Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AIS Electronic Library (AISeL)

E-government plays an important role in providing better public services to people. Nowadays, there is an emerging trend in the e-government domain called 'whole-of-government approach' that advocates for collaborative and integrated e-government to deliver more effective and efficient services. In the Philippines, most of government e-services remain in isolated silos and agency-specific applications. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how can government e-services in the Philippines be integrated using the whole-of-government approach. Drawing upon the literature, we propose an interoperability framework base on service-oriented architecture (SOA) which is going to be validated using qualitative research methods. This study contributes to the e-government interoperability literature by exploring how e-government be integrated in the context of the Philippines.
IgV gene intraclonal diversification and clonal evolution in B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Intraclonal diversification of immunoglobulin (Ig) variable (V) genes was evaluated in leukaemic cells from a B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B‐CLL) case over a 2‐year period at four time points. Intraclonal heterogeneity was analysed by sequencing 305 molecular clones derived from polymerase chain reaction amplification of B‐CLL cell IgV heavy (H) and light (C) chain gene rearrangements. Sequences were compared with evaluating intraclonal variation and the nature of somatic mutations. Although IgV intraclonal variation was detected at all time points, its level decreased with time and a parallel emergence of two more represented VHDJH clones was observed. They differed by nine nucleotide substitutions one of which only caused a conservative replacement aminoacid change. In addition, one VLJL rearrangement became more represented over time. Analyses of somatic mutations suggest antigen selection and impairment of negative selection of neoplastic cells. In addition, a genealogical tree representing a model of clonal evolution of the neoplastic cells was created. It is of note that, during the period of study, the patient showed clinical progression of disease. We conclude that antigen stimulation and somatic hypermutation may participate in disease progression through the selection and expansion of neoplastic subclone(s).
Clinical features, risk factors, and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis in Tehran, Iran

Introduction: Despite increasing the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) has remained an under-diagnosed condition. In this study, characteristics and frequency of various risk factors of CVST patients in a tertiary referral hospital were closely assessed. Methods: Patients with an unequivocal diagnosis of CVST confirmed by MRI and magnetic resonance venography during 6 years of the study were included. All data from the onset of symptoms regarding clinical signs and symptoms, hospital admission, seasonal distribution, medical and drug history, thrombophilic profile, D-dimer, neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid findings, mortality, and outcome were collected and closely analyzed. Result: A total of 53 patients with female to male ratio of 3.07 and mean age of 33.7 years were included in the study. Headache and papilledema were the most frequent clinical features (44 and 36 patients, respectively). An underlying disease (diagnosed previously or after admission) was the most common identified risk factor for CVST in both females and males (21 patients). A total of 15 women used the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) where 12 of them had simultaneously other predisposing factors. Overall, 19 patients (36%) had more than one contributing factor. D-dimer had a sensitivity of 71.4% in CVST patients. The mortality of patients in this study was 3.7% (n = 2). Focal neurologic deficit and multicranial nerve palsy were associated with poor outcome which defined as death, recurrence, and massive intracranial hemorrhage due to anticoagulation (P = 0.050 and 0.004, respectively). Conclusion: Unlike most of the CVST studies in which OCP was the main factor; in this study, an underlying disease was the most identified cause. Considering the high probability of multiple risk factors in CVST that was shown by this study, appropriate work up should be noted to uncover them.
Stability of two Ca2+-dependent neutral proteinases and their specific inhibitor during post-mortem storage of rabbit skeletal muscle.

The variation in the amounts of the two forms of Calcium Activated Neutral Proteinase (high Ca2+ requiring and low Ca2+ requiring forms) and their specific inhibitor was determined during storage of skeletal muscle at 4°C for 0, 1, 3 and 6 days. Whereas the activity of the high Ca2+ requiring form remained nearly constant during this period, there was a progressive decrease in the levels of both the low Ca2+ requiring form and the specific inhibitor. The effect of different Ca2+ concentration on the two purified forms of the enzyme in the presence and absence of the inhibitor was also examined. Both enzyme forms were labile to preincubation at 30°C without inhibitor in 3 mmol litre−1 Ca2+ whereas in 50 μmol litre−1 Ca2+ only the low Ca2+ requiring form was inactivated, i.e. at a concentration which can be reached in muscle cells during contraction or after death of the animal. When the specific inhibitor was added, preincubation in 3 mmol litre−1 Ca2+ did not affect either enzyme form since they were found to retain full activity on subsequent removal of the inhibitor. A possible role for the Calcium Activated Neutral Proteinases in the development of meat tenderness is discussed.
Stress distribution pattern in a root of maxillary central incisor having various root morphologies: a finite element study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate stress distribution in the roots of maxillary central incisors bearing various types of root morphologies with regard to application of different types of orthodontic forces using the finite element model (FEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS FEMs of maxillary central incisors with different root morphologies (normal, short, blunt, dilacerated, and pipette) were constructed, and orthodontic forces in various directions (intrusion, extrusion, tipping, and rotational) were applied to the tooth axis at the bracket level. RESULT On application of various forces, significantly increased stress was seen at the apex of the root with dilacerated morphology and at the cervical one-third region of the tooth with the short root. Increased stress was observed at the middle one-third region in the tooth with the pipette-shaped root during intrusion and extrusion. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, the stress distribution pattern indicates that the maxillary central incisors with deviated root morphology are at higher risk of root resorption.
Purification and characterization of lipoxygenase from Pleurotus ostreatus.

