Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pseudolaric Acid B, a Novel Microtubule-Destabilizing Agent That Circumvents Multidrug Resistance Phenotype and Exhibits Antitumor Activity In vivo

Purpose: Pseudolaric acid B (PAB) is the major bioactive constituent in the root bark of Pseudolarix kaempferi that has been used as an antifungal remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies showed that PAB exhibited substantial cytotoxicity. The aims of this study were to elucidate the molecular target of PAB, to examine its mechanism of action, and to evaluate the efficacy of this compound in vivo. Experimental Design: The effect of PAB on cell growth inhibition toward a panel of cancer cell lines was assayed. Cell cycle analysis, Western blotting, immunocytochemistry, and apoptosis analysis were carried out to examine the mechanism of action. Tubulin polymerization assays were conducted to examine the interaction between PAB and tubulin. A P-glycoprotein–overexpressing cell line was used to evaluate the efficacy of PAB toward multidrug-resistant phenotypes. In vivo efficacy of PAB was evaluated by the murine xenograft model. Results: PAB induces cell cycle arrest at G2-M transition, leading to apoptosis. The drug disrupts cellular microtubule networks and inhibits the formation of mitotic spindles. Polymerization of purified bovine brain tubulin was dose-dependently inhibited by PAB. Furthermore, PAB circumvents the multidrug resistance mechanism, displaying notable potency also in P-glycoprotein–overexpressing cells. Finally, we showed that PAB is effective in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Conclusions: We identified the microtubules as the molecular target of PAB. Furthermore, we showed that PAB circumvents P-glycoprotein overexpression-induced drug resistance and is effective in inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Our work will facilitate the future development of PAB as a cancer therapeutic.
TITLE ( PROVISIONAL ) Recovery from Sleep Disturbance Precedes that of Depression and Anxiety Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury : A Six-Week Follow-up Study

BMJ Open publishes all reviews undertaken for accepted manuscripts. Reviewers are asked to complete a checklist review form (see an example) and are provided with free text boxes to elaborate on their assessment. These free text comments are reproduced below. Some articles will have been accepted based in part or entirely on reviews undertaken for other BMJ Group journals. These will be reproduced where possible. GENERAL COMMENTS This is an interesting study of the sequelae of mild (m) TBI in a Taiwan population. The study shows data from a relatively large number of subjects, no doubt because of the extensive clinical data registry system in that country. While the data appear quite solid and the analysis is sound, there are some additional consideration that should be explored in the Discussion. In this article, the authors measured depression, anxiety, and sleep in patients who suffered mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) at baseline (250 patients) and after 6 weeks (100 patients) using four subjective but validated scales for anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), daytime sleepiness (Epsworth Sleepiness Scale), and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). These results were compared with data from 100 healthy individuals. mTBI patients were found initially to suffer significantly worse sleep quality, depression, and anxiety, but sleep quality was not significantly different from the control group after six weeks, while depression and anxiety scores were still worse. Daytime sleepiness was not altered either at baseline or six weeks. The authors conclude that recovery of sleep disturbance after mTBI occurs more rapidly than depression or anxiety. This is an interesting study of the sequelae of mild (m) TBI in a Taiwan population. The study shows data from a relatively large number of subjects, no doubt because of the extensive clinical data registry system in that country. It is of interest that more women than men participated in the study, since in western countries, particularly the USA, there are significantly more men than women who suffer mTBI. The findings of the study are novel and have
Productivity Measurement and Management Accounting

Productivity improvement has become a key objective for U.S. industry. ' Productivity measurement, however, has gone largely unnoticed by accounting professionals, particularly those teaching and doing research in accounting departments and business schools. Accounting textbooks virtually ignore issues of productivity measurement, and accounting journals contain few articles on the subject. Most articles on productivity measurement are written by economists—usually interested in productivity measurement at the national economy level—or by industrial engineers and production professionals. ^ The implicit, and occasionally explicit, rationalization for the accounting profession's lack of interest in productivity measurement apparently arises from the belief that variances computed by the firm's standard cost system, particularly usage variances, are sufficient to measure the efficiency of the enterprise. Presumably, a desire for increased productivity could be signaled by across-the-board tightening of standards by the desired percentage. If a firm were inefficient or failed to meet its productivity improvement target, then the accounting system would report many unfavorable usage variances. We do not believe that even well-designed and well-operated standard cost systems provide adequate information for productivity measurement and improvement programs. Primarily this is an empirical statement. We observe numerous companies, with extensive standard cost accounting sys-
Effects of Trait Anger on Alcohol Consumption and Consequences

