Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevations in Renal Interstitial Hydrostatic Pressure and 20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid Contribute to Pressure Natriuresis

This study examined the role of changes in renal interstitial pressure on the renal levels of cytochrome P450 metabolites of arachidonic acid and compared the effects of inhibition of the formation of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids with 1-aminobenzotriazole on the pressure-natriuretic response versus that seen after administration of HET0016, a more selective inhibitor of the formation of 20-HETE. Renal interstitial pressure rose by 3.4±0.3 mm Hg, and the levels of 20-HETE in renal cortical tissue doubled when renal perfusion pressure was increased from 100 to 160 mm Hg. Removal of the renal capsule prevented the increase in renal interstitial pressure and 20-HETE levels after an elevation in renal perfusion pressure. Urine flow and sodium excretion increased 5-fold when renal perfusion pressure was increased from 106 to 160 mm Hg. The administration of 1-aminobenzotriazole (50 mg/kg, IP) or HET0016 (10 mg/kg IV bolus plus 1 mg/kg per hour of infusion) decreased the pressure-natriuretic response by 50% and inhibited the renal formation of 20-HETE and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids by 90% and 50%, respectively. Administration of a lower dose of HET0016 (1 mg/kg per hour, IV) selectively reduced the formation of 20-HETE by 80% without inhibiting renal epoxygenase activity and blunted the pressure-natriuretic response by 42%. These results indicate that elevations in renal perfusion pressure increase 20-HETE levels in the kidney secondary to a rise in renal interstitial pressure. They also suggest that 20-HETE, rather than epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, modulates the pressure-natriuretic response, because selective blockade of the formation of 20-HETE with HET0016 blunts the response to the same extent as that seen after inhibition of the formation of 20-HETE and epoxyeicosatrienoic acids with 1-aminobenzotriazole.
Physiological Characteristics and Production of Folic Acid of Lactobacillus plantarum JA71 Isolated from Jeotgal, a Traditional Korean Fermented Seafood

Folic acid, one of the B group of vitamins, is an essential substance for maintaining the functions of the nervous system, and is also known to decrease the level of homocysteine in plasma. Homocysteine influences the lowering of the cognitive function in humans, and especially in elderly people. In order to determine the strains with a strong capacity to produce folic acid, 190 bacteria were isolated from various kinds of jeotgal and chungkuk-jang. In our test experiment, JA71 was found to contain 9. 03μg/mL of folic acid after 24 h of incubation in an MRS broth. This showed that JA71 has the highest folic acid production ability compared to the other lactic acid bacteria that were isolated. JA71 was identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by the result of API carbohydrate fermentation pattern and 16s rDNA sequence. JA71 was investigated for its physiological characteristics. The optimum growth temperature of JA71 was 37℃, and the cultures took 12 h to reach pH 4.4. JA71 proved more sensitive to bacitracin when compared with fifteen different antibiotics, and showed most resistance to neomycin and vancomycin. Moreover, it was comparatively tolerant of bile juice and acid, and displayed resistance to Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus with restraint rates of 60.4%, 96.7%, and 76.2%, respectively. These results demonstrate that JA71 could be an excellent strain for application to functional products.
Global Weak Solutions to a Sixth Order Cahn-Hilliard Type Equation

We study a sixth order Cahn--Hilliard type equation that arises as a model for the faceting of a growing surface. We show existence of global-in-time weak solutions in two space dimensions, assuming periodic boundary conditions. We also establish exponential-in-time a priori estimates on the $H^3$ norm of solutions. These bounds enable us to prove the uniqueness of weak solutions. We also show the regularizing effect of the equation on the data.
“THE SOCIAL” AND “THE POLITICAL”

Abstract In the context of the rise, ubiquity and overwhelming presence of “the social” and sociological explanations, Hannah Arendt's critique must be welcomed. However, it is also the author's contention that Hannah Arendt overstepped the mark and substituted one extreme (“the social” or “the societal”) for another (“the political”). This becomes especially clear in her writings on America, most prominently in her book On Revolution (1963). The author argues that we can find an adequate counterweight to the extreme Arendtian position in the writings of Judith N. Shklar, especially in those critical essays that are concerned and deal with American intellectual history.
Dynamic alterations in the conformation of the Ifng gene region during T helper cell differentiation

