Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Breeding Behavior: Do Energy-Demanding Periods Induce a Change in Prolactin or Corticosterone Baseline Levels in the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)?

Hormones are involved in reproductive decisions, linking environmental cues and body condition and adapting behavior. Mass loss is often accompanied by decreased prolactin and increased corticosterone concentrations, influencing incubation and brooding behavior and ultimately triggering nest desertion. Using blood-sucking bugs (Dipetalogaster maxima), we measured baseline prolactin, corticosterone, and ketone body values in incubating common terns (Sterna hirundo) between 2006 and 2009 during energy-demanding periods: 50 pairs were sampled hungry (after an incubation bout) and again fed (after foraging). In a second approach, we sampled 57 other pairs (experienced and inexperienced birds) three times over their individual breeding period, because reproduction, especially chick rearing, is a very energy-demanding process. In line with the common physiological pattern of fasting, we found significantly lower baseline prolactin values in hungry terns, which were negatively related to mass loss over the incubation bout, whereas corticosterone and ketone body levels were marginally increased. Compared to that in the incubation phase, the prolactin level dropped after hatching of chicks in inexperienced birds, perhaps indicating lower parental expenditure. Corticosterone, on the other hand, increased after hatching in males, probably linked to higher foraging activity, as males mainly deliver food during the first days. These energy-demanding periods clearly influenced hormones and ketone bodies, maybe reinforced by the low energy margin of this small seabird species, but energy reserves were not depleted to a level affecting behavior or reproductive success.
Fibrinogen gene haplotypes in relation to risk of coronary events and coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis: The Rotterdam Study

Summary Fibrin network structure has been correlated with coronary disease. Fibrinogen γ and α (FGG and FGA) gene haplotypes (chromosome 4q28) may be associated with fibrin network structure, and thereby with rigidity of the fibrin clot and sensitivity of the fibrin clot to the fibrinolytic system. Through these mechanisms they may influence risk of cardiovascular disease. We set out to investigate the relation between combined fibrinogen FGG and FGA gene haplotypes, representing the common variation of the fibrinogen FGG and FGA genes, coronary events and measures of coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. The study was embedded in the Rotterdam Study, a prospective populationbased study among men and women aged ≥ 55 years. Common haplotypes were studied using seven tagging SNPs across a 30-kb region with the FGG and FGA genes. Incident coronary events were registered, and carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaques, ankle-arm index, aortic calcification and coronary calcification were assessed. Seven haplotypes with frequencies >1% covered 97.5% of the genetic variation. In 5,667 participants without history of coronary heart disease (CHD), 733 CHD cases occurred during a median follow-up time of 11.9 years. Fibrinogen gene haplotypes were not associated with coronary events. Fibrinogen gene haplotypes did not show a consistent association with measures of coronary and extracoronary atherosclerosis. In conclusion, fibrinogen FGG and FGA gene haplotypes are not associated with coronary events, coronary atherosclerosis or extracoronary atherosclerosis. Confirmation of these findings by future population-based studies is warranted.
Role of 5‐HT3 receptors in peristaltic reflex elicited by stroking the mucosa in the canine jejunum.

1. The role played by the 5‐HT3 receptor, a serotonin subtype receptor, in peristaltic reflexes was studied in dogs first given ketamine, then anaesthetized with urethane (1.0 g kg‐1, I.V.) and alpha‐chloralose (100 mg kg‐1, I.V.). The jejunal loop was partitioned into two segments with respect to blood supply. Drugs were infused intra‐arterially into each segment. 2. Stroking of the mucosa of the aboral and oral segments elicited an ascending contraction and a descending relaxation, respectively. 3. The ascending contraction was concentration‐dependently inhibited by treatment of the aboral segment with the 5‐HT3 receptor antagonists ICS 205‐930 and ondansetron (1.4 pmol min‐1 to 14 nmol min‐1 for both). The maximal inhibition was 49.5 and 69.3%, respectively. The response was not affected by treatment of the oral segment with these drugs. The descending relaxation was inhibited by 51.4 and 60.8%, respectively, by treatment of the oral segment with ICS 205‐930 and ondansetron (1.4 nmol min‐1 for both). 4. The ascending contraction was markedly inhibited by treatment of either segment with hexamethonium (140 nmol min‐1). The response was abolished by treating both segments with hexamethonium and by treating the oral segment with atropine (14 nmol min‐1). 5. These results suggest firstly that, in the canine jejunum, enteric neurons with 5‐HT3 receptors play a role as sensory neurons or interneurons in the ascending excitatory and the descending inhibitory pathways of the peristaltic reflex elicited by stroking the mucosa, and secondly, that the ascending limb is composed of cholinergic interneurons and motoneurons.
Regulation of Neurite Outgrowth and SNAP-25 Gene Expression by the Brn-3a Transcription Factor (*)

