Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SIRT1 expression is associated with poor prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma

Several studies have reported that the overexpression of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) was associated with poor prognosis in various human cancers. However, little is known regarding the prognostic value of SIRT1 in lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the role of SIRT1 in the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Using a tissue microarray, we detected SIRT1 expression by immunohistochemistry in lung adenocarcinoma tissue, as well as in corresponding noncancerous tissues (NCTs). A high expression level of SIRT1 was observed in 74.7% (56/75) of patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 6.7% (5/75) of NCTs (P<0.001). SIRT1 expression was significantly associated with high pathological stage. Importantly, we found that SIRT1 expression was associated with worse overall survival in these lung adenocarcinoma patients (67.0 months vs 104.5 months; P=0.005). In addition, anaplastic lymphoma kinase, epidermal growth factor receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Survivin expression were evaluated by fluorescent in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry, respectively. We found that VEGF and Survivin were both highly expressed in the lung adenocarcinoma tissues, as compared to NCTs. Moreover, the SIRT1 and VEGF expression statuses were significantly positively correlated (r=0.238, P=0.039), while SIRT1 and Survivin expression status were not significantly correlated (r=0.220, P=0.058). Correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between VEGF and Survivin expression (r=0.436, P<0.001). However, we found that VEGF and Survivin expression were not associated with the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients (P=0.334; P=0.433, respectively). Taken together, our findings suggest that SIRT1 plays a role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma and may be a significant prognostic indicator for lung adenocarcinoma patients.
Antisuicidal Effects in Mood Disorders: Are They Unique to Lithium?

Abstract Introduction Suicidal behavior is strongly associated with depression in major depressive (MDD) and bipolar (BD) disorders, especially with associated behavioral activation, dysphoria, or agitation. A rare intervention with evidence of suicide risk-reducing as well as mood-stabilizing effects in mood disorder patients is lithium. Methods We reviewed available research evidence on associations of long-term treatment with lithium with risk of suicidal behavior. We meta-analyzed 12 randomized trials in 10 reports (with at least 1 suicide in either treatment arm) including both BD and MDD subjects, with particular attention to comparisons of lithium with placebo or other pharmacological treatments. We also summarized ecological studies on lithium concentration in local drinking water and reported suicide rates. Results We found substantial reduction of risks of suicide and attempts with long-term lithium treatment, particularly in depressive phases of BD and in MDD. Risk of suicidal behavior was higher in mixed (agitated-dysphoric) states than in manic or hypomanic periods. Risk of suicide fatality, specifically, was lower with lithium than with placebo and probably with mood-altering anticonvulsants or antidepressants. Discussion Long-term treatment with lithium has growing evidence of suicide- and attempt-sparing effects, probably greater than with anticonvulsants or antidepressants; antipsychotics remain to be tested adequately. However, the ethical and scientifically adequate design and conduct of trials of treatments aimed at suicide prevention remain challenging and underdeveloped.
Stability properties for the higher dimensional catenoid in ℝⁿ

