Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of human growth hormone-releasing factor and(or) thyrotropin-releasing factor on hormone concentrations in dairy calves.

To determine the effect of chronic treatment with human growth hormone-releasing factor (1-29)NH2 (GRF) and(or) thyrotropin-releasing factor (TRF), 20 calves averaging 70.2 kg BW were divided into four groups (n = 5) according to a 2 X 2 factorial design. For 86 d, calves in each group received twice daily s.c. injections of either . 9% NaCl, GRF (5 micrograms/kg BW), TRF (1 microgram/kg BW) or GRF (5 micrograms/kg BW) plus TRF (1 microgram/kg BW). On d 87, all calves received a s.c. injection of GRF (5 micrograms/kg BW) plus TRF (1 microgram/kg BW). Blood samples were collected every 20 min for 18 h on d 1, 29, 57 and 85, and for 8 h on d 87. Hormone responses were measured as area under the hormone concentration curve over time. GRF and TRF acted in synergy (P less than .10) on GH release throughout the treatment period. Growth hormone responsiveness to GRF and(or) TRF decreased (P less than .01) with days of treatment, but this decrease was due to aging rather than to chronic treatment, because GH response to GRF plus TRF was similar (P greater than .10) between control and treated calves on d 87. TRF increased prolactin (Prl) concentration until the end of the treatment period (P less than .01). The response of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to TRF disappeared (P greater than .10) after 1 mo of treatment, whereas the thyroxine (T4) response decreased (P less than .01) throughout the treatment period. GRF did not induce nor did it interact with TRF on TSH and T4 release. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sudden sensorineural hearing loss with positional vertigo: Initial findings of positional nystagmus and hearing outcomes

Abstract Objectives: To investigate the initial findings of positional nystagmus in patients with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and positional vertigo, and to compare hearing improvement among patients with different types of positional nystagmus. Design: The characteristics of positional nystagmus upon initial examination were analysed, and the initial mean pure-tone audiometry (PTA) threshold was compared with that at three months after treatment. Study sample: Forty-four SSNHL patients with concomitant positional vertigo were included. Results: Positional nystagmus was classified into five subgroups; persistent geotropic direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) in head-roll test (HRT) and negative Dix-Hallpike test (DHT), persistent apogeotropic DCPN in HRT and negative DHT, positive DHT and negative HRT, persistent geotropic DCPN in HRT and positive DHT, and persistent apogeotropic DCPN in HRT and positive DHT. PTA threshold improvement was significantly greater in SSNHL patients with negative DHT than with positive DHT (p = 0.027). Conclusions: When geotropic DCPN was elicited by HRT, the nystagmus was persistent, which suggests that alteration of specific gravity of the endolymph, rather than the lateral canal canalolithiasis, may be a cause of this characteristic positional nystagmus. Positive DTH may be a prognostic factor for worse hearing recovery among patients with SSNHL and positional vertigo.
Mechanisms and kinetics of glycosaminoglycan release following in vitro cartilage injury.

OBJECTIVE Acute joint injury leads to increased risk for osteoarthritis (OA). Although the mechanisms underlying this progression are unclear, early structural, metabolic, and compositional indicators of OA have been reproduced using in vitro models of cartilage injury. This study was undertaken to determine whether glycosaminoglycan (GAG) loss following in vitro cartilage injury is mediated by cellular biosynthesis, activation of enzymatic activity, or mechanical disruption of the cartilage extracellular matrix. METHODS Immature bovine cartilage was cultured for up to 10 days. After 3 days, groups of samples were subjected to injurious mechanical compression (single uniaxial unconfined compression to 50% thickness, strain rate 100% per second). GAG release to the medium was measured, and levels were compared with those in location-matched, uninjured controls. The effects of medium supplementation with inhibitors of biosynthesis (cycloheximide), of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity (CGS 27023A or GM 6001), and of aggrecanase activity (SB 703704) on GAG release after injury were assessed. RESULTS GAG release from injured cartilage was highest during the first 4 hours after injury, but remained higher than that in controls during the first 24 hours postinjury, and was not affected by inhibitors of biosynthesis or degradative enzymes. GAG release during the period 24-72 hours postinjury was similar to that in uninjured controls, but the MMP inhibitor CGS 27023A reduced cumulative GAG loss from injured samples between 1 day and 7 days postinjury. Other inhibitors of enzymatic degradation or biosynthesis had no significant effect on GAG release. CONCLUSION Injurious compression of articular cartilage induces an initially high rate of GAG release from the tissue, which could not be inhibited, consistent with mechanical damage. However, the finding that MMP inhibition reduced GAG loss in the days following injury suggests a potential therapeutic intervention.
Modelling repurchase intention among smartphones users in Nigeria

