Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Germanium-68 as an Adequate Tracer for Silicon Transport in Plants. Characterization of Silicon Uptake in Different Crop Species1

A basic problem in silicon (Si) uptake studies in biology is the lack of an appropriate radioactive isotope. Radioactive germanium-68 (68Ge) has been used previously as a Si tracer in biological materials, but its suitability for the study of Si transport in higher plants is still untested. In this study, we investigated 68Ge-traced Si uptake by four crop species differing widely in uptake capacity for Si, including rice (Oryza sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Maintenance of a 68Ge:Si molar ratio that was similar in the plant tissues of all four plant species to that supplied in the nutrient solution over a wide range of Si concentrations demonstrated the absence of discrimination between 68Ge and Si. Further, using the 68Ge tracer, a typical Michaelis-Menten uptake kinetics for Si was found in rice, barley, and cucumber. Compared to rice, the relative proportion of root-to-shoot translocated Si was lower in barley and cucumber and especially in tomato (only 30%). Uptake and translocation of Si in rice, barley, and cucumber (Si accumulators) were strongly inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol and HgCl2, but in tomato, as a Si-excluding species, both inhibitors produced the opposite effect. In conclusion, our results suggest the use of the 68Ge tracer method as an appropriate choice for future studies of Si transport in plants. Our findings also indicate that the restriction of Si from symplast to apoplast in the cortex of Si excluders is a metabolically active process.
Rapid and reversible changes in intrahippocampal connectivity during the course of hibernation in European hamsters

The hippocampal formation is a highly plastic brain structure that undergoes structural remodeling in response to internal and external challenges such as metabolic imbalance and repeated stress. We investigated whether the extreme alterations in metabolic status that occur during the course of hibernation in European hamsters cause structural changes in the dendritic arborizations of the CA3 pyramidal neurons and their main excitatory afferents, the mossy fiber terminals (MFT), that originate in the dentate gyrus. We report that apical, but not basal, dendritic trees of Golgi-impregnated CA3 principal neurons are significantly shorter, less branched, and less spiny in hypothermic hamsters compared with active animals. After the induction of arousal from torpor, within 2 h, the apical dendritic lengths, branching patterns, and spine density estimations returned to levels found in active, euthermic hamsters. The ultrastructure of MFT in hibernating hamsters showed a significant reduction in synaptic vesicle density and in the percentage of MFT area covered by spine profiles. Awakened hamsters showed restoration of MFT morphology to that seen in active animals. MFT of torpid animals also showed a significant increase in the percentage area of mitochondrial profiles that remained higher 3 h after induced arousal from hibernation compared with euthermic controls. Thus, the torpid/awakening cycle of the hibernating European hamster causes a rapid and reversible morphological reorganization of intrahippocampal subregions involved in information processing. The reported reductions in morphological connectivity between the dentate gyrus and the CA3 subregions could underlie the cessation of exploratory activity and spatial navigation skills during hibernation.
Changes in red meat consumption and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: three cohorts of US men and women.

IMPORTANCE Red meat consumption has been consistently associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, whether changes in red meat intake are related to subsequent T2DM risk remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between changes in red meat consumption during a 4-year period and subsequent 4-year risk of T2DM in US adults. DESIGN AND SETTING Three prospective cohort studies in US men and women. PARTICIPANTS We followed up 26,357 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2006), 48,709 women in the Nurses' Health Study (1986-2006), and 74,077 women in the Nurses' Health Study II (1991-2007). Diet was assessed by validated food frequency questionnaires and updated every 4 years. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to calculate hazard ratios with adjustment for age, family history, race, marital status, initial red meat consumption, smoking status, and initial and changes in other lifestyle factors (physical activity, alcohol intake, total energy intake, and diet quality). Results across cohorts were pooled by an inverse variance-weighted, fixed-effect meta-analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incident T2DM cases validated by supplementary questionnaires. RESULTS During 1,965,824 person-years of follow-up, we documented 7540 incident T2DM cases. In the multivariate-adjusted models, increasing red meat intake during a 4-year interval was associated with an elevated risk of T2DM during the subsequent 4 years in each cohort (all P < .001 for trend). Compared with the reference group of no change in red meat intake, increasing red meat intake of more than 0.50 servings per day was associated with a 48% (pooled hazard ratio, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.37-1.59) elevated risk in the subsequent 4-year period, and the association was modestly attenuated after further adjustment for initial body mass index and concurrent weight gain (1.30; 95% CI, 1.21-1.41). Reducing red meat consumption by more than 0.50 servings per day from baseline to the first 4 years of follow-up was associated with a 14% (pooled hazard ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80-0.93) lower risk during the subsequent entire follow-up through 2006 or 2007. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Increasing red meat consumption over time is associated with an elevated subsequent risk of T2DM, and the association is partly mediated by body weight. Our results add further evidence that limiting red meat consumption over time confers benefits for T2DM prevention.
Damage control resuscitation: directly addressing the early coagulopathy of trauma.

