Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evidence of photoreceptor migration during early foveal development: A quantitative analysis of human fetal retinae

Abstract We have analyzed aspects of photoreceptor topography in wholemounts of human fetal retinae in the age range 13–24 weeks of gestation. Fetal retinae were stained with cresyl violet and the sizes and packing densities of rods and cones analyzed in the conventional manner. Cones and rods were present within a differentiating region, free of mitotic figures and approximately centered on the putative fovea, represented by the foveal cone mosaic. At 13 weeks of gestation the foveal cone mosaic was clearly differentiated, cone nuclei reaching a packing density of 14,200 per mm; a small number of rods were present in the immediately adjacent region. The packing densities of both rods and cones in these regions gradually increased and the area of the foveal cone mosaic gradually decreased throughout the age range sampled, although individual variations were evident. By 24 weeks of gestation, cone density was approximately 38,000 per mm in the foveal cone mosaic. The maximum rod density observed was 59,200 per mm in the region surrounding the foveal cone mosaic in a specimen of 20–21 weeks of gestation. In all specimens, maximum cone density occurred within the foveal cone mosaic and gradually declined towards the periphery of the differentiating region; a pronounced inverse relationship between cone soma diameter and packing density was also observed. The evidence strongly suggests that both rods and cones migrate centripetally, that is towards the center of the developing fovea, from early in development, possibly from the time that they first differentiate. The implications of these findings for fovealdevelopment are discussed.
Dietary Butyrate Inhibits NMU-Induced Mammary Cancer in Rats

Abstract: Butyrate has been proposed as an antineoplastic agent, leading to the inhibition of tumorigenesis. The purpose of this study was to examine butyrate, supplied as tributyrin (Tbn) or as a natural component of anhydrous milk fat (AMF), on the development of nitrosomethylurea-induced mammary tumors in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Diets were 1) semipurified rodent diet (AIN-93) with high fat [20% sunflower seed oil (SSO), control], 2) SSO diet with Tbn added at 1%, 3) SSO diet with Tbn added at 3%, and 4) 19% AMF with 1% SSO diet, which contained butyrate equivalent to the 1% Tbn diet. These diets were fed ad libitum from weaning at 21 days of age, and at 24 days of age each rat was injected with nitrosomethylurea (50 mg/kg body wt ip). At any one period, there was a relative risk increase of 88% (p < 0.05) that rats in the SSO diet group would develop a mammary tumor compared with those in the AMF diet group. The addition of 1% and 3% Tbn to SSO diets reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and 52%, respectively, in comparison to SSO alone (p < 0.05). There was a linear inverse relationship between Tbn concentration and rats developing a tumor. From 89 days to the end of the experiment, rats fed the diet containing 3% Tbn showed a significantly lower multiplicity of palpable tumors (50% less at Day 118, p < 0.05) than SSO-fed rats. These results indicate that although the AMF diet was effective, particularly early in reducing mammary tumorigenesis, the 3% Tbn diet produced a sustained reduction of tumor multiplicity relative to the control (SSO) group. An inhibitory influence of butyrate on mammary tumorigenesis against a background of high polyunsaturated fat diet has been demonstrated in this animal model of breast cancer.
Calcium Depletion Dissociates and Activates Heterodimeric Notch Receptors

