Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcription Factor WRKY75 Interacts with DELLA Proteins to Affect Flowering1

WRKY75 functions as a component of the regulatory network in Arabidopsis that modulates the onset and progression of floral initiation through GA signaling. Flowering time is tightly controlled by both endogenous and exogenous signals. Although several lines of evidence have suggested the involvement of WRKY transcription factors in floral initiation, the underlying mechanisms and signaling pathways involved remain elusive. Here, we newly identified Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) WRKY DNA binding protein75 (WRKY75) as a positive regulator of flowering initiation. Mutation of WRKY75 resulted in a delay in flowering, whereas overexpression of WRKY75 significantly accelerated flowering in Arabidopsis. Gene expression analysis showed that the transcript abundance of the flowering time integrator gene FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) was lower in wrky75 mutants than in the wild type, but greater in WRKY75-overexpressing plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that WRKY75 directly binds to the promoter of FT. Both in vivo and in vitro biochemical analyses demonstrated that WRKY75 interacts with DELLA proteins. We found that both REPRESSOR OF ga1-3 (RGA) RGA-LIKE1 (RGL1) and GA INSENSITIVE (GAI) can repress the activation ability of WRKY75, thereby attenuating expression of its regulon. Genetic analyses indicated that WRKY75 positively regulates flowering in a FT-dependent manner and overexpression of RGL1 or gain-of-function of GAI could partially rescue the early flowering phenotype of WRKY75-overexpressing plants. Taken together, our results demonstrate that WRKY75 may function as a new component of the GA-mediated signaling pathway to positively regulate flowering in Arabidopsis.
Signaling to and from radial glia

Radial glia represent the major glial cell type in the developing CNS and perform many essential functions, which range from acting as neural precursors to providing physical substrates for newborn neurons to migrate on. Previous work has shown that cell‐cell signaling is important for the development of the radial glial phenotype. In particular, signals from newborn neurons appear to contribute significantly to the formation of this cell type. In addition, radial glia may be involved in reciprocal signaling roles that contribute to regional patterning and differentiation in the developing CNS. GLIA 43:44–46, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Beyond knowing nature: Contact, emotion, compassion, meaning, and beauty are pathways to nature connection

Feeling connected to nature has been shown to be beneficial to wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviour. General nature contact and knowledge based activities are often used in an attempt to engage people with nature. However the specific routes to nature connectedness have not been examined systematically. Two online surveys (total n = 321) of engagement with, and value of, nature activities structured around the nine values of the Biophila Hypothesis were conducted. Contact, emotion, meaning, and compassion, with the latter mediated by engagement with natural beauty, were predictors of connection with nature, yet knowledge based activities were not. In a third study (n = 72), a walking intervention with activities operationalising the identified predictors, was found to significantly increase connection to nature when compared to walking in nature alone or walking in and engaging with the built environment. The findings indicate that contact, emotion, meaning, compassion, and beauty are pathways for improving nature connectedness. The pathways also provide alternative values and frames to the traditional knowledge and identification routes often used by organisations when engaging the public with nature.
Determining semantic relatedness through the measurement of discrimination information using Jensen difference

Measurement of semantic relatedness has been addressed in a number of application tasks and by researchers in a variety of disciplines. Measurement of discrimination information of terms is a fundamental issue for many areas of science. In this study, we attempt to introduce relatedness measures based on discrimination measures, with the aim of making fundamental concepts accessible and usable to the broad community of data analysis practitioners. We present an in‐depth investigation into the basic concept of discrimination information conveyed in a term based on Jensen difference. The discrimination measures can then naturally and conveniently be utilized to introduce two generic concepts of semantic relatedness. We also address the issue of estimating arguments embedded in the relatedness measures and then demonstrate how our method can be supported by empirical evidence drawn from performance experiments. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NADPH Oxidase Isoform 2 (NOX2) Is Involved in Drug Addiction Vulnerability in Progeny Developmentally Exposed to Ethanol