Gene expression and silencing in eukaryotic systems can be controlled by regulatory elements acting over a distance. Here, we analyze chromatin conformation of the 24-kb region of the Ifng gene during CD4+ T helper (Th) cell differentiation. We find that chromatin within this region is a highly flexible structure that undergoes dynamic changes during the course of transcriptional activation and silencing of the Ifng gene. Each Th subset displays a common core conformation in this gene region and unique features that distinguish neutral and effector Th1 and Th2 lineages. This chromatin configuration brings distal regions into close proximity to the gene. Th1 cells that produce high levels of IFN-γ display the most open conformation. In contrast, IFN-γ silent Th2 cells have a tightly closed conformation. Therefore, we postulate that there is a direct structure–function relationship between the spatial organization of the chromatin around the Ifng gene and its transcriptional potential.
Perception of leadership qualities in higher education: Impact of professor gender, professor leader style, situation, and participant gender

This experimental study used eight written vignettes to analyze the effects of professor gender, professor leadership style (democratic/autocratic), and type of situation (task/personal) and participant gender on evaluations of professors’ competence, likeability and masculinity characteristics. Undergraduates from the College of Arts and Science (N=932; Males=464, Females=467), and the College of Education (N=722; Males=140, Females=582) were used. Results indicated that research participants rated democratic professors significantly more competent, likeable, and more feminine than autocratic professors. Contrary to expectations derived from gender spill-over and gender congruency theories, male participants did not rate female professors more negatively than their male counterparts when they acted autocratically in a personal situation (i.e., gender incongruent manner.) Exploratory results revealed trends that are discussed along with theoretical and practical implications.
DIVERGENT PATTERNS OF AGE‐DEPENDENCE IN ORNAMENTAL AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN THE COLLARED FLYCATCHER

Sexual ornaments are predicted to honestly signal individual condition. We might therefore expect ornament expression to show a senescent decline, in parallel with late‐life deterioration of other characters. Conversely, life‐history theory predicts the reduced residual reproductive value of older individuals will favor increased investment in sexually attractive traits. Using a 25‐year dataset of more than 5000 records of breeding collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis) of known age, we quantify cross‐sectional patterns of age‐dependence in ornamental plumage traits and report long‐term declines in expression that mask highly significant positive age‐dependency. We partition this population‐level age‐dependency into its between‐ and within‐individual components and show expression of ornamental white plumage patches exhibits within‐individual increases with age in both sexes, consistent with life‐history theory. For males, ornament expression also covaries with life span, such that, within a cohort, ornamentation indicates survival. Finally, we compared longitudinal age‐dependency of reproductive traits and ornamental traits in both sexes, to assess whether these two trait types exhibit similar age‐dependency. These analyses revealed contrasting patterns: reproductive traits showed within‐individual declines in late‐life females consistent with senescence; ornamental traits showed the opposite pattern in both males and females. Hence, our results for both sexes suggest that age‐dependent ornament expression is consistent with life‐history models of optimal signaling and, unlike reproductive traits, proof against senescence.
Gene Expression Profiles in Peripheral Lymphocytes by Arsenic Exposure and Skin Lesion Status in a Bangladeshi Population

