Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Expression of ezrin in human non-small cell lung cancer and its relationship with metastasis and prognosis].

OBJECTIVE To explore the expression of ezrin protein in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and lung cancer cell lines, and the association between the expression of ezrin protein and the expression of E-cadherin and CD44V6 proteins. METHODS The expression of ezrin protein and mRNA in lung cancer cell lines was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 were detected by immunohistochemical SP staining in tumor tissues from 150 lung cancer cases and in adjacent normal lung tissues from 30 patients. Furthermore, the expression of ezrin in 30 freshly-taken NSCLC tissues was also detected by Western blot. RESULTS The expression of ezrin protein and mRNA was up-regulated in highly metastatic human lung cancer. The positive rate of ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 expression in the lung cancer was 61.3%, 54.0% and 58.7%, respectively. The up-regulation of ezrin expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis, but not correlated with age, sex, tumor size, histological type, clinical TNM system and pathological grade. Western blot analysis showed that the level of ezrin in the NSCLC tissues was significantly higher than that in the normal tissues (t = 5.013, P < 0.01). Survival analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate of patients with negative ezrin expression was 29.3%, significantly higher than that of patients with positive ezrin expression (15.2%, χ(2) = 4.128, P = 0.042). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ezrin expression (RR = 3.012, P = 0.047) and lymph node metastasis (RR = 4.827, P = 0.035) were significantly independent prognostic factors for patients with lung cancer. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between the expressions of ezrin and E-cadherin in lung cancer, and a positive correlation between the expressions of ezrin and CD44V6 in lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS Ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 play an important role in the regulation of growth and meastasis of lung cancer. Combined detection of ezrin, E-cadherin and CD44V6 expression is helpful in evaluating the metastasis and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
Dietary Fish Oil Deactivates a Growth-Promoting Signaling Pathway in Hepatoma 7288CTC in Buffalo Rats

Abstract: Dietary fish oil decreases growth of solid tumors in rodents. Mechanisms for this effect are not well defined. In rat hepatoma 7288CTC, short-term (1–2 h) treatment with eicosapentaenoic acid during perfusion in situ reduced fatty acid uptake and [3H]thymidine incorporation. To determine if dietary fish oil had this effect in vivo, 48 male Buffalo rats were implanted with tissue-isolated hepatoma 7288CTC and were divided into three groups: Diet I (8% olive oil/2% corn oil), Diet II (6% olive oil/2% corn oil/2% fish oil), or Diet III (3% olive oil/3% corn oil/4% fish oil). When tumors weighed 4 to 6 g rats were anesthetized and tumor fatty acid uptake and 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid release were measured in vivo by arterial minus venous differences. Tumors were analyzed for cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), DNA content, and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Fish oil feeding significantly (P < 0.05) reduced tumor growth, cAMP content, fatty acid uptake, 13-hydroxyoctadecadienoic acid formation, DNA content, and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Addition of either pertussis toxin or 8-bromoadenosine-cAMP to the arterial blood reversed the inhibitions in tumors in rats fed diet II. These results provide in vivo evidence that dietary fish oil suppressed a specific linoleic acid-dependent, inhibitory G protein-coupled, growth-promoting signaling pathway in rat hepatoma 7288CTC.
A previous abrasion in the contralateral eye influences the cell kinetics during healing of a central corneal abrasion.

PURPOSE To study the influence of a previous erosion in the fellow eye on the proliferative response during healing of a central corneal erosion. METHODS A corneal abrasion was made on the right eye of 20 rats. After 1 week a corneal erosion was made in the left eye of the pre-treated animals and in 20 previously untreated animals. Cell kinetic methods were used to estimate the labelling index (LI) and the mitotic rate (MR) after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 12 days. RESULTS After 24 hours the corneal erosions were covered by epithelial cells in 3 of 4 animals in both groups. The LI and the MR were significantly higher in the pre-treated group on the 2nd day after erosion. CONCLUSIONS The proliferation measured by LI and MR was increased when an abrasion was made in the contralateral eye 1 week earlier. This might explain the faster healing rate of the second eye reported by other authors (Rask et al. 1996). The healing process in the cornea is modulated by systemic influence.
Superoxide dismutase 1 protects retinal cells from oxidative damage

