Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Src, ras, and rac mediate the migratory response elicited by NGF and PMA in PC12 cells

The combination of nerve growth factor (NGF) and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate (PMA) rapidly induced the locomotion of PC12 cells by sequentially stimulating lamellar spreading, ruffling with pinocytosis, and polarization by retraction from the substratum. During migration, cells acquired long processes as a result of several undisrupted cell‐substratum attachment points. The effect of NGF on PC12 migration was blocked by K‐252a, a selective inhibitor of the trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases. When PMA was added to cells expressing pp60v‐src, the cells displayed the same morphological behavior as they did with NGF and PMA addition. Activated ras only partially substituted for the effects of NGF; but, when ras was inhibited, the number of migrating cells decreased significantly due to a defect in spreading and retraction. Expression of an activated form of rac stimulated spontaneous growth of lamellipodia and enhanced cell migration in response to PMA. Expression of a dominant negative form of rac inhibited cell spreading and motility. Also, as a later effect, rac‐inhibited cells extended much shorter neurites than wild type cells in response to NGF alone. These results indicate that the cytoarchitectural changes induced by NGF and PMA in PC12 cells are mediated by src, ras, and rac. Whereas ras and rac activation affect lamellipodia extension and retraction but not pinocytotic ruffling, src activation is involved in all three events. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Inter‐Group Expenditure Gaps in the Arab Region and Their Determinants: Application to Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia

Economic inequality across socio&#8208;demographic groups in the Arab region is high and growing. This paper evaluates the differentials in household expenditures across rural/urban areas, female/male&#8208;headed households, non&#8208;educated/educated&#8208;headed households and non&#8208;employed/employed&#8208;headed households, in ten Household Income and Expenditure surveys from four Arab countries: Egypt (2008, 2010 and 2012), Jordan (2006 and 2010), Palestine (2007, 2010 and 2011) and Tunisia (2005 and 2010). Unconditional quantile regressions are used to analyze the differentials across the population distribution and to decompose them by source. Results show that Egypt and Tunisia exhibit relatively high expenditure gaps across rural/urban and non&#8208;educated/educated groups. Expenditure gaps in Jordan and Palestine and those across non&#8208;employed/employed and female/male headed households are more moderate. Overall, education and the return to it, geographic location and household composition play an important role in bringing about, as well as reducing, economic inequality across social groups.
Enzyme I and HPr from Lactobacillus casei: their role in sugar transport, carbon catabolite repression and inducer exclusion

We have cloned and sequenced the Lactobacillus casei ptsH and ptsI genes, which encode enzyme I and HPr, respectively, the general components of the phosphoenolpyruvate–carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). Northern blot analysis revealed that these two genes are organized in a single‐transcriptional unit whose expression is partially induced. The PTS plays an important role in sugar transport in L. casei, as was confirmed by constructing enzyme I‐deficient L. casei mutants, which were unable to ferment a large number of carbohydrates (fructose, mannose, mannitol, sorbose, sorbitol, amygdaline, arbutine, salicine, cellobiose, lactose, tagatose, trehalose and turanose). Phosphorylation of HPr at Ser‐46 is assumed to be important for the regulation of sugar metabolism in Gram‐positive bacteria. L. casei ptsH mutants were constructed in which phosphorylation of HPr at Ser‐46 was either prevented or diminished (replacement of Ser‐46 of HPr with Ala or Thr respectively). In a third mutant, Ile‐47 of HPr was replaced with a threonine, which was assumed to reduce the affinity of P–Ser–HPr for its target protein CcpA. The ptsH mutants exhibited a less pronounced lag phase during diauxic growth in a mixture of glucose and lactose, two PTS sugars, and diauxie was abolished when cells were cultured in a mixture of glucose and the non‐PTS sugars ribose or maltose. The ptsH mutants synthesizing Ser‐46–Ala or Ile‐47–Thr mutant HPr were partly or completely relieved from carbon catabolite repression (CCR), suggesting that the P–Ser–HPr/CcpA‐mediated mechanism of CCR is common to most low G+C Gram‐positive bacteria. In addition, in the three constructed ptsH mutants, glucose had lost its inhibitory effect on maltose transport, providing for the first time in vivo evidence that P–Ser–HPr participates also in inducer exclusion.
Evidence of improving quality of reporting of randomized controlled trials in subfertility.

