Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quantification and comparison of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase with two methods in normal and paget's specimens.

BACKGROUND Bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) is synthesized by the osteoblasts and is presumed to be involved in the calcification of bone matrix, though its precise role in the formation process is unknown. The aim of the present study was to measure the BAP activity in Paget's and normal specimens by two different techniques. METHODS Total ALP (TAP) as well as BAP activity-measuring tests were repeatedly undertaken at different times during the day and different days on the serum samples (inter and intra assay). Precision and repeatability of the phenylalanine inhibition (PHI) and heat inactivation (HI) techniques were approved during ten times repetition of all the tests on two normal samples besides one sample from Paget's disease of bone. The measurement of TAP and BAP activities was also carried out on 50 serum samples from normal adults using the standard IFCC-AACC and the established methods, respectively. RESULTS Coefficients of Variation (CV) for intra-assay of BAP were 2.33% and 3.16% by HI and PHI methods, respectively. Also, the inter-assay CV of BAP was 2.87% and 3.49% for mentioned methods in Paget's sample, respectively. In addition, the correlation of HI and PHI methods was found to be r= +0.873 for bone-specific isoenzyme. CONCLUSION Regarding the appropriate precision, repeatability and correlation of HI and PHI techniques, as well as their cost effectiveness can be of use in the quantification of bone alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme activity, especially when bone is involved.
Perinatal, not adult, hypothyroidism suppresses dopaminergic axon sprouting in the deafferented olfactory tubercle of adult rat

We reported recently that chronic thyroid deficiency in rat, beginning in utero and terminating after maturity, suppresses lesion‐induced central catecholaminergic axon sprouting in the adult brain [Gottesfeld et al, 1985]. The present work was undertaken to define the critical period of hypothroidism on subsequent neuronal sprouting.
The Impact of Globalization on the Capital Market in Romania

The study examined the impact of globalization on the capital market operation in Romania, using the Bucharest Stock Exchange as a case study. In this paper we analyze the impact of globalization on the capital market in Romania using different tests and methods, taking into account the other studies on this subject. We exploit daily data of stock exchange for the period of August 2011- March 2017 and the variables included in the research are BETPLUS, BET-XT, BET-FI, BET-NG, BET-BK, BET-XT-TR, SPX, DJI, N225 and STOXX50E. In the course of examination, it was discovered that there are much influence of globalization on the capital market operations in Romania
Evaluation of the Airtraq® and Macintosh laryngoscopes in patients at increased risk for difficult tracheal intubation*

The Airtraq®, a novel single use indirect laryngoscope, has demonstrated promise in the normal and simulated difficult airway. We compared the ease of intubation using the Airtraq with the Macintosh laryngoscope, in patients at increased risk for difficult tracheal intubation, in a randomised, controlled clinical trial. Forty consenting patients presenting for surgery requiring tracheal intubation, who were deemed to possess at least three characteristics indicating an increased risk for difficulty in tracheal intubation, were randomly assigned to undergo tracheal intubation using a Macintosh (n = 20) or Airtraq (n = 20) laryngoscope. All patients were intubated by one of three anaesthetists experienced in the use of both laryngoscopes. Four patients were not successfully intubated with the Macintosh laryngoscope, but were intubated successfully with the Airtraq. The Airtraq reduced the duration of intubation attempts (mean (SD); 13.4 (6.3) vs 47.7 (8.5) s), the need for additional manoeuvres, and the intubation difficulty score (0.4 (0.8) vs 7.7 (3.0)). Tracheal intubation with the Airtraq also reduced the degree of haemodynamic stimulation and minor trauma compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope.
2×2 MIMO, multi-mode, wideband transceiver system for worldwide m-WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) / WLAN (IEEE 802.11n) applications

A 2×2 MIMO(multi-input multi-output) for m-WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) / WLAN (IEEE 802.11n), multi-mode / wideband transceiver system was developed. To design the transceiver system, the RF architecture was redesigned for the overall system, and a MIMO antenna, quad-band switchable front-end module (FEM), and reconfigurable RFIC were developed. Using embedded PCB technology, the transceiver system was integrated. The system is multi-mode / multi-band based on a RF chain and MIMO type using a tunable single RFIC and multiple FEM. In this paper, a developed chip set was examined. Then, a multi-mode / multi-band RF transceiver system was developed and tested using a 2.3 GHz air signal.
The synovial-like membrane at the bone-cement interface in loose total hip replacements and its proposed role in bone lysis.

