Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of l-carnitine and niacin supplied by drinking water on fattening performance, carcass quality and plasma l-carnitine concentration of broiler chicks

The present study was initiated to determine whether dietary supplemental L-carnitine and niacin affect growth performance, carcass yield, abdominal fat and plasma L-carnitine concentration of broiler chicks. One-day-old broiler chicks (COB500) were used in the experiment. A two by two factorial arrangement was employed with two levels (0 and 50 mg/l) of supplemental L-carnitine and two levels (0 or 50 mg/l) of supplemental niacin in drinking water as main effects. Body weight gain was significantly improved by L-carnitine, or L-carnitine + niacin supplementation during the first 3 weeks. However, supplemental L-carnitine and niacin did not change body weight gain during the last 3 weeks of the experimental period. Supplemental L-carnitine significantly improved feed intake during the first 3 weeks. Supplemental L-carnitine or niacin did not influence carcass weight, carcass yield and abdominal fat weight. L-carnitine content in the plasma was significantly higher in the groups receiving supplemental L-carnitine and L-carnitine + niacin. It is concluded that dietary supplemental L-carnitine or L-carnitine + niacin could have positive effects on body weight gain and feed intake during the early stages of growing. However, supplemental L-carnitine or L-carnitine + niacin were not of benefit regarding the complete growth period.
Mechanical load plays little role in contraction‐mediated glucose transport in mouse skeletal muscle

The factors responsible for control of glucose transport during exercise are not fully understood. We investigated the role of mechanical load in contraction‐mediated glucose transport in an isolated muscle preparation. Mouse extensor digitorum longus muscles were stimulated with repeated contractions for 10 min with or without N‐benzyl‐p‐toluene sulphonamide (BTS, an inhibitor of myosin II ATPase) to block crossbridge activity. BTS inhibited force production during repeated contraction to ∼5% of control. In contrast, BTS had little effect on glucose transport in the basal state (control = 0.55 ± 0.04; BTS = 0.47 ± 0.09 μmol (20 min)−1 ml−1) or after contraction (control = 2.27 ± 0.15; BTS = 2.10 ± 0.16 μmol (20 min)−1 ml−1). BTS did not significantly alter the contraction‐mediated changes in high‐energy phosphates, glutathione status (a measure of oxidant status) or AMP‐activated protein kinase activity. In conclusion, these data show that mechanical load plays little role in contraction‐mediated glucose transport. Instead, it is likely that the increased glucose transport during contraction is a consequence of the increase in myoplasmic Ca2+ and the subsequent alterations in metabolism, e.g. increased energy turnover and production of reactive oxygen species.
Mortality in out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest patients has decreased in the era of therapeutic hypothermia

Mild therapeutic hypothermia (TH) improves survival after out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). This treatment was implemented in most Finnish intensive care units (ICUs) in 2003. The aim of this study was to find out whether hospital mortality of ICU‐treated OHCA patients has changed in the era of TH.
Visual areas in lateral and ventral extrastriate cortices of the marmoset monkey

The representation of the visual field in visual areas of the dorsolateral, lateral, and ventral cortices was studied by means of extracellular recordings and fluorescent tracer injections in anaesthetised marmoset monkeys. Two areas, forming mirror‐symmetrical representations of the contralateral visual field, were found rostral to the second visual area (V2). These were termed the ventrolateral posterior (VLP) and the ventrolateral anterior (VLA) areas. In both areas, the representation of the lower quadrant is located dorsally, between the foveal representation of V2 and the middle temporal crescent (MTc), whereas the representation of the upper quadrant is located ventrally, in the supratentorial cortex. A representation of the vertical meridian forms the common border of areas VLP and VLA, whereas the horizontal meridian is represented both at the caudal border of area VLP (with V2) and at the rostral border of area VLA (with multiple extrastriate areas). The foveal representations of areas VLP and VLA are continuous with that of V2, being located at the lateral edge of the hemisphere. The topographic and laminar patterns of projections from dorsolateral and ventral cortices to the primary (V1) and dorsomedial (DM) visual areas both support the present definition of the borders of areas VLP and VLA. These results argue against a separation between dorsolateral and ventral extrastriate areas and provide clues for the likely homologies between extrastriate areas of different species. J. Comp. Neurol. 422:621–651, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CD9 Expression in Solid Non-neuroepithelial Tumors and Infiltrative Astrocytic Tumors

