Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of chronic losartan pretreatment on restraint stress-induced changes in motor activity, nociception and pentylenetetrazol generalized seizures in rats

Abstract Accumulated evidence has shown that renin-angiotensin system has a pivotal role in stress responses. AIM: to assess the participation of AT1 receptor in stress-induced modulation of motor activity, nociception and seizure susceptibility in male Wistar rats. Material and methods: AT1 receptor antagonist losartan was administered subcutaneously to rats for 10 days at a dose of 10 mg/kg either alone or as a pretreatment before chronic restraint stress applied for 10 days. Locomotor and exploratory activity (open field test), the nociception (paw-pressure test) and the seizure susceptibility (pentylenetetrazol seizure test) were analysed. Results: Chronic restraint stress decreased motor activity and increased anxiety-like behaviour (grooming) while losartan pretreatment alleviated anxiety-like behaviour. Chronic restraint stress had an antinociceptive effect in paw-pressure test and losartan pretreatment abolished stress-induced antinociception. Both chronic restraint stress and losartan showed anticonvulsant activity in pentylenetetrazol seizure test. However, drug pretreatment attenuated this effect in chronically-stressed rats. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the AT1 receptor is involved in the mechanism of stress-induced changes in anxiety-like behaviour, nociception and seizure susceptibility in rats. Резюме Введение: В последнее время увеличиваются данные, показывающие, что ренин-ангиотензин система играет ключевую роль в сресс-индуцированных реакциях. Цель: Авторы ставят себе целью исследовать участие АТ1 рецепторов в стресс-индуцированных изменениях двигательной активности, болевой и су- дорожно-приступной чувствительностей у мужских крыс породы Wistar. Материал и методы: АТ1 рецепторный антаго- нист лосартан применяли на крысах подкожно в течение 10 дней (доза - 10 мг/кг) самостоятельно или как предварительное инъецирование до хрониче- ского иммобилизованного стресса в течение 10 дней. Исследованы двигательная и проученная активности (т.е. открытое поле), ноцицепция (т.е. механическое давление на лапу) и судорожная чувствительность (т.е. пентилентетразол-индуцированные судороги). Результаты: Хронический иммобилизованный стресс уменьшает двигательную активность и повышает состояние тревожности, в то время как лосартан облегчает поведение, связанное с тревожностью. Применен самостоятельно, хронический иммобили- зованный стресс вызывает антиноцицептивный эф- фект при тесте «надавливание на лапу», в то время как лосартан, применен до срессогена, устраняет стресс-индуцированную антиноцицепцию. Как хрони- ческая иммобилизация, так и хроническое введение лосартана показали антиконвульсивную активность, но АТ1 рецепторный антагонист устраняет этот эффект у крыс, подвергнутых стрессу. Выводы: Полученные результаты показывают, что АТ1 рецептор участвует в механизме стресс- индуцированных изменений в состоянии тревожнос- ти, ноцицепции и судорожной чувствительности у крыс.
Correlates of Suicidal Ideation and Attempt Among Female Sex Workers in China

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors associated with suicidal ideation and attempt among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. A cross-sectional survey was administered among 454 FSWs in a rural county of Guangxi, China. About 14% of FSWs had thought of suicide and 8% had attempted suicide in the past 6 months. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that those FSWs who were dissatisfied with life, abused alcohol, were deceived or forced into commercial sex, and had stable sexual partners were more likely to report suicidal ideation. Female sex workers who had multiple stable partners, experienced sexual coercion, and worried about an inability to make enough money were more likely to report a suicide attempt. These FSWs who entered commercial sex because of financial needs or who were influenced by the peers were less likely to report a suicide attempt. Our data suggested that the rates of suicidal ideation and attempts were high among FSWs in China, and there were multiple factors associated with their suicidality. Future health education and promotion efforts among FSWs need to take into consideration substance abuse, interpartner conflict, and psychological stress.
Medical student perceptions of research and research-orientated careers: An international questionnaire study

Abstract Background: Engaging and inspiring the next generation of physician-scientists at an early stage is recognised as key to ensure the future of medical research. However, little is known about medical student perceptions of research. Objectives: We attempted to ascertain perceptions of research and research-orientated careers from medical students studying in different countries. Methods: An online questionnaire was developed, piloted, and promoted to medical students in various countries. Results: 1625 responses were collected from 38 countries. Analysis was restricted to data collected from countries with >100 responses (n = 890). Less than half the respondents felt their medical school provided adequate research training. Key perceived barriers to research participation as a student included lack of time and difficulty finding mentors or projects. A significant gender disparity existed in research ambitions of students with females desiring less research involvement. The importance of barriers and satisfaction with research training differed significantly between countries. Conclusions: Students perceive a number of key barriers to research involvement and pursuit of research-orientated careers. Programmes designed to engage students with research should focus on overcoming identified barriers. Greater effort is needed to engage female students who report more significant barriers and less desire to follow research-orientated careers.
Expression of a class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterodimer in a lipid-linked form with enhanced peptide/soluble MHC complex formation at low pH

