Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Follicle-stimulating hormone stimulates TNF production from immune cells to enhance osteoblast and osteoclast formation

Declining estrogen production after menopause causes osteoporosis in which the resorption of bone exceeds the increase in bone formation. We recently found that mice deficient in the β-subunit of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSHβ) are protected from bone loss despite severe estrogen deficiency. Here we show that FSHβ-deficient mice have lowered TNFα levels. However, TNFα-deficient mice are resistant to hypogonadal bone loss despite having elevated FSH, suggesting that TNFα is critical to the effect of FSH on bone mass. We find that FSH directly stimulates TNFα production from bone marrow granulocytes and macrophages. We also explore how TNFα up-regulation induces bone loss. By modeling the known actions of TNFα, we attribute the high-turnover bone loss to an expanded osteoclast precursor pool, together with enhanced osteoblast formation. TNFα inhibits osteoblastogenesis in the presence of ascorbic acid in culture medium, but in its absence this effect becomes stimulatory; thus, ascorbic acid reverses the true action of TNFα. Likewise, ascorbic acid blunts the effects of TNFα in stimulating osteoclast formation. We propose that hypogonadal bone loss is caused, at least in part, by enhanced FSH secretion, which in turn increases TNFα production to expand the number of bone marrow osteoclast precursors. Ascorbic acid may prevent FSH-induced hypogonadal bone loss by modulating the catabolic actions of TNFα.
Functions of Multiple Genes Encoding ADP-Glucose Pyrophosphorylase Subunits in Maize Endosperm, Embryo, and Leaf1[C][W][OPEN]

Mutational analysis of maize genes encoding a plastidial pyrophosphorylase demonstrates that cytosolic and amyloplast enzymes both contribute to endosperm starch content. ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) provides the nucleotide sugar ADP-glucose and thus constitutes the first step in starch biosynthesis. The majority of cereal endosperm AGPase is located in the cytosol with a minor portion in amyloplasts, in contrast to its strictly plastidial location in other species and tissues. To investigate the potential functions of plastidial AGPase in maize (Zea mays) endosperm, six genes encoding AGPase large or small subunits were characterized for gene expression as well as subcellular location and biochemical activity of the encoded proteins. Seven transcripts from these genes accumulate in endosperm, including those from shrunken2 and brittle2 that encode cytosolic AGPase and five candidates that could encode subunits of the plastidial enzyme. The amino termini of these five polypeptides directed the transport of a reporter protein into chloroplasts of leaf protoplasts. All seven proteins exhibited AGPase activity when coexpressed in Escherichia coli with partner subunits. Null mutations were identified in the genes agpsemzm and agpllzm and shown to cause reduced AGPase activity in specific tissues. The functioning of these two genes was necessary for the accumulation of normal starch levels in embryo and leaf, respectively. Remnant starch was observed in both instances, indicating that additional genes encode AGPase large and small subunits in embryo and leaf. Endosperm starch was decreased by approximately 7% in agpsemzm- or agpllzm- mutants, demonstrating that plastidial AGPase activity contributes to starch production in this tissue even when the major cytosolic activity is present.
Clinical presentation of childhood leukaemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Leukaemia is the most common cancer of childhood, accounting for a third of cases. In order to assist clinicians in its early detection, we systematically reviewed all existing data on its clinical presentation and estimated the frequency of signs and symptoms presenting at or prior to diagnosis. Design We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for all studies describing presenting features of leukaemia in children (0–18 years) without date or language restriction, and, when appropriate, meta-analysed data from the included studies. Results We screened 12 303 abstracts for eligibility and included 33 studies (n=3084) in the analysis. All were cohort studies without control groups. 95 presenting signs and symptoms were identified and ranked according to frequency. Five features were present in >50% of children: hepatomegaly (64%), splenomegaly (61%), pallor (54%), fever (53%) and bruising (52%). An additional eight features were present in a third to a half of children: recurrent infections (49%), fatigue (46%), limb pain (43%), hepatosplenomegaly (42%), bruising/petechiae (42%), lymphadenopathy (41%), bleeding tendency (38%) and rash (35%). 6% of children were asymptomatic on diagnosis. Conclusions Over 50% of children with leukaemia have palpable livers, palpable spleens, pallor, fever or bruising on diagnosis. Abdominal symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain and abdominal distension are common. Musculoskeletal symptoms such as limp and joint pain also feature prominently. Children with unexplained illness require a thorough history and focused clinical examination, which should include abdominal palpation, palpation for lymphadenopathy and careful scrutiny of the skin. Occurrence of multiple symptoms and signs should alert clinicians to possible leukaemia.
Effects of Cortisol on Aggression and Locomotor Activity in Rainbow Trout

