Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynorphin Immunoreactive Fibers Contact GnRH Neurons in the Human Hypothalamus

Dynorphin, an endogenous opioid peptide, mediates progesterone-negative feedback on gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in other species. The role of dynorphin in humans is unclear. The objective of this study was to determine if dynorphin fibers have close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. Dual-label immunocytochemistry was performed on postmortem human hypothalamic tissue. The majority of GnRH neurons, 87.5%, had close contacts with dynorphin fibers and multiple close contacts were common, 62.5%. There were no regional differences between the hypothalamus and preoptic area in the distribution of close contacts. More close contacts were identified on the GnRH dendrites compared to the cell bodies (P < .001), but this difference was not significant when corrected for length. In conclusion, dynorphin fibers form close contacts with GnRH neurons in humans. This neuroanatomical evidence may suggest that dynorphin has effects on GnRH regulation in humans as seen in other species.
Gender, Entrepreneurship and Development: Which Policies Matter?

Data for 40 developing countries in the period 2005 to 2010 are used to study the gendered impact of country-level conditioning (financial environment, government quality and support, education quality and entrepreneurship know-how, innovation environment and support, business infrastructure, entrepreneurial culture and society and gender roles) on the choice made by early-stage entrepreneurs regarding the routine level of the sector of activity in which they are starting their business, with lower routine levels linked to higher economic growth. The business infrastructure of a country is a core factor for facilitating entry into medium-low routine sectors, followed by education quality and entrepreneurship know-how. Women entrepreneurs benefit to a larger extent from innovation environment and support, but gender roles may deter their entry into medium-low routine sectors.
A Model of Somatic Hypermutation Targeting in Mice Based on High-Throughput Ig Sequencing Data

Analyses of somatic hypermutation (SHM) patterns in B cell Ig sequences have important basic science and clinical applications, but they are often confounded by the intrinsic biases of SHM targeting on specific DNA motifs (i.e., hot and cold spots). Modeling these biases has been hindered by the difficulty in identifying mutated Ig sequences in vivo in the absence of selection pressures, which skew the observed mutation patterns. To generate a large number of unselected mutations, we immunized B1-8 H chain transgenic mice with nitrophenyl to stimulate nitrophenyl-specific λ+ germinal center B cells and sequenced the unexpressed κ L chains using next-generation methods. Most of these κ sequences had out-of-frame junctions and were presumably uninfluenced by selection. Despite being nonfunctionally rearranged, they were targeted by SHM and displayed a higher mutation frequency than functional sequences. We used 39,173 mutations to construct a quantitative SHM targeting model. The model showed targeting biases that were consistent with classic hot and cold spots, yet revealed additional highly mutable motifs. We observed comparable targeting for functional and nonfunctional sequences, suggesting similar biological processes operate at both loci. However, we observed species- and chain-specific targeting patterns, demonstrating the need for multiple SHM targeting models. Interestingly, the targeting of C/G bases and the frequency of transition mutations at C/G bases was higher in mice compared with humans, suggesting lower levels of DNA repair activity in mice. Our models of SHM targeting provide insights into the SHM process and support future analyses of mutation patterns.
A Novel jmjC Domain Protein Modulates Heterochromatization in Fission Yeast

ABSTRACT The heterochromatin domain at the mat locus of Schizosaccharomyces pombe is bounded by the IR-L and IR-R barriers. A genetic screen for mutations that promote silencing beyond IR-L revealed a novel gene named epe1, encoding a conserved nuclear protein with a jmjC domain. Disruption of epe1 promotes continuous spreading of heterochromatin-associated histone modifications and Swi6 binding to chromatin across heterochromatic barriers. It also enhances position effect variegation at heterochromatic domains, suppresses mutations in silencing genes, and stabilizes the repressed epigenetic state at the mat locus. However, it does not enhance silencing establishment. Our analysis suggests that the jmjC domain is essential for Epe1 activity and that Epe1 counteracts transcriptional silencing by negatively affecting heterochromatin stability. Consistent with this proposition, the meiotic stability of established heterochromatin beyond IR-L is diminished by Epe1 activity, and overexpression of Epe1 disrupts heterochromatin through acetylation of H3-K9 and H3-K14 and methylation of H3-K4. Furthermore, overexpression of Epe1 elevates the rate of chromosome loss. We propose that Epe1 helps control chromatin organization by down-regulating the stability of epigenetic marks that govern heterochromatization.
Country of origin – a consumers’ perception in Ireland

