Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Service failure of intermediary service: impact of ambiguous locus of control

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of ambiguous Locus of Control (LOC) on customers’ evaluations after service failures in the tourism distribution channel between intermediaries (travel agents) and suppliers (hotels). A three (Locus: ambiguity, intermediary, and supplier) × two (Severity: severe versus mild) between-subject design was employed. Findings indicate that customers’ evaluations are more negative of an intermediary (travel agent) than of a supplier (hotel) when customers do not know who is at fault. In addition, when service failure is severe, consumers who do not know who is at fault (perceiving an ambiguous LOC) are more dissatisfied with the service failure than those who know who caused the failure (perceiving a clear LOC). Furthermore, customers who served themselves (self-service; high participation) are more likely to attribute service failure to a supplier than customers who were served by an intermediary (intermediary service; low participation).
Localization of cytochrome P4502E1 enzyme in normal and cancerous gastric mucosa and association with its genetic polymorphism in unoperated and remnant stomach.

BACKGROUND Exposure to nitroso compounds and the activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), an activation enzyme for these carcinogens, are important factors in gastric carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated the potential correlation between genetic variation in CYP2E1 and its enzyme expression as detected with immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and cancer susceptibility in unoperated and remnant stomach. METHODS Expression of CYP2E1 in the stomach (n=117) was detected with IHC staining using a polyclonal anti-CYP2E1 antibody. Interindividual variation in CYP2E1 enzyme activity was then compared with genetic polymorphisms in the transcriptional flanking region of the CYP2E1 gene by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) detection using the Rsa I restriction enzyme. Genetic polymorphisms of Rsa I RFLP in CYP2E1 were investigated in 499 patients with gastric cancer (466 unoperated stomachs and 33 remnant stomachs) and 553 control patients with benign gastroduodenal diseases. RESULTS Mucosal IHC staining for CYP2E1 was stronger in areas of intestinal metaplasia, particularly in endocrine cells, which stained consistently and strongly. Expression of CYP2E1 enzyme in areas of IHC staining were confirmed with Western blot analysis and showed a significant association between the degree of staining and the CYP2E1 genotype (p<0.01) in cancer tissues and in the foveolar epithelium of normal gastric mucosa. No association between specific CYP2E1 genotype and gastric cancer risk in the unoperated stomach was found in either the large study or the age- and gender-matched case-control study. However, the frequency of rare alleles (C1/C2 or C2/C2) was significantly higher in patients with cancer in the remnant stomach following gastrectomy than in controls subjects without cancer (odds ratio=2.8, 95% confidence interval=1.3-5.8) or those with primary gastric cancer (odds ratio=2.6, 95% confidence interval=1.3-5.5). CONCLUSIONS CYP2E1 genetic polymorphisms might correlate with CYP2E1 enzyme expression levels in normal and cancerous gastric tissues. These polymorphisms do not influence the development of primary stomach cancer but may do so in specific conditions, such as the remnant stomach after gastrectomy.
Environmental factors related to the occurrence of oral clefts in a Brazilian subpopulation

Background: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Craniofacial Rehabilitation Center in the General Hospital of the University of Cuiabα, Cuiabα city, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Materials and Methods: Poisson regression model was used to analyze the relationship between antenatal factors and the occurrence of oral clefts in 116 patients. Results: Oral clefts were more common in males (64.66%) and White race (46.02%). The mean age of the children was 21.91 months. The most common type of cleft was cleft lip and palate (CLP, 55.17%). Maternal and paternal smoking in the first trimester of pregnancy and parity were significantly associated with the occurrence of CLP. Parent′s age, educational level, and occupation did not interfere in the occurrence of oral clefts. There was also no significant association between maternal illness, medication use, alcohol consumption, and maternal exposure to chemicals in the first trimester of pregnancy and the occurrence of clefts in this population. Conclusion: The analysis of the environmental factors present during the pregnancy of children with oral clefts revealed a significant association between parity (second onward), maternal smoking, and paternal smoking and the occurrence of CL and/or palate in this population.
Multiple Antibody Lineages in One Donor Target the Glycan-V3 Supersite of the HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein and Display a Preference for Quaternary Binding

