Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytoremediation: State-of-the-art and a key role for the plant microbiome in future trends and research prospects

ABSTRACT Phytoremediation is increasingly adopted as a more sustainable approach for soil remediation. However, significant advances in efficiency are still necessary to attain higher levels of environmental and economic sustainability. Current interventions do not always give the expected outcomes in field settings due to an incomplete understanding of the multicomponent biological interactions. New advances in -omics are gradually implemented for studying microbial communities of polluted land in situ. This opens new perspectives for the discovery of biodegradative strains and provides us new ways of interfering with microbial communities to enhance bioremediation rates. This review presents retrospectives and future perspectives for plant microbiome studies relevant to phytoremediation, as well as some knowledge gaps in this promising research field. The implementation of phytoremediation in soil clean-up management systems is discussed, and an overview of the promoting factors that determine the growth of the phytoremediation market is given. Continuous growth is expected since elimination of contaminants from the environment is demanded. The evolution of scientific thought from a reductionist view to a more holistic approach will boost phytoremediation as an efficient and reliable phytotechnology. It is anticipated that phytoremediation will prove the most promising for organic contaminant degradation and bioenergy crop production on marginal land.
Renal volume measurements: accuracy and repeatability of US compared with that of MR imaging.

PURPOSE To determine the accuracy and repeatability of ultrasonography (US) with the ellipsoid formula in calculating the renal volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS The renal volumes in 20 volunteers aged 19-51 years were determined by using US with the ellipsoid formula and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with the voxel-count method by two independent observers for each modality. The observers performed all measurements twice, with an interval between the first and second examinations. The voxel-count method was the reference standard. Repeatability was evaluated by calculating the SD of the difference (method of Bland and Altman). RESULTS Renal volume was underestimated with US by 45 mL (25%) on average. A comparable underestimation was found when the ellipsoid formula was applied to MR images. This indicates that the inaccuracy of US renal volume measurements (a) occurred because the kidney does not resemble an ellipsoid and (b) was not primarily related to the imaging modality. Intra- and interobserver variations in US volume measurements were poor; the SD of the difference was 21-32 mL. For comparison, the SD of the difference in reference-standard measurements was 5-10 mL. CONCLUSION Use of US with the ellipsoid formula is not appropriate for accurate and reproducible calculation of renal volume.
A Reasonable Blood Pressure Level for Good Clinical Outcome After the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke

Blood pressure (BP) levels are closely associated with clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke, but current research data cannot yet determine what level of reasonable BP should be maintained in clinical practice. The authors conducted a prospective registered clinical trial and enrolled 873 patients admitted for the first episode of acute ischemic stroke within 24 hours from symptom onset and with normal neurological function before stroke. Analysis results showed that the highest probability of good neurological recovery was associated with the lowest risk of neurological deterioration and poor functional outcome at systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) levels of 140 mm Hg to 159 mm Hg and DBP 90 mm Hg to 99 mm Hg, respectively, whereas patients with extreme hypotension (SBP <100 mm Hg /DBP <70 mm Hg) and hypertension (SBP ≥200 mm Hg /DBP ≥120 mm Hg) were associated with poor neurological recovery. Both higher and lower BP levels in the acute phase of ischemic stroke were unfavorable to neurological functional recovery (adjusted odds ratio, 1.948/1.913 and 2.129/2.022, respectively, with SBP 120–139 mm Hg as a reference). In addition, BP maintained at SBP 140 mm Hg to 159 mm Hg and DBP 90 mm Hg to 99 mm Hg within 7 days after stroke may be beneficial to neurological functional recovery.
Drought Induction of Arabidopsis 9-cis-Epoxycarotenoid Dioxygenase Occurs in Vascular Parenchyma Cells1[W][OA]

The regulation of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis is essential for plant responses to drought stress. In this study, we examined the tissue-specific localization of ABA biosynthetic enzymes in turgid and dehydrated Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants using specific antibodies against 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase 3 (AtNCED3), AtABA2, and Arabidopsis aldehyde oxidase 3 (AAO3). Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that in turgid plants, AtABA2 and AAO3 proteins were localized in vascular parenchyma cells most abundantly at the boundary between xylem and phloem bundles, but the AtNCED3 protein was undetectable in these tissues. In water-stressed plants, AtNCED3 was detected exclusively in the vascular parenchyma cells together with AtABA2 and AAO3. In situ hybridization using the antisense probe for AtNCED3 showed that the drought-induced expression of AtNCED3 was also restricted to the vascular tissues. Expression analysis of laser-microdissected cells revealed that, among nine drought-inducible genes examined, the early induction of most genes was spatially restricted to vascular cells at 1 h and then some spread to mesophyll cells at 3 h. The spatial constraint of AtNCED3 expression in vascular tissues provides a novel insight into plant systemic response to drought stresses.
Microarray Analysis Gene Expression Profiles in Laryngeal Muscle After Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury

Objectives: The pathophysiology of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) transection injury is rare in that it is characteristically followed by a high degree of spontaneous reinnervation, with reinnervation of the laryngeal adductor complex (AC) preceding that of the abducting posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. Here, we aim to elucidate the differentially expressed myogenic factors following RLN injury that may be at least partially responsible for the spontaneous reinnervation. Methods: F344 male rats underwent RLN injury (n = 12) or sham surgery (n = 12). One week after RLN injury, larynges were harvested following euthanasia. The mRNA was extracted from PCA and AC muscles bilaterally, and microarray analysis was performed using a full rat genome array. Results: Microarray analysis of denervated AC and PCA muscles demonstrated dramatic differences in gene expression profiles, with 205 individual probes that were differentially expressed between the denervated AC and PCA muscles and only 14 genes with similar expression patterns. Conclusions: The differential expression patterns of the AC and PCA suggest different mechanisms of reinnervation. The PCA showed the gene patterns of Wallerian degeneration, while the AC expressed the gene patterns of reinnervation by adjacent axonal sprouting. This finding may reveal important therapeutic targets applicable to RLN and other peripheral nerve injuries.
Human vagal baroreflex mechanisms in space

Although astronauts’ cardiovascular function is normal while they are in space, many have altered haemodynamic responses to standing after they return to Earth, including inordinate tachycardia, orthostatic hypotension, and uncommonly, syncope. Simulated microgravity impairs vagal baroreceptor–cardiac reflex function and causes orthostatic hypotension. Actual microgravity, however, has been shown to either increase, or not change vagal baroreflex gain. In this study, we tested the null hypothesis that spaceflight does not impair human baroreflex mechanisms. We studied 11 American and two German astronauts before, during (flight days 2–8), and after two, 9‐ and 10‐day space shuttle missions, with graded neck pressure and suction, to elicit sigmoid, vagally mediated carotid baroreflex R–R interval responses. Baseline systolic pressures tended to be higher in space than on Earth (P= 0.015, repeated measures analysis of variance), and baseline R–R intervals tended to be lower (P= 0.049). Baroreceptor–cardiac reflex relations were displaced downward on the R–R interval axis in space. The average range of R–R interval responses to neck pressure changes declined from preflight levels by 37% on flight day 8 (P= 0.051), maximum R–R intervals declined by 14% (P= 0.003), and vagal baroreflex gain by 9% (P= 0.009). These measures returned to preflight levels by 7–10 days after astronauts returned to Earth. This study documents significant increases of arterial pressure and impairment of vagal baroreflex function in space. These results and results published earlier indicate that microgravity exposure augments sympathetic, and diminishes vagal cardiovascular influences.
Expression de la resistance du colza a leptosphaeria maculans au stade jeune et au stade adulte caracterisation cytologique et epidemiologique

La necrose du collet des cruciferes, dont l'agent pathogene est leptosphaeria maculans, est une des maladies les plus importantes du colza. Parmi les differentes strategies envisagees pour ameliorer la resistance du colza a ce champignon, l'une des voies de recherche est orientee vers le cumul dans une meme lignee de differents types de resistance existant chez les cruciferes. L'objectif de notre travail, qui s'inscrit dans cette strategie, est d'aboutir a une meilleure connaissance de l'expression de ces types de resistance afin d'evaluer leur efficacite et leur complementarite. La premiere partie de notre travail apporte des informations sur l'expression de la resistance de darmor au stade adulte vis-a-vis de populations fongiques presentes en france. Cette expression est independante de la presence de genes de resistance specifiques. Elle n'est pas non plus correlee a la resistance vis-a-vis des macules foliaires en conditions semi-naturelles d'infestation. De nature partielle, elle s'exprime vis-a-vis de la necrose du collet, meme dans le cas de contaminations precoces. Elle pourrait s'expliquer par des mecanismes freinant d'une part, la progression du champignon au sein de la plante en automne, et d'autre part la formation et l'extension de la necrose au printemps. La deuxieme partie de cette etude concerne la comparaison de l'expression de la resistance au stade jeune conferee par des genes d'origines differentes provenant, soit des moutardes, soit du colza. Ces genes induisent dans le colza des modifications ultrastructurales typiques de la reaction hypersensible. Toutefois, la caracterisation cytologique des produits des genes de defense est differente selon le gene de resistance. La nature et la precocite d'apparition des reactions de defense observees (obstruction des vaisseaux, tapissements parietaux, papilles) varient en effet selon le gene de resistance. Ce resultat laisse envisager une expression differente des genes de defense. Notre travail demontre que la resistance au stade adulte et la resistance au stade jeune sont des resistances independantes. Cumulees dans une meme lignee, elles induisent dans le colza des mecanismes de resistance differents, rendant ainsi plus difficile le contournement de la resistance par les populations naturelles du champignon. Des etudes sur la nature meme des mecanismes de resistance mis en jeu ainsi que sur la structure des populations selectionnees par chaque type de resistance permettraient d'evaluer la durabilite de la resistance.
Methodological lessons from a cohort study of high risk women in Tanzania