SNAP-25 is a presynaptic nerve terminal protein which is also essential for the process of neurite outgrowth in vivo and in vitro. However the processes regulating its expression have not been characterized previously. We show that the gene encoding this protein, SNAP, is strongly activated by the Brn-3a POU (Pit-Oct-Unc) family transcription factor. Expression of both Brn-3a and SNAP-25 increases when ND7 neuronal cells are induced to extend neurite processes by serum removal. Inhibition of Brn-3a expression in these cells inhibits SNAP-25 expression and abolishes the neurite outgrowth that normally occurs in response to serum removal. These results identify Brn-3a as the first transcription factor having a role in process outgrowth in neuronal cells acting, at least in part, via the activation of SNAP-25 gene expression.
Immunity in strain 2 guinea-pigs inoculated with vaccinia virus recombinants expressing varicella-zoster virus glycoproteins I, IV, V or the protein product of the immediate early gene 62.

The immunogenicity of specific varicella-zoster virus (VZV) proteins, with emphasis upon cell-mediated immune responses, was evaluated by immunizing strain 2 guinea-pigs with vaccinia virus recombinants that express gpI (vac-gpI), gpIV (vac-gpIV) and gpV (vac-gpV) or the IE-62 protein (vac-IE-62). Vac-gpI elicited the highest initial mean T cell proliferation response [stimulation index (S.I.) 3.8 +/- 0.9 S.E. M. ] whereas inoculation with vac-gpV produced the lowest primary T cell response (S.I. 2.5 +/- 1.1 S.E.M.). T cell proliferation was detected for a shorter period after immunization with vac-gpV compared to vac-gpI, vac-gpIV or vac-IE-62. A comparison of the immunogenicity of vac-gpI and vac-IE-62 with the same proteins prepared by immunoaffinity purification showed that immunization with these proteins in either form elicited virus-specific IgG antibodies and T cell recognition. The presence or absence of IgG antibodies to the IE-62 protein was used to assess protection against challenge with guinea-pig cell-adapted infectious VZV in animals that had been inoculated with vac-gpI, vac-gpIV or vac-gpV. Immunization with vac-gpI and vac-gpIV restricted VZV replication but all animals given vac-gpV developed antibodies to IE-62 after challenge with infectious VZV. Priming of the T lymphocyte response was observed in all animals immunized with VZV-vaccinia virus recombinants after subsequent exposure to infectious VZV. These experiments with VZV vac-gpI, vac-gpIV and vac-gpV in guinea-pigs suggest variability in the capacity of herpesviral glycoproteins to elicit cell-mediated immunity in vivo. Induction of virus-specific immunity using IE-62 means that this major tegument protein of VZV could be a useful component for vaccine development.
Interaction between AT1 and AT2 receptors during postinfarction left ventricular remodeling.

