Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Indole-3-carbinol and beta-naphthoflavone induction of aflatoxin B1 metabolism and cytochromes P-450 associated with bioactivation and detoxication of aflatoxin B1 in the rat.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a highly hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic secondary metabolite of the grain mold Aspergillus flavus and related fungi. Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), found in cruciferous vegetables, can both inhibit and promote AFB1-induced carcinogenesis. We have examined the influence of dietary treatment with I3C and the well-known Ah receptor agonist beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) on the relative levels of different cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoforms known to metabolize AFB1 in male Fischer 344 rats. After 7 days of feeding 0.2% I3C or 0.04% BNF, alone or in combination, the relative levels of hepatic CYP1A1, 1A2, 2B1/2, 2C11, and 3A were assessed by laser densitometry of Western blots. Both diets containing I3C markedly increased band densities of CYP1A1 (up to 24-fold), 1A2 (3.1-fold), and 3A1/2 (3.8-fold), and had lesser effects on the levels of 2B1/2 (1.8-fold) and no effect on CYP2C11. BNF also strongly increased band densities of CYP1A1 (12-fold) and 1A2 (2.7-fold), but had no effect on the levels of CYP2B1/2 or 3A1/2 band densities, and repressed those of CYP2C11 (2-fold). In addition, we examined the in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of AFB1 at 16, 124, and 512 microM substrate levels. Diets containing I3C elevated initial rates of AFM1 (a detoxication product) production 18.6- to 19.2-fold over control at 16 microM AFB1, which declined to 7.8- to 9.5-fold at 512 microM AFB1. The BNF-only diet gave similar, but less dramatic effects (5.9-fold at 16 microM AFB1, 3.5-fold at 512 microM AFB1). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Macroeconomic Performance and External Shocks on Small, Open Economies: The Caribbean Experience

The Caribbean countries are small, open, export-dependent economies, and as such their economic fortunes are inextricably tied to the strength of the international economy. External shocks on small, open economies can lead to booms and busts in employment and output, balance-of-payments crises, exchange-rate instability, reallocation in resources, and even "Dutch" disease. The external shocks of the 1970s and 1980s have been severe for developing countries. The 1973-74 and 1979-80 oil crises led to an increased import bill, balance-of-payments deficits, and an accumulation of foreign debt for nearly all developing countries. In the 1 980s, the United States followed expansionary fiscal and tight monetary policies that led to an appreciating dollar, high real interest rates, and reduced capital flows to developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the macroeconomic performance of selected Caribbean countries and to provide some estimates of the costs associated with the external shocks. Whether or not the shock is transitory or permanent will influence the nature and type of policy response. This paper argues that an "outward-looking" trade regime is better suited to dealing with external shocks than an "inward-looking" one, since an outward-looking trade policy forces
Investigation of Pontiac-like illness in office workers during an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, 2008

SUMMARY In July 2008, office workers in Dublin complained of influenza-like illness preceding and interspersing two cases of notified Legionnaires' disease. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 was identified in both cooling towers supplying the office. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken to investigate possible Pontiac fever (PF). Forty-seven employees (23%) met the clinical case definition for PF but confirmatory testing was negative. Exposure to the smoking area situated beside the cooling towers was associated with an increased risk of PF (RR 2·4, 95% CI 1·5–3·8). The diagnosis of PF should be considered when many persons exposed to a possible reservoir of Legionella spp. present with flu-like symptoms. More sensitive microbiological tests would allow better confirmation and more comprehensive reporting of PF. Early detection is vital to prevent potentially severe illness and outbreaks of PF or Legionnaires' disease.
The effect of test signal type and bandwidth on the categorical scaling of loudness.

Recently several methods for obtaining clinical measures of loudness growth through the use of categorical scaling (CS) have been proposed for the selection of hearing aids. These methods use differing test signals or suggest frequency-specific level corrections in an attempt to reflect the loudness perception of hearing aid-processed speech. While some decisions regarding the stimuli utilized for loudness perception procedures are based on measured relationships to speech signals, the effect on loudness perception of changing signal type and bandwidth (as measured by CS) remains unclear. The relationships between the CS loudness growth of signals of differing type, (pure tones, noise bands, filtered/temporally inverted/passband speech) and bandwidth were examined for subjects with both normal and impaired hearing. Results suggest that when the bandwidth is similar (e.g., pure tone and 1/3 oct), signal type does not have significant bearing on loudness perception. As expected, increasing the bandwidth beyond the critical band affected loudness growth, as wideband speech stimuli were judged to be significantly louder than narrow-band speech at equivalent overall sound levels. In this investigation, similar loudness growth patterns were noted across category ratings for all test signal bandwidths. In contrast, loudness growth data obtained using an intelligible speech signal [Cox et al., The American Academy of Audiology (1994a)], revealed loudness growth patterns for speech were fundamentally different than those obtained for tones. Implications for hearing aid fitting strategies are discussed.
Transmission electron microscopic analysis of malathion-induced cytotoxicity in granulosa cells of caprine antral follicles