7 Chapter 1: Introduction. 8 Chapter 2: Literature review. 13 2.1 Factors influencing consumers’ food choices. 14 2.2 Country of Origin. 15 2.3 Country of Origin Effects. 16 2.4 COO and product involvement. 18 2.5 COO and product evaluation/ quality perception. 20 2.6 COO and price. 23 2.7 Consumer ethnocentrism/ patriotism . 28 Chapter 3: Methodology. 33 3.
MMPI-2 Short Form: Psychometric Characteristics in a Neuropsychological Setting

A 180-item short form of the MMPI-2 (MMPI-2-180) was recently developed by Dahlstrom and Archer and has been proposed for clinical use under special circumstances. This study investigated the psychometric characteristics of the MMPI-2-180 in order to delineate its strengths, limitations, and appropriate scope of clinical application. Using a neuropsychological referral sample (N = 205), we examined accuracy of the short-form as it pertains to the following (a) the prediction of basic scale scores and profile code types, (b) the identification of high-point scales, and (c) the classification of scores as pathological (T? 65) or normal range. The results indicate that the MMPI-2-180 provides an unreliable basis for predicting clinical code types, identifying the high-point scale, or predicting the scores on most of the basic scales. In contrast, scores on the MMPI-2-180 are accurate predictors of whether the full-scale scores fall within the pathological range (T? 65). These findings suggest that (a) standard interpretive procedures involving profile configuration should not be used, in most cases, with the 180-item short-form results, (b) properly interpreted, this shortened version provides potentially useful information regarding the probable presence of various problem areas, and (c) this information is very limited when contrasted with that obtained using the complete or abbreviated (i.e., 370 item) version of the MMPI-2.
Translation efficiencies of the 5′‐untranslated region of genotypes 1a and 3a in hepatitis C infected patients

Differences between the translation efficiencies mediated by the 5′‐untranslated regions (5′‐UTR) of genotypes (gt) 1 and 3 of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported but it is unknown if such differences are biologically significant. The 5′‐UTR was sequenced from paired serum and liver samples from 26 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis (11 gt 1a, 15 gt 3a). To determine whether there is a consistent difference between gts 1a and 3a translation efficiency, 5′‐UTR (nt 1–356) and 5′‐UTR plus core (nt 1–914) sequences were cloned into bicistronic, luciferase‐encoding constructs and relative translation efficiencies (RTE) measured in Huh7 cells and BHK cells. The relationships between viral load, liver biopsy Ishak scores, degree of steatosis and translational activity of the patient‐derived nucleotide sequence were examined. There were no differences in 5′‐UTR sequence between serum and corresponding liver samples. The mean RTE of 5′‐UTR sequences from gt 3a isolates was not significantly different from gt 1a whether or not the core encoding sequence was included, although inclusion of core led to a reduction in RTE by 93–97% for both genotypes. No correlation was found between RTE and serum HCV RNA levels, liver steatosis, inflammation, or fibrosis. However, a significant correlation was found between the presence of steatosis and infection with HCV gt 3a. It is concluded that there was no difference in translation efficiencies of 5′‐UTRs from patients infected with gts 1a and 3a, and translation activity measured in vitro does not correlate with viral load or severity of liver disease. J. Med. Virol. 79:259–269, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The association of angina pectoris with heart disease mortality among men and women by diabetes status: the Rancho Bernardo Study.