The relative contribution of the angiotensin II type 1 and 2 receptors (AT1-R and AT2-R) in postmyocardial infarction (MI) remodeling remains incompletely understood. We studied five groups of C57Bl/6 mice after 1 h of left anterior descending artery occlusion-reperfusion: 1) wild type, untreated (n = 12); 2) wild type, treated with the AT1-R blocker losartan (10-20 mg.kg(-1). day(-1) in drinking water) from day 1 to day 28 post-MI (n = 10); 3) cardiac overexpression of the AT2-R [AT2-transgenic (TG); n = 14]; 4) AT2-TG treated with losartan (n = 13); and 5) AT2-TG and null for the AT1a-R [AT2-TG/AT1 knockout (KO); n = 10]. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) measured ejection fraction and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume (EDVI and ESVI) and mass indexed to weight on days 0, 1, 7, and 28 post-MI. Infarct size was measured on day 1 by late gadolinium-enhanced CMR. Regional myocyte hypertrophy and collagen content were measured on day 28 post-MI. Infarct size was similar among groups. Systolic blood pressure was lowest in AT2-TG/AT1KO. By day 28 post-MI, when corrected for baseline differences, EDVI and ESVI were higher and ejection fraction was lower in wild type than other groups. Ejection fraction was highest and EDVI and mass index were lowest in AT2-TG/AT1KO at day 28. The AT2-TG/AT1KO demonstrated less fibrosis in adjacent regions. Regional myocyte hypertrophy was similar in all groups. The AT1-R and AT2-R are intricately intertwined in post-MI remodeling. Pharmacological blockade of AT1-R is equivalent to AT2-R overexpression in attenuating post-MI remodeling. Genetic knockout of the AT1a-R is additive to AT2-R overexpression, due, at least in part, to blood pressure lowering.
Ambulatory tonometric blood pressure measurements in patients with diabetes.

BACKGROUND Arterial tonometry is a novel technique for measuring ambulatory blood pressure (AMBP). The watch-like device BPro(®) (HealthSTATS International, Singapore) captures radial pulsewave reflection and calculates brachial blood pressure (BP). In this study we investigate if arterial tonometry is applicable and reliable in patients with diabetes. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We compared tonometric (BPro) to cuff-based oscillometric and auscultatoric BPs (Takeda model TM2421, A&D Medical, Tokyo, Japan) in 25 Caucasian patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Patients were seen twice within 2 weeks. At visit 1, a 15-min rest was followed by the recording of three cuff-based BPs and 2-min continuous tonometric BPs. At both visits 24-h AMBP measurements were recorded with the BPro device. RESULTS At Visit 1, auscultatoric BP (mean±SD) was 136±19/72±8 mm Hg versus 138±19/78±8 mm Hg with the tonometric device. Visit 1 AMBP was 131±20/76±9 mm Hg versus 131±12/75±9 mm Hg at Visit 2. Mean 24-h AMBP, daytime BP, nighttime BP, and dipping at the two visits were similar (P>0.40). Linear and intraclass correlations coefficients between auscultatoric and tonometric systolic and diastolic BP were r=0.86 and 0.65, respectively (P<0.001 for both), and r=0.83 and 0.77, respectively (P<0.001 for both). The mean differences between devices were 1.9±10 and 5.5±6.6 mm Hg for systolic and diastolic BP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In patients with diabetes tonometric and cuff-based BPs are comparable, and tonometric AMBPs are reproducible and feasible.
New Product Development Process Valuation using Compound Options with Type-2 Fuzzy Numbers

Introducing new products is a key factor for the success and survival of companies. Managers need to examine every possibility that can occur during the life span of their new product and focus on the right strategy. Even then, launching a new product is highly risky due to uncertainties of the market and competitors. Traditional discounted cash flow models have some major disadvantages, and they underestimate the value of investments. This study presents a proposal of real option evaluation through fuzzy logic for a new product development project in a retail banking market with Type-2 fuzzy sets. A multi-stage new product development is used to have a better understanding of the long term success of the project. Compound options with the solution method based on BlackScholes method in a fuzzy form is offered also in this study. This technique is mostly suitable for managerial flexibility decisions. In this paper different from the literature compound options and Type-2 fuzzy numbers are combined to cope with uncertainties of the practice. Finally, a numerical analysis is presented to demonstrate the compound option pricing under fuzzy environment. The chosen bank is a Netherland origin multinational bank who got into the Turkish market in the last decade and the product of the project is a saving account that supports the bank’s vision. The main challenge for this bank is the adjustment of this new market and its vagueness.
Dynamic restoration of the state of charge for the battery participating in mutiple markets using market price signals

With the increasing use of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) resources and the recent advance of battery technologies, battery would likely become a non-generation alternative to participate in the deregulated electricity markets. This paper focuses on utilizing batteries for providing frequency regulation services and taking advantage of the short term price arbitrage (price spikes) in the spot market, because batteries have quick response time, and price spikes and frequency regulation services have similar time scales. Our experiment with real market data demonstrates that the proposed dynamic State of Charge (SoC) model makes much higher profits than a static SoC operation model.
Gene delivery and gene therapy of prostate cancer