ABSTRACT Notch receptors participate in a highly conserved signaling pathway that regulates morphogenesis in multicellular animals. Maturation of Notch receptors requires the proteolytic cleavage of a single precursor polypeptide to produce a heterodimer composed of a ligand-binding extracellular domain (NEC) and a single-pass transmembrane signaling domain (NTM). Notch signaling has been correlated with additional ligand-induced proteolytic cleavages, as well as with nuclear translocation of the intracellular portion of NTM(NICD). In the current work, we show that the NEC and NTM subunits of DrosophilaNotch and human Notch1 (hN1) interact noncovalently. NEC-NTM interaction was disrupted by 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulfate or divalent cation chelators such as EDTA, and stabilized by millimolar Ca2+. Deletion of the Ca2+-binding Lin12-Notch (LN) repeats from the NEC subunit resulted in spontaneous shedding of NEC into conditioned medium, implying that the LN repeats are important in maintaining the interaction of NEC and NTM. The functional consequences of EDTA-induced NEC dissociation were studied by using hN1-expressing NIH 3T3 cells. Treatment of these cells for 10 to 15 min with 0.5 to 10 mM EDTA resulted in the rapid shedding of NEC, the transient appearance of a polypeptide of the expected size of NICD, increased intranuclear anti-Notch1 staining, and the transient activation of an Notch-sensitive reporter gene. EDTA treatment of HeLa cells expressing endogenous Notch1 also stimulated reporter gene activity to a degree equivalent to that resulting from exposure of the cells to the ligand Delta1. These findings indicate that receptor activation can occur as a consequence of NEC dissociation, which relieves inhibition of the intrinsically active NTMsubunit.
Ageing and hypertension: the assessment of blood pressure indices in predicting coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether pulse pressure (PP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), or mean arterial pressure (MAP) is the superior haemodynamic predictor for the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS Age-related changes of blood pressure in normotensive and untreated hypertensive subjects in a population-based cohort from the Framingham Heart Study were characterized. The relationship between these blood pressure indices and risk of CH D over a 20-year follow-up period were then evaluated. RESULTS There was a parallel linear rise in SBP, DBP and MAP from age 30-49 years, suggesting increased peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) in this age group. After age 50-60 years, DBP declined, PP rose steeply, and MAP levelled off, while SBP continued to show a linear increase, suggesting increasing predominance of large artery stiffness (LAS) in this middle-aged and elderly group. After adjusting for age, sex and other risk factors, MAP and DBP consistently underestimated PVR and risk of CHD. Systolic blood pressure fully represented PVR but frequently underestimated LAS and risk of CHD. Pulse pressure was superior to SBP as a surrogate marker for LAS and predictor of CHD risk in the presence of discordantly low DBP, but PP frequently underestimated PVR. CONCLUSIONS In middle-aged and older subjects, at any given level of SBP > or = 120 mmHg, the risk of CHD rose with discordantly lower DBP, suggesting that the wider PP was driving the risk for CHD. These results suggest that total haemodynamic load, defined as the sum of pulsatile load (LAS) and steady-state load (PVR), is a major determinant of CHD risk.
The projection from the lateral geniculate nucleus onto the visual cortex in the cat. A quantitative study with horseradish‐peroxidase

Horseradish‐peroxidase (HRP) was injected (9‐18 μg in 0.03‐0.06 μl) into cortical areas 17, 18 or 19 of 11 adult cats. After survival times of 17 hours to 7 days, the thalamus was examined for retrogradely HRP labelled nerve cells in serial transverse sections. From these sections, the percentage of labelled cells occurring in each subdivision of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) was calculated for each animal. One case each for injections in areas 17, 18 and 19 was then chosen for nerve cell size measurements in each LGNd subdivision. The peri‐karyal area of each labelled cell (N=689), and of representative samples of unlabelled cells (N=1137), was measured by planimetry. Size distribution histograms, mean values, standard deviations, and statistical significance levels were obtained by computer.
Influence of β 1-4 Galacto-oligosaccharides Supplementation on Nitrogen Utilization, Rumen Fermentation, and Microbial Nitrogen Supply in Dairy Cows Fed Silage

In a balanced incomplete block design, two dry Holstein cows were used to investigate the effect of β 1-4 galacto- oligosaccharides (GOS) supplementation on nitrogen (N) utilization, rumen fermentation and microbial N supply in the rumen. During the experiment, cows were fed four diets: orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) silage (OS), OS with GOS supplementation (OSG), OS mixed with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) silage (MS) and MS with GOS supplementation (MSG). GOS was supplemented at 2% of dry matter intake. Diets were fed at maintenance level of protein and energy. Results showed that N digestion was affected by silage and interaction of silage and GOS supplementation. Cows fed OSG had the highest N digested (p<0.05) followed by MS, OS and MSG. Supplementation of GOS to OS or MS diets tended to improve N utilization through reducing the N losses on dairy cows. There was no effect of GOS supplementation on rumen fermentation parameters (i.e. pH, NH3-N and total VFA) at 1 h and 6 h after feeding. Compared to cows fed MS, cows fed OS silage had higher (p<0.05) allantoin excretion (80.8 vs. 67.1 mmol/d) and higher (p<0.05) total purine derivatives excretion (92.9 vs. 78.5 mmol/d). The microbial N supply in cows fed OSG was higher (p<0.05) than those fed OS, MS and MSG. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 8 : 1137-1142)
Impact of accounting regulatory framework complexity on accountants' job satisfaction in Croatia

