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Oomycete pathogens deliver many effectors to enhance virulence or suppress plant immunity. Plant immune networks are interconnected, in which a few effectors can trigger a strong defense response when recognized by immunity-related proteins. How effectors activate plant defense response remains poorly understood. Here we report Phytophthora capsici effector RxLR23KM can induce plant cell death and plant immunity. RxLR23KM specifically binds to ERD15La, a regulator of abscisic acid and salicylic acid pathway, and the binding intensity depends on the amino acid residues (K93 and M320). NbNAC68, a downstream protein of ERD15La, can stimulate plant immunity that is compromised after binding with ERD15La. Silencing of NbNAC68 substantially prevents the activation of plant defense response. RxLR23KM binds to ERD15La, releasing NbNAC68 to activate plant immunity. These findings highlight a strategy of plant defense response that ERD15La as a central regulator coordinates RxLR23KM to regulate NbNAC68-triggered plant immunity. This study demonstrated how the oomycete effector RxLR23KM can trigger plant defense responses by interacting with NbERD15La, a regulator of abscisic acid and salicylic acid pathways in tobacco, which in turn regulates the downstream immune activator NbNAC68. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The field of robotic-assisted surgery is rapidly growing as many robotic surgical devices are in development and about to enter the market. Currently, there is no universally accepted language for labeling the different robotic systems. To facilitate this communication, we created what is, to our knowledge, the first classification of surgical robotic technologies that organizes and classifies surgical robots used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and thoracoscopy. Methods: We compiled a list of surgical robots intended to be used for endoscopy, laparoscopy, and/or thoracoscopy by searching United States, European, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korean databases for approved devices. Devices showcased at the 2023 Annual Meeting for the Society of Robotic Surgery were added. We also systematically reviewed the literature for any existing surgical robotic classifications or categorizations. We then created a multidisciplinary committee of 8 surgeons and 2 engineers to construct a proposed classification of the devices included in our search. Results: We identified 40 robotic surgery systems intended to be used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and/or thoracoscopy. The proposed classification organizes robotic devices with regard to architecture, port design, and configuration (modular carts, multi-arm integrated cart, table-attachable or arm-table integration). Conclusion: This 3-level classification of robotic surgical devices used for endoscopy, laparoscopy and/or thoracoscopy describes important characteristics of robotic devices systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raised bogs are wetland ecosystems which, under the right climatic conditions, feature patterns of pool hollows and hummock ridges. The relative cover and the spatial arrangement of pool and ridge microforms are thought to be influential on peatland atmosphere carbon gas fluxes and plant biodiversity. The mechanisms responsible for the formation and maintenance of pools, and the stability of these features in response to warming climates, remain topics of ongoing research. We employed historical aerial imagery, combined with a contemporary uncrewed aerial vehicle survey, to study 61 years of changes in pools at a patterned raised bog in central Sweden. We used a pool inheritance method to track individual pools between image acquisition dates throughout the time series. These data show a rapid loss of open-water pool area during the study period, primarily due to overgrowth of open-water pools by Sphagnum. We postulate that these changes are driven by ongoing climate warming that is accelerating Sphagnum colonisation. Open-water pool area declined by 26.8% during the study period, equivalent to a loss of 1001 m2 y−1 across the 150-hectare site. This is contradictory to an existing theory that states pools are highly stable, once formed, and can only convert to a terrestrial state through catastrophic drainage. The pool inheritance analysis shows that smaller pools are liable to become completely terrestrialised and expire. Our findings form part of a growing body of evidence for the loss of open-water habitats in peatlands across the boreal and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical peatlands are carbon-dense ecosystems because they accumulate partially-decomposed plant material. A substantial fraction of this organic matter may derive from fine root production (FRP). However, few FRP estimates exist for tropical peatlands, with none from the world's largest peatland complex in the central Congo Basin. Here we report on FRP using repeat photographs of roots from in situ transparent tubes (minirhizotrons), measured to 1 m depth over three one-month periods (spanning dry to wet seasons), in a palm-dominated peat swamp forest, a hardwood-dominated peat swamp forest, and a terra firme forest. We find FRP of 2.6 ± 0.3 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, 1.9 ± 0.5 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, and 1.7 ± 0.1 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in the three ecosystem types respectively (mean ± standard error; no significant ecosystem type differences). These estimates fall within the published FRP range