Surgery, radiation or hormonal therapy are not adequate to control prostate cancer. Clearly, other novel treatment approaches, such as gene therapy, for advanced/recurrent disease are desperately needed to achieve long-term local control and particularly to develop effective systemic therapy for metastatic prostate cancer. In the last decade, significant progress in gene therapy for the treatment of localised prostate cancer has been demonstrated. A broad range of different gene therapy approaches, including cytolytic, immunological and corrective gene therapy, have been successfully applied for prostate cancer treatment in animal models, with translation into early clinical trials. In addition, a wide variety of viral and nonbiological gene delivery systems are available for basic and clinical research. Gene therapy approaches that have been developed for the treatment of prostate cancer are summarised.
Hydrogen Bonding in Human P450-Substrate Interactions: A Major Contribution to Binding Affinity

The importance of hydrogen bonding, a relatively strong intermolecular force of attraction between molecules in biological systems, is discussed in the respect of P450 substrate affinity towards one or more of the human P450 enzymes that are generally associated with drug and other xenobiotic metabolism. It is shown that calculation of hydrogen bond distances and energies based on simple empirical relationships provide values that agree closely with experimental findings. It is thus possible to estimate the hydrogen bond contribution to P450 enzyme-substrate binding affinity based on modelled interactions and by use of these relatively simple formulae, particularly when employed in conjunction with substrate-lipophilicity relationships.
The effect of an essential oil combination derived from selected herbs growing wild in Turkey on broiler performance

One thousand two hundred and fifty sexed day-old broiler chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery were divided randomly into five treatment groups (negative control, antibiotic and essential oil combination (EOC) at three levels) of 250 birds each. Each treatment group was further sub-divided into five replicates of 50 birds (25 male and 25 female) per replicate. The oil in the EOC was extracted from different herbs growing in Turkey. The EOC at 24, 48 or 72 mg/kg diet and an antibiotic at 10 mg avilamycin/kg diet were added to the basal diet. There were significant effects of dietary treatments on body weight, feed intake (except at day 42), feed conversion ratio and carcass yield at 21 and 42 days. Body weights were significantly different between the treatments. The birds fed the diet containing 48 mg essential oil/kg were the highest, followed by those receiving the diets containing 72 mg essential oil/kg, the antibiotic, the negative control and the 24 mg essential oil/kg at day 42, respectively. From 1 to 21 and 1 to 42 days of age, feed conversion ratios were improved significantly by the supplementation with 48 and 72 mg essential oil/kg diet. The feed intakes were significantly different between the treatments at 21 days, but not at 42 days. Supplementation in excess of 48 mg EOC/kg had no additional beneficial effect on body weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and carcass yield. The EOC, a feed additive of natural origin, may be considered as a potential growth promoter in broiler production. Keywords: Essential oil combination, Herbs, Antibiotic, Performance, Broiler South African Journal of Animal Science Vol.33(2) 2003: 89-94
Asking or Telling – Real-time Processing of Prosodically Distinguished Questions and Statements

We introduce a targeted language game approach using the visual world, eye-movement paradigm to assess when and how certain intonational contours affect the interpretation of utterances. We created a computer-based card game in which elliptical utterances such as “Got a candy” occurred with a nuclear contour most consistent with a yes–no question (H* H-H%) or a statement (L* L-L%). In Experiment 1 we explored how such contours are integrated online. In Experiment 2 we studied the expectations listeners have for how intonational contours signal intentions: do these reflect linguistic categories or rapid adaptation to the paradigm? Prosody had an immediate effect on interpretation, as indexed by the pattern and timing of fixations. Moreover, the association between different contours and intentions was quite robust in the absence of clear syntactic cues to sentence type, and was not due to rapid adaptation. Prosody had immediate effects on interpretation even though there was a construction-based bias to interpret “got a” as a question. Taken together, we believe this paradigm will provide further insights into how intonational contours and their phonetic realization interact with other cues to sentence type in online comprehension.
Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Endometrial Carcinoma : Overview of Randomised Trials

