Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors by Eicosanoids (*)

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear hormone receptors that regulate gene transcription in response to peroxisome proliferators and fatty acids. PPARs also play an important role in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation. It is unclear, however, what naturally occurring compounds activate each of the PPAR subtypes. To address this issue, a screening assay was established using heterologous fusions of the bacterial tetracycline repressor to several members of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family. This assay was employed to compare the activation of PPAR family members by known PPAR activators including peroxisome proliferators and fatty acids. Interestingly, the activation of PPARs by fatty acids was partially inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, which prevents prostaglandin synthesis. Indeed, prostaglandins PGA1 and 2, PGD1 and 2, and PGJ2-activated PPARs, while a number of other prostaglandins had no effect. We also screened a variety of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) for the ability to activate PPARs. 8(S)-HETE, but not other (S)-HETEs, was a strong activator of PPARα. Remarkably, PPAR activation by 8(S)-HETE was stereoselective. In addition, 8(S)-HETE was able to induce differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These results indicate that PPARs are differentially activated by naturally occurring eicosanoids and related molecules.
PERCEPÇÃO DOS DISCENTES E DOCENTES ACERCA DA HONESTIDADE ACADÊMICA EM UM CURSO DE CIÊNCIAS CONTÁBEIS PERCEPTION OF INSTRUCTORS AND LEARNERS ABOUT ACADEMIC HONESTY IN AN ACCOUNTING COURSE

Os recentes escândalos corporativos trouxeram para o ensino da contabilidade a discussão relativa ao comportamento ético do profissional contábil. As pesquisas sobre honestidade acadêmica podem fomentar não só essa discussão, mas também a preparação do aluno para enfrentar a complexidade do ambiente corporativo. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar a percepção dos discentes e docentes de um curso de graduação em Ciências Contábeis acerca da honestidade acadêmica. É uma pesquisa descritiva com uma amostra de 17 professores e 469 alunos que analisaram diversos casos com honestidade questionável. Os resultados evidenciam diferenças de percepções entre alunos e professores em relação à honestidade acadêmica e às penalidades aplicáveis a casos percebidos como academicamente desonestos. Tais resultados confirmam as diferenças percebidas em estudos anteriores e indicam que a honestidade acadêmica ainda é um problema no ensino da contabilidade. Assim, a discussão sobre essa temática em sala de aula deve ser incentivada.
Ethanol sensitivity of recombinant homomeric and heteromeric AMPA receptor subunits expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

BACKGROUND Ethanol is known to acutely inhibit AMPA receptor function, and sensitivity of AMPA receptors to ethanol is dependent on subunit composition in vivo and in vitro. A commonly used in vitro expression system for studying recombinant receptor subunits is the Xenopus laevis oocyte and two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiological recording. To date, ethanol sensitivity of injected receptor subunit complementary RNA (cRNA) has not been shown to be correlated with the actual expression of receptor subunits in oocytes. In this study, we compared ethanol sensitivity of homomeric and heteromeric AMPA receptor subunits microinjected into Xenopus oocytes and confirmed subunit expression in oocytes by immunoblot. METHODS cRNAs coding for the "flop" type AMPA GluR1 or GluR3 (homomeric), GluR2/GluR3 (heteromeric combination), and GluR1/2/3 (heteromeric combination) were microinjected in equimolar amounts of 16 to 20 ng into oocytes, which were studied for their sensitivity to ethanol. Oocytes injected with cRNA for homomeric or heteromeric subunit combinations were homogenized and the expressed subunits quantified with anti-GluR1, anti-GluR2, and anti-GluR2/3 antibodies. RESULTS Ethanol concentrations of 10 to 500 mM consistently inhibited currents activated in oocytes by 200 microM kainic acid. The expressed homomeric GluR1 receptor and heteromeric GluR1/2/3 receptor combination currents showed similar sensitivity to ethanol inhibition with half-maximal inhibition values of 170 +/- 12 mM and 176 +/- 8 mM, respectively. The expressed homomeric GluR3 receptor and heteromeric GluR2/3 receptor combination currents were differentially sensitive to ethanol inhibition with respective IC50 values of 238 +/- 9 mM and 338 +/- 16 mM. CONCLUSION The expressed homomeric and heteromeric "flop" type AMPA receptors were differentially sensitive to ethanol, which may in part explain differential ethanol sensitivity in native neurons.
Correction: Semiquantitative Analysis of Clinical Heat Stress in Clostridium difficile Strain 630 Using a GeLC/MS Workflow with emPAI Quantitation