The tetraspan membrane protein CD9 is normally expressed in the mature myelin sheath and is believed to suppress the metastatic potential of certain human tumors. In this study we identified CD9 in a variety of brain tumors by immunohistochemical (IHC) and immunoblotting analyses. We examined 96 tumor samples and three glioma cell lines in addition to a murine brain tumor model of transplanted glioma cells in CD9-deficient mice and control mice. CD9 was expressed not only in solid non-neuroepithelial tumors but also in infiltrative malignant neuroepithelial tumors. Among the neuroepithelial tumors, high-grade astrocytic tumors, including glioblastomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, showed higher immunoreactivity than low-grade cerebral astrocytomas. Thus, CD9 expression in astrocytic tumors correlated with their malignancy. In the murine brain tumor model, transplanted glioma cells were shown to grow and spread through myelinated areas irrespective of the presence or absence of CD9 expression in the recipient's brain. These results indicate that the CD9 expression of astrocytic tumors plays a significant role in the malignancy independent of CD9 expression in the surrounding tissue. This might be explained by the observation that the CD9 molecule is associated with a mitogenic factor, membrane-anchored heparin-binding epidermal growth factor, which is known to be upregulated in malignant gliomas.
Bevacizumab Revisited: Its Use in Different Mouse Models of Ocular Pathologies

ABSTRACT Purpose: Previous reports have yielded conflicting data on the activity of bevacizumab (Avastin), a recombinant humanized monoclonal antibody against VEGF-A, in the mouse. The current study was designed to further explore the use of this VEGF inhibitor in various murine models of ocular diseases and compare it to the widely used murine anti-VEGF-R2 neutralizing antibody (DC101). Methods: Murine models of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV), oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) and glaucoma filtration surgery (GFS) were used to investigate the effect of bevacizumab. Mice either received an intravitreal (CNV–OIR) or subconjunctival (GFS) injection. In all models, they were divided in two groups (n = 10 per group). In the first group, one eye was injected with bevacizumab (1 µl; 25 µg) and the other eye was used as a negative control and received an injection of NaCl (1 µl; 0.9%). In the second group, one eye was injected with DC101 (1 µl; 6.2 µg), whereas an isotype-matched control antibody (1C8; 4.8 µg) was administered in the contralateral eye. Treatment outcome was studied by clinical investigation (GFS) and immunohistological analysis of angiogenesis (CD31/FITC-dextran/H&E) and fibrosis (Sirius Red). Results: Analysis of blood vessel density (CNV) and blood vessel growth (OIR) showed a comparable decrease after intravitreal administration of bevacizumab or DC101. Furthermore, in the mouse model of GFS, clinical investigation of the bleb and a CD31 staining on sections demonstrated that subconjunctival injection of both antibodies similarly improved the surgical outcome (bleb area and survival) by reducing angiogenesis. Moreover, morphometric analysis after Sirius Red staining showed a comparable reduction in collagen deposition after administration of the inhibitors. Conclusion: Our findings consistently demonstrate that bevacizumab is as effective as the murine anti-VEGF-R2 antibody (DC101) in mouse models of CNV, OIR and GFS, thus confirming its suitability for translational ophthalmological research.
Are KIR genes associated with clinical parameters in the course of periodontitis?

INTRODUCTION Periodontitis is a common chronic inflammatory disease. It seems that natural killer (NK) cells play a role in the pathogenesis of periodontitis. KIRs are a family of inhibitory or activating receptors expressed on the surfaces of NK cells and some subpopulations of T lymphocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of KIR genes on the pocket depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (CAL) parameter values as markers of disease clinical course. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patients in the study were submitted to anamnesis and to clinical and periodontal examination. The subjects (400) were categorized into two groups: periodontitis (250 including 100 with moderate and 140 with severe periodontitis) and controls (150). Both groups were divided into two subgroups: KIR gene positive (presence of KIR gene in the genome) and KIR gene negative (lack of the KIR gene in the genome). RESULTS The mean value for CAL was more than 5 mm, and the mean value for PD was more than 4 mm in the periodontitis group. The ANOVA test performed for the control group showed that neither PD nor CAL parameters differed between particular KIR-positive and KIR-negative healthy individuals. Similar results were obtained for all subgroups of chronic periodontitis patients and periodontitis patients (moderate as well as severe): no association between KIR genes and PD or CAL parameters was found. DISCUSSIONS The activated immune system is important in pathogenesis of periodontal disease. On the other hand, tissue damage as a response to infection could be due to activation mediated by KIR. In our study no association between either KIR genes presence or absence and PD and CAL parameters was found. Nevertheless, the impact of KIR genes on the clinical course of periodontal disease requires further investigations.
Etude de quelques aspects des mecanismes de la polyploidisation et de ses consequences evolutives dans le complexe polyploide du dactyle (dactylis glomerata l. )

