Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adenylyl Cyclase Responsiveness to Guanyl Nucleotides in the Developing Rat Heart

Summary: Guanyl nucleotides are effective activators of rat heart adenylyl cyclase activity from the earliest age studied, 16 fetal days, through adulthood. Both guanosine triphosphate and guanylyl-imidodiphosphate (GMP-PNP) significantly enhance epinephrine-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity at all fetal and postnatal ages. The dose-response curves for epinephrine alone, GMP-PNP alone, or for the combination of epinephrine and GMP-PNP are similar for the newborn and adult heart preparations.Our results indicate that the epinephrine-guanyl nucleotide-adenylyl cyclase system is "mature" as a functional unit in the rat heart even prior to birth. The rat heart adenylyl cyclase system shows a dramatic increase in responsiveness to epinephrine and to guanyl nucleotides just before birth, a responsiveness which rapidly falls by 3 days of neonatal life. With increasing age, the absolute guanosine triphosphate or GMP-PNP activated rate rises in parallel with the basal rate of adenylyl cyclase activity in the rat heart.Speculation: The activation of adenylyl cyclase systems by guanyl nucleotides may be a general feature of fetal as well as of adult tissues. This activation by guanyl nucleotides may magnify tissue hormonal responses at some stages of development.
Hydroxyurea treatment of children with hemoglobin SC disease

The efficacy of hydroxyurea in hemoglobin SC (HbSC) patients is not well documented. We describe the long‐term response to hydroxyurea in children with clinically severe HbSC. In 15 patients, hydroxyurea resulted in a significant increase in mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and a significant decrease in episodes of acute chest syndrome and hospitalization for pain; there was no effect on hemoglobin level. The most significant side effect was thrombocytopenia, which led to discontinuation of treatment in one patient. This study suggests that hydroxyurea has efficacy and is safe for long‐term therapy in patients with HbSC. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2013;60:323–325. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Computer-Based Reading and Spelling Practice for Children with Learning Disabilities

To examine the effects of computer-based reading and spelling practice on the development of reading and spelling skills, a pretest-training-posttest experiment was conducted in The Netherlands. Eleven girls and 17 boys with written language disorders (on the average, 9 years, 7 months old and performing 2 grades below age expectancy) practiced hard-to-read words under three conditions: reading from the computer screen, copying from the screen, and writing from memory after presentation on the screen. For all words, whole-word sound was available on call during practice. To assess learning effects, both a dictation and a read-aloud task were administered in which nonpracticed control words were also presented. During training, the computer kept record of several aspects of the pupils' learning behavior. It was found that copying words from the screen resulted in significantly fewer spelling errors on the posttest than writing words from memory, and that both forms of spelling practice led to fewer spelling errors than only reading words during practice. All three forms of practice improved to the same degree both the accuracy and fluency of reading the practiced words aloud. The way in which spelling and reading practice, in combination with speech feedback, support the development of phonological skills in children with written language disorders is highlighted in the discussion.
Clinical phenotype and molecular characterization of 6q terminal deletion syndrome: Five new cases

Mental retardation, facial dysmorphisms, seizures, and brain abnormalities are features of 6q terminal deletions. We have ascertained five patients with 6q subtelomere deletions (four de novo, one as a result of an unbalanced translocation) and determined the size of the deletion ranging from 3 to 13 Mb. Our patients showed a recognizable phenotype including mental retardation, characteristic facial appearance, and a distinctive clinico‐neuroradiological picture. Focal epilepsy with consistent electroencephalographic features and with certain brain anomalies on neuroimaging studies should suggest 6q terminal deletion. The awareness of the distinctive clinical picture will help in the diagnosis of this chromosomal abnormality. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
EFFECT OF FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND CHARACTERISTICS ON PROFITABILITY : A STUDY ON BUSINESS ENTERPRISES IN JIMMA TOWN , ETHIOPIA

This study investigated the effect of financial management practices and financial characteristics on profitability of business enterprises in Jimma town (Ethiopia). Both primary and secondary data were collected from 37 business enterprises in Jimma town. Analysis of the collected data provided that; profitability was significantly affected by efficiency in financial management practices such as accounting, reporting, & analysis, working capital management, fixed asset management and financial planning and financial characteristics such as current ratio and debt ratio. Therefore, in order to increase profitability, the researchers recommend that business enterprises should continuously improve their financial management practices and financial characteristics.
Incomplete by Design and Designing for Incompleteness

The traditional scientific approach to design extols the virtues of completeness. However, in environments characterized by continual change, there are challenges in adopting such an approach. We examine Linux and Wikipedia as two exemplary cases to explore the nature of design in such a protean world. Our observations highlight a pragmatic approach to design in which incompleteness is harnessed in a generative manner. This suggests a change in the meaning of the word `design' itself — from one that separates the process of design from its outcome, to one that considers design as both the medium and outcome of action.
Molecular bases of the acute coronary syndromes.

