Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prostaglandin e2 promotes osteoclast formation in murine hematopoietic cultures through an action on hematopoietic cells

Osteoclastic differentiation is induced from hematopoietic cells in the presence of 1,25‐(OH)2D3 by stromal cells that are present in bone but not in hematopoietic spleen. Recent evidence suggests that prostaglandins (PGs) are essential for this process. In this communication we describe experiments in which we have examined further the role of PGE2 in osteoclast formation. We found a marked reduction in basal, 1,25‐(OH)2D3, and IL‐3‐induced production of calcitonin receptor (CTR)‐positive cells and bone resorption by cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which was restored by PGE2 addition. Although some stromal cell types (ST2 cells) that support osteoclast formation from spleen cells produced PGs in response to 1,25‐(OH)2D3, others (ts8 and calvarial cells) did not, either alone or in combination with spleen cells. On the other hand, both bone marrow and spleen cells produced amounts of PGE2 in response to 1,25‐(OH)2D3 that were sufficient to account for osteoclast formation. Osteoclast‐inductive ts8 cells were able to support osteoclast formation from spleen cells in the presence of 1,25‐(OH)2D3 or PGE2 even if devitalized. Incubation of ts8 cells in these agents before devitalization did not avoid the requirement for the presence of PGE2 or 1,25‐(OH)2D3 during subsequent incubation with spleen cells. Thus, hematopoietic cells produce sufficient PGE2 for osteoclast formation, and the PGE2 thus produced acts on hematopoietic precursors, which can be induced in the presence of PGE2 to express CTR and resorb bone on contact with osteoclast‐inductive stromal cells. The ability of osteoclast‐inductive cells to support osteoclast formation appears not to rest on their ability to produce, induce, or respond to PGE2.
MELD score and serum sodium in the prediction of survival of patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation

Background/Aims: Serum sodium predicts prognosis in cirrhosis and may improve the prognostic accuracy of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, but the available information is limited. The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of serum sodium in the prediction of survival at 3 and 12 months after listing in patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation, and to compare its predictive value with that of the MELD score. Patients and methods: 308 consecutive patients with cirrhosis listed for transplantation during a 5-year period were included in the study. The end-point was survival at 3 and 12 months before transplantation. Variables obtained at the time of listing were analysed for prognostic value using multivariable analysis. Accuracy of prognostic variables was analysed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: The MELD score and serum sodium concentration were the only independent predictors of survival at 3 and 12 months after listing. Low serum sodium was associated with an increased risk of death in all subpopulations of patients with cirrhosis categorised according to the major complication developed before listing. The area under the ROC curves for serum sodium and MELD score was not significantly different both at 3 months (0.83 vs 0.79, respectively) and at 12 months (0.70 vs 0.77, respectively). The addition of serum sodium did not significantly improve the accuracy of the MELD score in the prediction of survival at 3 and 12 months. Conclusion: In patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation, serum sodium and MELD were found to be independent predictors of survival. Larger studies are needed to determine whether the addition of serum sodium to MELD can improve its prognostic accuracy.
Differences in muscle fibre composition and tenderness of m. longissimus lumborum between heterozygous and homozygous negative Polish Landrace pigs for the RYR1

objective of this study was to investigate the effect of RYR1 genotype on muscle fibre traits and meat tenderness of m. longissimus lumborum in fatteners. The study was carried out on 16 heterozygous Nn and 24 RYR1-free NN Polish Landrace gilts. Muscle samples were taken to categorize muscle fibre types (I, IIA and IIB) according to their mATP-ase activity and to determine the following technological parameters of meat: hardness and Warner-Bratzler shear force. Muscle fibre percentage, diameter and phenotypic correlation between muscle fibre traits and meat tenderness were estimated. The results obtained indicated that RYR1 genotype had no effect on muscle fibre proportion, meat hardness and shear force. On the other hand, significant differences between groups were found in the size of muscle fibres. The m. longissimus lumborum of the Nn fatteners had significantly larger diameter of all examined muscle fibre types than muscle from group NN. The phenotypic correlations between histological and meat quality traits were generally low. A positive correlation was found between hardness and shear force and percentage of type IIB fibres, in contrast to a negative correlation between hardness and shear force and percentage of type I fibres. On the other hand, size of type I fibres, unlike that of type IIB fibres, positively correlates with meat quality traits. In addition, correlations between fibre type percentages were negative, in contrast to positive correlations between fibre type diameters.
Bankacılık Sektörü Hisse Senedi Piyasasının Etkinliği: Yapısal Kırılma ve Güçlü Hafıza