Ethanol exposure increases oxidative stress in developing organs, including the brain. Antioxidant treatment during maternal ethanol ingestion improves behavioral deficits in rodent models of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). However, the impact of general antioxidant treatment in their adult offspring and the Specific Reactive Species (ROS)-dependent mechanism, are not fully understood. We hypothesized that pre and early postnatal ethanol exposure (PEE) modifies redox homeostasis, in particular NOX2 function during reward signaling in the mesocorticolimbic pathway, which reinforces the effects of alcohol. We developed a FASD rat model which was evaluated during adolescence (P21) and adulthood (P70). We first studied whether redox homeostasis is affected in PEE animals, by analyzing mRNA expression of SOD1, CAT, and Gpx1. We found that PEE reduced the mRNA levels of these three anti-oxidant enzymes in PFC and HIPP at P21 and in the VTA at P70. We also analyzed basal mRNA and protein expression of NOX2 subunits such as gp91phox, p22 phox, and p47 phox, in mesocorticolimbic brain areas of PEE rat brains. At P21, gp91 phox, and p47 phox levels in the VTA were decreased. At P70, gp91 phox mRNA levels was decreased in HIPP and both mRNA and protein levels were decreased in PFC. Since NOX2 is regulated by the N-methyl-D-aspartate Receptor (NMDAR), we analyzed NMDAR mRNA expression and found differential expression of NMDAR subunits (NR1 and NR2B) in the PFC that was age dependent, with levels decreased at P21 and increased at P70. The analysis also revealed decreased NR2B mRNA expression in HIPP and VTA at P70. Offspring from maternal ethanol users consumed 25% more ethanol in a free choice alcohol consumption test than control rats, and showed place preference for an alcohol-paired compartment. In vivo inhibition of NOX2 using apocynin in drinking water, or infusion of blocked peptide gp91 phox ds in the VTA normalized alcohol place preference, suggesting that NOX2 plays an important role in addictive like behavior. Taken together, PEE significantly affects the expression of antioxidant enzymes, NOX2, NMDAR in an age, and brain region dependent manner. Moreover, we demonstrate that NOX2 regulates alcohol seeking behavior.
Strepchazolins A and B: Two New Alkaloids from a Marine Streptomyces chartreusis NA02069

Two new alkaloids, strepchazolins A (1) and B (2), together with a previously reported compound, streptazolin (3), were isolated from a marine actinomycete, Streptomyces chartreusis NA02069, collected in the Coast of Hainan Island, China. The structures of new compounds were determined by extensive NMR, mass spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analysis, as well as modified Mosher’s method. Compound 1 showed weak anti-Bacillus subtilis activity with the MIC value of 64.0 μM, and weak inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in vitro with IC50 value of 50.6 μM, while its diastereoisomer, Compound 2, is almost inactive.
Proteomic analysis of the development and germination of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) zygotic embryos

