Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dark‐ and light‐induced changes in coupling between horizontal cells in mammalian retina

Retinal horizontal cells exhibit large receptive fields derived from their extensive electrical coupling by means of gap junctions. The conductance of these gap junctions seems to be regulated by dopamine acting through a cAMP‐mediated cascade. There is now abundant evidence that extracellular dopamine levels vary with changes in ambient light intensity, suggesting that changes in the dark/light adaptational state of the retina can modulate coupling between horizontal cells. We studied this question in the mammalian retina by determining the effects of ambient light levels, in the form of changing background light intensity, on the coupling profiles of A‐ and B‐type horizontal cells in the rabbit. Changes in coupling were assessed by measurements of the space constants of the syncytium formed by horizontal cells and the intercellular spread of the biotinylated tracer Neurobiotin. Our results indicate that dark‐adapted horizontal cells show relatively weak coupling. However, presentation of background lights as dim as one‐quarter log unit above rod threshold resulted in increases in both the averaged extent of tracer coupling and space constants of A‐ and B‐type horizontal cells. Coupling expanded further as background light intensities were increased by 1–1.5 log units, after which additional light adaptation brought about an uncoupling of cells. Coupling reached its minimum at light intensities about 3 log units above rod threshold, after which, with further light adaptation, it stabilized at levels close to those seen in dark‐adapted retinas. Our results indicate that electrical coupling between mammalian horizontal cells is modulated dramatically by changes in the adaptational state of the retina: coupling is maximized under dim ambient light conditions and diminishes as the retina is dark or light adapted from this level. J. Comp. Neurol. 405:75–87, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Empirical Analysis of the Assessment of Innovation Effects in U.S. Merger Cases

In merger policy it is still an open question how the negative effects of mergers on innovation should be assessed. In this empirical study all mergers that were challenged by the U.S. antitrust agencies FTC and DOJ between 1995 and 2008 were analyzed in regard to the question to what extent and how the agencies assessed the innovation effects of mergers. The study also contributes to the discussion about differences and convergence in the merger assessments of the two agencies FTC and DOJ. Our results show (1) that in one third of all challenged mergers also innovation concerns have been raised (with no significant differences between the agencies). (2) Despite the wide-spread rejection of the “innovation market approach” in the antitrust debate the agencies used more often an innovation-specific assessment approach that includes also innovation in the market definition than the traditional product market concept. (3) Overall, we found both significant similarities and differences as well as some convergence over time in regard to the specifics of the assessment of innovation effects of mergers between both agencies.
Associations between physical behaviour patterns and levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety and well-being in middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional study using isotemporal substitution models

Objective To examine the compositional effects of physical behaviour on mental health. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting A population-representative random sample (Mitchelstown cohort) was recruited from a large primary care centre in Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland. Participants In total 3807 potential participants were selected from the practice list. Following exclusion of duplicates, deaths and ineligibles, 3043 were invited to participate and of these, 2047 (49.2% men) completed the questionnaire and physical examination components of the baseline assessment during the study period (April 2010 and May 2011). Accelerometers were introduced into the study in January 2011. Of the 745 participants seen between January and May of 2011, 475 (44.6% men) subjects (response rate 64%) agreed to participate and of these 397 (46.1% men) had valid accelerometer data. Primary and secondary outcome measures Participants wore the wrist GENEActiv accelerometer for 7 consecutive days. Data were summarised into 60 s epochs and activity categorised as sedentary behaviour, light or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Levels of depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Well-being was assessed using the WHO-5 well-being scale. Results In adjusted isotemporal models, a 30 min increase in light activity per day was associated with a significant decrease in levels of anxiety symptoms (B=−0.34; 95% CI −0.64 to −0.04) and a significant increase in levels of well-being (B=0.58; 95% CI 0.05 to 1.11). No statistically significant associations were observed between any physical behaviour and depressive symptoms or when sedentary behaviour was substituted with MVPA (P>0.05). Conclusion Although based on a cross-sectional study, the findings suggest that substituting light activity for sedentary behaviour may have positive associations with symptoms of anxiety and reported well-being among middle-aged adults.
Adipokine profile in celiac patients: differences in comparison with patients suffering from diarrhea-predominant IBS and healthy subjects

