Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Abiotic Stress on Photosystem I-Related Gene Transcription in Photosynthetic Organisms

Photosystem I (PSI) from cyanobacteria and chloroplasts is a multisubunit membrane-protein complex that catalyses electron transfer from reduced plastocyanin in the thylakoid lumen to oxidized ferredoxin in the chloroplast stroma or cyanobacterial cytoplasm [1-4]. PSI is responsible for NADP+ reduction and cyclic photophosphorylation and consists of at least 8 polypeptides. Its major components are the P700 chlorophyll a A1 and A2 apoproteins whose molecular weights vary between 60 and 70 kd, depending on the species [5]. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress on several topics related to the functions of the PSI complex, like the protein composition of the complex in the plant and algae, the structure and organization of the PSI subunits and the regulation of photosystem I-related gene under abiotic stress conditions. Furthermore, PSI seems to be well protected from photoinhibition in vivo in many plant and algae species and many environmental conditions. The physiology and molecular mechanism during short term adaptation to changes under oxidative stress is discussed in functional and structural terms. Finally, such characteristics of PSI photoinhibition with special emphasis on the relationship between two photosystems as well as the protective mechanism of PSI in vivo is reviewed with respect to function of the thylakoid membrane.
Working without a Net: A Study of Egocentric Epistemology

In this book Foley offers a major new theory of rationality. His aim is to escape the 'doldrums of Descartes' by lowering the standard for what is rational from his impossibly demanding level of certainty. Foley takes a belief's being rational as a matter of its seeming from some perspective to be objectively likely to be true. This makes for an attractive mix of subjective and objective components in his concept of rationality. The subjective component makes rationality attainable; the objective component preserves the discipline of external constraint.
Suicide and violence prevention: parent education in the emergency department.

OBJECTIVE To determine prospectively whether parental receipt of injury prevention education is associated with new action limiting access to lethal means and if so, what action was taken for which means. METHOD Prospective follow-up of 103 adults whose children made an emergency department visit for mental health assessment or treatment. Record review assessed whether hospital staff provided injury prevention education. Logistic regression was used to determine the likelihood of new caretaker action limiting access to the following potentially lethal means: firearms, alcohol, prescription medications, and over-the-counter medications. RESULTS Significant associations were found between exposure to injury prevention education and action to limit access (adjusted odds ratio = 3.6, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-12.1, p = .04). Five of 8 adults whose households contained firearms took new action to limit access after injury prevention education, whereas none of the 7 firearm-owning families who did not receive injury prevention education took new action to limit firearm access. Similar patterns were seen for other means. Adults more often chose to lock up rather than dispose of lethal means. CONCLUSIONS Injury prevention education should be provided to parents during child/adolescent emergency department mental health-related visits. Potential for violence prevention is real because parents do take new action to limit access to lethal means when means restriction education is provided.
Brain Ventricular Size in Healthy Elderly: Comparison Between Evans Index and Volume Measurement

BACKGROUNDA precise definition of ventricular enlargement is important in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus as well as in assessing central atrophy. The Evans index (EI), a linear ratio between the maximal frontal horn width and the cranium diameter, has been extensively used as an indirect marker of ventricular volume (VV). With modern imaging techniques, brain volume can be directly measured. OBJECTIVETo determine reference values of intracranial volumes in healthy elderly individuals and to correlate volumes with the EI. METHODSMagnetic resonance imaging (3 T) was performed in 46 healthy white elderly subjects (mean age ± standard deviation, 71 ± 6 years) and in 20 patients (74 ± 7 years) with large ventricles according to visual inspection. VV, relative VV (RVV), and EI were assessed. Ventricular dilation was defined using VV and EI by a value above the 95th percentile range for healthy elderly individuals. RESULTSIn healthy elderly subjects, we found VV = 37 ± 18 mL, RVV = 2.47 ± 1.17%, and EI = 0.281 ± 0.027. Including the patients, there was a strong correlation between EI and VV (R = 0.94) as well as between EI and RVV (R = 0.95). However, because of a wide 95% prediction interval (VV: ±45 mL; RVV: ± 2.54%), EI did not give a sufficiently good estimate of VV and RVV. CONCLUSIONVV (or RVV) and the EI reflect different properties. The exclusive use of EI in clinical studies as a marker of enlarged ventricles should be questioned. We suggest that the definition of dilated ventricles in white elderly individuals be defined as VV >77 mL or RVV >4.96 %. Future studies should compare intracranial volumes with clinical characteristics and prognosis.
La sonie des sons impulsionnels : perception, mesures et modèles