Plusieurs aspects intervenant dans l'apparition et la colonisation des polyploides ont ete etudies dans le complexe polyploide du dactyle (dactylis glomerata l. ). A travers ce travail, nous montrons en particulier, que le succes des polyploides proviendrait plus d'effets instantanes sur la moyenne des caracteres que sur des differences de plasticite entre niveaux de ploidie
Oral l‐glutamine administration attenuated cutaneous wound healing in Wistar rats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the wound healing potential of l‐glutamine in laboratory rats using excision and incision wound models. Excision wounds of size 500 mm2 and depth 2 mm were made on the dorsal portion of male Wistar rats (230–250 g) and were used for the study of oral l‐glutamine (1 g/kg) treatment on the rate of contraction of wound and epithelisation. Histological evaluation of wound tissue was also performed. Six‐centimetre‐long two linear‐paravertebral incisions in male Wistar rats (230–250 g) were used to study the effect of l‐glutamine (1 g/kg, p.o.) treatment on tensile strength, total protein and hydroxyproline content in the incision model. Oral administration of l‐glutamine (1 g/kg) significantly decreased wound area, epithelisation period and wound index, whereas the rate of wound contraction significantly increased (P < 0·001) when compared with vehicle control rats in the excision wound model. Tensile strength, hydroxyproline content and protein level were significantly increased (P < 0·001) in l‐glutamine (1 g/kg, p.o.)‐treated rats when compared with vehicle control rats in the incision wound model. Histological evaluation of wound tissue from l‐glutamine (1 g/kg, p.o.)‐treated rats showed complete epithelialisation with new blood vessel formation and high fibrous tissues in the excision wound model. In conclusion, oral administration of l‐glutamine (1 g/kg) promotes wound healing by acting on various stages of wound healing such as collagen synthesis, wound contraction and epithelialisation.
Expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in human and murine osteoblast-like cells

The preservation of bone mass relies on adequate proliferation, differentiation, secretion of matrix proteins and rate of apoptosis of the bone-forming osteoblasts. Although growing body of evidence indicates that the transient receptor potential (TRP) channels play important roles in numerous cellular functions, limited information is available about the TRP channels in osteoblasts. Here, we inventoried the gene expression and addressed some roles of the TRP channels in various osteoblast-like cells. The transcripts of canonical TRP (TRPC) channels were revealed for TRPC1, TRPC3, TRPC4 and TRPC6 in human MG-63, SaOS and U2 OS osteoblasts while transcripts for TRPC2, TRPC4, TRPC6 and TRPC7 were observed in the murine MC3T3 osteoblasts. PCR products were shown for the melastatin-related TRP (TRPM) channels TRPM4, TRPM6, TRPM7 and TRPM8 in all cell lines. The TRPM1 was specifically expressed by murine MC3T3 cells while the TRPM3 transcripts were revealed solely in human osteoblast-like cells. Transcripts for TRPV2 and TRPV4 were shown in osteoblastic cells. By interfering RNA approaches, the TRPC1 channels in osteoblasts were shown to be responsible for the capacitative calcium entry (CCE) and for the stimulation of cell proliferation by platelet-derived growth factor. On the other hand, interfering RNA-mediated abrogation of the expression of TRPM7, known as calcium and magnesium channels, resulted in the reduction of both basal and growth factor-stimulated osteoblastic cell proliferation. Our results provide the first complete reference for the gene expression of TRP channels in osteoblasts and point to their importance in cell proliferation.
Endogenous nitric oxide modulates adrenergic neural vasoconstriction in guinea‐pig pulmonary artery