UNLABELLED The membrane present at the bone-cement interface was retrieved from twenty patients with a loose, non-septic failed total hip replacement at a site clearly remote from the pseudocapsule that reformed postoperatively. The orientation of the membrane was carefully marked to identify the surface in contact with cement. The membrane was studied histologically, histochemically, by cell culture, by organ culture, and by assessment of its ability to synthesize prostaglandin E2 and collagenase. This membrane, rather than being a nondescript so-called fibrous membrane, has the histological and histochemical characteristics of a synovial-like lining. The synovial-like cells are adjacent to the cement layer. Deep to them macrophages predominate. Inflammatory cells are absent. Cell cultures of this membrane contain stellate cells similar to those found in cell cultures of normal and rheumatoid synovial tissue. This membrane has the capacity to produce large amounts of prostaglandin E2 and collagenase. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This transformation of tissue at the bone-cement interface in patients with a non-septic, loose total hip component to a synovial-like tissue with the capacity to generate prostaglandin E2 and collagenase may explain the progressive lysis of bone that is seen in some patients with loose cemented total joint implants. Loosening of the component may be a stimulus to the synthetic activity of this tissue, which leads to further resorption of bone. Understanding and the possibility of pharmacological control of this membrane may contribute to improved duration of total joint implants.
Reduction of pain during induction with target-controlled propofol and remifentanil.

BACKGROUND Pain on injection of propofol is unpleasant. We hypothesized that propofol infusion pain might be prevented by infusing remifentanil before starting the propofol infusion in a clinical setting where target-controlled infusions (TCI) of both drugs were used. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed to determine the effect-site concentration (Ce) of remifentanil to prevent the pain without producing complications. METHODS A total of 128 patients undergoing general surgery were randomly allocated to receive normal saline (control) or remifentanil to a target Ce of 2 ng ml(-1) (R2), 4 ng ml(-1) (R4), or 6 ng ml(-1) (R6) administered via TCI. After the target Ce was achieved, the infusion of propofol was started. Remifentanil-related complications were assessed during the remifentanil infusion, and pain caused by propofol was evaluated using a four-point scale during the propofol infusion. RESULTS The incidence of pain was significantly lower in Groups R4 and R6 than in the control and R2 groups (12/32 and 6/31 vs 26/31 and 25/32, respectively, P<0.001). Pain was less severe in Groups R4 and R6 than in the control and R2 groups (P<0.001). However, both incidence and severity of pain were not different between Groups R4 and R6. No significant complications were observed during the study. CONCLUSIONS During induction of anaesthesia with TCI of propofol and remifentanil, a significant reduction in propofol infusion pain was achieved without significant complications by prior administration of remifentanil at a target Ce of 4 ng ml(-1).
Effects of Nitric Oxide on Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Infarction Size after Brain Reperfusion Injury