Abstract Objective. The role of adipokines such as resistin, leptin, and adiponectin could be pivotal in the molecular crosstalk between the inflamed intestine and the surrounding mesenteric adipose tissue. Our aims were to a) evaluate their circulating concentrations in patients with active celiac disease (ACD) and compare them to those in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-d) and healthy subjects; b) establish the impact of genetic variability in resistin; and c) evaluate whether a 1-year gluten-free diet (GFD) modifies circulating concentrations of resistin, leptin, and adiponectin in celiac patients. Material and methods. The study included 34 ACD patients, 29 IBS-d patients, and 27 healthy controls. Circulating concentrations of resistin, leptin, adiponectin, IL-6, and IL-8 were evaluated at the time of enrollment. Resistin +299 G/A polymorphism was also analysed. In CD patients, biochemical measurements were repeated after a 1-year GFD. Results. Along with higher IL-6 and IL-8 plasma levels, higher resistin and adiponectin concentrations were found in ACD and IBS-d patients compared with controls (p: 0.0351 and p: 0.0020, respectively). Resistin values proved to be predictable from a linear combination of IL-8 and +299 polymorphism. GFD affected resistin (p: 0.0009), but not leptin and adiponectin concentrations. Conclusions. Our data suggest that these adipokines are involved in modulating inflammatory processes in both CD and IBS-d patients. Alterations in the adipokine profile as well as the higher prevalence of the resistin +299 G/A SNP A allele compared to controls support the hypothesis that, at least in well-defined cases of IBS, a genetic component may also be supposed.
Prolonged neuromuscular blockade with vecuronium in a patient treated with magnesium sulfate.

Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is widely utilized in the treatment of preeclamptic hyperreflexia. Such therapy has important anesthetic implications because increases in plasma magnesium potentiate the activity of both depolarizing and nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents (1). In a recent animal
Descriptive epidemiology of collegiate women's field hockey injuries: National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance System, 1988-1989 through 2002-2003.

OBJECTIVE To review 15 years of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) injury surveillance data for women's field hockey and identify potential areas for injury prevention initiatives. BACKGROUND Field hockey is one of the most popular sports worldwide and is growing in participation in the United States, particularly among women. From 1988-1989 to 2002-2003, participation in NCAA women's field hockey increased 12%, with the largest growth among Division III programs. In 2002- 2003, 253 colleges offered women's field hockey and 5385 women participated. MAIN RESULTS Game injury rates showed a significant average annual 2.5% decline over 15 years, most likely fueled by drops in ankle ligament sprain, knee internal derangement, and finger fracture injuries. Despite this, ankle ligament sprains were common (13.7% of game and 15.0% of practice injuries) and a frequent cause of severe injuries (resulting in 10+ days of time-loss activity). Concussion and head laceration injuries increased over this same time, and the risk of sustaining a concussion in a game was 6 times higher than the risk of sustaining one during practice. Overall, injury rates were twice as high in games as in practices (7.87 versus 3.70 injuries per 1000 athlete-exposures, rate ratio = 2.1, 95% confidence interval = 2.0, 2.3). Most head/neck/face (71%) and hand/finger/thumb (68%) injuries occurred when the player was near the goal or within the 25-yd line and were caused by contact with the stick or ball (greater than 77% for both body sites); for 34% of head/neck/ face injuries, a penalty was called on the play. RECOMMENDATIONS Equipment (requiring helmets and padded gloves) and rule changes (to decrease field congestion near the goal) as well as evidence-based injury prevention interventions (eg, prophylactic ankle taping/bracing, neuromuscular balance exercise programs) may be viable prevention initiatives for reducing injury rates in women's collegiate field hockey players.
Application of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Genetic Diagnosis in Support of Decreasing Alcohol Intake

Application of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) Genetic Diagnosis in Support of Decreasing Alcohol Intake: Yasuhiro Komiya, et al. Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki—Encouraging behavioral changes to decrease alcohol intake is not easy from the standpoint of health support. This study was conducted to examine whether the genetic diagnosis of ALDH2 polymorphism is useful in supporting those who want to decrease their alcohol intake. The participants in this study were 329 male employees who wanted to know the result of their ALDH2 genotype. We divided the 329 participants randomly into two groups. One was the “notified group” (n=157), and the other was the “non‐notified group” (n=172). The subjects belonging to the “notified group” were informed of the results of the ALDH2 genotype diagnosis in April, 2003. Drinking habits and laboratory data were obtained before and after notification of the ALDH2 genotype. Among those with genotype ALDH2∗1/∗1, there was no significant change in drinking frequencies, nor was there any significant decline in liver function laboratory data in either of the groups before and after notification of the genotype. However, weekly alcohol intake tended to increase compared to that before notification. On the other hand, with regard to those with genotype ALDH2∗1/∗2, no significant changes in drinking frequencies or liver function laboratory data were evident in either group before and after notification of the genotype. However, the weekly alcohol intake tended to increase in the non‐notified group, whereas it tended to decrease in the notified group. Although the result was not significant, it is suggested that, with further study and an increased sample size, the genetic diagnosis may be found to be useful.
Backward stability of polynomial root-finding using Fiedler companion matrices