Clostridium difficile is considered to be the most frequent cause of infectious bacterial diarrhoea in hospitals worldwide yet its adaptive ability remains relatively uncharacterised. Here, we used GeLC/MS and the exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI) calculation to determine proteomic changes in response to a clinically relevant heat stress. Reproducibility between both biological and technical replicates was good, and a 37 u C proteome of 224 proteins was complemented by a 41 u C proteome of 202 proteins at a 1% false discovery rate. Overall, 236 C. difficile proteins were identified and functionally categorised, of which 178 were available for comparative purposes. A total of 65 proteins (37%) were modulated by 1.5-fold or more at 41 u C compared to 37 u C and we noted changes in the majority of proteins associated with amino acid metabolism, including upregulation of the reductive branch of the leucine fermentation pathway. Motility was reduced at 41 u C as evidenced by a 2.7 fold decrease in the flagellar filament protein, FliC, and a global increase in proteins associated with detoxification and adaptation to atypical conditions was observed, concomitant with decreases in proteins mediating transcriptional elongation and the initiation of protein synthesis. Trigger factor was down regulated by almost 5-fold. We propose that under heat stress, titration of the GroESL and dnaJK/grpE chaperones by misfolded proteins will, in the absence of trigger factor, prevent nascent chains from emerging efficiently from the ribosome causing translational stalling and also an increase in secretion. The current work has thus allowed development of a heat stress model for the key cellular processes of protein folding and export.
Abdominal surgical site infections: a prospective study of determinant factors in Harare, Zimbabwe

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are reported in lower frequencies in the developed countries than in the developing world. A prospective evaluation of risk factors in 285 patients undergoing abdominal surgery procedures in Zimbabwe was therefore undertaken. Overall infection rate was 26%. The age group 30–39 years had the highest number of dirty wounds and the highest rate of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Multivariate regression analysis showed a correlation between wound class and SSI (P < 0·05). This was also noted for American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (P < 0·05). HIV‐infected patients had 52% SSIs and non‐infected patients had 26% (P < 0·05). Patients receiving blood transfusion had 51% SSIs and those not transfused had 17% (P < 0·01). Patients receiving pre‐ and intra‐operative prophylactic antibiotics had 18% SSIs and those receiving postoperative administration had 37% (P < 0·01). Treatment ranged from dressings only in 11% to surgical intervention in 30% resulting in prolongation of median hospital stay from 8 to 18 days (P < 0·001). Mortality was 7%. High wound class, high ASA score, blood transfusion, HIV infection and delayed use of prophylactic antibiotics were risk factors for SSIs, resulting in surgical interventions, prolonged hospital stay and mortality.
Level of physical activity at the age of 65 predicts successful aging seven years later: the PROOF study.

