PADAPT 1.0 - the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits.

The existing plant trait databases' applicability is limited for studies dealing with the flora and vegetation of the eastern and central part of Europe and for large-scale comparisons across regions, mostly because their geographical data coverage is limited and they incorporate records from several different sources, often from regions with markedly different climatic conditions. These problems motivated the compilation of a regional dataset for the flora of the Pannonian region (Eastern Central Europe). PADAPT, the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits relies on regional data sources and collates data on 54 traits and attributes of the plant species of the Pannonian region.

Attention-grabbing news coverage: Violent images of the Black Lives Matter movement and how they attract user attention on Reddit.

Portrayals of violence are common in contemporary media reporting; they attract public attention and influence the reader's opinion. In the particular context of a social movement such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), the portrayal of violence in news coverage attracts public attention and can affect the movement's development, support, and public perception. Research on the relationship between digital news content featuring violence and user attention on social media has been scarce.

New thousand-seed weight dataset for plant species of Central Europe.

One of the most important and most easily measurable physical characteristics of plant seeds is their weight, which influences and indicates crucial ecological processes. Seed weight affects spatial and temporal dispersibility, and can also influence seed predation and the germination, growth and survival of seedlings. Providing trait data for species missing from international databases is key to promote studies that advance our understanding of the functioning of plant communities and ecosystems, which is an essential issue in the face of the global climate change and biodiversity loss.

Circulating hybrid cells predict presence of occult nodal metastases in oral cavity carcinoma.

Background: Levels of circulating hybrid cells (CHCs), a newly identified circulating tumor cell (CTC), correlate with disease stage and progression in cancer. We investigated their utility to risk-stratify patients with clinically N0 (cN0) oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), and to identify patients with occult cervical lymph node metastases (pN+).

Methods: We analyzed peripheral blood samples for CHCs with co-expression of cytokeratin (tumor) and CD45 (leukocyte) from 22 patients with cN0 OCSCC using immunofluorescence microscopy, then correlated levels with pathologic lymph node status.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the lip: A population-based analysis.

Objectives/hypothesis: The role of cumulative ultraviolet (UV) radiation in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the lip (CSCCL) is well understood. This study seeks to evaluate overall survival as well as incidence and demographics across geographic regions, given differences in UV exposure across the United States.

Study Design: Retrospective population-based analysis.

MRI-based computational hemodynamics in patients with aortic coarctation using the lattice Boltzmann methods: Clinical validation study.

Purpose: To introduce a scheme based on a recent technique in computational hemodynamics, known as the lattice Boltzmann methods (LBM), to noninvasively measure pressure gradients in patients with a coarctation of the aorta (CoA). To provide evidence on the accuracy of the proposed scheme, the computed pressure drop values are compared against those obtained using the reference standard method of catheterization.

Materials And Methods: Pre- and posttreatment LBM-based pressure gradients for 12 patients with CoA were simulated for the time point of peak systole using the open source library OpenLB.

Spatially Resolved Thermodynamics of the Partially Ionized Exciton Gas in GaAs.

We report on the observation of macroscopic free exciton photoluminescence (PL) rings that appear in spatially resolved PL images obtained on a high purity GaAs sample. We demonstrate that a spatial temperature gradient in the photocarrier system, which is due to nonresonant optical excitation, locally modifies the population balance between free excitons and the uncorrelated electron-hole plasma described by the Saha equation and accounts for the experimentally observed nontrivial PL profiles. The exciton ring formation is a particularly instructive manifestation of the spatially dependent thermodynamics of a partially ionized exciton gas in a bulk semiconductor.

Ultrafast supercontinuum fiber-laser based pump-probe scanning magneto-optical Kerr effect microscope for the investigation of electron spin dynamics in semiconductors at cryogenic temperatures with picosecond time and micrometer spatial resolution.

We describe a two-color pump-probe scanning magneto-optical Kerr effect microscope which we have developed to investigate electron spin phenomena in semiconductors at cryogenic temperatures with picosecond time and micrometer spatial resolution. The key innovation of our microscope is the usage of an ultrafast "white light" supercontinuum fiber-laser source which provides access to the whole visible and near-infrared spectral range. Our Kerr microscope allows for the independent selection of the excitation and detection energy while avoiding the necessity to synchronize the pulse trains of two separate picosecond laser systems.