The acute coronary syndromes, including unstable angina and acute myocardial infarction, currently constitute a major preoccupation of clinical cardiology. This century has witnessed a remarkable evolution in our clinical concepts of these syndromes. Herrick1 described the survival of patients with acute coronary thrombosis early in the century. The introduction of the ECG led to major clinical advances in the definition of acute myocardial infarction during the first half of this century and furnished the basis of modern coronary care. In the latter half of this century, the advent of coronary arteriography permitted definition in the living patient of coronary stenoses due to atherosclerosis. The introduction of this diagnostic technique allowed the development of rational treatment modalities such as coronary artery bypass surgery and, subsequently, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Until recently, it seemed that we had achieved a firm understanding of the pathophysiology of human coronary artery disease and had devised appropriate modes of therapy for its major manifestations. Yet, recent clinical data suggest that we still have much to learn about the pathophysiology of the acute coronary syndromes. Bypass surgery and angioplasty aim to restore blood flow to sites beyond hemodynamically significant stenoses in the coronary arteries. These revascularization therapies effectively relieve angina pectoris in many cases (although often not permanently). Quite naturally, the availability of these modalities led the cardiology community to focus on high-grade coronary stenosis, visible by angiography, as the critical issue in coronary heart disease. Much of the basis of contemporary cardiology and cardiac surgery rests on the axiom: the greater the stenosis, the greater the risk of a clinical event such as myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. However, data emerging from clinical and pathological studies over the past decade have occasioned a reassessment of this central dogma of clinical cardiology.2 First, the …
Involvement of hormonal circadian secretion in the growth of HIV‐infected children

Objective:To evaluate the circadian secretion of hormones involved in the regulation of growth in childhood, namely growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, cortisol, adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in HIV-infected children. Design:The circadian secretory pattern of growth hormone, IGF-I, cortisol, ACTH and TSH was evaluated in 14 HIV-infected children; 13 healthy age- and sex-matched children were chosen as controls. Methods:Sampling was performed every 4 h from 0400 h to 2000 h and every 2 h from 2000 h to 0400 h. Rhythmometric data were analysed by single and population mean cosinor methods and by analysis of variance. Results:A statistically significant circadian rhythm for growth hormone, IGF-I and cortisol was detectable in HIV-seropositive children, but the mean basal IGF-I levels were below the normal range for age in 12 patients. A statistically significant circadian rhythm was not detectable for ACTH or TSH. Conclusion:These results show that there is a loss of the physiological regulation of growth hormone-IGF-I axis and a modification of 24 h TSH profile in our HIV-infected children. These abnormalities might be involved in the altered growth mechanism leading to the failure to thrive that is a peculiar feature of HIV-infected children.
Reconstruction for Chronic Lateral Ankle Instability Using the Palmaris Longus Tendon: Is Reconstruction of the Calcaneofibular Ligament Necessary?

The palmaris longus tendon was used to reconstruct the anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) in 27 ankles with chronic lateral instability. The mean age of the patients at surgery was 23 years, and the follow-up was more than 2 years. The functional evaluation showed excellent or good results in all ankles. Twenty-seven ankles were divided into two groups according to operative findings: group A consisted of 11 ankles with old isolated injury of the ATFL, and group B consisted of 16 ankles with old combined injuries of the ATFL and the calcaneofibular ligament. There were no significant differences in clinical results between group A and group B. The preoperative mean talar tilt angles on stress radiograph in group B were significantly larger than those in group A. At follow-up, there were no significant differences in the mean talar tilt angles between group A and group B. We demonstrate that reconstruction of the calcaneofibular ligament along with the ATFL is not necessary for patients with chronic combined lateral ligament instability.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Understanding Developmental Dyslexia Within Working-Memory Architecture: Genotypes, Phenotypes, Brain, and Instruction