Alcohol consumption and consequences were compared for high and low anger college students. Males consumed alcohol and become intoxicated more frequently than females. High anger students more frequently drank alcohol, got drunk more often, and experienced more frequent and severe physical, emotional, and behavioral alcohol-related consequences than low anger students. High anger males also were more likely to feel very angry, feel like hurting someone, and do physical damage to others and to property. Whereas, high anger females reported more severe relationship consequences. When Heavy alcohol consumption by high anger students was statistically controlled, anger still contributed variance to alcohol consequences. Results were discussed in terms of understanding, preventing, and treatign alcohol problems.
STANDARD VERSUS INDIVIDUALIZED HIERARCHIES IN DESENSITIZATION TO REDUCE TEST ANXIETY.

FIFTY-FOUR TEST-ANXIOUS COLLEGE FRESHMEN FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITI WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO ONE OF THREE GROUPS--(1) A DESENSITIZATION GROUP WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALIZED ANXIETY HIERARCHIES, (2) A DESENSITIZATION GROUP WORKING WITH A SINGLE STANDARD HIERARCHY, AND (3) A NO-TREATMENT CONTROL GROUP. THE CRITERIA CONSISTED OF SELF-RATINGS OF ANXIETY BEFORE AND DURING EXAMINATIONS, SCORES ON A TEST ANXIETY SCALE, AND FINAL EXAMINATION GRADES. THE FINDINGS WERE AS FOLLOWS--(1) STUDENTS WHO RECEIVED DESENSITIZATION RATED THEMSELVES AS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS ANXIOUS ABOUT EXAMINATIONS (BOTH BEFORE AND DURING THEIR FINAL EXAMINATIONS) AS COMPARED WITH A NOTREATMENT CONTROL GROUP, (2) FINAL EXAMINATION GRADES OF THE DESENSITIZATION GROUPS WERE SLIGHTLY, BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY, HIGHER THAN THE CONTROL GROUP, AND (3) NO DIFFERENCE IN THE RELATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF INDIVIDUALIZED VERSUS STANDARD HIERARCHIES WAS FOUND. CONSIDERING THE RESULTS, LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY ARE (1) THE SAMPLE WAS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF NORMAL COLLEGE POPULATION IN ABILITY, (2) THE TEST ANXIETY CRITERION MEASURES MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE OBJECTIVE, AND (3) STUDENTS MIGHT HAVE COMPILED THEIR OWN INDIVIDUALIZED ANXIETY HIERARCHY INSTEAD OF ALTERING A
Social Presence, Web Videoconferencing and Learning in Virtual Teams

The potential of information technology to facilitate collaboration in education has grown considerably in recent years. The use of Web videoconferencing, whereby learners in an online classroom can simultaneously collaborate using audiovisual communication tools, increases the learner's ability in social and emotional expression, thus improving communication which may enhance learning satisfaction. This paper compares two cohorts of students who attended the same online course in economics. Both could communicate via a discussion board and one cohort had the additional opportunity to participate in Web conferences. Contrary to expectations, learning satisfaction did not seem to increase with the introduction of Web videoconferencing. This finding leads to several questions for future research.
THE COMMUNICATION EFFECTS OF CONTROVERSIAL SEXUAL CONTENT IN TELEVISION PROGRAMS AND COMMERCIALS