Noninvasive administration of cortisol through the diet resulted in relatively rapid (<1.5 h) and highly reproducible increases in plasma cortisol in rainbow trout, comparable to changes seen in fish subjected to substantial stress. Juvenile rainbow trout were reared in isolation for 1 week, before their daily food ration was replaced by a meal of cortisol-treated food corresponding to 6 mg cortisol kg(-1). All fish were observed for 30 min, beginning at 1 or 48 h following the introduction of cortisol-treated food. Additional cortisol (75% of the original dose on Day 2, and 50% on Day 3) was administered to the long-term cortisol-treated group. The resulting blood plasma concentrations of cortisol were similar in short- and long-term treated fish, and corresponded to those previously seen in stressed rainbow trout. Controls were fed similar food without cortisol. Half of the fish from each treatment group (controls and short- and long-term cortisol) were subjected to an intruder test (a smaller conspecific introduced into the aquarium), while half of the fish were observed in isolation. In fish challenged by a conspecific intruder, short-term cortisol treatment stimulated locomotor activity, while long-term treatment inhibited locomotion. Aggressive behavior was also inhibited by long-term cortisol treatment, but not by short-term exposure to cortisol. Cortisol treatment had no effect on locomotor activity in undisturbed fish, indicating that the behavioral effects of cortisol were mediated through interaction with other signal systems activated during the simulated territorial intrusion test. This study demonstrates for the first time that cortisol has time- and context-dependent effects on behavior in teleost fish.
The Frequency of Binary Kuiper Belt Objects

We estimate the frequency of widely spaced (separations greater than 0.″5) Kuiper Belt binaries (KBBs) from surveys for new Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) with the Deep Ecliptic Survey and through recovery observations for newly discovered KBOs at the Magellan telescopes. We find the frequency of KBBs versus discovery separation to be related by an inverse power law when combining our results with those for the fraction of close binaries (separations less than 0.″5) found in the literature. For wide separations, our data and the resulting model agree with the model proposed by Goldreich et al. in 2002. However, including the frequency at the smallest separation rules out the semimajor-axis dependence of the Goldreich et al. model at the 99% confidence level, indicating that there is likely a turnover in the distribution at very close separations, or that the number of close binaries has been underestimated. In either case, the binary-frequency distribution favors binary formation models invoking gravitational rather than physical interactions—such as those proposed by Goldreich et al. and Astakhov et al. (2005).
Nationel identitet i globaliseringenstid

National Identity in Times of Globalisation Theories of globalisation and individualisation argue that the role of the nation state is diminishing and that consequently national identity is losing importance for the individual. Based on general observations and surveys, this article suggests that national identity is still very important – at least in Denmark. Survey data for Denmark, for instance, shows that national pride has increased during the last 20 years. The Danish population also seems to have a high level of chauvinistic attitudes. The national identity is a taken for granted “banal” nationalism that has developed over more than 100 years. This type of national identity is maintained through symbols and societal institutions, and is integrated in the individual’s worldview. National identities consist of boundary maintenance as well as “cultural stuff”. Boundary maintenance in Denmark is especially strong when compared to Sweden, but Danes also seem to have generally positive sentiments towards the populations in Norway and Sweden. Thus they express a sort of vague fee-ling of Scandinavian identity. Recent attempts at creating a regional identity from above by the European Union have not proven successful, and are not likely to succeed in the near future. Local identity is becoming more important to most Danes.
ASAT/ALAT ratio provides prognostic information independently of Child-Pugh class, gender and age in non-alcoholic cirrhosis