By using a comparative proteomic approach (2‐DE coupled to MS/MS), the development, maturation, and germination of date palm zygotic embryos, have been studied. Proteins were trichloroacetic acid (TCA)–acetone–phenol extracted and resolved by 2‐DE in the 5–8 pH range. The total protein content and the number of spots resolved increased from early (12 weeks after pollination (WAP); 68.96 mg/g DW: 207 spots) to late (17 WAP; 240.85 mg/g DW: 261 spots) stages, decreasing upon germination (from 120.8 mg/g DW: 273 spots in mature embryos to 26.35 mg/g DW: 87 spots in 15 days after germination). Up to 194 spots showed qualitative or quantitative differences between stages. Statistical analysis of spot variation was performed by PCA, obtaining a more accurate grouping of the samples and determining the most discriminant spots. Samples were also clustered based on Pearson distance and Ward's minimum distance. Sixty‐five variable spots were subjected to MS analysis, resulting in 21 identifications. The identified proteins belong to the following functional categories: enzymes of glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and carbohydrate biosynthesis, protein translation, storage (glutelin), and stress‐related proteins. The evolution pattern of the functional groups was examined and discussed in terms of metabolism adaptation to the different embryogenic and germination stages.
Complications after Endovascular Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the value of stent-graft repair of descending thoracic aortic aneurysms by analyzing the results and complications. Methods: From May 1997 to July 2002, 45 patients (33 men; mean age 69 years, range 31–88) received endovascular treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysms. In 11 patients, emergency treatment was necessary for a contained rupture. The medical records of these patients were reviewed to gather data on the procedures, immediate results, complications, mortality, and survival in follow-up. Results: In all cases, the stent-grafts were successfully implanted. In 15 (33%) cases, the subclavian artery was covered by the stent-graft without complications. There was no paraparesis/paraplegia; 2 (4.4%) patients suffered a stroke intraoperatively. The in-hospital mortality was 2.2% (n = 1); 3 (6.7%) patients died within 30 days. Primary endoleaks occurred in 8 (17.8%) cases. Procedural success (technical success without endoleak or death) was 80% (93.3% after primary endoleak repair). During follow-up, 2 (4.4%) secondary endoleaks developed. All endoleaks were treated successfully or sealed spontaneously (n = 2). At a mean 24-month follow-up (range 1–62), 84% of patients were alive. Conclusions: The endovascular treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms appears to be safe and effective, with lower morbidity and mortality than in conventional open operations. For these reasons, endovascular treatment should be administered whenever possible.
The Prostate Cancer-Associated Human Retrovirus XMRV Lacks Direct Transforming Activity but Can Induce Low Rates of Transformation in Cultured Cells

ABSTRACT The human retrovirus XMRV (xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus) is associated with prostate cancer, but a causal relationship has not been established. Here, we have used cultured fibroblast and epithelial cell lines to test the hypothesis that XMRV might have direct transforming activity but found only rare transformation events, suggestive of indirect transformation, even when the target cells expressed the human Xpr1 cell entry receptor for XMRV. Characterization of cells from three transformed foci showed that all were infected with and produced XMRV, and one produced a highly active transforming virus, presumably generated by recombination between XMRV and host cell nucleic acids. Given the sequence similarity of XMRV to mink cell focus-forming (MCF) viruses and the enhanced leukemogenic activity of the latter, we tested XMRV for related MCF-like cytopathic activities in cultured mink cells but found none. These results indicate that XMRV has no direct transforming activity but can activate endogenous oncogenes, resulting in cell transformation. As part of these experiments, we show that XMRV can infect and be produced at a high titer from human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells that express TRIM5α (Ref1), showing that XMRV is resistant to TRIM5α restriction. In addition, XMRV poorly infects NIH 3T3 cells expressing human Xpr1 but relatively efficiently infects BALB 3T3 cells expressing human Xpr1, showing that XMRV is a B-tropic virus and that its infectivity is regulated by the Fv1 mouse locus.
Morningness-Eveningness Preferences and Academic Achievement of University Students

The present study investigates whether the circadian preferences of students are related to their academic achievements. This study explores whether different class times affect students' achievement and examines the performance of students on final exams administered at 09:30 h for differences according to chronotype. A total of 1471 university students between 18 and 25 yrs of age responded to a morningness-eveningness questionnaire (MEQ), and data on their cumulative grade point averages (CGPA) were also collected from their transcripts. Some of the students in the sample attended classes during the first teaching period, which started at 08:00 h and ended at 14:50 h, and the remaining students followed the second schedule, which started at 15:00 h and ended at 21:50 h. MEQ scores were found to differ by sex. MEQ scores partially predicted academic success and that students' academic achievements differed according to the time of the teaching period. Moreover, final exam (administered at 09:30 h) scores differed with respect to their circadian preferences; students with a morning preference achieved higher scores than either those with an evening or intermediate preference. Both teaching and test start times thus impact academic performance. (Author correspondence: sbesoluk@sakarya.edu.tr)
Endotoxin administration decreases plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-2 in Angus x Hereford steers independent of changes in nutritional intake.

