Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Activities of Some Medicinal Plants Against Multiresistants Microorganisms Causing Urogenital Tract Infections in Cameroon

Urogenital tract infections remain a serious global treat especially in women. The control of these infections is increasingly complicated due to development of resistance against available drugs. Therefore a perpetual search of new antimicrobial molecules is needed to face the challenge of microbial resistance. This study was initiated to screen the antimicrobial activities of methanol extracts of nine Cameroonian medicinal plants, used for the treatment of infectious diseases, against multiresistant pathogens isolated from urogenital infected patients. The plants included: Cussonia arborea, Dissotis longipetala, Lonchocarpus sepium, Nauclea pobeguinii, Picralima nitida, Rumex abyssinicus, Rumex berqueatii, Sapium ellypticum, Psorospermum febrifigum, They were tested on seven strains including six clinical isolates ( Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia stuartii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus saprophiticus, Candida krusei ) and one reference strain (E. coli JM109) . Clinical strains were checked for their multiresistance using disc diffusion method. The antimicrobial activities were determined by agar well diffusion method. MICs were determined using microdilution assay. The phytochemical screening of plants was also done. All the bacteria strains were found to be multidrug-resistant (MDR) against at least 7 of the 12 antibiotics tested. Antimicrobial activities demonstrated that 6/9 (SE, DL, RA, RB, PN, LS) plants were active on at least six microorganisms. MICs ranged from 0.125 to 128mg/ml for crude extracts, from 0.5 to 0. 16µg/ml for gentamicin and was 0,002mg/ml for fluconazole. One extract (NP) which showed limited results on agar, inhibited the growth of all the strains with MICs ranging from 1to 16mg/ml showing a limited activity of this extract on agar. We found that four extracts (SE, NP, RA, DL) have significant activities since they presented MICs ≤ 8mg/ml on at least 5 tested microorganism individually. Findings from phytochemical screening showed that most active extracts contain tannins, alkaloids and saponins which could be responsible of these activities.
Environmentality

This paper examines how and for what reasons rural residents come to care about the environment. Focusing on Kumaon, India, it explores the deep and durable relationship between government and subjectivity and shows how regulatory strategies associated with and resulting from community decision making help transform those who participate in government. Using evidence drawn from the archival record and fieldwork conducted over two time periods, it analyzes the extent to which varying levels of involvement in institutional regimes of environmental regulation facilitate new ways of understanding the environment. On the basis of this analysis, it outlines a framework of understanding that permits the joint consideration of the technologies of power and self that are responsible for the emergence of new political subjects.
Characterization of intermittent contact in tapping mode atomic force microscopy

Tapping-mode atomic force microscopy has wide applications for probing the nanoscale surface and subsurface properties of numerous materials in a variety of environments. Strongly nonlinear effects due to large variations in the force field on the probe tip over very small length scales and the intermittency of contact with the sample, however, result in strong dynamical instabilities. These can result in a sudden loss of stability of low-contact-velocity oscillations of the atomic-force-microscope tip in favor of oscillations with high contact velocity, coexistence of stable oscillatory motions, and destructive, nonrepeatable, and unreliable characterization of the nanostructure. In this paper, dynamical systems tools for piecewise smooth systems are employed to characterize the loss of stability and associated parameter hysteresis phenomena.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The application of physiological observation methods to emotion research

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer emotions and the social science and observation measures that can be utilised to capture the emotional experiences of consumers. The paper is not setting out to solve the theoretical debate surrounding emotion research, rather to provide an assessment of methodological options available to researchers to aid their investigation into both the structure and content of the consumer emotional experience, acknowledging both the conscious and subconscious elements of that experience. Design/methodology/approach - A review of a wide range of prior research from the fields of marketing, consumer behaviour, psychology and neuroscience are examined to identify the different observation methods available to marketing researchers in the study of consumer emotion. This review also considers the self report measures available to researchers and identifies the main theoretical debates concerning emotion to provide a comprehensive overview of the issues surrounding the capture of emotional responses in a marketing context and to highlight the benefits that observation methods offer this area of research. Findings - This paper evaluates three observation methods and four widely used self report measures of emotion used in a marketing context. Whilst it is recognised that marketers have shown preference for the use of self report measures in prior research, mainly due to ease of implementation, it is posited that the benefits of observation methodology and the wealth of data that can be obtained using such methods can compliment prior research. In addition, the use of observation methods cannot only enhance our understanding of the consumer emotion experience but also enable us to collaborate with researchers from other fields in order to make progress in understanding emotion. Originality/value - This paper brings perspectives and methods together to provide an up to date consideration of emotion research for marketers. In order to generate valuable research in this area there is an identified need for discussion and implementation of the observation techniques available to marketing researchers working in this field. An evaluation of a variety of methods is undertaken as a point to start discussion or consideration of different observation techniques and how they can be utilised.
Gap-Directed Translesion DNA Synthesis of an Abasic Site on Circular DNA Templates by a Human Replication Complex