This study aims to model repurchase intention among smartphones users by using structural equation modelling. The model was used to determine the impact of service quality measured by convenience, functionality and perceived usefulness on users’ satisfaction and repurchase intention. The study also examined the mediating role of users’ satisfaction on repurchase intention. ,A survey research design was adopted to gather data used for this study through questionnaire administration. In total, 500 copies of the questionnaire were administered to smartphones users in Nigeria, and 486 copies of the questionnaire were found usable for data analyses. The data obtained were analysed using different statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, correlation, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling through the use of Analysis of Moment Structures software. ,The study revealed that users’ satisfaction is significantly influenced by convenience, functionality and perceived usefulness. Similarly, repurchase intention is significantly impacted by perceived usefulness. The results further showed that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between users’ satisfaction and repurchase intention. However, convenience and functionality were found to have positive but statistically insignificant relationship with repurchase intention. ,This study contributes to the emerging discourse on the perception of smartphone users with respect to convenience, functionality, perceived usefulness, satisfaction and repurchase intention in the Nigerian context. It presents a latest attempt and useful insights on the service quality–users’ satisfaction–repurchase intention nexus among smartphone users in Nigeria.
cAMP‐elevating agents suppress dendritic cell function

The administration of cAMP‐elevating agents affects a number of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Because dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in autoimmunity and inflammation, the isolated effects of cAMP‐elevating agents on the function of DCs was examined. In a dose‐dependent manner, 8‐Bromo cAMP, prostaglandin E2, and 3‐isobutyl‐1‐methylxanthine inhibited tumor necrosis factor α release and suppressed antigen presentation by DCs. The same effect was observed with rolipram, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4, but not with inhibitors of other phosphodiesterases. The decreased antigen presentation by DCs was associated with an enhanced production of interleukin (IL)‐10 and with lower major histocompatibility complex type II (MHC II) expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of antigen presentation and MHC II expression was significantly reversed by treatment of DCs with neutralizing antibody against IL‐10, suggesting the involvement of an IL‐10‐dependent mechanism. Taken together, these results might explain why certain cAMP‐elevating agents such as rolipram are effective in blocking autoimmunity and inflammation.
Limited MHC polymorphism in the southern elephant seal: implications for MHC evolution and marine mammal population biology

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are highly polymorphic in most terrestrial mammal populations so far studied. Exceptions to this are typically populations that lack genome-wide diversity. Here I show that two populations of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) have low DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism at MHC loci when compared with terrestrial mammals. Limited studies on MHC polymorphism in two cetacean species suggest this is a feature of marine mammal populations in general, MHC polymorphism is thought to be maintained by balancing selection, and several types of disease-based and reproductive-based mechanisms have been proposed. For the three marine mammal species examined, the low mhc polymorphism cannot be explained by low genome-wide diversity, or by any reproductive-based selection pressure. It can, however, be explained by diminished exposure to pathogenic selection pressure compared with terrestrial mammals. Reduced exposure to pathogens would also mean that marine mammal populations may be susceptible to occasional pathogeninduced mass mortalities.
The Effect of Aging of Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded Tissues on the In Situ Hybridization and Immunohistochemistry Signals in Cervical Lesions

Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues are widely used in biomedical research but little is known about the effect of the age of the block or unstained slides on the in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry signal. We compared the in situ-based and immunohistochemistry-based signals for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia samples that ranged from 0 to 15 years of age. There was a progressive and statistically significant decrease in the strength of the p16INK4a signal when comparing tissues prepared from recent unstained slides (0 to 1 y old, mean score of 92%) to those of intermediate age (5 to 7 y old, mean score of 49%) to old unstained slides (cut 13 to 15 y ago, mean score of 10%). Equivalent, progressive, and significant decreases in the intensity of the signals for microRNAs, CD45, and human papillomavirus DNA were seen in tissues stored on slides from 5 to 7 years and 13 to 15 years, respectively. However, the diminution of signal was much less, although still statistically significant, if the sections from the 13- to 15-year-old paraffin blocks were prepared in 2012. The data likely does not represent degradation of the targets as extraction of several microRNA from the old blocks showed no detectable degradation, despite the markedly weakened in situ hybridization signal. It is concluded that in situ-based signal for DNA, microRNAs, and proteins in paraffin-embedded tissues are significantly reduced over time, especially when stored long term on glass slides which, in turn, can lead to a significant underestimation of the amount and presence of the nucleic acid or protein target.
Complex Problem Exercises in Developing Engineering Students' Conceptual and Procedural Knowledge of Electromagnetics

Complex multistep problem exercises are one way to enhance engineering students' learning of electromagnetics (EM). This study investigates whether exposure to complex problem exercises during an introductory EM course improves students' conceptual and procedural knowledge. The performance in complex problem exercises is compared to prior success in pre-engineering mathematics and physics courses and with success in the final exam. Students' conceptual knowledge is evaluated with the Conceptual Survey of Electricity and Magnetism (CSEM). The data (N = 133) are collected from an undergraduate static field theory course at Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo, Finland. The data are analyzed using correlation and linear regression. The study shows that the complex problem exercises do not improve conceptual understanding of EM. However, complex problem exercises significantly enhance the students' procedural knowledge. In addition, students found problem exercises useful and relevant for their learning.
A Top-Down Behaviour (TDB) Microsimulation Toolkit for Distributive Analysis

CGE models are often combined with microsimulation (MS) models to perform distributive impact analysis for fiscal or structural policies, or external shocks. This paper describes a user-friendly Stata-based toolkit to perform microsimulations combined with CGE models in a top down fashion. The toolkit is organized in various modules. It first estimates income generation by type of work and skill of workers. Then it estimates households’ specific price deflators based on individual utility. The changes estimated by a CGE model (or from other sources) in the employment (by skill and sector), in the wage payroll (by skill), in the revenues from self-employment activities (by skill) as well as in the commodities prices are fed into the MS model in a consistent way. Once the new vector of real consumption or revenue is estimated, it performs a series of distributive analysis, such as the computation of standard poverty and inequality indices, their decomposition by income factor, robustness analysis and growth incidence curves, and compare the baseline with the simulation results. This makes it possible to run standard poverty and distributive analyses, and to see whether a given shock or policy has had some impact on household welfare and who are the most affected households. Based on such information, social protection policies can be accurately designed in order to minimize the, e.g., negative effects of a given shock in a cost-effective manner. An illustrative analysis is run on data from Uganda.
Evidence for the involvement of fibroblast growth factor 10 in lipofibroblast formation during embryonic lung development