Endotoxemia and sepsis cause severe shifts in metabolism towards catabolic events. The objective of the research was to determine whether endotoxin administration changes plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGF-binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) in Angus x Hereford steers. In Experiment 1, mean feed intake in endotoxin-treated steers (n = 6) decreased 60% within the first 24 h after endotoxin and averaged, for the duration of the 96 h test period, an intake 35.5% lower than the mean ad libitum intake recorded prior to endotoxin. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I averaged 182 ng/ml in steers before endotoxin (E. coli, 055:B5, 0.2 micrograms/kg, i.v. bolus) and decreased an average of 24.2% at 24 to 96 h after endotoxin. In Experiment 2, a paired feeding strategy was used to determine whether the reduced feed intake was a significant factor in changing plasma concentrations of IGF-I and IGFBP-2 after endotoxin challenge. Steers were divided into endotoxin (0.2 micrograms/kg, i.v., n = 6) or control (saline, i.v., n = 3) treatments. Each of three endotoxin-treated steers was paired to a specific control. In this fashion, the adjusted feed intake of each endotoxin-treated steer was fed to it's paired control every 24 h through 96 h after endotoxin. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Clinical and genetic correlates of decision making in anorexia nervosa

ABSTRACT Introduction: Decision-making (DM) abilities have been found to be impaired in anorexia nervosa (AN), but few data are available about the characteristics and correlates of this cognitive function. The aim of the present study was to provide data on DM functioning in AN using both veridical and adaptive paradigms. While in veridical DM tasks, the individual’s ability to predict a true/false response is measured, adaptive DM is the ability to consider both internal and external demands in order to make a good choice, in the absence of a single true “correct” answer. Method: The participants were 189 women, of whom 91 were eating-disordered patients with a lifetime diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, and 98 were healthy women. All the participants underwent clinical, neuropsychological, and genetic assessment. The cognitive evaluation included a set of neuropsychological tasks and two decision-making tests: The Iowa Gambling Task and the Cognitive Bias Task. Results: Anorexia nervosa patients showed significantly poorer performances on both decision-making tasks than healthy women. The Cognitive Bias Task revealed that anorexia nervosa patients employed significantly more context-independent decision-making strategies, which were independent from diagnostic subtype, handedness, education, and psychopathology. In the whole sample (patients and controls), Cognitive Bias Task performance was independently predicted by lifetime anorexia nervosa diagnosis, body mass index at assessment, and 5-HTTLPR genotype. Conclusions: Patients displayed poor decision-making functioning in both veridical and adaptive situations. The difficulties detected in anorexia nervosa individuals may affect not only the ability to consider the future outcomes of their actions (leading to “myopia for the future”), but also the capacity to update and review one’s own mindset according to new environmental stimuli.
BnHO1, a haem oxygenase-1 gene from Brassica napus, is required for salinity and osmotic stress-induced lateral root formation

In this report, a rapeseed (Brassica napus) haem oxygenase-1 gene BnHO1 was cloned and sequenced. It shared high homology with Arabidopsis HY1 proteins, and encodes a 32.6 kDa protein with a 54-amino-acid transit peptide, predicting the mature protein of 25.1 kDa. The mature BnHO1 expressed in Escherichia coli exhibits haem oxygenase (HO) activity. Furthermore, the application of lower doses of NaCl (10 mM) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) (2%) mimicked the inducible effects of naphthylacetic acid and the HO-1 inducer haemin on the up-regulation of BnHO1 and subsequent lateral root (LR) formation. Contrasting effects were observed when a higher dose of NaCl or PEG was applied. The above inducible and inhibitory responses were blocked significantly when the HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX) or haemin was applied, both of which were reversed by the application of carbon monoxide or ZnPPIX, respectively. Moreover, the addition of ZnPPIX at different time points during LR formation indicated that BnHO1 might be involved in the early stages of LR formation. The auxin response factor transcripts and the auxin content in seedling roots were clearly induced by lower doses of salinity or osmotic stress. However, treatment with the inhibitor of polar auxin transport N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid prevented the above inducible responses conferred by lower doses of NaCl and PEG, which were further rescued when the treatments were combined with haemin. Taken together, these results suggested a novel role of the rapeseed HO-1 gene in salinity and osmotic stress-induced LR formation, with a possible interaction with auxin signalling.
Intraretinal oxygen levels before and after photoreceptor loss in the RCS rat.