worldwide. Furthermore, our hardwood peat swamp estimate is similar to the only other FRP study in tropical peatlands, also hardwood-dominated, from Micronesia. We also found that FRP decreased with depth and was the highest during the dry season. Overall, we show that minirhizotrons can be used as a low-disturbance method to estimate FRP in tropical forests and peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for assessing cardiac function and morphology. The miniaturisation of ultrasound technology has led to the development of hand-held cardiac ultrasound (HCU) devices. The increasing sophistication of available HCU devices enables clinicians to more comprehensively examine patients at the bedside. HCU can augment clinical exam findings by offering a rapid screening assessment of cardiac dysfunction in both the Emergency Department and in cardiology clinics. Possible implications of implementing HCU into clinical practice are discussed in this review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) offer adult combustible cigarette smokers an alternative, potentially reduced harm, mode of nicotine delivery, attributed to fewer and reduced levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) in their aerosols compared to cigarette smoke. These two identical, randomised, open label, two-part studies aimed to compare levels of 15 biomarkers of exposure (BoE) to selected HPHCs associated with tobacco smoking in healthy US adult smoker subjects (n = 72). Following 9 days of exclusive use of a range of allocated myblu™ ENDS variants, subjects' levels of 14 non-nicotine BoE were substantially reduced compared to baseline values (combustible cigarette use), in the range of 46–97%. BoE reductions were sustained in subjects who continued myblu use exclusively (n = 25) for a further 5 days, and returned to near baseline levels in subjects who returned to exclusive combustible cigarette use (n = 21). Dual users (n = 24) demonstrated reductions in BoE to a lesser extent than with exclusive myblu use. Measured nicotine equivalents did not significantly change throughout the study. These data suggest exclusive use of ENDS provides adult smokers seeking an alternative to combustible cigarettes with substantial reductions in HPHC exposures whilst achieving satisfying levels of nicotine delivery. Dual use involving substitution of cigarettes may also provide some of this advantage, but to lesser extent. Overall, the data contribute to the weight of evidence that ENDS are an important tool in tobacco harm reduction for adult smokers unwilling to or uninterested in quitting smoking. Study 1: NCT 04430634, study 2: NCT 04429932, clinicaltrials.gov (10-06-2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two religious traditions have informed my personal and academic life – Judaism and Hinduism. This is a reflection on their intersection over a period of more than 40 years. This article chronicles an academic journey from a reified religious universalism towards identifying a deep structural affinity between Judaism and Hinduism defined in contrast to other major differentially constructed religious traditions, then to a position of radical alterity that is potentially just as productive of a very different discussion among those interested in cross-traditional and interreligious deliberations. The wider context is that of the relationships, conceptual and analytical, between discernible religious traditions, or dimensions thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uridine phosphorylase (UP) is a key enzyme of pyrimidine salvage pathways that enables the recycling of endogenous or exogenous-supplied pyrimidines and plays an important intracellular metabolic role. Here, we biochemically and structurally characterized two evolutionarily divergent uridine phosphorylases, PcUP1 and PcUP2 from the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici. Our analysis of other oomycete genomes revealed that both uridine phosphorylases are present in Phytophthora and Pythium genomes, but only UP2 is seen in Saprolegnia spp. which are basal members of the oomycetes. Moreover, uridine phosphorylases are not found in obligate oomycete pathogens such as Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis and Albugo spp. PcUP1 and PcUP2 are upregulated 300 and 500 fold respectively, within 90 min after infection of pepper leaves. The crystal structures of PcUP1 in ligand-free and in complex with uracil/ribose-1-phosphate, 2′-deoxyuridine/phosphate and thymidine/phosphate were analyzed. Crystal structure of this uridine phosphorylase showed strict conservation of key residues in the binding pocket. Structure analysis of PcUP1 with bound ligands, and site-directed mutagenesis of key residues provide additional support for the "push-pull" model of catalysis. Our study highlights the importance of pyrimidine salvage during the earliest stages of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep penetration into wood is necessary for wood preservatives to provide long-term durability and for some wood modification agents to enhance wood properties. Bioincising was investigated as a means to enhance chemical penetration. Candidate fungi were screened for bioincising on pine and spruce samples. Dichomitus squalens dramatically improved wood permeability. Full preservative penetration was reached in spruce samples exposed to D. squalens isolate 78A for 6 weeks. No loss in compression stiffness was detected in small-scale bioincised samples. Optimum growth conditions, inoculation methods, and the practicality of bioincising were investigated on full size lumber. The optimal temperature for bioincising