Millions of individuals worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic through their drinking water. In this study, the effect of arsenic exposure and arsenical skin lesion status on genome-wide gene expression patterns was evaluated using RNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals selected from the Health Effects of Arsenic Longitudinal Study. Affymetrix HG-U133A GeneChip (Affymetrix, Santa Clara, CA) arrays were used to measure the expression of ∼22,000 transcripts. Our primary statistical analysis involved identifying differentially expressed genes between participants with and without arsenical skin lesions based on the significance analysis of microarrays statistic with an a priori defined 1% false discovery rate to minimize false positives. To better characterize differential expression, we also conducted Gene Ontology and pathway comparisons in addition to the gene-specific analyses. Four-hundred sixty-eight genes were differentially expressed between these two groups, from which 312 differentially expressed genes were identified by restricting the analysis to female never-smokers. We also explored possible differential gene expression by arsenic exposure levels among individuals without manifest arsenical skin lesions; however, no differentially expressed genes could be identified from this comparison. Our findings show that microarray-based gene expression analysis is a powerful method to characterize the molecular profile of arsenic exposure and arsenic-induced diseases. Genes identified from this analysis may provide insights into the underlying processes of arsenic-induced disease and represent potential targets for chemoprevention studies to reduce arsenic-induced skin cancer in this population. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1367–75)
On purely transmitting defects in affine Toda field theory

Affine Toda field theories with a purely transmitting integrable defect are considered and the model based on a2 is analysed in detail. After providing a complete characterization of the problem in a classical framework, a suitable quantum transmission matrix, able to describe the interaction between an integrable defect and solitons, is found. Two independent paths are taken to reach the result. One is an investigation of the triangle equations using the S-matrix for the imaginary coupling bulk affine Toda field theories proposed by Hollowood, and the other uses a functional integral approach together with a bootstrap procedure. Evidence to support the results is collected in various ways: for instance, through the calculation of the transmission factors for the lightest breathers. While previous discoveries within the sine-Gordon model motivated this study, there are several new phenomena displayed in the a2 model including intriguing disparities between the classical and the quantum pictures. For example, in the quantum framework, for a specific range of the coupling constant that excludes a neighbourhood of the classical limit, there is an unstable bound state.
Adjusted Viterbi training for hidden Markov models

To estimate the emission parameters in hidden Markov models one commonly uses the EM algorithm or its variation. Our primary motivation, however, is the Philips speech recognition system wherein the EM algorithm is replaced by the Viterbi training algorithm. Viterbi training is faster and computationally less involved than EM, but it is also biased and need not even be consistent. We propose an alternative to the Viterbi training -- adjusted Viterbi training -- that has the same order of computational complexity as Viterbi training but gives more accurate estimators. Elsewhere, we studied the adjusted Viterbi training for a special case of mixtures, supporting the theory by simulations. This paper proves the adjusted Viterbi training to be also possible for more general hidden Markov models.
Antecedents and Consequences of Perceived Interactivity

Abstract The study reported in this paper investigated how, as antecedents, personal factors influence consumers’ perception of a web site’s interactivity in the context of making a purchase decision. A review of literature suggests three general factors - Need for Cognition (NFC), product involvement, and product expertise - and three Internet-specific factors - skills, challenges, and web shopping experience - for testing. In addition, attitude toward the web site and purchase intention are examined as consequences of perceived interactivity. NFC was found to be a significant predictor of perceived interactivity of the web site visited. Although marginally significant, skills were also found to be a predictor. The model was supported for one of the three manufacturers’ portal sites employed in the study. Additional analysis found that consumers’ purchase intention was influenced by their attitude toward the web site, but not by the perceived interactivity of the site. This relationship was found for two of the three web sites tested. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.
rNAPc2 Inhibits Colorectal Cancer in Mice through Tissue Factor