BACKGROUND Physical activity has a pleiotropic effect and is a significant factor in successful aging. This study aims to quantify the relationship between the physical activity of a 65-year-old cohort and the level of life satisfaction and self-rated health 7 years later. METHODS A total of 988 questionnaires were sent by mail to a representative sample of healthy pensioners. Life satisfaction and health status were estimated on two visual analogical scales in answer to the following questions: (1) How would you estimate your state of health? and (2) Are you generally satisfied with your life? The level of physical activity was estimated using a questionnaire which enabled us to calculate: (1) Daily energy expenditure (DEE), (2) physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE), (3) daily energy expenditure higher than 5 metabolic equivalents (METs) (DEQisa), (4) Activity index (PAEE/DEE), (5) VO(2) peak. RESULTS In all, 686 responses were validated. The average age was 72.9 ± 1.2 years old with 59.5% of women (n = 408). Amongst the sample, 98.8% (n = 676) lived in their own homes and 25.2% (n = 172) lived alone. Mean DEE was 10.365 ± 1.964 kJ/24 h, mean PAEE was 4.479 ± 1.170 kJ/24 h, mean activity index was 0.42 ± 0.05, and mean estimated oxygen uptake (VO(2)) peak was 22.5 ± 1.6 mL/min per kg. Activity index and VO(2) peak were the variables most significantly correlated with self-rated health (p = 0.0032 and p = 0.0011, respectively) and life satisfaction (p = 0.0117 and p = 0.0053). CONCLUSIONS Energy spent in activity and VO(2) peak estimated from DEE, measured at the age of 65, appear to be strong predictors of well-being 7 years later.
Testing the Explanatory Power of Two Measures of Narrative Involvement: An Investigation of the Influence of Transportation and Narrative Engagement on the Process of Narrative Persuasion

Achieving a more sophisticated understanding of narrative persuasion requires an examination of how the experience of narrative involvement influences persuasive resistance. In this study, we used a multiple message design approach to test two models of narrative involvement, one with transportation and the other with narrative engagement, with programs featuring persuasive stories about sexual and reproductive topics from primetime television. Although both transportation and the narrative engagement influenced processes related to changes in participants’ (N = 362) beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions, the two scales influenced different cognitive and affective responses to the narratives. Transportation was positively related to enjoyment and the perception that the narrative topic was personally relevant. Narrative engagement predicted enjoyment and reduced reactance. Neither transportation nor narrative engagement significantly influenced cognitive elaboration or counterarguments, based on the application of a thought-listing procedure designed to measure counterarguments related to the realism of the narratives. Put together, these findings suggest that the study of narrative persuasion necessitates the use of different measurement instruments that can adequately assess the multidimensional nature and influence of narrative involvement.
Validation of Measures of Academic Self-Handicapping Behavior and Student Engagement on Muslim University Students

As a preliminary step to studying the reciprocal relationship between student engagement and academic self-handicapping, the present study had the aim of validating two key instruments on the target non-western population. The two instrruments in question were 1) the Self-Handicapping Questionnaire (SHQ 2011), and 2) the Student Engagement Questionnaire (SEQ 2011) which consists of i) the Emotional Engagement Scale, ii) the Behavioral Engagement Scale, and iii) the Cognitive Engagement Scale. We wanted to discover the psychometric properties of these instruments when used on an Asian Muslim population, in a predominantly Muslim setting. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were employed. Results indicated that both measures had adequate validity and reliability when used on a Muslim population. Abstrak: Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengesahkan dua instrumen utama atas penduduk sasaran - bukan Barat sebagai langkah awal untuk mempelajari hubungan timbal balik antara penglibatan pelajar dan kelakuan akademik handicapping diri. Dua instrumen tersebut adalah 1) Soal selidik Self-Handicapping (SHQ 2011), dan 2) soal selidik penglibatan pelajar (SEQ 2011) yang terdiri daripada i) skala penglibatan emosi, ii) skala penglibatan tingkah laku dan kognitif, dan iii) skala penglibatan. Penyelidik ingin mengetahui ciri-ciri psikometrik instrumen-instrumen tersebut apabila digunakan ke atas umat Islam di Asia, dalam suasana yang kebanyakannya beragama Islam. Analisis komponen utama (PCA) dan analisis faktor pengesahan (CFA) telah digunakan. Keputusan menunjukkan bahawa kedua-dua instrumen memenuhi keesahan dan kebolehpercayaan apabila digunakan ke atas penduduk Islam.
Fluorine-18 Radiochemistry, Labeling Strategies and Synthetic Routes