with D. squalens was around 30 °C. Bioincising was most effective using grain or liquid inoculum. Using liquid inoculum, spruce samples exposed for 6 weeks reached an average penetration of 10 mm through the heartwood face and 22 mm through the edge; and using grain inoculum average penetration was 10 mm through the heartwood face and 25 mm through the edge. On full-size lumber, bioincising was highly variable. Less than 50% of the bioincised samples achieved a minimum preservative uptake of 200 kg/m3. However, samples that met a minimum uptake of 200 kg/m3 of preservative and achieved 5 mm penetration on both edge and heartwood faces were within an acceptable range for strength loss, comparable to mechanical incising. The biggest barrier to commercialization of bioincising is the difficulty in achieving consistent fungal colonization of commercial size wood using a simple application method and the high variability in success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When in a vulnerable situation (such as walking alone at night), an approaching person may be seen as ‘threatening’. Here, we are interested in how well participants’ judgments of threat reflected the trait aggression of approaching target people. We use two similar experiments to demonstrate and replicate the relationship between judgments of threat and target aggression.In both studies participants judged how threatening they found 22 approaching people (presented in videos). In Study One, participants judged the targets whilst sitting at a computer. In Study Two, participants were standing and were either oriented facing the videos, or oriented away from the videos so they had to look over their shoulder. This was to emulate a potentially threatening person approaching from behind. Across both studies, there was strong evidence that the average judgments of the threat posed by the approaching targets accurately reflected the targets’ trait aggression. It was also found that there was noteworthy variability in individual participants’ ability to detect aggression, with a few participants even having an inverse relationship between threat and the target’s aggression. This research demonstrates that judgments of how ‘threatening’ a person is can be used to accurately index trait aggression at a distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asthma and anxiety are highly co-morbid, and their interaction leads to exacerbations for both conditions. This study explored the interplay between these two conditions from the perspective of children and adolescents. The objective was to identify potential mechanisms of interaction between asthma and anxiety, and to derive improvements for prevention and treatment. Eleven semi-structured interviews of young people (aged 11-15), who met criteria for both asthma and anxiety, were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Well-established qualitative research recommendations were followed to promote credibility and rigour in the findings. Eight themes emerged that were organised in three domains: (i) asthma affecting anxiety by inhibiting coping activities or developmental tasks and by triggering unhelpful thinking and behaviour; (ii) anxiety affecting asthma by impairing self-care and triggering hyperventilation; (iii) interactions between asthma and anxiety, including self-perpetuating feedback cycles and symptom confusion. The proposed mechanisms could help tailor cognitive-behavioural interventions to reduce anxiety and asthma complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BRCA1-associated protein 1 (BAP1) is a potent tumour suppressor gene that modulates environmental carcinogenesis. All carriers of inherited heterozygous germline BAP1-inactivating mutations (BAP1+/−) developed one and often several BAP1−/− malignancies in their lifetime, mostly malignant mesothelioma, uveal melanoma, and so on. Moreover, BAP1-acquired biallelic mutations are frequent in human cancers. BAP1 tumour suppressor activity has been attributed to its nuclear localization, where it helps to maintain genome integrity. The possible activity of BAP1 in the cytoplasm is unknown. Cells with reduced levels of BAP1 exhibit chromosomal abnormalities and decreased DNA repair by homologous recombination, indicating that BAP1 dosage is critical. Cells with extensive DNA damage should die and not grow into malignancies. Here we discover that BAP1 localizes at the endoplasmic reticulum. Here, it binds, deubiquitylates, and stabilizes type 3 inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R3), modulating calcium (Ca2+) release from the endoplasmic reticulum into the cytosol and mitochondria, promoting apoptosis. Reduced levels of BAP1 in BAP1+/− carriers cause reduction both of IP3R3 levels and of Ca2+ flux, preventing BAP1+/− cells that accumulate DNA damage from executing apoptosis. A higher fraction of cells exposed to either ionizing or ultraviolet radiation, or to asbestos, survive genotoxic stress, resulting in a higher rate of cellular transformation. We propose that the high incidence of cancers in BAP1+/− carriers results from the combined reduced nuclear and cytoplasmic activities of BAP1. Our data provide a mechanistic rationale for the powerful ability of BAP1 to regulate gene-environment interaction in human carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the study which provides evidence that some gait measures can related to Big Five and aggressive personalities. Topics discussed include the statistical analysis of gait using motion capture systems, sex differences in personality and gait, and the range of motion measurements used in the study.