A murine class II major histocompatibility complex (MHC) heterodimer, Ek, expressed as a glycan-phosphatidyl inositol-anchored chimera on Chinese Hamster Ovary cells, can present peptides, but not processed antigen to T cells. This chimeric MHC requires a 100-times higher peptide concentration to achieve a two- to four-times lower level of T cell stimulation. Cleavage with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C and purification result in large quantities of heterodimer in a water-soluble form. Plates coated with this material and then incubated with peptide can efficiently stimulate the appropriate T cell hybridomas. This stimulation is significantly enhanced when peptides are preincubated with the plate-bound MHC molecules in a pH range (5.0-5.5) similar to that of late endosomes. More than half of the soluble Ek molecules can form a specific complex with cytochrome c peptides in this pH range. This suggests that class II MHC molecules undergo distinct conformational changes in endosomal compartments that render them more capable of forming functional complexes with peptide antigens, irrespective of other cell components.
Community development around the world : practice, theory, research, training

New social structures, agencies, and social movements have had a dramatic impact on community development across the world. In this book, more than forty authors in six countries representing the major regions of the world offer a truly global perspective on the changing nature of the practice and theory of community development. The collection approaches community development from many different angles, featuring a critical review of the international literature, twenty detailed case studies dealing with key issues, and separate country-by-country studies of education, research, and theory. Despite obvious differences between countries in their economic, political, and socio-cultural contexts of practice, common themes emerge. The book concludes with a new framework theory for use in policy development, program planning, and alternative practice. Comprehensive and challenging Community Development Around the World is essential reading for students, analysts, and practitioners in the field.
Risk Factors for Lactation Mastitis

The research undertaken in this study utilized a case-control group nested within a prospective cohort which was followed for the first 3 months postpartum. Mothers with mastitis and their controls were requested to complete a self-report questionnaire designed to investigate the association between the potential risk factors, identified from the literature, and lactation mastitis. Logistic regression analyses of the possible risk factors were performed separately for mothers who had not breastfed Obviously and those mothers who had breastfed at least one infant prior to this lactation/nalysis showed blocked duct(s) and increased levels of stress were the significant pre icors for mastitis in mothers who had breastfed a previous infant and blocked duct(s), restriction from a tight bra, attachment difficulties, and nipple pain during a feed were the significant predictors for mastitis in first time breastfeeding mothers.
Dysregulation of the DNA Damage Response and KMT2A Rearrangement in Fetal Liver Hematopoietic Cells

Etoposide, a topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) inhibitor, is associated with the development of KMT2A (MLL)-rearranged infant leukemia. An epidemiological study suggested that in utero exposure to TOP2 inhibitors may be involved in generation of KMT2A (MLL) rearrangement. The present study examined the mechanism underlying the development of KMT2A (MLL)-rearranged infant leukemia in response to in utero exposure to etoposide in a mouse model. Fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells were more susceptible to etoposide than maternal bone marrow mononuclear cells. Etoposide-induced Kmt2a breakage was detected in fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells using a newly developed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Assessment of etoposide-induced chromosomal translocation by next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) identified several chimeric fusion messenger RNAs that were generated by etoposide treatment. However, Kmt2a (Mll)-rearranged fusion mRNA was detected in Atm-knockout mice, which are defective in the DNA damage response, but not in wild-type mice. The present findings suggest that in utero exposure to TOP2 inhibitors induces Kmt2a rearrangement when the DNA damage response is defective.
Children in clinical trials: survey on the current situation in paediatric university clinics in Germany

Many prescribed treatments for children have not been adequately tested in children, sometimes resulting in harmful treatments being given and beneficial treatments being withheld. In the absence of specific trial-based data in children, results of studies in adults are extrapolated, which is often inappropriate because children have different range of diseases and metabolize medications differently. Trials in children are more challenging than those in adults and the pool of eligible children entering trials is often small. Children must have at last the same rights as adults in relation to receiving treatment with medicinal products that have been fully tested. The need for more studies to obtain paediatric information for medicines used in children is now a matter of consensus on a global basis and is considered a public health priority. Therfore a survey was performed in university hospitals in Germany targeting the current and future situation of children in clinical trials. The questionnaire of this survey was sent to 68 paediatric departments in 31 university clinics in Germany with a respond rate of 27% with respect to 18 returned questionnaires. With regard to new laws, guidelines and strong governmental support and funding an increasing number of clinical trials is expected. Surprisingly, the number of trials in the paediatric population remains unchanged within a period of 4 years (2005-2008). Added to the surveys performed within the pharmaceutical industry from Heinrich and Hark the number of trials in children remains unchanged even within a period of 9 years (2000-2008). The efforts undertaken by the government regarding funding and supporting KKS (Coordinating Centers for Clinical Trials) and affiliated PAED-Net (Pediatric Network on Medication Development and Testing in Children and Adolescents at KKS) appear to be insufficient. Beginning of this year the legal framework with the urgent expected “Paediatric Regulation” was established. May be the implementation by clinicians and pharmaceutical industry will improve the current situation.
Adverse effects of energy restriction on changes in immunoglobulins and complements during weight reduction in judoists.