The aim of this paper is to research whether the complexity of accounting regulatory framework in Croatia and its frequent changes significantly affect the accountants' overall job satisfaction. During the past ten years regulatory accounting framework has been changed many times and all these changes make it very complex and affect the accounting practitioners’ scope of the job and its complexity. The results of the research indicate that the complexity of the regulatory accounting framework and frequent changes have statistically significant impact on job satisfaction of accounting practitioners. Among individual characteristics, education and attitude about changes have a statistically significant impact on the extent of accountants’ overall job satisfaction, while other demographic and personality characteristics surveyed were not found to be in statistically significant correlation with the job satisfaction. Company’s characteristics that were surveyed also did not have an influence on the extent to which accountants’ job satisfaction is affected.
PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES OF BOVINE THYMOSIN *

Major advances in our understanding of the role of the thymus gland and its endocrine secretions in the ontogenesis and homeostasis of the lymphoid system and in the mechanisms of immunological surveillance have been made in the past decade. The physiological consequences of experimental thymectomy in animals or the failure of the thymus to develop normally in man have demonstrated that this organ has an important influence on organ and tissue
The Rhodobacter capsulatus glnB gene is regulated by NtrC at tandem rpoN-independent promoters

The protein encoded by glnB of Rhodobacter capsulatus is part of a nitrogen-sensing cascade which regulates the expression of nitrogen fixation genes (nif). The expression of glnB was studied by using lacZ fusions, primer extension analysis, and in vitro DNase I footprinting. Our results suggest that glnB is transcribed from two promoters, one of which requires the R. capsulatus ntrC gene but is rpoN independent. Another promoter upstream of glnB is repressed by NtrC; purified R. capsulatus NtrC binds to sites that overlap this distal promoter region.
Differential Ultrastructural Localization of Myelin Basic Protein, Myelin/Oligodendroglial Glycoprotein, and 2′,3′‐Cyclic Nucleotide 3′‐Phosphodiesterase in the CNS of Adult Rats

Abstract: In a light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical study we have examined the distribution of myelin basic protein (MBP), 2′,3′‐cyclic nucleotide 3′‐phosphodiesterase (CNP), and myelin/oligodendroglial glycoprotein (MOG) within CNS myelin sheaths and oligodendrocytes of adult Sprague–Dawley rats. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry allowed quantitative analysis of antigen density in different myelin and oligodendrocyte zones: MBP was detectable in high density over the whole myelin sheath, but not in regions of loops, somata, or the oligodendrocyte plasma membrane. CNP reactivity was highest at the myelin/axon interface, and found in lower concentration over the outer lamellae of myelin sheaths, at the cytoplasmic face of oligodendrocyte membranes, and throughout the compact myelin. MOG was preferentially detected at the extracellular surface of myelin sheaths and oligodendrocytes and in only low amounts in the lamellae of compacted myelin and the myelin/axon border zone. Our studies, thus, indicate further the presence of different molecular domains in compact myelin, which may be functionally relevant for the integrity and maintenance of the myelin sheath.
Child Health Assessment at School Entry (CHASE) project: evaluation in 10 London primary schools.