The role of cardiac troponins as diagnostic biomarkers of myocardial injury in the context of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is well established. Since the initial 1st-generation assays, 5th-generation high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays have been developed, and are now widely used. However, its clinical adoption preceded guidelines and even best practice evidence. This review summarizes the history of cardiac biomarkers with particular emphasis on hs-cTn. We aim to provide insights into using hs-cTn as a quantitative marker of cardiomyocyte injury to help in the differential diagnosis of coronary versus non-coronary cardiac diseases. We also review the recent evidence and guidelines of using hs-cTn in suspected ACS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work examining the correlations between heartwood extractives in western red cedar and decay resistance in ground-contact field tests identified two compounds that were moderately correlated with decay resistance-plicatic acid and an unknown compound. The aim of the present work was to identify the latter compound and to further probe the correlation between both of these lignans and decay resistance. Chromatographic and mass spectral data indicated that the latter compound was plicatin-the lactone of plicatic acid. Extractives fractions containing plicatic acid, plicatin, and polymeric lignans, believed to be derived from these compounds, were impregnated into ponderosa pine sapwood blocks and evaluated for their ability to resist decay by two brown-rot fungi. Impregnation of plicatic acid, plicatin, their combination, or polymeric western red cedar extractives in pine sapwood did not inhibit decay by the fungi evaluated. However, both plicatic acid and plicatin had high radical scavenging activity, and moderate ferrous iron chelating activity. It is proposed that these compounds contribute to decay resistance not as fungicides, but rather via alternative pathways. These could include interference with redox cycles associated with decay, and restricting moisture by reducing cell wall void volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined weight gain in a stressful environment (i.e., following compulsory enrollment in the Greek army). It was predicted that higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion would relate negatively to weight gain, whilst negative automatic thoughts and intolerance of uncertainty would positively relate to weight gain. This research also explored the strength of independent variables when predicting weight gain, plus the additional contribution of self-compassion when controlling for the effect of mindfulness on weight gain. Ninety-seven military recruits completed the psychological scales on the first day of enrollment. Their height and weight were measured at baseline and after 5 weeks to record weight gain. Results revealed that 43 participants gained weight, whilst 54 lost weight. Those who lost weight reported significantly higher scores in mindfulness and self-compassion, whereas those who gained weight reported significantly higher scores in negative automatic thoughts and intolerance of uncertainty. Furthermore, negative automatic thoughts and intolerance of uncertainty did not significantly predict weight gain, after mindfulness and self-compassion were taken into account. Also, self-compassion uniquely contributed to the negative prediction of weight gain, once mindfulness was taken into account. This research concluded that negative cognition may play a role in weight gain; however, mindfulness and self-compassion may be more useful traits in predicting weight gain, given that once they are taken into account, negative cognition stop being significant predictors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We document a two-year experimental trial of a recently-developed integrated peat-harvesting and reclamation technique at a poor fen in northern Ontario, Canada. We removed and conserved the uppermost ~0.3 m of peat in blocks while deeper peat was harvested from the resultant pit. We allowed the extraction pit to flood with shallow groundwater, and then reclaimed the conserved surficial peat blocks by transplanting them into the flooded pit where they formed a low, floating mat. In the 2nd year after harvest average Sphagnum cover in our experimental plot was intermediate (~25 %) between hummocks (~100 %) and hollows (~10 %) at an adjacent unharvested reference plot. Mean rates of Sphagnum productivity were greater in the experimental plot (65-86 g m month) than in the reference plot (45-55 g m month) for both hummock ( S. fuscum) and lawn ( S. magellanicum) species, although not significantly so, indicating that the transplant had no adverse effects on Sphagnum health. The inundated soil conditions in the trial pit prevented the large carbon dioxide emissions that are characteristic of many harvested peatlands. During the second growing season midday net ecosystem exchange at the experimental plot was similar to that at hollows in the reference plot. However, the anoxic soil conditions in the experimental plot led to highly elevated methane emissions in both years. Our results demonstrate that the method can enable rapid re-establishment of a healthy Sphagnum mat and carbon dioxide sequestration function in harvested peatlands, although the global warming potential of our experimental trial was high due to elevated methane emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borate distribution and content in re-wetted brush-treated Eastern black spruce ( Picea mariana var. mariana) blocks were investigated