Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of ethanol on aggregation, serotonin release, and amyloid precursor protein processing in rat and human platelets

It is known that oxidative stress leads to amyloid precursor protein (APP) dysregulation in platelets. Ethanol (EtOH) is a vascular risk factor and induces oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was thus to investigate whether EtOH affects APP processing in rat and human platelets. Platelets were exposed to 50 mM EtOH with and without 2 mM calcium-chloride (CaCl2) for 20 or 180 minutes at 37°C. Platelet aggregation, serotonin release and APP isoforms 130 and 106/110 kDa were analyzed. As a control, 100 mM H2O2 was tested in rat platelets. Our data show that EtOH alone did not affect any of the analyzed parameters, whereas CaCl2 significantly increased aggregation of rat and human platelets. In addition, CaCl2 alone enhanced serotonin release in rat platelets. EtOH counteracted CaCl2-induced aggregation and serotonin release. In the presence of CaCl2, EtOH reduced the 130 kDa APP isoform in rat and human platelets. In conclusion, this study shows that in the presence of CaCl2, EtOH affects the platelet function and APP processing in rat and human platelets.
How does creativity at work influence employee’s positive affect at work?

Although determinants of creativity underlying innovative behaviour at work have been extensively studied, scant research has addressed creativity as a predictor variable. This article proposes that creativity has a positive impact on employees’ positive affect at work. Two studies were conducted. Study 1 used multi-source data (170 employee–supervisor dyads) to analyse the association between creativity at work, rated by the immediate supervisor, and employees’ reported affect at work. Results showed that creativity at work is positively related to positive affect at work over and above employees’ optimism (dispositional trait). Study 2 replicated and extended these findings using two-wave data from 108 high-school teachers. Results evidenced that employees who were more creative at work (T1) were more likely to report having more frequent positive affect at work 3 months later (T2). The level of meaningfulness of work (T1) mediated the effects of creativity on employees’ positive affect at work. These findings provide evidence for framing creativity in the workplace as a meaningfulness-making activity that affects employees’ positive affect at work. The implications of these findings and areas for future research are discussed.
Interventions for treating constipation in pregnancy.

BACKGROUND Constipation is a common problem in late pregnancy. Circulating progesterone may be the cause of slower gastrointestinal movement in mid and late pregnancy. OBJECTIVES The objective of this review was to assess the effects of different methods for treating constipation in pregnancy. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register and MEDLINE. Date of last search: January 2001. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised trials of any treatment for constipation in pregnancy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Trial quality assessments and data extraction were done independently by two reviewers. MAIN RESULTS Two suitable trials were identified. Fibre supplements increased the frequency of defecation (odds ratio 0.18, 95% confidence interval 0.05 to 0.67), and lead to softer stools. Stimulant laxatives are more effective than bulk-forming laxatives (odds ratio 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.14 to 0.61), but may cause more side effects. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS Dietary supplements of fibre in the form of bran or wheat fibre are likely to help women experiencing constipation in pregnancy. If the problem fails to resolve, stimulant laxatives are likely to prove more effective.
ENTERIC BACTERIA OF REPTILES ON JAVA AND THE K R A K A T AU ISLANDS

B y S. R. G R A V ES1, P. A. R A W L IN SO N 2, S. A. K E N N E L L Y -M E R R IT 3, D. A. M cL a r e n 4, K. J. H A R V EY 3 a n d I. W. B. T H O R N T O N 2 1 Department of M i c r o b i o l o g y , La Trobe UB undoor a, Victoria 3083, Australia 2 Department of Z o o l o g y , La Trobe Univers , Victoria 3083, Australia 3 Department of M i c r o b i o l o g y , Royal Melbourne , Victoria 3052, Australia 4 Department of C o n s e r v a t i o n , Forests & Keith Turnbull Research Franks ton, Victoria 3199, Australia
Analysis and Impact of the Economic Crisis and Regulatory Changes in the Needs and Benefits System Municipal Social Services: Analysis Case of Murcia-Spain

This paper presents the results of an empirical longitudinal analysis of the needs and welfare of people seeking support from the community social services in the municipality of Beniel (Murcia, Spain) over the period between 1996 and 2011. These results are compared with regional and state research, focusing on a cross-sectional dimension and projection of future trends. The methodological and technical route of collecting and analyzing data place the actors in the system as in the research, their temporal extent (1996-2011) and coverage of the study population (total counts) provides reliable information, contrasted and extrapolated, besides ourselves with elements of benchmarking and trend of greater significance. This is considered the population of people who used services during the period, accessed by a mixed method of data collection from primary and secondary sources. The results allowed us to verify the hypothesis that the changes in the profile and needs of the users and the services/resources that they required from the basic structures of the municipal social services is linked to the social and economic crisis, as well as developments in institutional policy of social policies related to social services. The results also present objective data on the current and future situation, allowing recommendations for political and organizational improvement.
What Should We Expect of