Objective. The aspartate amino transferase/alanine amino transferase (ASAT/ALAT) ratio is increased in cirrhosis. Some studies indicate that the ratio may provide prognostic information as well. The purpose of this study was to further elucidate the role of the ASAT/ALAT ratio as a predictor of survival by assessing it together with classical risk factors such as age, gender and Child-Pugh (CP) class in a mixed cohort of patients with cirrhosis. Material and methods. Eighty-nine patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and 81 patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis treated at Aker University Hospital between 1999 and 2004 were identified retrospectively. Survival data from these patients per August 2006 were retrieved from the Norwegian Death Registry. Clinical and biochemical data at time of diagnosis were assessed as predictors of survival using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression models. Results. Median ASAT/ALAT ratio was significantly higher in alcoholic cirrhosis (2.42) as compared with non-alcoholic cirrhosis (1.42). In both groups, a ratio above the median was predictive of poor outcome, p=0.024 and p=0.032, respectively. Other significant predictors of death were CP class (p<0.001), clinical decompensation (p<0.001) and age (p=0.001). Cox regression analyses showed that the ASAT/ALAT ratio was a predictor of death independently of CP class, gender and age in non-alcoholic, but not in alcoholic cirrhosis. The estimated increased hazard (risk of dying) in non-alcoholic cirrhosis was 5% (CI: 1–8%) per 0.10 increase in ASAT/ALAT ratio. Conclusions. A high ASAT/ALAT ratio is associated with increased mortality in cirrhosis. In non-alcoholic patients the ratio may provide prognostic information independently of classical risk factors.
Breaking beta: deconstructing the parasite transmission function

Transmission is a fundamental step in the life cycle of every parasite but it is also one of the most challenging processes to model and quantify. In most host–parasite models, the transmission process is encapsulated by a single parameter β. Many different biological processes and interactions, acting on both hosts and infectious organisms, are subsumed in this single term. There are, however, at least two undesirable consequences of this high level of abstraction. First, nonlinearities and heterogeneities that can be critical to the dynamic behaviour of infections are poorly represented; second, estimating the transmission coefficient β from field data is often very difficult. In this paper, we present a conceptual model, which breaks the transmission process into its component parts. This deconstruction enables us to identify circumstances that generate nonlinearities in transmission, with potential implications for emergent transmission behaviour at individual and population scales. Such behaviour cannot be explained by the traditional linear transmission frameworks. The deconstruction also provides a clearer link to the empirical estimation of key components of transmission and enables the construction of flexible models that produce a unified understanding of the spread of both micro- and macro-parasite infectious disease agents. This article is part of the themed issue ‘Opening the black box: re-examining the ecology and evolution of parasite transmission’.
Delayed cord clamping and cord gas analysis at birth

Delayed cord clamping for at least 60 s in both term and preterm babies is a major recent change in clinical care. Delayed cord clamping has several effects on other possible interventions. One of these is the effect of delayed cord clamping on umbilical artery gas analysis. When indicated, umbilical artery gas analysis can safely be done either with early cord clamping or, probably most of the times it is necessary, during delayed cord clamping with the cord still unclamped. Paired blood samples (one from the umbilical artery and one from the umbilical vein) can be taken from the pulsating and unclamped cord, immediately after birth, during delayed cord clamping, without any effect on either the accuracy of umbilical artery gas analysis or the transfusion of blood through delayed cord clamping. Umbilical artery gas analysis should instead not be done after delayed cord clamping, since delayed cord clamping alters several acid‐based parameters and lactate values.
New insights into the role of histamine in subventricular zone-olfactory bulb neurogenesis