by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Samples were brush-treated with 40 % glycerol-based DOT (NaBO 4HO) and then conditioned for different durations (5, 9, 20, and 30 days) at high relative humidity (approaching 100 %). The effect of a glue-line on the borate distribution and content was also evaluated. Borate penetration depth was estimated in the radial direction in wood block samples. The evaluation of borate's diffusion gradient in terms of boric acid equivalent was conducted on the whole radial plane of the other portion of wood samples that were sliced every 0.4 cm in the radial direction. The effect of glue-lines was evaluated using two wood strips glued together. Calibration models achieved R ranging from 0.4 to 0.5 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) ranging from 0.28 to 0.31 %. The statistic for validation achieved R ranging from 0.3 to 0.4 and RMSE ranging from 0.31 to 0.34 %. NIRS had some predictive abilities for borate distribution and borate concentration using the projection to latent structures-PLS regression method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current views suggest that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterised by enhanced low-level auditory discrimination abilities. Little is known, however, about whether enhanced abilities are universal in ASD and how they relate to symptomatology. We tested auditory discrimination for intensity, frequency and duration in 21 adults with ASD and 21 IQ and age-matched controls. Contrary to predictions, there were significant deficits in ASD on all acoustic parameters. The findings suggest that low-level auditory discrimination ability varies widely within ASD and this variability relates to IQ level, and influences the severity of restricted and repetitive behaviours (RRBs). We suggest that it is essential to further our understanding of the potential contributing role of sensory perception ability on the emergence of RRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It has been well established that how irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients respond to their illness experiences (physical, psychological) has a great impact on their symptoms, psychosocial functioning and quality of life. Recently it has been shown that using acceptance coping strategies (rather than control coping strategies) is linked to positive outcomes in several chronic illness contexts (e.g. chronic pain, diabetes, epilepsy).This study is intended to evaluate the factor structure and other psychometric properties of an acceptance measure adapted for the IBS population (IBSAAQ) and to investigate its possible utility in the prediction of key IBS outcomes. Methods: A sample of 121 IBS patients attending a specialized gastroenterology clinic completed a series of self-report measures assessing acceptance of IBS, general acceptance, symptom severity, IBS impact on quality of life, general quality of life, gastrointestinal-specific anxiety, avoidant coping behaviours, depression, anxiety and stress. Results: Factor analysis supported a 2-factor structure explaining 48.5 % of variance. The total scale and its subscales (activity engagement/IBS willingness) were found to have adequate internal consistency (all α's > 0.80) and test-retest stability. Correlation analyses showed good convergent and concurrent validity. Regression analyses showed that the IBSAAQ and its subscales significantly contributed to the prediction of IBS outcomes. Conclusion: The IBSAAQ is a valid and reliable measure of acceptance in IBS. This measure might be of use for the study of the impact of coping strategies on outcomes in IBS and of the effectiveness of acceptance-based approaches (e.g. acceptance and commitment therapy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice gene POLYAMINE UPTAKE TRANSPORTER1 ( PUT1) was originally identified based on its homology to the polyamine uptake transporters LmPOT1 and TcPAT12 in Leishmania major and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. Here we show that five additional transporters from rice and Arabidopsis that cluster in the same clade as PUT1 all function as high affinity spermidine uptake transporters. Yeast expression assays of these genes confirmed that uptake of spermidine was minimally affected by 166 fold or greater concentrations of amino acids. Characterized polyamine transporters from both Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa along with the two polyamine transporters from L. major and T. cruzi were aligned and used to generate a hidden Markov model. This model was used to identify significant matches to proteins in other angiosperms, bryophytes, chlorophyta, discicristates, excavates, stramenopiles and amoebozoa. No significant matches were identified in fungal or metazoan genomes. Phylogenic analysis showed that some sequences from the haptophyte, Emiliania huxleyi, as well as sequences from oomycetes and diatoms clustered closer to sequences from plant genomes than from a homologous sequence in the red algal genome Galdieria sulphuraria, consistent with the hypothesis that these polyamine transporters were acquired by horizontal transfer from green algae. Leishmania and Trypansosoma formed a separate cluster with genes from other Discicristates and two Entamoeba species. We surmise that the genes in Entamoeba species were acquired by phagotrophy of Discicristates. In summary, phylogenetic and functional analysis has identified two clades of genes that are predictive of polyamine transport activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western red cedar (WRC) is well known for its natural