The Erasmus programme promotes student mobility within the EU largely on the assumption that mobile students will become more pro-European. This article presents the results of a panel study of Erasmus students which suggest that, while former Erasmus students may be more pro-European than their peers, this is because students who choose to take part are already more pro-European. The attitudes to Europe and voting preferences of Erasmus students do not seem to diverge from their non-mobile peers while they are abroad. Although the programme may have other benefits, expecting it to create Europhile ‘Erasmus generations’ seems unrealistic.
Stress Symptoms and Substance Use Among Police Officials in the Central Region of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract The aim of the study was to investigate police work as a source of stress; the symptoms of stress; the mechanisms used by police officials to cope with high levels of stress and the effects of this stress in their personal and interpersonal spheres, with the aim of outlining any issue/s that may come to the fore that needs to be addressed in proactive programs by the South African Police Service. Simple random sampling was used to select participants for this study. Two hundred and forty eight (86.7%) were male and thirty eight (13.3%) were females. They came from the 19 police stations and 4 satellite police stations in the Central Region in Limpopo Province. Their ages ranged from 19 years to 59 years. A questionnaire was used to determine their demographic variables, symptoms of stress, sources of stress, their coping strategies and the extent to which they engaged in substance use/abuse. A t-test analysis showed that policemen have higher levels of stress than policewomen. A Linear Regression Analysis showed that the number of years of service contributes significantly to the level of stress (13 = 0.44, t = 2.33, p < 0.05). Frequency tables reflected that the greatest source of stress for police members came from the work sphere.16. 1% of police officials worried a lot often or very often. 18.1% experienced headaches often or very often. Within the personal sphere, 13.9% suffered from depression and 13.5% were burdened with unresolved issues of the past. Within the interpersonal sphere, 12.2% felt that others used them as a doormat. 37.4% admitted to smoking. 11.4% used either dagga (marijuana), glue or cocaine and 54.8% admitted to drinking alcohol. To cope with stress, 27.9% maintained a sense of humour often or very often. There is a need for proactive programs in the Police Service as a sizeable number of police members are stressed and coping ineffectively.
A novel minicollagen gene links cnidarians and myxozoans

Myxozoans are enigmatic endoparasitic organisms sharing morphological features with bilateria, protists and cnidarians. This, coupled with their highly divergent gene sequences, has greatly obscured their phylogenetic affinities. Here we report the sequencing and characterization of a minicollagen homologue (designated Tb-Ncol-1) in the myxozoan Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae. Minicollagens are phylum-specific genes encoding cnidarian nematocyst proteins. Sequence analysis revealed a cysteine-rich domain (CRD) architecture and genomic organization similar to group 1 minicollagens. Homology modelling predicted similar three-dimensional structures to Hydra CRDs despite deviations from the canonical pattern of group 1 minicollagens. The discovery of this minicollagen gene strongly supports myxozoans as cnidarians that have radiated as endoparasites of freshwater, marine and terrestrial hosts. It also reveals novel protein sequence variation of relevance to understanding the evolution of nematocyst complexity, and indicates a molecular/morphological link between myxozoan polar capsules and cnidarian nematocysts. Our study is the first to illustrate the power of using genes related to a taxon-specific novelty for phylogenetic inference within the Metazoa, and it exemplifies how the evolutionary relationships of other metazoans characterized by extreme sequence divergence could be similarly resolved.
Comparison of LabUMat‐with‐UriSed and iQ®200 fully automatic urine sediment analysers with manual urine analysis

Urine analysis is one of the most common tests for assessing urinary‐tract and kidney diseases. In recent years there have been new developments in the automation of this test. The objective of the present study was to compare the performances of two urine sediment analysers, namely LabUMat with UriSed (77 Elektronika Kft, Budapest, Hungary) and iQ®200 (Iris Diagnostics, Chatsworth, CA, U.S.A.), with the KOVA® method for manual urine measurement by evaluating the results in terms of similar parameters (cells or particles per lower‐power field or high‐power field). The results obtained using the UriSed and iQ®200 analysers were more reproducible (7.1–30.2 and 14.9–35.4% respectively) than those obtained using the manual technique (17.9–44.4%). Significant correlations were established among the three techniques in the evaluation of leucocytes, erythrocytes and epithelial cells. Although the UriSed, iQ®200 and visual‐microscopic measurements were in agreement, confirmation of the results from automated methods by manual urine analyses is significantly useful, especially for pathological cases that were close to the limits of the techniques.
Microarray-Based RNA Profiling of Breast Cancer: Batch Effect Removal Improves Cross-Platform Consistency

