (0.15 mg/kg/day; 10–15 ng/mL target trough levels) and a tapered dose regimen of steroids. Follow-up ranged from 404 to 1,364 days after transplantation (mean 799.89 days, SD±257.37; median 796 days). Results. A total of 88% of patients remained rejection-free during follow-up with an actuarial rejection-free probability of 75% within 3 months. The actuarial patient survival rate at 3 years was 88%, and the graft survival rate was 75%. Twelve (24%) patients experienced one episode of sepsis, requiring temporary reduction of immunosuppressive therapy. There were no immediate side effects associated with basiliximab and no evidence of cytomegalovirus infection or posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Conclusions. Basiliximab in combination with a tacrolimus-based immunosuppressive regimen is effective in reducing episodes of ACR and increasing ACR-free survival after liver transplantation. In addition, basiliximab does not increase the incidence of adverse effects or infections.
Use of indium-111-labeled transferrin to study plasma extravasation during endotoxin shock and the effects of the beta-2 agonist terbutaline.

Endotoxemia and sepsis are common causes of respiratory distress (ARDS), which is characterized by increased pulmonary vascular permeability to plasma proteins resulting in "noncardiac pulmonary edema. " The aim of this series was to study the effects of the beta-2 receptor agonist, terbutaline, on plasma extravasation in multiple organs, in sheep exposed to endotoxin shock. A double isotope technique was used and the radioactivity was recorded in different organs (lungs, liver, spleen, kidneys, intestine) by a computerized gamma camera. Tc-99m-labeled erythrocytes were used as a marker for intravascular volume and In-111m-labeled transferrin for tracing extravascular plasma leakage. An organ-transferrin index (organ-TI) was calculated for each organ which corrects for changes in blood distribution. Fourteen sheep were anesthetized and ventilated. After stabilization (t = 0) all animals received E. coli endotoxin 10 micrograms/kg by IV infusion during 30 min. At t = 30, seven animals (group T) received IV infusion of terbutaline, 20 micrograms/kg/hr, during 4 h, while the other seven received normal saline and served as controls (group E). The endotoxin infusion caused an immediate and significant increase in the transferrin index in the lungs and in the liver in both groups. The transferrin index continued to rise in the control group towards the end of the experiment (t = 240), while in group T it reached a maximum 60 min after endotoxin. Four hours after endotoxin the transferrin index was significantly higher in the controls than in the terbutaline treated group, both in the lungs and in the liver (P less than 0.01). No significant changes were recorded in the kidneys or over the intestine. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Addiction: From Context-Induced Hedonia to Appetite, Based on Transition of Micro-behaviors in Morphine Abstinent Tree Shrews

Drug addiction is viewed as a maladaptive memory induced by contextual cues even in the abstinent state. However, the variations of hedonia and appetite induced by the context during the abstinence have been neglected. To distinguish the representative behaviors between hedonia and appetite, micro-behaviors in abstinent animal such as psycho-activity and drug seeking behaviors were observed in morphine conditioned place preference (CPP). To confirm the different effects of reward between drug and natural reward, a palatable food CPP paradigm was compared in current work. After a 10-day training in CPP with morphine or food, the preference was tested on day 1, 14, 28, and the changes of micro-behaviors were analyzed further. Our data showed that tree shrews treated with morphine performed more jumps on day 1 and more visits to saline paired side on day 28, which indicated a featured behavioral transition from psycho-activity to seeking behavior during drug abstinence. Meanwhile, food-conditioned animals only displayed obvious seeking behaviors in the three tests. The results suggest that the variations of micro-behaviors could imply such a transition from hedonic response to appetitive behaviors during morphine abstinence, which provided a potential behavioral basis for further neural mechanism studies.
Control of metabolic and cardiovascular function by the leptin–brain melanocortin pathway

Obesity is recognized as a major worldwide health problem. Excess weight gain is the most common cause of elevated blood pressure (BP) and markedly increases the risk of metabolic, cardiovascular and renal diseases. Although the mechanisms linking obesity with hypertension have not been fully elucidated, increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity contributes to elevated BP in obese subjects. Recent evidence indicates that leptin and the central nervous system (CNS) melanocortin system, including melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4R), play a key role in linking obesity with increased SNS activity and hypertension. Leptin, a peptide‐hormone produced by adipose tissue, crosses the blood–brain barrier and activates brain centers that control multiple metabolic functions as well as SNS activity and BP via the CNS melanocortin system. The crosstalk between peripheral signals (e.g., leptin) and activation of CNS pathways (e.g., MC4R) that regulate energy balance, SNS activity and BP represents an important target for treating obesity and its metabolic and cardiovascular consequences. © 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(8):692–698, 2013
The effects of civil hate speech laws: lessons from Australia