DNA polymerase ε (pol ε) is believed to be the leading strand replicase in eukaryotes whereas pols λ and β are thought to be mainly involved in re-synthesis steps of DNA repair. DNA elongation by the human pol ε is halted by an abasic site (apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site). We have previously reported that human pols λ, β and η can perform translesion synthesis (TLS) of an AP site in the presence of pol ε. In the case of pol λ and β, this TLS requires the presence of a gap downstream from the product synthetized by the ε replicase. However, since these studies were conducted exclusively with a linear DNA template, we decided to test whether the structure of the template could influence the capacity of the pols ε, λ, β and η to perform TLS of an AP site. Therefore, we have investigated the replication of damaged “minicircle” DNA templates. In addition, replication of circular DNA requires, beyond DNA pols, the processivity clamp PCNA, the clamp loader replication factor C (RFC), and the accessory proteins replication protein A (RPA). Finally we have compared the capacity of unmodified versus monoubiquitinated PCNA in sustaining TLS by pols λ and η on a circular template. Our results indicate that in vitro gap-directed TLS synthesis by pols λ and β in the presence of pol ε, RPA and PCNA is unaffected by the structure of the DNA template. Moreover, monoubiquitination of PCNA does not affect TLS by pol λ while it appears to slightly stimulate TLS by pol η.
The effects of external stakeholder pressure and ethical leadership on corporate social responsibility in China

Abstract We examined how external stakeholder pressure and ethical leadership independently and interactively influence the implementation of corporate social responsibility. Based on data collected from 292 employees from 53 companies (Study 1) and from 224 middle-level managers from 40 companies (Study 2) in mainland China, we found that both ethical leadership and external stakeholder pressure have significant and positive impacts on corporate social responsibility implementation and the positive effect of external stakeholder pressure on corporate social responsibility weakens under a higher level of ethical leadership and strengthens under a low level of ethical leadership. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Selection for Urease Activity duringHelicobacter pylori Infection of Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)

ABSTRACT Helicobacter pylori strain J166 recovered from experimentally inoculated rhesus monkeys had up to a 250-fold-increased urease activity over that before inoculation. This was found to result from the selection of urease positive J166 clones from a heterogenous inoculum, which was predominantly urease negative due to a 1-bp insertion in the ureA gene. These results confirm the importance of urease for H. pylori colonization. Strain J166 is particularly well adapted to the rhesus monkey, since it colonized preferentially despite the fact that less than 0.1% of the inoculum was urease positive.
Valores, actitudes hacia el alcohol y consumo en adolescentes varones

En este trabajo analizamos variables potencialmente relacionadas con el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes. Las actitudes hacia el consumo de alcohol son importantes predictores de dicho consumo. Otro predictor son los valores. En este estudio presentamos los resultados, en una muestra de adolescentes (n = 382), de dos pruebas de evaluacion: el Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) y la Escala de Actitudes hacia el Alcohol. El Manova muestra que existen diferencias significativas en las cuatro dimensiones de la escala de actitudes hacia el alcohol entre consumidores y no consumidores. Finalmente, se muestran los resultados de una serie de analisis de regresiones multiples por pasos sucesivos tomando a las actitudes hacia el alcohol como variables dependientes y los valores como predictores.
An Evaluation of Web-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines for Managing Problems Associated with Cannabis Use