1 Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of guinea‐pig isolated pulmonary artery induced a frequency‐dependent contraction. This was abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 μm) and prevented by phentolamine and prazosin (both 1 μm), indicating a role for α1‐adrenoceptors activated by noradrenaline (NA) released from perivascular adrenergic nerves. 2 l‐NG‐monomethyl arginine (l‐NMMA, 0.3–100 μm) caused a concentration‐dependent enhancement of the EFS‐induced contraction with a 3.4 ± 0.5 fold increase at 100 μm (n = 6). The augmenting effect of 30 μm l‐NMMA on the contraction to EFS was completely reversed by 100–300 μm l‐arginine, but not by an identical concentration of d‐arginine. 3 The contractile response to exogenous NA was similarly enhanced by 30 μm l‐NMMA (2.9 ± 0.6 fold increase, n = 5). 4 The contractile responses to exogenous phenylephrine and prostaglandin F2α which matched the contraction to EFS (4 Hz) were equally augmented by 30 μm l‐NMMA. 5 In vessel rings submaximally contracted with the thromboxane analogue U44069 (2 μm), the selective α2‐adrenoceptor agonist UK14304 induced concentration‐dependent relaxation, which was abolished by removal of endothelium. NA had little relaxant effect on these precontracted vessel rings unless in the presence of prazosin (1 μm). 6 Indomethacin had no significant effect on the contractile response to EFS or NA, indicating that vasodilator cyclo‐oxygenase products such as prostacyclin are not involved in modulating these responses. 7 Our results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide inhibits the contractile response to adrenergic nerve stimulation in the guinea‐pig pulmonary artery by a postjunctional mechanism, but release of prostacyclin does not modulate these responses. Basal release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells may account for this inhibition.
The Role of Writing in Distributed Collaboration

Distributed collaborations face significant dialogical challenges: sharing knowledge, questioning ideas, and developing new solutions. These challenges are often associated with collaborations' reliance on written communication such as emails and documents, which are not seen as conducive to the rich dialogues necessary for effective collaboration. However, numerous successful distributed collaborations exist despite their sometimes exclusive reliance on written communication. Based on a qualitative study of distributed collaboration in two contexts-an organization effectively coordinating work across two continents and a pair of scientists working together to develop a new theory-we examine how writing supports dialogue, and thus collaboration, among distant partners. Our analysis of the correspondences exchanged in these two historical distributed collaborations identifies four mechanisms of writing-objectifying, contextualizing, specifying, and reflecting-and shows how they support dialogue and so address the dialogical challenges involved in distributed collaboration. These findings are particularly relevant in our era of technology-mediated communication where even collaborations in colocated settings rely extensively on written communication. Our findings advance our understanding of fundamental aspects of distributed collaboration and propose to rethink the value of written communication in enacting dialogue and supporting collaboration at a distance.
Innervation of the rat uterus at estrus: A study in full‐thickness, immunoperoxidase‐stained whole‐mount preparations

The innervation of the nonpregnant rat uterus has been studied in histological sections, which contain only small samples of nerves and are unlikely to afford a complete picture of uterine innervation. Here we used whole‐mount preparations of entire full‐thickness uterine horns from nonpregnant rats in estrus to visualize autonomic or sensory nerves with peroxidase immunohistochemistry. Immunoreactivity was studied for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)‐labeled sympathetic nerves; vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), parasympathetic nerves; and substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), sensory nerves. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) identified more than one of these functionally distinct nerve types. Axons of all neurochemical classes entered the uterus at the mesometrium and innervated the uterine smooth muscle. The linea uteri, a dense band of longitudinal muscle opposite the mesometrium, contained more TH‐, NPY‐, CGRP‐, and VAChT‐immunoreactive axons than the remaining smooth muscle. Axons immunoreactive for NPY, SP, NOS, and VAChT formed a plexus near the circular muscle‐endometrium interface. Rare TH‐ and NPY‐immunoreactive axons and occasional CGRP‐immunoreactive axons occurred close to uterine glands. Blood vessels had dense perivascular plexuses of TH‐ and NPY‐containing axons and less dense NOS‐, SP‐, CGRP‐, and VAChT‐positive plexuses. The circular muscle plexus and glands were absent opposite the mesometrium. Uterine arterioles formed an interconnected network throughout the uterus. This article provides the first comprehensive description of the autonomic and sensory innervation of the nonpregnant rat uterus and will be a foundation for future studies on changes in uterine innervation caused by normal physiological or pathophysiological challenges J. Comp. Neurol. 519:621–643, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung in der Europäischen Aktiengesellschaft (SE) : empirische Befunde und (un-)erwartete Konsequenzen