Fluorine-18 is the most frequently used radioisotope in positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceuticals in both clinical and preclinical research. Its physical and nuclear characteristics (97% β+ decay, 109.7 min half-life, 635 keV positron energy), along with high specific activity and ease of large scale production, make it an attractive nuclide for radiochemical labeling and molecular imaging. Versatile chemistry including nucleophilic and electrophilic substitutions allows direct or indirect introduction of 18F into molecules of interest. The significant increase in 18F radiotracers for PET imaging accentuates the need for simple and efficient 18F-labeling procedures. In this review, we will describe the current radiosynthesis routes and strategies for 18F labeling of small molecules and biomolecules.
Are you telling me the truth? Authenticity of responses in virtual world research

Basing on social response theory of consumer behavior, which predicts that the use of social cues in human-computer interaction elicits more sincere responses (Moon 2000; Moon 2003), and recognizing that the social dimension is dominant in virtual worlds’ interactions, we hypothesize that virtual worlds are externally valid contexts for marketing research. We test our hypothesis comparing answers provided in a virtual world context to answers provided in a real context on two heuristics: evaluation and choice. Evidence obtained from two studies supports the external validity of virtual world setting for marketing research both when participants are asked to perform an evaluation and when participants are asked to make a choice.
Immunohistochemical localization of the high‐affinity NGF receptor (gp 140‐trkA) in the adult human dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia and in the nerves and sensory corpuscles supplying digital skin

Background: Nerve growth factor (NGF) is produced in target issues of sympathetic and neural‐crest derived sensory neurons, including skin, to provide them trophic support. The biological effects of NGF on responsive cells are mediated by specific high‐affinity receptors. Recently, a protein tyrosine kinase of ≃ 140 kDa molecular weight, encoded by the proto‐oncogene trkA, has been identified as the high‐affinity NGF receptor (gp140‐trkA). The present work was undertaken to study the localization of gp140‐trkA‐like immunoreactivity (IR) in human peripheral ganglia (sympathetic and dorsal root ganglia), and in glabrous skin.
The development of thermal resistance of the feather coat in broilers with different feathering genotypes and feeding regimes

1. This study compared the development of thermal resistance of the feather coat in broilers, with early or late feathering genes, and with or without the naked neck gene, allowed ad libitum or restricted feeding. 2. Male and female broilers of one of the 4 genotypes were reared to 6 weeks of age and allocated to one of the two feeding regimes. The thermal resistance of the back and crop region was measured at weekly intervals. A sample of birds were killed at the same ages and total feather weight, primary and secondary flight feather weight, liver weight and abdominal fat weight were measured. 3. All three main factors, sex, feeding and genotype, had significant effects on feather weight over time. The primary and secondary flight feathers were less affected by feed restriction than the feather coat as a whole. Birds with the naked neck gene showed a greater depression in growth rate than birds with a normal neck under conditions of restricted feeding. 4. The thermal resistance of the feathers on the back was greater in females, increased by early feather growth and decreased by restricted feeding. 5. Relative to metabolic body size, birds on restricted feeding had a greater feather weight and a smaller liver. There was a marked reduction in fat deposition, to almost negligible levels by 6 weeks of age. 6. Broilers given restricted feeding, in preparation for breeding, would benefit by a warmer environment, particularly those with feathering genotypes which confer a lower thermal resistance.
Associations between LMO1 gene polymorphisms and Wilms' tumor susceptibility