Microarray is a powerful technique used extensively for gene expression analysis. Different technologies are available, but lack of standardization makes it challenging to compare and integrate data. Furthermore, batch-related biases within datasets are common but often not tackled. We have analyzed the same 234 breast cancers on two different microarray platforms. One dataset contained known batch-effects associated with the fabrication procedure used. The aim was to assess the significance of correcting for systematic batch-effects when integrating data from different platforms. We here demonstrate the importance of detecting batch-effects and how tools, such as ComBat, can be used to successfully overcome such systematic variations in order to unmask essential biological signals. Batch adjustment was found to be particularly valuable in the detection of more delicate differences in gene expression. Furthermore, our results show that prober adjustment is essential for integration of gene expression data obtained from multiple sources. We show that high-variance genes are highly reproducibly expressed across platforms making them particularly well suited as biomarkers and for building gene signatures, exemplified by prediction of estrogen-receptor status and molecular subtypes. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the importance of utilizing proper batch adjustment methods when integrating data across different batches and platforms.
Nearby Nature

Identifying mechanisms that buffer children from life's stress and adversity is an important empirical and practical concern. This study focuses on nature as a buffer of life stress among rural children. To examine whether vegetation near the residential environment might buffer or moderate the impact of stressful life events on children's psychological well-being, data were collected from 337 rural children in Grades 3 through 5 (mean age=9.2 years). Dependent variables include a standard parent-reported measure of children's psychological distress and children's own ratings of global self-worth. In a rural setting, levels of nearby nature moderate the impact of stressful life events on the psychological well-being of children. Specifically, the impact of life stress was lower among children with high levels of nearby nature than among those with little nearby nature. Implications of these finding are discussed with respect to our understanding of resilience and protective mechanisms.
Roles for jasmonate- and ethylene-induced transcription factors in the ability of Arabidopsis to respond differentially to damage caused by two insect herbivores

Plant responses to insects and wounding involve substantial transcriptional reprogramming that integrates hormonal, metabolic, and physiological events. The ability to respond differentially to various stresses, including wounding, generally involves hormone signaling and trans-acting regulatory factors. Evidence of the importance of transcription factors (TFs) in responses to insects is also accumulating. However, the relationships among hormone signaling, TF activity, and ability to respond specifically to different insects are uncertain. We examined transcriptional and hormonal changes in Arabidopsis thaliana after herbivory by larvae of two lepidopteran species, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) and Pieris rapae L. over a 24-h time course. Transcriptional responses to the two insects differed and were frequently weaker or absent in response to the specialist P. rapae. Using microarray analysis and qRT-PCR, we found 141 TFs, including many AP2/ERFs (Ethylene Response Factors) and selected defense-related genes, to be differentially regulated in response to the two insect species or wounding. Jasmonic Acid (JA), JA-isoleucine (JA-IL), and ethylene production by Arabidopsis plants increased after attack by both insect species. However, the amounts and timing of ethylene production differed between the two herbivory treatments. Our results support the hypothesis that the different responses to these two insects involve modifications of JA-signaling events and activation of different subsets of ERF TFs, resulting in different degrees of divergence from responses to wounding alone.
Structural and Physiological Changes in Sugar Beet Leaves during Sink to Source Conversion.