OBJECTIVE To study the sex-specific association of angina pectoris with mortality in community-dwelling older adults with and without diabetes. METHODS Baseline prevalence of angina was evaluated in 822 men and 1184 postmenopausal women aged 50-89 years at the 1984-1987 Rancho Bernardo Study clinic visit, when an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and the Rose angina questionnaire were administered. All-cause and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality were assessed after an average follow-up period of 13.2 years. Sex-specific Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the independent association of angina with mortality by glucose tolerance category. RESULTS At baseline, average age was 71 years for both sexes; 61 men (7.4%) and 142 women (12.0%) had angina. Overall, 129 men (15.9%) and 130 women (11.0%) had type 2 diabetes; 228 men (27.7%) and 357 women (30.2%) had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). During follow-up, 485 men (59%) and 557 women (47%) died, of whom 103 men (21.2%) and 104 women (18.7%) had fatal CHD. Women with diabetes and angina had a 3-4-fold greater risk of dying from CHD than women with diabetes but without angina, independent of covariates. Women with angina and IGT had twice the risk of CHD mortality compared with women with IGT but without angina. A smaller increased risk of fatal CHD in men was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Angina was associated with an increased risk of dying from CHD among women, especially among those who also had IGT or diabetes.
Adolescent suicidal ideation as predictive of psychopathology, suicidal behavior, and compromised functioning at age 30.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine whether suicidal ideation in a community population of adolescents represents normative adolescent angst or is predictive of psychopathology, suicidal and problem behaviors, and compromised functioning 15 years after onset. METHOD Participants were 346 largely Caucasian individuals who were part of a single-age cohort from a working class community and whose development had been traced prospectively from ages 5 to 30. Those with suicidal ideation at age 15 were compared to those without suicidal ideation at age 15 on measures of psychopathology, suicidal ideation and behavior, problem behaviors, and adult functioning at age 30. Gender differences were assessed across all domains. RESULTS At age 30, there were marked differences between adolescents with suicidal ideation and adolescents without suicidal ideation of both genders in most domains examined. Subjects with suicidal ideation were twice as likely to have an axis I disorder, nearly 12 times more likely to have attempted suicide by age 30, and 15 times more likely to have expressed suicidal thoughts in the past 4 years. Subjects with suicidal ideation had more problem behaviors and poorer overall functioning as assessed by multiple informants. Their self-perceptions of coping ability, self-esteem, and interpersonal relations were also lower. Although subjects with suicidal ideation among both genders had higher levels of psychopathology, suicidal ideation and behavior, and problem behaviors at age 30, male subjects with suicidal ideation had lower salaries and socioeconomic status and were less likely to have achieved residential independence. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the importance of considering suicidal ideation in adolescence as a marker of severe distress and a predictor of compromised functioning, indicating the need for early identification and continued intervention.
Decreased Bone Mineral Content in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) have decreased bone mineral content at birth, and whether or not decreased infant bone mineral content in IDMs correlates with poor control of diabetes during pregnancy, maternal bone mineral content, and the development of neonatal hypocalcemia. Forty-five pregnant diabetic women and their infants were enrolled in a prospective trial. In addition, 55 normal newborn infants of nondiabetic mothers were used as controls. Bone mineral content was measured before delivery in all diabetic pregnant patients and at birth in all infants by photon absorptiometry. Bone mineral content was significantly decreased in infants of diabetic mothers compared with control infants and correlated inversely with mean first trimester maternal capillary blood glucose; it did not correlate with cord serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, in infants of diabetic mothers, bone mineral content correlated inversely with mean first trimester capillary blood glucose and maternal bone mineral content, but did not correlate with maternal blood glycosylated hemoglobin, infant gestational age, infant birthweight or weight percentile, or development of neonatal hypocalcemia.
Circulating nerve growth factor levels in relation to obesity and the metabolic syndrome in women.