Lipoxygenase was purified homogeneously from cups of Pleurotus ostreatus by Sephacryl S-400 HR gel filtration, Dyematrex Green A affinity, and DEAE-Toyopearl 650M ion-exchange chromatographies. The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be 67,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and 66,000 by gel filtration; the isoelectric point was pH 5.1. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzymatic activity were 8.0 and 25 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme contained non-heme iron, and a thiol group seemed to be involved in its activity. The K(m), V(max), and k(cat) values of the enzyme for linoleic acid were 0.13 mM, 23.4 micromol.min(-1). mg(-1), and 25.7 s(-1), respectively. The enzyme showed high specificity toward linoleic acid. When linoleic acid was incubated with the enzyme, 13-hydroperoxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid was found to be the main oxidative product.
CNVD: Text mining‐based copy number variation in disease database

Copy number variation (CNV) is a kind of chromosomal structural reorganization that has been detected, in this decade, mainly by high‐throughput biological technology. Researchers have found that CNVs are ubiquitous in many species and accumulating evidence indicates that CNVs are closely related with complex diseases. The investigation of chromosomal structural alterations has begun to reveal some important clues to the pathologic causes of diseases and to the disease process. However, many of the published studies have focused on a single disease and, so far, the experimental results have not been systematically collected or organized. Manual text mining from 6301 published papers was used to build the Copy Number Variation in Disease database (CNVD). CNVD contains CNV information for 792 diseases in 22 species from diverse types of experiments, thus, ensuring high confidence and comprehensive representation of the relationship between the CNVs and the diseases. In addition, multiple query modes and visualized results are provided in the CNVD database. With its user‐friendly interface and the integrated CNV information for different diseases, CNVD will offer a truly comprehensive platform for disease research based on chromosomal structural variations. The CNVD interface is accessible at http://bioinfo.hrbmu. edu.cn/CNVD. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
ENCAPSULATION OF MYXOBOLUS PENDULA (MYXOSPORIDIA) BY EPITHELIOID CELLS OF ITS CYPRINID HOST SEMOTILUS ATROMACULATUS

Spores of Myxobolus pendula develop within the cores of complex cysts on the gill arch of creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus. Adjacent to, and surrounding, the spores are concentric layers of stratified interdigitating cells, whose nature was examined by transmission electron microscopy and by immunohistochemical and molecular biological techniques. In situ hybridization data using parasite-derived ribosomal DNA as a probe indicate that infection leads to the encapsulation of developing plasmodia by host immune cells that form an epithelioid granuloma. Epithelioid cell–cell adhesion is effected by desmosomes anchored intracellularly to cytokeratin intermediate filaments. High levels of alkaline phosphatase activity are associated with regions of cellular interdigitation. The granuloma may serve to limit the spread of the parasite to surrounding tissues but does not appear to inhibit diffusion of oxygen and nutrients to the developing spores.
Discovery of a functional protein complex of netrin-4, laminin γ1 chain, and integrin α6β1 in mouse neural stem cells

Molecular and cellular interactions coordinating the origin and fate of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult brain are far from being understood. We present a protein complex that controls proliferation and migration of adult NSCs destined for the mouse olfactory bulb (OB). Combinatorial selection based on phage display technology revealed a previously unrecognized complex between the soluble protein netrin-4 and laminin γ1 subunit that in turn activates an α6β1 integrin-mediated signaling pathway in NSCs. Differentiation of NSCs is accompanied by a decrease in netrin-4 receptors, indicating that netrin-4 participates in the continual propagation of this stem cell population. Notably, the stem cells themselves do not synthesize netrin-4. Further, we show that netrin-4 is produced by selected GFAP-positive astrocytes positioned close to newborn neurons migrating in the anterior part of the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and within the OB. Our findings present a unique molecular mechanism mediating astrocytic/neuronal crosstalk that regulates ongoing neurogenesis in the adult olfactory system.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids as a Treatment for Perinatal Depression: Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective: Epidemiological, biological marker and treatment studies, as well as neuroscientific theories, indicate a possible link between omega-3 fatty acids and perinatal depression (PND). Hence the aim of the present study was to assess whether omega-3 fatty acid treatment is superior to placebo in the treatment of PND. Method: A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial was undertaken. Women with major depression during the perinatal period received either fish oil or placebo for six weeks. Changes in depression scores were recorded weekly. Results: A total of 26 subjects were recruited and there was no significant difference in depression scores between those receiving fish oil and those receiving the placebo. Conclusions: This is formally a negative study, suggesting that there is no benefit for omega-3 fatty acids over placebo in treating PND. The reason could be that the study was underpowered due to recruitment difficulties and therefore we suggest that it may be unwise to interpret this result as conclusive. Omega-3 is a natural product that is a safe and well-tolerated treatment. Further research is therefore needed in this area to establish whether omega-3 fatty acids are an effective treatment for PND.
Acute aminoglycoside retinal toxicity in vivo and in vitro.