AIMS To assess the feasibility of implementing the Child Health Assessment at School Entry (CHASE) questionnaire, developed to capture the multiple dimensions of the health of children in their first year at school, and to evaluate data quality, reliability and validity. METHODS Parents of 278 year-1 children, from 10 primary schools in two London boroughs, received a parent questionnaire and school nurses completed a separate questionnaire from health and education records for children whose parents consented. Additional data on free school meal eligibility and ethnicity were obtained from the two Local Education Authorities. The parent questionnaire included the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and four dimensions of the Child Health Questionnaire Parent Form-28 (CHQ-PF28). RESULTS Response rate was 61%. The association between school free school meals eligibility and response rate in each school approached significance (r = -0.62, P = 0.05). Data completeness of the parent questionnaire was high (mean 98%). Data completeness of the school nurse questionnaire was more variable (mean 82%). Cronbach's Alpha was greater than 0.6 for four of the five SDQ scales and greater than 0.7 for the two CHQ-PF28 multi-item scales. Relative to parents with qualifications, parents with no qualifications rated their children as having significantly more conduct problems, peer problems, and overall mental health problems (P < 0.01) as assessed by the SDQ, and significantly lower global health (P < 0.01) as assessed by the CHQ-PF28. Children with special educational needs and children with long-standing illness or disability were rated as having significantly lower global health (P < 0.05) than children without these. Sample tables of inter-school and inter-borough comparison of key findings demonstrate considerable differences in physical and mental health status. DISCUSSION The questionnaire was acceptable to parents and school nurses, and feasible to implement within existing school resources. Initial tests of internal reliability and validity are satisfactory. These data have the potential to inform interventions and service provision at school and borough level, and public health trends over time.
THE ROLE OF MOTHER TONGUE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING

The role of mother tongue in second language acquis ition has been the subject of much debate and controversy. This paper reports on diffe rent views and methods in teaching English throughout the history and tries to find ou t what is the role of mother tongue in foreign language teaching. The practical part deals with a piece of research carried out in teaching environment using the audio and video reco rdings of teacher trainees and analyses teachers ́ usage of mother tongue in their own teach ing. The paper suggests that a systematic use of target language and a minimal use of mother tongue in English language classroom may provide learners with explicit knowle dg of the target language systems.
Some Anticancer Agents Act on Human Serum Paraoxonase‐1 to Reduce Its Activity

Human serum paraoxonase (hPON1) is an important antioxidant enzyme. It protects low‐density lipoproteins against oxidative stress and prevents atherosclerosis development. Anticancer agents have cardiotoxic effects, and this situation can lead to significant complications. Our aim was to evaluate the in vitro effects of some of the anticancer agents such as cetuximab, paclitaxel, etoposide, docetaxel, and ifosfamide on the activity of hPON1 in this study. For this reason, PON1 was purified from human serum with a specific activity of 3654.2 EU/mg and 16.84% yield using simple chromatographic methods. The five chemotherapeutic agents dose dependently decreased in vitro hPON1 activity. IC50 values for cetuximab, paclitaxel, etoposide, docetaxel, and ifosfamide were 0.0111, 0.042, 0.226, 0.665, and 23.3 mm, respectively. Ki constants were 0.0194, 0.0165, 0.131, 0.291, and 8.973 mm, respectively. The inhibition mechanisms of cetuximab, etoposide, docetaxel, and ifosfamide were non‐competitive, and for paclitaxel was competitive. Consequently, inhibition of hPON1 by these anticancer agents may explain some of the cardiotoxic actions of these drugs.
Targeting circuits of sexual desire as a treatment strategy for hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

ISSUE Hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) is hypothesized to be a disorder of the brain's reward circuitry. Neurotransmitters in reward circuits are thus therapeutic targets for improving sexual desire. Novel treatment strategies are to enhance dopamine (DA) actions, reduce serotonin (5-HT) actions, or both.
Association of Circulating Level of High Mobility Group Box 1 With Disease Activity in Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Autoantibody–Associated Vasculitis

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB‐1), a kind of proinflammatory mediator, is associated with inflammatory conditions and tissue damage. Previous studies have reported that circulating HMGB‐1 levels in patients with active antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) were associated with renal manifestations and burdens of granulomatous inflammation. The current study aimed to investigate whether circulating HMGB‐1 levels were associated with disease activity in AAV.
Ultrastructural changes in Leydig cells of streptozotocininduced diabetic rats