BACKGROUND The quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in subfertility and their suitability for inclusion in meta-analyses have been assessed in the past and found to be insufficient. Our aim was to assess whether this quality has improved over time, particularly since the publication of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement, and to assess what proportion of trials could be included in the meta-analyses of pregnancy outcomes such as those included in Cochrane Reviews. METHODS A selection of subfertility trials published in 1990, 1996 and 2002 was collected from the Cochrane Menstrual Disorder and Subfertility Group (MDSG) database. Only trials published in English as full journal articles, claiming to be randomized and reporting on pregnancy outcomes, were included. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-four trials met our inclusion criteria. Twenty-four (15%) were found not to be randomized, despite claims, and only 10 trials (6%) provided adequate details on the methods of randomization and allocation concealment. Of these, only three had sufficient details extractable to allow for an intention-to-treat analysis of the outcome 'live birth'. CONCLUSIONS Although an improvement in some subfertility-specific issues was observed, the quality of reporting of RCTs still needs to improve to make them suitable for inclusion in meta-analyses such as those in the Cochrane Library.
SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION OF MALAGUETA PEPPER ( Capsicum frutescens L . ) ASSISTED BY ULTRASOUND – EFFECTS ON VEGETABLE STRUCTURE

In a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) unit, one generally can change the temperature, pressure, extraction bed size, solvent flow rate, among others, in order to maximize the global yield. The morphology of the solid substrate particle can also influence the extraction efficiency, since the solvent must cross diffusive paths inside the solid particle, in order to extract specific compounds Moreover, the SFE process capacity may be improved by using combined extraction techniques, such as the use of different co-solvents and ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic technology is based on the high frequency ultrasonic waves, which are capable of causing cavitations and disrupting the cell walls of vegetable materials. This favors the penetration of solvent and mass transfer, increasing the extraction yield and velocity. The objective of this study was to obtain extracts of malagueta pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) using SFE assisted by ultrasound and conventional extraction method, and understand the effects of extraction on the structure of the vegetable matrix. The raw material used was malagueta pepper dried at 50 °C (5% w. b.) and triturated. The SFE conditions were 40 ± 3 °C and 15 ± 0.5 MPa. The CO2 mass flow rate was fixed at 0.5 ± 0.1 kg/h. To study the influence of extraction on vegetable structure, SFE extractions were performed without ultrasound and with ultrasound at powers of 280 and 360 W. Conventional extractions (soxhlet) were carried out using n-hexane as solvent. The microstructures of the pepper pericarp samples were analyzed before and after the extractions using a scanning electron microscope equipped with a field emission gun (FESEM FEI Quanta 650). The results showed that SFE assisted by ultrasound increased global yield when compared to the SFE without ultrasound. The highest yield was obtained in the conventional method (soxhlet). Images obtained by FESEM showed that the action of ultrasound waves did not cause cracks on the cell wall surface, but the images reveal morphological changes caused by disturbances on the vegetal matrix due to application of the ultrasound.
The osmolality-sensitive taurine channel in flounder erythrocytes is strongly stimulated by noradrenaline under hypo-osmotic conditions