Bolstering the endogenous oxidative damage defense system is a good strategy for development of treatments to combat neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative damage plays a role. A first step in such treatment development is to determine the role of various components of the defense system in cells that degenerate. In this study, we sought to determine the role of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in two models of oxidative damage‐induced retinal degeneration. In one model, paraquat is injected into the vitreous cavity and then enters retinal cells and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that cause progressive retinal damage. Assessment of retinal function with serial electroretinograms (ERGs) showed that sod1−/− mice were much more sensitive than sod1+/+ mice to the damaging effects of paraquat, while sod1+/− mice showed intermediate sensitivity. Compared to sod1+/+ mice, sod1−/− mice showed greater paraquat‐induced oxidative damage and apoptosis. In the second model, mice were exposed to hyperoxia for several weeks, and sod1−/− mice showed significantly greater reductions in ERG amplitudes than sod1+/+ mice. In both of these models, transgenic mice carrying a sod1 transgene driven by a β‐actin promoter showed less oxidative stress‐induced reduction in ERG amplitudes. These data demonstrate that SOD1 protects retinal cells against paraquat‐ and hyperoxia‐induced oxidative damage and suggest that overexpression of SOD1 should be considered as one component of ocular gene therapy to prevent oxidative damage‐induced retinal degeneration. J. Cell. Physiol. 208: 516–526, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How hospice staff members prepare family caregivers for the patient’s final days of life: An exploratory study

Background: There is widespread agreement that the families of hospice patients need to be prepared for the final days of life, yet current practices preparing families are not well described. Examining the gap between family needs and current practice will inform the development of effective preparatory interventions. Aim: The purpose of the study was to describe how hospice clinicians prepare family for the final days of life, including (1) the content of the preparatory information, (2) strategies and timing of preparation, and whether the preparation is tailored, and (3) who prepares families. Design: Conventional content analysis guided this study. Individual interviews using semi-structured questions were conducted. Setting/participants: In all, 19 hospice clinicians who provided care in the home setting from two hospice agencies in the United States participated. Results: Preparatory messages included information on signs of impending death, symptoms, implications of the symptoms, what to expect next, and instructions on what to do. Commonly used strategies included listening, engendering trust, repetition, collaboration with other disciplines, and demonstrations. Staff tailored content and delivery of messages on patient, family, and hospice factors. Preparation usually occurred over time. All hospice staff provided preparatory information, but there are some differences by discipline. Conclusions: Most content previous identified as necessary for preparedness is part of the current preparation. The knowledge of the current practice in preparing families can be used to develop systematic means of assessing the factors related to timing and tailoring, which may assist in developing preparatory messages that are effective and timely.
Aquatic Insects Fauna of Meshkin Shahr, Ardabil Province, Northwestern Iran,2014

The study was carried out in Wolaita, Hadya, Dawuro zone and Konta Special Woreda. The study was used household and key informant interview. The objective of the study was assessment of major opportunities and constraints of Honey production in central zones of SNNPR. Availability of ready and eager beekeepers to follow modern technology path way, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, availability of natural forest with adequate apiculture flora and water resource, existence of strong bee colony and a number of colonies, diversity and seasonal availability of bee forages and market access are some of opportunities of Honey production in the area. The major constraints of apiculture farming identified in the study districts comprised of lack of technical knowhow of small scale farmer, prevalence of honey bee enemies, lack of improved apiculture equipments, lack of improved honeybee flora, little attention given to apiculture development and technology introduction in the sector, lack of market oriented apiculture farming system and market information problem and others. The remedial measures for listed constraints of apiculture farming in the region recommended includes capacity building of small scale farmers, value chain analysis and value chain development adoption, pre-scaling up of proven apiary technologies and establishment of market oriented farmers apiary cooperatives.
Coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in ferromagnetic metals

In this paper we address the question of coexistence of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in the high temperature superconductor RuSr$_2$GdCu$_2$O$_{8-\delta}$. Using a field theoretical approach we study a one-fermion effective model of a ferromagnetic superconductor in which the quasiparticles responsible for the ferromagnetism form the Cooper pairs as well. We discuss the physical features which are different in this model and the standard BCS model and consider their experimental consequences.
Knowledge of sickle cell disease and haemoglobin electrophoresis: a survey of students of a tertiary institution.

BACKGROUND Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the commonest genetic disease worldwide. Of the sickle cell control strategies, premarital genetic counselling is increasingly practised in many countries of the world. Knowledge of the citizenry of a nation about SCD constitutes an important variable that influences the acceptability, practice and success of premarital genetic counselling. A study of students of Benue State University, Makurdi was carried out to determine their current level of knowledge. METHOD A cross sectional study involving 300 students of Benue State University, Makurdi; selected by a multistage stratified sampling technique, using self administered structured questionnaire, was carried out. RESULTS Virtually all study respondents had at one time or the other heard about sickle cell disease. Based on the criteria used for knowledge scoring, less than half of the students (48%) demonstrated good knowledge. Overall Mean Score Knowledge (MSK) was 4.65 +/- 1.65. MSK was 4.58 +/- 1.66 and 4.74 +/- 1.64 for males and females respectively; there was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). However, having an affected relative suffering from sickle cell disease significantly influenced level of knowledge among study respondents (P < 0.05), but was not significantly associated with respondents knowing their haemoglobin phenotype. Only 141 students (47%) knew their haemoglobin phenotype. Level of knowledge about SCD did not significantly increase with age. Also, sex and religion did not significantly influence level of knowledge. CONCLUSION The knowledge about SCD was poor and only a few knew their haemoglobin phenotype. If sickle cell disease control strategies must yield any significant results, more education about SCD, especially among students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria is recommended. The use of persons with SCD as peer educators/counsellors should be explored.
The Use of Corn Gluten Meal As A Natural Preemergence Weed Control in Turf