OBJECTIVEDeleterious effects of strokes may be ameliorated when thrombolysis (i.e., with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) restores circulation. However, reperfusion injury, mediated by oxygen free radicals (reactive oxygen species [ROS]), may limit the benefits of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator treatment. We hypothesized that, during reperfusion, exogenous nitric oxide (NO) would reduce stroke size by quenching ROS. METHODSTo investigate this hypothesis, we used two in vivo ischemia-reperfusion models, i.e., autologous cerebral embolism in rabbits and filament middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. Using these models, we measured ROS levels (rabbit model) and stroke volumes (rat model) in response to transient ischemia, with and without intracarotid administration of ultrafast NO donor proline NO (proliNO). RESULTSIn the rabbit cerebral embolism model, intracarotid administration of proliNO (10−6 mol/L) (n = 6) during reperfusion decreased free radical levels from 538 ± 86 nmol/L in the vehicle-treated group (n = 7) to 186 ± 31 nmol/L (2,3′-dihydroxybenzoic acid;P < 0.001) and from 521 ± 86 nmol/L (n = 7) to 201 ± 39 nmol/L (2,5′-dihydroxybenzoic acid;P < 0.002). In the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model, intracarotid administration of proliNO (10−5 mol/L) (n = 10) during reperfusion reduced the brain infarction volume from 256 ± 48 mm3 in the vehicle-treated group (n = 8) to 187 ± 41 mm3 (P < 0.005). In both experimental groups, intracarotid infusion of proliNO did not affect regional cerebral blood flow, mean arterial blood pressure, or brain and body temperatures. CONCLUSIONThe beneficial effects of early restoration of cerebral circulation after cerebral ischemia were enhanced by intracarotid infusion of proliNO, most likely because of ROS scavenging by NO. These findings suggest the possibility of preventive treatment of reperfusion injury using NO donors.
Cardiorespiratory fitness attenuates metabolic risk independent of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral fat in men.

OBJECTIVE Moderate to high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with a lower risk of the metabolic syndrome and all-cause mortality. Unknown is whether CRF attenuates health risk for a given level of abdominal visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and/or waist circumference. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The sample studied comprised 297 apparently healthy men with available computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans of the abdomen, metabolic data, and maximal treadmill exercise test results. Men were categorized into low-CRF (20%, n = 56), moderate-CRF (40%, n = 94), and high-CRF (40%, n = 147) groups based on age and exercise test results. All analyses were adjusted for age. RESULTS For a given level of waist circumference, visceral fat, or subcutaneous fat, the high-CRF group had lower triglyceride levels (P < 0.05) and higher HDL cholesterol levels than the low- or moderate-CRF groups. There was a significant group interaction (P < 0.01) for blood pressure, indicating that the increase in blood pressure per unit increase in visceral fat or waist circumference was greater in men in the low-CRF group compared with the high-CRF group. The relative risks of having the metabolic syndrome were 1.8 (95% CI 1.0-3.1) and 1.6 (0.9-2.7) times higher in the low- and moderate-CRF groups, respectively, compared with the high-CRF group after adjusting for age, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat (P for trend = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS High levels of CRF are associated with a substantial reduction in health risk for a given level of visceral and subcutaneous fat.
Autism and meta-representation: the case of epistemic modality.

This paper investigates the meta-representational abilities of high-functioning autistic adults on the basis of their use of linguistic expression forms of epistemic modality. The investigation is based on data drawn from natural conversations (in Dutch) with four autistic subjects with varying IQ levels. Parallel to an existing in-depth corpus study of epistemic modal expression forms in normal language use (i.e. the 'control data' for the present study), the occurrences in the data of four types of such expression forms--modal adverbs (ADV), predicative adjectives (ADJ), mental state predicates (MSP), and auxiliaries (AUX)--are analysed in terms of their quantitative and qualitative comparability to the normal data. The results show normal usage of these forms for three of the subjects. Only one subject, with the lowest general IQ of the four, shows problems with particular types of usages. It is argued that these results show that although there is some truth to the classical 'Theory of Mind' theories of autism, they turn out to be too simple to account for the data. Suggestions for an alternative way of thinking about the nature of autism are offered.
Elucidating satisfaction with physical activity: An examination of the day-to-day associations between experiences with physical activity and satisfaction during physical activity initiation

Satisfaction with physical activity is known to be an important factor in physical activity maintenance, but the factors that influence satisfaction are not well understood. The purpose of this study was to elucidate how ongoing experiences with recently initiated physical activity are associated with satisfaction. Participants (n = 116) included insufficiently active volunteers who initiated a self-directed physical activity regimen and completed daily diaries about their experiences for 28 days. We used multilevel models to examine the associations between experiences with physical activity and satisfaction. Significant between-person effects demonstrated that people reporting higher average levels of positive experiences and lower levels of thinking about the negative aspects of exercise were more likely to report higher levels of satisfaction (ps < .05). Positive experiences and perceived progress toward goals had significant within-person effects (ps < .01), suggesting that day-to-day fluctuations in these experiences were associated with changes in satisfaction. These findings elucidate a process through which people may determine their satisfaction with physical activity.
Heterogeneous Returns to Scale of Wind Farms in Northern Europe