La sonie, intensite subjective d'un son est un parametre psychoacoustique primordial dans l'evaluation de la gene et dans les etudes sur la qualite sonore. Il existe a l'heure actuelle des modeles qui estiment bien la sonie de sons stationnaires, tels ceux de Zwicker (1958) et de Moore et coll. (1997). D'autres modeles (Zwicker et Fastl (1999) et Glasberg et Moore (2002)) existent pour calculer la sonie en fonction du temps mais presentent certaines limites pour donner la sonie globale de sons non stationnaires et en particulier de sons impulsionnels. Le but de ce travail de these est d'etudier la sonie de sons impulsionnels afin de pouvoir en proposer un estimateur pour eviter de mettre en œuvre des tests psychoacoustiques longs et onereux, seul moyen aujourd'hui de connaitre precisement la sonie de tels sons. L'originalite de ce travail a ete de s'interesser a des sons impulsionnels possedant une attaque rapide, pas de palier et une decroissance de forme exponentielle. Le choix de ces sons est base sur l'observation de sons naturels que nous avons pu recenser dans notre environnement sonore. Un premier algorithme (ESI) a ete propose pour calculer la sonie a partir de caracteristiques physiques du signal telles que l'energie et le temps de descente. Nous avons determine les lignes isosoniques, les fonctions de sonie et l'integration temporelle de sons impulsionnels pour, non seulement determiner les relations entre la sonie et les parametres physiques du signal (frequence, niveau et duree), mais aussi tester les modeles et en determiner les domaines d'application. Les resultats de nos recherches etant en partie dedies au domaine industriel et a la metrologie, nous nous sommes principalement interesses au niveau d'isosonie, exprime en phones. En effet, cette unite est plus pratique car elle est plus proche du niveau de pression, exprime en dB SPL ou en dB(A), utilise plus frequemment. Nous avons donc determine la methode de mesure du niveau d'isosonie la mieux adaptee a nos types de sons. Ainsi, la methode d'ajustement a ete retenue parmi quatre autres methodes, pour sa fiabilite, sa stabilite et sa rapidite. Toutes ces donnees ont contribuees a determiner des domaines d'application et des limites des modeles de sonie deja proposes et de notre nouvel estimateur ainsi qu'a proposer un nouvel indice (Nimp), calcule a partir du modele de Zwicker et Fastl (1999), pour donner une premiere approximation du niveau d'isosonie de sons impulsionnels.
EXPECTANCY FOR AIRPUFF AND CONDITIONED EYEBLINKS IN HUMANS

Three experiments were designed to test the hypothesis that expectancy for an unconditioned stimulus (US) serves as an intervening variable in the well-documented empirical relationship between the awareness of stimulus contingencies and the occurrence of conditioned reactions (CR) in human classical conditioning. Experiment 1 showed that, when subjects are instructed to respond by keypressing to US in a conditioning-like procedure, reaction time (RT) provides the same kind of information as a direct rating of expectancy. In experiment 2, the RT task was superimposed on an otherwise standard eyeblink conditioning procedure. Reliable discriminative conditioning failed to occur, although changes in RT give evidence of increasing expectancy for US. Experiment 3 aimed to repeat experiment 2 with several modifications in procedure, intended to facilitate conditioning. The between-subjects correlation between RT to US and frequency of eyeblink CRs was reasonably high (0.52). However, when consecutive trials were considered, a shift was apparent between the two variables: RT changes occurred earlier than CR development. The implications of these results with respect to the expectancy theory of conditioning are discussed.
Modulation of the Benzodiazepine/γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Chloride Channel Complex by Inhalation Anesthetics