This study provides empirical evidence on weak form efficiency of the stock market in the banking sector after 2001 economic crisis in Turkey over a period of 1990-2007. It has been investigated with structural break test and long memory models. The results obtained ignoring the structural breaks point out that there exist a weak form efficiency in the stock market. Besides, it has been determined structural break effect in all stock prices series. It has been concluded that the stock prices series is mean reverting long memory process after removing the structural break effect. This result indicates that banking sector is not weak form efficient.
Low ATM protein expression and depletion of p53 correlates with olaparib sensitivity in gastric cancer cell lines

Small-molecule inhibitors of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) have shown considerable promise in the treatment of homologous recombination (HR)-defective tumors, such as BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient breast and ovarian cancers. We previously reported that mantle cell lymphoma cells with deficiency in ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) are sensitive to PARP-1 inhibitors in vitro and in vivo. Here, we report that PARP inhibitors can potentially target ATM deficiency arising in a solid malignancy. We show that ATM protein expression varies between gastric cancer cell lines, with NUGC4 having significantly reduced protein levels. Significant correlation was found between ATM protein expression and sensitivity to the PARP inhibitor olaparib, with NUGC4 being the most sensitive. Moreover, reducing ATM kinase activity using a small-molecule inhibitor (KU55933) or shRNA-mediated depletion of ATM protein enhanced olaparib sensitivity in gastric cancer cell lines with depletion or inactivation of p53. Our results demonstrate that ATM is a potential predictive biomarker for PARP-1 inhibitor activity in gastric cancer harboring disruption of p53, and that combined inhibition of ATM and PARP-1 is a rational strategy for expanding the utility of PARP-1 inhibitors to gastric cancer with p53 disruption.
The validity and reliability of script concordance test in otolaryngology residency training

Introduction The script concordance test (SCT) is one the best tools used to evaluate clinical reasoning in ill-defined clinical situations. The aim of this study was to demonstrate SCT application in otolaryngology residency training. Methods A 20 item otolaryngology SCT containing 60 questions was administered to 26 otolaryngology residents. The test was prepared by two otolaryngologists familiar to medical education. These questions have been validated by otolaryngology experts. The panel consisted of 9 academic staff in the field of otolaryngology. Pearson correlation test was used to assess the reliability of the test. Results The obtained mean scores were 68.4±5.8 (out of 100) for residents and 78.2±6.4(out of 100) for experts. There was a significant difference between the two scores (p<0.005). Cronbach’s alpha value was 0.80. Conclusion The SCT is a reliable tool to evaluate clinical reasoning in otolaryngology residents. It should be included in otolaryngology residency training.
A sensitive monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for chlorpyrifos residue determination in Chinese agricultural samples

A monoclonal antibody-based competitive antibody-coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and optimized for determining chlorpyrifos residue in agricultural products. The IC50 and IC10 of this ELISA were 3.3 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL respectively. The average recoveries in six agricultural products were between 79.5% and 118.0%, with the intra-assay coefficient of variation being less than 8 %. The limit of detection for all tested products was 30 ng/g. To the best of our knowledge, this assay has the best specificity among all the published research on ELISAs for chlorpyrifos.
The Information Efficiency of the Corporate Bond Market

