Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abscisic acid modulates polyamine metabolism under water stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

Limited information is available concerning plant signal transduction pathways regulating polyamine (PA) metabolism in response to various abiotic stress conditions. To gain a new insight into this question, we have studied the possible role of abscisic acid (ABA) in the modulation of PA metabolism under water stress conditions in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Transcriptome profiling of the PA-biosynthetic gene family by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction revealed that arginine decarboxylase 2 (ADC2), spermidine synthase 1 (SPDS1) and spermine synthase (SPMS) genes are highly induced by drought stress, and these responses are mostly impaired in ABA-deficient (aba2-3) and ABA-insensitive (abi1-1) mutants. These data, together with PA content analyses, indicate that ABA modulates PA metabolism at transcriptional and metabolite level in response to water stress.
The impact of obesity in rehabilitation: a mismatch between staff perception and hospital outcomes

Abstract Purpose To establish the prevalence of obesity in an inpatient rehabilitation setting, examine its impact on hospital outcomes, and explore staff perceptions of caring for patients with obesity. Methods A retrospective audit of inpatients admitted to a sub-acute rehabilitation hospital over 12 months. Hospital outcomes included length of stay (LOS), Functional Independence measure (FIM), and discharge destination. Linear regression models were used to determine whether obesity was associated with hospital outcomes. Staff working on rehabilitation wards were invited to complete a survey exploring their perceptions on caring for those who are obese. Results Of 1280 episodes of care, 359 (28%) patients were classified as obese with a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2. Obesity was not associated with LOS or functional improvement after controlling for age, gender, and admission FIM. One hundred and twelve hospital staff (response rate 71%) completed the survey. Most rated their bariatric care knowledge as average (45%) or good (36%). The majority (60%) perceived that patients with obesity have longer LOS than those who are non-obese. Conclusion One-third of patients admitted to inpatient subacute rehabilitation were classified as obese. Whilst obesity was not associated with poorer hospital outcomes, staff perceived that obesity negatively impacts on care requirements and LOS. Implications for rehabilitation A third of patients admitted to a public, inpatient rehabilitation setting may be classified as obese based on their body mass index. Although staff perceived that obesity negatively impacts on length of stay and functional gains, there was no evidence that obesity was associated with poorer hospital outcomes. Patients who are classified as obese were able to achieve comparable hospital outcomes including length of stay in the rehabilitation setting to those who are not obese.
Stress in the Volunteer Caregiver: Human-Centric Technology Can Support Both Caregivers and People with Dementia

Background and Objectives: Currently, one in eight people over the age of 65 have dementia, and approximately 75% of caregiving is provided by volunteer family members with little or no training. This study aimed to quantify points of stress for home-based caregivers with the aim of reducing stress for them while concurrently supporting quality of life for the people with dementia whom they cared for. The overreaching purpose was to increase our knowledge of the caregiver stress burden and explore potential technologies and behaviors to ease it. Materials and Methods: We interviewed home-based and professional caregivers regarding causes of emotional and physical stress and methods they used to alleviate it. Results: This study found that: (1) dementia symptoms created a burden of stress for home-based caregivers primarily in the areas of medication management, memory loss, hygiene care and disruptive behaviors; (2) home-based caregivers identified “finding available resources” as the most important source of stress relief; (3) a minority of home-based caregivers possessed a resource network and knew how to find resources but all professional caregivers were able to find resources and support; (4) home-based caregivers combated dementia symptoms with positive distractions and human touch with little use of technology, since it was mostly unknown; and (5) facility-based caregivers were knowledgeable and readily used dementia-based technology. Conclusion: Since professional caregivers have access to technological resources that our home-based caregivers lack, one might logically conclude that we should transfer technology used by professionals to those with dementia. However, great caution needs to be in place before we take that step. Successful technology should address the human experience as home-based caregivers try to use new technologies. Human-centric technology addresses the needs of both people with dementia and the home-based caregiver.
Search for Difference in Aminoacylation of Mitochondrial DNA‐encoded Wild‐type and Mutant Human tRNALeu?(UUR)

The pathogenetic mechanism of the most extensively investigated A3243G mutated tRNALeu (UUR) gene, which causes the MELAS encephalomyopathy, maternally inherited diabetes, or chronic progressive external ophlthalmoplegia, is still unresolved, despite the numerous investigations on the topic. Previous evidences presented in published work suggested that the mitochondrial DNA harboring A3243G mutation result decreases in the rates of mitochondrial protein synthesis. To search for differences in aminoacylation of mitochondrial DNA‐encoded wild‐type and mutant human tRNALeu (UUR), we have expressed and purified the two kinds of tRNAsLeu (UUR), and have expressed human mitochondrial leucyl‐tRNA synthetase for in vitro assays of aminoacylation of wild‐type and mutant human tRNALeu (UUR). The results indicate human mitochondrial tRNALeu (UUR) gene A3243G point mutant can remarkably reduce its aminoacylation, suggesting it could be one of the mechanisms that the mutation can produce in such clinical phenotypes. IUBMB Life, 55: 139‐144, 2003
Napier subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. var. yanninicum)