The subventricular zone (SVZ) contains neural stem cells (NSCs) that generate new neurons throughout life. Many brain diseases stimulate NSCs proliferation, neuronal differentiation and homing of these newborns cells into damaged regions. However, complete cell replacement has never been fully achieved. Hence, the identification of proneurogenic factors crucial for stem cell-based therapies will have an impact in brain repair. Histamine, a neurotransmitter and immune mediator, has been recently described to modulate proliferation and commitment of NSCs. Histamine levels are increased in the brain parenchyma and at the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) upon inflammation and brain injury, thus being able to modulate neurogenesis. Herein, we add new data showing that in vivo administration of histamine in the lateral ventricles has a potent proneurogenic effect, increasing the production of new neuroblasts in the SVZ that ultimately reach the olfactory bulb (OB). This report emphasizes the multidimensional effects of histamine in the modulation of NSCs dynamics and sheds light into the promising therapeutic role of histamine for brain regenerative medicine.
Roles of cell geometry and cellular viscosity in red cell passage through narrow pores.

The relative roles of two fundamental determinants of red cell deformability, namely cell size and cellular viscosity, in affecting red cell passage through narrow channels have been assessed by determining the filterability of red cells subjected to osmotic variations. Suspensions of red cells (10(6) cells/microliter) in eight different osmolalities ranging from 172 +/- 3 (mean +/- SD) to 665 +/- 28 mosmol/kg H2O were filtered through polycarbonate sieves with three different pore diameters (2.6 +/- 0.2, 4.5 +/- 0.6, and 6.9 +/- 0.8 micron). The mean corpuscular volume varied inversely with osmolality and ranged from 149 +/- 9 to 67 +/- 10 fl; the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration varied directly with osmolality and ranged from 23.7 +/- 0.8 to 55.9 +/- 3.9 g/dl. The filtration data were analyzed with a theoretical model to derive the parameter beta, which is the ratio of resistance in a pore bearing a red blood cell to that in a pore filled with the suspending medium alone. For each pore size, beta showed a V-shaped relationship with osmolality; the optimum osmolality for minimum beta varied inversely with the pore size. For the small 2.6-micron pores, the minimum beta was attained following hyperosmotic shrinkage of the red cells at 400 mosmol/kg H2O, whereas passage through the large 6.9-micron pores was facilitated by hypoosmotic swelling of the red cells in about 200 mosmol/kg H2O. Red cell filtration through small pores is more sensitive to alterations in cell volume, whereas that through large pores is primarily determined by changes in cellular viscosity. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Segmental detail in children’s early lexical representations

Analyses of Dutch children’s (1;0 ‐ 2;11) production data have shown that both place and voice features show asymmetrical behavior in early productions. This study aimed to test whether these asymmetries also emerge in perception. Results show that children are able to detect mispronunciations of place and voice features in certain contexts, but not all. The same asymmetries attested in production are also found in perception. These findings suggest a tight link between perception and production in acquisition.
PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA HUMANIS DENGAN METAPHORICAL THINKING UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KEPERCAYAAN DIRI SISWA

This research uses experimental method pretest posttest disign. The purpose of this study was to determine the increase in the confidence of students in mathematics in mathematics learning with metaphorical thinking humanist. This research was conducted at the Junior High School level. The instrument used in this study is the achievement test and questionnaire about students' confidence. The results showed that mathematics humanists with metaphorical thinking (MT) is superior to conventional learning in enhancing the confidence of students, viewed as a whole and based on the level of the school and the beginning of students' mathematical abilities. There is a high association between KAM and confidence in the classroom with learning metaphorical thinking, and the conventional class association between KAM and confidence quite enough. The confidence of students whose learning approach metaphorical thinking (MT) is better than using the normal way (CB), students gain confidence to approach learning MT and CB are in qualifying was.
THE STRATEGIC REPERTOIRE OF PUBLISHERS IN THE MEDIA CRISIS

