Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Collagen synthesis and secretion by rat incisor odontoblasts in organ culture.

An organ culture system for studying dentinogenesis has been developed. The system consists of odontoblasts still attached to predentin and dentin and cultured in chemically defined media, supplemented with 20% horse serum and 10% chick embryo extract or 10% fetal calf serum. When incubated for 24 h with [14C]proline, the odontoblast cultures formed [14C]hydroxyproline-containing protein which was located in cells, media and predentin, showing that these cells both synthesize and secrete collagen. The relative quantities of incorporated [14C]proline and [14C]hydroxyproline showed that collagen produced was particularly enriched in the media and predentin fractions. After extraction of collagen in the presence of pepsin, the collagen chains chromatographed as only α chains on molecular-sieve chromatography. Thus, type III collagen does not appear to be synthesized by odontoblasts as it would chromatograph as a γ component consisting of three disulfide-bonded α1(III) chains. Analysis of the denatured collagen by CM-cellulose chromatography showed that α1(I) and α2 chains were present in a ratio of 5–6:1 instead of 2:1 expected for type I collagen. CNBr peptide analysis established that only α1(I) and α2 chains were made by the odontoblasts. The excess α1(I) chains were found as type I trimer, a molecular species consisting of three α1(I) chains in a triple helix. This was shown by separation of type I collagen and type I trimer by differential salt precipitation. At this time it is not known if the type I trimer is a normal product of odontoblasts in vivo or whether it is only produced by these cells in culture.
Insider Trading in Large Canadian Banks

The aim of this study is, on the one hand, to determine if directors of large Canadian banks obtained abnormal returns by buying or selling their own bank stocks and, on the other hand, to evaluate market reaction when these transactions were made public. Our results show that markets reacted more to the selling of stocks as opposed to the buying of stocks. They also show that directors of large Canadian banks did not seem to profit excessively by buying stocks and that they had sold their stocks strategically as a result of higher value on stock exchanges.
STELLAR MASS–GAS-PHASE METALLICITY RELATION AT 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 0.7: A POWER LAW WITH INCREASING SCATTER TOWARD THE LOW-MASS REGIME

We present the stellar mass ( M * )–gas-phase metallicity relation (MZR) and its scatter at intermediate redshifts ( 0.5 ≤ z ≤ 0.7 ) for 1381 field galaxies collected from deep spectroscopic surveys. The star formation rate (SFR) and color at a given M * of this magnitude-limited ( R ≲ 24 AB) sample are representative of normal star-forming galaxies. For masses below 109 M ⊙ , our sample of 237 galaxies is ∼10 times larger than those in previous studies beyond the local universe. This huge gain in sample size enables superior constraints on the MZR and its scatter in the low-mass regime. We find a power-law MZR at 108 M ⊙ < M * < 10 11 M ⊙ : 12 + log ( O / H ) = ( 5.83 ± 0.19 ) + ( 0.30 ± 0.02 ) log ( M * / M ⊙ ) . At 109 M ⊙ < M * < 10 10.5 M ⊙ , our MZR shows agreement with others measured at similar redshifts in the literature. Our power-law slope is, however, shallower than the extrapolation of the MZRs of others to masses below 109 M ⊙ . The SFR dependence of the MZR in our sample is weaker than that found for local galaxies (known as the fundamental metallicity relation). Compared to a variety of theoretical models, the slope of our MZR for low-mass galaxies agrees well with predictions incorporating supernova energy-driven winds. Being robust against currently uncertain metallicity calibrations, the scatter of the MZR serves as a powerful diagnostic of the stochastic history of gas accretion, gas recycling, and star formation of low-mass galaxies. Our major result is that the scatter of our MZR increases as M * decreases. Our result implies that either the scatter of the baryonic accretion rate ( σ M ˙ ) or the scatter of the M * – M halo relation ( σ SHMR ) increases as M * decreases. Moreover, our measure of scatter at z = 0.7 appears consistent with that found for local galaxies. This lack of redshift evolution constrains models of galaxy evolution to have both σ M ˙ and σ SHMR remain unchanged from z = 0.7 to z = 0.
Environmental enrichment improves cognition in aged Alzheimer's transgenic mice despite stable &bgr;-amyloid deposition