Abstract : Rapid progress in trauma care occurs when the results of translational research are promptly integrated into clinical practice. Experience with a high volume of severely injured casualties expedites the process. Historically, these conditions have converged during times of conflict, improving the care of combat casualties and subsequently that of civilian trauma patients. In the most severely injured casualties, we know that when the lethal triad of hypothermia, acidosis, and coagulopathy are present, death is imminent. Current teaching is to avoid reaching these conditions by using damage control surgery. However, conventional resuscitation practice for damage control focuses on rapid reversal of acidosis and prevention of hypothermia, and surgical techniques focus on controlling hemorrhage and contamination. Direct treatment of coagulopathy has been relatively neglected, viewed as a byproduct of resuscitation, hemodilution, and hypothermia, and delayed by blood banking logistics. Damage control resuscitation addresses the entire lethal triad immediately upon admission to a combat hospital. By demonstrating that in the severely injured the coagulopathy of trauma is present at admission, recent studies have brought back to light the importance of treating this disorder at an earlier stage. Reports of lactated Ringer s solution and normal saline increasing reperfusion injury and leukocyte adhesion lead one to conclude that the standard crystalloid based resuscitation guidelines in pre hospital trauma life support (PHTLS) and advanced trauma life support (ATLS) may worsen the presenting acidosis and coagulopathy in severely injured trauma patients, and possibly increase ARDS, SIRS, and MOF. The safety of withholding PRBCs in hemodynamically stable patients has been demonstrated,18 and the risks associated with blood transfusion are well described.
The Orchard Crossing Number of an Abstract Graph

ELIE FEDER AND DAVID GARBERAbstract. We introduce the Orchard crossing number, which is de-ﬁned in a similar way to the well-known rectilinear crossing number.We compute the Orchard crossing number for some simple familiesof graphs. We also prove some properties of this crossing number.Moreover, we deﬁne a variant of this crossing number which istightly connected to the rectilinear crossing number, and compute itfor some simple families of graphs.
Mode of Action of Pesticin

The mode of action of pesticin, a bacteriocin produced by many strains of Pasturella pestis, was studied. Pesticin action on macromolecular synthesis of a sensitive strain of Escherichia coli, strain φ, was found to have features similar to those of colicin E2-317 acting on the same strain. After exposure to pesticin, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was arrested and ribonucleic acid was degraded, but little effect was observed on protein synthesis. Pesticin, like colicin E2-317, induced lysogenic E. coli φ (P1), but, unlike the colicin, was active in the presence of dinitrophenol. Trypsin was found to reverse pesticin action up to 15 min after its addition at 40 C to E. coli φ. Pesticin action was studied on three sensitive bacterial strains, P. pestis 2C, P. pseudotuberculosis, and E. coli strain φ, which vary widely in their optimal growth temperature. P. pestis grows best at 29 C, P. pseudotuberculosis at 37 C, and E. coli φ at 40 C. It was found that pesticin action on all three strains was optimal at 40 C. Whereas the titer of pesticin was the same on all three strains when determined on agar, E. coli φ was the most sensitive to pesticin action in broth. No action of pesticin in broth on P. pseudotuberculosis was observed unless Ca ions were added. The effect was not immediate; that is, the cells had to be grown in a medium containing Ca++ before they displayed sensitivity to pesticin.
Variabilités temporelle et spatiale des averses en milieu andin: exemple de la ville de Quito (equateur): exemple de la ville de Quito (equateur)