Abstract An experiment utilizing television commercials and programs was employed to examine the effect of controversial sexual content on the communication effectiveness of advertising messages. Three measures of communication effectiveness were employed: interest in commercial, affect toward product, and purchase intent. Results of the experiment suggest controversial sexual content affect the communication effectiveness of advertising in a complex manner. Controversial sexual content in the commercial failed to improve effectiveness, apart from merely making the commercial more interesting, while controversial sexual program content influenced the processing of advertising messages for males but not for females. However, the presence of a significant commercial-by-program interaction for males suggests the actual effect of controversial content in the program environment depends upon the level of controversy present in the commercial.
THE CAUSAL ORGANIZATION OF CLIMAX BEHAVIOUR IN THE DOMESTIC FOWL (GALLUS DOMESTICUS)

I. Some aspects were studied of climax (hatching) behaviour in the domestic fowl. 2. The behavioural unit of climax behaviour has two functions: (a) cracking part of the eggshell, and (b) causing the animal to turn some degrees inside the shell. The concomittant movements are described with the aid of film analysis (Section I). 3. On the basis of their causal factors two aspects of climax behaviour can be distinguished: the stereotyped motility pattern of the behavioural unit and the rhytmical occurrence of the behaviour (the movements are repeated every 10 to 30 seconds). The stereotyped pattern only occurs when the freedom of movement of the animal is very restricted, whereas the rhythm already occurs if the animal is not permitted to leave its place while, in addition, its possibilities for postural adjustment are limited (Section 2). 4. After the onset of climax, a constant external stimulation (unbreakable egg and constant ambient temperature) will lead to response waning as a result of habituation, which is a function of (a) time, and (b) the degree of departure from the optimal incubation temperature (Section 3). 5. The degrees of stereotypy of the duration of a unit, proved to be higher than that of the duration of the interval between two consecutive units. 6. On the basis of behavioural and polygraphic criteria and with the aid of drugs it is shown that climax behaviour occurs while the animal is awake or drowsy, but - in contrast to what was thought - not during paradoxical sleep. Paradoxical sleep only occurs when - as a result of the earlier mentioned habituation - the tendency for climax behaviour has become very small (Section 4). 7. The interpretation of the findings is depicted in a relation diagram (Section 5).
Making Sense of Motivational Leadership: The Trail from Transformational Leaders to Motivated Followers

This paper presents a theoretical model that integrates two related, but distinct mechanisms by which transformational leaders influence follower motivation. That is, we propose that an affective mechanism by which charismatic leaders induce positive emotional experiences in their followers, and a cognitive mechanisms that includes communicating the leader's vision and its effects on goal setting explain the connection between charismatic and transformational leadership and follower motivation. Further, we specify the pathways through which affective and cognitive processes influence three components of follower motivation: The direction of action, the intensity of effort, and effort persistence.
Binocular Rivalry and Visual Awareness: The Role of Attention

When the right eye and the left eye view dissimilar scenes, the observer does not experience a stable superimposed percept of the images presented to the two eyes, but instead perceives an alternation between the images seen by each eye. A critical question confronting this robust and intriguing phenomenon of binocular rivalry is how the visual system selects the image to be perceived (dominant). The current main-stream literature emphasizes a bottom – up explanation in which the rivalry stimulus with the higher contour strength has the advantage, and becomes dominant in rivalry. Nevertheless, some workers in the past have favored an attention-selection explanation for binocular rivalry. We investigated the role of attention in binocular rivalry by employing novel psychophysical paradigms which capitalized on several established phenomena (eg the Cheshire Cat effect, attention cueing, pop-out effect). Our results revealed two major aspects of attention modulation in binocular rivalry. We found that a dominant image is less likely to be suppressed when voluntary attention is directed to it. This suggests the role of voluntary attention in retaining the dominant image in visual awareness. Second, a rivalry stimulus is more likely to become dominant if accompanied by a pop-out cue (in the same eye and proximity). Since a pop-out cue attracts involuntary attention to its location/eye, this result suggests that cue-mediated involuntary attention can promote the ability of a rivalry stimulus to reach visual awareness.
Meta‐analysis: colonoscopic post‐polypectomy bleeding in patients on continued clopidogrel therapy

