Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chloride and bicarbonate transport in rat resistance arteries.

1. The role of chloride and bicarbonate in the control of intracellular pH (pHi) was assessed in segments of rat mesenteric resistance arteries (internal diameter about 200 microns) by measurements of chloride efflux with 36Cl‐, of pHi with the pH‐sensitive dye 2',7'‐bis‐(2‐carboxyethyl)‐5 (and‐6)‐carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) and of membrane potential with intracellular electrodes. 2. The main questions addressed were whether the previously demonstrated sodium‐coupled uptake of bicarbonate in these arteries was also coupled to chloride efflux, and whether sodium‐independent Cl(‐)‐HCO3‐ exchange was present and played a role in regulation of pHi. 3. The 36Cl‐ efflux was unaffected by acidification induced by an NH4Cl pre‐pulse in the presence as well as in the absence of bicarbonate. This was also true in sodium‐free media and in vessels depolarized by high potassium. 4. The membrane potential was unaffected by the acidification associated with wash‐out of NH4Cl, and the net acid extrusion during recovery of pHi from the acidification was not affected significantly by depolarization. 5. In the absence of bicarbonate, omission of extracellular chloride caused no change in pHi, but reduced 36Cl‐ efflux. By contrast, in the presence of bicarbonate, omission of chloride caused an increase in pHi but no change in 36Cl‐ efflux. Furthermore, the anion transport inhibitor 4,4'‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2,2'‐disulphonic acid (DIDS) inhibited the increase in pHi seen in the presence of bicarbonate and reduced the 36Cl‐ efflux in the presence of bicarbonate. 6. The presence of bicarbonate had no significant effect on the rate of recovery of pHi or the rate of increase of intracellular acid equivalents after an NH4Cl induced alkalinization; also the buffering power was not significantly different in the absence and presence of bicarbonate. Moreover these parameters were not significantly affected by DIDS, although DIDS as previously demonstrated reduced the rate of recovery of pHi from acidification. 7. The membrane potential was not significantly affected by the alkalinization associated with addition of NH4Cl and the rate of recovery of pHi from the alkalinization was not affected by depolarization. 8. The effects of NH4Cl and PCO2 on 36Cl‐ efflux were complex and could not easily be explained by the changes in pHi. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Magnetic Beads-Based Sensor with Tailored Sensitivity for Rapid and Single-Step Amperometric Determination of miRNAs

This work describes a sensitive amperometric magneto-biosensor for single-step and rapid determination of microRNAs (miRNAs). The developed strategy involves the use of direct hybridization of the target miRNA (miRNA-21) with a specific biotinylated DNA probe immobilized on streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (MBs), and labeling of the resulting heteroduplexes with a specific DNA–RNA antibody and the bacterial protein A (ProtA) conjugated with an horseradish peroxidase (HRP) homopolymer (Poly-HRP40) as an enzymatic label for signal amplification. Amperometric detection is performed upon magnetic capture of the modified MBs onto the working electrode surface of disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) using the H2O2/hydroquinone (HQ) system. The magnitude of the cathodic signal obtained at −0.20 V (vs. the Ag pseudo-reference electrode) demonstrated linear dependence with the concentration of the synthetic target miRNA over the 1.0 to 100 pM range. The method provided a detection limit (LOD) of 10 attomoles (in a 25 μL sample) without any target miRNA amplification in just 30 min (once the DNA capture probe-MBs were prepared). This approach shows improved sensitivity compared with that of biosensors constructed with the same anti-DNA–RNA Ab as capture instead of a detector antibody and further labeling with a Strep-HRP conjugate instead of the Poly-HRP40 homopolymer. The developed strategy involves a single step working protocol, as well as the possibility to tailor the sensitivity by enlarging the length of the DNA/miRNA heteroduplexes using additional probes and/or performing the labelling with ProtA conjugated with homopolymers prepared with different numbers of HRP molecules. The practical usefulness was demonstrated by determination of the endogenous levels of the mature target miRNA in 250 ng raw total RNA (RNAt) extracted from human mammary epithelial normal (MCF-10A) and cancer (MCF-7) cells and tumor tissues.
The effect of intrauterine injections of iodine solution on the duration of the oestrous cycle in cows.