(ORSTOM), ont mis en place un programme de recherches intitule « Systeme de Prevision Hydrologique des Flancs du Pichincha et de la Zone Metropolitaine de Quito » (SISHILAD) dont le but est d'identifier les risques provoques par des evenements hydro-meteorologiques extremes, caracteriser les processus physiques et stochastiques qui leur sont associes et fournir des outils operationnels de prevention. C'est dans le cadre de ce programme que s'inscrit ce travail. A partir des donnees disponibles sur plus d'une cinquantaine de postes, on decrira les principales caracteristiques spatio-temporelles des averses, en insistant sur leur variabilite. Les premiers resultats presentes ici sont ulterieurement destines a prendre en compte la typologie des averses et l'anisotro- pie du milieu, en vue du calcul des crues de frequence rare.
Nutrient status and phytotoxicity analysis of goat manure discharged from farms in South Korea

ABSTRACT The present study evaluated the phytotoxicity effect of goat manure (GM) collected from six different regions in South Korea, namely, Chupungnyeong (T1), Hoengseong (T2), Goesan (T3), Sancheong (T4), Jangsu (T5) and Namwon (T6). Phytotoxicity was assessed by means of the analysis of germination index (GI), relative seed germination (RSG), relative root elongation (RRE) and vigor index (VI) using five commercial crop varieties, namely, sesame (Sesamum indicum L.), chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum L.), carrot (Daucus carota), radish (Raphanus sativus) and cabbage (Brassica rapa). Physico-chemical parameter values were recorded at appreciable levels in all GM extracts. The effect of seedling growth was significantly different (p ≤ .05) due to the variability of nutrient content and phytotoxic effect of the extracts on the different crop seeds. Of the extracts, Goesan (T3) and Sancheong (T4) recorded the best results in the range of GI (%) (54.1–128.8) and VI (930.7–1044) and GI (%) (70.1–167.3) and VI (609.2–3034), respectively, and also showed no inhibitory effect in any of the crop seeds. Overall results also revealed that radish crops showed excellent and non-phytotoxic results in all manure extracts compared to the other crops.
Selective Inhibition of Kindling Development by Intraventricular Administration of TrkB Receptor Body

Recent work has shown that neurotrophin gene expression is increased after seizures evoked in the kindling model of epilepsy, but whether neurotrophins regulate kindling development is as yet unclear. In this study, we attempted to block selectively the activation of distinct neurotrophin receptors throughout kindling development in the rat via chronic intracerebroventricular administration of trk receptor bodies. The efficacy and selectivity of the trk receptor bodies were established by inhibition of neurotrophin-induced trk receptor phosphorylation in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and primary cultures of cortical neurons. The intracerebroventricular infusion of trkB receptor body (trkB–Fc) inhibited development of kindling in comparison with that seen with saline or human IgG controls, trkA–Fc, or trkC–Fc. These results imply that activation of trkB receptors contributes to the development of kindling, a form of activity-dependent behavioral plasticity in the adult mammalian brain.
Attaining organizational commitment across different generations of nurses.

AIM To inform nurse managers about the generational differences that exist among nurses, how it affects the work environment and how this information can be used to encourage organizational commitment. BACKGROUND Every person is born into a generational cohort of peers who experience similar life experiences that go on to shape distinct generational characteristics. Thanks to delayed retirements, mid-life career changes, job re-entry and a small but significant group of younger graduates, the nursing profession is now experiencing four generations in the workforce: Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X and the Millennial Generation. At the same time, the literature on organizational commitment is expanding and can provide a compelling context through which to view generational differences among nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT As part of an overall strategy to increase organizational commitment, consideration of generational differences in nurses can be helpful in leading to increased job satisfaction, increased productivity and decreased turnover among staff. In the face of the global nursing shortage, managers should increase their knowledge of generational diversity just as they have with ethnic and cultural diversity in the past. Understanding how to relate to the different generations and tap into their individual strengths can lead to improved nursing work environments.
IT STANDARDISATION – THE ECONOMIC AND THE SOCIOLOGY ACCOUNT