1 1 Objective of This Study 2 2 Literature Review 6 2.1 Government Bond Prices and Economic News Effects 6 2.2 Bond and Stock Prices and Firm-specific Information Effects 8 2.3 Information Content of Time between Trades 9 3 Public Information and Corporate Bond Prices 12 3.1 The Data 12 3.1. 1 Transaction Data for U.S. Corporate Bonds and Stocks 13 3.1. 2 Macroeconomic Announcements and Expectations 15 3.2 Methodology 15 3.3 Empirical Test Results 19 3.3.1 Which Economic Annoucements Affect Corporate Bond Prices? 19 3.3.2 Sign and Size of Announcements Response 21 4 Firm-specific information and bond prices 23 4.1 The Data 24 4.1. 1 Calculation of Daily and Hourly Corporate Bond and Stock Returns 24 4.1. 2 Earnings Announcements and Analyst’s Forecasts 25 4.2 Methodology 25 4.3 Empirical Results and Analysis 28
Alterations of Type IV Collagen α Chains in Patients with Chronic Acquired Glomerulopathies: mRNA Levels, Protein Expression and Urinary Loss

Background: Type IV collagen is a major structural component of the normal kidney glomerulus. However, its role in chronic acquired glomerulopathies has been only partially elucidated. Methods: Urinary levels of col(IV)α1, col(IV)α3 and col(IV)α5 collagen chains were analyzed in 107 patients with chronic acquired glomerulopathies. In a subgroup of 33 patients, tissue mRNA levels, protein expression and urinary excretion were evaluated for all col(IV)α chains, from col(IV)α1 to col(IV)α5. The renal specimens were examined to get a semiquantitative score of the acute and chronic activity of the histological lesions. Urines obtained from 13 healthy subjects and 10 normal renal tissue samples were used as controls. Results: Urinary levels of col(IV)α1, col(IV)α3, col(IV)α5 chains were significantly higher in patients than in controls [p < 0.01 for all], while only col(IV)α1 and col(IV)α3 urinary excretion correlated with the degree of chronic histological damage [col(IV)α1 R = 0.44, p < 0.001; col(IV)α3: R = 0.47, p < 0.001]. Compared with controls, patients showed a renal expression of mRNA for col(IV)α5 chain significantly higher [p = 0.001], while having a significantly lower protein expression of col(IV)α3, col(IV)α4 and col(IV)α5 chains [p < 0.01 for all]. Conclusion: Patients with chronic acquired glomerulopathies show important alterations in the col(IV)α chain network mimicking some molecular features of the X-linked Alport’s syndrome. Further studies are needed to show whether urinary levels of the col(IV)α chains may be used as markers for monitoring renal injury.
Field Response of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) to Ceralure B1: Evaluations of enantiomeric B1 Ratios on Fly Captures

Abstract (−)-Ceralure B1 (ethyl-cis-5-iodo-trans-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate), a male attractant for the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), is significantly more attractive than trimedlure (tert-butyl esters of 4(5)-chloro-2-methylcyclohexane-1-carboxylate), the current standard male attractant used in detection programs. This article reports studies that compare the effectiveness of racemic ceralure B1, mixtures of racemic ceralure B1 and pure (−)-ceralure B1, and trimedlure in field tests conducted in Hawaii, Africa, and Spain with wild Mediterranean fruit flies and in Florida with sterile released Mediterranean fruit fly. Trapping results showed that doses of (−)-ceralure B1 of 87.5 and 75% are just as effective as the 98% (−)-ceralure B1 and the racemic form to be almost as attractive. In nearly all studies, the racemic ceralure B1 was significantly better than trimedlure. These studies suggest that the racemic ceralure B1 could be a viable replacement for trimedlure in areawide detection programs for Mediterranean fruit fly. Synthesizing racemic ceralure B1 instead of a specific stereoselective enantiomer of ceralure B1 would likely be more cost-effective to produce and also might be useful in control as well as detection of this pest.
Lightning-Induced Voltages Over Lossy Ground: The Effect of Frequency Dependence of Electrical Parameters of Soil