Napier is a late flowering F6-derived crossbred subterranean clover of var. yanninicum [(Katz. et Morley) Zohary and Heller] developed by the collaborating organisations of the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program. It is a replacement for both Larisa and Meteora and has been selected for release on the basis of its greater herbage and seed production and disease resistance to both known races of clover scorch and 2 of the common races of Phytophthora root rot. Napier is recommended for sowing in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales, and South Australia. It is best suited to moderately acidic soils prone to water-logging and to loamy and clay soils with good water-holding capacity in areas with a minimum growing season length of 7.5 months, which extends into late November. Napier is well adapted to the permanent pasture systems found in the areas in which it will be grown. Its upright, vigorous growth makes it well suited to grazing by cattle or sheep and to fodder conservation. Napier has been granted Plant Breeders Rights in Australia.
The influence of food presentation on the behavior of small cats in confined environments

Captive small felids frequently pace repetitively and/or spend large amounts of time inactive. Presenting a fishing cat with live-fish resulted in more activity (60% less sleeping), increased behavioral diversity, including previously unobserved hunting behaviors, and greater enclosure utilization. Effects persisted for at least 48 h after presentation of live fish, and up to 8 days. In a second study, four leopard cats were fed: (1) once per day, (2) four times per day and, (3) four times per day with food hidden in small piles of brush. Multiple feedings of hidden food increased daily exploratory behavior from 5.5% to over 14%, and increased the diversity of behaviors observed. It also reduced the total duration, and bout length of stereotyped pacing. These studies suggest that providing food to small cats in a way that minimizes predictability of food availability, while maximizing the functional consequences of foraging behavior, can be an effective enrichment technique. These results are discussed in relation to two models of behavioral motivation, one that focuses on the issue of behavioral needs, and the other that emphasizes the importance of information acquisition. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cambrian Lagerstatten: Their Distribution and Significance

The geological setting, biotic diversity and taphonomy of Cambrian soft-bodied Lagerstatten are reviewed with special reference to the Lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale (South Australia) and Kinzers Formation (Pennsylvania), and the Middle Cambrian Stephen Formation (Burgess Shale and adjacent localities, British Columbia). Brief mention is made also of a number of more minor occurrences in the U.S.A. , China and Spain. Exceptional preservation in the Upper Cambrian is discussed by K. J. Muller (this symposium). These soft-bodied Lagerstatten afford a series of special insights into the nature of Cambrian life. Emphasis is laid on the information they provide with regards (i) levels of diversity and the proportion of skeletized taxa; (ii) the origin and relative success of bodyplans; (iii) community ecology and evolution.
The Effect of Mycorrhizae on Plant Growth and Reproduction Varies with Soil Phosphorus and Developmental Stage

Abstract Determining the impact of both environmental variation and developmental stage on plant-mycorrhizal associations is important, as both can shift the association along the mutualism-parasitism continuum. This study examines the effect of phosphorus level on the response of Allium vineale to mycorrhizae across all plant life stages, including plant fecundity and the relative allocation of resources to three different reproductive modes (flowers, asexual underground offsets, and asexual aerial bulbils). For A. vineale, the impact of mycorrhizae varies significantly with life stage, as an early growth depression at 1 mo was reversed by 15 mo, resulting in mycorrhizal plants having larger bulbs over all P levels and producing more bulbils and larger offsets than nonmycorrhizal plants at lower P levels. However the presence of mycorrhizae did not affect the relative allocation of resources among the three reproductive modes. These results emphasize the importance of long-term studies of plant-mycorrhizal interactions that include fecundity estimates. In addition, they indicate that spatial variation in nutrient availability in the field has the potential to shift the overall effect of mycorrhizae from beneficial to neutral, with greater benefits found in sites with lower phosphorus levels.
Properties of Regional Portuguese Apple Cultivars Produced in Conventional and Organic Modes