PURPOSE Intentional and inadvertent intraocular administration of aminoglycosides is associated with cases of retinal toxicity. Clinical manifestations resemble a vaso-occlusive event and include edema, intraretinal hemorrhage, and nonperfusion detected by fluorescein angiogram. This study was conducted to measure the retinal function in avascular and isolated perfused retinas to separate vascular and neurologic effects of gentamicin. Enhanced understanding of the mechanism of gentamicin toxicity may lead to development of aminoglycosides that can be used to treat ophthalmic infections without retinal damage. METHODS Whole animals and isolated rabbit and rat retina preparations were used to study the dose dependence and reversibility of toxicity on the ERG, with a 1- and a 10-mg/mL solution of gentamicin. The amplitude and implicit times of the a-, b-, and c-waves were measured before, during, and after exposure to the drug. RESULTS In whole-animal ERG studies, intraocular administration of gentamicin eliminated the b-wave but left the a-wave intact. The c-wave was reduced in amplitude. Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated diffuse disruption of the nerve fiber layer and the inner plexiform layers. Isolated retinal studies showed that the b-wave was reduced in amplitude in the presence of low-dose gentamicin (1 mg/mL) and completely eliminated by high-dose gentamicin (10 mg/mL). This effect was reversible for short-term exposure to gentamicin. CONCLUSIONS The results indicate that the initial loss of function due to exposure to aminoglycoside antibiotics is independent of the vascular supply. Elimination of the b-wave was dose dependent and reversible, indicating that a component of gentamicin toxicity is mediated through pathways other than vascular supply. Short-term effects are reversible, suggesting a receptor-mediated process.
RTG‐dependent mitochondria to nucleus signaling is negatively regulated by the seven WD‐repeat protein Lst8p

In cells with reduced mitochondrial function, RTG1, 2 and 3 are required for expression of genes involved in glutamate synthesis. Glutamate negatively regulates RTG‐dependent gene expression upstream of Rtg2p, which, in turn, acts upstream of the bHLH/Zip transcription factors, Rtg1p and Rtg3p. Here we report that some mutations [lst8‐(2–5)] in LST8, an essential gene encoding a seven WD40‐repeat protein required for targeting of amino acid permeases (AAPs) to the plasma membrane, bypass the requirement for Rtg2p and abolish glutamate repression of RTG‐dependent gene expression. The lst8‐1 mutation, however, which reduces plasma membrane expression of AAP, cannot bypass the Rtg2p requirement, but still suppresses glutamate repression of RTG target gene expression. We show that Lst8p negatively regulates RTG gene function, acting at two sites, one upstream of Rtg2p, affecting glutamate repression of RTG‐dependent gene expression through Ssy1p, an AAP‐like sensor of external amino acids, and the other between Rtg2p and Rtg1p–Rtg3p. These data, together with genome‐wide transcription profiling, reveal pathways regulated by glutamate, and provide insight into the regulation of cellular responses to mitochondrial dysfunction.
International Randomized Clinical Trial ,

Background. Feedback about performance may optimize motor relearning after stroke. Objectives. Develop an international collaboration to rapidly test the potential efficacy of daily verbal feedback about walking speed during inpatient rehabilitation after stroke, using a protocol that requires no research funds. Methods. This phase 2, single-blinded, multicenter trial randomized inpatients to either feedback about self-selected fast walking speed (daily reinforcement of speed, DRS) immediately after a single, daily 10-m walk or to no reinforcement of speed (NRS) after the walk, performed within the context of routine physical therapy. The primary outcome was velocity for a 15.2-m (50-foot) timed walk at discharge. Secondary outcomes were walking distance in 3 minutes, length of stay (LOS), and level of independence (Functional Ambulation Classification, FAC). Results. Within 18 months, 179 participants were randomized. The groups were balanced for age, gender, time from onset of stroke to entry, initial velocity, and level of walking-related disability. The walking speed at discharge for DRS (0.91 m/s) was greater (P = .01) than that for NRS (0.72 m/s). No difference was found for LOS. LOS for both DRS and NRS was significantly shorter, however, for those who had mean walking speeds >0.4 m/s at entry. The DRS group did not have a higher proportion of FAC independent walkers (P = .1) and did not walk longer distances (P = .09). Conclusions. An Internet-based collaboration of 18 centers found that feedback about performance once a day produced gains in walking speed large enough to permit unlimited, slow community ambulation at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.
THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS (IFRS) ADOPTION ON FINANCIAL REPORTING PRACTICE IN THE NIGERIAN BANKING SECTOR