Endometrial cancer generally has a good prognosis because most cases are diagnosed in stage I. It is possible to identify subgroups of patients with early stage endometrial cancer with a poor prognosis. Despite a traditional generous use of adjuvant radiotherapy those patients have less than an 80% 5-year overall survival. In this group there is a need for an effective systemic adjuvant therapy. Two randomised studies have shown better response rates but no significant difference in overall survival for doxorubicinecisplatin vs doxorubicin in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Mainly on the basis of the superior response rates, doxorubicinecisplatin was for many years regarded as the standard chemotherapy in endometrial cancer. GOG-177 was the first phase III study on chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer that showed a survival advantage. Paclitaxeledoxorubicinecisplatin was better than doxorubicine cisplatin, but the toxicity of the three-drug regimen has precluded general acceptance. Paclitaxelecarboplatin has rendered high response rates in endometrial cancer and is widely used, despite the lack of evidence based on randomised studies. GOG-122 was a pivotal randomised study that compared doxorubicinecisplatin with whole abdominal radiotherapy in advanced optimally operated endometrial cancer and showed that chemotherapy with doxorubicinecisplatin resulted in superior survival. Two recent studies have compared adjuvant chemotherapy (cyclophosphamideedoxorubicinecisplatin) with adjuvant radiotherapy in early stage endometrial cancer. Both studies failed to show a difference between the treatments, but neither was powered to show non-inferiority. Another study (NSGO-EC-9501/EORTC-55991) compared adjuvant radiotherapy plus chemotherapy with adjuvant radiotherapy and showed better survival with the combination. The implications of these studies are discussed. Hogberg, T. (2008). Clinical Oncology 20, 463—469 a 2008 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Immunohistochemical localization of the P2Y1 purinergic receptor in Alzheimer's disease

The biological actions of extracellular nucleotides are mediated by two distinct classes of P2 receptor, P2X and P2Y. The G protein-coupled P2Y receptors comprise five mammalian subtypes, P2Y1-11. The P2Y1 subtype is expressed abundantly throughout the human brain and is specifically localized to neuronal structures. In the present study, the distribution of the P2Y1 receptor was investigated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. In contrast to control human brain, the P2Y1 receptor was localized to a number of characteristic AD structures such as neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques and neuropil threads. Immunoblot analysis showed that this specific immunostaining observed over tangles was not a result of cross-reactivity between the anti-P2Y1 antiserum and abnormal tau protein, the major constituent of tangles. The significance of this altered P2Y1 cellular distribution in AD brains is at present unclear.
A multi-fault diagnosis strategy of electro-hydraulic servo actuation system based on extended Kalman filter

Electro-hydraulic servo actuation system is a mechanical, electrical and hydraulic mixing complex system. If it can't be repaired for a long time, it is necessary to consider the possibility of occurrence of multiple faults. Considering this possibility, this paper presents an extended Kalman filter (EKF) based method for multiple faults diagnosis. Through analysing the failure modes and mechanism of the electro-hydraulic servo actuation system and modelling selected typical failure modes, the relationship between the key parameters of the system and the faults is obtained. The extended Kalman filter which is a commonly used algorithm for estimating parameters is used to on-line fault diagnosis. Then use the extended Kalman filter to diagnose potential faults. The simulation results show that the multi-fault diagnosis method based on extended Kalman filter is effective for multi-fault diagnosis of electro-hydraulic servo actuation system.
Physical fitness and mental performance during and after work.

Two groups of subjects who differed in physical fitness (24 well-trained and 24 less well-trained male students) participated in an experiment concerned with mental performance during and after physical work. The physical work was matched between the groups in terms of the percentage of maximal work capacity. Three mental tasks were used: task I involved high information load, placing great demands on continuous concentration and switching of attention as well as on short-term memory; task 2 involved paired associate learning with recall following short and long retention delays; task 3 was a multiplication task with great demands on concentration and on short-term memory. Tasks 1 and 2 were performed during the four different work-load conditions and task 3 after the physical work. As expected, heart rate during physical work was about the same in both groups. No intergroup difference was found in mental performance during physical work. However, recovery rate in terms of heart rate was faster, and menta.