ABSTRACT Malathion, one of the most abundantly used organophosphate pesticides, has immoderate potency as a cytotoxic and genotoxic compound that induces toxicity in granulosa cells, resulting in its apoptosis. Thus, the present study aims to employ ultrastructural analysis for assessing the cytotoxicity of malathion at nanomolar concentrations (1 nM and 10 nM) in granulosa cells of caprine antral follicles at different exposure durations. Transmission electron microscopy revealed diminished cell–cell contact and cellular integrity, presence of crescent-shaped nucleus, chromatin condensation, and pyknosis with nuclear membrane folding, accumulation of lipid droplets with occurrence of cytoplasmic protrusions in granulosa cells treated with 1 nM malathion, whereas at 10 nM concentration, along with apoptotic attributes, prominent association of nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and lipid droplets, nucleus invagination into lipid droplets, apical localization of lipid bodies, and occurrence of autophagic body were observed as compared to healthy granulosa cells in control with normal intact cellular integrity, well-developed cellular association, and doubled membrane nuclear lamina with homogenously dispersed chromatin surrounded by intact mitochondria with well-developed cristae. Thus, the results of ultrastructural analysis clearly suggest that nanomolar concentration of malathion induces apoptotic hallmarks within the granulosa cells of antral follicles that play a consequential role in increasing the incidence of follicular atresia, thereby affecting the overall fertility.
VALUE RE-ORIENTATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Functional education is education that is of value to the learner, community and the nation. It is the education that exposes the learner to knowledge that is of value and education that equips the learner with relevant skills needed by him to be functional and productive. For national growth, education must be functional, have values and skills. In this paper, the author has attempted to present what functional education is, the lost and need for functional and value reorientation in the secondary education in Nigeria. He has discussed what are values and the core values in a functional education and how to balance them. The paper reviewed true and value-based education, how and why values got lost, and the effects of lost values in education on the lives of Nigerians and Nigeria and how to bring back those values. Finally, recommendations are made with a view to achieving them and restoring education that provide true knowledge and equips the learner with life lasting skills that would make him functional and able to contribute to the nation’s development. Value is importance, significance, worth or usefulness of an item that is real like stone or
Influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone quantity on the solubility, crystallinity and oral bioavailability of fenofibrate in solvent-evaporated microspheres

Abstract The objective of this study is to explore the influence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) quantity on the solubility, crystallinity and oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble fenofibrate in solvent-evaporated microspheres. Numerous microspheres were prepared with fenofibrate, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and PVP using the spray-drying technique. Their aqueous solubility, dissolution, physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics in rats were assessed. The drug in the solvent-evaporated microspheres composed of fenofibrate, PVP and SLS at the weight ratio of 1:0.5:0.25 was not entirely changed to the amorphous form and partially in the microcrystalline state. However, the microspheres at the weight ratio of 1:4:0.25 provided the entire conversion to the amorphous form. The latter microspheres, with an improvement of about 115 000-fold in aqueous solubility and 5.6-fold improvement in oral bioavailability compared with the drug powder, gave higher aqueous solubility and oral bioavailability compared with the former. Thus, PVP quantity played an important role in these properties of fenofibrate in the solvent-evaporated microspheres.
Acceptability of Routine HIV Testing ("Opt-Out") in Antenatal Services in Two Rural Districts of Zimbabwe