This paper concerns some stability properties of higher dimensional catenoids in R n+1 with n > 3. We prove that higher dimensional catenoids have index one. We use δ-stablity for minimal hypersurfaces and show that the catenoid is 2/n-stable and that a complete 2/n-stable minimal hypersurface is a catenoid or a hyperplane provided the second fundamental form satisfies some decay conditions.
Isolation and Characterization of Salmonella Gallinarum from Outbreaks of Fowl Typhoid in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to isolate and characterize the causative agent of fowl typhoid in some outbreaks in chickens. Seventy isolates of Salmonella Gallinarum were recovered from culturing visceral organs and cloacal swabs obtained from 30 different outbreaks affecting 29 poultry farms in 8 parts of Kaduna State, Nigeria within two years, February, 2011 – January, 2013. Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction was carried out using primers targeting invA gene which confirmed all isolates as Salmonella. Multiplex PCR was carried out to target glgC and speC genes in order to differentiate between biovars Gallinarum and Pullorum. Results showed that all the isolates possessed both genes, confirming that they were biovar Gallinarum. Ten isolates were selected and characterized by XbaI Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). The selected isolates represented farms in various parts of the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) where outbreaks occurred. Out of these ten isolates, six isolates were chosen from 55 isolates recovered from 22 affected farms in Sabon Gari LGA. Three isolates were chosen from 9 isolates recovered from 5 affected farms in Kaduna North LGA; while 1 isolate was chosen from 5 isolates recovered from the 2 farms affected in Kaduna South LGA. The PFGE profiles showed >78% degree of relatedness among Salmonella isolates. This study provides information that the poultry industry in Kaduna State, Nigeria is still plagued with outbreaks of fowl typhoid caused by closely related Salmonella Gallinarum which were isolated.
The Complexity of the Business Network Context and Its Effect on Subsidiary Relational (Over-)Embeddedness

Many studies have focused on the effects of MNC subsidiaries’ external relational embeddedness. Little attention has been given to its antecedents and especially to the potential effect that the business network context might have. We try to fill this gap and attempt to explain variation among subsidiaries’ degree of relational embeddedness. Our results show a strong and robust effect of the business network context – i.e. the network context in which the direct business relationships between the subsidiary and its partners are embedded – on the degree of relational embeddedness. However, contrary to previous literature, we find an inverted u-shaped relationship. We discuss our findings with regard to the issue of over-embeddedness and the literature on the strength of weak vs. strong ties.
Hydrogen sulfide is an endogenous regulator of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.

AIMS To investigate the role of endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in the control of aging and healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans. RESULTS We show that the model organism, C. elegans, synthesizes H2S. Three H2S-synthesizing enzymes are present in C. elegans, namely cystathionine γ lyase (CSE), cystathionine β synthetase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate transferase (MPST or 3-MST). Genetic deficiency of mpst-1 (3-MST orthologue 1), but not cth-2 (CSE orthologue), reduced the lifespan of C. elegans. This effect was reversed by a pharmacological H2S donor (GYY4137). GYY4137 also reduced detrimental age-dependent changes in a range of physiological indices, including pharyngeal contraction and defecation. Treatment of C. elegans with GYY4137 increased the expression of several age-related, stress response, and antioxidant genes, whereas MitoSOX Red fluorescence, indicative of reactive oxygen species generation, was increased in mpst-1 knockouts and decreased by GYY4137 treatment. GYY4137 additionally increased the lifespan in short-lived mev-1 mutants with elevated oxidative stress and protected wild-type C. elegans against paraquat poisoning. The lifespan-prolonging and health-promoting effects of H2S in C. elegans are likely due to the antioxidant action of this highly cell-permeable gas. INNOVATION The possibility that novel pharmacological agents based on the principle of H2S donation may be able to retard the onset of age-related disease by slowing the aging process warrants further study. CONCLUSION Our results show that H2S is an endogenous regulator of oxidative damage, metabolism, and aging in C. elegans and provide new insight into the mechanisms, which control aging in this model organism.
Hormonal and neuromuscular responses during a singles match in male professional tennis players