durability. However, the roles of all the extractives that may be associated with this durability are not fully understood. The literature primarily credits the thujaplicins, with a lesser role for the lignans; however, previous work has identified highly durable material with low thujaplicin content. To elucidate the relative importance of various extractives, the decay resistance of WRC stakes at four test sites was compared with data on the content of specific extractives to determine whether there was any detectable association. The concentration of plicatic acid, a lignan, was associated with the decay resistance of WRC lumber in ground contact. An unidentified, unquantified compound (B) appeared to be similarly associated with decay resistance. The thujaplicins were only weakly associated with the decay resistance of WRC in ground contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyamines are nitrogenous compounds found in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and absolutely essential for cell viability. In plants, they regulate several growth and developmental processes and the levels of polyamines are also correlated with the plant responses to various biotic and abiotic stresses. In plant cells, polyamines are synthesized in plastids and cytosol. This biosynthetic compartmentation indicates that the specific transporters are essential to transport polyamines between the cellular compartments. In the present study, a phylogenetic analysis was used to identify candidate polyamine transporters in rice. A full-length cDNA rice clone AK068055 was heterologously expressed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae spermidine uptake mutant, agp2∆. Radiological uptake and competitive inhibition studies with putrescine indicated that rice gene encodes a protein that functioned as a spermidine-preferential transporter. In competition experiments with several amino acids at 25-fold higher levels than spermidine, only methionine, asparagine, and glutamine were effective in reducing uptake of spermidine to 60% of control rates. Based on those observations, this rice gene was named polyamine uptake transporter 1 ( OsPUT1). Tissue-specific expression of OsPUT1 by semiquantitative RT-PCR showed that the gene was expressed in all tissues except seeds and roots. Transient expression assays in onion epidermal cells and rice protoplasts failed to localize to a cellular compartment. The characterization of the first plant polyamine transporter sets the stage for a systems approach that can be used to build a model to fully define how the biosynthesis, degradation, and transport of polyamines in plants mediate developmental and biotic responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissues from 78 musculoskeletal donors were concurrently tested for microorganisms using both a swab and liquid culture method. An aggregate total of 20 organisms were detected by both methods. The swab detected 4/20 organisms while the liquid culture detected 18/20 organisms. The swab method yielded sensitivity and negative predictive values of 20 and 92.3%, respectively. Comparatively, the liquid culture displayed a sensitivity of 90% and a negative predictive value of 99%. These results clearly demonstrate that the liquid culture method is superior to swab cultures in microbial detection. Additional studies are necessary to determine the optimal culture conditions for different types of tissues when utilizing the liquid culture method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three studies reported examine judgment about the attempts of footballers (soccer players) to deceptively exaggerate the effect of a tackle. Study one reveals that non-professional participants agree about which players were attempting deception and those that were not; there was also agreement about the tackles in which the intentions were ambiguous. Study two demonstrates that the intentions of tackled players match the judgment of their intentions by observers. Study three provides a taxonomy of behaviors that are associated with deceptive and non deceptive intentions. We conclude that deceptive intentions in this context are to a degree manifest in behavior and are observable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated and manual annotation of the ATP binding cassette (ABC) superfamily in the Phytophthora ramorum and P. sojae genomes has identified 135 and 136 members, respectively, indicating that this family is comparable in size to the Arabidopsis thaliana and rice genomes, and significantly larger than that of two fungal pathogens, Fusarium graminearum and Magnaporthe grisea. The high level of synteny between these oomycete genomes extends to the ABC superfamily, where 108 orthologues were identified by phylogenetic analysis. The largest subfamilies include those most often associated with multidrug resistance. The P. ramorum genome contains 22 multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) genes and 49 pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) genes, while P. sojae contains 20 MRP and 49 PDR genes. Tandem duplication events in the last common ancestor appear to account for much of the expansion of these subfamilies. Recent duplication events in the PDR and ABCG families in both the P. ramorum and the P. sojae genomes indicate that selective expansion of ABC transporters may still be occurring. In other kingdoms, subfamilies define both domain arrangements and proteins having a common phylogenetic origin, but this is not the case for several subfamilies in oomycetes. At least one ABCG type transporter is derived from a PDR transporter, while transporters in the ABCB-half