Current guidelines recommend the cessation of clopidogrel therapy 5 days and 7–10 days prior to colonoscopic polypectomy. Recent studies have advocated for continued clopidogrel as post‐polypectomy bleeding (PPB) rates have been similar to those in the general population not on antithrombotic therapy.
Design, implementation, and thermal modeling of embedded reconfigurable magnetorquer system for nanosatellites

A reconfigurable magnetorquer coil has been designed and implemented for the CubeSat power management, attitude determination, and control tile (CubePMT) module of CubeSat-standard nanosatellites. Magnetorquer coil is a good choice for attitude control and stabilization of nanosatellites. The goal of this work is to provide CubeSat with a magnetorquer coil, which has small dimensions, low weight, and low heat dissipation. The designed magnetorquer coil is reconfigurable and integrated within the printed circuit board internal layers, occupying no extra space on CubeSat. Coils in each layer are treated separately and can be attached and detached through straps. Changing the arrangement of these straps, one can use 1, 2, 3, or 4 coils in series, parallel, or any hybrid combination. This reconfigurable design provides an option for generating different amounts of magnetic moment and resultant torque to stabilize and rotate the satellite. Emissivity of the CubePMT module was found through lab experiments. Power dissipation and the corresponding temperature increase of the CubePMT module are evaluated by thermal modeling.
NEURONAL BASIS OF A SENSORY ANALYSER , THE ACRID ID MOVEMENT DETECTOR SYSTEM

1. The Lobular Giant Movement Detector neurone (LGMD) of Schistocerca responds with spikes when small areas of the visual field change in luminance. Previous work has shown that changes of + 1 log10 unit are enough to produce maximal ON and OFF responses. 2. Using a 5 test area, it is shown that the number of spikes generated by such a stimulus depends on the luminance of the surrounding area. When the surround is dark, the response is maximal; when it is brightly lit, the response is minimal. Intermediate intensities produce intermediate values of response. A x 2 change in response is produced by about 3 log^ units change in surround intensity. 3. A bright annulus, with diameters of ic-5 and 25-8°, inhibits both ON and OFF responses when concentric with the 5 test area, but not when it is 30 eccentric to the test area. The inhibitory effect shows no decrease after 4min. 4. These results are interpreted to indicate a tonic lateral inhibitory network, sited peripherally in the optic lobe prior to the divergence of the separate ON and OFF channels found in the projection from the medulla to the LGMD. It is probably identical with that described for the lamina by previous workers.
The teaching of linear programming in different disciplines and in different countries

This paper discusses an online survey of linear programming (LP) lecturers in four countries in various disciplines. The study uses Biglan’s [1, 2] classification of disciplines to show that courses in hard-pure and hard-applied subjects were more likely to teach theoretical aspects of linear programming whilst the hard-applied and soft-applied subjects looked more at the application. Further, the soft-applied disciplines were more likely to utilize software during the teaching of the topic. Also, US lecturers were more likely to teach theoretical aspects of LP whilst the UK lecturers were more likely to use common software such as spreadsheets rather than dedicated LP or maths software.
Negative pressure therapy versus passive open abdominal drainage for the treatment of septic peritonitis in dogs: A randomized, prospective study

OBJECTIVE To compare passive open abdominal drainage (POAD) and negative-pressure abdominal drainage (NPAD) using the ABThera™ system in the treatment of septic peritonitis. STUDY DESIGN Randomized prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS Dogs (n = 16) with septic peritonitis. METHODS Dogs with septic peritonitis were randomly assigned to one of two treatment protocols: NPAD versus POAD. Anesthesia time, operating time, duration of drainage, costs, survival, and complications were compared between techniques. Hematological and biochemical parameters in blood and abdominal fluid, and histopathological findings of omentum and abdominal wall tissue samples were compared between NPAD and POAD at time of initial surgery and at time of closure. RESULTS Overall survival was 81%. Treatment costs, anesthesia and operating time, drainage time, survival, and postoperative complications were similar between techniques. Loss of total plasma protein and decreased inflammation-related factors in abdominal fluid at time of closure were noted in all patients. Neutrophilic inflammation was greater in abdominal wall samples after NPAD. POAD patients showed discomfort during bandage changes and had frequent leakage of abdominal fluid outside of the bandage. CONCLUSION NPAD is an effective alternative to POAD for treatment of septic peritonitis, based on costs and survival. NPAD resulted in less abdominal fluid leakage, and evidence of superior healing on histological evaluation of abdominal tissues.
Impact of wild‐type and genetically modified Pseudomonas fluorescens on soil enzyme activities and microbial population structure in the rhizosphere of pea