Edinburgh, High School Yards, EH1 1LYZ, e-mail: R.Bunduchi@ed.ac. uk; phone: 0131 650 6396, fax: 131 650 6399 ** Research Fellow, Research Centre for Social Science, University of Edinburgh, High School Yards, EH1 1LZ, e-mail: Martina.Gerst@ed.ac. uk; phone: 131 651 4098, fax: 131 650 6399 *** Lecturer, School of Management, University of Edinburgh, 50 George Square, EH8 9JY, e-mail: Ian.Graham@ed.ac. uk, phone: 131 650 3797, fax: 131 668 3053
Framework for optimizing cluster selection using geo-assisted movement prediction

Due to the availability of satellite- and radio-based location systems in most new devices, it is possible to use geographical location of a node for network management and communication protocol optimization. It is a common belief that usage of location information can bring performance benefits. However, inaccuracy and delay in obtaining such information, together with an associated overhead, can have a negative impact. In this paper we have considered a particular case of usage of location information, namely for cluster selection in mobile networks and have analyzed the impact of inaccurate movement prediction and inaccurate location estimation on its performance. The proposed algorithm is compared with two reference algorithms: when a considered node associates with either the first discovered cluster or the nearest cluster. Evaluation shows significant performance benefits in terms of average connectivity time to a cluster head and reduced overhead in case of exact future trajectory prediction. Under more realistic scenarios where location estimation or movement prediction are not perfect, performance benefits are reduced. This emphasizes the need for good movement prediction module if location-based schemes should be implemented in products.
‘Smoking Genes’: A Genetic Association Study

Some controversy exists on the specific genetic variants that are associated with nicotine dependence and smoking-related phenotypes. The purpose of this study was to analyse the association of smoking status and smoking-related phenotypes (included nicotine dependence) with 17 candidate genetic variants: CYP2A6*1×2, CYP2A6*2 (1799T>A) [rs1801272], CYP2A6*9 (−48T>G) [rs28399433], CYP2A6*12, CYP2A13*2 (3375C>T) [rs8192789], CYP2A13*3 (7520C>G), CYP2A13*4 (579G>A), CYP2A13*7 (578C>T) [rs72552266], CYP2B6*4 (785A>G), CYP2B6*9 (516G>T), CHRNA3 546C>T [rs578776], CHRNA5 1192G>A [rs16969968], CNR1 3764C>G [rs6928499], DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A) [rs1800497], 5HTT LPR, HTR2A −1438A>G [rs6311] and OPRM1 118A>G [rs1799971]. We studied the genotypes of the aforementioned polymorphisms in a cohort of Spanish smokers (cases, N = 126) and ethnically matched never smokers (controls, N = 80). The results showed significant between-group differences for CYP2A6*2 and CYP2A6*12 (both P<0.001). Compared with carriers of variant alleles, the odds ratio (OR) for being a non-smoker in individuals with the wild-type genotype of CYP2A6*12 and DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A) polymorphisms was 3.60 (95%CI: 1.75, 7.44) and 2.63 (95%CI: 1.41, 4.89) respectively. Compared with the wild-type genotype, the OR for being a non-smoker in carriers of the minor CYP2A6*2 allele was 1.80 (95%CI: 1.24, 2.65). We found a significant genotype effect (all P≤0.017) for the following smoking-related phenotypes: (i) cigarettes smoked per day and CYP2A13*3; (ii) pack years smoked and CYP2A6*2, CYP2A6*1×2, CYP2A13*7, CYP2B6*4 and DRD2-ANKK1 2137G>A (Taq1A); (iii) nicotine dependence (assessed with the Fagestrom test) and CYP2A6*9. Overall, our results suggest that genetic variants potentially involved in nicotine metabolization (mainly, CYP2A6 polymorphisms) are those showing the strongest association with smoking-related phenotypes, as opposed to genetic variants influencing the brain effects of nicotine, e.g., through nicotinic acetylcholine (CHRNA5), serotoninergic (HTR2A), opioid (OPRM1) or cannabinoid receptors (CNR1).
Bruton's tyrosine kinase prevents activation of the anti‐apoptotic transcription factor STAT3 and promotes apoptosis in neoplastic B‐cells and B‐cell precursors exposed to oxidative stress

