Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of an adenosine kinase inhibitor and an adenosine deaminase inhibitor on accumulation of extracellular adenosine by equine articular chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE To investigate accumulation of extracellular adenosine (ADO) by equine articular chondrocytes and to compare effects of adenosine kinase inhibition and adenosine deaminase inhibition on the amount of nitric oxide (NO) produced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated chondrocytes. SAMPLE POPULATION Articular cartilage from metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of 14 horses. PROCEDURE Chondrocytes were cultured as monolayers, and cells were incubated with LPS, the adenosine kinase inhibitor 5'-iodotubercidin (ITU), or the adenosine deaminase inhibitor erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride (EHNA). Concentrations of ADO in cell supernatants were measured by use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Effect of inhibition of enzymatic metabolism of ADO on induced NO production was evaluated by exposing cells to a combination of LPS and ITU or LPS and EHNA. RESULTS Articular chondrocytes accumulated extracellular ADO when exposed to LPS or ITU. Chondrocytes exposed to ITU accumulated ADO in a time-dependent manner. Unstimulated chondrocytes did not accumulate ADO. Similarly, EHNA alone did not produce detectable ADO concentrations; however, addition of EHNA and ITU resulted in a synergistic effect on accumulation of ADO. Lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production was more effectively suppressed by exposure to ITU than to EHNA CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Equine articular chondrocytes release ADO in response to the proinflammatory stimulus of bacterial LPS. Inhibition of the metabolism of ADO increases accumulation of extracellular ADO. Autocrine release of ADO from chondrocytes may play a role in the cellular response to tissue damage in arthritic conditions, and pharmacologic modulation of these pathways in joints of arthritic horses could be a potential method of therapy.
Performance, reliability, radiation effects, and aging issues in microelectronics — from atomic-scale physics to engineering-level modeling

The development of engineering-level models requires adoption of physical mechanisms that underlie observed phenomena. This paper reviews several cases where parameter-free, atomic-scale, quantum mechanical calculations led to the identification of specific physical mechanisms for phenomena relating to performance, reliability, radiation effects, and aging issues in microelectronics. More specifically, we review recent calculations of electron mobilities that are based on atomic-scale models of the Si-SiO2 interface and elucidate the origin of strain-induced mobility enhancement. We then review extensive work that highlights the role of hydrogen as the primary agent of reliability phenomena such as Negative Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI) and radiation effects, such as Enhanced Low Dose Radiation Sensitivity (ELDRS) and dopant deactivation. Finally, we review atomic-scale simulations of recoils induced by energetic ions in Si and SiO2. The latter provide a natural explanation for single-event gate rupture (SEGR) in terms of defects with energy levels in the SiO2 band gap.
Wnt-3a-dependent Cell Motility Involves RhoA Activation and Is Specifically Regulated by Dishevelled-2*[boxs]

Wnts stimulate cell migration, although the mechanisms responsible for this effect are not fully understood. To investigate the pathways that mediate Wnt-dependent cell motility, we treated Chinese hamster ovary cells with Wnt-3a-conditioned medium and monitored changes in cell shape and movement. Wnt-3a induced cell spreading, formation of protrusive structures, reorganization of stress fibers and migration. Although Wnt-3a stabilized β-catenin, two inhibitors of the β-catenin/canonical pathway, Dickkopf-1 and a dominant-negative T cell factor construct, did not reduce motility. The small GTPase RhoA also was activated by Wnt-3a. In contrast to β-catenin signaling, inhibition of Rho kinase partially blocked motility. Because Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins are effectors of both canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling, we used immunofluorescent analysis and small interference RNA technology to evaluate the role of Dvl in cell motility. Specific knock-down of Dvl-2 expression markedly reduced Wnt-3a-dependent changes in cell shape and movement, suggesting that this Dvl isoform had a predominant role in mediating Wnt-3a-dependent motility in Chinese hamster ovary cells.
Selective inhibition of high voltage‐activated L‐type and Q‐type Ca2+ currents by serotonin in rat melanotrophs.