Purpose: Recombinant nematode anticoagulant protein c2 (rNAPc2) is a specific inhibitor of tissue factor (TF)/factor VIIa complex with novel antithrombotic activity. TF is highly expressed in human colorectal tumors, and levels are positively correlated with disease progression. Experimental Design: To explore the therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of rNAPc2 during tumor growth and metastasis, we tested rNAPc2 in several experimental colorectal cancer models in mice. Results: Administration of rNAPc2 inhibited pulmonary metastasis in mice systemically disseminated with CT26 murine colon carcinoma cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Combining rNAPc2 with the cytotoxic agent 5-fluorouracil or bevacizumab (humanized anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody) resulted in additive growth inhibition and simultaneous reduction of microvessel density in HCT116 human colorectal tumor xenografts in nude mice. Furthermore, rNAPc2 potentiated CPT-11 in inhibiting hepatic metastasis in nude mice with portal vein injection of HCT116 tumor cells. Long-term administration of rNAPc2 significantly suppressed spontaneous formation of intestinal tumors in ApcMin/+ mice. Using a RNA interference approach, we showed that TF expression is necessary for rNAPc2-mediated inhibition of HCT116 human colorectal tumor xenograft growth in nude mice, indicating that the antitumor effect of rNAPc2 may be transduced through TF that is expressed on tumor cells. Conclusions: rNAPc2 is a potent anticancer agent when used in combination with chemotherapy or antiangiogenic therapy in mouse models of colorectal cancer, and TF positivity appears to be required for its activity.
Liposomal targeting of glucocorticoids to synovial lining cells strongly increases therapeutic benefit in collagen type II arthritis

Objective: To investigate the effect of a single intravenous treatment with glucocorticoids (GC) encapsulated in long-circulating PEG-liposomes on both joint inflammation and cartilage destruction and to investigate the phenomenon of selective homing of these liposomes in the inflamed synovium. Methods: Mice with collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA) were intravenously treated with liposomal and free prednisolone phosphate (PLP) a few days after the first signs of the disease. Joint inflammation was scored during 1 week after treatment, after which sections of the knee joints were prepared for assessment of cartilage damage. In addition, arthritic mice were treated with liposomes containing colloidal gold. 24 hours after injection, knee joint sections were prepared in which the location of liposomes was visualised. Results: Treatment of CIA with 10 mg/kg liposomal PLP resulted in a strong and lasting resolution of joint inflammation. 10 mg/kg free PLP only became slightly effective after repeated daily injections. Although joint inflammation recurred 1 week after treatment with liposomal PLP, knee joint sections prepared at this time indicated that the cartilage damage was still reduced. Localisation of gold labelled liposomes in the inflamed joints was seen in the proximity of blood vessels, in the cellular infiltrate, but mainly in the synovial lining. Unaffected joints did not take up liposomes. Conclusions: By using the property of long-circulating liposomes to target the synovial lining selectively in inflamed joints, the anti-inflammatory activity of GC can be greatly increased, showing also the beneficial effect of reduced cartilage destruction.
Ischemic Stroke Activates Hematopoietic Bone Marrow Stem Cells

Rationale: The mechanisms leading to an expanded neutrophil and monocyte supply after stroke are incompletely understood. Objective: To test the hypothesis that transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in mice leads to activation of hematopoietic bone marrow stem cells. Methods and Results: Serial in vivo bioluminescence reporter gene imaging in mice with tMCAO revealed that bone marrow cell cycling peaked 4 days after stroke (P<0.05 versus pre tMCAO). Flow cytometry and cell cycle analysis showed activation of the entire hematopoietic tree, including myeloid progenitors. The cycling fraction of the most upstream hematopoietic stem cells increased from 3.34%±0.19% to 7.32%±0.52% after tMCAO (P<0.05). In vivo microscopy corroborated proliferation of adoptively transferred hematopoietic progenitors in the bone marrow of mice with stroke. The hematopoietic system’s myeloid bias was reflected by increased expression of myeloid transcription factors, including PU.1 (P<0.05), and by a decline in lymphocyte precursors. In mice after tMCAO, tyrosine hydroxylase levels in sympathetic fibers and bone marrow noradrenaline levels rose (P<0.05, respectively), associated with a decrease of hematopoietic niche factors that promote stem cell quiescence. In mice with genetic deficiency of the &bgr;3 adrenergic receptor, hematopoietic stem cells did not enter the cell cycle in increased numbers after tMCAO (naive control, 3.23±0.22; tMCAO, 3.74±0.33, P=0.51). Conclusions: Ischemic stroke activates hematopoietic stem cells via increased sympathetic tone, leading to a myeloid bias of hematopoiesis and higher bone marrow output of inflammatory Ly6Chigh monocytes and neutrophils.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor deletion in cerebellar granule neuron precursors impairs neurogenesis