Uber die Zukunft der Mitbestimmung wird insbesondere auch vor dem Hintergrund einer zunehmenden Europaisierung kontrovers debattiert (Seyboth/Thannisch 2008). Mehrere Kommissionen (Bertelsmann-Stiftung/Hans-Bockler-Stiftung 1998; Biedenkopf et al. 2006) und Studien (Vitols 2006; Renaud 2007) kommen zu dem Ergebnis, dass sich die deutsche Mitbestimmung im Grosen und Ganzen bewahrt und keine negativen Auswirkungen auf den wirtschaftlichen Erfolg der Unternehmen hat, sondern im Gegenteil zu positiven Produktivitatseffekten fuhren kann. Trotz dieser empirischen Ergebnisse kritisieren bestimmte Interessengruppen wiederholt die geltenden Regelungen (BDA/ BDI 2004; Donges et al. 2007; Vogel 2007). In jungster Zeit haufen sich Forderungen, Verhandlungslosungen auch auf nationaler Ebene zuzulassen (vgl. Teichmann 2008, S. 797f.) um, dem Beispiel der Europaischen Aktiengesellschaft (Societas Europaea – SE) folgend, auf die Herausforderungen zu reagieren, die durch europaischen Wettbewerb fur die nationale Mitbestimmung entstunden.1 In der Tat war in der jahrzehntelangen Debatte um die Schaffung der SE die Frage um die Ausgestaltung der Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung stets kontrovers. Das Projekt geriet zu einer Art „Seifenoper“, mit „standig Auswirkungen auf. Dieser Beitrag analysiert die Situation der SE, vor allem die verhandelte Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung, nach aktuellem Stand und zieht eine erste, empirisch fundierte Bilanz aus einer IndustrialRelations-Perspektive. Der Artikel gliedert sich wie folgt: Abschnitt 2 gibt eine quantitativ-deskriptive, generelle Bestandsaufnahme zur SE. Abschnitt 3 erlautert institutionelle Grundlagen zur verhandelten Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung, die Basis sind fur das Verstandnis der weiteren Abschnitte. Abschnitt 4 behandelt die Ebene des SEBetriebsrates (im Folgenden SE-BR). Die Abschnitte 5 bis 7 gehen auf ausgewahlte Phanomene und Probleme ein, die aus Industrial-Relations-Perspektive sowie aus Arbeitnehmerbeteiligung in der Europaischen Aktiengesellschaft (SE) – Empirische Befunde und (un-)erwartete Konsequenzen Berndt Keller Frank Werner
Epidermal Growth Factor Treatment Switches δ-Opioid Receptor-Stimulated Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases 1 and 2 Signaling from an Epidermal Growth Factor to an Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor-Dependent Mechanism

δ-Opioid receptor (DOR)-induced activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) is mediated by the transactivation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors. Here we demonstrate that in stably DOR-expressing human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 (HEK/DOR) cells, down-regulation of EGF receptors by long-term EGF (0.1 μg for 18 h) treatment, but not by small interfering RNA, results in functional desensitization of EGF (10 ng/ml)-stimulated ERK1/2 signaling. In EGF receptor-desensitized (HEK/DOR−EGFR) cells, however, [d-Ala2,d-Leu5]enkephalin (1 μM) and etorphine (0.1 μM) retained their ability to stimulate ERK1/2 activation. The newly acquired signal transduction mechanism is insensitive to the EGF receptor blockers 4-(3-chloroanilino)-6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline (AG1478) and N-[4-[(3-bromophenyl)amino]-6-quinazolinyl]-2-butynamide (CL-387,785), does not involve DOR internalization and activation of the focal adhesion kinase pp125FAK, but requires matrix metalloproteinase-dependent release of soluble growth factors. A supernatant transfer assay in which conditioned growth media of opioid-treated HEK/DOR and HEK/DOR−EGFR “donor” cells are used to stimulate ERK1/2 activity in DOR-lacking HEK293 wild type and HEK293−EGFR “acceptor” cells revealed that long-term EGF treatment produces a switch in the receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) system transactivated by opioids. Using microfluidic electrophoresis, chemical inhibitors, phosphorylation-specific antibodies, and EGF receptor-deficient Chinese hamster ovary-K1 cells, we identified the release of an insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)-like peptide and activation of IGF-1 receptors in HEK/DOR−EGFR cells after DOR activation. A similar switch from a neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor type 1 to an IGF-1 receptor-dependent ERK1/2 signaling was observed for chronically nerve growth factor-treated neuroblastoma × glioma (NG108-15) cells. These results indicate that transactivation of the dominant RTK system in a given cellular setting may represent a general feature of opioids to maintain mitogenic signaling.