Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
POLYGALACTURONASE INVOLVED IN EXPANSION3 Functions in Seedling Development, Rosette Growth, and Stomatal Dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana[OPEN]

The polygalacturonase PGX3 functions in tissue growth and stomatal dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana, revealing how controlled pectin degradation influences stomatal function. Plant cell separation and expansion require pectin degradation by endogenous pectinases such as polygalacturonases, few of which have been functionally characterized. Stomata are a unique system to study both processes because stomatal maturation involves limited separation between sister guard cells and stomatal responses require reversible guard cell elongation and contraction. However, the molecular mechanisms for how stomatal pores form and how guard cell walls facilitate dynamic stomatal responses remain poorly understood. We characterized POLYGALACTURONASE INVOLVED IN EXPANSION3 (PGX3), which is expressed in expanding tissues and guard cells. PGX3-GFP localizes to the cell wall and is enriched at sites of stomatal pore initiation in cotyledons. In seedlings, ablating or overexpressing PGX3 affects both cotyledon shape and the spacing and pore dimensions of developing stomata. In adult plants, PGX3 affects rosette size. Although stomata in true leaves display normal density and morphology when PGX3 expression is altered, loss of PGX3 prevents smooth stomatal closure, and overexpression of PGX3 accelerates stomatal opening. These phenotypes correspond with changes in pectin molecular mass and abundance that can affect wall mechanics. Together, these results demonstrate that PGX3-mediated pectin degradation affects stomatal development in cotyledons, promotes rosette expansion, and modulates guard cell mechanics in adult plants.
Hemodynamic effect of sustained pulmonary hyperinflation in patients after cardiac surgery: open vs. closed chest

Background: In a previous study, we showed that sustained pulmonary hyperinflation, i.e. a lung recruitment maneuver, after closure of the chest in patients undergoing cardiac surgery had significantly negative effects on the central hemodynamics. As elevated pleural pressure is believed to be a major cause of this cardiovascular impairment, we hypothesized that performing the sustained pulmonary hyperinflation under open chest conditions would affect the circulation less.
Ecological approach and fairy-tales: study with infant victims

A partir de uma analise multifatorial do fenomeno da violencia e respaldando-se em teorias que consideram a importância dos contos de fadas no desenvolvimento emocional infantil, realizou-se esta pesquisa com um grupo composto por tres criancas vitimas de violencia domestica. Os objetivos do estudo foram: descrever o impacto das narrativas dos contos de fadas na emergencia de conteudos emocionais latentes, atraves das verbalizacoes das participantes durante as acoes ludicas, e tracar consideracoes a respeito do contexto em que a crianca se desenvolve. Realizaram-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os cuidadores das criancas e intervencoes junto ao grupo, a partir de sessoes de contacao de historias e atividades simbolicas. Os resultados demonstram aspectos do microssistema, exossistema, mesossistema e macrossistema enquanto fatores de risco para a instalacao da violencia. Sugere-se ainda que as narrativas orais possam servir como suporte, reunindo em si um repertorio de elementos que, ocasionalmente, despertam na crianca conteudos relacionados as vivencias pessoais.
Gonadotropin secretion and testicular function in golden hamsters exposed to skeleton photoperiods with ultrashort light pulses.

Both sexually mature and sexually regressed male golden hamsters were transferred to asymmetric skeleton photoperiods with night interruptions of varying duration, the short pulses occurring 14 h after "dawn. " Testicular function and accompanying changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and spermatogenesis were observed. Sexually regressed animals exposed to a night-break of 6 seconds (sec) or longer exhibited maximal testicular development with a rapid rise in FSH secretion followed by a slower, more variable rise in LH. Full testicular size was achieved after 8 weeks. Night-breaks of 250 milliseconds (msec) or 1 sec induced testicular development and spermatogenesis but at a slower rate: levels of FSH and LH were still rising at the end of the experiment. Complete testicular maintenance was achieved by night-breaks of 1 sec or longer. Partial testicular regression was observed with a night-break of 250 msec. Night-breaks (60 sec) given less frequently than daily also stimulated testicular function and a night-break every 7 days increased FSH and LH secretion in sexually regressed hamsters, causing testicular development at a submaximal rate. Night-breaks given more frequently induced rapid testicular growth. Almost complete testicular maintenance of sexually mature hamsters was achieved with a 60-sec night-break at weekly intervals. Symmetric skeleton photoperiods also triggered testicular development in sexually regressed hamsters, with two 1-sec light pulses (14 h apart) being almost as effective as a normal long day. No difference in reproductive function was observed between animals on long days (14L:10D) and those exposed to maximally stimulatory skeleton photoperiods.
Slack stability analysis of a class of switched fuzzy systems