Environmental enrichment (EE) has been shown to improve cognitive performance and brain indices of cognition in normal mice and rats. Because the therapeutic potential of intensive, long-term EE to benefit patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) has yet to be explored, the present study evaluated the effect of long-term EE on cognition in an animal model of AD, the APPsw transgenic mouse. Beginning at 16 months of age, APPsw mice were put into EE or standard housing for 4 months and then tested in four cognitive-based tasks (Morris maze, circular platform, platform recognition, and radial arm water maze) between 20 and 22 months of age. Our results indicate that long-term EE of aged APPsw mice results in global, overall improvement in cognitive function across these tasks without decreasing brain beta-amyloid (A&bgr;) deposition. The results suggest that long-term EE/cognitive stimulation could provide cognitive stabilization or improvement to AD patients through mechanisms independent of A&bgr; deposition and clearance.
The Toxicity Profile of Hydrolyzed Aqueous Olive Pulp Extract

The toxicity profile of HIDROX™ (Hydrolyzed Aqueous Olive Pulp Extract; OPE) was characterized in a series of toxicology studies. A limit dosage of 2000 mg/kg produced no toxicity in mice (acute oral NOAEL: 2000 mg/kg). In rats, an acute oral NOAEL of 2000 mg/kg was established, based on reductions in weight gains in both sexes at 5000 mg/kg. Reduced gains in female rats at 1500 and 2000 mg/kg were not significantly different from control values. Daily oral dosages of 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 90 days produced small decreases in body weight gains at 2000 mg/kg/day in the male rats and in all groups of female rats. Feed consumption was comparable to controls. There were no adverse clinical, hematologic, biochemical, organ weight or gross necropsy effects. Focal, minimal or mild hyperplasia of the mucosal squamous epithelium of the limiting ridge of the forestomach occurred in some rats at 2000 mg/kg/day; this change was attributed to local irritation by repeated intubation of large volumes of viscous, granular dosing suspension. A NOAEL of 2000 mg/kg/day was established for the 90‐day study, based on the lack of significant adverse effects. Toxicokinetic data indicated that hydroxytyrosol (HT, the major component of OPE) was rapidly absorbed. Mean concentrations were measurable through 1 to 4 hours (tlast) at 1000 and 1500 mg/kg/day and through 8 hours at 2000 mg/kg/day. Dosages of OPE ranging from 500 to 2000 mg/kg/day did not adversely affect any of the mating, fertility, delivery or litter parameters investigated in an oral rat dosage‐range reproduction study. Adverse effects were also absent in a rat developmental toxicity study in which pregnant dams were treated with 1000, 1500 or 2000 mg/kg/day on days 6 through 20 of gestation. Plasma levels for pregnant and lactating rats were comparable to non‐pregnant rats; minimal levels crossed the placenta. Quantifiable levels were not identified in maternal milk or plasma from nursing pups. A bacterial reverse mutation and a CHO chromosome aberration assay revealed evidence of mutagenic activity at high dosages with S9 metabolic activation. However, three rat micronucleus evaluations performed after single and repeated (28‐day) dosages of up to 2000 mg/kg/day and dosages of 5000 mg/kg/day for 29 days resulted in negative findings; therefore, OPE was not considered to be mutagenic in this in vivo assay.
Is the hospital setting the place for teaching breast self‐examination?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an instructional program for nurses educating them to teach breast self-examination (BSE) to hospitalized patients. Nurses' knowledge, attitudes, self-practice, and practice of teaching breast self-examination to patients were measured in a group who attended such a program and compared with those of a control group who did not attend. The researchers found that the instructional program increased nurses' teaching of BSE to their patients, but did not affect their own self-practice. Nurses' attitudes to teaching BSE were less favorable than for self-practice. Issues related to environments for teaching BSE are discussed.
Quality of life of patients with chronic stable angina before and four years after coronary revascularisation compared with a normal population