ABSTRACT One of the goals of HIV-1 vaccine development is the elicitation of neutralizing antibodies against vulnerable regions on the envelope glycoprotein (Env) viral spike. Broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the Env glycan-V3 region (also called the N332 glycan supersite) have been described previously, with several single lineages each derived from different individual donors. We used a high-throughput B-cell culture method to isolate neutralizing antibodies from an HIV-1-infected donor with high serum neutralization breadth. Clonal relatives from three distinct antibody lineages were isolated. Each of these antibody lineages displayed modest breadth and potency but shared several characteristics with the well-characterized glycan-V3 antibodies, including dependence on glycans N332 and N301, VH4 family gene utilization, a heavy chain complementarity-determining region 2 (CDRH2) insertion, and a longer-than-average CDRH3. In contrast to previously described glycan-V3 antibodies, these antibodies preferentially recognized the native Env trimer compared to monomeric gp120. These data indicate the diversity of antibody specificities that target the glycan-V3 site. The quaternary binding preference of these antibodies suggests that that their elicitation likely requires the presentation of a native-like trimeric Env immunogen. IMPORTANCE Broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting the HIV-1 glycan-V3 region with single lineages from individual donors have been described previously. Here we describe three lineages from a single donor, each of which targets glycan-V3. Unlike previously described glycan-V3 antibodies, these mature antibodies bind preferentially to the native Env trimer and weakly to the gp120 monomer. These data extend our knowledge of the immune response recognition of the N332 supersite region and suggest that the mode of epitope recognition is more complex than previously anticipated.
Lactoferrin enhances hydroxyl radical production by human neutrophils, neutrophil particulate fractions, and an enzymatic generating system.

During phagocytosis, neutrophils take oxygen from the surrounding medium and convert it to superoxide anion (O2-) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Hydroxyl radical (.OH), a particularly potent oxidant, is believed to be produced by interaction between O2- and H2O2 in the presence of iron, according to the Haber-Weiss reactions. Production of . OH by whole human neutrophils, by particulate fractions from human neutrophils disrupted after stimulation, and by a xanthine oxidase system was measured by conversion of alpha-keto-gamma-methiol butyric acid to ethylene. FeCl3 or ferric EDTA enhanced ethylene production in all three systems by 155--406% of base line at a concentration of 50--100 microM. Iron-saturated human milk lactoferrin, 100 nM, increased ethylene generation by 127--296%; and purified human neutrophil lactoferrin, 10 nM, enhanced ethylene production by 167--369%. Thus, iron bound to lactoferrin was approximately 5,000 times more effective in producing an enhancement in ethylene generation than iron derived from FeCl3 or ferric EDTA. O2- and H2O2 were required for ethylene production in the presence of lactoferrin, since superoxide dismutase inhibited ethylene formation in the three systems by 76--97% and catalase inhibited by 76--98%. Ethylene production in the presence of lactoferrin was inhibited by the . OH scavengers mannitol, benzoate, and thiourea by 43--85, 45--94, and 76--96%, respectively. Thus, most of the ethylene production could be attributed to oxidation of alpha-keto-gamma-methiol butyric acid by . OH. The ability of neutrophil lactoferrin to provide iron efficiently to the oxygen radical-generating systems is compatible with a role for lactoferrin as regulator of . OH production. As such, lactoferrin may be an important component in the microbicidal activity of neutrophils.
Efficient Routing Strategy for Congestion Avoidance in MANETs

Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) consists of different wireless nodes that can move in a random fashion with the capability to join or leave the network anytime. MANETs can be used in disaster and relief, mobile surveillance and military operations. During information exchange, a large number of messages are transmitted that can cause congestion to block the transmission of emergency messages. Congestion avoidance is a challenging issue due to mobility and hence dynamic topology of MANETs. In this paper we present an AODV based mechanism to avoid congestion before happening. In proposed scheme, the current bandwidth consumption is estimated to adjust according to available bandwidth. Feedback is provided to source node about current network state according to which source node adjust its data rate. We have simulated the scenario by using NS 2.35 using TCL and C language. Results are extracted from trace files using Perl scripts. Our schemes proves the dominance over preliminaries in terms of packet delivery ratio and throughput.
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Matrix Protein Impairs CD1d-Mediated Antigen Presentation through Activation of the p38 MAPK Pathway

ABSTRACT Natural killer T (NKT) cells are unique T lymphocytes that recognize CD1d-bound lipid antigens and play an important role in both innate and acquired immune responses against infectious diseases and tumors. We have already shown that a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection results in the rapid inhibition of murine CD1d-mediated antigen presentation to NKT cells. In the present study, it was found that the VSV matrix (VSV-M) protein is an important element in this decrease in antigen presentation postinfection. The VSV-M protein altered the intracellular distribution of murine CD1d molecules, resulting in qualitative (but not quantitative) changes in cell surface CD1d expression. The M protein was distributed throughout the infected cell, and it was found to activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 very early postinfection. Infection of CD1d+ cells with a temperature-sensitive VSV-M mutant at the nonpermissive temperature both substantially reversed the inhibition of antigen presentation by CD1d and delayed the activation of p38. Thus, the VSV-M protein plays an important role in permitting the virus to evade important components of the innate immune response by regulating specific MAPK pathways.
A multi-biomarker disease activity score tracks clinical response consistently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with different anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies: A retrospective observational study

Abstract Objectives. To assess the ability of a multi-biomarker disease activity (MBDA) score to track clinical response in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with different TNF inhibitors. Methods. The study included 147 patients who had received adalimumab, etanercept, or infliximab for a year or more, during routine clinical care at the University Hospital of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan. MBDA scores and clinical measures of disease activity were evaluated at baseline and, after 24 weeks (N = 84) and 52 weeks of treatment. Relationships between the changes (∆) in MBDA score and changes in clinical measures or EULAR response categories were evaluated. Results. The median disease activity was 5.7 by DAS28-ESR and 64 by MBDA score at baseline, and decreased significantly with treatment. ∆MBDA scores over 1 year correlated with ∆DAS28-ESR (r = 0.48) and ∆DAS28-CRP (r = 0.46). Linear relationships between ∆MBDA scores and ∆DAS28-ESR or ∆DAS28-CRP were not significantly different between TNF inhibitors. The MBDA scores declined significantly more in good responders (median change: –29) than moderate (–21), and more in moderate than in non-responders (+ 2), by the EULAR criteria. Conclusions. MBDA scores tracked disease activity and treatment response in patients with RA treated with three TNF inhibitors. The relationships between ∆MBDA scores and ∆DAS28-ESR or ∆DAS28-CRP were consistent across the three TNF inhibitor groups.
Genome-wide analysis of long noncoding RNA stability