We sought to measure the response of cortisol concentrations around a professional tennis match and its association with hydration status and neuromuscular performance. Nine professional male tennis players were tested in a rest day, and 2-week after, during the first match of a professional tournament played in a clay-court. Salivary concentrations of cortisol (SalCC) were measured in a resting day (9:00 am and 8:00 pm), at the match day (9:00 am and 8:00 pm) and immediately before and after the match. Hydration status was assessed before the match (urine specific gravity; USG) while fluid turnover was tracked during the match. Finally, counter movement jump (CMJ) and handgrip isometric strength (HS) were measured before and after the match. SalCC, either in the morning (P = 0.161) and afternoon (P = 0.683) was similar in rest and match days. However, SalCC increased after the match (P = 0.033). Participants started the match hypohydrated (USG = 1.026±0.002) and during the match lost 1.0±0.3% of body weight despite 1.035±0.124 L/h of fluid ingested. CMJ and HS did not change post-match (P = 0.210 and P = 0.881, respectively). Correlations between the elevations in SalCC and dehydration (% BW loss) during the match were significant (r = -0.632; P = 0.034). Professional male tennis players did not show an anticipatory increase in SalCC the day of the match and neither signs of neuromuscular fatigue after it. During the match, the mild dehydration (i.e., <1.5%) was associated with the increases in cortisol levels which suggests that dehydration may be an added stress to be considered.
A 600‐year annual 10Be record from the NGRIP ice core, Greenland

Despite the extensive use of 10Be as the most significant information source on past solar activity, there has been only one record (Dye‐3, Greenland) providing annual resolution over several centuries. Here we report a new annual resolution 10Be record spanning the period 1389–1994 AD, measured in an ice core from the NGRIP site in Greenland. NGRIP and Dye‐3 10Be exhibits similar long‐term variability, although occasional short term differences between the two sites indicate that at least two high resolution 10Be records are needed to assess local variations and to confidently reconstruct past solar activity. A comparison with sunspot and neutron records confirms that ice core 10Be reflects solar Schwabe cycle variations, and continued 10Be variability suggests cyclic solar activity throughout the Maunder and Spörer grand solar activity minima. Recent 10Be values are low; however, they do not indicate unusually high recent solar activity compared to the last 600 years.
Assessing Biases in the Evaluation of Classification Assays for HIV Infection Recency

Identifying recent HIV infection cases has important public health and clinical implications. It is essential for estimating incidence rates to monitor epidemic trends and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Detecting recent cases is also important for HIV prevention given the crucial role that recently infected individuals play in disease transmission, and because early treatment onset can improve the clinical outlook of patients while reducing transmission risk. Critical to this enterprise is the development and proper assessment of accurate classification assays that, based on cross-sectional samples of viral sequences, help determine infection recency status. In this work we assess some of the biases present in the evaluation of HIV recency classification algorithms that rely on measures of within-host viral diversity. Particularly, we examine how the time since infection (TSI) distribution of the infected subjects from which viral samples are drawn affect performance metrics (e.g., area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and precision), potentially leading to misguided conclusions about the efficacy of classification assays. By comparing the performance of a given HIV recency assay using six different TSI distributions (four simulated TSI distributions representing different epidemic scenarios, and two empirical TSI distributions), we show that conclusions about the overall efficacy of the assay depend critically on properties of the TSI distribution. Moreover, we demonstrate that an assay with high overall classification accuracy, mainly due to properly sorting members of the well-represented groups in the validation dataset, can still perform notoriously poorly when sorting members of the less represented groups. This is an inherent issue of classification and diagnostics procedures that is often underappreciated. Thus, this work underscores the importance of acknowledging and properly addressing evaluation biases when proposing new HIV recency assays.
Peridotites from a ductile shear zone within back‐arc lithospheric mantle, southern Mariana Trench: Results of a Shinkai 6500 dive

Two N–S fault zones in the southern Mariana fore arc record at least 20 km of left‐lateral displacement. We examined the eastward facing slope of one of the fault zones (the West Santa Rosa Bank fault) from 6469 to 5957 m water depth using the submersible Shinkai 6500 (YK06‐12 Dive 973) as part of a cruise by the R/V Yokosuka in 2006. The dive recovered residual but still partly fertile lherzolite, residual lherzolite, and dunite; the samples show mylonitic, porphyroclastic, and coarse, moderately deformed secondary textures. Crystal‐preferred orientations of olivine within the peridotites show a typical [100](010) pattern, with the fabric intensity decreasing from rocks with coarse secondary texture to mylonites. The sampled peridotites therefore represent a ductile shear zone within the lithospheric mantle of the overriding plate. Peridotites were probably exposed in association with a tear in the subducting slab, previously inferred from bathymetry and seismicity. Furthermore, although the dive site is located in the fore arc close to the Mariana Trench, spinel compositions within the sampled peridotites are comparable to those from the Mariana Trough back arc, suggesting that back‐arc basin mantle is exposed along the West Santa Rosa Bank fault.
Review of the Current State of Medical Plasma Technology and its Potential Applications