family cluster with transporters from bacterial, plant, and metazoan genomes. Additional examples of transporters that appear to be derived from horizontal transfer events from bacterial genomes include components of transporters associated with iron uptake and DNA repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of iron to high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions induces phytoplankton blooms that take up carbon. Carbon export from the surface layer and, in particular, the ability of the ocean and sediments to sequester carbon for many years remains, however, poorly quantified. Here we report data from the CROZEX experiment in the Southern Ocean, which was conducted to test the hypothesis that the observed north–south gradient in phytoplankton concentrations in the vicinity of the Crozet Islands is induced by natural iron fertilization that results in enhanced organic carbon flux to the deep ocean. We report annual particulate carbon fluxes out of the surface layer, at three kilometres below the ocean surface and to the ocean floor. We find that carbon fluxes from a highly productive, naturally iron-fertilized region of the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean are two to three times larger than the carbon fluxes from an adjacent high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll area not fertilized by iron. Our findings support the hypothesis that increased iron supply to the glacial sub-Antarctic may have directly enhanced carbon export to the deep ocean. The CROZEX sequestration efficiency (the amount of carbon sequestered below the depth of winter mixing for a given iron supply) of 8,600 mol mol-1 was 18 times greater than that of a phytoplankton bloom induced artificially by adding iron, but 77 times smaller than that of another bloom initiated, like CROZEX, by a natural supply of iron. Large losses of purposefully added iron can explain the lower efficiency of the induced bloom6. The discrepancy between the blooms naturally supplied with iron may result in part from an underestimate of horizontal iron supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of giant atypical ossifying fibromyxoid tumour (OFMT) of soft tissue, occurring in the calf, in a 77-year-old woman. The patient presented with a history of bleeding ulcer over a calf lump that had been present for over 4 years. Clinical presentation, radiological features and histopathologic findings are described, and the relevant literature is reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A system for the expression of an ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporter from the soybean pathogen Phytophthora sojae is described. Pdr1, an ABC transporter with homology to the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) family of transporters, was cloned by primer walking from a P. sojae genomic library. Reverse transcriptase PCR assays showed that the transcript disappeared after encystment of zoospores and was not detected in hyphal germlings in dilute salts, in hyphae growing in liquid V8 media, or in tissue extracts from infected hypocotyls. BLAST analysis of Pdr1 against the P. sojae EST database also revealed that this gene was present only in zoospore libraries. Comparison of the number of hits to Pdr1 with that of a set of housekeeping genes revealed that Pdr1 was expressed at rates two- to threefold higher than other transcripts. To test the hypothesis that Pdr1p functions as a broad substrate membrane transporter, Pdr1 was transformed into yeast mutants deficient in several drug resistance transporters. Yeast mutants transformed with Pdr1 possessed partial drug resistance against only 5 of 17 chemically distinct compounds. Thus, when expressed in yeast, this transporter has a significantly narrower substrate specificity in comparison to the yeast transporters, Pdr5p, Yorlp, and Snq2p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tie2 is expressed predominantly in endothelial cells and is required for blood vessel formation and maintenance. A missense mutation resulting in an R to W substitution in the kinase domain of Tie2 co-segregates with an autosomal dominantly inherited form of vascular dysmorphogenesis, venous malformation (VM). The mechanism by which this activating mutation leads to vessel dysmorphogenesis in VM is not known. Here we examined Tie2 activation status in VM and found activated receptor in lesional and non-lesional vessels. To gain insight into functional effects of VM mutant Tie2, wild-type and R849W mutant receptor were expressed in cultured human venous endothelial cells. Mutant Tie2 was constitutively phosphorylated in endothelial cells in vivo and caused a marked suppression of apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic kinase Akt was constitutively activated in cells expressing mutant receptor. Dominant-negative Akt inhibited the pro-survival activity of mutant Tie2. Migration of smooth muscle cells induced by conditioned medium from cells expressing mutant receptor was similar to that from cells expressing wild-type receptor. These data suggest that a primary effect of R849W Tie2 in VM is to allow survival of mural cell poor vessels via ligand-independent Tie2 activation of Akt and endothelial survival, rather than to directly induce formation of dysmorphogenic vessels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Basanites and alkali basalts from Oberon, NSW, Australia contain variable abundances of small Cr-diopside lherzolite xenoliths. Despite a limited range in (metamorphic) textures and modal mineralogy, there is significant variation in mineral chemistry. Mineral thermometric