Objectives: To describe the development, characteristics, and follow up of a high risk cohort of women in Tanzania. Differences in social background and sexual behaviour of women working in traditional and modern alcohol selling workplaces are shown. Methods: Data from questionnaires four months before the enrolment of the cohort, at enrolment, and at 32 months were compared. Key informant interviews, social mapping exercises, and focus group discussions were held before the start of the cohort. Results: In the absence of organised prostitution, two different groups of women with high risk exposure were identified during the baseline survey: female workers in modern alcohol selling places such as bars, guesthouses, and restaurants (barmaids) and in traditional places (local brew sellers). Overall, the population had a mean age of 27.7 years with barmaids tending to be younger (24.3 years) than local brew sellers (34.2 years). The main duration of stay in the current workplace was 2.1 years (barmaids 0.9 years; local brew sellers 4.1 years). Barmaids were more likely to have paying casual sex partners than local brew sellers and used condoms more regularly. Local brew sellers tend to be more stable with only 10% lost to follow up after 32 months compared with 24.4% of the bar workers. Conclusions: Preliminary work revealed major differences in characteristics and behaviour between women working in modern and traditional alcohol selling outlets. Thorough preparation of the study, close monitoring of the cohort, and provision of selected benefits resulted in high retention rates over a 32 month project in a highly mobile population.
Subtype Specification of GABAergic Amacrine Cells by the Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nr4a2/Nurr1

In the mammalian retina, amacrine cells (ACs) contain numerous subtypes with extremely diverse morphologies and physiological functions. To date, how these subtypes arise during retinogenesis remains largely unknown at the molecular level. The orphan nuclear receptor Nr4a2 plays an essential role in specifying ventral midbrain dopaminergic neurons, and its mutations are associated with familial Parkinson's disease. Here we show that Nr4a2 is also critically involved in the specification of AC subtype identity. During mouse retinogenesis, Nr4a2 is expressed in a subset of postmitotic GABAergic ACs and their precursors. Its targeted inactivation results in the loss of a subpopulation of GABAergic ACs that include all dopaminergic and p57Kip2+ neurons as well as a simultaneous increase of calbindin+ ACs. Misexpressed Nr4a2 can promote GABAergic AC differentiation and repress calbindin+ ACs, whereas its dominant-negative form has the ability to suppress the GABAergic AC fate. Moreover, the expression of Nr4a2 is positively regulated by Foxn4 and negatively controlled by Brn3b, two retinogenic factors previously shown to promote and suppress GABAergic ACs, respectively. These data suggest that Nr4a2 is both necessary and sufficient to confer AC precursors with the identity of a GABAergic AC phenotype, and that it may network with multiple other retinogenic factors to ensure proper specification and differentiation of AC neurotransmitter subtypes.
Predicting In-Hospital Mortality: A Comparison of Severity Measurement Approaches

Hospital mortality statistics derived from administrative data may not adjust adequately for patient risk on admission. Using clinical data collected from the medical record, this study compared the ability of six models to predict in-hospital death, including one model based on administrative data (age, sex, and principal and secondary diagnoses), one on admission MedisGroups score, and one on an approximation of the Acute Physiology Score (APS) from the revised Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE II), as well as three empirically derived models` The database from 24 hospitals included 16,855 cases involving five medical conditions, with an overall in-hospital mortality rate of 15.6%. The administrative data model fit least well (R-squared values ranged from 1.9-5.5% across the five conditions). Admission MedisGroups score and the proxy APS score did better, with R-squared values ranging from 4.9% to 25.9%. Two empirical models based on small subsets of explanatory variables performed best (R-squared values ranged from 18.5-29.9%). The preceding models had the same relative performances after cross-validation using split samples. However, the high R-squared values produced by the full empirical models (using 40 or more explanatory variables) were not preserved when they were cross-validated. Most of the predictive clinical findings were general physiologic measures that were similar across conditions; only a fifth of predictors were condition-specific. Therefore, an efficient approach to risk-adjusting inhospital mortality figures may involve adding a small subset of condition-specific clinical variables to a core group of acute physiologic variables. The best predictive models employ condition-specific weighting of even the generic clinical findings.
Targeted ED-B fibronectin SPECT in vivo imaging in experimental atherosclerosis.