1. Whole‐cell Ca2+ currents (ICa) from cultured rat melanotrophs were identified by their sensitivity to Ca2+ channel blockers, and their modulation by serotonin (5‐HT) was studied. All cells displayed high voltage‐activated (HVA; > ‐30 mV) Ca2+ currents. A low voltage‐activated (LVA; > ‐60 mV) Ca2+ current was detected in 92% of the cells. 2. The whole‐cell ICa was insensitive to omega‐conotoxin GVIA (0.5‐1 microM) indicating the absence of N‐type Ca2+ channels. 3. At a holding potential (Vh) of ‐70 mV, the L‐type channel blocker nifedipine reduced ICa in a dose‐dependent manner with a half‐maximal effective concentration (IC50) of 28 nM. The L‐type current represented 39% of the total ICa. 4. omega‐Agatoxin IVA (omega‐Aga IVA) produced a biphasic dose‐dependent inhibition of ICa, with IC50 values of 0.4 and 91 nM, indicating the presence of P‐type and Q‐type Ca2+ channels, which accounted respectively for 16 and 45% of the total ICa. The P‐type current was also blocked by synthetic funnel‐web spider toxin (sFTX 3.3; 1‐10 microM) and was present only in a subpopulation (60‐70%) of cells. 5. All cells possessed a Ca2+ current which was resistant to nifedipine (10 microM) and omega‐Aga IVA (50 nM). This current was not affected by Ni2+ (40 microM) but was abolished by a low concentration of Cd2+ (10 microM) and by omega‐conotoxin MVIIC (1 microM) indicating that it was a Q‐type Ca2+ current. 6. 5‐HT (10 microM) inhibited the whole‐cell ICa in 70% of the cells tested (n = 120) by activating 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT2C receptors. 5‐HT produced either a kinetic slowing of the activation phase (37% of the cells) or a scaling down (14% of the cells) of ICa. In the majority of cells (49%) both types of inhibition were found to coexist. 7. The effects of 5‐HT were voltage dependent, rendered irreversible when GTP‐gamma‐S (30 microM) was present in the pipette solution and abolished by pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (PTX; 150 ng ml‐1, 18 h). 8. Low concentrations of omega‐Aga IVA (20 nM), which blocked mainly P‐type channels, did not reduce the effect of 5‐HT on ICa. The scaling down effect of 5‐HT on ICa was eliminated in the presence of nifedipine (10 microM) and the kinetic slowing effect of 5‐HT persisted after blockade of L‐ and P‐type channels but was abolished by omega‐conotoxin MVIIC (1 microM). 9. We conclude that rat melanotrophs possess functional L‐, P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+ channels and that 5‐HT inhibits selectively L‐type and Q‐type Ca2+ currents with different modalities. These effects are voltage dependent and mediated by a PTX‐sensitive G‐protein.
A Quantitative Factorial Component Analysis to Investigate the Recent Changes of Japan’s Weight-Based Food Self-Sufficiency Ratio

We investigate the weight-based food self-sufficiency ratio (WSSR) for Japan over a 50-year period (1961-2011) by applying factorial component analysis technique in order to measure the changes of the WSSR quantitatively. Quantitative data analysis is employed to determine the drivers of those changes. Numerical results show that Japan experienced a drastic decline in its food self-sufficiency ratio (FSSR) during the above period. The factorial component analysis shows that such a decline was caused by the changes in the FSSR of the food groups/items, not in the quantity of the food supply. A number of characteristics of those changes are presented and a list of major food groups that have major impacts on the changes is constructed. The findings in this paper reiterate the alarming food security problem in Japan and provide clear insight into the causes of this problem. The findings in this study pick up where previous studies have left off, aid the food-related policy-making process and identify new ideas for future food research.
Prolonged consumption of trans fat favors the development of orofacial dyskinesia and anxiety-like symptoms in older rats

Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) are cell membrane components involved in brain functions. We hypothesized that long-term trans fat consumption is able to modify the membrane FAs composition impairing behavioral parameters related to aging. In this study, a comparison of behavioral parameters at 10 and 15 months of trans fat consumption by male Wistar rats was made. Animals were fed for 10 and 15 months from weaning with diets containing either 20% w/w soybean oil (SO), rich in n-6 PUFA, hydrogenated vegetable fat (HVF), rich in trans FAs, or a standard diet (control – C). At both evaluation times, HVF-fed rats showed progressively increased parameters of orofacial dyskinesia, fear and anxiety-like symptoms. The HVF diet reduced locomotor and exploratory activities progressively over 10 and 15 months of supplementation, while the standard and SO diets did not. In this study, we showed that chronic trans FAs consumption from weaning is able to favor the development of neuromotor and neuropsychiatric diseases, whose intensity was time dependent.
Differential Expression Profiles of Long Noncoding RNA and mRNA of Osteogenically Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective. We previously demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) from patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS; ASMSC) have a greater osteogenic differentiation capacity than MSC from healthy donors (HDMSC) and that this difference underlies the pathogenesis of pathological osteogenesis in AS. Here we compared expression levels of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA between osteogenically differentiated ASMSC and HDMSC and explored the precise mechanism underlying abnormal osteogenic differentiation in ASMSC. Methods. HDMSC and ASMSC were induced with osteogenic differentiation medium for 10 days. Microarray analyses were then performed to identify lncRNA and mRNA differentially expressed between HDMSC and ASMSC, which were then subjected to bioinformatics analysis and confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assays. In addition, coding-non-coding gene co-expression (CNC) networks were constructed to examine the relationships between the lncRNA and mRNA expression patterns. Results. A total of 520 lncRNA and 665 mRNA were differentially expressed in osteogenically differentiated ASMSC compared with HDMSC. Bioinformatics analysis revealed 64 signaling pathways with significant differences, including transforming growth factor-β signaling. qRT-PCR assays confirmed the reliability of the microarray data. The CNC network indicated that 4 differentially expressed lncRNA, including lnc-ZNF354A-1, lnc-LIN54-1, lnc-FRG2C-3, and lnc-USP50-2 may be involved in the abnormal osteogenic differentiation of ASMSC. Conclusion. Our study characterized the differential lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of osteogenically differentiated ASMSC and identified 4 lncRNA that may participate in the abnormal osteogenic differentiation of ASMSC. These results provide insight into the pathogenesis of pathological osteogenesis in AS.
Influence of Year, Parity and Birth Type on Milk Yield and Milk Components of Bandırma Sheep (German Black Head Mutton x Kıvırcık)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of year, parity and birth type (BT) on lactation milk yield (LMY), adjusted lactation milk yield based on 150 days lactation length (LMY150), lactation length (LL), average daily milk yield (ADMY) and milk components (MC) of Bandirma sheep. The study was carried out with 54 ewes in 2011 and 70 ewes in 2012 under semi-intensive conditions. LMY, LMY150, LL and ADMY of Bandirma sheep were determined as 70.31 kg, 73.29 kg, 142.02 days and 488.19 g, respectively. The effect of the year on LL was significant (P<0.01), but the effects of parity and BT were not significant. The effects of the year and parity were significant (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively) on LMY, LMY150 and ADMY, but the effect of BT was not significant. Fat, protein, lactose, total dry matter (DM) and non-fat dry matter (NFDM) were determined as 5.26%, 6.11%, 3.29%, 15.49% and 10.23%, respectively. Highly significant positive correlations were determined between fat content and DM (r= 0.998; P<0.01) and between fat content and NFDM (r= 0.949; P<0.01), whereas fat content was negatively correlated with ADMY (r= -0.992; P<0.01) and lactose content (r= -0.957; P<0.01). Significant negative correlations (P<0.01) were found between lactose content and other milk components except for protein content and ADMY. The results indicated that despite being a mutton type crossbred, lactation characteristics and MC of Bandirma sheep are also considerable.
Influence of Amino Acids, Dietary Protein, and Physical Activity on Muscle Mass Development in Humans

Ingestion of protein is crucial for maintenance of a variety of body functions and within the scope of this review we will specifically focus on the regulation of skeletal muscle mass. A quantitative limitation exists as to how much muscle protein the body can synthesize in response to protein intake. Ingestion of excess protein exerts an unwanted load to the body and therefore, it is important to find the least amount of protein that provides the maximal hypertrophic stimulus. Hence, research has focused on revealing the relationship between protein intake (dose) and its resulting stimulation of muscle protein synthesis (response). In addition to the protein amount, the protein digestibility and, hence, the availability of its constituent amino acids is decisive for the response. In this regard, recent studies have provided in-depth knowledge about the time-course of the muscle protein synthetic response dependent on the characteristics of the protein ingested. The effect of protein intake on muscle protein accretion can further be stimulated by prior exercise training. In the ageing population, physical training may counteract the development of “anabolic resistance” and restore the beneficial effect of protein feeding. Presently, our knowledge is based on measures obtained in standardized experimental settings or during long-term intervention periods. However, to improve coherence between these types of data and to further improve our knowledge of the effects of protein ingestion, other investigative approaches than those presently used are requested.
Impact of antiviral therapy on the survival of patients after major hepatectomy for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES To assess whether commencement of antiviral therapy after hepatectomy improves the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in preoperatively antiviral-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. DESIGN Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. SETTING University teaching hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Disease-free and overall survival rates. RESULTS One hundred thirty-six patients received major hepatectomy for HBV-related HCC from September 1, 2003, through December 31, 2007. Among them, 42 patients received antiviral therapy (treatment group) after hepatectomy, whereas 94 did not (control group). Patient demographics, preoperative liver function, tumor characteristics, and liver function at the time of tumor recurrence were comparable between the 2 groups. Disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly prolonged in the treatment group. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates in the treatment group were 88.1%, 79.1%, and 71.2%, respectively; in the control group, 76.5%, 47.5%, and 43.5%, respectively (P = .005). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year disease-free survival rates in the treatment group were 66.5%, 51.4%, and 51.4%, respectively; in the control group, 48.9%, 33.8%, and 33.8%, respectively (P = .05). Subgroup analysis stratified against tumor stage and major vascular invasion showed that posthepatectomy antiviral treatment conferred a significant survival benefit in stages I and II tumors or HCCs without major venous invasion. CONCLUSIONS Antiviral therapy improves the prognosis of HBV-related HCC. It should be considered after hepatectomy for HBV-related HCC, especially in early-stage tumors.
Are the Implications of the Financial Growth Cycle Confirmed in a Civil Law Context? Evidence from Spanish SMEs