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) was previously demonstrated to be a mediator of oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis in irradiated neoplastic B‐cells and B‐cell precursors. Defective BTK expression in leukaemic B‐cell precursors from infants with t(4;11) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has been associated with radiation resistance. The present study examined whether BTK mediates apoptosis during oxidative stress by interfering with the anti‐apoptotic function of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). BTK physically associated with and tyrosine phosphorylated STAT3; this association was promoted by pervanadate (PV)‐induced oxidative stress. The BTK/STAT3 interaction appeared to prevent STAT3 response to oxidative stress, because PV‐induced STAT3 activation was markedly enhanced in DT40 chicken lymphoma B‐cells that were rendered BTK‐deficient by targeted disruption of the btk gene as well as in BTK‐deficient RAMOS‐1 human lymphoma B‐cells. These BTK‐deficient cells were highly resistant to oxidative stress‐induced apoptosis triggered by PV treatment. Reconstitution of BTK‐deficient DT40 cells with wild‐type human BTK gene eliminated the amplification of the STAT3 response and restored the PV‐induced apoptotic signal. Similarly, while the BTK‐positive NALM‐6 human leukaemic B‐cell precursor cell line showed no STAT3 activation after PV treatment and was exquisitely sensitive to PV‐induced apoptosis, PV failed to induce apoptosis in BTK‐deficient RAMOS‐1 human lymphoma B‐cells that showed a robust STAT3 response. These results provide unprecedented biochemical and genetic evidence for a unique mode of cross‐talk that occurs between BTK and STAT3 pathways during oxidative stress, whereby BTK may trigger apoptosis via negative regulation of the anti‐apoptotic STAT3 activity.
Characterization and functional analysis of serpin-1 like gene from oak silkworm Antheraea pernyi

Abstract Serpins are a broadly distributed family of proteases found in various organisms that play an important role in regulating the immune response. Here, we identified a serpin-1 gene from Antheraea pernyi that encodes a 279 amino acid protein with a molecular weight of 30.8 kDa. We expressed the recombinant Ap-serpin-1 protein in Escherichia coli and used the purified protein to prepare rabbit anti-Ap-serpin-1 polyclonal antibodies. We calculated the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titer of the antibody as 1:128000. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that Ap-serpin-1 was expressed in all examined tissues, including hemolymph, malpighian tubules, midgut, silk gland, integument and the fat body; the highest Ap-serpin-1 expression levels was detected in the fat body. We next investigated the expression patterns of Ap-serpin-1 in both fat body and hemolymph samples, following treatment with E. coli, Beauveria bassiana, Micrococcus luteus and nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV). We reported that NPV and M. luteus significantly enhanced Ap-serpin-1 expression in the fat body. While, in the hemolymph samples, treatment with B. bassiana and M. luteus was shown to upregulate Ap-serpin-1 expression at 24 h induction. Altogether, our results suggest that Ap-serpin-1 is involved in the innate immunity of A. pernyi.
An energy-efficient permutation routing protocol for single-hop radio networks

A radio network (RN) is a distributed system where each station or node is a small hand-held commodity device called a station. Typically, each station has access to a few channels for transmitting and receiving messages. By RN(p, k), we denote a radio network with p stations, where each station has access to k channels. In a single-hop RN, every station is within the transmission range of every other station. Each station consumes power while transmitting or receiving a message, even when it receives a message that is not destined for it. It is extremely important that the stations consume power only when it is necessary since it is not possible to recharge batteries when the stations are on a mission. We are interested in designing an energy-efficient protocol for permutation routing, which is one of the most fundamental problems in any distributed system. An instance of the permutation routing problem involves p stations of an RN, each storing n/p items. Each item has a unique destination address which is the identity of the destination station to which the item should be sent. The goal is to route all the items to their destinations while consuming as little energy as possible. We show that the permutation routing problem of n packets on an RN(p, k) can be solved in 2n/k+(p/k)/sup 2/+p+2k/sup 2/ slots and each station needs to be awake for at most 6n/p+2p/k+8k slots. When k/spl Lt/p/spl Lt/n, our protocol is more efficient, both in terms of total number of slots and the number of slots each station is awake compared to a previously published protocol by Nakano et al. (2001).