A unifying theoretical framework of three working memory components provides a systems perspective for discussing past and new findings in a 12-year research program that point to heterogeneity in the genetic and brain basis and behavioral expression of dyslexia: (a) codes for word-form storage and processing, (b) time-sensitive phonological and orthographic loops for maintaining information in working memory or outputting it, and (c) executive functions for language (e.g., rapid automatic switching of attention). Results, which span the genetic to neurological to behavioral levels of analysis, point to possible impairment in any one or combination of these working memory components in individuals with dyslexia. A DNA variation on chromosome 15 may be linked with the phonological word-form in the first working-memory component. A DNA variation on chromosome 6 may be linked with slow rapid automatic switching, inattention ratings, and impaired goal-directed activity ratings in the third working-memory component. Brain and behavioral findings support (a) Triple Word Form Theory: phonological, orthographic, and morphological word-forms and their parts contribute to learning to read and spell words; and (b) Cross-Word Form Mapping: in the process of learning to read and spell words children compute the inter-relationships among the three word-forms and their parts. However, children with dyslexia may require more focus on the morphological word-form and its parts and their relationships with the other two word-forms and their parts than do normal readers. Also, children with dyslexia have unusual difficulties in sustaining phonological loop function in working memory over time; their impaired orthographic loop function may interfere with learning to write alphabet letters and spell, which may be as impaired as word decoding and reading. Impaired executive functions may interfere with the efficiency of working memory in processing oral and written language.
Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells e Their osteogenicity and osteoblast in vitro mineralization on titanium granule carriers

Purpose: Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) may be osteogenic, may generate neoangiogenisis and may be progenitors for differentiated osteoblast mineralization. Titanium granules may be suitable as carriers for these cells. The aim was to demonstrate the osteogenic potential of ADMSCs and the effect of porous non-oxidized (Ti) and oxidized titanium (TiO2) granules as carriers for ADMSCs mineralization in vitro. Materials and methods: ADMSCs were isolated, cultivated in osteoblast medium and evaluated for alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay, RNA isolation, and ALP staining. Osteoblast in vitro mineralization cells without granules or seeded on Ti or TiO2 granules were evaluated for Alizarin Red assay and RNA isolation for later gene expressing. Results: ADMSCs express osteoblastic lineage genes, CBFA-1 and stain strongly for ALP. Mineralization was significantly higher for cells seeded on TiO2 than on Ti granules or pure cells. Expression of ALPL and RUNX2 was significantly higher for cells seeded on TiO2 granules and expression of COL1a1 for pure cells was significantly higher than for cells seeded on granules. Conclusion: ADMSCs have osteogenic potential. Mineralization was significantly high when cells were seeded on TiO2 granules. TiO2 granules may be used as carriers for adipose derived mesenchymal osteoblastic cells from laboratory bench to the patient. 2013 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
DRIH-MAC: A Distributed Receiver-Initiated Harvesting-Aware MAC for Nanonetworks

In this paper, we introduce DRIH-MAC, a distributed receiver-initiated medium access control protocol for communication among nanonodes in a wireless electromagnetic nanonetwork. DRIH-MAC is developed based on the following principles: 1) communication starts via the receiver with the goal of maximizing the energy utilization; 2) the distributed scheme for accessing the medium is designed based on graph coloring; and 3) communication scheduling works in coordination with the energy harvesting process. DRIH-MAC is based on a probabilistic scheme to create a scalable and light-weight solution, which minimizes collisions and maximizes the utilization of harvested energy, and can be used in a wide variety of applications. Through simulation experiments, we demonstrate the efficiency of DRIH- MAC in a sample medical monitoring application. In particular, DRIH-MAC can improve energy utilization by 50% as compared to a random MAC protocol. Furthermore, it can satisfy application requirements such as delay, even with low energy harvesting rates.
Perioperative management of tumor necrosis factor antagonists in patients with psoriasis and other inflammatory disorders

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) plays an important role in host defense and possibly wound healing. It is also linked to the pathophysiology of many inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis. The TNF antagonists are a class of agents that have proven effective in treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, yet the immunosuppressive effects of these agents raise concern over their use perioperatively. Currently, there is no consensus as to when TNF antagonists should be discontinued prior to surgery. Furthermore, data on the topic are limited to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This paper reviews the literature on post-surgical outcomes in patients with RA and IBD receiving anti-TNF therapy. Although most studies reveal no statistically significant increased risk of post-surgical complications in these patients, the retrospective design and small sample size of these studies limits interpretation. Furthermore, when applying these data to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, physicians must also consider disease severity, individual comorbidities, and the pharmacokinetics of the different TNF antagonists. Additional studies are needed in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in order to develop truly evidence-based dermatologic guidelines for perioperative management of the TNF antagonists.
Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: Comparative analysis: case-oriented versus variable-oriented research