The impact of the frequency dependence of soil resistivity and permittivity on lightning overvoltages induced on overhead lines over lossy ground is investigated. The Visacro-Alipio expressions were implemented on the hybrid electromagnetic model to take this effect into account. Systematic simulations were performed considering representative current waveforms of first and subsequent strokes and different stroke locations near the simulated overhead line. In general, the results indicated that this effect is responsible for a reduction of the induced overvoltage. This reduction increases with increasing soil resistivity and becomes relevant for soil resistivity above 1000 Ω·m.
Optimizing medical radiation exposures for uroradiological procedures, with special emphasis on paediatric imaging

There is increasing awareness of the importance of radiation protection for patients, and legislation covering this has been in place for 10–15 years. The legislation covering radiation protection of staff has been in place for much longer. Increasingly, parents are aware of potential harmful effects from diagnostic radiology procedures, and clinicians and paediatric radiologists are frequently asked about the risks involved to the child. The risk of late manifestations of harmful radiation effects is greater in children than in adults because of their longer life expectancy. The aim of this article is to review the radiation hazards to the child undergoing uroradiological tests and the radiation protection measures taken to ensure that the risk to the patient is minimized. In addition, we discuss the newly implemented regulations on ionizing radiation, which are of great importance to clinicians.
Soure and Transmission Control for Wireless Visual Sensor Networks with Compressive Sensing and Energy Harvesting

The lifetime of the emerging Wireless visual sensor network (WVSN) is seriously dependent on the energy shored in the battery of its sensor nodes as well as the compression and resource allocation scheme. In this paper, the energy harvesting technology was adopted to provide almost perpetual operation of the WVSN and compressed-sensing-based encoding was used to decrease the power consumption of acquiring visual information at the front-end sensors. A Dynamic Source and Transmission Control Algorithm (DSTCA) was proposed to jointly determine source rate, source energy consumption, and the allocation of transmission energy and available bandwidth under energy harvesting and queue stability constraints. A virtual energy queue was introduced to control the resource allocation and the measurement rate in each time slot. The algorithm can guarantee the stability of the visual data queues in all sensors and achieve near-optimal performance. The distributed implementation of the proposed algorithm was discussed and the achievable performance theorem was also given. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v11i5. 2476
Down‐regulation of HLA Class I and NKG2D ligands through a concerted action of MAPK and DNA methyltransferases in colorectal cancer cells

Most malignant features of cancer cells are triggered by activated oncogenes and the loss of tumor suppressors due to mutation or epigenetic inactivation. It is still unclear, to what extend the escape of emerging cancer cells from recognition and elimination by the immune system is determined by similar mechanisms. We compared the transcriptomes of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells deficient in DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and of cells, in which the RAS pathway as the major growth‐promoting signaling system is blocked by inhibition of MAPK. We identified the MHC Class I genes HLA‐A1/A2 and the ULBP2 gene encoding 1 of the 8 known ligands of the activating NK receptor NKG2D among a cluster of immune genes up‐regulated under the conditions of both DNMT‐deficiency and MEK‐inhibition. Bisulphite sequencing analyses of HCT116 with DNMT deficiency or after MEK‐inhibition showed that de‐methylation of the ULPB2 promoter correlated with its enhanced surface expression. The HLA‐A promoters were not methylated indicating that components of the HLA assembly machinery were also suppressed in DNMT‐deficient and MEK‐inhibited cells. Increased HLA‐A2 surface expression was correlated with enhanced recognition and lysis by A2‐specific CTL. On the contrary, elevated ULBP2 expression was not reflected by enhanced recognition and lysis by NK cells. Cosuppression of HLA Class I and NKG2D ligands and genes encoding peptide transporters or proteasomal genes mediates a strong functional link between RAS activation, DNMT activity and disruption of the antigen presenting system controlling immune recognition in colorectal cancer cells. © 2009 UICC
Health services : a review and remedial strategy