AIM The extracellular matrix protein ED-B fibronectin (ED-B) is upregulated in inflammatory atherosclerotic lesions. However, functional in vivo imaging of ED-B-containing plaques has not been explored. This study evaluated whether [(99m)Tc]-conjugated AP39 ([(99m)Tc]-AP39), a single-chain antibody specific to ED-B, can be used for in vivo detection of atherosclerotic plaques in Western diet (WD)-fed, apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice as compared to wildtype (WT) control mice. METHODS Using SPECT, 12-month-old WD-fed apoE-/- and WT mice were studied 4 hours after injecting [(99m)Tc]-AP39 (148 MBq). Subsequently, mice were sacrificed, thoracic aortas measured in a g-counter, and plaques analyzed using histology, immuno-histochemistry, autoradiography, and morphometry. RESULTS In vivo [(99m)Tc]-AP39-SPECT imaging of apoE-/- mice demonstrated a significant signal activity in the plaque-ridden thoracic aorta (52.236 ± 40.646 cpm/cm³) that co-localized with the aortic arch and the supra-aortic arteries in MRI scans. Low signal activity (9.468 ± 4.976 cpm/cm³) was observed in WT mice. In apoE-/- mice, the strongest signals were detected in the aortic root, aortic arch and along the abdominal aorta. Autoradiography analysis of aortas from apoE-/- mice confirmed the in vivo observation by demonstrating signal localization in atherosclerotic plaques. The size of autoradiography-positive plaque areas correlated significantly with the size of ED-B-positive (r=0.645, P=0.044) or macrophage-infiltrated (r=0.84, P<0.002) plaques. A significant correlation was found between the sizes of ED-B-positive and macrophage-infiltrated plaque areas (r=0.93, P<0.01). CONCLUSION [(99m)Tc]-AP39-SPECT in vivo imaging detects inflammatory plaque lesions in WD-fed apoE-/- mice.
The ribosomal protein gene RPL5 is a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor in multiple cancer types

For many years, defects in the ribosome have been associated to cancer. Recently, somatic mutations and deletions affecting ribosomal protein genes were identified in a few leukemias and solid tumor types. However, systematic analysis of all 81 known ribosomal protein genes across cancer types is lacking. We screened mutation and copy number data of respectively 4926 and 7322 samples from 16 cancer types and identified six altered genes (RPL5, RPL11, RPL23A, RPS5, RPS20 and RPSA). RPL5 was located at a significant peak of heterozygous deletion or mutated in 11% of glioblastoma, 28% of melanoma and 34% of breast cancer samples. Moreover, patients with low RPL5 expression displayed worse overall survival in glioblastoma and in one breast cancer cohort. RPL5 knockdown in breast cancer cell lines enhanced G2/M cell cycle progression and accelerated tumor progression in a xenograft mouse model. Interestingly, our data suggest that the tumor suppressor role of RPL5 is not only mediated by its known function as TP53 or c-MYC regulator. In conclusion, RPL5 heterozygous inactivation occurs at high incidence (11-34%) in multiple tumor types, currently representing the most common somatic ribosomal protein defect in cancer, and we demonstrate a tumor suppressor role for RPL5 in breast cancer.
From extracellular to intracellular: the establishment of a symbiosis

The colonization of host cells by modern symbionts is surveyed. The morphological distinction between extracellular and intracellular symbionts is not sharp, and the various kinds of association can be arranged in a graded series of increasing morphological integration of the symbiont into the host cell. Apart from some aggressive parasitic infections, the great majority of symbionts are enclosed by a host membrane in a vacuole. Those not enclosed in a host vacuole usually cannot be cultivated outside the cell. It is therefore surmised that encirclement by a vacuolar membrane would only disappear, if at all, in the later stages of the evolution of intracellular symbiosis. Recognition mechanisms between host and symbiont occur, but have been little studied. In some associations, recognition at surface contact occurs, and there is evidence for the involvement of lectins in certain cases. In other associations, recognition may occur wholly or in part after the entry of symbiont into host cells. After entry, special mechanisms for the biotrophic transfer of nutrients from symbiont to host develop. Both the symbiont population size and its rate of increase are strictly regulated by the host cell; symbiont metabolism may be controlled likewise. Rates of evolution of intracellular symbionts are probably very rapid, owing in part to responses of the host cell to its symbiont.
Disinfection of hospital waste sludge using hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide

Hypochlorite and chlorine dioxide were used to disinfect hospital waste‐water sludge. Their abilities to inactivate pathogenic micro‐organisms were compared. Reductions in indigenous coliform organisms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were estimated. The results indicate that hypochlorite is a better disinfectant than chlorine dioxide for coliforms. Higher disinfection efficiency was obtained by treating a lower concentration of sludge. In addition, a higher agitation speed gave a higher disinfection efficiency with hypochlorite. The disinfection efficiencies of both disinfectants were higher against settled sludge than against thickened sludge. Therefore, it is recommended that disinfection should be performed on settled sludge rather than in a thickening tank.