Stimulation of flounder erythrocytes by noradrenaline under isosmotic conditions (330 mosmol kg-1) and physiological Na+ concentration (113 mmol l-1) caused swelling of the cells. The EC50 of this cell swelling was 0.65 µmol l-1 noradrenaline. The effect of the noradrenaline-induced cell swelling on the taurine channel under isosmotic conditions was negligible. However, when the cells were stimulated by noradrenaline (1.0 µmol l-1) before, simultaneously with or after reduction of osmolality (255 mosmol kg-1), the volume regulatory efflux of taurine mediated by the taurine channel was transiently accelerated. The rate coefficient for taurine efflux was more than four times higher than in osmolality-stimulated cells not exposed to noradrenaline. The present paper deals with the accelerating effect of noradrenaline on the taurine channel under hypo-osmotic conditions and the lack of effect of noradrenaline-induced cell swelling on the channel under iso-osmotic conditions. Noradrenaline initiated the cell swelling by interacting with ß-receptors which appeared to be more related to the mammalian ß1-receptors than to the ß2-receptors. The receptor interaction activated the adenylate cyclase system and, in the presence of 1.0 µmol l-1 noradrenaline, the cellular cyclic AMP concentration increased about 23 times. Noradrenaline also stimulated the Na+/H+ and Cl-/HCO3- antiporters and this affected the extracellular pH as well as the cell volume. Depending on the extracellular Na+ concentration, the incubation medium was acidified (113 mmol l-1 Na+) or alkalized (2.7 mmol l-1 Na+). Under these two conditions, the accelerating effects of noradrenaline on the taurine efflux were of similar magnitude. Similar effects on the cell volume, the extracellular pH and the volume regulatory taurine efflux were obtained in the presence of the cyclic AMP analogue 8-bromo-cyclic AMP. Under hypo-osmotic conditions in the absence of noradrenaline, the cellular level of cyclic AMP was not elevated. There was no significant positive correlation between the water content of the cells (cell volume) under different conditions in the presence or absence of noradrenaline and the state of activation of the osmolality-sensitive taurine channel. We conclude that the mechanism(s) which activate(s) the osmolality-sensitive taurine channel in flounder erythrocytes is transiently and strongly accelerated by noradrenaline, but not triggered by the noradrenaline-induced events. The acceleration does not appear to be due to increased activity of the antiporters, but to increased cellular levels of cyclic AMP.
Pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin administered via intravenous regional limb perfusion in dairy cows: evaluation of two different tourniquets

Objectives This study evaluated synovial and systemic plasma pharmacokinetic variables of marbofloxacin after a single intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) performed using two different tourniquets in clinically healthy, standing, non-sedated dairy cows. The authors hypothesised that the type of tourniquet used for IVRLP would influence the synovial fluid concentration of marbofloxacin in the perfused distal limb. Design The study had a randomised parallel-group design. Methods Ten adult dairy cows were included. Unilateral hindlimb IVRLP through the dorsal common digital III vein was performed in two groups of five cows (group 1: wide rubber tourniquet; group 2: manual pneumatic tourniquet) using 0.67 mg/kg of marbofloxacin. The tourniquet was applied proximal to the tarsus and maintained for 30 minutes. Samples of jugular blood and synovial fluid from the tibiotarsal joints of the perfused limb were obtained before and at intervals after IVRLP. All samples were analysed for drug concentrations using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined to establish the influence of tourniquet types. Differences were considered significant at P≤0.05. Results No adverse effects from the procedure or marbofloxacin were observed in any animal. Significant differences in synovial concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters were measured. The mean ± sd areas under the concentration versus time curve from time 0 to 24 hours were 178.98±58.08 µg hour/ml for group 2 and 21.11±9.93 µg hour/ml for group 1. The mean ± sd maximum marbofloxacin concentrations were 75.50±10.19 µg/ml for group 2 and 6.35±1.47 µg/ml for group 1. Conclusions Performing IVRLP using the dorsal common digital III vein and a manual pneumatic tourniquet set at 300 mmHg above the tarsus in standing cows resulted in significantly higher marbofloxacin concentrations in the tibiotarsal joint compared with those with the wide rubber tourniquet. Trial registration Local ethical committee (number 41/2012/CEISA).
Are anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) clinically useful in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Since the first detection of ANCA in IBD, numerous studies have dealt with their prevalence, antigenic specificities, clinical significance, pathophysiological role, and their induction. This review summarizes the information obtained from those studies and shows that ANCA are not directly useful as diagnostic and prognostic factors in IBD. ANCA were detected in 50–85% of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 10–20% of patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Multiple target antigens are recognized by these autoantibodies, including both cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. A pathophysiological role for ANCA in IBD is far from clear. On the one hand, it is suggested that ANCA are genetic markers of susceptibility for IBD, and on the other hand, the induction of ANCA in those diseases may just be an epiphenomenon of chronic inflammation. We discuss recent evidence that ANCA may be induced by a break‐through of tolerance towards bacterial antigens.
A synthesis of barriers to and enablers of pro-poor climate change adaptation in four South African municipalities