A model of the switched fuzzy systems whose subsystems are fuzzy systems is presented. A slack stabilizability condition for the existence of state feedback controllers and the switching law for a class of switched fuzzy systems are proposed based on multiple Lyapunov function technique. The proposed method overcomes the difficulty of solving a common matrix P by parallel distributed compensation with a large number of fuzzy rules. The main condition is given in form of LMI which are more solvable. The elaborated illustrative examples of air regulating system and the respective simulation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Central Endogenous Vasopressin Induced by Central Salt‐Loading Participates in Body Fluid Homeostasis through Modulatory Effects on Neurones of the Paraventricular Nucleus in Conscious Rats

Peripherally secreted arginine vasopressin (AVP) plays a role in controlling body fluid homeostasis, and central endogenous AVP acts as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. The limbic system, which appears to exert an inhibitory effect on the endocrine hypothalamus, is also innervated by fibres that contain AVP. We examined whether central endogenous AVP is also involved in the control of body fluid homeostasis. To explore this possibility, we examined neuronal activity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), periventricular parts of the PVN and limbic brain areas, as well as AVP mRNA expression in the PVN and the peripheral secretion of AVP after central salt‐loading in rats that had been pretreated i.c. v. with the AVP V1 receptor antagonist OPC‐21268. Neuronal activity in the PVN evaluated in terms of Fos‐like immunoreactivity (FLI), especially in the parvocellular subdivisions, was suppressed. On the other hand, FLI was enhanced in the lateral septum, the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and the anterior hypothalamic area. Similarly, AVP mRNA expression was enhanced in the magnocellular subnucleus of the PVN, despite the lack of a significant difference in the peripheral AVP level between OPC‐21268‐ and vehicle‐pretreated groups. We recorded renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) as sympathetic nerve outflow during central salt‐loading. The suppression of RSNA was significantly attenuated by i.c. v. pretreatment with OPC‐21268. These results suggest that the suppression of RSNA during central salt‐loading might be the result of a decrease in neuronal activity in the parvocellular subdivisions of the PVN via the inhibitory action of central endogenous AVP. The parvocellular and magnocellular neurones in the PVN might show different responses to central salt‐loading to maintain body fluid homeostasis as a result of the modulatory role of central endogenous AVP.
A REALISTIC BRAIN PHANTOM FOR 3D DEFORMATION RECOVERY

Soft tissue deformation occurs during neurosurgery causing misalignment between preoperatively acquired images and the intraoperative brain. Compensation for this deformation is often accomplished using sparse intraoperative data from the exposed cortical surface combined with a biomechanical model. While simulations provide an important tool for testing these surface tracking algorithms, intraoperative conditions are most closely modeled using physical brain phantoms. We have developed a realistic silicone brain phantom and have used this phantom to test our surface tracking algorithm. The physical properties of this phantom allowed reliable testing of intraoperative surface tracking in a controlled environment
Towards Controller Synthesis for Systems with Negative Imaginary Frequency Response

This technical note provides a reformulation of closed-loop systems that have negative imaginary frequency response into closed-loop systems that have bounded gain, so that theory and results from H∞ control can be borrowed to enable controller synthesis for the former class of systems. Systems with negative imaginary frequency response (negative-imaginary systems for short) arise for example in structures with collocated position sensors and force actuators, and finding a systematic controller synthesis treatment for such systems has important applications in, for example, lightly damped large space structure problems. The key result in this technical note assists by reformulating such systems into a bounded-real framework. This technical note also addresses a controller synthesis problem in an H∞ optimal control framework for a generalized plant with an invariant zero at the origin in its (1,2) element which is due to the reformulation of the closed-loop system from a negative-imaginary system to a bounded-real framework. An example demonstrates the feasibility of the reformulation given herein.
Tumor spectrum in cancer family syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer)

The distribution of different malignant tumors was studied in 40 cancer family syndrome (CFS) families with 315 affected family members and a total of 472 separate tumors or malignant diseases. Only families with three or more first‐degree family members with colorectal carcinoma were included and other CFS characteristics were required in at least two cases. Colorectal (63%), endometrial (8%), gastric (6%), biliopancreatic (4%), and uroepithelial carcinomas (2%) were the most frequent, and represent the tumors typical of CFS. Families with endometrial cancer (23, 57%) and those without endometrial cancer (17, 43%) did not differ in frequencies of other extracolonic carcinomas. Families with endometrial cancer had more affected members and especially more affected female members than those without endometrial cancer (means, 9.7 and 4.9 versus 5.5 and 1.6 per family, respectively). The authors conclude, therefore, that the occurrence of one or more types of extracolonic tumors in members of CFS families does not provide a firm basis for subdividing the CFS (or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma syndrome).
Regulation of recombinant γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)(A) and GABA(C) receptors by protein kinase C

Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced a continuous decrease in the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated current amplitude from recombinant GABA receptors (formed by ρ1 or αβγ subunits) expressed inXenopus oocytes. This decline was due to internalization of receptors from the plasma membrane as confirmed by a decrease in surface fluorescence with green fluorescence protein-tagged receptors as well as a concomitant decrease in surface [3H]GABA binding. PMA specifically caused internalization of GABA receptors, but not neuronal acetylcholine receptors (α7 or α4β2), indicating the internalization was not a general, nonspecific phenomenon. Mutation of ρ1 PKC phosphorylation sites, identified by in vitro phosphorylation, did not prevent GABA receptor internalization, nor did coexpression of the ρ1 M3-M4 intracellular loop along with ρ1 GABA receptors. It is likely that PKC-mediated phosphorylation of other proteins, rather than ρ1 itself, was required for the internalization. Both ρ1 and αβγ receptors did not degrade after phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced internalization, but returned to the membrane surface within 24 h. These data suggest internalized receptors can exist in an intracellular compartment that can be delivered back to the plasma membrane. Thus, by regulating GABA receptor surface expression, PKC may play a key role in the regulation of GABA-mediated inhibition.
Relationship between modifiable health risks and short-term health care charges.

CONTEXT If physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking status prove to contribute significantly to increased health care charges within a short period of time, health plans and payers may wish to invest in strategies to modify these risk factors. However, few data are available to guide such resource allocation decisions. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of modifiable health risks to subsequent health care charges after controlling for age, race, sex, and chronic conditions. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cohort study of a stratified random sample of 5689 adults (75.5% of total sample of 7535) aged 40 years or older who were enrolled in a Minnesota health plan and completed a 60-item questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Resource use as measured by billed health care charges from July 1, 1995, to December 31, 1996, compared by health risk (physical activity, body mass index [BMI], and smoking status). RESULTS The mean annual per patient charge in the total study population was $3570 (median, $600), and 15% of patients had no charges during the study period. After adjustment-for age, race, sex, and chronic disease status, physical activity (4.7% lower health care charges per active day per week), BMI (1.9% higher charges per BMI unit), current smoking status (18% higher charges), and history of tobacco use (25.8% higher charges) were prospectively related to health care charges over 18 months. Never-smokers with a BMI of 25 kg/m2 and who participated in physical activity 3 days per week had mean annual health care charges that were approximately 49% lower than physically inactive smokers with a BMI of 27.5 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that adverse health risks translate into significantly higher health care charges within 18 months. Health plans or payers seeking to minimize health care charges may wish to consider strategic investments in interventions that effectively modify adverse health risks.
Provenance Query Patterns for Many-Task Scientific Computing

Provenance information enable the analysis of large scale many-task computations often specified as scientific workflows. They allow for one to determine how each resulting data set was derived from other data sets and applications. In this work, we survey queries used for exploring provenance information about many-task computations. We present a set of patterns that can be identified in these queries, which is being used as a basis for the design and implementation of a provenance management system for many-task scientific computations, integrated to the Swift parallel scripting system. It has a data model similar to the Open Provenance Model, with extensions that enrich core structural provenance data, represented as consumption and production relationships between applications and data sets, with information about the runtime behavior of each application, and domain-specific information such as the scientific parameters used by applications.
Effect of atmospheric radiance errors in radiometric sea-surface skin temperature measurements.

Errors in measurements of sea-surface skin temperature (SSST) caused by inappropriate measurements of sky radiance are discussed; both model simulations and in situ data obtained in the Atlantic Ocean are used. These errors are typically caused by incorrect radiometer view geometry (pointing), temporal mismatches between the sea surface and atmospheric views, and the effect of wind on the sea surface. For clear-sky, overcast, or high-humidity atmospheric conditions, SSST is relatively insensitive (<0.1 K) to sky-pointing errors of ? 10 degrees and to temporal mismatches between the sea and sky views. In mixed-cloud conditions, SSST errors greater than ? 0.25 K are possible as a result either of poor radiometer pointing or of a temporal mismatch between the sea and sky views. Sea-surface emissivity also changes with sea view pointing angle. Sea view pointing errors should remain below 5 degrees for SSST errors of <0.1 K. We conclude that the clear-sky requirement of satellite infrared SSST observations means that sky-pointing errors are small when one is obtaining in situ SSST validation data at zenith angles of <40 degrees . At zenith angles greater than this, large errors are possible in high-wind-speed conditions. We recommend that high-resolution inclinometer measurements always be used, together with regular alternating sea and sky views, and that the temporal mismatch between sea and sky views be as small as possible. These results have important implications for the development of operational autonomous instruments for determining SSST for the long-term validation of satellite SSST.
Learning Curve of Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy With Pelvic and/or Para-Aortic Lymphadenectomy in the Early and Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: Comparison of the First 50 and Second 50 Cases