Transcriptomic analyses have identified tens of thousands of intergenic, intronic, and cis-antisense long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are expressed from mammalian genomes. Despite progress in functional characterization, little is known about the post-transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs and their half-lives. Although many are easily detectable by a variety of techniques, it has been assumed that lncRNAs are generally unstable, but this has not been examined genome-wide. Utilizing a custom noncoding RNA array, we determined the half-lives of ∼800 lncRNAs and ∼12,000 mRNAs in the mouse Neuro-2a cell line. We find only a minority of lncRNAs are unstable. LncRNA half-lives vary over a wide range, comparable to, although on average less than, that of mRNAs, suggestive of complex metabolism and widespread functionality. Combining half-lives with comprehensive lncRNA annotations identified hundreds of unstable (half-life < 2 h) intergenic, cis-antisense, and intronic lncRNAs, as well as lncRNAs showing extreme stability (half-life > 16 h). Analysis of lncRNA features revealed that intergenic and cis-antisense RNAs are more stable than those derived from introns, as are spliced lncRNAs compared to unspliced (single exon) transcripts. Subcellular localization of lncRNAs indicated widespread trafficking to different cellular locations, with nuclear-localized lncRNAs more likely to be unstable. Surprisingly, one of the least stable lncRNAs is the well-characterized paraspeckle RNA Neat1, suggesting Neat1 instability contributes to the dynamic nature of this subnuclear domain. We have created an online interactive resource (http://stability.matticklab.com) that allows easy navigation of lncRNA and mRNA stability profiles and provides a comprehensive annotation of ∼7200 mouse lncRNAs.
Characterization of Deletion and Truncation Mutants of the Rat Glucagon Receptor

Glucagon receptor mutants were characterized with the aim of elucidating minimal structural requirements for proper biosynthesis, ligand binding, and adenylyl cyclase coupling. One N-terminal deletion mutant and five truncation mutants with progressively shorter C termini were expressed in transiently transfected monkey kidney (COS-1) cells. Each truncation mutant was designed so that the truncated C-terminal tail would remain on the cytoplasmic surface of the receptor. In order to characterize the cellular location of the expressed receptor mutants, a highly specific, high affinity antipeptide antibody was prepared against the extracellular, N-terminal tail of the receptor. Immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy showed that the presence of all seven putative transmembrane segments, but not an intact N-terminal tail, was required for cell surface expression of the receptor. Membranes from cells expressing receptor mutants lacking a large portion of the N-terminal tail or any of the seven putative transmembrane segments failed to bind glucagon. Membranes from cells expressing the C-terminal tail truncation mutants, which retained all seven transmembrane segments, bound glucagon with affinities similar to that of the native receptor and activated cellular adenylyl cyclase in response to glucagon. These results indicate that all seven helices are necessary for the proper folding and processing of the glucagon receptor. Glycosylation is not required for the receptor to reach the cell surface, and it may not be required for ligand binding. However, the N-terminal extracellular portion of the receptor is required for ligand binding. Most of the distal C-terminal tail is not necessary for ligand binding, and the absence of the tail may increase slightly the receptor binding affinity for glucagon. The C-terminal tail is also not necessary for adenylyl cyclase coupling and therefore does not play a direct role in G protein (G) activation by the glucagon receptor.
A Review of Anti-Corruption Wars in Nigeria

Corruption still subsists as one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria. The existence of this phenomenon in virtually all aspects of the nation’s socio-economic life is said to be one reason why poverty level remains high irrespective of her position as the six highest suppliers of oil to the whole wide world, and a possessor of numerous other human and natural resources. A recent attempt by the Federal Government of Nigeria to curb this societal ill led to the establishment of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices & Related Offences Commission (ICPC) among others bodies. This paper historically explores the anti-corruption war in Nigeria and specifically zeros itself to review EFCC’s role in this war. The methodology adopted in this paper is the narrative-textual case study (NTCS), a research method that sources the required quantitative and qualitative secondary data on the phenomenon of study from secondary sources like the internet, World Wide Web, online databases, e-libraries et cetera. On the strength of the qualitative data sourced, it was discovered that the agency has made some successes but is being hindered by political, administrative and judicial bureaucracy from efficient performance. The paper therefore boldly recommends that transparency be enshrined into all aspect Nigerian political and administrative life and extant anti-graft laws be reviewed, harmonized and strengthened to enhance the effectiveness of fight against corruption and breach of corporate governance ethics by those holding political and non-political positions in Nigeria.
Proton MRS of early post‐natal mouse brain modifications in vivo