Abstract: Inhalation anesthetics, such as diethyl ether, halo‐thane, and enflurane, increase 36C1− uptake into rat cerebral cortical synaptoneurosomes in a concentration‐dependent, picrotoxin‐sensitive fashion. At concentrations consistent with those that stimulate 36C1− uptake, inhalation anesthetics also inhibit the binding of t‐[35S]butylbicyclophosphoro‐thionate ([35S]TBPS) to well‐washed cortical membranes. Scatchard analysis of [35S]TBPS binding indicates that these agents reduce the apparent affinity of this radioligand and have little effect on the Bmax. The ability of inhalation anesthetics to directly stimulate 36C1− uptake and inhibit [35S]TBPS binding is a property shared by nonvolatile anesthetics. Nonetheless, there are differences between nonvolatile agents (such as barbiturates and alcohols) and in halation anesthetics, because the former compounds augment muscimol (a GABAmimetic) stimulated 36C1− uptake, whereas the latter group (such as ether and enflurane) inhibit this effect. These findings demonstrate that therapeutically relevant concentrations of inhalation anesthetics perturb the benzodiazepine/γ‐aminobutyric acid receptor chloride channel complex, and suggest this oligomeric protein may be a common mediator of some aspects of anesthetic action.
Root-Knot and Cyst Nematodes Activate Procambium-Associated Genes in Arabidopsis Roots

Developmental plasticity is one of the most striking features of plant morphogenesis, as plants are able to vary their shapes in response to environmental cues. Biotic or abiotic stimuli often promote organogenesis events in plants not observed under normal growth conditions. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are known to parasitize multiple species of rooting plants and to induce characteristic tissue expansion called galls or root-knots on the roots of their hosts by perturbing the plant cellular machinery. Galls contain giant cells (GCs) and neighboring cells, and the GCs are a source of nutrients for the parasitizing nematode. Highly active cell proliferation was observed in galls. However, the underlying mechanisms that regulate the symptoms triggered by the plant-nematode interaction have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we deciphered the molecular mechanism of gall formation with an in vitro infection assay system using RKN Meloidogyne incognita, and the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. By taking advantages of this system, we performed next-generation sequencing-based transcriptome profiling, and found that the expression of procambium identity-associated genes were enriched during gall formation. Clustering analyses with artificial xylogenic systems, together with the results of expression analyses of the candidate genes, showed a significant correlation between the induction of gall cells and procambium-associated cells. Furthermore, the promoters of several procambial marker genes such as ATHB8, TDR and WOX4 were activated not only in M. incognita-induced galls, but similarly in M. javanica induced-galls and Heterodera schachtii-induced syncytia. Our findings suggest that phytoparasitic nematodes modulate the host’s developmental regulation of the vascular stem cells during gall formation.
Nitric oxide synthase inhibition negates bombesin-induced gastroprotection.

BACKGROUND Bombesin prevents gastric injury primarily by the release of endogenous gastrin. Gastroprotection by exogenous gastrin is negated by nitric oxide synthase inhibition, which implicates a role for nitric oxide as a protective mediator. Because both endothelial and inducible isoforms of this enzyme can play a role in mucosal defense, this study was done to examine the contrasting effects of 2 nitric oxide synthase inhibitors on bombesin-induced gastroprotection. METHODS Rats were given subcutaneous saline or bombesin (10-100 microg/kg) 30 minutes before they received a 1-mL orogastric bolus of acidified ethanol (150 mmol/L of hydrochloric acid/50% ethanol) and rats were killed 5 minutes later for assessment of macroscopic injury (mm(2)). Gastric mucosal blood flow was measured by laser Doppler. Endothelial, neural, and inducible nitric oxide synthase were assessed by using Western immunoblot. RESULTS Bombesin decreased gastric mucosal damage, and dose-dependently increased blood flow when compared with saline-treated rats. Endothelial but not neural or inducible nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity was increased by bombesin. In additional studies, intraperitoneal administration of N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 5-10 mg/kg), a nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, negated bombesin-induced gastroprotection and hyperemia, whereas the selective inducible inhibitor aminoguanidine (45 mg/kg) did not. Subcutaneous (SC) l-arginine (300 mg/kg), but not d-arginine, abolished the effects of l-NAME. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these data suggest that nitric oxide produced by the endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase plays an important role in mediating the gastroprotective and hyperemic actions associated with bombesin.
Altered Apoptotic Response and Different Liver Structure During Liver Regeneration in FGF-2-Deficient Mice