At the centre of the plethora of corporate scandals that have plagued corporate entities are fraudulent financial reporting practices. Against this backdrop, proponents of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) have more strongly argued for the internationalisation of the adoption of the standards, as a panacea for curbing or mitigating these financial reporting infractions. Ranging from increased comparability to better decision making, the importance of IFRS cannot be over emphasised. It is to this end that this study evaluates the impact of IFRS on Financial Reporting Practices with focus on the Nigerian Banking Sector. The specific objective of this paper is to determine whether the quantitative differences in the financial reports prepared by Nigerian listed banks under NGAAP and IAS/IFRS are statistically significant or not. Secondary data were employed in this study. These data were gleaned from the annual reports of fourteen Nigerian listed banks. One hypothesis was developed and tested at five (5) per cent level of significance. Findings revealed that the quantitative differences in the financial reports prepared under NGAAP and IAS/IFRS are statistically significant. The study therefore concludes that IFRS have impacted on financial reporting in the Nigerian Banking sector.
Effect of infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus on pulmonary clearance of an inhaled antigen in calves.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of infection with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) on clearance of inhaled antigens from the lungs of calves. ANIMALS Eleven 6- to 8-week-old Holstein bull calves. PROCEDURES Aerosolized (99m)technetium ((99m)Tc)-labeled diethylene triamine pentacetate (DTPA; 3 calves), commonly used to measure integrity of the pulmonary epithelium, and (99m)Tc-labeled ovalbumin (OA; 8 calves), commonly used as a prototype allergen, were used to evaluate pulmonary clearance before, during, and after experimentally induced infection with BRSV or sham inoculation with BRSV. Uptake in plasma (6 calves) and lung-efferent lymph (1 calf) was examined. RESULTS Clearance of (99m)Tc-DTPA was significantly increased during BRSV infection; clearance of (99m)Tc-OA was decreased on day 7 after inoculation. Clearance time was correlated with severity of clinical disease, and amounts of (99m)Tc-OA in plasma and lymph were inversely correlated with clearance time. Minimum amounts of (99m)Tc-OA were detected at time points when pulmonary clearance of (99m)Tc-OA was most delayed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE BRSV caused infection of the respiratory tract with peak signs of clinical disease at 7 or 8 days after inoculation. Concurrently, there was a diminished ability to move inhaled protein antigen out of the lungs. Prolonged exposure to inhaled antigens during BRSV infection may enhance antigen presentation with consequent allergic sensitization and development of chronic inflammatory lung disease. IMPACT FOR HUMAN MEDICINE Infection of humans with respiratory syncytial virus early after birth is associated with subsequent development of allergic asthma. Results for BRSV infection in these calves suggested a supportive mechanism for this scenario.
Basal ganglia involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objectives: To characterize the nature and extent of basal ganglia involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) genotypes in vivo. Methods: Forty-four healthy controls and 39 patients with ALS were included in the study. Thirty patients with ALS had a negative C9orf72 status and 9 patients with ALS carried the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. High-resolution T1-weighted MRI data were used for model-based subcortical registration and segmentation. Fifteen subcortical structures were studied with both volumetric and vertex-wise approaches. Changes in basal ganglia diffusivity parameters were also assessed. Results: Using age as a covariate, patients with ALS who were C9orf72 repeat negative showed significant volume reductions in the left caudate nucleus (p = 0.01), left hippocampus (p = 0.007), and right accumbens nucleus (p = 0.001) compared with healthy controls. Vertex-wise shape analyses revealed changes affecting the superior and inferior aspects of the bilateral thalami, the lateral and inferior portion of the left hippocampus, and the medial and superior aspect of the left caudate. Basal ganglia pathology was more extensive in patients with ALS carrying the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. Conclusions: ALS is associated with widespread basal ganglia involvement. Caudate nucleus, hippocampus, and nucleus accumbens atrophy are key features of ALS. Dysfunction of frontostriatal networks is likely to contribute to the unique neuropsychological profile of ALS, dominated by executive dysfunction, apathy, and deficits in social cognition. Our quantitative imaging findings are consistent with postmortem studies and indicate that subcortical gray matter structures should be included in future biomarker studies of ALS.