Maternal control of triploid seed development by the TRANSPARENT TESTA 8 (TT8) transcription factor in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The balance between parental genome dosage is critical to offspring development in both animals and plants. In some angiosperm species, despite the imbalance between maternally and paternally inherited chromosome sets, crosses between parental lines of different ploidy may result in viable offspring. However, many plant species, like Arabidopsis thaliana, present a post-zygotic reproductive barrier, known as triploid block which results in the inability of crosses between individuals of different ploidy to generate viable seeds but also, in defective development of the seed.

Carbohydrate reserves and seed development: an overview.

Seeds are one of the most important food sources, providing humans and animals with essential nutrients. These nutrients include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrates are one of the main energy sources for both plant and animal cells and play a fundamental role in seed development, human nutrition and the food industry.

Lung Injury Prediction Score in Hospitalized Patients at Risk of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objective: The Lung Injury Prediction Score identifies patients at risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome in the emergency department, but it has not been validated in non-emergency department hospitalized patients. We aimed to evaluate whether Lung Injury Prediction Score identifies non-emergency department hospitalized patients at risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome at the time of critical care contact.

Design: Retrospective study.

Sustainable application of pecan nutshell waste: Greener synthesis of Pd-based nanocatalysts for electro-oxidation of methanol.

Palladium-based electrocatalysts are widely used in alkaline direct alcohol fuel cells. The synthesis and characterization of carbon-supported bimetallic nanoparticles (NP) of AuPd and AgPd is described using pecan nutshell extract () which serves as both, reducing and the stabilizing agent. This environmentally friendly route generates bimetallic NP for a wide range of applications, including electrocatalysis; since particularly AuPd NP proved to be a potentially suitable electrode material for alkaline direct methanol fuel cells.

Enterococcus hirae Bacteremia Associated with Acute Pancreatitis and Septic Shock.

Infection with Enterococcus hirae has rarely been reported in humans but is not uncommon in mammals and birds. We describe a case of Enterococcus hirae bacteremia associated with acute pancreatitis, acute cholecystitis, and septic shock responsive to antibiotic therapy and supportive critical care management. Unique aspects of this case of Enterococcus hirae bacteremia are its association with acute pancreatitis and its geographical origin.

Ventilator Settings Can Substantially Impact Patients' Comfort.

Background: With increasing realization that sedatives may complicate care of mechanically ventilated patients, greater emphasis might turn to promoting comfort by titration of ventilator settings.

Hypothesis: Patients with acute on chronic respiratory failure (ACRF) with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) demonstrate different levels of comfort in response to varying ventilator settings compared to those with underlying obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS).

Methods: Patients recovering from ACRF with underlying COPD or OHS were randomized to varying combinations of ventilator modes (assist control and pressure support), tidal volumes, and inspiratory flows for 3 minutes/setting.

Perseverant, non-indicated treatment of obese patients for obstructive lung disease.

Background: Bronchodilators are a mainstay of treatment for patients with airflow obstruction. We hypothesized that patients with obesity and no objective documentation of airflow obstruction are inappropriately treated with bronchodilators.

Methods: Spirometric results and medical records of all patients with body mass index >30 kg/m2 who were referred for testing between March 2010 and August 2011 were analyzed.