Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Aqueous Bark Extracts of Khaya grandifoliola and Enantia chlorantha on Some Biochemical Parameters in Swiss Mice

Background: In this study, the potential side effects of Khaya grandifolola (KG) and Enatia chlorantha (EC) were investigated on liver function and hematological parameters of Swiss albino mice infected with malaria. Method: This study was carried out in part in the Department of Biochemistry, Kwara State University, Malete, and in part in the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, 2016. Aqueous extracts of both KG and EC were screened for the presence of some phytochemicals using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Five groups of eight animals each were used. Group A was administered with only distilled water. Group B was administered with 50 mg/kg body weight of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Groups C, D, and E were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of KG, EC and KG-EC combination, respectively. After 28 d, the animals were sacrificed for biochemical analysis. Results: The levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin activities were not significantly different (P˂0.05) in all the extract treated animal groups as compared to ACT. However, there was increase in the concentrations of ATL and total bilirubin when compared with that of controls. There was no significant difference (P˂0.05) among Hb, RBC, PCV, WBC, lymphocytes, and platelets compared with ACT. However, they increased as compared to the control groups. Conclusion: The aqueous bark extracts of KG and EC either in single or in combined form resulted in hepatotoxicity compared to controls. They also have deleterious effects on hematological parameters of the Swiss mice following administration.
Physiological adaptations of ruminants and their potential relevance for production systems

Herbivores face the dilemma that the level of feed intake is negatively related to factors that determine digestive efficiency, such as thoroughness of ingesta comminution by chewing, and retention of digesta in the digestive tract. Ruminants have evolved particular adaptations to solve this dilemma. Most ruminants share the characteristic of “digesta washing”: fluid moves through their digestive tract faster than particles, thus effectively washing very fine particles, such as bacteria, out of the digesta plug. As the forestomach is followed by auto-enzymatic digestion, this allows a continuous, increased harvest of microbes from the forestomach. True rumination only evolved twice, in the camelids and the true ruminants. These both evolved a density-dependent sorting mechanism based on physical separation of the digesta by the process of flotation and sedimentation, ensuring that the process of rumination is applied to large particles. Differences in this sorting mechanism might facilitate a faster digesta processing in true ruminants as compared with camelids. The hallmark of ruminant digestive anatomy is the omasum, in which the fluid required for both digesta washing and the reticular separation mechanism is re-absorbed. In ruminants of the tribe Bovini, the omasum has reached the largest size and this group has a particularly great forestomach fluid throughput. Increasing the degree of digesta washing even more should increase microbial harvest from the forestomach and reduce the susceptibility to acidosis. At the same time, it should result in a metabolic state of the microbiome more tuned towards biomass production and less towards methanogenesis. Enhancing the forestomach fluid throughput by selective breeding could represent a promising way to further advance the productivity of the ruminant digestive tract.
Unified communication and collaboration model for virtual distributed team work: A study in Malaysia

Technology today has made it possible for people to opt for ‘Teleworking or virtual distributed team work’, which seems to be received unarguably and positive acceptance as an alternative work practices globally. In this context, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has to be credited as one of major ‘change elements’ which enable to drive constructive changes in a working environment and arrangement in an organization, that enable employees to work from anywhere, at any time around the globe and across geographical boundaries regardless of differences in languages, cultures and time zones. The new transformation indirectly demands significant challenges to the organization in order to conform the needs and necessities for these current working practices. The challenges include ICT investment in the infrastructure and applications particularly to overcome the communication and collaboration barrier, which is the result of lack of social, physical and face-to-face interaction. However, it is occasionally difficult to find the best model to support services that can suit the needs of virtual team work or telework in certain domain. The primary objective of this study is to develop a model for distributed working group that supports unified communication and collaboration, particularly in the context of public sector in Malaysia. The sample consists of 92 respondents from the Malaysia Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (MRRD) and the Rural Transformation Centres (RTC). The statistical analysis found that among the main features that meet the needs of the group work are, the ability to share and access the information, the capability to submit reports periodically and provides an interactive environment. The unified communication and collaboration model proposed by this study focuses on synchronous and asynchronous activities. In this model, the ultimate goals of telework are defined and categorised into three groups of users which are the individual, team work and organisation.
Uncoupling of Endothelial Nitric Oxidase Synthase by Hypochlorous Acid: Role of NAD(P)H Oxidase–Derived Superoxide and Peroxynitrite