The present study involved examining the physical and chemical attributes of seven regional Portuguese apple cultivars. The apples analyzed were produced in two different production modes: conventional and biological, to verify in the extent to which these variables influenced the results. The data obtained enabled us to conclude that the chemical properties: moisture content, total and reducing sugars, protein, and ash, were influenced by the production mode in different ways, depending on the cultivar. As to the textural properties estimated, the results showed that the cultivar ‘Lila’ was the one that presented the greatest similarity when comparing the conventional with the biological modes of production. Furthermore, it was possible to observe that the production mode did not significantly influence the fiber content in the cultivars of apples analyzed.
Exome-wide association study reveals largely distinct gene sets underlying specific resistance to dengue virus types 1 and 3 in Aedes aegypti

Although specific interactions between host and pathogen genotypes have been well documented in invertebrates, the identification of host genes involved in discriminating pathogen genotypes remains a challenge. In the mosquito Aedes aegypti, the main dengue virus (DENV) vector worldwide, statistical associations between host genetic markers and DENV types or strains were previously detected, but the host genes underlying this genetic specificity have not been identified. In particular, it is unknown whether DENV type- or strain-specific resistance relies on allelic variants of the same genes or on distinct gene sets. Here, we investigated the genetic architecture of DENV resistance in a population of Ae. aegypti from Bakoumba, Gabon, which displays a stronger resistance phenotype to DENV type 1 (DENV-1) than to DENV type 3 (DENV-3) infection. Following experimental exposure to either DENV-1 or DENV-3, we sequenced the exomes of large phenotypic pools of mosquitoes that are either resistant or susceptible to each DENV type. Using variation in single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies among the pools, we computed empirical p values based on average gene scores adjusted for the differences in SNP counts, to identify genes associated with infection in a DENV type-specific manner. Among the top 5% most significant genes, 263 genes were significantly associated with resistance to both DENV-1 and DENV-3, 287 genes were only associated with DENV-1 resistance and 290 were only associated with DENV-3 resistance. The shared significant genes were enriched in genes with ATP binding activity and sulfur compound transmembrane transporter activity, whereas the genes uniquely associated with DENV-3 resistance were enriched in genes with zinc ion binding activity. Together, these results indicate that specific resistance to different DENV types relies on largely non-overlapping sets of genes in this Ae. aegypti population and pave the way for further mechanistic studies.
Skeletal damage in reef corals: relating resistance to colony morphology

Corals vary in their ability to resist breakage from mechanical force. Biomechanical theory predicts that resistance to mechanical injury should be determined by the morphological properties of coral colonies. However, a general model to predict resistance of corals to mechanical impact from structural characteristics has been lacking. In order to determine whether resistance can be predicted from colony structure, I use a suite of 6 variables-skeletal density, branch thickness, branch spacing, branch length, colony height and colony (projected) area-to quantitatively describe the structure of colonies from 12 species of scleractinian coral. Experimental analysis of the resistance of colonies from each species, which range from massive and tabular growth forms to various branching models, showed that damage susceptibility varied widely. Resistance ranged from very high for species such as Leptoria phrygia, Porites cylindrica and Porites spp. in which there was no reduction in colony area as a result of mechanical stress, to low in species such as Pocillopora damicornis, Seriatopora hystrix and Montipora sp. which suffered over 60% damage. Regression tree analysis revealed a strong relationship between resistance and colony morphology, producing a model which accounted for 76% of the variation in resistance using only 4 of the structural variables: colony height, branch thickness, branch spacing and colony area. Skeletal density and branch length were relatively unimportant in determining susceptibility to breakage. The regression tree model showed potential for development as a predictive tool in reef management, as it was able to predict susceptibility to breakage of corals using 4 easily measured morphological variables with 57 % reliability (estimated by cross-validation).
Natural variation of morphological traits in wild wheat progenitor Aegilops tauschii Coss.