The aim of this paper is to analyze whether some of the empirical implications of the financial growth cycle hold in a sample of Spanish SMEs. We use a sample of 5,944 observations for the year 2007 and test several hypotheses using MANOVA analysis. The results show that companies tend to have different financing structures depending on their age and size. Hypotheses about trade credit, short term debt and risk are confirmed with respect to age, as the younger companies tend to use proportionally more trade credit and short term debt, and are riskier. Size is also associated in the expected way with trade credit, relative trade credit and relative short-term financial debt. On the other hand hypotheses about equity and the financing deficit are not confirmed. The effect of pecking order behaviour over a long period of time may provide an explanation of why these two hypotheses are not confirmed.
Optical power of the isolated human crystalline lens.

PURPOSE To characterize the age dependence of isolated human crystalline lens power and quantify the contributions of the lens surfaces and refractive index gradient. METHODS Experiments were performed on 100 eyes of 73 donors (average 2.8 +/- 1.6 days postmortem) with an age range of 6 to 94 years. Lens power was measured with a modified commercial lensmeter or with an optical system based on the Scheiner principle. The radius of curvature and asphericity of the isolated lens surfaces were measured by shadow photography. For each lens, the contributions of the surfaces and the refractive index gradient to the measured lens power were calculated by using optical ray-tracing software. The age dependency of these refractive powers was assessed. RESULTS The total refractive power and surface refractive power both showed a biphasic age dependency. The total power decreased at a rate of -0.41 D/y between ages 6 and 58.1, and increased at a rate of 0.33D/y between ages 58.1 and 82. The surface contribution decreased at a rate of -0.13 D/y between ages 6 and 55.2 and increased at a rate of 0.04 D/y between ages 55.2 and 94. The relative contribution of the surfaces increased by 0.17% per year. The equivalent refractive index also showed a biphasic age dependency with a decrease at a rate of -3.9 x 10(-4) per year from ages 6 to 60.4 followed by a plateau. CONCLUSIONS The lens power decreases with age, due mainly to a decrease in the contribution of the gradient. The use of a constant equivalent refractive index value to calculate lens power with the lens maker formula will underestimate the power of young lenses and overestimate the power of older lenses.
PENGARUH OPINI AUDIT DAN REPUTASI KAP PADA AUDITOR SWITCHING DENGAN FINANCIAL DISTRESS SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI

In maintaining the reliability of a company's financial statements and auditor's independence, the companies are required to conduct an audit or rotation. The government has set obligations of auditor rotation with the issuance of the Decree of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia No. 359 / KMK.06 / 2003 article 2 of " Jasa Akuntan Publik " (amendments to the Decree of the Minister of Finance No. 423 / KMK.06 / 2002). The regulation was later updated with the enactment of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia Number 17 / PMK.01 / 2008 on " Jasa Akuntan Publik ". Regulations on auditor rotation, will cause the compan ies to perform the auditor switching . In this study, the sample used are companies that listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2013. Analysis data that used is Moderated Regression Analysis test (MRA). The results showed the influence of audit opinion on auditor switching but, the firm's reputation variable has no influence on the auditor switching, and moderation variable financial distress is not able to strengthen or weaken the effect of audit opinion and the firm ’s reputation on the auditor switching.
Periodontal Disease and Biomarkers Related to Cardiovascular Disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of the gums characterized by a loss of attachment between the tooth and bone, and by bone loss. We evaluated cross-sectionally the association between periodontal disease and C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, factor VII, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), LDL-C, von Willebrand factor, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors 1 and 2. The final sample consisted of 468 men (ages 47–80 yrs), participating in the Health Professional Follow-up Study, who provided blood and were free of CVD, diabetes, and cancer. In multivariate regression models controlling for age, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, and aspirin intake, self-reported periodontal disease was associated with significantly higher levels of CRP (30% higher among periodontal cases compared with non-cases), t-PA (11% higher), and LDL-C (11% higher). Based on our data, periodontal disease showed significant associations with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and dyslipidemia, which may potentially mediate the association between periodontal and cardiovascular disease.
Power and Goal Pursuit

Powerful individuals more easily acquire desired outcomes compared to powerless individuals. The authors argue that these differences can partly be attributed to self-regulation. The effects of power on the ability to act in a goal-consistent manner were analyzed across different phases of goal pursuit. Study 1 examined goal setting, Study 2 focused on the initiation of goal-directed action, Study 3 examined persistence and flexibility, and Study 4 assessed responses to good opportunities for goal pursuit and the role of implementation intentions. Consistently across studies, power facilitated prioritization and goal-consistent behavior. Power had, however, independent effects from implementation intentions. Consequences for performance are discussed.