Lipid-containing alveolar interstitial fibroblasts (lipofibroblasts) are increasingly recognized as an important component of the epithelial stem cell niche in the rodent lung. Although lipofibroblasts were initially believed merely to assist type 2 alveolar epithelial cells in surfactant production during neonatal life, recent evidence suggests that these cells are indispensable for survival and growth of epithelial stem cells during adulthood. Despite increasing interest in lipofibroblast biology, little is known about their cellular origin or the molecular pathways controlling their formation during embryonic development. Here, we show that a population of lipid-droplet-containing stromal cells emerges in the developing mouse lung between E15.5 and E16.5. This is accompanied by significant upregulation, in the lung mesenchyme, of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (master switch of lipogenesis), adipose differentiation-related protein (marker of mature lipofibroblasts) and fibroblast growth factor 10 (previously shown to identify a subpopulation of lipofibroblast progenitors). We also demonstrate that although only a subpopulation of total embryonic lipofibroblasts derives from Fgf10+ progenitor cells, in vivo knockdown of Fgfr2b ligand activity and reduction in Fgf10 expression lead to global reduction in the expression levels of lipofibroblast markers at E18.5. Constitutive Fgfr1b knockouts and mutants with conditional partial inactivation of Fgfr2b in the lung mesenchyme reveal the involvement of both receptors in lipofibroblast formation and suggest a possible compensation between the two receptors. We also provide data from human fetal lungs to demonstrate the relevance of our discoveries to humans. Our results reveal an essential role for Fgf10 signaling in the formation of lipofibroblasts during late lung development. Summary: During lung development in mice, Fgf10 signaling plays an essential role in the formation of lipofibroblasts, which are required for the growth and survival of adult lung epithelial stem cells.
IMF programs and policies assessment in the transition economies during the transition and the post-transition period

Abstract We analyze empirically whether IMF financial assistance in 31 transition countries, during the transition and the post-transition period, has achieved the purposes stated in the IMF's own articles of agreement, namely employment enhancement, confidence provision and export promotion. By employing panel data and impact evaluation analysis, we find that IMF presence persistently fails to be correlated with upgrades in sovereign rating, FDI attraction and employment improvement. By focusing on specific IMF policies, we present some intriguing results, which reveal whether these individual policies actually contribute to the achievement of the official IMF purposes or not.
Derechos y calidad de vida en personas con discapacidad intelectual y mayores necesidades de apoyo

Las personas con discapacidades intelectuales (DI) y del desarrollo que presentan una mayor necesidad de apoyos constituyen un grupo especialmente vulnerable en lo que a defensa y garantia de sus derechos se refiere. A pesar de ello, su situacion no ha sido objeto prioritario de estudio ni han existido desarrollos especificos de politica social para responder a sus necesidades, lo cual se traduce en una escasez de interes por conocer en profundidad la realidad de estas personas, dificultades para garantizar el cumplimiento de sus derechos y falta de iniciativas orientadas al logro de su plena inclusion. Todo ello hace necesario el emprendimiento de una serie de acciones, traducidas en objetivos del presente trabajo: examinar y sintetizar los datos existentes sobre este colectivo en nuestro pais; detectar sus necesidades y el grado de cumplimiento de las mismas; y proponer orientaciones claras y basadas en el conocimiento para asegurar el bienestar y el cumplimento de derechos. Para ello, la metodologia empleada ha consistido en: (a) la revision de la literatura cientifica mas relevante de los ultimos diez anos sobre DI y grandes necesidades de apoyo; y (b) la explotacion de distintas bases de datos como la Encuesta de Discapacidad, Autonomia personal y situaciones de Dependencia, EDAD (INE, 2008) y del Sistema de Informacion del Sistema para la Autonomia y Atencion a la Dependencia (SISAAD), entre otras. A partir de los datos analizados y observando las situaciones frecuentes de exclusion a las que se enfrenta este colectivo, se extraen lineas urgentes de actuacion para mejorar el conocimiento sobre las condiciones de vida de las personas con DI mas significativa que permitan el desarrollo de buenas practicas en la provision de apoyos a este colectivo.
Distinct distributions of five NMDA receptor channel subunit mRNAs in the brainstem