OBJECTIVE Neurotrophins (NTs) could be involved in the development and progression of inflammatory and immune diseases. Because obesity and the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) are related to a low-grade systemic inflammation, plasma NT levels (neurotrophinemia) could play an important role in the ethiopathogenic mechanisms underlying these metabolic derangements. This is the first study evaluating the plasma NT levels in a group of women with obesity and MetSyn, and also the adipose tissue nerve growth factor (NGF) expression in a small group of them. METHODS Included were 146 adult women with different degrees of adiposity, with or without MetSyn. Plasma NT levels were measured. NGF expression was analyzed in s.c. adipose tissue of a subgroup of morbidly obese and normal-weight females. RESULTS NGF plasma levels were 1.4-fold higher in overweight and obese subjects. Plasma NGF was, however, lower in a group of morbidly obese subjects than in overweight or obesity, but it remained elevated relative to the normal-weight group. Plasma NGF was significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat, and waist circumference in non-morbidly obese subjects. NGF was positively related to inflammatory markers. NT3 and brain-derived neurotrophin factor seem to be more related to lipid profile than to BMI, adipose tissue distribution, or peripheral inflammatory markers. Subjects with type 2 diabetes, abdominal fat distribution, or the MetSyn showed significantly higher levels of NGF. The MetSyn was the only independent predictor of the variability observed in the NGF plasma values. CONCLUSION NGF is upregulated in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and the MetSyn. Whether this NT may contribute to inflammation and the metabolic derangements associated with body weight gain remains to be elucidated.
A steady job? The UK’s record on labour market security and stability since the millennium

Just seven years after the start of what turned into the most sustained economic downturn in living memory, the UK’s headline employment rate stands at an historic high. So remarkable has been the resilience of the labour market during this downturn and the pace of the subsequent jobs recovery that ‘full employment’ has returned to the top of the political agenda. Impressive though the headline data is, critics argue that much of the surge in employment has been at the cost of job quality. In part this argument reflects the extremely poor performance of pay and productivity since the crisis, but it also relates to a sense that job insecurity is rising for many workers. Understanding the extent to which this criticism is fair – have we sacrificed quality for quantity? – is likely to be central to the renewed focus on full employment. That’s because, with labour market slack diminishing as the economy strengthens, pushing employment higher still is likely to require not just creating opportunities for the unemployed to move into work but also bringing significant numbers of economically inactive adults into the workforce. Achieving this will in no small part depend on whether the available jobs are of sufficient quality to prove attractive to those who are further away from work. The story on pay is well-established but other aspects of job quality are less routinely measured. Therefore, in this note we return to some commonlyused broad measures of job security and stability, in particular to understand developments over the past two decades and how experiences have differed across genders and the generations.
Dutch nature conservation objectives from a European perspective

In Dutch policy the European importance of species and habitats is one of the reasons to decide if a species or habitat should become a target species for Dutch policy. This study reviews the different philosophies behind previous studies on the international or European importance of Dutch species and habitats. It furthermore analysis the consequences of changing the criteria or thresholds for determining species of European importance for the number and type of species selected.
Effect of Probiotic Containing Ice-cream on Salivary Mutans Streptococci (SMS) Levels in Children of 6-12 Years of Age: A Randomized Controlled Double Blind Study with Six-months Follow Up.

