Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunocytochemical Localization of the Prohormone Convertases PC1 and PC2 in Rat Prolactin Cells

The prohormone convertases PC1 and PC2 are subtilisin-related endopepti-dases that process prohormone and neuropeptide precursors. Using different ultrastructural immunocytochemical approaches, we have investigated their intracellular distribution in a neuroendocrine cell type that has not been examined thus far, the rat anterior pituitary lactotrope. These cells secrete mainly prolactin and also express the neuroendocrine-specific protein secretogranin II, which is considered a peptide precursor. Our study provides evidence for the expression of PC1 and PC2 in rat lactotropes and provides new information on their subcellular localization. Apart from their presence in the secretory granules, PC1 and PC2 displayed different major localization along the secretory pathway. PC1 immunoreactivity was concentrated in the Golgi apparatus, whereas PC2 immunoreactivity was prominent in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). These observations provide morphological support for previous biochemical analysis of proPC1 and proPC2 post-translational processing, which has demonstrated that PC1 exits very rapidly from the RER, whereas PC2 is retained much longer in this compartment.
Meal-induced gastric relaxation and emptying in horses after ingestion of high-fat versus high-carbohydrate diets.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of ingestion of a high-carbohydrate versus a high-fat meal on relaxation of the proximal portion of the stomach and subsequent gastric emptying in horses. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult horses. PROCEDURE The study consisted of 2 phases. In phase I, horses were offered a high-fat (8% fat) or a high-carbohydrate (3% fat) pelleted meal (0.5 g/kg) of identical volume, caloric density, and protein content. In phase II, meals consisted of a commercial sweet feed meal (0.5 g/kg) or this meal supplemented with corn oil (12.3% fat) or an isocaloric amount of glucose (2.9% fat). Proximal gastric tone was measured by variations in volume of an intragastric bag introduced through a gastric cannula and maintained with a constant internal pressure by an electronic barostat. Rate of gastric emptying was measured simultaneously with the 13C-octanoic acid breath test. Interaction between both techniques was studied in additional experiments. RESULTS Meals with higher carbohydrate content induced a significantly more prolonged receptive relaxation of the proximal portion of the stomach than those with higher fat content, but the accommodation response was similar. Labeling the meals with the breath test marker influenced the accommodation response measured by the barostat. Gastric emptying rates were not significantly different between meals, although those high in carbohydrate initially emptied more slowly. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In horses, in contrast to most species, dietary fat supplementation may not have a profound effect on gastric motility.
Family care giving for patients at life's end: Report from the Cultural Variations Study (CVAS)

Objective: To investigate differences between African American and White family caregivers in self-reported health, use of social support and external resources, and emotional and financial strain in the context of their care of a family member with advanced cancer. Methods: Sixty-nine patient-designated family caregivers of patients with advanced lung or colon cancer interviewed between December 1999 and July 2001. Results: Most African American and White family caregivers were able to identify someone else who was helping them in the care of their family member. Few caregivers used outside resources (e.g., home-based medical care, meal delivery, pastoral care, outside social support visitor) to assist in the support and care of the patient. At baseline, White caregivers were more likely to agree that caregiving caused work adjustments (ρ = .28, p = .02) and emotional difficulties (ρ = .32, p = .008) and that caregiving had been completely overwhelming (ρ = .19, p = .12) than were African American caregivers. At follow-up, among family caregivers of patients who had died, 44% reported having to quit work to provide personal care for the patient. Twenty-five percent of family caregivers reported using most or all of the family's saving in caring for the patient. Significance of results: Caregivers of patients at end of life experience substantial emotional and financial difficulties related to caregiving. Family caregiving is a private undertaking with little use of outside resources to mitigate the burden.
Prognostic Value of Perineural Invasion in Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