In a study involving the use of food-grade corn meal as a growth media for microorganisms, it was observed that stand establishment of creeping bentgrass seedlings was reduced by the incorporation of corn meal into the soil. Studies on the effect of adding corn starch, corn gluten meal, corn germ, corn seed fiber, or corn meal to the soil surface before seeding creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) demonstrated that the greatest concentration of the inhibitory substance responsible for stand reduction was in the corn gluten meal. Further studies have shown that corn gluten meal contains a substance that inhibits root formation in several species, including crabgrass (Digitaria spp.). Gluten meal is the protein fraction of the corn extracted in the wet-milling process and is used as an animal feed. It contains approximately 10% nitrogen (N) by weight and makes a good natural fertilizer for turf. In field studies on the effect of corn gluten meal on crabgrass control, larger amounts were required when the material was applied 4 weeks before crabgrass germination than when it was applied 1 week before germination. Corn gluten meal applied at 99, 198, 297, 396, 495, and 594 g m reduced crabgrass infestation by 50, 65, 80, 95, and 93%, respectively when applied 1 week before application. INTRODUCTION The last few years have brought increased public interest in environmental issues concerning the use of pesticides. This has been particularly true in the turf industry in which the general public may be involved in the applications of pesticides to their own lawns or may see the application of these materials on golf courses or by lawn care companies. With this concern has come an increased interest in natural products that are perceived by the public as being safer than traditional synthetic pesticides. In 1986, a research project involving food-grade corn meal as a growth medium for a microorganism produced some observations that led to the patenting of a natural organic product for the preemergence control of annual weeds. The objective of this work was to establish a Pythium fungi in the soil of a new golf course green that had been constructed at the Iowa State University turfgrass research area. The effects of this pathogen were then to be observed on creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) ____________________ Published as Journal Paper no. J-14957 of the Iowa Agric. and Home Econ. Exp. Stn. , Ames. Project No. 2231.
FIRM COMPLEXITY AND CORPORATE BOARD SIZE: TESTING THE MODERATING EFFECT OF BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Most prior studies have argued that the relationship between firm complexity and board size is a monotonic one: complex firm tend to have a large board size. Contrary to previous work, it is hypothesized in this study that this relationship is more likely to be moderated by board leadership structure. Using a sample of 92 Egyptian listed firms over the period from 2000 to 2004, we found that firm complexity exerted a positive and significant coefficient on board size when the firm adopts a leadership structure that separates the roles of CEO and chairman. However, the incremental effect of firm complexity on board size was negative and significant for firms that combine the roles of CEO and chairman (i.e., CEO duality). This study provides supportive evidence for the argument that firms are more likely to manipulate their boards’ characteristics to attain organizational adaptation at the minimum total cost. Thus, studying of one main characteristic of the board of directors without taking into account the expected effect of other characteristics may lead to inconclusive evidence. This study offers insights to practising managers and policy makers. If practising managers want to maximize the value of their firms, they need to broaden their insight to understand that board characteristics are multidimensional, contingent and dynamic in their nature and differ not only across firms and industry, but also across countries. Moreover, before developing and launching new and additional corporate governance reforms, policy makers need to realize that differences in corporate governance systems cannot be fully explained outside their institutional environments.
An Introduction to Comparative Jury Systems

The jury is experiencing a renaissance worldwide. Countries that have never had a jury system, or have had one in the past, have turned to citizens to decide criminal cases. Countries, especially those that aspire to be more democratic, have begun to recognize the importance of having ordinary citizens participate in the criminal justice system. Meanwhile, countries with a longstanding jury tradition continue to maintain that tradition. As some countries consider how best to introduce the jury, or some variation of it such as a mixed court of laypersons and professional judges,1 and other countries consider how best to improve their jury system, it is essential for jury scholars to share their ideas and observations. This symposium on “Comparative Jury Systems” brings together jury scholars’ writings about their own or other jury systems so that the knowledge of different jury practices appears in one place and can generate new ideas about how one country’s jury practices might lead to new practices in another country’s jury system.2 An exploration of jury systems in other countries poses several challenges. First, it is not easy for American academics to know who is writing about juries in other countries. Often there is a language barrier. These scholars might publish in their own languages, and not in English. Second, there is the difficulty, as the Chicago-Kent Law Review can attest to,3 that
Capital Structure Under Collusion

