Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine Structure of Clonally Propagated In Vitro Life Stages of a Perkinsus sp. Isolated from the Baltic Clam Macoma balthica

Abstract We established monoclonal in vitro cultures of a Perkinsus sp. isolated from the baltic clam Macoma balthica and compared morphological features of various life stages by light and transmission electron microscopy to those of the currently accepted Perkinsus species: Perkinsus marinus, Perkinsus olseni, Perkinsus atlanticus, and Perkinsus qugwadi. Except that trophozoites were slightly larger than those of P. marinus, and that they underwent zoosporulation in culture, observation of our isolate under light microscopy did not reveal striking differences from any Perkinsus species. Perkinsus sp. from M. balthica shared fine structural characteristics with other Perkinsus species that clearly place it within this genus. Although zoospores of Perkinsus sp. from M. balthica were slightly smaller than those from other species, the ultrastructural arrangement and appearance of the apical complex and flagella seem to be identical to those of P. marinus and P. atlanticus. Our isolate also appeared, in some sections, to have cortical alveolar expansions of the plasmalemma at regions other than the anterior end and lobulated mitochondria that were reported as unique for P. qugwadi. Little consensus exists among authors in the assignment of taxonomic weight to any particular morphological feature to designate Perkinsus species. The present study of gross morphology and ultrastructure was complemented with molecular studies reported elsewhere, which propose that Perkinsus sp. from Macoma balthica is a distinct species.
Suppression of a Differentiation Response in MC-3T3-E1 Osteoblast-like Cells by Sustained, Low-Level, 30 Hz Magnetic-Field Exposure

Abstract McLeod, K. J. and Collazo, L. Suppression of a Differentiation Response in MC-3T3-E1 Osteoblast-like Cells by Sustained, Low-Level, 30 Hz Magnetic-Field Exposure. Extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic fields have been reported to be capable of influencing both tissue remodeling and cell phenotypic expression in culture. However, whether the cells or tissues respond directly to the magnetic flux or to the electric field induced by the time-changing magnetic flux remains a controversial topic. To address this question, we developed an osteoblast cell assay based on the activity of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme whose activity is up-regulated during the differentiation of bone cells. MC-3T3-E1 cells plated at a confluent density were allowed to proceed through the differentiation process for 3 days, after which they were exposed to a 30 Hz, 1.8-mT r.m.s. magnetic field inducing a spatially varying electric field with a maximum intensity of 0.9 mV/m r.m.s. In situ assays of alkaline phosphatase activity at 4, 8, 16 and 64 h demonstrated a progressive inhibition of enzyme activity, the pattern of which maps to the intensity of the induced electric field (R2 = 0.5, P < 0.001). We interpret these results to indicate that cells are capable of responding to ELF induced electric fields at intensities below 1 mV/m, and that the principal effect on cells is an inhibition of differentiation.
Impact of Corruption on Firm‐Level Export Decisions

This paper examines the impact of corruption on the self-selection of firms into domestic and export markets. A heterogeneous firm model predicts that corruption decreases the probability that a firm only sells domestically, increases the probability that a firm exports indirectly through an intermediary, and decreases the probability that a firm exports directly. The propositions of the model are tested using a comprehensive data set of over 23,000 firms in 80 developing countries. The results confirm both the self-selection of firms according to their productivity and the anticipated impact of corruption. This indicates that in developing countries where corruption is especially severe, intermediaries provide a crucial link to global markets.
Milankovitch Hypothesis Supported by Precise Dating of Coral Reefs and Deep-Sea Sediments