Objective. Here we aimed to clarify the prognostic significance of perineural invasion (PNI) in esophageal and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) carcinoma. Methods. A comprehensive literature search for relevant reports published up to July 2015 was performed using Pubmed and Embase databases. The pooled HR and 95% CI for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were used to assess the prognostic value. The association of PNI with pathological characteristics was evaluated by OR and 95% CI. Results. A total of 13 cohorts were retrieved, covering 2770 patients treated by surgery. The cumulative analysis revealed a statistical correlation between PNI and poor OS (HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.54–2.20, and P < 0.00001), as well as poor DFS (HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.42–2.71, and P < 0.001). Moreover, analysis of 1475 patients showed improved PNI in T3 + T4 (OR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21–0.70, and P = 0.002), N+ (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.40–0.69, and P < 0.00001), and G3 + G4 (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48–0.90, and P = 0.008) patients compared with T1 + T2, N−, and G1 + G2 ones, respectively. No significant heterogeneity was found between the studies. Conclusions. PNI is an adverse prognostic biomarker in esophageal and EGJ carcinoma. Moreover, PNI implies advanced T, N stage and poor cell differentiation.
Electrical remodeling due to atrial fibrillation in chronically instrumented conscious goats: roles of neurohumoral changes, ischemia, atrial stretch, and high rate of electrical activation.

BACKGROUND Recently, we developed a goat model of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF). Due to AF, the atrial effective refractory period (AERP) shortened and its physiological rate adaptation inversed, whereas the rate and stability of AF increased. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the role of (1) the autonomic nervous system, (2) ischemia, (3) stretch, (4) atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), and (5) rapid atrial pacing in this process of electrical remodeling. METHODS AND RESULTS Twenty-five goats were chronically instrumented with multiple epicardial atrial electrodes. Infusion of atropine (1.0 mg/kg; n=6) or propranolol (0.6 mg/kg; n=6) did not abolish the AF-induced shortening of AERP or interval (AFI). Blockade of K+(ATP) channels by glibenclamide (10 micromol/kg; n=6) slightly increased the AFI from 95+/-4 to 101+/-5 ms, but AFI remained considerably shorter than during acute AF (145 ms). Glibenclamide had no significant effect on AERP after electrical cardioversion of AF (69+/-14 versus 75+/-15 ms). Volume loading by 0.5 to 1.0 L of Hemaccel (n=12) did not shorten AERP. The median plasma level of ANF increased from 42 to 99 pg/mL after 1 to 4 weeks of AF (n=6), but ANF infusion (0.1 to 3.1 microg/min, n=4) did not shorten AERP. Rapid atrial pacing (24 to 48 hours; n=10) progressively shortened AERP from 134+/-10 to 105+/-6 ms and inversed its physiological rate adaptation. CONCLUSIONS Electrical remodeling by AF is not mediated by changes in autonomic tone, ischemia, stretch, or ANF. The high rate of electrical activation itself provides the stimulus for the AF-induced changes in AERP.
Results of a multidisciplinary program for patients with fibromyalgia implemented in the primary care

Purpose. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome of unknown origin with a high prevalence. Multimodal approaches seem to be the treatment of choice in fibromyalgia. A multidisciplinary program was developed and implemented for patients with fibromyalgia in the primary care setting. The program included education (seven sessions) and physical therapy (25 sessions). Method. Patients were referred to the program by their general practitioner or by a medical specialist. A prospective non-controlled treatment study was performed, patients were evaluated before, after and three months after the program (single group time series design). The following measurements were performed: The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, RAND 36, the Pain Coping and Cognition List, the Tampa scale for kinesiophobia, two physical tests and a qualitative evaluation. Data of 65 patients with fibromyalgia were analysed, of whom 97% were female. The mean age was 44 and the mean duration of pain was nine years. Results. Data of 65 patients with fibromyalgia were analysed, patients significantly improved on the domains feeling good, pain, fatigue, stiffness, quality of life, catastrophizing and on the physical tests. Conclusion. The multidisciplinary program fibromyalgia implemented in primary care seems feasible and the results are promising.
The Facebook Sabbatical as a Cycle: Describing the Gendered Experience of Young Adults as They Navigate Disconnection and Reconnection