PURPOSE To measure the intraretinal oxygen environment at different stages in the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rat model of retinal degeneration to determine whether changes in oxygen level are an important aspect of the disease. METHODS Oxygen-sensitive microelectrodes were used to measure oxygen tension as a function of depth through the retina of anesthetized, mechanically ventilated RCS rats at ages ranging from postnatal day (P)20 to P104. The oxygen profiles were correlated with histologic observations of the cellular changes within the dystrophic retinas and compared with those in RCS-rdy(+) control animals and published values in normal mature rats. RESULTS Although the youngest rats studied exhibited some differences in intraretinal oxygen distribution compared with mature animals, the distribution in dystrophic RCS rats at P20 was not significantly different from that in age-matched control subjects. However, the intraretinal oxygen distribution in dystrophic RCS rats was clearly affected after approximately P30, reflecting a loss of photoreceptor oxygen consumption consistent with histologic observations. In contrast, oxygen uptake by the inner retina was still evident long after the loss of photoreceptors was essentially complete. CONCLUSIONS There was no significant tissue hypoxia during photoreceptor degeneration in the dystrophic RCS rat. The changes in intraretinal oxygen distribution are consistent with the loss of outer retinal oxygen uptake but the preservation of inner retinal oxygen metabolism.
Outer surface lipoproteins of Borrelia burgdorferi stimulate nitric oxide production by the cytokine-inducible pathway

The outer surface lipoproteins of Borrelia burgdorferi, OspA and OspB, stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) by murine bone marrow-derived macrophages from BALB/c, C3H/HeN, and C3H/HeJ mice. Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) caused a three- to fivefold enhancement of this production of NO, and the L-arginine analog N-guanidino-monomethyl L-arginine inhibited it. Activation of transcription of the inducible NO synthase gene in stimulated macrophages was demonstrated by reverse transcriptase rapid PCR. Although IFN-gamma increased the amount of NO produced in macrophage cultures, it did not cause transcription of the inducible NO synthase gene greater than that seen with the Borrelia proteins. OspA and OspB also induced the production of high levels (40 to 150 ng/ml) of IFN-gamma in cultures of macrophages incubated with interleukin-2 (IL-2)-elicited cells from normal (T and NK cells) and scid (NK cells) mice but not in macrophages or IL-2-elicited cells cultured individually. This suggests that OspA stimulated macrophage production of cytokines, which, in turn, stimulated the production of IFN-gamma by NK and T cells. Reverse transcriptase rapid PCR demonstrated that OspA and sonicated B. burgdorferi stimulated production of several inflammatory cytokines in macrophage cultures, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. As tumor necrosis factor alpha, IFN-beta, and IL-12 are potent activators of IFN-gamma production by T and NK cells, their presence in these cocultures could be responsible for the IFN-gamma production. Lymphocytes from infected C3H mice also produced IFN-gamma when stimulated with B. burgdorferi; thus, immune cells may also modulate NO responses. The generation of NO during infection with B. burgdorferi may be important, as NO has potent antimicrobial properties. NO can also be involved in pathological inflammatory processes in which its generation is detrimental to the host. Thus, the colocalization of B. burgdorferi lipoproteins, NO-producing cells, and regulatory cytokines may determine the outcome of infection.