We study the financial leverage of firms that collude by forming a cartel. We find that cartel firms have lower leverage ratios during collusion periods, consistent with the idea that reductions in leverage help increase cartel stability. Cartel firms have a surprisingly large economic footprint (they represent more than 20% of the total market capitalization in the U.S.), so understanding their decisions is relevant. Our findings show that anti-competitive behavior has a significant effect on capital structure choices. They also shed new light on the relation between profitability and financial leverage.
Hyperglycaemia induced by chronic i.p. and oral glucose loading leads to hypertension through increased Na+ retention in proximal tubule

What is the central question of the study? Chronic glucose feeding accompanied by glucose injection (i.p.) causes sustained hyperglycaemia and hypertension in rats. The exact reason for the hypertension is not known. We explore some molecular pathways of the renal proximal tubule that might promote Na+ retention. What is the main finding and its importance? Development of hypertension was mediated by upregulation of the renal renin–angiotensin system and oxidative stress, acting via the Na+–K+‐ATPase α1‐subunit in the proximal tubule, which appears to pump intracellular Na+ into the extracellular space, increasing Na+ reabsorption and blood pressure. Targeting the Na+–K+‐ATPase α1‐subunit might provide a therapeutic strategy for treatment of hypertension.
Measurement of the nociceptive balance by Analgesia Nociception Index and Surgical Pleth Index during sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia.

BACKGROUND Evaluation of the nociception-anti-nociception balance during anesthesia is still challenging and routinely based on clinical criteria such as movement or vegetative response. Recently, the Analgesia Nociception Index (ANI) derived from heart rate variability and the Surgical Pleth Index (SPI) derived from photoplethysmographic signal were introduced for quantification of the analgesic component of anesthesia. METHODS After obtaining informed consent, we studied twenty-four patients (ASA I-II) scheduled for elective surgery during induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane and a stepwise increase of remifentanil effect site concentrations. Insertion of a laryngeal mask, tetanic stimulations as well as tracheal intubation were studied as nociceptive events. RESULTS A total of 120 events were analysed. Both ANI and SPI enabled consistent detection of nociceptive events by significant changes (∆). Further, ∆ANI and ∆SPI significantly indicated patient's movement after tetanic stimulation with a prediction probability of 0.74 and 0.84. CONCLUSION Non-invasive monitoring of ANI and SPI reflected nociceptive stimulation during sevoflurane-remifentanil anesthesia and therefore may indicate the nociception - anti-nociception balance. Whether guidance of anesthesia by these variables will improve anesthesia care during surgery needs to be further evaluated.
Agency problems and ownership structure in large private firms in the UK

This thesis investigates the relationships between ownership structure and agency costs, executive compensation and earnings management in large private firms in the UK. The study employs a sample of 1223 firms and data is collected from the FAME database and Annual Returns submitted to Companies House. The study uses a cross-sectional data set, with data from sample firms 2013 financial reports, and employs univariate tests and OLS and 2SLS regressions to test the proposed hypotheses. The findings of the agency cost study are that high and low agency cost firms differ significantly in their managerial ownership and, to a lessor extent, in their ownership concentration. Agency costs, measured by the expense ratio, are negatively related to managerial ownership. Measured by asset utilisation, agency costs are non-linearly related to managerial ownership, declining and then rising with increasing managerial ownership. There is limited evidence of a monitoring effect associated with concentrated ownership. The findings of the executive compensation study are that compensation is cubicly related to managerial ownership and is lower where ownership is highly concentrated. Compensation is sensitive to accounting performance. Pay-performance sensitivity is lower in firms in which the Managing Director is a majority shareholder and in firms in which ownership is highly concentrated. The findings of the earnings management study are that income increasing discretionary accruals, considered in isolation, are non-linearly (U-shaped) related to managerial ownership. Firms in which managerial ownership is low exhibit significantly higher income increasing discretionary accruals when firms experience a cash-flow loss or decline. A similar result is obtained using both measures of poor cash-flow performance, however the magnitude of the coefficients indicates that the effect is stronger when a cash-flow loss is experienced. In general the results show that both low and high levels of managerial ownership are associated with significant agency costs in large private firms and that concentrated ownership performs a limited monitoring role in these firms.