Plasma technology is entering a new chapter through medical use. Medical devices based on plasma technology have recently been tested for the biochemical effects of plasma on cells and tissues. The implementation of plasma technology in medicine was made possible by the introduction of non-thermal, cold plasma emitted at atmospheric pressure. To date, the putative biological effects of plasma include decontamination, disinfection, tooth bleaching and accelerated wound healing. In addition, cold plasma treatment has some potential as a novel cancer therapeutic. Plasma is currently believed to exert its diverse effects mainly by regulating both intra-and extracellular oxidationreduction reactions as a result of the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Interestingly, the biological effects of plasma exhibited hormesis, which is a biphasic response depending on the degree or amount of exposure. Ongoing investigations focus largely on elucidating how the modulation of oxidation-reduction by plasma affects the behavior of cells and helps determine the optimal treatment parameters maximizing the favorable effects of cold plasma. Although accumulating evidence indicates the role of cold plasma as the next-generation therapeutic in various medical fields, more detailed characterization of the biomolecular effects of plasma appears to be the next critical step, along with clinical studies designed to validate its clinical efficacy and safety.
Alveolar recruitment improves ventilation during thoracic surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to determine whether an alveolar recruitment strategy (ARS) applied during two-lung ventilation (TLV) just before starting one-lung ventilation (OLV) improves ventilatory efficiency. METHODS Subjects were randomly allocated to two groups: (i) control group: ventilation with tidal volume (VT) of 8 or 6 ml kg(-1) for TLV and OLV, respectively, and (ii) ARS group: same ventilatory pattern with ARS consisting of 10 consecutive breaths at a plateau pressure of 40 and 20 cm H(2)O PEEP applied immediately before and after OLV. Volumetric capnography and arterial blood samples were recorded 5 min (baseline) and 20 min into TLV, at 20 and 40 min during OLV, and finally 10 min after re-establishing TLV. RESULTS Twenty subjects were included in each group. In all subjects, the airway component of dead space remained constant during the study. Compared with baseline, the alveolar dead space ratio (VD(alv)/VT(alv)) increased throughout the protocol in the control but decreased in the ARS group. Differences in VD(alv)/VT(alv) between groups were significant (P<0.001). Except for baseline, all values in kPa (sd) were higher in the ARS than in the control group (P<0.001), respectively [70 (7) and 55 (9); 33 (9) and 24 (10); 33 (8) and 22 (10); 70 (7) and 55 (10)]. CONCLUSIONS Recruitment of both lungs before instituting OLV not only decreased alveolar dead space but also improved arterial oxygenation and the efficiency of ventilation.
Do environmental management systems affect the knowledge management process? The impact on the learning evolution and the relevance of organisational context