Objective: To assess the impact of coronary revascularisation on the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with chronic stable angina compared with data from “community” norms four years following revascularisation. Design: Prospective survey and review of medical records. Setting: Seven of the eight public Swedish heart centres that performed coronary artery interventions. Subjects: 827 patients aged 55–79 years with chronic stable angina who underwent coronary artery revascularisation in 1994 or 1995 and completed the four year HRQOL survey. Main outcome measures: Five components of the Swedish quality of life survey. Results: Compared with age and sex adjusted population norms, patients at baseline had significantly lower mean scores on all five functioning and wellbeing scales (p < 0.001). Four years after revascularisation, the mean levels of functioning and wellbeing were similar to those in the normative population (p > 0.05) except for quality of sleep (p < 0.001). The improvements were the same across age groups and for men and women. However, 36% of men and 55% of women were not completely free from angina by four years (p < 0.001). Men without angina after four years had better HRQOL than their community norms (p < 0.001) on all dimensions except quality of sleep (p > 0.05). Women without angina had less pain (p < 0.01) and better general health perception (p < 0.05) but similar physical functioning, quality of sleep, and emotional wellbeing compared with their community counterparts. Both men and women who had suffered at least one anginal attack during the preceding four weeks had significantly worse HRQOL by four years than their community norms (p < 0.01). Conclusions: By four years following revascularisation, three fifths of patients with chronic stable angina were free of angina and their HRQOL was the same as or better than that of the general Swedish population. However, fewer than half of all women and two thirds of men who underwent revascularisation were angina-free after four years. Among patients with new or persistent angina, the HRQOL was worse than that in community norms.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease case finding in Mexico in an at-risk population.

OBJECTIVE To apply a case-finding strategy in Mexico to identify chronic airway obstruction among individuals with risk factors and/or symptoms compatible with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIAL AND METHODS Individuals aged ≥ 40 years with known risk factors and/or symptoms compatible with COPD were referred for an interview and spirometry. RESULTS Of 2293 subjects included, 472 (20.6%) had a post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity ratio of <70% (for Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] Stages II-IV, prevalence was 17.1%). Those with airflow obstruction had smoked more cigarettes for more years than subjects without (19 vs. 13 cigarettes/day, P < 0.001, and 32 vs. 23 years, P < 0.001); they also had a more frequent history of exposure to biomass smoke (23.3% vs. 18.3%, P = 0.002). Females were exposed to biomass smoke for more years (24 vs. 19 years; P < 0.0001) and more hours per day than males (6.2 vs. 5.1; P < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, increasing age, male sex, ever smoking, pack-years of smoking and years of exposure to biomass smoke were significantly associated with COPD prevalence. CONCLUSIONS Airflow obstruction was identified in one in five of Mexican individuals with risk factors and/or COPD symptoms. Exposure to biomass smoke was significantly associated with the presence of airflow obstruction.
Serum Lactic Dehydrogenase Level as a Diagnostic Test for Carditis in Rheumatic Fever

a case of rheumatic fever, at least one of its five chief manifestations must be recognized, namely, mitral valvulitis, aortic valvulitis, partial heart block, pericarditis, and cardiac failure. It is doubted that there are other manifestations of rheumatic carditis. Sinus tachycardia is not disproportionate to fever, anxiety, pericardial effusion, or heart failure. Gallop rhythm in a child is difficult to distinguish from a normal third heart sound. Technical and laboratory procedures are of little help to the clinician in this respect. Enlargement of the heart shadow rarely if ever occurs in the absence of advanced valvular disease, heart failure, or pericardial effusion. The electrocardiogram shows no obvious changes other than those of partial heart block, pericarditis, or the consequences of advanced valvular disease, and a normal tracing does not exclude active carditis. Considerable doubt has been thrown on the value of prolongation of the Q-T interval,' as found by Taran and Szilagyi2 and Abrahams.3 The Creactive protein, leukocyte count, and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate4 may provide good evidence of rheumatic activity, but they fail to identify carditis. Hence the importance of searching for a diagnostic test of active carditis in rheumatic fever is clear. The serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) level was found to be elevated in myocardial infarction.5 Nydick et al.6 found significant elevation of SGOT activity in 65 per cent of their cases with clinically active carditis. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) is an enzyme that catalyzes the interconversion of lactate and pyruvate. It has a wide tissue distribution and is particularly abundant in the myocardium, skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney. Necrosis, degeneration, or inflammation results in an increased rate of release of the enzyme from the cells and a rise of its level in the serum. Since necrotic, degenerative, and inflammatory changes are all features of the pathologic picture of rheumatic carditis, and since in myocardial infarction, the concentration of serum lactic de-
Isolation and Characterization of Brain Endothelial Cells: Morphology and Enzyme Activity