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand‐activated member of the basic‐helix‐loop‐helix/PER‐ARNT‐SIM(PAS) transcription factor superfamily that also mediates the toxicity of 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD). Increasing evidence suggests that AhR influences the development of many tissues, including the central nervous system. Our previous studies suggest that sustained AhR activation by TCDD and/or AhR deletion disrupts cerebellar granule neuron precursor (GNP) development. In the current study, to determine whether endogenous AhR controls GNP development in a cell‐autonomous manner, we created a GNP‐specific AhR deletion mouse, AhRfx/fx/Math1CRE/+ (AhR CKO). Selective AhR deletion in GNPs produced abnormalities in proliferation and differentiation. Specifically, fewer GNPs were engaged in S‐phase, as demonstrated by ∼25% reductions in thymidine (in vitro) and Bromodeoxyuridine (in vivo) incorporation. Furthermore, total granule neuron numbers in the internal granule layer at PND21 and PND60 were diminished in AhR conditional knockout (CKO) mice compared with controls. Conversely, differentiation was enhanced, including ∼40% increase in neurite outgrowth and 50% increase in GABARα6 receptor expression in deletion mutants. Our results suggest that AhR activity plays a role in regulating granule neuron number and differentiation, possibly by coordinating this GNP developmental transition. These studies provide novel insights for understanding the normal roles of AhR signaling during cerebellar granule cell neurogenesis and may have important implications for the effects of environmental factors in cerebellar dysgenesis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 533–550, 2016
The Effect of Socio – Economic Survival of Okada Riders on African Cultural Values

This study investigated effects of socio – economic survival of Okada riders in Abeokuta and Odeda Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria on African cultural values. The study was carried out using the questionnaire method to elicit vital information from one hundred respondents who were randomly- selected from ten Okada parks within Abeokuta metropolis and Odeda township respectively. Simple percentage and t-test statistical tools were used to analyse the data. The findings showed that Okada riding, though a lucrative enterprise has its direct and indirect bearing on the cultural values of the society. The recklessness that is associated with the business tends to erode certain cultural and moral values including respect for other road users, respect for authority and elders within the immediate environment. Majority of the riders engaged in the business because of the pressing need to survive and sustain their families. Furthermore, most of the riders did not take the necessary safety precautions, they used foul languages and drank alcohol even during business hours and these reasons have been identified as major causes for their recklessness. In Conclusion, Okada business is lucrative and can add to the Nigerian economy rather than constituting a menace. Riders should be given adequate training on societal ethics. Citizenship education should also form part of the training to be conducted for those intending to get into the trade. They should be encouraged to register properly at zonal and state levels. Moreover, the Federal, State and Local governments authorities should set up regulatory bodies empowered to monitor their activities and mode of operations.
Safety of micronized palmitoylethanolamide (microPEA): lack of toxicity and genotoxic potential

Abstract Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) is a natural fatty acid amide found in a variety of foods, which was initially identified in egg yolk. MicroPEA of defined particle size (0.5–10 μm) was evaluated for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium, for clastogenicity/aneuploidy in cultured human lymphocytes, and for acute and subchronic rodent toxicity in the rat, following standard OECD test protocols, in accordance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). PEA did not induce mutations in the bacterial assay using strains TA1535, TA97a, TA98, TA100, and TA102, with or without metabolic activation, in either the plate incorporation or liquid preincubation methods. Similarly, PEA did not induce genotoxic effects in human cells treated for 3 or 24 h without metabolic activation, or for 3 h with metabolic activation. PEA was found to have an LD50 greater than the limit dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw), using the OECD Acute Oral Up and Down Procedure. Doses for the 90‐day rat oral toxicity study were based on results from the preliminary 14‐day study, that is, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg bw/day. The No Effect Level (NOEL) in both subchronic studies was the highest dose tested.