The distribution of five NMDA receptor channel subunit mRNAs in the mouse brainstem at postnatal day 21 was semiquantitatively examined by in situ hybridization with subunitspecific oligonucleotide probes. The ∈1 subunit mRNA was observed in various brainstem nuclei. On the other hand, the ∈2 and ∈3 subunit mRNAs were restricted to particular nuclei, and the ∈4 subunit mRNA was detected in several nuclei at very low levels. The dorsal cochlear nucleus exhibited differential expressions of the ∈ subunit mRNAs in distinct neuron types: the ∈2 subunit mRNAin the pyramidal cells, the ∈3 subunit mRNA in the granule cells, and the ∈1 subunit mRNA in other neurons. In the vestibular nuclei, the medial nucleus expressed the ∈1, ∈3, and ∈4 subunit mRNAs, whereas the lateral and superior nuclei expressed the ∈1 subunit mRNA. Such region‐specific expressions were also discerned in the central gray, the superior and inferior colliculi, the medical accessory oculomotor nucleus, the locus ceruleus, the parabrachial nucleus, nucleus of the solitary tract, the caudal subnucleus of the trigeminal spinal tract nucleus, and the inferior olive. In contrast to the differential distributions of the four ∈ subunit mRNAs, intense signals for the ζ1 subunit mRNA were distributed throughout the brainstem. These findings suggest that anatomical organization of the ∈ subunits is heterogeneous in various regions of the brainstem, which would give rise to functional diversity of the NMDA receptor channel in these regions. © 1994 Wiey‐Liss, Inc.
Antidepressants but not antipsychotics have antiepileptogenic effects with limited effects on comorbid depressive‐like behaviour in the WAG/Rij rat model of absence epilepsy

Two of the most relevant unmet needs in epilepsy are represented by the development of disease‐modifying drugs able to affect epileptogenesis and/or the study of related neuropsychiatric comorbidities. No systematic study has investigated the effects of chronic treatment with antipsychotics or antidepressants on epileptogenesis. However, such drugs are known to influence seizure threshold.
Evaluating the Nexus Between Financial Deepening and Economic Growth: Evidence from Ukraine

Abstract In this paper systemic problems of Ukrainian banking sector are reviewed and the solutions are offered. The main objective of the study is to examine the relationship between a financial deepening and economic growth in Ukraine by estimating several multiple regression models over the 1993 to 2015 period. A real GDP growth per capita was used as an indicator for the economic growth. The domestic credit to private sector (% of GDP) was used as an index of financial depth. The study concludes that financial deepening causes a slight impact on the economic growth of Ukraine. A low level of impact is an indicator of a limitedness of lending to the real economy. This means that banking sector has not become the real driving force of the economic growth in Ukraine yet. The study suggests a statement that policy makers should design the policies which will encourage lending especially high tech production, small and mid-size business, micro financing to the real economy to promote economic growth and increase employment.
Single gene substitution rotavirus reassortants containing the major neutralization protein (VP7) of human rotavirus serotype 4

A series of reassortants was isolated from coinfection of cell cultures with wild-type bovine rotavirus (UK strain [serotype 6]) or rhesus rotavirus (strain MMU18006 [serotype 3]) and a tissue culture-adapted human rotavirus strain, ST3 (serotype 4). Monospecific antiserum or a set of monoclonal antibodies to the major outer capsid neutralization glycoprotein, VP7, of the animal rotavirus parent was used to select for reassortants with human rotavirus serotype 4 neutralization specificity. The majority of reassortants contained only gene 9 of the human rotavirus parent, ST3, whereas the remaining genes were derived from the animal rotavirus parent. These single human rotavirus gene substitution reassortants were neutralized to high titer by hyperimmune serum directed at ST3, thus demonstrating that gene 9 of ST3 codes for the major neutralization protein of this strain. Moreover, these single gene substitution, reassortants were also neutralized to low titer by antiserum directed at their animal rotavirus parent, probably because they derived gene 4, which codes for another outer capsid protein, VP3, from their animal rotavirus parent. None of the reassortants derived gene 4, which had previously been shown to be responsible for host range restriction of human rotaviruses in tissue culture, from ST3, despite the fact that the ST3 strain used for gene reassortment had been tissue culture adapted.