Microvessels were isolated from rat brain using a double collagenase treatment which removed the endothelial basement membranes. The isolate was characterized by intact luminal and abluminal membranes and an absence of pericytes and astrocyte membranes. Minimal contamination by 5′‐nucleotidase, an enzyme believed exclusively localized within the plasma membranes of neuroglia, established the purity of the isolated microvessels. Enrichment of alkaline phosphatase and ‐γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase activity in microvessel preparations supports the endothelial localization of these enzymes.
ICRP Publication 139: Occupational Radiological Protection in Interventional Procedures

Abstract In recent publications, such as Publications 117 and 120, the Commission provided practical advice for physicians and other healthcare personnel on measures to protect their patients and themselves during interventional procedures. These measures can only be effective if they are encompassed by a framework of radiological protection elements, and by the availability of professionals with responsibilities in radiological protection. This framework includes a radiological protection programme with a strategy for exposure monitoring, protective garments, education and training, and quality assurance of the programme implementation. Professionals with responsibilities in occupational radiological protection for interventional procedures include: medical physicists; radiological protection specialists; personnel working in dosimetry services; clinical applications support personnel from the suppliers and maintenance companies; staff engaged in training, standardisation of equipment, and procedures; staff responsible for occupational health; hospital administrators responsible for providing financial support; and professional bodies and regulators. This publication addresses these elements and these audiences, and provides advice on specific issues, such as assessment of effective dose from dosimeter readings when an apron is worn, estimation of exposure of the lens of the eye (with and without protective eyewear), extremity monitoring, selection and testing of protective garments, and auditing the interventional procedures when occupational doses are unusually high or low (the latter meaning that the dosimeter may not have been worn).
Myringostapediopexy and myringolenticulopexy in mastoid surgery

Abstract Objective: To compare hearing results in patients undergoing myringostapediopexy or myringolenticulopexy in canal wall down mastoidectomy. Study design: Case series of one surgeon. A retrospective review of 83 consecutive mastoid cavity operations for primary cholesteatoma. Only those patients who had undergone either myringostapediopexy or myringolenticulopexy were included. Setting: District general hospital. Patients: Forty-two procedures were performed in 40 patients. The mean age was 42 years old. The average follow up was 5.9 years. Intervention: Seventeen patients underwent myringolenticulopexy (the incus head was excised, leaving the lenticular process attached to the stapes prior to graft placement) and 25 underwent myringostapediopexy (type III tympanoplasty). Main outcome measures: Audiometry three to six months after surgery, and status of mastoid cavity after a minimum follow up of one year. Results: Comparison of post-operative hearing results for the two groups showed a statistically significant hearing advantage for myringolenticulopexy (p = 0.029). In the myringolenticulopexy group, 92 per cent achieved a post-operative air–bone gap of less than 30 dB, compared with 62 per cent in the myringostapediopexy group. The mean post-operative air–bone gaps in the two groups were 17.5 and 24.7 dB, respectively. Conclusion: When surgically feasible, the technique of myringolenticulopexy is a useful method of preserving serviceable hearing in single-stage mastoid cavity surgery.
Double objects, causatives, and derivational economy