Young adults are known to adopt Facebook (FB) sabbaticals as a coping strategy for FB-induced technostress, which are often linked to problematic overuse habits. Yet, there has been little investigation of how young adults experience, navigate, and negotiate FB sabbaticals and the impact this has on their social connections and overall well-being. To address this, we conducted a qualitative study of six young adults, aged 18–34 to understand their FB sabbatical experiences, how they negotiated their social connections during their sabbatical and sough to explain the reasons associated with their return to FB. We propose a FB sabbatical support model and offer three research propositions. Our results suggest that (1) FB sabbaticals are of benefit in addressing unhealthy FB habits, yet key supportive factors vary in value of importance and influence between genders; and (2) despite young adults’ efforts to mitigate technostress via FB sabbaticals, this strategy presented multiple challenges that affected their online and offline connections and personal health and well-being in positive and negative ways, contributing to cyclic habits of FB discontinuation and reconnection.
Lipin 1 Represses NFATc4 Transcriptional Activity in Adipocytes To Inhibit Secretion of Inflammatory Factors

ABSTRACT Lipin 1 is a bifunctional protein that regulates gene transcription and, as a Mg2+-dependent phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP), is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of phospholipids and triacylglycerol. We describe here the functional interaction between lipin 1 and the nuclear factor of activated T cells c4 (NFATc4). Lipin 1 represses NFATc4 transcriptional activity through protein-protein interaction, and lipin 1 is present at the promoters of NFATc4 transcriptional targets in vivo. Catalytically active and inactive lipin 1 can suppress NFATc4 transcriptional activity, and this suppression may involve recruitment of histone deacetylases to target promoters. In fat pads from mice deficient for lipin 1 (fld mice) and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes depleted of lipin 1 there is increased expression of several NFAT target genes including tumor necrosis factor alpha, resistin, FABP4, and PPARγ. Finally, both lipin 1 protein and total PAP activity are decreased with increasing adiposity in the visceral, but not subcutaneous, fat pads of ob/ob mice. These observations place lipin 1 as a potentially important link between triacylglycerol synthesis and adipose tissue inflammation.
Nonoperative management of craniovertebral junction and cutaneous tuberculosis

Background: Craniovertebral junction (CVJ) and cutaneous tuberculosis (TB) are both rare, each occurring in 0.3–1.0% of patients. To our knowledge, there are no existing cases reporting these manifestations of TB simultaneously. We report a case of TB involving the left CVJ as well as the skin, and discuss our management while providing a review of the literature. Case Description: An adult patient was presented with progressive nocturnal neck pain associated with the development of several skin lesions. Investigations revealed multiple osseous lesions including the left CVJ. Biopsy of the CVJ lesion was unamenable due to proximity of the vertebral artery; therefore, the patient underwent biopsy of the other sites. Histological examination demonstrated features consistent with TB infection and the patient commenced 12 months of standard anti-TB therapy with cervical spine immobilization. At 2-month review, the patient was well with a near-complete resolution of neck pain and cutaneous lesions. Repeat imaging at 6 months follow-up demonstrated a stable C1 lesion with no evidence of instability. Conclusion: CVJ TB may be treated solely with anti-TB therapy and immobilization to good effect if there is no gross instability or neurological deficit. Similarly, cutaneous TB responds well to standard anti- TB therapy. Our experience suggests that co-existing tuberculous lesions in the CVJ and skin can be simultaneously managed with standard therapy without significant alterations to treatment regimes or prognosis.
Style Influences And JSE Sector Returns: Evidence From The South African Stock Market