Thirty-four cows with `normal' oestrous cycles showed a significant increase in the duration of the cycle following a single intrauterine injection of iodine solution between Day 13 and Day 16. The most distinctive lengthening (average 3\m=.\7days) was observed in animals which had undergone treatment on Day 15. Intrauterine iodine injections from Day 4 to Day 12, on Day 17, and during oestrus did not affect the `normal' oestrous cycle of fifty-three cows.
Contribución a la diferenciación morfológica de las variedades del cerdo ibérico como base para su conservación

Se estudia una muestra formada por 614 individuos de la raza Iberica pertenecientes al nucleo de control de rendimientos de la Asociacion Espanola de Criadores de Ganado Porcino Selecto del Tronco Iberico (AECERIBER). Estos animales pertenecian a 28 ganaderias diferentes con adscripcion previa a las principales variedades: Dorado Gaditano, Entrepelado, Lampino, Mamellado, Manchado de Jabugo, Portugues, Retinto y Torbiscal. En estudio estadistico descriptivo se analizaron 16 variables morfologicas y 5 indices zoometricos. El estudio comparativo se establecio solo entre el grupo de las hembras abarcando un total de 514 animales.Y en el analisis multivariado 507 animales utilizando 5 variables. Se calcularon los estadisticos descriptivos de todas las variables para la poblacion total y por variedades. Asimismo se realizo un analisis de la varianza univariante acompanado de los correspondientes test de homogeneidad de medias "a posteriori". Seguidamente se llevo a cabo un analisis multivariante: analisis discriminante canonico, calculo de las distancias de Mahalonobis,y diagramas cluster con el objetivo de establecer la caracterizacion morfologica de las variedades del cerdo Iberico. De los resultados obtenidos concluimos la existencia de una clara diferenciacion de todas las variedades que configuran el cerdo Iberico , si bien las diferencias entre las poblaciones de Mamellado, Retinto y Entrepelado son menos acusadas. La variedad Portugues se confirma como un variedad independiente perfectamente diferenciada del resto debido al gran aislamiento respecto al resto de animales desde hace largo tiempo. Finalmente , los resultados obtenidos avalan la propuesta de la poblacion de Manchado de Jabugo como raza independiente de la raza Iberica.
Autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor.