data applied to the geotherm of O'Reilly and Griffin (1985) suggests equilibration over a narrow pressure interval corresponding to depths of 30-45 km. These data show that significant compositional variations exist over a small depth interval in the subcontinental mantle. Basaltic host rocks show near-primary chemical characteristics. Mildly and strongly incompatible element (i.e. D< 1 and D≪1 respectively) concentrations have been used to constrain the modal amounts of clinopyroxene and garnet in a presumed garnet peridotite mantle source. Estimated proportions of (ol+opx)=73%; cpx=16%; gar= 11% closely resemble source compositions for other basaltic rocks of eastern Australia. Batch partial melting of this source in the range F=9.5-15% applied to the available REE data suggests the source is enriched relative to chondrite 8-10 × La, 2.1-2.4 × Tb and 2.5-3.7 × Yb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Review of Education / Internationale Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of International Review of Education / Internationale Zeitschrift für Erziehungswissenschaft is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article addresses the influence of 2 personality traits on making hand movements during deception, namely public self-consciousness and ability to control behavior. It was hypothesized that especially individuals with high public self-consciousness and individuals who are skilled in controlling their behavior would make fewer hand movements during deception compared to truth-telling. A total of 56 participants were interviewed twice; in one interview they told the truth and in the other interview they lied. Before the interviews the participants completed a personality inventory to measure their levels of public self-consciousness and ability to control their behavior. The results supported the hypotheses. Some implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioelectronic medicine is driving the need for neuromorphic microcircuits that integrate raw nervous stimuli and respond identically to biological neurons. However, designing such circuits remains a challenge. Here we estimate the parameters of highly nonlinear conductance models and derive the ab initio equations of intracellular currents and membrane voltages embodied in analog solid-state electronics. By configuring individual ion channels of solid-state neurons with parameters estimated from large-scale assimilation of electrophysiological recordings, we successfully transfer the complete dynamics of hippocampal and respiratory neurons in silico. The solid-state neurons are found to respond nearly identically to biological neurons under stimulation by a wide range of current injection protocols. The optimization of nonlinear models demonstrates a powerful method for programming analog electronic circuits. This approach offers a route for repairing diseased biocircuits and emulating their function with biomedical implants that can adapt to biofeedback. Designing efficient and scalable specialized neuromorphic circuits to integrate raw nervous stimuli and respond identically to biological neurons remains a challenge. Here, the authors propose an analog programming strategy to emulate biological neurons in silico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peatlands are globally important stores of carbon (C) that contain a record of how their rates of C accumulation have changed over time. Recently, near-surface peat has been used to assess the effect of current land use practices on C accumulation rates in peatlands. However, the notion that accumulation rates in recently formed peat can be compared to those from older, deeper, peat is mistaken – continued decomposition means that the majority of newly added material will not become part of the long-term C store. Palaeoecologists have known for some time that high apparent C accumulation rates in recently formed peat are an artefact and take steps to account for it. Here we show, using a model, how the artefact arises. We also demonstrate that increased C accumulation rates in near-surface peat cannot be used to infer that a peatland as a whole is accumulating more C – in fact the reverse can be true because deep peat can be modified by events hundreds of years after it was formed. Our findings highlight that care is needed when evaluating recent C addition to peatlands especially because these interpretations could be wrongly used to inform land use policy and decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acquired arteriovenous fistula, a rare occurrence, usually results from an identifiable traumatic insult. The precipitating event is often a penetrating injury, although other factors such as blunt injury, infection and changes in local haemodynamics can also initiate changes leading to such vascular anomalies. The subject of this report, a 42-year-old female, previously had an acoustic neuroma excised in September 1991, which left her with a dense right facial palsy. In an attempt to reconstruct the nerve, a facial reanimation procedure was performed. This was a two-stage procedure that involved a cross facial nerve graft, followed a year later by a free pectoralis minor flap. The aim was to introduce innervated muscle into the cheek to restore function and symmetry. The surgery was successfully completed in June 1997. This case report describes the appearance of an arteriovenous fistula following the use of a pectoralis minor free flap in facial reanimation. There are no published accounts of arteriovenous fistulae arising in free flaps in head and neck surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]