A distinctive phenomenon on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is the market segmentation between the resource sector and the financial and industrial sectors documented in empirical literature. The dominance of the resource sector in the cap-weighted FTSE/JSE All-Share index (ALSI) implies that the ALSI index might not be mean-variance efficient due to the potential lack of diversification. We estimate and compare the historical sector exposures of the ALSI index to its hypothetically optimal sector exposures over the examination period from 2003 through 2013. It is found that to achieve mean-variance efficiency on the JSE over the examination period, one should maintain substantial investments in the industrial sector and tactically allocate the remainder of the investments to the financial sector and/or the resource sector. It is also observed that the sector exposures of the ALSI index have shifted significantly from the resource sector to the industrial sector. To gain a better understanding of the investment style influences on the JSE sector returns, we further investigate the exposures of the prominent JSE sector returns to the style risks using the Carhart (1997) four-factor model. It is found that investments in financial stocks are exposed to significant value risk and, to some degree, influenced by the performance of large caps on the JSE. In addition, excess returns on the industrial sector are attributed to value, small cap and momentum risk premiums to some degree. The performance of the resource sector, on the other hand, is mildly biased towards the growth, large cap and contrarian investment styles on the JSE.
Contagion of the Global Financial Crisis and the Systemic Risk in the Banking System: Bivariate EVT Analysis in 6 Emerging Asia Economies

This thesis aims to study the contagion and systemic risk of the Global Financial Crisis by analyzing tail dependence between market stock returns and bank stock returns between US, Europe and selected emerging Asian economies (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, and South Korea). We apply the concept of bivariate Extreme Value Theory to model the dependence between two returns series for each variable under examination. We find dependencies between pairs of markets that are influenced by their size, especially for large markets in emerging Asian countries that tend to have a higher dependency to the market in the more advanced country such as the U.S. and some countries in Europe. The results also suggest that the dependencies between market returns and bank stock returns in the same region tend to be higher than dependencies between these returns across two different regions. We also find that larger institution has more dependencies with the market stock, suggesting that larger-size bank can cause disruption in the market. Further, the higher probability of extreme loss can be seen during the crisis period, which is shown by the non-linear dependency between the pre-crisis and the post-crisis period. Finally, our analysis suggests that systemic risk appears in the domestic banking systems in emerging Asia, as shown by the extreme dependencies within banks in the system. Overall, our results provide caution to policy makers and investors alike on the possible contagion of the impact of global financial crisis across different markets.
Carbon storage potential in degraded forests of Kalimantan, Indonesia

The forests of Kalimantan are under severe pressure from extensive land use activities dominated by logging, palm oil plantations, and peatland fires. To implement the forest moratorium for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, Indonesia’s government requires information on the carbon stored in forests, including intact, degraded, secondary, and peat swamp forests. We developed a hybrid approach of producing a wall-to-wall map of the aboveground biomass (AGB) of intact and degraded forests of Kalimantan at 1 ha grid cells by combining field inventory plots, airborne lidar samples, and satellite radar and optical imagery. More than 110 000 ha of lidar data were acquired to systematically capture variations of forest structure and more than 104 field plots to develop lidar-biomass models. The lidar measurements were converted into biomass using models developed for 66 439 ha of drylands and 44 250 ha of wetland forests. By combining the AGB map with the national land cover map, we found that 22.3 Mha (106 ha) of forest remain on drylands ranging in biomass from 357.2 ± 12.3 Mgha−1 in relatively intact forests to 134.2 ± 6.1 Mgha−1 in severely degraded forests. The remaining peat swamp forests are heterogeneous in coverage and degradation level, extending over 3.62 Mha and having an average AGB of 211.8 ± 12.7 Mgha−1. Emission factors calculated from aboveground biomass only suggest that the carbon storage potential of more than 15 Mha of degraded and secondary dryland forests will be about 1.1 PgC.
Effect of Gravity on Localization of Chondrocytes Implanted in Cartilage Defects

The transplantation of autologous chondrocytes under a periosteal flap has been used to treat focal cartilage defects. Results have been promising but occasionally involve complications ranging from graft hypertrophy to detachment. The objective of this study was to determine if gravitational forces affect the uniformity of cell distribution within the defect. Using an ex vivo bovine model, the orientation relative to gravity of a repaired full-thickness articular cartilage defect was found to affect the initial distribution of transplanted chondrocytes, prelabeled with 3 H-thymidine. After 4 hours, the injected cells ( 3 H-radioactivity) were primarily at the base of the defect (79%) in samples oriented in the up position, primarily at the dependent semicylindrical half of the defect (83%) in samples oriented to the side, and primarily at the periosteal top of the defect (78%) in samples oriented upside-down. Subsequently, the cell distribution remained unchanged after reorientation into other positions. These results indicate that injected chondrocytes localize under the influence of gravity within the initial few hours after injection. Therefore, the defect orientation during this time can be an important factor in the uniformity of cell distribution in the autologous chondrocyte implantation procedure and may be an important determinant of the ultimate clinical outcome.
Mathematical analysis of running performance and world running records.

