Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of retinal growth cone activity by specific metalloproteinase inhibitors in vitro

The developing neural retina expresses a set of extracellular proteases including plasminogen activator and gelatinases. Since neurites of retina cells cultured on fluorescent gelatin digest the substrate in their paths, we have suggested that the proteases are used by the tips of growing fibers to allow them to migrate within the mass of the tissue in vivo. In order to obtain further information about relationships between extracellular proteases and fiber growth, we have examined the effects of the specific inhibitors HS‐LFA (HS‐Leu‐Phenylala‐Ala, enantiomeric forms 1 and 2), bathophenanthroline sulfonate (BPS), phenylmethyl sulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), and relevant controls on the activity of retinal growth cones in vitro monitored by time lapse video microscopy. Of the inhibitors tested, only the two enantiomeric forms of HS‐LFA caused a reproducible cessation of both spike extensiion and filopodial processes at the growth cone ruffling, while control media had no effect. In some cases, the growth cone swelled and exhibited small protrusions. The behavior of growth cones was in sharp distinction to that of the cytoplasm of neural cells, and membrane ruffling of flat cells, which continued in activity throughout. Growth cone activity returned after several hours in the presence of the agent. BPS was toxic at concentrations above 2.5 mM. Below that, it had no effect. L‐cysteine, PMSF, and control media had no effect. The relevance of these results to the possible role of proteases in fiber outgrowth from retinal cells is discussed. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Activates ERK5 in Cortical Neurons via a Rap1-MEKK2 Signaling Cascade*

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) is activated in neurons of the central nervous system by neurotrophins including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Although MEK5 is known to mediate BDNF stimulation of ERK5 in central nervous system neurons, other upstream signaling components have not been identified. Here, we report that BDNF induces a sustained activation of ERK5 in rat cortical neurons and activates Rap1, a small GTPase, as well as MEKK2, a MEK5 kinase. Our data indicate that activation of Rap1 or MEKK2 is sufficient to stimulate ERK5, whereas inhibition of either Rap1 or MEKK2 attenuates BDNF activation of ERK5. Furthermore, BDNF stimulation of MEKK2 is regulated by Rap1. Our evidence also indicates that Ras and MEKK3, a MEK5 kinase in non-neuronal cells, do not play a significant role in BDNF activation of ERK5. This study identifies Rap1 and MEKK2 as critical upstream signaling molecules mediating BDNF stimulation of ERK5 in central nervous system neurons.
The Impact of BASEL III on Trade Finance

The thesis focuses on the impact of the banking regulation Basel III on bankintermediated trade finance. The theoretical part of the thesis explains details of Basel III requirements, history of Basel Accords and their future in the form of Basel IV, characteristics of trade finance products and of the whole industry. Trade finance industry voiced worries about the negative effect that these new requirements might have on trade finance business. The thesis estimates determinants of bankintermediated trade finance and includes a regulatory variable. We use trade finance data from the Czech Republic and Hong Kong in 2000−2014 and from India in 2007−2014. A negative effect of Basel III on trade finance growth is found using pooled OLS regression. Contrary to previous research, we also estimate a negative coefficient of banks’ capital to assets ratios. To the best of our knowledge, the thesis provides the first empirical analysis of the impact of Basel III on trade finance. Trade finance research usually focuses more on the relationship of trade finance and trade flows and the thesis provides an extensive literature summary of this topic. The final part of the thesis contrasts different levels of risk of trade finance and shows that the imputed low-riskiness does not apply to the Czech data. JEL Classification F19, G21, G28
Lifetime racial/ethnic discrimination and ambulatory blood pressure: The moderating effect of age.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether the relationships of lifetime discrimination to ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) varied as a function of age in a sample of Black and Latino(a) adults ages 19 - 65. METHOD Participants were 607 Black (n = 318) and Latino(a) (n = 289) adults (49% female) who completed the Perceived Ethnic Discrimination Questionnaire-Community Version (PEDQ-CV), which assesses lifetime exposure to racism/ethnic discrimination. They were outfitted with an ABP monitor to assess systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) across a 24-hr period. Mixed-level modeling was conducted to examine potential interactive effects of lifetime discrimination and age to 24-hr, daytime, and nighttime ABP after adjustment for demographic, socioeconomic, personality and life stress characteristics, and substance consumption covariates (e.g., smoking, alcohol). RESULTS There were significant interactions of Age × Lifetime Discrimination on 24-hr and daytime DBP (ps ≤ .04), and in particular significant interactions for the Social Exclusion component of Lifetime Discrimination. Post hoc probing of the interactions revealed the effects of Lifetime Discrimination on DBP were seen for older, but not younger participants. Lifetime discrimination was significantly positively associated with nocturnal SBP, and these effects were not moderated by age. All associations of Lifetime Discrimination to ABP remained significant controlling for recent exposure to discrimination as well as all other covariates. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to racial/ethnic discrimination across the life course is associated with elevated ABP in middle to older aged Black and Latino(a) adults. Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms linking discrimination to ABP over the life course. (PsycINFO Database Record
Departure from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium and Genotyping Error