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate how an environmental management system (EMS) might affect the environmental product innovation propensity of a firm through its influence on two factors shaping the knowledge process: the human capital management practices of training and development and the organisational context. Design/methodology/approach To test the study’s hypotheses, an empirical analysis was carried out on 262 companies drawn from 16 developed European markets included in the S&P Europe 350 Dow Jones index over the years 2005-2015.The authors adopted regression analysis by using the ordinary least squares and the binary logit econometric models. Findings Consistently with the study’s predictions, results show that for organisational contexts characterised by the presence of family owners, the EMAS-certified EMS reveals as a significant moderating factor that positively influences their approach to the knowledge management tools for the improvement of the workforce cognitive capabilities, with a significant impact on the firm’s openness towards green product innovation. On the contrary, the ISO 14001-certified EMS tends not to stimulate such proactive behaviour, in both family and non-family firms. Practical implications The findings suggest that an EMS can stimulate the knowledge exploration in the environmental protection field. To this end, top managers should overcome the bureaucratic vision of an EMS and conceive it as a knowledge management tool able to support the learning evolution of the organisation through an effective commitment to human capital management policies of training and development. Originality/value Drawing from social identity and institutional theories, this is the first study – to the best of the authors’ knowledge – that theorises and tests why the adoption of an EMS might stimulate the knowledge advancement of the organisation in a different way, especially in peculiar organisational contexts of family firms where the identity overlap between the family and the firm tends to affect the knowledge management process.
White-coat hypertension and carotid artery atherosclerosis: a matching study.

BACKGROUND Blood pressure (BP) measurements obtained in the clinic have long served as the basis for determining risk of hypertensive vascular disease, yet many patients with high BP in the physician's office are normotensive elsewhere. It remains unclear whether such patients with "white coat" hypertension elude the risk of atherosclerosis. METHODS Community residents 40 to 70 years of age and not receiving any cardiovascular medications were recruited to participate in a study of cardiovascular risk factors. On the basis of clinic and daytime ambulatory BP and a threshold criterion of 140/90 mm Hg, subjects were classified as having persistent hypertension, white-coat hypertension, or persistent normotension. One-to-one matching was conducted in male participants on the basis of race and BP. Subjects with persistent hypertension and white-coat hypertension were matched on clinic BP, and those with white-coat hypertension and normotension were matched on daytime ambulatory BP. RESULTS The 3 matched groups of men (n=40 in each group) were similar in age, smoking status, and fasting glucose and lipid levels. Compared with the normotensive subjects, subjects with either persistent or white-coat hypertension had greater mean body mass index, waist-hip ratio, and fasting insulin concentration. On the basis of standardized duplex ultrasound examination of the carotid arteries, mean maximal intimal-medial thickness and plaque index in subjects with white-coat hypertension were greater than among normotensive subjects and equal to that of the subjects with persistent hypertension. CONCLUSION When compared with unmedicated individuals with comparable elevations in clinic BP, individuals with white-coat hypertension appear not to be protected from the atherosclerotic sequelae of hypertension.
Sustained release of bactericidal concentrations of penicillin in the pleural space via an antibiotic-eluting pigtail catheter coated with electrospun nanofibers: results from in vivo and in vitro studies

Background Inadequate intrapleural drug concentrations caused by poor penetration of systemic antibiotics into the pleural cavity is a major cause of treatment failure in empyema. Herein, we describe a novel antibiotic-eluting pigtail catheter coated with electrospun nanofibers used for the sustained release of bactericidal concentrations of penicillin in the pleural space. Methods Electrospun nanofibers prepared using polylactide-polyglycolide copolymer and penicillin G sodium dissolved in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol were used to coat the surface of an Fr6 pigtail catheter. The in vitro patterns of drug release were tested by placing the catheter in phosphate-buffered saline. In vivo studies were performed using rabbits treated with penicillin either intrapleurally (Group 1, 20 mg delivered through the catheter) or systemically (Group 2, intramuscular injection, 10 mg/kg). Penicillin concentrations in the serum and pleural fluid were then measured and compared. Results In vitro studies revealed a burst release of penicillin (10% of the total dose) occurring in the first 24 hours, followed by a sustained release in the subsequent 30 days. Intrapleural drug levels were significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 (P<0.001). In the former, penicillin concentrations remained above the minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint throughout the entire study period. In contrast, serum penicillin levels were significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (P<0.001). Notably, all Group 2 rabbits showed signs of systemic toxicity (paralytic ileus and weight loss). Conclusion We conclude that our antibiotic-eluting catheter may serve as a novel therapeutic option to treat empyema.