Background / Aims: To investigate postulated differences related to FGF-2 in liver morphology and expression of apoptosis-related factors after partial hepatectomy (PH). Methods: Homogenous FGF-2-deficient mice (C57BL/6J) with their FGF-2-(+/+) littermates (control) were used to examine the structure of regenerating livers after PH with light and electron microscopy. The regenerative response and BrDu incorporation were monitored. The expression of BclX-l, Bax, Fas, TNF-α, and Caspase-3 were measured by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis. Results: In the FGF-2-(-/-) group, hepatocytes and endothelial cells contain mitochondria with atypical cristae and fragmented endoplasmic reticulum structures compared to control. Sinusoids show irregular basal laminae. These changes are in accordance with a differential expression of apoptosis-related factors: FasL was expressed throughout the entire observation span (days 0 to 10 post-PH). Following PH, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-mRNA levels were higher in FGF-2-(+/+) animals, while Fas as well as Bax and BclXl were overexpressed in FGF-2-(-/-) mice. Caspase-3-mRNA was similarly expressed in both groups, but Caspase-3 activity was elevated for 4 days in FGF-2-(-/-) mice. Conclusion: Despite morphologic differences, differences in the time schedule of DNA synthesis and differences in apoptotic response, the dynamics of liver regeneration in FGF-2-(-/-) mice were not impaired.
Actin-mediated gene expression in neurons: the MRTF-SRF connection

Abstract The traditional view of cellular actin is a rather autarkic cytoskeletal framework function confined to the cytoplasm. However, there is now evidence that alterations in actin dynamics are sensed by the nucleus and subsequently modulate gene expression. In communicating with the nucleus, cytoplasmic, and most likely also nucleus-resident actin, provides a further (gene) regulatory loop to cell motility. A transcription module composed of MRTF (myocardin-related transcription factor) and SRF (serum response factor) emerges as prime target of such actin signaling. Here, I focus on the nervous system, where the actin-MRTF-SRF entity governs multiple aspects of neuronal motility.
Recognition of walking movement from EMG using a framework combining LLE and HMM

An understanding of muscle activities can reveal the mechanism of producing locomotion, helping to improve the performance of assistive robots in supporting the users' movement. This paper proposes a framework to recognize the human walking movement by investigating electromyography (EMG), which has not been widely approached yet. The framework is a combination of a Hidden Markov Model (HMM) and Locally Linear Embedding (LLE) technique. First, we show that using LLE algorithm we could reduce the dimensionality of the high-dimensional EMG dataset. The extracted primitive components gave a meaningful representation of the EMG. Second, we demonstrate that the HMMs trained by these components could recognize the movement intention at a high rate of accuracy.
Polyamines Are Critical for the Induction of the Glutamate Decarboxylase-dependent Acid Resistance System in Escherichia coli *

Background: Polyamines are present in all organisms. Results: Polyamines induce various components of the glutamate-dependent acid resistance pathway (GDAR) in Escherichia coli and are important for protection against acid stress. Conclusion: A unique function of polyamines is the induction of the GDAR system. Significance: Polyamines are important for the survival of Escherichia coli when passing through the acid environment of the stomach. As part of our studies on the biological functions of polyamines, we have used a mutant of Escherichia coli that lacks all the genes for polyamine biosynthesis for a global transcriptional analysis on the effect of added polyamines. The most striking early response to the polyamine addition is the increased expression of the genes for the glutamate-dependent acid resistance system (GDAR) that is important for the survival of the bacteria when passing through the acid environment of the stomach. Not only were the two genes for glutamate decarboxylases (gadA and gadB) and the gene for glutamate-γ-aminobutyrate antiporter (gadC) induced by the polyamine addition, but the various genes involved in the regulation of this system were also induced. We confirmed the importance of polyamines for the induction of the GDAR system by direct measurement of glutamate decarboxylase activity and acid survival. The effect of deletions of the regulatory genes on the GDAR system and the effects of overproduction of two of these genes were also studied. Strikingly, overproduction of the alternative σ factor rpoS and of the regulatory gene gadE resulted in very high levels of glutamate decarboxylase and almost complete protection against acid stress even in the absence of any polyamines. Thus, these data show that a major function of polyamines in E. coli is protection against acid stress by increasing the synthesis of glutamate decarboxylase, presumably by increasing the levels of the rpoS and gadE regulators.
Can interdisciplinary clinical DVD simulations transform clinical fieldwork education for paramedic, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and nursing students?