Objective: Departure from Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) may occur due to a variety of causes, including purifying selection, inbreeding, population substructure, copy number variation or genotyping error. We searched for specific characteristics of HWE-departure due to genotyping error. Methods: Genotypes of a random set of genetic variants were obtained from the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) database. Variants with <80% successful genotypes or with minor allele frequency (MAF) <1% were excluded. HWE-departure (d-HWE) was considered significant at p < 10E-05 and classified as d-HWE with loss of heterozygosity (LoH d-HWE) or d-HWE with excess heterozygosity (gain of heterozygosity: GoH d-HWE). Missing genotypes, variant type (single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) vs. insertion/deletion); MAF, standard deviation (SD) of MAF across populations (MAF-SD) and copy number variation were evaluated for association with HWE-departure. Results: The study sample comprised 3,204 genotype distributions. HWE-departure was observed in 134 variants: LoH d-HWE in 41 (1.3%), GoH d-HWE in 93 (2.9%) variants. LoH d-HWE was more likely in variants located within deletion polymorphisms (p < 0.001) and in variants with higher MAF-SD (p = 0.0077). GoH d-HWE was associated with low genotyping rate, with variants of insertion/deletion type and with high MAF (all at p < 0.001). In a sub-sample of 2,196 variants with genotyping rate >98%, LoH d-HWE was found in 29 (1.3%) variants, but no GoH d-HWE was detected. The findings of the non-random distribution of HWE-violating SNPs along the chromosome, the association with common deletion polymorphisms and indel-variant type, and the finding of excess heterozygotes in genomic regions that are prone to cross-hybridization were confirmed in a large sample of short variants from the 1,000 Genomes Project. Conclusions: We differentiated between two types of HWE-departure. GoH d-HWE was suggestive for genotyping error. LoH d-HWE, on the contrary, pointed to natural variabilities such as population substructure or common deletion polymorphisms.
Nurses' Attitude towards Professionalization and Factors Influencing It

Introduction: Professionalism is one of the fundamental concepts in nursing and the result of the interaction with the environment and others. Nursing professionalism influences the quality of care and is affected by several factors. This study aimed to determine the attitude of nurses regarding professionalism and the factors affecting it. Methods: In this descriptive study, the attitude among nurses to professionalism has been measured through the questionnaire Hall, in five dimensions "membership in professional organizations", "public service", "a sense of calling", "self-regulation"," autonomy" and a researcher-made questionnaire about effective factors. One hundred eighty five nurses working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, participated in the study through stratified random sampling. The data were analyzed, using SPSS software, descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The results showed that the nurses’ attitude to professionalism is at the average level. Among the five dimensions, the scores from the highest to lowest belonged to "membership in professional organizations", "a sense of calling", "selfregulation", "autonomy" and "public service". The relationship between nurses’ attitudes toward professionalism and variables of work experience and participation in training courses for individual empowerment was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion: The professional attitude among nurses is at the average level. Given the importance of the professionalism in nursing and the influence of various factors, efforts are directed at achieving the desired level and reducing the barriers.
Toxicities of 31 Volatile Low Molecular Weight Compounds Against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus

ABSTRACT This research studied 31 volatile compounds for indoor control of the medically important mosquitoes Aedes aegypti L. and Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Only adult female mosquitoes were tested. The test compounds were from six families that included five heterobicyclics, eight formate esters, formic acid (a hydrolyzed metabolite of formate esters), eight acetate esters, four propionate esters, three butyrate esters, and two valerate esters. Also, the organophosphate compound dichlorvos (DDVP) was tested as a positive control. Cx. quinquefasciatus was generally more susceptible than Ae. aegypti. Cx. quinquefasciatus was most susceptible to a subset of heterobicyclics and formate esters (rank: n-butyl formate > hexyl formate = dihydrobenzofuran = menthofuran = heptyl formate = ethyl formate). Ae. aegypti was most susceptible to a subset of formate esters (rank: methyl > n-butyl > propyl = ethyl = hexyl). The most active materials against both species had LC50s of 0.4–1 mg active ingredient per 0.5 liter of air volume (0.8–2 mg/liter), which is 50- to 60-fold less toxic than dichlorvos (an organophosphate insecticide that is being phased out from indoor use). In relation to Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, both mosquito species were generally more susceptible to formate esters but more tolerant of heterobicyclics. Generally, the most toxic compound against all dipterans tested to date is n-butyl formate, whereas menthofuran is additionally toxic against Cx. quinquefasciatus and D. melanogaster. Finally, the toxicity differences between species point to the potential for differential toxicity among mosquito genera/species, suggesting that further studies of a number of mosquito species might be warranted.
Performance and Neuromuscular Adaptations Following Differing Ratios of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training