Objective—The aim of the present study is to determine whether hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the major oxidant of leukocyte-derived myeloperoxidase (MPO), oxidizes the zinc-thiolate center of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and uncouples the enzyme. Methods and Results—Exposure of purified recombinant eNOS to HOCl (≥100 &mgr;mol/L) released zinc and disrupted the enzyme-active eNOS dimers. In parallel with increased detections of both O2·− and ONOO−, clinically relevant concentrations of HOCl disrupted eNOS dimers in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) at concentration 10- to 100-fold lower than those required for recombinant eNOS. In HUVEC, HOCl increased the translocation of both p67phox and p47phox of NAD(P)H oxidase and the phosphorylation of atypical protein kinase C-&zgr;. Further, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of either NAD(P)H oxidase–derived O2·− or PKC-&zgr; or NOS abolished the effects of HOCl on eNOS dimers. Consistently, HOCl increased both O2·− and ONOO− and eNOS dimer oxidation in isolated mouse aortas from C57BL/6 but less in those of gp91phox knock-out mice. Finally, in human carotid atherosclerotic arteries, eNOS predominantly existed as monomers in parallel with increased staining of both MPO and 3-nitrotyrosine. Conclusions—We conclude that HOCl uncouples eNOS by ONOO− generated from PKC-&zgr;–dependent NAD(P)H oxidase.
Increased serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations and brain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether serum matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) levels are associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations, particularly cognitive dysfunction, as evaluated by neuropsychological testing and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS MMP-9 determinations were made in 44 patients with SLE and 43 healthy controls who underwent a clinical neurologic and neuropsychological investigation in order to identify neuropsychiatric manifestations. Cerebral MRI scans with volumetric estimation of intracranial cerebrospinal fluid spaces, T1-weighted lesions, and T2-weighted lesions were performed for all subjects. SLE activity was assessed by the European Consensus Lupus Activity Measure (ECLAM) index, and accumulated neuropsychiatric abnormality was assessed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)/American College of Rheumatology damage index. RESULTS No significant difference was found in serum MMP-9 levels between the overall group of SLE patients and controls. However, SLE patients who had at least 1 neuropsychiatric manifestation (NPSLE patients) had significantly higher serum MMP-9 concentrations than did SLE patients without neuropsychiatric syndromes (P = 0.009). Among patients with NPSLE, those with cognitive deficits had significantly higher concentrations of serum MMP-9 than did those with normal cognitive function (P = 0.027). Furthermore, serum MMP-9 levels had a significant positive correlation with the volumes of T1-weighted and T2-weighted lesions in the brain MRI (P = 0.031 and P = 0.015, respectively). The concentration of serum MMP-9 correlated significantly with the SLICC index but not with the ECLAM index. CONCLUSION Elevated levels of serum MMP-9 in patients with SLE may reflect neuropsychiatric involvement, particularly cognitive dysfunction. The serum MMP-9 concentration may be associated with small- vessel cerebral vasculopathy and increased risk of cerebral ischemic events in patients with SLE.
Does foreign direct investment spur economic growth in an oil-based country? Evidence from Saudi Arabia

Article history: Received 16 October 2017 Received in revised form 21 November 2018 Accepted 22 November 2018 This paper investigates the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), and economic growth (GDPPC) in an oil-based economy during the period 1970-2016. In our econometric model, we introduce a proxy of country infrastructure (INFRA) which is the air transport to explain economic growth. The econometric method is based on vector error correction model (VECM), and Granger Causality. The long-run association reveals that FDI exerts a positive and significant effect on the economic growth in Saudi Arabia. Also, the Granger Causality test shows that there is unidirectional causality between FDI and growth. Findings indicate also that trade openness (OPEN) did not Granger cause GDPPC. In contrary, there is unidirectional causality between INFRA and GDPPPC.
Nijmegen breakage syndrome in a Dutch patient not resulting from a defect in NBS1