Kinetics of L-theanine uptake and metabolism in healthy participants are comparable after ingestion of L-theanine via capsules and green tea.

L-Theanine, an amino acid in green tea, is suggested to improve cognition and mood. Therefore, L-theanine is available as a supplement and is now used as an ingredient in functional drinks. Because data on the metabolic fate of L-theanine from human studies are lacking, we investigated the kinetics of L-theanine uptake and its metabolites, ethylamine and glutamic acid, in healthy participants.

Caring for persons with bariatric health care issues: a primer for the WOC nurse.

The prevalence of obesity has nearly doubled in the last 3 decades. Nurses practicing in all care settings are looking for creative strategies to achieve safe, effective care for this patient population. Understanding skin injury events and the resulting complications is essential in the development of protocols for care, educational approaches, and interventions providing the best outcomes of care.

Automated chemical analysis of internally mixed aerosol particles using X-ray spectromicroscopy at the carbon K-edge.

We have developed an automated data analysis method for atmospheric particles using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy coupled with near edge X-ray fine structure spectroscopy (STXM/NEXAFS). This method is applied to complex internally mixed submicrometer particles containing organic and inorganic material. Several algorithms were developed to exploit NEXAFS spectral features in the energy range from 278 to 320 eV for quantitative mapping of the spatial distribution of elemental carbon, organic carbon, potassium, and noncarbonaceous elements in particles of mixed composition.

Comparison of a microporous thermoplastic polyurethane-covered stent with a self-expanding bare nitinol stent in a porcine iliac artery model.

Purpose: To compare outcomes with a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-covered self-expanding nitinol stent-graft (TPU graft) with those of a bare self-expanding nitinol stent in a porcine model.

Materials And Methods: Fourteen TPU grafts and 14 commercially available bare nitinol stents were implanted, one each, in the iliac arteries of 14 minipigs. Follow-up was performed at 1 week (six animals), 4 weeks (four animals), and 12 weeks (four animals).

The human GRAF gene is fused to MLL in a unique t(5;11)(q31;q23) and both alleles are disrupted in three cases of myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia with a deletion 5q.

We have isolated the human GRAF gene (for GTPase regulator associated with the focal adhesion kinase pp125(FAK)). This gene was fused with MLL in a unique t(5;11)(q31;q23) that occurred in an infant with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. GRAF encodes a member of the Rho family of the GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family.

First continuous human pheochromocytoma cell line: KNA. Biological, cytogenetic and molecular characterization of KNA cells.

Pheochromocytomas are rare tumours, with an incidence of 1-2 per million which arise from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. They occur sporadically or as part of dominantly inherited cancer syndromes like multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (MEN2A and 2B) and others. Continuous cell lines, not available so far, are essential tools for studies in these tumours.

Expression of functional interleukin-15 receptor and autocrine production of interleukin-15 as mechanisms of tumor propagation in multiple myeloma.

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) induces proliferation and promotes cell survival of human T and B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and neutrophils. Here we report the constitutive expression of a functional IL-15 receptor (IL-15R) in 6 of 6 myeloma cell lines and in CD38(high)/CD45(low )plasma cells belonging to 14 of 14 patients with multiple myeloma. Furthermore, we detected IL-15 transcripts in all 6 myeloma cell lines, and IL-15 protein in 4/6 cell lines and also in the primary plasma cells of 8/14 multiple myeloma patients.

Cytogenetic and CGH studies of four neuroendocrine tumors and tumor-derived cell lines of a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

A malignant insulinoma (LOHG-I), a carcinoid of the lung (LOHG-L), a parathyroid adenoma (LOHG-NSA), and a fibroma (LOHG-F) were obtained from a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Long-term cultures were established. Essential neurobiological properties of the cell lines were proven immunocytochemically and by electron microscopy.

Detection of residual disease in pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia by comparative phenotype mapping: a study of five cases controlled by genetic methods.