Abstract Jones, TW, Howatson, G, Russell, M, and French, DN. Performance and neuromuscular adaptations following differing ratios of concurrent strength and endurance training. J Strength Cond Res 27(12): 3342–3351, 2013—The interference effect attenuates strength and hypertrophic responses when strength and endurance training are conducted concurrently; however, the influence of training frequency on these responses remain unclear when varying ratios of concurrent strength and endurance training are performed. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the strength, limb girth, and neuromuscular adaptations to varying ratios of concurrent strength and endurance training. Twenty-four men with >2 years resistance training experience completed 6 weeks of 3 days per week of (a) strength training (ST), (b) concurrent strength and endurance training ratio 3:1 (CT3), (c) concurrent strength and endurance training ratio 1:1 (CT1), or (d) no training (CON) in an isolated limb model. Assessments of maximal voluntary contraction by means of isokinetic dynamometry leg extensions (maximum voluntary suppression [MVC]), limb girth, and neuromuscular responses through electromyography (EMG) were conducted at baseline, mid-intervention, and postintervention. After training, ST and CT3 conditions elicited greater MVC increases than CT1 and CON conditions (p ⩽ 0.05). Strength training resulted in significantly greater increases in limb girth than both CT1 and CON conditions (p = 0.05 and 0.004, respectively). The CT3 induced significantly greater limb girth adaptations than CON condition (p = 0.04). No effect of time or intervention was observed for EMG (p > 0.05). In conclusion, greater frequencies of endurance training performed increased the magnitude of the interference response on strength and limb girth responses after 6 weeks of 3 days a week of training. Therefore, the frequency of endurance training should remain low if the primary focus of the training intervention is strength and hypertrophy.
The Load That Maximizes the Average Mechanical Power Output During Explosive Bench Press Throws in Highly Trained Athletes

The power output generated with different barbell loads and which resistance generated the maximum mechanical power output (Pmax) during explosive bench press-type throws (BT) in a smith machine device were investigated in power-trained athletes. Thirty-one rugby league players were tested for 1 repetition maximum (1RM) free-weight bench press strength (1RM BP). Maximal power output was assessed by the Plyometric Power System during BT using resistances of 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 kg (BT P40, BT P50, BT P60, BT P70, and BT P80). It was found that BT Pmax occurred with resistance of 70.1 ± 7.9 kg, representing 55 ± 5.3% of 1RM BP of 129.7 ± 14.3 kg. The power output with all loads except the BT P70 were different from the BT Pmax. The BT P70 and BT P80 were not different from each other. Furthermore, the BT P60 and BT P80 were not different from each other. This suggests that although resistances of 55% 1RM BP may maximize power output during explosive BT, loads in the range of 46–62% also allow for high power outputs. Resistances of 31–45% of 1RM BP resulted in significantly lower power outputs. Compared with previous research of BT in strength-trained athletes, the results of this investigation suggest that power-trained athletes may generate their Pmax at higher percentages of 1RM.
The Janeway lecture. Hodgkin's disease--finding the balance between cure and late effects.

PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to summarize the Stanford experience in Hodgkin's disease, the late effects of treatment, and strategies to improve management to maximize cure and decrease late effects in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between 1960 and 1999, 2617 consecutive patients with Hodgkin's disease have been seen, treated, and rigorously followed at Stanford. This population includes patients of all ages and stages of disease. The database summarizing this experience serves as the source of survival and mortality data over 4 decades. Two thousand two hundred thirty-two of the population comprise the group evaluated for secondary cardiac disease. Two thousand one hundred sixty-two patients have been evaluated for risk of secondary leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and solid tumors. Eight hundred eighty-five women were evaluated for secondary breast cancer, prompting a subsequent analysis of risk of secondary cancer among 694 pediatric patients. RESULTS The probability of cure of Hodgkin's disease has dramatically improved over the past 40 years. Today, 94% of patients are expected to survive. Among those who do not survive, approximately half die of Hodgkin's disease, 20% of new cancers, and 14% of cardiovascular complications. Modifications in patient management and treatment have greatly reduced the serious late effects observed from prior therapy. With current combined-modality therapy using moderate doses of involved field of radiation and limited cycles of multiagent, risk adapted chemotherapy, serious cardiac complications and development of secondary cancers are expected to be greatly reduced. The Stanford 25-year pediatric Hodgkin's disease experience reveals that survival in favorable early-stage disease exceeds 95%. Newer protocols for children with advanced-stage disease continue to show these excellent survival rates and promise less late morbidity. Adult protocols using the risk-adapted Stanford V combined-modality program now parallel the pediatric experience, with greater than 90% survival in these patients. DISCUSSION Thus today the likelihood of cure of Hodgkin's disease greatly exceeds the risk of late effects, a goal both Dr. Henry Janeway and Madame Marie Curie emphasized and taught from first-hand experience.
Five novel mutations of GALNS in Korean patients with mucopolysaccharidosis IVA

Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA; OMIM #253000) is caused by the deficiency of N‐acetylgalactosamine‐6‐sulfate sulfatase (GALNS), a lysosomal enzyme involved in the catabolism of keratan and chondroitin sulfate. In this study, we examined biochemical and genetic data from 6 Korean patients presenting with classic MPS IVA by measuring GALNS activity in peripheral blood leukocytes and skin fibroblasts. We initially identified Korean patients with MPS IVA by clinical, biochemical, and genetic analyses. We performed PCR‐direct sequencing to identify molecular defects of the GALNS gene in patients and assessed the mutational statuses of family members as well as 50 healthy unrelated subjects. In silico analyses were performed to check for novel mutations. The mean age of the six female patients was 8.0 ± 5.2 years (range: 2–17 years), and were all found to have severe reductions of GALNS enzyme. A total of 12 mutant alleles were identified, corresponding to 7 different mutations. Five novel mutations were c.218A>G (p.Y73C), c.451C>A (p.P151T), c.725C>G (p.S242C), c.752G>A (p.R251Q), and c.1000C>T (p.Q334X). Two other mutations were c.1156C>T (p.R386C) and c.1243‐1G>A. Two mutations, c.451C>A and c.1000C>T, accounted for 58% of all mutations in this sample. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Developmental origins, behaviour change and the new public health*

A developmental approach to public health focuses attention on better nourishing girls and young women, especially those of low socio-economic status, to improve mothers’ nutrition and thereby the health of future generations. There have been significant advances in the behavioural sciences that may allow us to understand and support dietary change in young women and their children in ways that have not previously been possible. This paper describes some of these advances and aims to show how they inform this new approach to public health. The first of these has been to work out what is effective in supporting behaviour change, which has been achieved by careful and detailed analysis of behaviour change techniques used by practitioners in intervention, and of the effectiveness of these in supporting change. There is also a new understanding of the role that social and physical environments play in shaping our behaviours, and that behaviour is influenced by automatic processes and ‘habits’ as much as by reflective processes and rational decisions. To be maximally effective, interventions therefore have to address both influences on behaviour. An approach developed in Southampton aims to motivate, support and empower young women to make better food choices, but also to change the culture in which those choices are being made. Empowerment is the basis of the new public health. An empowered public demand for better access to better food can go a long way towards improving maternal, infant and family nutrition, and therefore the health of generations to come.
Case study - high ozone concentration in hydro generators

Ozone emission in hydro generators is a sign of surface partial discharge (PD) in the stator windings. Surface PD activity can take different forms: slot PD, corona at the junction of the slot semiconductive coating with the voltage grading coating outside the slot, PD between adjacent coils in the end-winding, PD between adjacent connections and surface tracking. An ozone concentration above the daily exposure limit, for which there is a health hazard for workers, was found at several locations in a 6-hydro generator plant. The ozone level in the vicinity of the generators was in the same range for all of them. This case study presents how this problem was identified and addressed.
ONE SIZE FITS ALL? RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SIZE AND DEGREE OF VARIATION IN GENITALIA AND OTHER BODY PARTS IN TWENTY SPECIES OF INSECTS AND SPIDERS

Hypotheses regarding the function of elaborate male genitalia were tested in a sample of insects and spiders by comparing their allometric values (slopes in log‐log regressions on indicators of body size) with those of other body parts. Male genitalia consistently had lower slopes than other body parts. Perhaps as a consequence of this pattern, genitalic size also tended, though less consistently, to have lower coefficients of variation than did the size of other body parts. The morphological details of coupling between males and females in several species clearly indicated that selection favoring mechanical fit is not responsible for these trends. Sexual selection on male courtship structures that are brought into contact with females in precise ways may favor relatively low allometric values, in contrast to the high values seen in the other sexually selected characters (usually visual display devices) that have been studied previously, because a female's own size will influence her perception of the contact courtship devices of a male.