This review considers recent developments in our understanding of the properties of TRAb, particularly measurement of the antibodies and their sites of action and synthesis. Two new assay methods have allowed considerable improvements in the sensitivity, specificity, precision, and ease of measuring TRAb. In particular: 1) receptor assays based on inhibition of receptor-purified labeled TSH binding to detergent-solubilized TSH receptors and 2) bioassays based on stimulation of cAMP release from monolayer cultures of isolated thyroid cells. Detailed studies with the two assays indicate that TSH receptor antibodies nearly always act as TSH agonists in patients with a history of Graves' hyperthyroidism. Studies in areas of dietary iodine sufficiency suggest that measurement of the antibodies at various stages in the course of treating Graves' disease can be of value in predicting the outcome of therapy. However, in areas of iodine deficiency, difficulties in the ability of patients' thyroid tissue to recover from the effects of antithyroid drugs may prevent the receptor antibodies from causing a relapse of thyrotoxicosis. Consequently, the predictive value of receptor antibody measurements would be expected to be lower in these geographical areas. Although patients with a history of Graves' hyperthyroidism nearly always have TRAb which act as TSH agonists, about 20% of patients with frank hypothyroidism due to autoimmune destruction of the thyroid have TRAb which act as TSH antagonists (blocking antibodies). There is some evidence that these blocking antibodies can cause hypothyroidism particularly in the neonate. With regard to the site of synthesis of TRAb, there is now direct evidence that they are synthesized by thyroid lymphocytes, particularly the lymphocytes in close proximity to thyroid follicular cells. This is consistent with the well established effects of antithyroid treatment (drugs, radioiodine, or surgery) on TRAb levels in addition to their effects on thyroid hormone synthesis. Recent studies using affinity labeling with 125I-labeled TSH have enabled elucidation of the structure of the TSH receptor. TSH receptors in human, porcine, and guinea pig thyroid tissue have a two-chain structure in which the TSH binding site is formed on the outside surface of the cell membrane by a water-soluble A subunit (Mr approximately 50 K). The A subunit is linked by a disulfide bridge and weak noncovalent bonds to the amphiphilic B subunit (Mr approximately 30 K). This subunit, which penetrates the lipid bilayer, probably forms the site for interaction of the receptor with the regulatory subunits of adenylate cyclase. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and treatment outcomes of women undergoing assisted reproduction.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D deficiency impairs fertility in animal models, but the role of vitamin D in human fertility or treatment of infertility is less clear. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations and the outcome in women undergoing assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs). DESIGN We randomly selected 100 women undergoing infertility treatment with ART enrolled in an ongoing prospective cohort study who underwent 168 treatment cycles. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were measured in samples collected from women between days 3 and 9 of gonadotropin treatment. Generalized linear mixed models were used to evaluate the association of 25(OH)D concentrations with ART outcomes while adjusting for potential confounders and accounting for repeated treatment cycles per woman. RESULTS Median (range) serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 86.5 (33.5-155.5) nmol/L. Ninety-one percent of participants consumed multivitamins. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations were positively related to fertilization rate. The adjusted fertilization rate for women in increasing quartiles of serum 25(OH)D were 0.62 (95% CI: 0.51, 0.72), 0.53 (95% CI: 0.43, 0.63), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.56, 0.76), and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.80), respectively (P-trend = 0.03). This association persisted when analyses were restricted to women with serum 25(OH)D between 50 and 125 nmol/L when models were further adjusted for season of blood draw and when analyses were restricted to the first treatment cycle. However, 25(OH)D concentrations were unrelated to probability of pregnancy (P-trend = 0.83) or live birth after ART (P-trend = 0.47). CONCLUSION Vitamin D may be associated with higher fertilization rates, but this apparent benefit does not translate into higher probability of pregnancy or live birth. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials. gov as NCT00011713.
Back analyses of compressibility and flow parameters of PVD improved soft ground in Southern Vietnam

ABSTRACT: Prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) have been used in Vietnam since the late 1990s years. However, evaluation of PVD performance remains a difficult problem to be solved due to the lack of a complete instrumentation. Recently, a construction project had been developed at Thi Vai Port, about 60 km southeast of Ho Chi Minh city. In this project, PVD with 1.2 m spacing was utilized to improve the soft clay underlying the storage yard of the port. Back analyses using graphical methods including Asaoka, log settlement versus time, settlement versus log time, and settlement rate versus inverse time plots were conducted to verify the primary and secondary settlements and to obtain the flow and compressibility parameters of the improved soft ground. The log settlement versus time plot introduced in this study has been proven to be very convenient for obtaining the immediate settlement and final consolidation settlement from the measured total settlement. Moreover, results from these analyses have confirmed that PVD had performed very well in terms of accelerating the primary consolidation of soft ground in Southern Vietnam. However, the rate of secondary settlement was also very high and such a substantial residual settlement should be considered in design practice of PVD-improved soft ground.
Multi-Period Integrated Framework of Generation, Transmission, and Natural Gas Grid Expansion Planning for Large-Scale Systems

In this paper, a multi-period integrated framework is developed for generation expansion planning (GEP), transmission expansion planning (TEP), and natural gas grid expansion planning (NGGEP) problems for large-scale systems. New nodal generation requirements, new transmission lines, and natural gas (NG) pipelines are simultaneously obtained in a multi-period planning horizon. In addition, a new approach is proposed to compute NG load flow by considering grid compressors. In order to solve the large-scale mixed integer nonlinear problem, a framework is developed based on genetic algorithms. The proposed framework performance is investigated by applying it to a typical electric-NG combined grid. Moreover, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework for real-world systems, it has been applied to the Iranian power and NG system, including 98 power plants, 521 buses, 1060 transmission lines, and 92 NG pipelines. The results indicate that the proposed framework is applicable for large-scale and real-world systems.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE THIOL CONTENT OF ABNORMAL STRATUM CORNEUM IN PSORIASIS AND OTHER CONDITIONS. *