Il a ete etabli que la construction a double objet et son equivalent datif different en deux aspects apparemment sans rapport : seule la 2 e permet le liage vers l'arriere interne au VP, et seule la 1 ere permet au sujet de porter le role de causateur de non volition. Dans cet article, l'A. souligne que ces deux asymetries interagissent en fait entre elles d'une maniere tres proche et qu'elles resultent du Programme Minimaliste de Chomsky (1933, 1994). Sur la base de la structure syntaxique des constructions causatives developpee dans une etude anterieure, il enonce que la 1 e asymetrie se reduit a l'effet de reconstruction de la LF et que la 2 e asymetrie est expliquee en termes d'economie derivationnelle
Genetics of hatchability - egg quality from the perspective of a chick.

Hatchability is a complex age dependent trait. It comprises of several sub-traits which are susceptible to genetic and environmental factors arising from various sources. This review examines the genetic basis of egg production, fertility and egg quality traits how these relate with hatchability. We suggest that both sire and dam genetic components are important in overall hatchability mostly because of the significance of these components on fertility and early embryo mortality. The dam that laid the egg was the main source of genetic variation in hatch of fertile eggs, suggesting a huge impact of egg quality traits. The genetic effects (paternal and maternal) were found to vary with the age of the flock.
Mitochondrial protein patterns correlating with impaired insulin secretion from INS‐1E cells exposed to elevated glucose concentrations

Extended hyperglycaemia leads to impaired glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and eventually β‐cell apoptosis in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. In an attempt to dissect mechanisms behind the detrimental effects of glucose, we focused on measuring changes in expression patterns of mitochondrial proteins. Impaired GSIS was observed from INS‐1E cells cultured for 5 days at 20 or 27 mM glucose compared to cells cultured at 5.5 or 11 mM glucose. After culture, mitochondria were isolated from the INS‐1E cells by differential centrifugation. Proteins of the mitochondrial fraction were bound to a strong anionic surface (SAX2) protein array and mass spectra generated by SELDI‐TOF‐MS. Analysis of the spectra revealed proteins with expression levels that correlated with the glucose concentration of the culture medium. Indeed, such differentially expressed proteins created patterns of protein changes, which correlated with impairment of GSIS. In conclusion, the study reveals the first glucose‐induced differentially expressed patterns of β‐cell mitochondrial proteins obtained by SELDI‐TOF‐MS.
Direct STD NMR identification of beta-galactosidase inhibitors from a virtual dynamic hemithioacetal system.

This thesis deals with the design, formation and evaluation of dynamic systems constructed by means of sulfur-containing reversible reactions, in organic and aqueous media and under mild conditions. In a first part, the synthesis of thioglycoside derivatives, constituting the biologically relevant starting components of the dynamic systems, is described. In addition, the pD-profile of the mutarotation process in aqueous media for a series of 1-thioaldoses is reported and revealed an astonishing beta-anomeric preference for all the carbohydrate analogs under acidic or neutral conditions. In a second part, the phosphine-catalyzed or -mediated disulfide metathesis for dynamic system generation in organic or aqueous media is presented, respectively. The direct in situ 1H STD-NMR resolution of a dynamic carbohydrate system in the presence of a target protein (Concanavalin A) proved the suitability and compatibility of such disulfide metathesis protocols for the discovery of biologically relevant ligands. In a third part, hemithioacetal formation is demonstrated as a new and efficient reversible reaction for the spontaneous generation of a dynamic system, despite a virtual character of the component associations in basic aqueous media. The direct in situ 1H STD-NMR identification of the best dynamic beta-galactosidase inhibitors from the dynamic HTA system was performed and the results were confirmed by inhibition studies. Thus, the HTA product formed from the reaction between 1-thiogalactopyranose and a pyridine carboxaldehyde derivative provided the best dynamic inhibitor. In a fourth and final part, a dynamic drug design strategy, where the best inhibitors from the aforementioned dynamic HTA system were used as model for the design of non-dynamic (or “static”) beta-galactosidase inhibitors, is depicted. Inhibition studies disclosed potent leads among the set of ligands.