NMR provides a non‐invasive tool for the phenotypic characterisation of mouse models. The aim of the present study was to apply reliable in vivo MRS techniques for non‐invasive investigations of brain development in normal and transgenic mice, by monitoring metabolite concentrations in different brain regions. The conditions of anaesthesia, immobilisation and respiratory monitoring were optimized to carry out in vivo MRS studies in young mice. All the experiments were performed in normal mice, at 9.4 T, applying a point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence (TR = 2000 ms; TE = 130 ms). We obtained reproducible in vivo 1H NMR spectra of wild‐type mouse brains as early as post‐natal day 5, which allowed us to follow brain maturation variations from post‐natal days 5 to 21. The survival rate of animals was between 66 and 90% at post‐natal days 5 and 21, respectively. Developmental changes of metabolite concentrations were measured in three brain regions: the thalamus, a region rich in cell bodies, the olfactory bulb, rich in fibre tracts actively myelinated during brain maturation, and the cerebellum. The voxel size varied from 2 to 8 µL according to the size of the brain structure analysed. The absolute concentrations of the total creatine, taurine, total choline, N‐acetylaspartate and of the glutamate/glutamine pool were determined from 1H NMR spectra obtained in the different brain regions at post‐natal day 5, 10, 15 and 21. Variations observed during brain development were in accordance with those previously reported in mice using ex vivo MRS studies, and also in rats and humans in vivo. Possibilities of longitudinal MRS analysis in maturing mice brains provide new perspectives to characterise better the tremendous number of transgenic mutant mice generated with the aim of decrypting the complexity of brain development and neurodegenerative diseases but also to follow the impact of environmental and therapeutic factors. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characteristics Analysis of a Coaxial Cavity With a Misaligned Inner Rod

The effects of a small misalignment of the inner rod in a coaxial cavity on the cutoff frequencies and the ohmic quality factors of TE modes are investigated. For axially symmetric modes, the cutoff frequencies decrease and the ohmic quality factors increase when the misalignment of the inner rod increases. The effects are more noticeable for axially symmetric modes with a larger radial index and coaxial cavities with a larger ratio of the inner and outer radii. For axially asymmetric modes, there exists a critical value near the caustic radius. When the inner rod radius is smaller than the critical value, the cutoff frequencies are slightly affected by the misalignment, and the ohmic quality factors decrease with the increase of the misalignment. When the inner rod radius is greater than the critical value, the cutoff frequencies and the ohmic quality factors increase with the increase of the misalignment, and the effects are more noticeable for a larger inner rod radius.
Excitation of hippocampal pyramidal cells by glutamate in the guinea‐pig and rat.

1. The mechanism by which L‐glutamic acid depolarizes hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurones was investigated by using the in vitro slice and ionophoretic techniques. 2. Two types of responses were seen. One (in 85% of cells) consisted of spike discharges that outlasted the glutamate‐induced depolarization. In the other (the rest of the cells), spikes were produced only during the rising phase of the depolarization. 3. The effect was highly localized; it disappeared when the ionophoretic electrode was moved vertically by as little as 20 micrometers. 4. The effect of glutamate persisted after synaptic transmission was blocked; this probably was due to a direct effect of glutamate on the cell membrane. 5. Small doses of glutamate produced either no change or an apparent increase in input resistance. With larger doses, the input resistance invariably decreased. The apparent increase in input resistance was not seen in cells treated with Mn2+ and TTX and is believed to be an effect of the depolarization rather than a direct effect of glutamate. 6. By extrapolation, the reversal potential for the glutamate response (EGlu) was found to ‐3.6 mV. 7. Following intracellular injection of Cs+, neurones could be depolarized to a range of +20 to +50 mV. The glutamate response could then be reversed. EGlu in these cells was ‐1.5 mV. 8. Using the Cs+‐injection technique, it was also possible to reverse the e.p.s.p. E.e.p.s.p. was similar to EGlu. 9. When the external sodium concentration was reduced, the size of the glutamate response decreased, and EGlu became more negative.