AIM A preliminary study to investigate the combined effects of dietary restriction and weight reduction through exercise on markers of immune function in college judoists before and after a single competition. METHODS Forty-nine judoists participated in the study. Thirty-eight athletes combined exercise and dietary restriction (WR group), and 11 athletes did not require dietary restriction (EX group). Changes in anthropometric parameters, energy intake, concentrations of serum immunoglobulins and complements, and white blood cell counts were assessed at 4 time points: 20 days (pre-values), 4 days and 1 day before the competition, and 7 days after the competition. RESULTS Compared with pre-values, the WR group exhibited significant decreases in body weight (-2.8 kg at 1 day before) and fat free mass (-1.7 kg at 1 day before); there were no changes in these variables in the EX group. The WR group exhibited significant decreases in IgG, IgM and C3 at 7 days after the competition (all p<0.01). In the EX group, significant decreases in IgM and C3 (both p<0.05) were observed at 7 days after the competition, though to a lesser degree than in the WR group. CONCLUSIONS Energy restriction seemed to exacerbate alterations in immune markers such as immunoglobulin and complement induced by vigorous exercise at 7 days after a competition. Although the changed values were still within normal limits, we hypothesize that the potential cumulative effect of these changes over many competitions in 1 year might well induce abnormal levels with a possibly harmful clinical effect on judoists.
What drives productivity in Tanzanian manufacturing firms: technology or institutions?

Using the rich micro data set of the World Bank Investment Climate Survey, this paper examines the determinants of productivity among manufacturing firms in the context of a least developed country, Tanzania. In particular it seeks to evaluate the importance of technological variables - such as R&D, education and training, innovation, foreign ownership, licensing and ISO certification - and institutional variables – such as access to credit, health of the workforce, regulation and business support services. Among the technological variables, R&D, and innovations in the form of new products or processes fail to produce any significant impact, and only foreign ownership, ISO certification and high education of the management appear to affect productivity. Some of the institutional variables on the contrary are highly significant and robust to different specifications of the model. As such, formal credit constraints, administrative burdens related to regulations and a lack of business support services seem to depress productivity, while membership of a business association produces the opposite effect. The results of a quantile regression further indicate that the educational level of the managers and access to formal credit are significant for the less productive firms only, whereas for the more productive firms it is having an ISO certification or being a member of a business association that are the significant determinants.
Empirical Regularities of Asymmetric Pricing in the Gasoline Industry

This paper analyzes the various econometric models that have been used to identify asymmetric pricing in the retail gasoline industry, and also documents empirical regularities in the market. I find that a standard error-correction model coupled with daily price data is best suited to analyze asymmetric price adjustments. Moreover, temporally aggregated data can severely bias parameter estimates. Asymmetric pricing is also found to be a market-wide phenomenon, and not the strategy of a firm acting independently of the market. In kind, a host of market characteristics that influence the speed of price adjustments are identified.
Understanding Security Threats in Spam Detection on Social Networks

Social network has become a very popular way for internet users to communicate and interact online. The socia; networks provide a platform to maintain a contact with friends. Increasing social network’s popularity allows all of them to collect large amounts of personal details about their users. Globally, the issue of identifying spammers have received great attention due to its practical relevance in the field of social network analysis. Social network community users are fed with irrelevant information while surfing, due to spammer's activity. Spam pervades any information system such as e-mail or web, social, blog or reviews platform. The aim of this paper is to examine previous works in the field of spam detection in social networks, the study attempts to review various spam detection frameworks which details about the detection and elimination of spam's in various sources, By classification and Clustering Method of spam detection and by raising security awareness among the users of social networks and stake holders , by prescribing a strategic approach or data mining approach for analyzing the nature of spam detection on social networks.
Hydroxyethyl Starch Reduces Leukocyte Adherence and Vascular Injury in the Newborn Pig Cerebral Circulation After Asphyxia