We recently investigated samples of pediatric B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) and normal bone marrow (BM). We found that leukemic blasts, compared to their physiologic counterpart cells, frequently display aberrant phenotypes with respect to levels of expression of certain antigens. Using multiparameter flow cytometry, these differences enabled us to trace leukemic cells admixed to normal BM, which suggested that this approach might be a useful strategy for minimal residual disease detection.

Functional granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor receptor is constitutively expressed on neoplastic plasma cells and mediates tumour cell longevity.

It has been shown that granulocyte/macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is able to support myeloma cell propagation in cooperation with interleukin (IL)-6, the major growth factor for malignant plasma cells, although the biological mechanisms involved remain unknown. Therefore we investigated (i) the expression levels of the GM-CSF receptor (GM-CSFR) constituents in three malignant plasma cell lines and in native malignant plasma cells, (ii) the ability of the receptor to mediate common signalling pathways regulating proliferation and cell survival in malignant plasma cell lines, and (iii) the effects of GM-CSF on tumour cell biology. The GM-CSFRalpha subunit was detected in the malignant plasma cell lines RPMI-8226, MC/CAR, IM-9 as well as 6/6 native myeloma cell samples derived from the bone marrow of patients with overt disease.

Differential sensitivity of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes to the killing efficacy of Fas (Apo-1/CD95) ligand+ tumor cells in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by cellular and humoral immune defects resulting in increased rates of infection and disturbed immune surveillance against cancer cells as well as by the expansion of slowly proliferating tumor cells. We found increased Fas receptor (FasR) expression in peripheral blood CD4+ and CD8+ cells of B-CLL patients compared with the equivalent cells of healthy donors. Although increased Fas receptor expression was significant in both T-lymphocytic subsets, only CD4+ cells from B-CLL patients underwent apoptosis after treatment with the agonistic Fas antibody CH11.

Cloning of a novel human ELF-1-related ETS transcription factor, ELFR, its characterization and chromosomal assignment relative to ELF-1.

The ETS gene family encodes a group of proteins that function as transcription factors under physiological conditions and, if aberrantly expressed, can lead to cellular transformation. ETS transcription factors are characterized by a unique conserved DNA binding domain. A subset of these proteins is rearranged with EWS in Ewing tumors (ET).

Comparative genomic hybridization as part of a new diagnostic strategy in childhood hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The detailed definition of karyotype changes associated with hyperdiploid acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a precondition for their exploitation in minimal residual disease studies with fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH). In addition, certain karyotype patterns may have different prognostic implications. We have therefore used comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to analyze the quantitative karyotype abnormalities in 14 cases of hyperdiploid ALL and correlated the results with those obtained by flow cytometry and conventional cytogenetic analyses.

Cloning and characterization of AFX, the gene that fuses to MLL in acute leukemias with a t(X;11)(q13;q23).

We report the cloning and characterization of the entire AFX gene which fuses to MLL in acute leukemias with a t(X;ll)(q13;q23). AFX consists of two exons and encodes for a protein of 501 amino acids. We found that normal B- and T-cells contain similar levels of AFX mRNA and that both the MLL/AFX as well as the AFX/MLL fusion transcripts are present in the cell line and the ANLL sample with a t(X;11)(q13;q23).

Determination and regional assignment of grouped sets of microclones in chromosome 1pter-p35.

In an approach to mapping physically the most distal 30 Mb of human chromosome 1p, region-specific clone libraries were generated by microdissection and microcloning. PFGE blot hybridization of single or low-copy microclones against rare-cutter digests of genomic DNA revealed physical linkage for groups of markers. Supplementary PFGE analysis of 31 1p36-p35-specific probes for genetically mapped loci established a total of 15 grouped sets, consisting of altogether 69 markers.

Conservation of a maternal-specific methylation signal at the human IGF2R locus.

The human IGF2R gene has been reported to be either biallelically or very rarely monoallelically expressed, in contrast to the maternally expressed mouse counterpart. We describe here an analysis of the 5' portion of the human IGF2R gene and show that it contains a maternally methylated CpG island in the second intron. A similar maternally methylated intronic element has been proposed to be the imprinting box for the mouse gene and although the relevance of this element has yet to be directly demonstrated, methylation has been reported to be essential to maintain allele-specific expression of imprinted genes.