Aegilops tauschii Coss. (syn Ae. squarrosa L.) is a wild diploid wheat species. It has a wide natural species range in central Eurasia, spreading from northern Syria and Turkey to western China. Ae. tauschii is known as the D genome progenitor of hexaploid bread wheat. The genealogical and geographical structure of variation of morphological traits was analyzed using a diverse array of 205 sample accessions that represented the entire species range. In total, 27 traits, including anther and pistil shape and internode length, were examined in this study. Large-scale natural variation was found for all examined traits. Geographically, significant longitudinal clines were detected for anther size, internode length and spike size and shape. Anthers tended to be small in accessions from the eastern region. Internodes also tended to be short, whereas spikes tended to be long in accessions from the eastern region. Spikelet density per spike tended to be high in the eastern habitats. In the process of west-to-east dispersal, Ae. tauschii underwent extensive morphological, genetic and ecological diversification that produced the variation seen among today’s natural populations.
Epidemiologic and Molecular Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated From Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND We aimed to determine molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates cultured from hospitalized pediatric patients. METHODS All accessible S. aureus isolates cultured from hospitalized pediatric patients were analyzed for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) encoding genes and antibiotic resistance patterns. RESULTS A total of 132 S. aureus isolates, 102 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) (81.8%), 30 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (18.2%) were included in the study. Sixty of 132 (45.5%) S. aureus isolates were cultured from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), 50 (37.9%) from bloodstream infections, 11 (8.3%) from bone infections and 11 (8.3%) from other sterile sites. Fifty-three of 102 (52%) MSSA isolates were cultured from SSTI, 35 (34.3%) from bloodstream infections, 7 (6.9%) from bone infections and 7 (6.9%) from other sterile sites (P = 0.083). Fifteen MRSA isolates (50%) were cultured from blood culture, 7 from (23.3%) SSTI, 4 (13.3%) from bone infections and 4 from (13.3%) other sterile sites. Nine PVL gene harboring S. aureus isolates were isolated from SSTI (75%), 2 from blood culture (16.7%) and 1 from other sterile site (8.3%). Three MRSA (6.7%) isolates were found to be positive for SCCmec type III and 16 MRSA isolates (53.3%) were found to be positive for SCCmec type IV. Three MRSA isolates harboring SCCmec type III was isolated from blood culture, 11 of 16 MRSA isolates harboring SCCmec type IV was isolated from blood culture, 3 isolates were isolated from bone infections and 2 isolates were isolated from SSTI (P < 0.001). Five of 72 (6.9%) hospital-acquired S. aureus isolates and 7 of 60 (11.7%) community-acquired S. aureus isolates were PVL gene positive. Twenty-two of 72 (30.6%) hospital-acquired S. aureus infections and 8 of 60 (13.3%) community-acquired S. aureus isolates were MRSA (P = 0.015). All of the 3 SCCmec III harboring MRSA isolates and 11 of 16 SCCmec IV carrying MRSA isolates were hospital acquired. Hospitalization in the past 1 year was found to increase MRSA infections 3.95 times (P = 0.038, 95% confidence interval: 1.078-14.48). CONCLUSIONS As distribution of virulence genes differs among S. aureus isolates from different regions, it is necessary to monitor the emergence of genes encoding PVL, SCCmec in both MRSA and MSSA throughout the world. Our results show a high prevalence of PVL in community-onset S. aureus infections in children. SCCmec type IV was more commonly isolated in hospital-acquired MRSA isolates, and PVL gene was more commonly isolated in community-acquired S. aureus infections.
Does the Order of Submaximal Lactate Threshold and Maximal Oxygen Uptake Testing Influence Test Outcomes?

The aim of this study was to investigate if the order of submaximal lactate threshold and maximal oxygen uptake testing would influence test outcomes. Twelve well-trained male cross-country skiers (mean age 19.6 years) performed two test sessions within a week in a within-subjects repeated measures with cross-over design study. A maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max) followed by a lactate threshold (LT) test and vice versa, were performed. The test data included VO2, blood lactate (La-b), heart rate (HR), performance speed, Borg scale (RPE) at all stages and lactate accumulation throughout the whole test protocol including the breaks. No significant effect of testing order was found for: VO2max (74.23 vs. 73.91 mL∙min−1∙kg−1), maximal HR (190.7 vs. 189.9 bpm) and speed at LT during uphill running. Three out of four common definitions of LT resulted in the same La-b at the last two steps, 11 and 12 km/h respectively, in the two protocols. It is worth noting that VO2, HR and La-b were higher in the first two stages of the LT test when VO2max was tested first in the protocol. Well-trained cross-country skiers conclusively attained a similar VO2max and LT in both protocols, and the two tests did not seem to influence each other in terms of the degree of exhaustion that occurs in a single VO2max or an incremental LT test. However, when using a curvilinear function to define the LT, it is important to know that the VO2max test can influence levels of VO2, HR and La-b at the first two stages of the LT test.
Syndemic conditions and medication adherence in older men living with HIV who have sex with men

ABSTRACT For people living with HIV, lack of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a serious problem and frequently results in HIV disease progression. Reasons for non-adherence include concomitant psychosocial health conditions – also known as syndemic conditions – such symptoms of depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), past physical or sexual abuse, intimate partner violence (IPV), stimulant use, and binge drinking. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between syndemic conditions and medication adherence. The sample included 281 older men living with HIV who have sex with men (MSM). The study period was December 2012–July 2016. We observed the following syndemic conditions significantly decreased medication adherence: symptoms of depression (p = .008), PTSD (p = .002), and stimulant use (p < .0001). Past physical or sexual abuse, IPV, and binge drinking were not significantly associated with decreased medication adherence. The findings suggest that syndemic conditions may impact medication adherence in older MSM living with HIV.