Background Cannabis is the most widely used illicit substance, and multiple treatment options and avenues exist for managing its use. There has been an increase in the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) to improve standards of care in this area, many of which are disseminated online. However, little is known about the quality and accessibility of these online CPGs. Objective The purpose of study 1 was to determine the extent to which cannabis-related CPGs disseminated online adhere to established methodological standards. The purpose of study 2 was to determine if treatment providers are familiar with these guidelines and to assess their perceived quality of these guidelines. Methods Study 1 involved a systematic search using the Google Scholar search engine and the National Drugs Sector Information Service (NDSIS) website of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) to identify CPGs disseminated online. To be included in the current study, CPGs needed to be free of charge and provide guidance on psychological interventions for reducing cannabis use. Four trained reviewers independently assessed the quality of the 7 identified guidelines using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) tool. Study 2 assessed 166 Australian cannabis-use treatment providers’ (mean age = 45.47 years, SD 12.14) familiarity with and opinions of these 7 guidelines using an online survey. Treatment providers were recruited using online advertisements that directed volunteers to a link to complete the survey, which was posted online for 6 months (January to June 2012). Primary study outcomes included quality scores and rates of guideline familiarity, guideline use, and discovery methods. Results Based on the AGREE II, the quality of CPGs varied considerably. Across different reporting domains, adherence to methodological standards ranged from 0% to 92%. Quality was lowest in the domains of rigor of development (50%), applicability (46%), and editorial independence (30%). Although examination of AGREE II domain scores demonstrated that the quality of the 7 guidelines could be divided into 3 categories (high quality, acceptable to low quality, and very low quality), review of treatment providers’ quality perceptions indicated all guidelines fell into 1 category (acceptable quality). Based on treatment providers’ familiarity with and usage rates of the CPGs, a combination of peer/colleagues, senior professionals, workshops, and Internet dissemination was deemed to be most effective for promoting cannabis use CPGs. Lack of time, guideline length, conflicts with theoretical orientation, and prior content knowledge were identified as barriers to guideline uptake. Conclusions Developers of CPGs should improve their reporting of development processes, conflicts of interest, and CPGs’ applicability to practice, while remaining cognizant that long guidelines may deter implementation. Treatment providers need to be aware that the quality of cannabis-related CPGs varies substantially.
Navy Recruit Training as a Gendering Process.

Abstract : This thesis studies Navy recruit training as a gendering process, and it examines female and male recruits' gendered experiences at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, Illinois. Gender is a prominent social construct for individuals and organizations. Both individuals and organizations are gendered and create gender. The phrase, "gendering process," refers to an organization's production of gender. The primary research question is: Can the military socialization experience of Navy recruit training be understood as a gendering process, specifically as a process for producing masculinity? A psychometric inventory of gender role aftributes, the Bem Sex Role Inventory (B SRI), was used to measure the difference in starting and ending recruits' self assessment of femininity and masculinity. Results from the BSRI indicated that Navy recruit training is a gendering process for both female and male recruits. Structured interviews with RTC officer and enlisted personnel provided additional insight into the gendering nature of the military socialization experience of Navy recruit training. These results offer a powerful, analytical lens for viewing and assessing such personnel processes as attrition, retention, promotion, and occupational selection for women and men in the Navy. They also provide a useful framework for understanding the status of women and men in the Navy.
CRF1 receptor splicing in epidermal keratinocytes: Potential biological role and environmental regulations

Corticotropin releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRF1), a coordinator of the body responses to stress, is also expressed in human skin, where it undergoes alternative splicing. Since the epidermis is continuously exposed to the environmental stress, human keratinocytes were chosen to study the biological role of CRF1 alternative splicing. The expression pattern of CRF1 isoforms depended on cell density, presence or absence of serum, and exposure to ultraviolet irradiation (UVR). Only two isoforms α and c were predominantly localized to the cell membrane, with only CRF1α being efficient in stimulating cAMP responding element (CRE). CRF1d, f and g had intracellular localization, showing no or very low (g) activation of CRE. The co‐expression of CRF1α with d, f or g resulted in intracellular retention of both isoforms suggesting dimerization confirmed by detection of high molecular weight complexes. The soluble isoforms e and h were diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm or localized to the ER, respectively, and additionally found in culture medium. These findings suggest that alternatively spliced CRF1 isoforms can interact and modify CRF1α subcellular localization, thus affecting its activity. We suggest that alternative splicing of CRF1 may play an important role in the regulation of skin cell phenotype with potential implications in pathology. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 593–602, 2009. Published 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Barriers related to fecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer screening in moderate risk individuals

Introduction and Objective: Colorectal cancer is one of the most important and most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Through secondary prevention of this cancer, effective proactive measures would be taken to treat and to prevent the incidence of the disease. The fecal occult blood test (FOBT) has priority over other methods and is recommended for adults above 50 years. This study was carried out to assess perceived barriers related to participating in colorectal cancer screening programs among average risk population, based on health belief model. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 196 individuals of more than 50 years was conducted in Isfahan. The target group consisted of people going to laboratories for doing FOBT test (n = 98), and those who refrained from going to laboratories (n = 98). The questionnaire was used based on barrier assessment question associated with performing fecal occult blood test. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods. Results: The mean score of perceived barriers in the first group was 40.9 and in other group was 56.54, with significant difference statistically (P < 0.001). Lack of information, fear of cancer diagnosis, lack of recommendation by doctors, and not setting the priority of time for doing the test were some of barriers reported by the nongoing group. Discussion and Conclusion: According to this study, it seems that there is an urgent need to more information to be provided for the public about colorectal cancer and its prevention through screening, as important step to increase the rate of early detection and curb the mortality rate, costs, and improve community health outcomes.
Effect of Non-Solubilizing SDS Concentrations on High Affinity Ca2+ Binding and Steady State Phosphorylation by Inorganic Phosphate of the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ATPase