SINCE the work of liuffa {1904) normal kerathiizaticii has ! jeen thought to hivolve, among other things, the oxidation of thiol groups {-SH) in cysteino residues (jf the maljiighian layei-s into disulphide links (-SS-) in the horny structures. This view wa-s based on tlie finding that with the reagents generally employed, nitroprusside or ferricyanide, -SH was demonstrable in the malpighian layers but not in the fully formed horn. Applying this to abnormal horn I'ercival and Stewart in 1930 showed that jjsoriatic scale gave a strongly positive reaction for -SH with the mtropruaside reagent. It might be concluded from this that the abnorumlity resulted from a failure of oxidation to -SSduring keratinization. More recently Zingsheirn (I! J52) confirmed these results using quantitative methods and came to similar conclusions : Van Scott and Flcsch (1954) have also confirmed these findings quantitatively, using a more refined technique, though did not commit themselves aw to liow the abnornuility arose. Recently, by the use of newer histochemical techniques, it has, however, been shown that normal stratum conieum may contain some -SH groups though nnieh ! es.s than the malpighian layers (Mescon and Flesch, 1932 ; Barnctt and Seligman, 1954: Montagna, Eiscn. Rademacher and Chase. 1954). Similar ifsults have also been reported in quantitative estimations, normal horn generally yielding less -SH than abnormal. If first treated with denaturating agents such as ionic detcrgeut.s, normal and abnormal horn both yield much larger concentrations of -SH (\'an Scott and Lyon, 1953; Van Scott and Flesch, 1054). Evidently therefore the stratum corneum contains some free -SH, but much more can be demonstrated if the keratin is first altered or i denatured. (It is as.suincHl that denaturation uufoIdM or opeu.s up a protein,' and that this brings chemical groiijjs of the molecule within reach of reagents to which they were previously inaccessible, or alters their reactivity in some way. Siich gi'oups in proteins that have tlieir reactivity or accessibility altered by denaturation are sometimes called ' masked " groups.) Furtlier, some doubt has been thrown on the classical conception of normal keratinization as involving oxidation of -SH to -SSby Van Scott and Flesch (1954) and by Flesch and Satanove (1955), who found somewhat similar values for -SSlinks
Platelet secretion during clot retraction

The precise route serving as the pathway for extrusion of products contained in platelet storage organelles following cell activation has been controversial for many years. Some workers believe that the granules and dense bodies fuse together to form secretion vacuoles that move to the exposed cell surface, fuse with it and extrude contained products to the outside. Others suggest that the organelles fuse with channels of the open canalicular system (OCS) and deposit their contents which are subsequently secreted to the exterior. The controversy has been difficult to resolve because nearly all workers have used platelets in suspension to arrive at diverse conclusions. The present study has used ethylenediamine tetracetic acid (EDTA)-treated platelets and isometric clot retraction as a model system, and either polylysine or tannic acid to define the pathway used for secretion. Results indicate that secretion takes place in EDTA platelets under isometric tension by fusion of granules to OCS channels and passage of products through these conduits to the cell exterior. There is no evidence to suggest the organelles form secretion vacuoles or extrude their products by fusion with the inside of the exposed surface membrane.
Effect of implicit theories on judgement of cheating acceptability in physical education: The mediating role of achievement goals

Abstract We tested a hypothetical model that examined both the effects of implicit theories of ability on the judgement of cheating acceptability in a physical education context and the mediating role of the achievement goals defined in the social-cognitive model of achievement motivation. Data were collected from 477 middle-school students, who completed measures of implicit theories of ability, achievement goals, and judgement of cheating acceptability in team sports within a cross-sectional design. The results indicated that performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals mediated the relationships between entity theory and the judgement of cheating acceptability, and mastery-approach and mastery-avoidance goals mediated the relationships between incremental theory and the judgement of cheating acceptability. Further research is needed to determine whether these results would be replicated with other moral variables and other contexts.
A Real-Time Pulse Peak Detection Algorithm for the Photoplethysmogram