UNLABELLED The aim of this study was to examine the usefulness of DVD simulations in a clinical teaching context, their impact on student learning, and their potential as a supplemental learning option for clinical placements/fieldwork education rotations that might assist in reducing the burden on the health care system. METHODS Eleven clinical DVD simulations were developed by Monash University academic staff from four academic departments: nursing, occupational therapy, paramedics, and physiotherapy. Undergraduate students (n = 394) from these health science groups viewed the DVD simulations. Student perceptions and attitudes about the clinical relevance of the DVD simulations were assessed on a 7-point Likert-type scale standardized questionnaire (7 indicating the highest satisfaction score). Qualitative data were also collected from three focus groups that involved 24 students, assessing if and how the DVD simulations influenced the clinical fieldwork education placement learning experiences of the students. RESULTS Overall, students' responses to the questionnaire indicated that they were satisfied with the DVD simulations with relation to attention (mean 4.25, SD 0.95), learning potential (mean 5.25, SD 1.16), clinical relevance to practice (mean 4.36, SD 0.60), and information-processing quality (mean 5.45, SD 0.23). Qualitative data supported the notions of interdisciplinary teamwork, clinical placements, clinical placement education, and DVD quality evaluation and feedback. CONCLUSION Students viewed the simulations as being educationally, professionally, and clinically relevant. The cost benefit of using DVD simulations to replace or supplement components of clinical fieldwork education should be investigated further.
Characterizing Growth and Form of Fractal Cities with Allometric Scaling Exponents

Fractal growth is a kind of allometric growth, and the allometric scaling exponents can be employed to describe growing fractal phenomena such as cities. The spatial features of the regular fractals can be characterized by fractal dimension. However, for the real systems with statistical fractality, it is incomplete to measure the structure of scaling invariance only by fractal dimension. Sometimes, we need to know the ratio of different dimensions rather than the fractal dimensions themselves. A fractal-dimension ratio can make an allometric scaling exponent (ASE). As compared with fractal dimension, ASEs have three advantages. First, the values of ASEs are easy to be estimated in practice; second, ASEs can reflect the dynamical characters of system's evolution; third, the analysis of ASEs can be made through prefractal structure with limited scale. Therefore, the ASEs based on fractal dimensions are more functional than fractal dimensions for real fractal systems. In this paper, the definition and calculation method of ASEs are illustrated by starting from mathematical fractals, and, then, China's cities are taken as examples to show how to apply ASEs to depiction of growth and form of fractal cities.
In vivo analysis of a genetically modified adenoviral vector targeted to human CD40 using a novel transient transgenic model

Retargeting is necessary to overcome the limitations of adenovirus (Ad)‐based gene therapy vectors. To this end, we previously constructed an adenovirus with the fiber knob domain replaced by a fibritin trimerization motif fused to the CD40 ligand (Ad5Luc.FF/CD40L). We demonstrated the utility of this fiber replacement strategy for targeting CD40 (hCD40) on human dendritic cells in vitro. The in vivo targeting capacity of this virus, however, is unknown, and there is a limited repertoire of animal models that present hCD40 at an accessible site. Therefore, a new animal model for evaluating CD40‐targeted vectors is required.
Activation-Increasing Properties of Task Performance

The present study examined the notion that task performance serves as a source of physiological activation in the work setting. Specifically, it is proposed that individuals performing highly in terms of both quantity and quality of performance will demonstrate higher levels of physiological activation than lower performing participants. 120 undergraduate students in psychology performed a clerical editing task after which pulse rate was taken as a measure of physiological activation. The results support the effects of task performance on activation.