Editor—Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS) is a rare autosomal recessive chromosomal instability disorder characterised by microcephaly, immunodeficiency, x ray hypersensitivity, and predisposition to malignancy. The gene responsible for NBS, NBS1 , is located on chromosome 8q21 and encodes a protein called nibrin. This protein is a component of the hMre11/hRad50 protein complex, suggesting defective DNA double strand break (DSB) repair or cell cycle checkpoint function in NBS.1-7 In this report we describe a patient with the NBS phenotype, typical cytogenetic presentation with aberrations in chromosomes 7 and 14, and increased x ray sensitivity. Our index patient had deafness unlike all the other NBS patients reported so far. Mutation detection did not show a mutation in NBS1 and the protein nibrin was normally expressed. The boy is the second child of non-consanguineous parents. His older sister is healthy. From the sixth month of pregnancy microcephaly and growth retardation were noted. Amniocentesis was performed followed by a cytogenetic study which showed a normal male karyotype. He was born in 1997 at 39 weeks of gestation. Birth weight was 1915 g, length 42 cm, and head circumference 28.5 cm (all below the 3rd centile). The neonatal period was complicated by mild hypoglycaemia. During the first year of life he suffered from …
A Psychophysiological Theory of a Psychiatric Illness (the Brain Fag Syndrome) Associated with Study among Africans

This paper presents the results of a clinical investigation of 20 patients seen at the mental health consultation clinic of the University of Ife Health Centre in Nigeria with a psychiatric illness associated with study among Africans. The investigation conducted consisted of indepth exploratory interviews, drug-assisted in some of the patients, and its aim was to determine the chronological sequence of events leading to the appearance of symptoms, to identify specific psychological and physiological factors which seemed to have been significant in the precipitation of the illness, and to make a formulation regarding the pathogenesis of the illness. A number of psychopathogenetic factors were identified. These included a nervous predisposing personality, high emotional/motivational drive for achievement, psychostimulant abuse, and sleep deprivation. A dynamic formulation is proposed as to how these factors might be operating. It is acknowledged that the brain fag syndrome is a multifactorially determined illness and that there is a need for further studies to confirm the observations made in the present study and to identify other factors of pathogenetic significance.
A class of highly potent antibacterial peptides derived from pardaxin, a pore-forming peptide isolated from Moses sole fish Pardachirus marmoratus.

Pardaxin, a 33-amino-acid pore-forming polypeptide toxin isolated from the Red Sea Moses sole Pardachirus marmoratus, has a helix-hinge-helix structure. This is a common structural motif found both in antibacterial peptides that can act selectively on bacterial membranes (e.g., cecropin), and in cytotoxic peptides that can lyse both mammalian and bacterial cells (e.g., melittin). Herein we show that pardaxin possesses a high antibacterial activity with a significantly reduced hemolytic activity towards human red blood cells (hRBC), compared with melittin. Its potency is comparable to that of other known native antibacterial peptides such as magainin, cecropins and dermaseptins. To determine the structural features responsible for the selective hemolytic and antibacterial activities, and the structural requirements for a high antibacterial activity, 8 truncated and modified pardaxin analogues were synthesized and structurally and functionally characterized. Each peptide was synthesized with a free carboxylate or amino group (i.e., aminated form) at its C-terminus. The aminated form of pardaxin has both high hemolytic and antibacterial activity. A truncated analogue, with 11 amino acids removed from the C-terminal domain, had dramatically reduced hemolytic activity. However, the aminated form of this analogue was significantly more potent that pardaxin against most bacteria tested, suggesting that the C-terminal tail of pardaxin is responsible for non-selective activity against erythrocytes and bacteria. Furthermore, a positive charge added to its N-terminus significantly increased its antibacterial activity and abolished its low hemolytic activity. The 22-amino-acid C-terminal domain and the short 11-amino-acid N-terminal domain were, in their aminated forms, active only against gram-positive bacteria. Secondary-structure determination using circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed that all the aminated analogues had 25-80% more alpha-helical content in 40% CF3CH2OH/water than their non-aminated forms. Using model phospholipid membranes it was found that all the analogues that were less hemolytic but had retained antibacterial activity could permeate acidicly charged phospholipid vesicles better than zwitterionic phospholipid vesicles, a property characteristics of all the native antibacterial peptides tested so far (e.g., cecropins, magainins and dermaseptins). Pardaxin and its analogues therefore represent a new class of antibacterial peptides that can serve as a basis for the design of therapeutic agents. Furthermore, negative-staining electron microscopy revealed that total inhibition of bacterial growth was due to total lysis of the bacterial wall. Therefore, it might be more difficult for bacteria to develop resistance to such a destructive mechanism, compared with the more specific mechanisms of the currently used antibiotics.
Analysis of supply structure and trends of formal funding of agriculture in Nigeria (1992-2012).