Germany could be considered a deviant case in the comparative study of the current transformations in media markets as publishers continue to be profitable despite painting a gloomy picture of the possibility of there being a “media crisis. ” What is specific about the German case is the strong economic position and political lobbying of the publisher associations. Combining different sources of primary and secondary data, this article investigates five strategies of crisis management (“the five Cs”): media companies may react to the current changes by cutting down costs and creating new products. They may further try to influence the general framework conditions by complaining about their plight in public (discursive strategy), taking competitors to court (legal strategy) and wooing politicians through lobbying and campaigning (political strategy). The article concludes that the sustainable provision of journalistic value benefits the most from creative, productive strategies.
Kurt Gödel and the Foundations of Mathematics: The Gödel Phenomenon in Mathematics: A Modern View

What are the limits of mathematical knowledge? The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the main concepts from computational complexity theory that are relevant to algorithmic accessibility of mathematical understanding. In particular, I’ll discuss the P versus NP problem, its possible impact on research in mathematics, and how interested Godel himself was in this computational viewpoint. Much of the technical material will be necessarily sketchy. The interested reader is referred to the standard texts on computational complexity theory, primarily [5, 25, 43, 61].
Identity: Community, Culture, Difference

A place called home - identity and the cultural politics of difference, Jonathan Rutherford feminism - dead or alive? , Andrea Stuart welcome to the jungle - identity and diversity in postmodern politics, Kobena Mercer confinement, Frances Angela the value of difference, Jeffrey Weeks black feminism - the politics of articulation, Pratibha Parmar live for Sharam and die for Izzat, Zarina Bhimji practices of freedom - "citizenship" and the politics of identity in the age of AIDS, Simon Watney a nasty piece of work - psychoanalytic study of sexual and racial difference in "Mona Lisa", Lola Young the third space - interview with Homi Bhabha cultural identity and diaspora, Stuart Hall.
Color changes of wood from Pinus taeda and Schizolobium parahybum treated by in situ polymerization of methyl methacrylate using cross-linkers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the colorimetric properties of Pinus taeda and Schizolobium parahybum woods treated by in situ polymerization. The wood samples were impregnated in a vacuum/ pressure system and polymerized in an oven at 90°C for 10h, using benzoyl peroxide at 1,5wt% as the catalyst. The treatments were characterized using attenuated total reflectance infrared (ATRIR) spectroscopy and weight percentage gain (WPG). The color evaluation was performed using CIEL*a*b* concepts, specular gloss, and UV-Visible spectrophotometry. Treated woods showed increases in band intensity related to polymers (1730, 1460 and 1145 cm-1), and WPG ranged from 39 to 164%, depending of the wood species and treatments. Lightness decreased, while the Chroma, gloss and the color coordinates increased. A darkening of the all treated samples was observed, and confirmed by the decrease in the reflectance intensity between 400 and 700 nm.
YMDD variants of HBV DNA polymerase gene: rapid detection and clinicopathological analysis with long-term lamivudine therapy after liver transplantation.

AIM To look for a rapid low-cost technique for the detection of HBV variants. METHODS Two patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for HBV infection were treated with lamivudine (100 mg daily) and HBV infection recurred in the grafted livers. The patients were monitored intensively for liver enzymes, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA in serum. Liver biopsy was performed regularly. HBV DNA in a conserved polymerase domain (the YMDD locus) was amplified from serum of each patient by PCR and sequenced. HBV genotypes were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the PCR products generated from a fragment of the polymerase gene. RESULTS YMDD wild-type HBV was detected in one patient by PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing 19 mo after OLT, and YIDD mutant-type HBV in the other patient, 16 mo after OLT. CONCLUSION PCR-RFLP assay is an accurate and simple method for genotyping lamivudine-resistant HBV variants.