Computing roots of scalar polynomials as the eigenvalues of Frobenius companion matrices using backward stable eigenvalue algorithms is a classical approach. The introduction of new families of companion matrices allows for the use of other matrices in the root-finding problem. In this paper, we analyze the backward stability of polynomial root-finding algorithms via Fiedler companion matrices. In other words, given a polynomial p(z), the question is to determine whether the whole set of computed eigenvalues of the companion matrix, obtained with a backward stable algorithm for the standard eigenvalue problem, are the set of roots of a nearby polynomial or not. We show that, if the coefficients of p(z) are bounded in absolute value by a moderate number, then algorithms for polynomial root-finding using Fiedler matrices are backward stable, and Fiedler matrices are as good as the Frobenius companion matrices. This allows us to use Fiedler companion matrices with favorable structures in the polynomial root-finding problem. However, when some of the coefficients of the polynomial are large, Fiedler companion matrices may produce larger backward errors than Frobenius companion matrices, although in this case neither Frobenius nor Fiedler matrices lead to backward stable computations. To prove this we obtain explicit expressions for the change, to first order, of the characteristic polynomial coefficients of Fielder matrices under small perturbations. We show that, for all Fiedler matrices except the Frobenius ones, this change involves quadratic terms in the coefficients of the characteristic polynomial of the original matrix, while for the Frobenius matrices it only involves linear terms. We present extensive numerical experiments that support these theoretical results. The effect of balancing these matrices is also investigated.
Clinical variables which serve as predictors of cancer‐specific survival among patients treated with radical cystectomy for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate

Background. Studies have demonstrated conclusively that the stage and grade of transitional cell tumors at presentation are major determinants of survival for those with the disease in the bladder and prostate. The authors initiated a review of 531 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder and prostate treated with radical cystectomy between 1969 and 1990 to identify other clinical features predictive of cancer‐specific survival.
Complementary foods in developing countries : importance, required characteristics, constraints and potential strategies for improvement

In most contexts of developing countries, malnutrition and growth failure appear at the age of about 6 months and prevalence of stunting reaches a maximum before 24 months of age (1). This coincides with the weaning period. which is the time period when different kinds of foods are successively introduced to complement breastmilk. In regard to the simultaneity of the apparition of protein energy malnutlition and of the introduction of complementary foods. it appears that there are probably strong relationships between malnutrition and complementary foods. They can be either directly related because inadequate complementary food intakes or nutritional value leads to insufficient energy or micronutrient absorption or indirectly related since the early introduction of complementary foods often reduces breastmilk intakes and can cause food borne diseases (i.e., diarrhoea. parasitic infections) (2) or reduce the micronutrient bio-availability of the whole diet. Complementary foods can de defined as any liqUid or solid nutrient-containing foods given to young children in addition to breastmilk (1). In most contexts of developing countries. the first complementary foods consist in special transitional foods like gruels generally prepared from blends of flours or from fermented cereal doughs. As total energy and nutrient intakes of infant is the sum of energy and nutrient intakes from breastmilk and from complementary foods. the adequacy of the characteristics of these special transitional foods to the nutlitional requirements and physiological or anatomical constraints of infants appears to be one of the necessary conditions of sufficient dietary intake. therefore of normal growth.
A Joint Framework for Category Purchase and Consumption Behavior

We propose a consistent utility-based framework to jointly explain a household's decisions on purchase incidence, brand choice and purchase quantity. The approach differs from other approaches, currently available in the literature, as it is able to take into account consumption dynamics. In the model, households derive utility from consumption, and they relate their purchase behavior to consumption planning. We illustrate our model for yogurt purchases, and show that our model yields important additional insights. One such insight is that the reservation price of households is not fixed, but depends on the available inventory stock. Furthermore, we find that promotional activities increase sales through more purchases in the product category and brand switching, but the effect through larger purchase quantities is limited.
Acute In Vivo Effects of Growth Hormone on Protein Synthesis in Various Tissues of Hypophysectomized Rats and their Relationship to the Levels of Thymidine Factor and Insulin in the Plasma*