Barbados provides a possibly unique opportunity for reconstruction of the times and elevations of late-Pleistocene high stands of the sea. The island appears to be rising from the sea at a uniform rate that is fast enough to separate in elevation coral-reef tracts formed at successive high stands of the sea. Unaltered coral found in the lower terraces enables high-precision Th230: U234 and Pa231: U235 dating. Three distinct high stands of the sea are found about 122,000, 103,000, and 82,000 years ago. New Pa231 and Th230 dates from a deep-sea core also indicate that Ericson's W-X cold-to-warm climatic change occurred close to 126,000 years ago. These data show a parallelism over the last 150,000 years between changes in Earth's climate and changes in the summer insolation predicted from cycles in the tilt and precession of Earth's axis.
Effect of Smoking Cigarette in Albumin Creatinine Ratio in Khartoum State

Background: In recent years, it has become apparent that smoking has a negative impact on renal function, being one of the most important remediable renal risk factors. It has been shown clearly that the risk for high-normal urinary albumin excretion and microalbuminuria is increased in smoking compared with nonsmoking subjects of the general population. There are numerous harmful substances found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Nicotine is one of these substances that may be acquired through active and passive smoking. In human nicotine is commonly consumed via smoking cigarette. many studies made many trail to elucidate effect cigarette on body. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether smoking has effects on albumin/ creatinine ratio in Sudanese males. Methodology: total of 100 Sudanese males were included in this study. they were divided into two groups, 50 non-smoker were used as control,and 50 smoker. members were within the age range of 19– 55 years.albumin/ creatinine ratio(ACR) was measured for all subjects from urine spot samples.Immuneturbidity method was used by cobas instrument. Results: The results revealed that the levels of albumin creatinine ratio was found significantly higher (P < 0.05),in smoker Moshtaha Azhari, Adel Nasr, Liza HamdiEffect of Smoking Cigarette in Albumin Creatinine Ratio in Khartoum State EUROPEAN ACADEMIC RESEARCH Vol. IV, Issue 7 / October 2016 6051 people compared with non smoker. And increase number of cigarette increase effect of cigarette on albumin creatinine ratio(ACR). Conclusion: The study concluded that, Smokers are at greater risk for kidney disease, which indicated by urine albumin creatinine ratio in smoker and non smoker people.
Get in the Game: The Effects of Game-Product Congruity and Product Placement Proximity on Game Players’ Processing of Brands Embedded in Advergames

This study focused on the effects of game-product congruity and product placement proximity on advergame players’ brand memory, brand attitude, game enjoyment, and future intention to play. A 2 (congruity) × 2 (proximity) repeated-measures experiment was used. Results revealed that players’ implicit memory improved for congruent games only. Explicit memory measures also showed signs of improvement for brands in the congruent/central game condition. Surprisingly, it appears that the incongruent/peripheral game condition produced the best results overall with the smallest negative attitude change, the most game enjoyment, and the highest intention to play again in the future. These contradictory findings suggest to brand marketers who design advergames to be careful when combining multiple game featurescongruity and proximity) within a single advergame because this strategic move may provide optimal brand memory while also producing the opposite desired effect for attitude toward the brand, game enjoyment, and intention to play.
The Signless Laplacian Estrada Index of Unicyclic Graphs

For a graph $G$, the signless Laplacian Estrada index is defined as $SLEE(G)=\sum^{n}_{i=1}e^{q^{}_i}$,where $q_1, q_2, \dots, q_n$are the eigenvalues of the signless Laplacian matrix of $G$. In this paper, we first characterize the unicyclic graphs with the first two largest and smallest $SLEE$ and then determine the unique unicyclic graph with maximum $SLEE$ among the unicyclic graphs on $n$ vertices with given diameter.
Reliability and validity of the career decision-making difficulties questionnaire

The Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ; Gati, Krausz, & Osipow, 1996) is a relatively new career inventory which purports to measure all areas of problems related to career decision making. This purported ability to identify specific features relating to the individual's career decision making difficulties indicates that the CDDQ may have the potential to be a significant new tool for the career counseling process. This study assessed the reliability and convergent and discriminant validity of the CDDQ on a Canadian population. The sample included 139 Kwantlen University College students. Discriminant validity was assessed using a measure of anxiety, the STAI. Convergent validity was assessed using a measure of career self-efficacy, the CDSE-SF. As hypothesized, the correlation between the CDDQ and the CDSE-SF was negative (-.60). However, contrary to the expectation that the measure for discriminant validity would show a considerably weaker correlation with the CDDQ than the measure for convergent validity, the study found positive correlations between the CDDQ and the State sub-scale of the STAI at . 48, and with the Trait sub-scales at.52. The statistically significant relationship between the CDDQ and the STAI-S and STAI-T indicates the CDDQ was affected by state and trait anxiety. The implications of the findings for the future use of this measure for the Canadian career counseling process are discussed.
Handling of Singularity in Finite-Difference Time-Domain Procedure for Solving Maxwell's Equations in Cylindrical Coordinate System

A consistent approach to determine the components of electric and magnetic fields at r = 0 for a cylindrical coordinate system in a finite-difference time-domain calculation procedure is proposed. It is based on the superposition of cylindrical and Cartesian coordinate systems and transformation between them. Simple formulas have been derived for calculating the electromagnetic field components at a coordinate center; they can be used for solving two-dimensional and three-dimensional problems in a cylindrical coordinate system. The proposed method is used for calculating the outflow of an electromagnetic wave from a circular waveguide into free space.
Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Cancer Stem Cell-Like Signatures in Cell Culture and Murine Tumor Xenografts

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a prominent risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Similar to most solid tumors, HCCs are believed to contain poorly differentiated cancer stem cell-like cells (CSCs) that initiate tumorigenesis and confer resistance to chemotherapy. In these studies, we demonstrate that the expression of an HCV subgenomic replicon in cultured cells results in the acquisition of CSC traits. These traits include enhanced expression of doublecortin and CaM kinase-like-1 (DCAMKL-1), Lgr5, CD133, α-fetoprotein, cytokeratin-19 (CK19), Lin28, and c-Myc. Conversely, curing of the replicon from these cells results in diminished expression of these factors. The putative stem cell marker DCAMKL-1 is also elevated in response to the overexpression of a cassette of pluripotency factors. The DCAMKL-1-positive cells isolated from hepatoma cell lines by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) form spheroids in Matrigel. The HCV RNA abundance and NS5B levels are significantly reduced by the small interfering RNA (siRNA)-led depletion of DCAMKL-1. We further demonstrate that HCV replicon-expressing cells initiate distinct tumor phenotypes compared to the tumors initiated by parent cells lacking the replicon. This HCV-induced phenotype is characterized by high-level expression/coexpression of DCAMKL-1, CK19, α-fetoprotein, and active c-Src. The results obtained by the analysis of liver tissues from HCV-positive patients and liver tissue microarrays reiterate these observations. In conclusion, chronic HCV infection appears to predispose cells toward the path of acquiring cancer stem cell-like traits by inducing DCAMKL-1 and hepatic progenitor and stem cell-related factors. DCAMKL-1 also represents a novel cellular target for combating HCV-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.
Gender, genotype, and phenotype differences in Smith–Magenis syndrome: a meta‐analysis of 105 cases

Smith–Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multisystem disorder characterized by developmental delay and mental retardation, a distinctive behavioral phenotype, and sleep disturbance. We undertook a comprehensive meta‐analysis to identify genotype–phenotype relationships to further understand the clinical variability and genetic factors involved in SMS. Clinical and molecular information on 105 patients with SMS was obtained through research protocols and a review of the literature and analyzed using Fisher’s exact test with two‐tailed p values. Several differences in these groups of patients were identified based on genotype and gender. Patients with RAI1 mutation were more likely to exhibit overeating, obesity, polyembolokoilamania, self‐hugging, muscle cramping, and dry skin and less likely to have short stature, hearing loss, frequent ear infections, and heart defects when compared with patients with deletion, while a subset of small deletion cases with deletions spanning from TNFRSF13B to MFAP4 was less likely to exhibit brachycephaly, dental anomalies, iris abnormalities, head‐banging, and hyperactivity. Significant differences between genders were also identified, with females more likely to have myopia, eating/appetite problems, cold hands and feet, and frustration with communication when compared with males. These results confirm previous findings and identify new genotype–phenotype associations including differences in the frequency of short stature, hearing loss, ear infections, obesity, overeating, heart defects, self‐injury, self‐hugging, dry skin, seizures, and hyperactivity among others based on genotype. Additional studies are required to further explore the relationships between genotype and phenotype and any potential discrepancies in health care and parental attitudes toward males and females with SMS.
Genetic predictors of depressive symptoms in cardiac patients