The objective of this study was to develop an empirical model relating human running performance to some characteristics of metabolic energy-yielding processes using A, the capacity of anaerobic metabolism (J/kg); MAP, the maximal aerobic power (W/kg); and E, the reduction in peak aerobic power with the natural logarithm of race duration T, when T greater than TMAP = 420 s. Accordingly, the model developed describes the average power output PT (W/kg) sustained over any T as PT = [S/T(1 - e-T/k2)] + 1/T integral of T O [BMR + B(1 - e-t/k1)]dt where S = A and B = MAP - BMR (basal metabolic rate) when T less than TMAP; and S = A + [Af ln(T/TMAP)] and B = (MAP - BMR) + [E ln(T/TMAP)] when T greater than TMAP; k1 = 30 s and k2 = 20 s are time constants describing the kinetics of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, respectively, at the beginning of exercise; f is a constant describing the reduction in the amount of energy provided from anaerobic metabolism with increasing T; and t is the time from the onset of the race. This model accurately estimates actual power outputs sustained over a wide range of events, e.g., average absolute error between actual and estimated T for men's 1987 world records from 60 m to the marathon = 0.73%. In addition, satisfactory estimations of the metabolic characteristics of world-class male runners were made as follows: A = 1,658 J/kg; MAP = 83.5 ml O2.kg-1.min-1; 83.5% MAP sustained over the marathon distance. Application of the model to analysis of the evolution of A, MAP, and E, and of the progression of men's and women's world records over the years, is presented.
Constructions of meanings of quality within Australian Early Childhood Education and Care policy between 1972 and 2009

xxxi Part One: Introduction to the thesis . 1 Context of the study . 3 Aims of the study . 6 Research questions . 7 Significance of the study . 7 Overview of the research project, methodological approaches and analytic strategies . 11 A point of explanation about quality . 13 Thesis outline . 15 Structure of the thesis . 16 Article One – The quality imperative: Tracing the rise of ‘quality’ in Australian early childhood education and care policy. 27 Postscript to Article One . 39
Effects of agricultural credit on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of short-term loan (STL) vs long-term loan (LTL) on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. Design/methodology/approach The econometric estimation is based on cross-sectional data collected in 2016 from 18 villages in three districts, i.e. Shikarpur, Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad, Sindh, Pakistan. The sample data set consist of 180 wheat farmers. The collected data were analyzed through different econometric techniques like Cobb–Douglas production function and Instrumental variables (two-stage least squares) approach. Findings This study reconfirmed that agricultural credit has a positive and highly significant effect on wheat productivity, while the short-term loan has a stronger effect on wheat productivity than the long-term loan. The reasons behind the phenomenon may be the significantly higher usage of agricultural inputs like seeds of improved variety and fertilizers which can be transformed into the wheat yield in the same year. However, the LTL users have significantly higher investments in land preparation, irrigation and plant protection, which may lead to higher wheat production in the coming years. Research limitations/implications In the present study, only those wheat farmers were considered who obtained agricultural loans from formal financial institutions like Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited and Khushhali Bank. However, in the rural areas of Sindh, Pakistan, a considerable proportion of small-scale farmers take credit from informal financial channels. Therefore future researchers should consider the informal credits as well. Originality/value This is the first paper to examine the effects of agricultural credit on wheat productivity of small farms in Sindh, Pakistan. This paper will be an important addition to the emerging literature regarding effects of credit studies.