The onset of export during leaf development was correlated with changes in metabolism and ultrastructure and with patterns of solute distribution in the developing seventh leaf of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in order to study the cause of initiation of translocation. Infrared gas analysis of carbon dioxide uptake showed a broad peak for net photosynthesis dm(-2) at 35 to 40% final laminar length. Pulse labeling with (14)CO(2) demonstrated that maximum import of translocate occurred at 25% final laminar length; export was first observed at 35% final laminar length. Between 40 and 50% final laminar length a rapid increase in amount of export occurred, primarily as a result of the increase in the area of leaf which was exporting. Whole leaf autoradiography revealed that onset of phloem loading spread basipetally from the leaf tip; loading was initiated at about 22% final laminar length and was essentially complete by 50% final laminar length. Those areas which clearly exhibited loading no longer imported from other parts of the plant while the area in transition still appeared to import label from source regions.There was little difference between source and sink leaf tissue in the kinetic parameters K(j) and J(max) (30) for uptake of exogenous sucrose supplied via free space. The concentration of solutes in sieve elements and companion cells of the sink leaf was highest in the mature tip area and gradually decreased in the direction of the immature base. There appeared to be no dramatic structural transformation within the phloem of the minor veins that was closely correlated with the time when phloem loading or export began. Rather, there appeared to be a gradual differentiation of phloem which resulted in a sizable proportion of the population of minor vein sieve elements and companion cells attaining maturity in the older sink regions prior to initiation of phloem loading. The area of the leaf undergoing development appeared to exhibit the beginnings of phloem loading 30 to 45 hours prior to onset of export. Import continued into the area in transition until the full level of vein loading was attained. Structural maturation of the phloem and onset of phloem loading are felt to be more preparatory in nature rather than immediately causal events which triggered export.The initiation of export out of a developing leaf, we believe, is the result of the increasing solute content within the sieve element and companion cells of the minor veins, in particular. The higher osmotic pressure in the sieve tubes causes a reversal of the previously inward directed gradient and produces a mass flow, through unobstructed sieve elements, out of the new source region of the leaf.
Comparison of the radius of curvature of the ulnar trochlear notch of Rottweilers and Greyhounds.

OBJECTIVE To compare radius of curvature along the ulnar trochlear notch of Rottweilers and Greyhounds to determine whether morphologic differences exist that may contribute to the cause and pathogenesis of fragmented coronoid process in Rottweilers. SAMPLE POPULATION Paired elbow joints from 13 Rottweilers and 14 Greyhounds. PROCEDURE Elbow joints were radiographically scored on the basis of severity of osteoarthritic lesions. The articular contour of each ulnar trochlear notch was digitized. The radius of curvature at defined points along the ulnar trochlear notch was compared between breeds. RESULTS Radius of curvature of the ulnar trochlear notch was not a constant function of arc length in either breed but had a consistent characteristic appearance in both breeds. Radius of curvature was greatest at each end of the ulnar trochlear notch and had 2 peaks in the midportion of the notch in both breeds. These peaks occurred farther distally in the notch and were larger in Rottweiler ulnae than Greyhound ulnae. A significant difference in mean radius of curvature was detected between breeds at these peaks. Greyhounds had significantly greater mean radius of curvature at the end of the medial coronoid process, compared with Rottweilers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Radius of curvature of the ulnar trochlear notch is a complex function of arc length in Rottweilers and Greyhounds. The waveform has a consistent characteristic appearance in both breeds. Although significant differences were identified between breeds, associations between these differences and cause or pathogenesis of fragmented coronoid process in Rottweilers were not apparent.
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning Flipped Classroom Research and Trends from Different Fields of Study

This paper aims to analyse the trends and contents of flipped classroom research based on 20 articles that report on flipped learning classroom initiatives from 2013–2015. The content analysis was used as a methodology to investigate methodologies, area of studies, technology tools or online platforms, the most frequently keywords used and works cited references, impacts for students’ learning, and flipped classroom challenges. The results of the analysis were interpreted using descriptive analysis, percentages, and frequencies. This analysis found that various fields were practiced in the flipped classroom approach, and some technology tools were used as the online platform for its practice. Analysis of the impacts showed that flipped classroom brought positive impacts toward students’ learning activities such as achievement, motivation, engagement, and interaction. Several issues in this discussion become implications that can be taken into consideration for future research. Some challenges found in applying flipped classroom are needed to be addressed by future researchers, such as suitability of the flipped classroom for poor quality of video lectures and untrained instructor. This study also becomes an implication for government or policymakers to determine the flipped classroom as a contemporary model to be implemented in teaching-learning activities for higher education, even K-12 students.
Climate change: comparative impact on developing and developed countries

Government organizations are responsible for strategic decisions regarding the economic development of individual countries and regional areas. This decision-making process is influenced by the certainty of the information presented to government officials. One area where this decision-making influence is challenging government officials is in climate-based events. The past decade has witnessed a significant rise in the number of climate events, as well as the number of people affected by climate events. Far from being under control, evidence and long-term projections suggest that these events are climate-based rather than weather-based. In these projections, climate change is a global issue with potential impacts for every country. However, the relative impact of these events will be far different in the developed and developing worlds. As detailed in this paper, the authors examined this disparity through an analysis of 10 countries with varying income levels to determine the relative impact of climate .