Numerous studies suggest that the prevalence of depression is greater among cardiac patients than in the general population. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility of genetic contributions to depressive symptoms in cardiac patients. We conducted a candidate gene study focusing on genes related to inflammation, platelet aggregation, endothelial function and omega‐3 fatty acid metabolism as predictors of depressive symptoms among 977 participants with established cardiovascular disease. Results suggested that genetic variation related to endothelial dysfunction is predictive of depressive symptoms and that endothelial dysfunction may be a novel mechanism contributing to depressive symptoms among cardiac patients. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Risks with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion can be serious

EDITOR—The editorial by Pickup and Keen about continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion is worrying in advocating this treatment, albeit for a comparatively small proportion of the diabetic population in Britain.1 Pickup and Keen do not highlight adequately the serious risks associated with it for doctors considering introducing this treatment to their patients. Pickup and Keen acknowledge high rates of ketoacidosis with subcutaneous insulin infusion but attribute it to lack of experience, unsuitable pump insulin, and the less reliable devices previously available. They …
Histological Study of Thyroid Gland after Experimental Exposure to LowFrequency Electromagnetic Fields in Adult Male Albino Rat and PossibleProtective Role of Vitamin E

Introduction: Thyroid gland is one of the most important endocrine organs and almost all cells of the body are target sites for its hormones. Electromagnetic field became progressively more common constituent of the general and workplace environments. Aim of work: To evaluate the effect of low frequency electromagnetic fields (LF-EMF) on the structure and function of the thyroid gland and to evaluate their reversibility and role of vitamin E. Materials and Methods: Forty five adult male albino rats were equally divided into four groups; group I (control group), group II: rats were exposed to 50 Hz EMF for 1 month, group III: rats were received vitamin E just before EMF exposure for the same period and group IV (recovery group). At the time of sacrifice, blood samples were collected to estimate TSH, T3 and T4 levels. Thyroid gland specimens were processed for microscopic examination. The heights of follicular epithelium, collagen fiber area % were morphometrically estimated and statistically analyzed. Results: Exposed group showed significant decline T3 and T4 levels together with significant increase in TSH level as compared to other groups. Histologically, this group showed congestion and dilatation of blood capillaries, cellular infiltration, follicular disintegration and vacuolar degeneration of some follicular cells. Other apoptotic follicular cells appeared with condensed chromatin or desquamated. The epithelial height and connective tissue area also affected. Vitamin E improves the biochemical and histological picture of thyroid gland (group III). Recovery group (IV) had variable alteration as compared to other groups. Conclusion: LF-EMF has very serious effect on thyroid gland and vitamin E could have a protective role against this tissue damage.
Systematic Review of the Personality Profile of Paramedics: Bringing Evidence into Emergency Medical Personnel Recruitment Policy