Summary: Low uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in resource-limited settings requires new approaches to prevent missed opportunities. Routine HIV testing ("opt-out" testing) in antenatal care (ANC) should be considered. An exploratory cross-sectional survey was conducted in 6 PMTCT sites in rural Zimbabwe. Women who had attended ANC in health centers where PMTCT was provided were surveyed in postnatal services. Of 520 women sampled, 285 (55%) had been HIV tested during their last pregnancy. Primary education or no education (P = 0.02), reporting receiving neither group education in the ANC clinic (P < 0.001) nor individual pretest counseling (P < 0.001), and having attended <6 ANC visits (P < 0.03) were associated with not having been HIV tested. Among the 235 women not HIV tested in ANC, 79% would accept HIV testing if opt-out testing was introduced. Factors associated with accepting the opt-out approach were being <20 years old (P = 0.005), having secondary education or more (P = 0.03), living with a partner (P = 0.001), and the existence of a PMTCT service where the untested women delivered. Thirty-seven women of 235 (16%) would decline routine HIV testing, mainly because of their fear of knowing their HIV status and the need to have their partner's consent. Among the women already tested in ANC (n = 285), 97% would accept the opt-out approach. In Zimbabwe, where 25% of pregnant women are HIV infected, introducing the opt-out strategy for HIV testing may have a far-reaching public health impact on PMTCT. Issues regarding, stigma, quality of post-testing counseling and staffing must be considered, however.
The Early Evolution of the Tetrapod Humerus

A tetrapod humerus from the Late Devonian of Pennsylvania has a novel mix of primitive and derived characters. A comparative analysis of this fossil and other relevant humeri from the Devonian shows that the role of the limb in propping the body arose first in fish fins, not tetrapod limbs. The functional diversity of the earliest known limbs includes several different kinds of appendage design. This functional diversity was achieved with a humeral architecture that was remarkably conserved during the Devonian.
Volatility Spillover of the Agriculture Sector on the Nairobi Securities Exchange

This paper investigates the existence and magnitude of volatility spillovers among equities on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. The multivariate VARMA-GARCH model is used to test for spillover effects between four broad sectors of the NSE: Agricultural, Financial, Commercial and Services and Industrial. The significance of the parameters of the model are used as an indicator of the spillover effect between sectors. Based on the empirical results, the biggest volatility spillover is from the commercial and services sector to the broad industrial sector. There are also significant spillovers from the industrial and agricultural sectors to the financial and commercial and services sectors, as well as from the financial and commercial and services sectors to the broad industrial sector.
Modeling different penetration rates of eco-driving in urban areas: Impacts on traffic flow and emissions

ABSTRACT Climate change and air quality are two main environmental challenges in metropolitan areas. As road transportation is one of the main contributors, public administrations are facing these problems with a number of complementary policy measures: shift to cleaner modes, new fuels and vehicle technologies, demand management, and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) applied to transportation. Eco-driving is one of the measures that present large fuel savings at individual level. Although these savings are well documented in the literature, few studies focus on how eco-drivers driving patterns affect the surrounding vehicles and the traffic in general, and more particularly what would be the impact when the number of eco-drivers grows. Using a traffic microsimulation tool, four models in urban context have been built, corresponding to the different types of urban roads. Both the base-case and the parameters setting to simulate eco-driving have been calibrated with real data collected through floating vehicles performing the trips with normal and eco behaviors. In total, 72 scenarios were simulated, varying the type of road, traffic demand, and the percentage of eco-drivers. Then, the CO2 and NOx emissions have been estimated through a microscopic emission model. The results show that in scenarios with low or medium demand levels and increasing number of eco-drivers, the effects are positive in terms of emissions. On the other side, with high percentage of eco-drivers and high traffic demand, the emissions rise. Higher headways and smooth acceleration and decelerations increase congestion, producing higher emissions globally.
Corporate Positioning: A Business Game Perspective

This study employs a business game as a vehicle for strategic network research applications. We examine eight runs of a business game involving 700 graduating MBA student participants and evaluate the following set of network theory characteristics employed in the game: directivity, degree distribution, neighbors, components and network resilience. An analysis of the implications that these characteristics have on performance shows that companies positioning themselves at pivotal points within the network outperform companies that do not. The findings show the applicability of network theory in a business game and indicate the potential for business games to provide a realistic environment for applied research on strategic networks.
John cunningham (JC) virus genotypes in kidney transplant recipients, rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy individuals in Isfahan, Iran