Wilms’ tumor is the most common childhood renal malignancy. A genome-wide association study identified LIM domain only 1 (LMO1) as having oncogenic potential. We examined the associations between LMO1 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to Wilms’ tumor. In this hospital-based, case-control study, we recruited 145 children with Wilms’ tumor and 531 cancer-free children. Four polymorphisms (rs110419 A>G, rs4758051 G>A, rs10840002 A>G and rs204938 A>G) were genotyped using Taqman methodology. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to measure the associations between selected polymorphisms and Wilms’ tumor susceptibility. Only rs110419 AG was found to be protective against Wilms’ tumor (adjusted OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.41–0.94, P = 0.024) when compared to rs110419 AA. Wilms’ tumor risk was markedly greater in children with 1–4 risk genotypes (nucleotide alterations) than in those with no risk genotypes (adjusted OR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.25–2.69, P = 0.002). In a stratified analysis, the protective effect of rs110419 AG/GG was predominant in males. The association of 1–4 risk genotypes with Wilms’ tumor risk was limited to subgroups of children who were >18 months old, female, and in clinical stages III+IV. Thus, LMO1 gene polymorphisms may contribute to Wilms’ tumor risk, but this conclusion should be validated in other populations and larger studies.
Speeding Up All-Pairwise Dynamic Time Warping Matrix Calculation

Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) is certainly the most relevant distance for time series analysis. However, its quadratic time complexity may hamper its use, mainly in the analysis of large time series data. All the recent advances in speeding up the exact DTW calculation are confined to similarity search. However, there is a significant number of important algorithms including clustering and classification that require the pairwise distance matrix for all time series objects. The only techniques available to deal with this issue are constraint bands and DTW approximations. In this paper, we propose the first exact approach for speeding up the all-pairwise DTW matrix calculation. Our method is exact and may be applied in conjunction with constraint bands. We demonstrate that our algorithm reduces the runtime in approximately 50% on average and up to one order of magnitude in some datasets.
Mediating role of parenting styles between emotional abuse and neglect, and the occurrence of EMSs among sexual abuse victims

ABSTRACT The goals of the present study were to analyze the relationship of sexual abuse (SA) with emotional abuse (EA) and emotional neglect (EN), the relationship between cognitive schemas and parenting styles, and the mediating role of parenting styles in the occurrence of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs). This study was conducted in a sample of 122 adult clinical subjects who suffered sexual abuse in childhood. Results showed a positive relationship between SA and EA, and a negative relationship between SA and EN. Additionally, the EMSs and emotional deprivation, abuse, failure, social isolation, and vulnerability to harm parenting styles were related to each other and were positively related to EA and negatively related to EN. Finally, emotional deprivation, abuse, defectiveness, and failure parenting styles total and partially mediated in the relationship of EA and EN with EMSs. The present study brings further knowledge to the field regarding traumatic experiences in childhood and how they are related to EMSs and parenting styles.
Infant feeding practices among HIV-positive women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, indicate a need for more intensive infant feeding counselling

Abstract Objective To assess feeding practices of infants born to HIV-positive women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. These data then served as a proxy to evaluate the adequacy of current infant feeding counselling. Design A cross-sectional survey of infant feeding behaviours. Setting Four clinics in greater Dar es Salaam in early 2008. Subjects A total of 196 HIV-positive mothers of children aged 6–10 months recruited from HIV clinics. Results Initiation of breast-feeding was reported by 95·4 % of survey participants. In the entire sample, 80·1 %, 34·2 % and 13·3 % of women reported exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) up to 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively. Median duration of EBF among women who ever breast-fed was 3 (interquartile range (IQR): 2·1, 4·0) months. Most non-breast-milk foods fed to infants were low in nutrient density. Complete cessation of breast-feeding occurred within 14 d of the introduction of non-breast-milk foods among 138 of the 187 children (73·8 %) who had ever received any breast milk. Of the 187 infants in the study who ever received breast milk, 19·4 % received neither human milk nor any replacement milks for 1 week or more (median duration of no milk was 14 (IQR: 7, 152) d). Conclusions Infant feeding practices among these HIV-positive mothers resulted in infants receiving far less breast milk and more mixed complementary feeds than recommended, thus placing them at greater risk of both malnutrition and HIV infection. An environment that better enables mothers to follow national guidelines is urgently needed. More intensive infant feeding counselling programmes would very likely increase rates of optimal infant feeding.