Abstract In this investigation low, non-solubilizing concentrations of the strong anionic detergent SDS were used to perturbate the interaction of Ca2+ and Pi with their respective binding domains on the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-transport ATPase. Rising SDS concentrations produce a two-step decline of Ca2+-dependent ATP hydrolysis. At pH 6.15, SDS differently affects high affinity Ca2+ binding and phosphorylation by inorganic phosphate and releases the “mutual exclusion” of these two ligand binding steps. The degree of uncoupling is considerably more pronounced in the presence of 20% Me2SO. The reduction of Ca2+ binding by SDS is demonstrated to be a result of decreased affinity of one of the two specific high affinity binding sites and of perturbation of their cooperative interaction. Higher SDS partially restores the original high Ca2+ affinity but not the cooperativity of binding. Phosphorylation exhibits a higher SDS sensitivity than Ca2+ binding: Increasing SDS competitively inhibits and then completely abolishes phosphoenzyme formation. Thus. SDS binds to the phosphorylation domain, evidently involving the Lys352 residue of the ATPase molecule; this is accompanied by a more unspecific concentration-dependent SDS effect, probably mediated by hydrophobic force, which, finally, suppresses phosphorylation. Me2SO does neither qualitatively affect the SDS-dependent chemical properties of the vesicular material nor the SDS-dependent perturbation of the investigated reaction steps.
The Effect of Health Promoting Programs on Patient’s Life Style After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft–Hospitalized in Shiraz Hospitals

Background: Health promotion is an essential strategy for reduction of health disparities. Health promotion includes all activities that encourage optimum physical, spiritual, and mental functions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a Health Promotion Program (HPP) on behavior in terms of the dimensions of the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) in patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). Methods and Materials: In this clinical trial study, 80 patients who had undergone CABG surgery (2011-2012) were selected and randomly divided in two groups: Experimental and Control that investigated by (HPLP II). Then the experimental group was educated about diet, walking and stress management. The program process was followed up for three months and after tward whole variables were investigated again. The overall score and the scores for the six dimensions of the HPLP (self actualization, health responsibility, exercise, nutrition, interpersonal support and stress management) were measured in the pre- and post-test periods. Data were manually entered into SPSS version 21(IBM Corp, USA) by one the authors. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test and paired t-test. Mean standard deviation and standard error of the mean (with 95% Confidence Interval) were generated for each item. Results: Results showed that score of stress management (p=.036), diet (p=.002), Spiritual Growth (p=.001) and interrelationship (p=002) increase in experimental group after intervention. Average scores after three months in the control group had no significant changes; except responsibility for health (p<.05). Results of the study revealed that comparison the scores of the experimental group were significantly different from the control group in all lifestyle aspects except for spiritual growth. Conclusion: This study showed that HPP on lifestyle and health promotion in patients who suffered from Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) could improve the patient’s awareness of healthy behaviors and well-being in the quality of life.
Do Constructed-Response and Multiple-Choice Questions Measure the Same Thing?

Our study empirically investigates the relationship between constructed-response (CR) and multiple-choice (MC) questions using a unique data set compiled from several years of university introductory economics classes. We conclude that CR and MC questions do not measure the same thing. Our main contribution is that we show that CR questions contain independent information that is related to student learning. Specifically, we find that the component of CR scores that cannot be explained by MC responses is positively and significantly related to (i) performance on a subsequent exam in the same economics course, and (ii) academic performance in other courses. Further, we present evidence that CR questions provide information that could not be obtained by expanding the set of MC questions. A final contribution of our study is that we demonstrate that empirical approaches that rely on factor analyses or Walstad-Becker (1994)-type regressions are unreliable in the following sense: It is possible for these empirical procedures to lead to the conclusion that CR and MC questions measure the same thing, even when the underlying data contain strong, contrary evidence. JEL Classifications: A22
Occurrence of the Enterotoxin Gene Cluster and the Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 Gene among Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Is Related to Clonal Type and agr Group

ABSTRACT Analysis of 177 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains for the presence of egc and tst revealed that 60 strains carried at least one of the tested genes. MRSA strains were classified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis into four clones belonging to agr groups I and III. Toxin genotypes were related by clonal type and agr group.