Background: To compare the surgical and oncological outcomes and morbidity of the first 50 cases treated by laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with those of the second 50 cases. Methods: Between October 1994 and January 2004, we retrospectively reviewed the charts of 100 consecutive patients (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IA2 [n = 12], IB1 [n = 56], IB2 [n = 15], IIA [n = 15], and IIB [n = 2]) who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy. One hundred patients were divided into the first 50 cases (group 1) and second 50 cases (group 2). Results: Operating time, length of hospital stay, time to normal residual urine, and transfusion rate significantly decreased, and the acquired number of pelvic nodes significantly increased when comparing group 1 with group 2. The intraoperative and postoperative complication rates profoundly decreased in group 2 as compared with group 1. After a median follow-up of 66.5 months, 10 patients had a recurrence, 9 of whom died. The 5-year overall survival rates were 96% in group 1 and 90% in group 2, and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 92% in group 1 and 90% in group 2. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is a feasible and safe treatment modality in early and even locally advanced cervical cancer without decreasing survival. Surgical outcome was improved with experience, and the complication rate related to operation of group 1 was higher than that of group 2. There was no significant difference in survival between the 2 groups.
Segmental Wall Motion Abnormalities in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Replacement: Correlations with Intraoperative Events

We examined the effect of methylmethacrylate cement on venous embolization and cardiac function in 20 patients having total hip arthroplasty under general anesthesia. Segmental wall motion abnormalities and intracardiac targets (presumably emboli) were investigated by making videotaped recordings of the transgastric short axis and longitudinal 4-chamber views of the heart with transesophageal echocardiography at different points during surgery. The incidence of segmental wall motion abnormalities was the most frequent during insertion of cemented femoral prostheses (8 of 14 patients had wall motion abnormalities). This was significantly different from baseline measurements taken at the beginning of surgery (P < 0.05). In addition, there were also significantly more segmental wall motion abnormalities in patients having a cemented femoral component compared to those having an uncemented femoral prosthesis (P < 0.05). The incidence of wall motion abnormalities during acetabular and femoral reaming and during wound closure was not significantly different from baseline. Intracardiac targets (emboli) were seen in all 20 patients during surgery. The largest number of emboli occurred during reaming of the femur and during insertion of the femoral prosthesis. Significantly more emboli were seen with cemented components (P < 0.02). Most emboli were small (<2 mm) and appeared similar to the microbubbles produced by agitating saline with a small amount of air. Six patients also had larger (>5 mm) emboli that appeared to be solid material. One patent foramen ovale was detected (5% incidence). There were no adverse cardiac or neurologic events, and heart rate and arterial blood pressure remained within normal limits throughout surgery. This study shows that the use of methylmethacrylate cement in total hip arthroplasty appears to be associated with an increased amount of intraoperative pulmonary embolism and segmental or global wall motion abnormalities. The reversibility of the wall motion abnormalities we observed implies a process which is self-limited and does not produce adverse effects in most patients.
Breaking the camel's back: proline-induced turns in a model transmembrane helix.

We have constructed model membrane proteins with hydrophobic segments of the general composition Leu29Val-Leun where n=10 and 20, and have analyzed their transmembrane topology when inserted into microsomal membranes. These hydrophobic segments span the membrane once, even though they are twice as long as normal transmembrane helices. Strikingly, a single proline residue introduced near the center of the Leu39Val hydrophobic stretch induces the formation of two transmembrane segments separated by a tight turn. These results have implications for our understanding of membrane protein assembly in the endoplasmic reticulum, and for the development of techniques for predicting membrane protein topology.
Understanding the Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory and Functional Gastrointestinal Diseases

Objective During the last decade, experimental and observational studies have shown that patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) may have an altered intestinal microbial composition compared with healthy individuals. However, no uniform microbial signature has as yet been detected for either IBD or IBS. This review summarizes the current knowledge of microbial dysbiosis and its potential relationship to the pathophysiology in IBD and IBS. Methods A selective review was conducted to summarize the current knowledge of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of IBD and IBS. Results Experimental and observational studies provide good evidence for intestinal microbial dysbiosis in subgroups of IBD and IBS. Still, no uniform disease pattern has been detected. This is most likely due to the heterogeneous nature of IBD and IBS, in combination with the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Such intrinsic factors include genetics, the gastrointestinal environment, and the host immune system, whereas extrinsic factors include early life diet, breastfeeding, and method of infant delivery. Conclusions Recent and ongoing work to define microbial dysbiosis in IBD and IBS shows promise, but future well-designed studies with well-characterized study individuals are needed. It is likely that the microbial dysbiosis in IBD and IBS is dependent on the natural disease course of IBD and symptom pattern in IBS. Therefore, assessment of the entire microbiota along the gastrointestinal tract, in relationship to confounding factors, symptom fluctuations, and other pathophysiological factors, is needed for further understanding of the etiology of these common diseases.