Qualitative case studies were undertaken to explore the multiple, interacting factors that hinder and/or facilitate planned pro-poor climate change adaptation in four South African municipalities. A comparison of barriers and enablers across the cases revealed several key themes. Municipalities struggle to implement climate change adaptation within contexts of significant social, economic and ecological challenges. These contextual barriers, when combined with certain cognitive barriers, led to reactive responses. Existing municipal systems and structures make it difficult to enable climate change adaptation, which is inherently cross-sectoral and messy. Lack of locally applicable knowledge, funding and human resources were found to be significant resource barriers, and were often underlain by social barriers relating to perceptions, beliefs and governance challenges. Enablers of engaged officials, operating within conducive organizational environments and drawing on partnerships and networks, were able to circumvent these barriers to some extent. When enablers coincided with windows of opportunity that increased prioritization of climate change, projects with ancillary benefits were implemented. The implications of these results are discussed and suggestions made for how pro-poor municipal planned climate change adaptation that responds to the needs of vulnerable communities can be further understood and enabled in the future.
Hearing loss and perceptions of noise in the workplace among rural Australians.

OBJECTIVE To compare measured hearing levels of individuals regularly exposed to noise in their workplace to self-reported and family-reported hearing loss. To compare the attitudes and preventative actions adopted by individuals who are more aware of the potential for hearing loss to less aware individuals. DESIGN The project examined the perceptions of rural workers concerning noise, noise exposure and hearing. The subjects completed a 'Noise at Work' questionnaire and some demographic data at the time of audiometric testing. SETTING The subjects were recruited when attending their rural health clinic for audiometric testing. PARTICIPANTS Participants comprised 113 men and 23 women (20-65 years, mean = 39.6, SD = 11.4) working across a range of activities at different levels in their workplaces. The range in current employment was from 0.5 to 45 years (mean = 13.8, SD = 10.7). RESULTS Hearing tests were compared with perceptions of noise annoyance, hearing damage risk and preventative action. Self- and family-reported hearing loss and conversational difficulties in noise correlated well with measured audiograms. Perceptions of workplace noise tended to be more positive if people felt they had hearing problems. There was no difference in preventative action between those who did and did not feel they had hearing problems. Both groups rated barriers to action and lack of self-efficacy in a similar negative way. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for specific training to ensure that rural workers have skills to take more positive action in reducing noise exposure at work.
Direct cardiac effects of vasopressin: role of V1- and V2-vasopressinergic receptors.

Experiments were performed to determine the possible direct effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on cardiac function in the nonworking Langendorff preparation. Hearts were isolated from male Wistar rats, and the coronary arteries were retrograde perfused at a constant rate through the aorta with a Krebs-Henseleit solution, which was continuously bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2. The hearts were paced at 280 beats/min and measurements made of peak ventricular pressure (PVP), first derivative of left ventricular pressure (dP/dtmax), and coronary perfusion pressure (CPP). By maintaining constant coronary flow, the direct cardiac effects of AVP could be determined independent of changes in myocardial O2 delivery elicited by potential coronary vasoconstriction. Myocardial function was assessed at AVP concentrations of 0, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 500 pg/ml. Progressive coronary vasoconstriction was observed with increasing AVP concentration. In contrast, PVP and dP/dtmax increased at 50 and 100 pg/ml of AVP but fell at 400 and 500 pg/ml. The maximal PVP and dP/dtmax responses were at 50 pg/ml (+16 +/- 3 and +44 +/- 4%, respectively), whereas at 500 pg/ml both PVP and dP/dtmax were reduced below control (-30 +/- 4 and -34 +/- 5%, respectively). Pretreatment with the specific V1-vasopressinergic antagonist d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP (40 ng/ml) totally blocked both the coronary vasoconstrictor and contractility responses to AVP. Furthermore, infusion of a specific V2-agonist was without effect even at high doses. These data suggest that although AVP causes dose-related coronary vasoconstriction over a wide range of AVP concentrations, the hormone may exert a positive inotropic effect at doses mimicking circulating levels encountered in a number of pathophysiological situations. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder, quality of life, social support, and affective and dissociative status in severely injured accident victims 12 months after trauma.