Aim: Because emergency medicine is extremely demanding and challenging for emergency medical personnel (EMP), it is important that the personality traits of EMP be understood. Few studies have addressed the personality traits that EMP should possess. The aim of this study was to systematically review the personality traits of EMP to establish a profile that can help identify individuals whose personalities are suited to prehospital emergency occupations. Materials and Methods: Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, and PsychINFO, with information accumulated from their conception to March 2015, were searched using the terms “personality,” “trait,” “rescue,” “emergency,” “medical,” “services,” “personnel,” “paramedic,” and “technician. ” The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement was followed in this review. Data extraction was performed by two authors who independently reviewed each article. Results: Of 398 articles found, 27 were eligible for review. A total of 9,721 paramedics had participated in the selected studies. Nearly half of the studies were performed in the USA and Australia. The paramedics scored high in conscientiousness, sensation seeking, resiliency, and empathy but low in extroversion, neuroticism, and agreeableness. Conclusion: While high conscientiousness and low neuroticism could be assumed to be protective factors against post-traumatic stress disorder among EMP, certain personality traits, such as conscientiousness, put them at risk of burnout. The personality traits of paramedics need to be further investigated in terms of role model traits and performance indicators related to personality traits.
Vascular smooth muscle cell hyper‐responsiveness to growth factors in hypertension

To understand the intrinsic mechanisms of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, we studied the growth of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls, Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), under basal conditions and after stimulation. Cell growth was assessd by the determination of cell number, and incorporation of 3H-thymidine into newly-synthesized DNA. We demonstrated that vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR proliferate faster and grow to a greater density, regardless of the initial plating number. The growth difference was not due to different plating efficiencies. Significantly higher 3H-thymidine incorporation was observed in vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR when the cells were stimulated by calf serum, platelet-derived growth factor or epidermal growth factor. Exposure to calf serum elicited an excessive expression of c-myc and c-fos in the first hour after stimulation. These results provide evidence of the hyper-responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR aortae to growth stimuli.
Spatial Neglect, Balint-Homes' and Gerstmann's Syndrome, and Other Spatial Disorders

ABSTRACT Brain-damaged patients with lesion or dysfunction involving the parietal cortex may show a variety of neuropsychological impairments involving spatial cognition. The more frequent and disabling deficit is the syndrome of unilateral spatial neglect that, in a nutshell, consists in a bias of spatial representation and attention ipsilateral to of extrapersonal, personal (ie, the body) space, or both, toward the side of the hemispheric lesion. The deficit is more frequent and severe after damage to the right hemisphere, involving particularly the posterior-inferior parietal cortex at the temporo-parietal junction. Damage to these posterior parietal regions may also impair visuospatial short-term memory, which may be associated with and worsen spatial neglect. The neural network supporting spatial representation, attention and short-term memory is, however, more extensive, including the right premotor cortex. Also disorders of drawing and building objects (traditionally termed constructional apraxia) are a frequent indicator of posterior parietal damage in the left and in the right hemispheres. Other less frequent deficits, which, however, have a relevant localizing value, include optic ataxia (namely, the defective reaching of visual objects, in the absence of elementary visuo-motor impairments), which is typically brought about by damage to the superior parietal lobule. Optic ataxia, together with deficits of visual attention, of estimating distances and depth, and with apraxia of gaze, constitutes the severely disabling Balint-Holmes' syndrome, which is typically associated with bilateral posterior parietal and occipital damage. Finally, lesions of the posterior parietal lobule (angular gyrus) in the left hemisphere may bring about a tetrad of symptoms (left-right disorientation, acalculia, finger agnosia, and agraphia) termed Gerstmann's syndrome, that also exists in a developmental form.
How Do Prior Outcomes Affect Risk Attitude? Comparing Escalation of Commitment and the House-Money Effect

When making sequential decisions, do prior gains induce more or less risk taking than prior losses? Prior studies have found evidence for a house-money effect, where risk taking increases following gains. These studies also found seemingly contradictory evidence for escalation of commitment, where risk taking increases following losses. We present an experimental study investigating this apparent contradiction. By manipulating the presentation format of a decision problem we can induce both types of behavior. When the problem is presented as a portfolio decision, risk taking is greater following losses than following gains, consistent with escalation of commitment. When the problem is presented as a two-stage betting game, risk taking is greater following gains than following losses, consistent with the house-money effect. Some of these results can be accounted for using the prospect-theory value function. Escalation of commitment in our experiment does not appear to be driven by a need to justify or rationalize the initial decision. These results are potentially relevant to modeling risk preference in multiperiod investment decisions.