Hyperglycemia (experimental diabetes) was induced in adult male rats by destruction of the pancreatic beta cells with a single intravenous injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Testes from diabetic, from insulin‐treated diabetic, and from sham‐injected normal rats were fixed by vascular perfusion. The fine structure of Leydig cells was examined at two, three, and four weeks after the STZ injection in the untreated diabetic animals, and at four weeks in the controls and insulin‐treated diabetic rats. A number of morphological changes was observed in Leydig cells of untreated diabetic animals. Most obvious of these was an accumulation of lipid droplets, not normally present in Leydig cells in adults of this species. Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) was markedly reduced in Leydig cells of the hyperglycemic rats. Several types of intracellular bodies were seen exclusively in Leydig cells of the untreated diabetic animals. Many resembled secondary lysosomes or dense bodies, while others appeared to be autophagic vacuoles. In addition, a small, granule‐containing lamellar structure was seen either within a typical dense body or free in the cytoplasm. Myelin‐like structures were commonly observed within the cytoplasm of the Leydig cell or within mitochondria. The appearance of the mitochondria in diabetic rats was otherwise normal. The extracellular spaces surrounding Leydig cells from untreated hyperglycemic rats also contained large accumulations of myelin‐like material. These structural changes appear to be direct consequences of the diabetic state of the animals, since the ultrastructure of insulin‐treated diabetic rats did not differ from that of the controls. These findings may reflect an alteration or breakdown of Leydig cell components normally involved in the synthesis of androgen, and correlate with previous reports of lowered circulating levels of testosterone in diabetic rats.
New observations concerning the nature of central retinal vein pulsation

Aims Central retinal vein pulsation is affected by intracranial pressure (ICP), glaucoma and venous pathology. Its genesis is poorly understood with most models suggesting that intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuation dominates the rhythm of venous pulsation; however, this has not been explored experimentally. This study planned to measure the timing of central retinal vein pulsation with respect to IOP pulse. Methods Video recording of the optic disc vessels and movement of Goldmann applanation mires while recording the cardiac cycle with a pulse oximeter probe was undertaken in 10 subjects from a general ophthalmic clinic. The timing of the variation in IOP and retinal vein diameter from the onset of the oximeter signal were expressed as a percentage of the cardiac cycle and also in degrees of the cycle. Results Minimum vein diameter occurred at a mean 40 ms (SD 47) after minimum IOP in 10 subjects with mean cardiac cycle length of 866 ms (SD 132), the delay representing 4% or 14° (SD 5.1, 95% CI 0.3% to 8%) of the mean cardiac cycle. Maximum vein diameter occurred an average of 5 ms after maximum IOP (SD 57) representing 1% or 4° (SD 6.9, 95% CI −4% to 6%) of the mean cardiac cycle. Conclusion During venous pulsation, venous collapse occurred in time with ocular diastole and dilatation in time with systole. This is contrary to earlier conceptual understanding. The results suggest that the intracranial pulse pressure may be of equal importance to intraocular pulse pressure in producing venous pulsation.
Effect of Obesity on Bone Healing After Foot and Ankle Long Bone Fractures

Abstract As obesity has become more common, fractures in the obese population have become more frequent. Concern exists regarding alterations in bone health and healing in obese patients. A matched case‐control study was performed at 1 institution to evaluate whether an association exists between nonunion and a high body mass index in metatarsal and ankle fractures. A total of 48 patients with nonunion were identified, and control patients matched 2 to 1 (n = 96) were selected. The control patients were matched for age, sex, and fracture type. No association was identified between nonunion and the continuous body mass index (p = .23) or morbid obesity, with a body mass index of ≥40 kg/m2 (p = .51). However, the results from both univariate and multivariate analysis suggested that patients with a current alcohol problem or a history of an alcohol problem might have a greater risk of nonunion. The odds ratio of a patient with a history of alcohol use experiencing nonunion was 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 6.2). Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings. &NA; Level of Clinical Evidence: 3
Differential Ineffability and the Senses

Ineffability, the degree to which percepts or concepts resist linguistic coding, is a fairly unexplored nook of cognitive science. Although philosophical preoccupations with qualia or nonconceptual content certainly touch upon the area, there has been little systematic thought and hardly any empirical work in recent years on the subject. We argue that ineffability is an important domain for the cognitive sciences. For examining differential ineffability across the senses may be able to tell us important things about how the mind works, how different modalities talk to one another, and how language does, or does not, interact with other mental faculties.