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of wild‐type along with functionally and nonfunctionally modified Pseudomonas fluorescens strains in the rhizosphere. The wild‐type F113 strain carried a gene encoding the production of the antibiotic 2,4‐diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) useful in plant disease control, and was marked with a lacZY gene cassette. The first modified strain was a functional modification of strain F113 with repressed production of DAPG, creating the DAPG‐negative strain F113 G22. The second paired comparison was a nonfunctional modification of wild‐type (unmarked) strain SBW25, constructed to carry marker genes only, creating strain SBW25 EeZY‐6KX. Significant perturbations were found in the indigenous bacterial population structure, with the F113 (DAPG+) strain causing a shift towards slower growing colonies (K strategists) compared with the nonantibiotic‐producing derivative (F113 G22) and the SBW25 strains. The DAPG+ strain also significantly reduced, in comparison with the other inocula, the total Pseudomonas populations but did not affect the total microbial populations. The survival of F113 and F113 G22 were an order of magnitude lower than the SBW 25 strains. The DAPG+ strain caused a significant decrease in the shoot‐to‐root ratio in comparison to the control and other inoculants, indicating plant stress. F113 increased soil alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase and aryl sulphatase activities compared to the other inocula, which themselves reduced the same enzyme activities compared to the control. In contrast to this, the β‐glucosidase, β‐galactosidase and N‐acetyl glucosaminidase activities decreased with the inoculation of the DAPG+ strain. These results indicate that soil enzymes are sensitive to the impact of inoculation with genetically modified microorganisms (GMMs).
To prove myself at the highest level: The benefits of doctoral study

It is a major commitment to undertake doctoral study but relatively little is known about what motivates students to enrol or what they subsequently see as the benefits they have gained and they costs accrued. This report on a study of alumni who completed theses in Education in 1992, 1997 and 2002 in the UK argues that although the doctorate plays a key role in continuing professional development in this field, the benefits of the doctorate are perceived post facto as equally, and for some more, in terms of intrinsic interest and personal development. This runs counter to the rational/effectiveness thrust of current policy directives and could result in students being less eager to meet the costs of their studies in future.
Mutations in the mitochondrial cysteinyl-tRNA synthase gene, CARS2, lead to a severe epileptic encephalopathy and complex movement disorder

Background Mitochondrial disease is often suspected in cases of severe epileptic encephalopathy especially when a complex movement disorder, liver involvement and progressive developmental regression are present. Although mutations in either mitochondrial DNA or POLG are often present, other nuclear defects in mitochondrial DNA replication and protein translation have been associated with a severe epileptic encephalopathy. Methods and results We identified a proband with an epileptic encephalopathy, complex movement disorder and a combined mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme deficiency. The child presented with neurological regression, complex movement disorder and intractable seizures. A combined deficiency of mitochondrial complexes I, III and IV was noted in liver tissue, along with increased mitochondrial DNA content in skeletal muscle. Incomplete assembly of complex V, using blue native polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis and complex I, using western blotting, suggested a disorder of mitochondrial transcription or translation. Exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous mutations in CARS2, a mitochondrial aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Both mutations affect highly conserved amino acids located within the functional ligase domain of the cysteinyl-tRNA synthase. A specific decrease in the amount of charged mt-tRNACys was detected in patient fibroblasts compared with controls. Retroviral transfection of the wild-type CARS2 into patient skin fibroblasts led to the correction of the incomplete assembly of complex V, providing functional evidence for the role of CARS2 mutations in disease aetiology. Conclusions Our findings indicate that mutations in CARS2 result in a mitochondrial translational defect as seen in individuals with mitochondrial epileptic encephalopathy.