The present paper tries to identify the optimal size of a wind farm using North European data. An empirical analysis of 61 sites constructed between 2004 and 2014 suggests that economies-of-scale are highly heterogeneous across on-shore and off-shore projects. A Varying Coefficient Model captures such diversity by making the impact of the farm site on the amount of its potential capacity a non-linear function of the number of installed turbines. The resulting scale elasticities suggest that small on-shore farms have a bigger per-turbines output than off-shore ones, while the opposite is true for big projects.
Survival rate 28 days after hospital admission with first myocardial infarction. Inverse relationship with socio‐economic circumstances

Objective. To study to what extent geographical differences of the mortality from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) can be accounted for by the 28‐day case fatality rate (CFR) following first hospital admittance for acute myocardial infarction (MI) and whether the geographical pattern of survival has any relationship with socio‐economic circumstances.
The genetic relationship between virulent and temperate Streptococcus thermophilus bacteriophages: whole genome comparison of cos-site phages Sfi19 and Sfi21.

The virulent cos-site Streptococcus thermophilus bacteriophage Sfi19 has a 37,392-bp-long genome consisting of 44 open reading frames all encoded on the same DNA strand. The genome of the temperate cos-site S. thermophilus phage Sfi21 is 3.3 kb longer (40,740 bp, 53 orfs). Both genomes are very similarly organized and differed mainly by gene deletion and DNA rearrangement events in the lysogeny module; gene replacement, duplication, and deletion events in the DNA replication module, and numerous point mutations. The level of point mutations varied from <1% (lysis and DNA replication modules) to >15% (DNA packaging and head morphogenesis modules). A dotplot analysis showed nearly a straight line over the left 25 kb of their genomes. Over the right genome half, a more variable dotplot pattern was observed. The entire lysogeny module from Sfi21 comprising 12 genes was replaced by 7 orfs in Sfi19, six showed similarity with genes from temperate pac-site S. thermophilus phages. None of the genes implicated in the establishment of the lysogenic state (integrase, superinfection immunity, repressor) or remnants of it were conserved in Sfi19, while a Cro-like repressor was detected. Downstream of the highly conserved DNA replication module 11 and 13 orfs were found in Sfi19 and phiSfi21, respectively: Two orfs from Sfi21 were replaced by a different gene and a duplication of the phage origin of replication in Sfi19; a further orf was only found in Sfi21. All other orfs from this region, which included a second putative phage repressor, were closely related between both phages. Two noncoding regions of Sfi19 showed sequence similarity to pST1, a small cryptic plasmid of S. thermophilus.
The Identification of ATP-citrate Lyase as a Protein Kinase B (Akt) Substrate in Primary Adipocytes*

Protein kinase B (Akt) plays a central role in cellular regulation, although many of the physiologically relevant substrates for the kinase remain to be identified. In this study, we have isolated a protein from primary epididymal adipocytes with an apparent molecular weight of 125,000. This protein exhibited immunoreactivity, in an insulin-dependent manner, with a phosphospecific antibody raised against the protein kinase B substrate consensus sequence RXRXX(pS/pT) as well as a phosphospecific antibody that recognizes serine 21/9 of GSK-3α/β. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry revealed the protein to be ATP-citrate lyase, suggesting that the two phosphospecific antibodies recognize phosphoserine 454, a previously reported insulin- and isoproterenol-stimulated ATP-citrate lyase phosphorylation site. Indeed, both insulin and isoproterenol stimulated the phosphorylation of this protein on the site recognized by the phosphospecific antibodies in a wortmannin-sensitive and -insensitive manner, respectively. In addition, transient expression of a constitutively active protein kinase B in primary adipocytes mimicked the effect of insulin on ATP-citrate lyase phosphorylation. Furthermore, ATP-citrate lyase was phosphorylated in vitro by recombinant protein kinase B on the same site. Taken together, these results demonstrate that serine 454 of ATP-citrate lyase is a novel and majorin vivo substrate for protein kinase B.
ERK2 drives tumour cell migration in three-dimensional microenvironments by suppressing expression of Rab17 and liprin-β2

Upregulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway has been shown to contribute to tumour invasion and progression. Because the two predominant ERK isoforms (ERK1 and ERK2, also known as MAPK3 and MAPK1, respectively) are highly homologous and have indistinguishable kinase activities in vitro, both enzymes were believed to be redundant and interchangeable. To challenge this view, we show that ERK2 silencing inhibits invasive migration of MDA-MB-231 cells, and re-expression of ERK2 but not ERK1 restores the normal invasive phenotype. A detailed quantitative analysis of cell movement on 3D matrices indicates that ERK2 knockdown impairs cellular motility by decreasing the migration velocity as well as increasing the time that cells spend not moving. Using gene expression arrays we found that the expression of the genes for Rab17 and liprin-β2 was increased by knockdown of ERK2 and restored to normal levels following re-expression of ERK2, but not ERK1. Both play inhibitory roles in the invasive behaviour of three independent cancer cell lines. Importantly, knockdown of either Rab17 or liprin-β2 restores invasiveness of ERK2-depleted cells, indicating that ERK2 drives invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by suppressing expression of these genes.
Preparing normal tissue cells for space flight experiments

ABSTRACT Deterioration of health is a problem in modern space flight business. In order to develop countermeasures, research has been done on human bodies and also on single cells. Relevant experiments on human cells in vitro are feasible when microgravity is simulated by devices such as the Random Positioning Machine or generated for a short time during parabolic flights. However, they become difficult in regard to performance and interpretation when long-term experiments are designed that need a prolonged stay on the International Space Station (ISS). One huge problem is the transport of living cells from a laboratory on Earth to the ISS. For this reason, mainly rapidly growing, rather robust human cells such as cancer cells, embryonic cells, or progenitor cells have been investigated on the ISS up to now. Moreover, better knowledge on the behavior of normal mature cells, which mimic the in vivo situation, is strongly desirable. One solution to the problem could be the use of redifferentiable cells, which grow rapidly and behave like cancer cells in plain medium, but are reprogrammed to normal cells when substances like retinoic acid are added. A list of cells capable of redifferentiation is provided, together with names of suitable drugs, in this review.
Pharmacological Profile of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Splice Variant Translation Using a Novel Drug Screening Assay

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is encoded by multiple transcripts with specific brain localization. Results: BDNF transcripts display a different ability to translate, basally and after stimulation. Conclusion: BDNF mRNA variants represent a “quantitative code” to regulate expression of the protein. Significance: This cell-based assay allows identification of compounds able to modulate BDNF variants having local effects in specific brain regions. The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key regulator of neuronal development and plasticity. BDNF is a major pharmaceutical target in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. However, pharmacological modulation of this neurotrophin is challenging because BDNF is generated by multiple, alternatively spliced transcripts with different 5′- and 3′UTRs. Each BDNF mRNA variant is transcribed independently, but translation regulation is unknown. To evaluate the translatability of BDNF transcripts, we developed an in vitro luciferase assay in human neuroblastoma cells. In unstimulated cells, each BDNF 5′- and 3′UTR determined a different basal translation level of the luciferase reporter gene. However, constructs with either a 5′UTR or a 3′UTR alone showed poor translation modulation by BDNF, KCl, dihydroxyphenylglycine, AMPA, NMDA, dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, or serotonin. Constructs consisting of the luciferase reporter gene flanked by the 5′UTR of one of the most abundant BDNF transcripts in the brain (exons 1, 2c, 4, and 6) and the long 3′UTR responded selectively to stimulation with the different receptor agonists, and only transcripts 2c and 6 were increased by the antidepressants desipramine and mirtazapine. We propose that BDNF mRNA variants represent “a quantitative code” for regulated expression of the protein. Thus, to discriminate the efficacy of drugs in stimulating BDNF synthesis, it is appropriate to use variant-specific in vitro screening tests.