Background and Purpose Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) has beneficial effects on ischemic brain injury; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that HES can attenuate increases in leukocyte adherence and vascular permeability in the cerebral vasculature after global cerebral ischemia induced by asphyxia. Methods Pial venular leukocyte adherence and permeability to sodium fluorescein were quantified in anesthetized newborn piglets by in situ fluorescence videomicroscopy through closed cranial windows during basal conditions and during 2 hours of reperfusion after global ischemia induced by 9 minutes of asphyxia. Experimental animals received HES after the asphyxial insult (10% HES 257/0.47, 600 mg/kg IV bolus 5 minutes after asphyxia, followed by 600 mg/kg per hour IV drip during reperfusion; n=9). Results A progressive and significant (P <0.05) increase in adherent leukocytes was observed during the initial 2 hours of reperfusion after asphyxia compared with nonasphyxial controls. In this model, vascular injury, as determined by significant (P <0.05) increases in fluorescein permeability at 2 hours of reperfusion, is largely dependent on adherent leukocytes. HES significantly reduced (P <0.05) leukocyte adherence at 1 hour and 2 hours of reperfusion and reduced fluorescein permeability at 2 hours. HES did not change hematocrit or alter pial arteriolar diameter. Conclusions These findings indicate that a vascular anti-inflammatory action may underlie the beneficial effects of HES in global cerebral ischemia secondary to asphyxia. Since this compound is well tolerated by patients, future preclinical and clinical studies may reveal improvements in functional outcome with the early introduction of this or similar agents after perinatal asphyxia or global ischemia.
Comparison of Intracellular Stress Response of NCI-H526 Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) Cells to Platinum(II) Cisplatin and Platinum(IV) Oxoplatin

In attempts to develop an orally applicable platinum-based drug, platinum(IV) drugs which exhibit higher in vivo stability compared to the platinum(II) drug cisplatin were formulated. The first such chemotherapeutic agent, namely satraplatin, failed to receive approval. In the present work, we checked the initial cellular stress response of the chemosensitive NCI-H526 small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells by determination of the relative phosphorylation of 46 specific phosphorylation sites of 38 selected proteins in a six hours response to cisplatin (platinum(II)) or oxoplatin (platinum(IV)), respectively. Oxoplatin is considered as prodrug of cisplatin, although several findings point to differences in intracellular effects. Cisplatin induced hyperphosphorylation of p38α MAPK and AMPKα1, whereas oxoplatin treatment resulted in increased phosphorylation of a large number of signaling proteins involved in stress response/drug resistance, including JNK, GSK-3α, AMPKα1, src kinases, STATs, CHK-2 and especially focal adhesion kinase (FAK). Cisplatin exerts markedly higher cytotoxicity upon four hours short-term exposure in comparison to oxoplatin and, correspondingly, the extended initial stress response to the platinum(IV) drug oxoplatin thus is expected to increase clinical drug resistance. Induction of a substantial stress response to any prodrug of a platinum-based compound may likewise limit the effectivity of its active metabolite(s), such contributing to the failure of selected derivatized platinum complexes.
International handbook on whistleblowing research

In the modern age of institutions, whistleblowing is now established as one of the most important processes – if not the single most important process – by which governments and corporations are kept accountable to the societies they are meant to serve. This essential Handbook provides researchers and policy makers from around the world with a comprehensive overview of the state of our knowledge regarding this vital process. In addition to drawing from the last 30 years of progressively more systematic research into whistleblowing, it also provides cutting-edge analysis of the conceptual and practical challenges that researchers will want to confront in the next decade.
You have to hit some people, it's all they understand!: are violent sentiments more criminogenic than attributing hostile intent in the escalation of grievances?

Is it what adult violent offenders think or how they think that discriminates them most from non-offenders? This study investigates whether violent and criminal sentiments, attributional biases and violence based grievance resolution strategies represent dynamic criminogenic risk factors. The results indicate that it is what offenders think that discriminates them more than how they think. The participants were 546 adults comprising 105 violent offenders, 238 university students and 203 men and women from a stratified random community sample. Using interview data from high-risk violent offenders, two scales were specifically developed to measure the variables of interest. The differences between offenders and non-offenders in violent attitudes was measured by expanding the scope of the Criminal Sentiments Scale. The differences in attributional biases and problem solving was assessed by a second scale developed for this study. The results showed that offenders were clearly different from non-offenders with the offenders endorsing significantly higher criminal and violent sentiments with an effect size of h2 =. 46. The offenders also reported a significantly higher level of violence-based resolution strategies to end grievances than non-offenders. However, the surprising finding was that the adult male high-risk offenders did not demonstrate more pronounced hostile attributional biases than either adult men and women students or men and women from the community. The results imply that believing violence is acceptable and being prepared to use violence is more criminogenic than how you interpret the social behaviour of others. These findings have important implications for our understanding of why grievances escalate and the development of more effective intervention programs.