A study was made of the acute effects of growth hormone on the rate of leucine incorporation into protein of various tissues of hypophysectomized rats in "i"o. The rats were in jected with bovine growth hormone intravenously or intra peritoneally for various periods of time, and then the rate of protein synthesis was assessed by pulse-Iabeling pro teins with L-leucine>-14C administered intravenously through a tail vein. Growth hormone stimulated leucine incorporation into the total TCA-precipitable protein of thigh muscles 30 min, but not 15 min, after its administration. The sti mulatory effect was still evident at 6 and 24 hr after hor mone iqjection. These observations are similar to those previously made with diaphragm muscle. In contrast, no stimulation of leucine incorporation into proteins of the heart was seen 0.25, 0.5, I, 3, 6, or 24 hr after a single in jection of a large dose of growth hormone. In another ex periment, the rate of leucine incorporation into proteins of several tissues was assessed by the pulsC>-labeling tech nique after 30 min of exposure to growth hormone in "i"o. Once again, the hormone increased (by 67%) the rate of leucine incorporation in the protein of both the thigh mus cle and the diaphragrn. While no significant stimulation of protein labeling was evident in the thymus, kidney or brain at this time, growth hormone enhanced leucine incorpora tion into hepatic protein by 150%. Neither thymidine fao tor activity nor the concentration of immunoreactive insulin was increased in the plasma of hypophysectomized rats 30 min after they received an injection of growth hormone. Thus, these results suggest that the acute stimulatory effects of pituitary growth hormone on protein synthesis in skeletal and diaphragmatic muscle and in the liver are not media ted by thymi4ine factor or insulin.
The proteolytic cleavage of eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4G is prevented by eIF4E binding protein (PHAS‐I; 4E‐BP1) in the reticulocyte lysate

A common feature of viral infection is the subversion of the host cell machinery towards the preferential translation of viral products. In some instances, this is partly mediated by the expression of virally encoded proteases which lead to the cleavage of initiation factor eIF4G. The foot‐and‐mouth disease virus encodes two forms of a cysteine proteinase (L protease) which bisects the eIF4G polypeptide into an N‐terminal fragment containing the eIF4E binding site, and a C‐terminal fragment which contains binding sites for eIF4A and eIF3 and which associates with the 40S ribosomal subunit. Previously, we have demonstrated that the cleavage of eIF4G by L protease stimulates the translation of uncapped transcripts encoding cellular proteins and supports internal initiation driven by picornavirus internal ribosome entry segment (IRES) elements. Use of reticulocyte lysates manipulated to deplete them of eIF4E and the N‐terminal fragment suggests that the C‐terminal fragment of eIF4G is responsible for these effects, and we have now confirmed this by purifying the C‐terminal fragment and analysing its effects directly in the absence of L protease. Interestingly, we find that pre‐incubation of reticulocyte lysates or ribosomal salt wash fractions with the specific eIF4E binding protein, PHAS‐I (eIF4E‐BP1), blocks the proteolytic cleavage of eIF4G by L protease. This effect can be reversed by addition of recombinant eIF4E. These data are consistent with a model whereby the L protease cleavage site in eIF4G is inaccessible until a change in conformation is induced by the binding of eIF4E. This may have implications for a role for eIF4E binding in triggering changes that expose other domains in the eIF4G molecule during initiation of translation.
Immulite vs Scantibodies IRMA plasma ACTH assay.

The 2-site IRMA assay for adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH),1 as produced by Nichols Institute Diagnostics, was considered the gold standard in the US (1). This assay is no longer available. It was recently demonstrated that a manual IRMA ACTH assay produced by Scantibodies yielded results equivalent to those obtained with the Nichols Institute Diagnostics assay (2). We have observed that the results from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Proficiency Survey samples for ACTH using the Scantibodies IRMA yielded higher results than those from the Immulite platform (Siemens), which …
[Qualitative research: a valid alternative].

OBJECTIVE To describe the main qualitative research techniques through systematic review of Spanish studies published during the previous 5 years. DESIGN Systematic review. DATA SOURCES The Indice Médico Español (bibliographic database of items published in Spanish health sciences journals) was searched, and systematic searches of the journals Atención Primaria, Gaceta Sanitaria, and Revista de Calidad Asistencial were done. Study selection. We included studies carried out with any type of qualitative research technique. Also included were studies that reviewed qualitative research techniques. We excluded studies that used a qualitative technique but were based mainly on quantitative research techniques. The review was done during the period from April 1997 to April 2002. RESULTS Most of the studies we reviewed used only one technique (80.5%). When more than one technique was used in combination (19.5% of the articles we reviewed), focus groups and interviews were usually used. The techniques identified were focus group (used in 34% of the articles reviewed), interview (24%), the Delphi technique (10%), content analysis (8%), nominal group (8%), metaplan (2%), and Philips 6/6 (2%). CONCLUSIONS Qualitative research is a valid alternative, and if used with appropriate methodological rigor it can be of considerable use to health care professionals.