In this paper, we propose a simple and low complexity pulse peak detection algorithm using cascaded recursive digital filters and a slope sum function (SSF) with an adaptive thresholding scheme. The algorithm first eliminates noises in the photoplethysmogram (PPG) using the cascaded lowpass and highpass digital filters. The filters have been designed with 3-dB cutoff frequencies of 11 Hz and 0.5 Hz, respectively. The filtered PPG signal is then transformed by the SSF. The SSF simplifies detecting the pulse peaks by enhancing the upslope of the PPG signal and suppressing the remainder. A threshold for identifying SSF peaks is updated using the median filter with an order of 5. This update makes the threshold adaptive to variations of SSF heights. The detected SSF peaks localize ranges for pulse peak detection. Finally, the pulse peak is identified by picking the local maxima within the range from an onset index of the SSF signal to the following zero index. In order to cope with over-detected and missed information, the proposed algorithm employs knowledge-based rules as post- processing. The algorithm is tested on a database where PPG waveforms are collected from 127 subjects. The results are promising, suggesting that the method provides simpler but accurate pulse peak detection in real applications. 
LEAD, MERCURY, SELENIUM, AND OTHER TRACE ELEMENTS IN TISSUES OF GOLDEN EAGLES FROM SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA, USA

Lead-based rifle bullets, used in game hunting and recreational shooting, fragment when striking bone and soft tissues. Lead fragments may be ingested by birds scavenging offal piles or nonretrieved carcasses and therefore pose a poisoning risk. We captured and sampled 74 Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in southwestern Montana, USA, from 2008 to 2010 to evaluate levels of lead, mercury, selenium, and 13 other trace elements in blood and feathers. Lead was detected in blood of most (97%, n=70) eagles; mean blood level was 0.26 parts per million (ppm). Most eagles (65%) had background levels (<0.2 ppm), 29% had elevated levels (0.2–0.5 ppm), 13% had chronic levels (0.51–1.0 ppm), and 3% had acute levels (>1.0 ppm) in blood. Lead in blood decreased from winter to spring. Resident eagles had higher lead levels than eagles of unknown residency. Mercury was detected in few eagles, whereas selenium was detected in all, but at a low level (0.36 ppm). Other chemical elements in blood were at low or biologically appropriate levels. Lead in feathers (n=29) was correlated with blood lead (P=0.010), as was mercury in blood and feathers (n=48; P=0.003). Concentrations of lead and mercury in feathers were higher in adults than in juveniles and immatures (P<0.016) and both elements tended to increase with age. Selenium in feathers (n=48) appeared stable across plumage classes. Although detection rates of lead in blood of eagles captured in spring increased from 1985–1993 to 2008–2010, mean levels decreased (P<0.023) between periods, as did proportions of eagles exhibiting above background levels (>0.2 ppm; P<0.02).
Optimizing the management of neuromyelitis optica and spectrum disorders in resource poor settings: Experience from the Mangalore demyelinating disease registry

Background: In resource-poor settings, the management of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and NMO spectrum (NMOS) disorders is limited because of delayed diagnosis and financial constraints. Aim: To device a cost-effective strategy for the management of NMO and related disorders in India. Materials and Methods: A cost-effective and disease-specific protocol was used for evaluating the course and treatment outcome of 70 consecutive patients. Results: Forty-five patients (65%) had a relapse from the onset and included NMO (n = 20), recurrent transverse myelitis (RTM; n = 10), and recurrent optic neuritis (ROPN; n = 15). In 38 (84.4%) patients presenting after multiple attacks, the diagnosis was made clinically. Only 7 patients with a relapsing course were seen at the onset and included ROPN (n = 5), NMO (n = 1), and RTM (n = 1). They had a second attack after a median interval of 1 ± 0.9 years, which was captured through our dedicated review process. Twenty-five patients had isolated longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM), of which 20 (80%) remained ambulant at follow-up of 3 ± 1.9 years. Twelve patients (17%) with median expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of 8.5 at entry had a fatal outcome. Serum NMO-IgG testing was done in selected patients, and it was positive in 7 of 18 patients (39%). Irrespective of the NMO-IgG status, the treatment compliant patients (44.4%) showed significant improvement in EDSS (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Early clinical diagnosis and treatment compliance were important for good outcome. Isolated LETM was most likely a post-infectious demyelinating disorder in our set-up. NMO and NMOS disorders contributed to 14.9% (45/303) of all demyelinating disorders in our registry.