This paper analyses the difficulties faced by Papua New Guinea's health care system in the past 10 years, and proposes a package of reforms and policy initiatives. The approach taken contrasts current health delivery arrangements with the system operating in the late 1970s, arguing that recovery and advance in the health sector will require significant expenditure reallocations; new efforts to foster decentralisation; the conversion of the National Department of Health into an agency that negotiates global budget transfers to provinces and monitors performance; a new partnership with church-run health services; and the elimination of entry barriers and adoption of proactive measures to foster private provision of health services. Samuel Lieberman is Principal Economist and Peter Heywood is Senior Nutritionist at the World Bank.
Longitudinal analysis of Epstein-Barr viral load in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of transplanted patients by real-time polymerase chain reaction12

Background. Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients and is caused by iatrogenic suppression of T cell function. Elevations in the Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) load in plasma (>1000 EBV copies/100 &mgr;L plasma) or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) (>5000 EBV copies/&mgr;g PBMC DNA) as determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) have been shown to be sensitive indicators for the development of PTLD in patients. Methods. The diagnostic value of frequent monitoring of EB viral load in peripheral blood from 46 patients after heart transplantation was investigated compared with 21 healthy controls in a prospective longitudinal study. EB viral load was detected in PBMC and plasma using real-time quantitative (RQ)- polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays and compared with serological parameters of EBV infection or with the occurrence of CMV reactivations. Results. EB viral load was significantly increased in PBMC and in plasma from transplanted patients compared with healthy controls. Regarding levels and fluctuations of EB viral load in PBMC, patients were grouped in three distinct categories with high, intermediate, or low EB viral load. Although in one patient without PTLD, the EB viral load exceeded the threshold value for PTLD of 5000 EBV copies/&mgr;g PBMC DNA, all patients had an EB viral load in plasma of less than 1000 EBV copies/100 &mgr;L plasma. No correlation was found between the level of EB viral load and serological parameters of EBV reactivations in patients or in healthy control individuals. EBV and cytomegalovirus reactivations occurred independently in the majority of patients. Conclusions. EB viral load measurements in plasma and PBMC of patients using RQ-PCR are superior to serology and are a powerful tool for monitoring transplanted patients.
Human energy metabolism below, near and above energy equilibrium

1. Complete 24 h energy and nitrogen balances were measured for fifteen subjects at three levels of energy intake and for two other subjects at two levels of intake. 2. At each level, the fifteen subjects ate diets consisting of fifteen to twenty separate foods for 7 or 8 d. Faeces and urine were collected for the final 4 d. Respiratory gas exchange was measured during the final 72 h while the subjects stayed in an 11 m3 open-circuit respiration chamber, and simulated office or light household work. The energy balance of the other two subjects was determined initially in a similar way when they consumed a diet which was sufficient for energy equilibrium. Subsequently, the measurements were repeated twice at the same high level of metabolizable energy (ME) intake after 4 and 18 d on that diet. 3. Neither energy nor N digestibilities were significantly affected by intake level or subject. Due to relatively small urinary energy losses the ME content of the gross energy increased slightly at the higher intake. 4. Respiratory quotient increased with intake level from 0.78 to 0.87. 5. The efficiencies of utilization of ME were approximately 1.0 for maintenance (from the low to the intermediate intake level) and decreased to about 0.9 for maintenance and energy deposition (from the intermediate to the high intake level). 6. Estimates of daily ME requirements at energy equilibrium were 149 (SD 13) kJ ME/kg body-weight, 432 (SD 33) kJ ME/kg body-weight0.75 and 204 (SD 22) kJ/kg lean body mass. The former two values were negatively correlated with percentage body fat although not significantly so. 7. ME utilization and heat production of the other two subjects were nearly equal after 6 and 20 d on a diet supplying 1.5–1.7 times the ME needed for energy equilibrium.