This article examines the effects of hate speech laws in Australia. Triangulating data from primary and secondary sources, we examine five hypothesized effects: whether the laws provide a remedy to targets of hate speech, encourage more respectful speech, have an educative or symbolic effect, have a chilling effect, or create “martyrs. ” We find the laws provide a limited remedy in the complaints mechanisms, provide a framework for direct community advocacy, and that knowledge of the laws exists in public discourse. However, the complaints mechanism imposes a significant enforcement burden on targeted communities, who still regularly experience hate speech. We find a reduction in the expression of prejudice in mediated outlets, but not on the street. We find no evidence of a chilling effect and we find the risk of free speech martyrs to be marginal. We draw out the implications of these findings for other countries.
Capuchins do cooperate: the advantage of an intuitive task

We used a cooperative pulling task to examine proximate aspects of cooperation in captive brown capuchin monkeys, Cebus apella. Specifically, our goal was to determine whether capuchins can learn the contingency between their partner's participation in a task and its successful completion. We examined whether the monkeys visually monitored their partners and adjusted pulling behaviour according to their partner's presence. Results on five same-sex pairs of adults indicate that (1) elimination of visual contact between partners significantly decreased success, (2) subjects glanced at their partners significantly more in cooperative tests than in control tests in which no partner-assistance was needed, and (3) they pulled at significantly higher rates when their partner was present rather than absent. Therefore, in contrast to a previous report by Chalmeau et al. (1997, Animal Behaviour, 54, 1215-1225), cooperating capuchins do seem able to take the role of their partner into account. However, the type of task used may be an important factor affecting the level of coordination achieved. Copyright 2000 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Effectiveness of a Fotonovela for Reducing Depression and Stress in Latino Dementia Family Caregivers

The clinical need to address stress and depression in Latino dementia caregivers (CGs) combined with low health literacy and less accurate knowledge of dementia motivated the development of a pictorial tool [called a fotonovela (FN)] to teach (a) coping skills for caregiver (CG) stress; (b) self-assessment of depression; and (c) encourage improved utilization of available resources. To test the effectiveness of the FN, 110 of 147 Latino CGs, who were randomly assigned to the Fotonovela Condition (FNC) or the Usual Information Condition (UIC), were included in the final analyses. Self-report measures were given at baseline and post intervention. Results showed that FNC CGs demonstrated significantly greater reductions in level of depressive symptoms than UIC CGs. A significant decrease in level of stress due to memory and behavioral problems exhibited by their loved ones was similar in both groups. The FNC CGs reported that the FN was more helpful and that they referred to it more often than the UIC CGs did with regard to the informational materials they were provided about dementia. In conclusion, a culturally tailored FN can be an effective tool for Latino CGs given their high unmet needs for assistance and various barriers in accessing resources.
Next-generation sequencing applied to molecular diagnostics

Next-generation sequencing technologies have begun to revolutionize the field of cancer genetics through rapid and accurate assessment of a patient’s DNA makeup with minimal cost. These technologies have already led to the realization of the inter- and intra-tumor genetic heterogeneity and the identification of novel mutations and chimeric genes, however, several challenges lie ahead. Given the low number of recurrent somatic genetic aberrations in common types of cancer, the identification of ‘driver’ genetic aberrations has proven challenging. Furthermore, implementation of next-generation sequencing and/or some of its derivatives into routine practice as diagnostic tests will require in-depth understanding of the pitfalls of these technologies and a great degree of bioinformatic expertise. This article focuses on the contribution of next-generation sequencing technologies to diagnosis and cancer prognostication and prediction.
The Role of Dendritic Cell Subsets and Innate Immunity in the Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes and Other Autoimmune Diseases

Dendritic cells (DCs) are key antigen-presenting cells that have an important role in autoimmune pathogenesis. DCs control both steady-state T cell tolerance and activation of pathogenic responses. The balance between these two outcomes depends on several factors, including genetic susceptibility, environmental signals that stimulate varied innate responses, and which DC subset is presenting antigen. Although the specific DC phenotype can diverge depending on the tissue location and context, there are four main subsets identified in both mouse and human: conventional cDC1 and cDC2, plasmacytoid DCs, and monocyte-derived DCs. In this review, we will discuss the role of these subsets in autoimmune pathogenesis and regulation, as well as the genetic and environmental signals that influence their function. Specific topics to be addressed include impact of susceptibility loci on DC subsets, alterations in DC subset development, the role of infection- and host-derived innate inflammatory signals, and the role of the intestinal microbiota on DC phenotype. The effects of these various signals on disease progression and the relative effects of DC subset composition and maturation level of DCs will be examined. These areas will be explored using examples from several autoimmune diseases but will focus mainly on type 1 diabetes.