In healthy individuals John Cunningham virus is latent without any clinical signs, but in the cases of the use of immunosuppressive drugs in graft recipients, autoimmune diseases and also increasing of age, that the immune system is suppressed it may cause disease in reactivation. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is the well‐known disease caused by the virus. It has also been associated with nephropathy and tumorogensis. At present, based on vp1 capsid gene 7 genotypes have been detected. Genetic variations of JC virus in different geographical areas and the presence of different subtypes is a useful tool for reconstructing of the genetic information of JC virus and understanding of its evolution. The aim of this study was to investigate different genotypes of the JC virus in the urine of 100 kidney transplant recipients, 43 rheumatoid arthritis patients, and 100 healthy individuals as control group in Isfahan. DNA was extracted by phenol‐chloroform method and subjected to a nested PCR using specific primer for vp1 capsid gene designed by Oligo 7 software. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analyses. Using MEGA 6 software the sequences were aligned using Clustal W tool and phylogenetic trees were constructed by neighbor joining method. Thirty‐one positive samples were sequenced. Genotypes 1, 3, and 4 of the virus were detected for the first time in Iran. For the first time genotype 3 was reported as the dominant genotype in Iran. For the first time in the world, genotype 4 was detected in rheumatoid arthritis patients. J. Med. Virol. 89:337–344, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk of cancer of unknown primary after hospitalization for autoimmune diseases

Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is a heterogeneous syndrome diagnosed at metastatic sites. The etiology is unknown but immune dysfunction may be a contributing factor. Patients with autoimmune diseases were identified from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register and linked to the Swedish Cancer Registry. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated for subsequent CUP and compared with subjects without autoimmune diseases. A total of 789,681 patients were hospitalized for any of 32 autoimmune diseases during years 1964–2012; 2,658 developed subsequent CUP, giving an overall SIR of 1.27. A total of 16 autoimmune diseases were associated with an increased risk for CUP; polymyositis/dermatomyositis showed the highest SIR of 3.51, followed by primary biliary cirrhosis (1.81) and Addison's disease (1.77). CUP risk is known to be reduced in long‐time users of pain‐relieving nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin. For patients with ankylosing spondylitis and with some other autoimmune diseases, with assumed chronic medication by NSAIDSs, CUP risks decreased in long‐term follow‐up. The overall risk of CUP was increased among patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, which call for clinical attention and suggest a possible role of immune dysfunction in CUP. The associations with many autoimmune diseases were weak which may imply that autoimmunity may not synergize with CUP‐related immune dysfunction. However, long‐term NSAID medication probably helped to curtail risks in some autoimmune diseases and CUP risks were generally higher in autoimmune diseases for which NSAIDs are not used and for these CUP appears to be a serious side effect.
Corporate social responsibility and service quality provision in shipping firms: financial synergies or trade-offs?

ABSTRACT This study examines whether the implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and provision of service quality (SQ) to satisfy shippers result in financial synergies or trade-offs for shipping firms. To address this question, a contingency framework was introduced in this study. The literature was first reviewed for hypotheses development, followed by interviews with eight industry practitioners. Subsequently, an internet survey was administered to 156 shipping firms in Singapore, and the obtained data were analysed using path model analysis and simple slope analysis. The results indicate that CSR complements SQ and provides additional but modest financial contribution to shipping firms via customer satisfaction. In addition, synergistic interactions between SQ and CSR were found. Although there are financial synergies from the implementation of CSR and provision of SQ, the analysis reveals that CSR should only be engaged when a shipping firm is fairly competent at delivering quality shipping services. This paper contributes to both theory and practice by framing business decisions on implementing CSR under contingency theory and offering a strategic approach to managing SQ as well as CSR of shipping firms.
Moderating Effect of Trust in Managers on the Relation between Delegation of Authority and Managers’ Perceived Social Loafing

Delegation of authority is the manager’s transferral of his/her right of decision-making and implementation to subordinates. Delegation is widely acknowledged an essential element of effective management. Although delegation of authority is used as a managerial technique, employees might perceive it as either social loafing behaviour by their manager or an empowerment method. One of the purposes of the current study is to determine whether delegation of authority is perceived as a kind of social loafing behaviour or not. According to some researchers, trust affects how one interprets managers’ behaviours and the motives underlying them. If employees trust their managers, they become more positive about their managers and may even ignore some of their behaviours. Therefore, the second purpose of the current study is to investigate the moderating effect of trust on the relationship between the delegation of authority and subordinates’ perceptions of their managers’ social loafing. Data were collected from 243 employees working in a company. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to in order to measure linear and moderator effects. The results revealed that there is no relationship between the delegation of authority and perceived social loafing. Moreover, it was found that the level of trust in managers does not moderate this relationship. Interestingly, although it was not hypothesized, further analysis revealed that trust in manager is negatively related to the manager’s perceived social loafing. The implications of the study for research and practice are discussed and some suggestions are made for future research as well as the strengths and limitations of the study.