INTRODUCTION To evaluate the caries risk based on the salivary levels of streptococcus mutans in children of 6-12 years of age group before and after consuming probiotic ice-cream containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5. MATERIALS AND METHODS A double blind, placebo controlled trial was carried out in 60 children aged between 6 to 12 years with zero decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT). They were randomly divided into two equal groups. Saliva sample were collected before the consumption of ice-cream and Streptococcus mutans count was calculated and recorded as baseline data. For the next seven days both the groups were given ice creams marked as A and B. Saliva samples were collected after ice-cream consumption at the end of study period and also after a washout period of 30 days and again after six months. Samples were inoculated and colonies were counted. RESULTS On statistical evaluation by students paired t-test, probiotic ice-cream brought significant reduction in the Streptococcus mutans count after seven days of ice-cream ingestion (p<0.001) and also after 30 d of washout period (p<0.001). There was no significant reduction (p=0.076) by normal ice-cream consumption. After six months of the study period in both the groups the salivary levels of Streptococcus mutans was similar to the baseline. CONCLUSION Probiotic ice-cream containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 can cause reduction in caries causative organism. The dosage of the probiotic organisms for the long term or synergetic effect on the oral health are still needed to be explored.
Familial retinoblastoma with unilateral and unifocal involvement in 2 families.

Retinoblastoma is a malignant ocular tumor of childhood that occurs in approximately 1 in 18 000 children. Approximately 40% of patients with retinoblastoma have inherited a germ-line mutation of the RB1 gene (gene map locus 13q14.1q14.2) (OMIM 180200), and approximately 85% of them develop bilateral tumors. We report on the cases of 2 children from 2 different families; all 4 of these children developed unilateral unifocal retinoblastoma despite no family history of retinoblastoma.
The Ras/MAPK pathway and hepatocarcinoma: pathogenesis and therapeutic implications

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a major health problem, often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The multikinase inhibitor sorafenib is to date the sole approved systemic therapy. Several signalling pathways are implicated in tumour development and progression. Among these pathways, the Ras/MAPK pathway is activated in 50–100% of human HCCs and is correlated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this work was to review the main intracellular mechanisms leading to aberrant Ras pathway activation in HCC and the potential therapeutic implications.
What influences retrospective self-appraised recovery status among Danes with low-back problems? A comparative qualitative investigation.

STUDY DESIGN Phenomenological, qualitative investigation. The discord between commonly used outcome measures and patients' self-perceived recovery is problematic in the investigation and rehabilitation of low-back pain-related disorders. To better understand the course and development of this costly and disabling condition, the complex process of patient recovery requires further elucidation. OBJECTIVE To explore issues and experiences impacting retrospective, self-appraised recovery. METHODS Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 purposively sampled individuals, after which computer-assisted substantive categorization and thematic analysis was performed. RESULTS Self-appraised status could be determined as "recovered" for 17 respondents, "unsure" for 6, and "not recovered" for 9. Recovery/non-recovery hinged on continued pain-related issues and the perception that injury/trauma made recovery impossible. Individuals who had difficulties relating the recovery construct to their context as well as those who were sceptical of pain-free periods were unable to appraise their status. CONCLUSION This investigation confirms that pain is central to the resolution of recurrent low-back pain associated disorders. However, recovery also involves "redefinition" and "readjustment". In the investigation and rehabilitation of ambiguous, regional musculoskeletal disorders, our results provide further sensitizing concepts, derived through naturalistic observation, that are useful in the development of a more comprehensive explanatory framework of patient recovery.
Dynamics of pyruvate metabolism in Lactococcus lactis.

The pyruvate metabolism in the lactic acid bacterium Lactococcus lactis was studied in anaerobic cultures under transient conditions. During growth of L. lactis in continuous culture at high dilution rate, homolactic product formation was observed, i.e., lactate was produced as the major end product. At a lower dilution rate, the pyruvate metabolism shifted towards mixed acid-product formation where formate, acetate, and ethanol were produced in addition to lactate. The regulation of the shift in pyruvate metabolism was investigated by monitoring the dynamic behavior of L. lactis in continuous cultures subjected to step changes in dilution rate. Both shift-up and shift-down experiments were carried out, and these experiments showed that the enzyme pyruvate formate-lyase (PFL) plays a key role in the regulation of the shift. Pyruvate formate-lyase in vivo activity was regulated both at the level of gene expression and by allosteric modulation of the enzyme. A simple mathematical model was proposed to estimate the relative significance of the regulatory mechanisms involved.