Comparative analysis holds a central place in social science research. There is a well-established view in the social sciences that it should be based on variables (see Heritier, ch. 4, and Schmitter, ch. 14). Yet much research – especially in political science, but also in some branches of sociology – is case-oriented: that is, it aims at rich descriptions of a few instances of a certain phenomenon. This chapter argues that both approaches are legitimate. Variable-oriented studies mainly aim at establishing generalized relationships between variables, while case-oriented research seeks to understand complex units. Some people would argue that case-based comparisons follow a different logic of research, while others insist that the rules are essentially the same. The chapter starts by introducing the debate on comparative analysis, distinguishing the experimental, statistical and ‘comparative’ methods. We then single out two main strategies of research, presenting their origins in the methodological reflections by Durkheim and Weber, and focusing on the assumptions that are linked to the variable-oriented and case-oriented approaches, respectively. Advantages and disadvantages of each will be discussed on the basis of illustrations from social science works on democratization, political violence and political participation, looking at examples of large- N statistical research designs and contrasting them with small- N comparisons, especially in the tradition of historical sociology. The chapter also discusses recent attempts to bridge the gap between the two approaches, in particular with qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) and recent reflections on the case-oriented strategy.
An Update Overview on Brain Imaging Studies of Internet Gaming Disorder

There are a growing number of studies on structural and functional brain mechanisms underlying Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Recent functional magnetic resonance imaging studies showed that IGD adolescents and adults had reduced gray matter volume in regions associated with attention motor coordination executive function and perception. Adolescents with IGD showed lower white matter (WM) integrity measures in several brain regions that are involved in decision-making, behavioral inhibition, and emotional regulation. IGD adolescents had also disruption in the functional connectivity in areas responsible for learning memory and executive function, processing of auditory, visual, and somatosensory stimuli and relay of sensory and motor signals. IGD adolescents also had decreased functional connectivity of PFC-striatal circuits, increased risk-taking choices, and impaired ability to control their impulses similar to other impulse control disorders. Recent studies indicated that altered executive control mechanisms in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) would be a predisposition for developing IGD. Finally, patients with IGD have also shown an increased functional connectivity of several executive control brain regions that may related to comorbidity with ADHD and depression. The behavioral addiction model argues that IGD shows the features of excessive use despite adverse consequences, withdrawal phenomena, and tolerance that characterize substance use disorders. The evidence supports the behavioral addiction model of IGD by showing structural and functional changes in the mechanisms of reward and craving (but not withdrawal) in IGD. Future studies need to investigate WM density and functional connectivity in IGD in order to validate these findings. Furthermore, more research is required about the similarity in neurochemical and neurocognitive brain circuits in IGD and comorbid conditions such as ADHD and depression.
Silencing synapses

The degeneration of pre-synaptic boutons in the stratum radiatum of the dorsal hippocampus is one of earliest components of neurodegeneration in several models of murine prion disease. We recently showed that blockade of synaptic transmission by infusion of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) into the hippocampus several weeks prior to the onset of degeneration, had no detectable impact on the extent of the synaptic degeneration.1 We elaborate here on the rationale for these experiments and highlight why we believe that this negative result is interesting and important. We also discuss new observations that might provide insights into the molecular events that underlie synapse degeneration.
In Situ Detection of Freshwater Fungi in an Alpine Stream by New Taxon-Specific Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Probes

ABSTRACT New rRNA-targeting oligonucleotide probes permitted the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) identification of freshwater fungi in an Austrian second-order alpine stream. Based on computer-assisted comparative sequence analysis, nine taxon-specific probes were designed and evaluated by whole-fungus hybridizations. Oligonucleotide probe MY1574, specific for a wide range of Eumycota, and the genus (Tetracladium)-specific probe TCLAD1395, as well as the species-specific probes ALacumi1698 (Alatospora acuminata), TRIang322 (Tricladium angulatum), and Alongi340 (Anguillospora longissima), are targeted against 18S rRNA, whereas probes TmarchB10, TmarchC1_1, TmarchC1_2, and AlongiB16 are targeted against the 28S rRNA of Tetracladium marchalianum and Anguillospora longissima, respectively. After 2 weeks and 3 months of exposure of polyethylene slides in the stream, attached germinating conidia and growing hyphae of freshwater fungi were accessible for FISH. Growing hyphae and germinating conidia on leaves and in membrane cages were also visualized by the new FISH probes.