BACKGROUND Many survivors of severe injuries develop significant psychiatric morbidity, especially trauma-related psychiatric disorders, anxiety, and depressive disorders. OBJECTIVE The authors examined accident-related partial and full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including dimensions such as dissociation and depression and health-related quality of life in 52 severely injured accident victims 12 months after trauma. METHOD Respondents were given a questionnaire battery, as well as structured clinical interviews, a brief author-compiled questionnaire, self-report questionnaires, and psychometric observer-rated scales. RESULTS One-fourth of respondents met all criteria for PTSD, and another 21.2% had subsyndromal PTSD. Patients with PTSD showed higher severity of dissociative and depressive symptoms and major impairments in some dimensions of quality of life. Injury severity and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction did not influence accident-related PTSD or depressive or dissociative symptoms. CONCLUSION Severely injured accident victims seem to face a major risk of PTSD and impairments in health-related quality of life. For patients with polytrauma, there is a need for a biopsychosocial conceptual framework at the interface of psychiatry and trauma surgery in general hospitals.
Ocular injuries in trauma patients: An analysis of 28,340 trauma admissions in the 2003–2007 National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Program

BACKGROUND Trauma-induced eye injuries are the leading cause of monocular blindness in the United States. Few studies to date have focused on ocular injuries in the trauma population. Our intent was to determine the annual percentage of ocular injury, types of injuries, and percentage with ocular injury-related procedures performed during the same hospitalization. METHODS This study was a retrospective analysis of 28,340 patient records included in the National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Program from 2003 to 2007. Patients with ocular injuries and related procedures were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis and procedure codes and were subsequently grouped into categories of ocular injury using the criteria of the Barell body region injury diagnosis matrix. Weighted national estimates for the proportion of patients with ocular trauma were calculated based on the relative weights for patients in each facility within the sample universe. Weighted frequencies were expressed as a percentage of the total population of trauma admissions, with 95% confidence intervals calculated for precision. RESULTS During the time frame examined, 1.97% to 6.00% of annual trauma patient admissions included ocular injuries. The most common injuries were contusions or superficial injuries and then closed orbit fractures accounting for 0.95% to 2.48% and 0.58% to 2.37% of all injuries, respectively. Between 0.56% and 1.52% of annual trauma admission had both ocular trauma and related procedures during their hospitalization. Popular treatments were therapeutic procedures on eyelids, conjunctiva, and/or cornea occurring in 0.15% to 0.84% of all trauma patients. Facial fracture–related procedures were reported for between 0.16% and 0.65% of all trauma patient admissions. CONCLUSION The National Trauma Data Bank National Sample Program can be used to create useful estimates of ocular injury characteristics among patients seen in the population seen in trauma centers, including types of ocular injury and related procedures performed during the same admission. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic study, level V.
Unusual activity pattern of leucine aminopeptidase inhibitors based on phosphorus containing derivatives of methionine and norleucine

Ligands containing bulky aliphatic P1 residues exhibit a high affinity towards cytosolic leucine aminopeptidase, a bizinc protease of biomedical significance. According to this specificity, a series of phosphonic and phosphinic compounds have been put forward as novel putative inhibitors of the enzyme. These phosphonic and phosphinic compounds were derivatives of methionine and norleucine as both single amino acids and dipeptides. The designed inhibitors were synthesised and tested towards the peptidase isolated from porcine kidneys using an improved separation procedure affording superior homogeneity. Unexpectedly, organophosphorus derivatives of methionine and norleucine exhibited moderate activity with Ki values in the micromolar range.