This study analyzed supply structure and trends of formal funding of agriculture in Nigeria. Time series data, covering the period 1992 to 2012 collected from Statistical Bulletin of Central Bank of Nigeria was used in the analyses. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics and trend analysis. Issues addressed included formal credit supply structure and trends of supply of loans to agriculture in Nigeria. Results showed that structure of formal loan Supplies to agricultural production in Nigeria was one of dominance in number and values of guaranteed loans to individual farmers than to corporate farms. The trend in value of loans allocated to food crop within the period under review was increasing, consistent and positive. The trend in value of loans allocated to cash crops however fluctuated. More funds should be allocated to agriculture through the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Funds by Central Bank of Nigeria to enable the scheme expand its services to other farm enterprises (such as apiculture, heliculture, grass cutter rearing and mixed farming) and increase volume of loans to medium and large scale farmers.
Association of MMP-9 gene polymorphism and ischemic stroke: evidence from a case-control study to a meta-analysis

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of inflammation. Several studies have investigated the association between MMP-9 -1562C/T polymorphism and risk of ischemic stroke (IS) where inflammatory process is involved, but the results were inconsistent. Therefore, we first conducted a case-control study to investigate the potential association, and then performed a meta-analysis to further address this issue. A total of 386 patients with IS and 386 unrelated controls were included in the study. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-ligation detection reaction method. A meta-analysis was conducted by combining our data with previous relevant studies. In our case-control study, no significant association was found between MMP-9 -1562C/T and IS risk (P > 0.05). However, when combined with previous studies, the significant association of MMP-9 -1562C/T with IS risk was observed under allelic (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.06-1.55, P = 0.01), homozygous (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.49-2.90, P < 0.01), dominant (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03-1.53, P = 0.02) and recessive model (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.08-2.20, P = 0.02). Moreover, subgroup analysis by ethnicity detected a significant association in Asian population, but not Caucasian population. In summary, evidence from a case-control study to a meta-analysis indicates that MMP-9 -1562C/T polymorphism likely serves as a potential risk factor for developing IS, especially in Asian population.
A state observer for nonlinear systems and its application to ball and beam system

In this paper, we present a state observer for single-input/single-output nonlinear systems which fail to have well defined relative degree. It is shown that there exists a local state observer for a nonlinear system if it has robust relative degree n. The proposed observer utilizes the coordinate change which transforms a system into an approximate normal form. The proposed method is applied to a ball and beam system, and simulation results show that substantial improvement in the performance was achieved compared with other local observers.
The Influence of Leadership Roles and Team Building & Participation on Team Shared Mental Models: A Study of Project Managers in Malaysia

More and more project teams are formed to achieve organizational objectives as organizations generally recognize the importance and benefits of project teams. One of the outcomes working in a project team is the proliferation of Team Shared Mental Models (TSMM). It is critical to examine the antecedents of TSMM which is the aim of this study as TSMM by itself can contribute to project team learning and others. However, it is unclear from literature whether both leadership roles and team building & participation can influence TSMM concurrently especially in a project setting study whereby there is resource and time constraint compare to normal work teams which are ongoing and operational in nature. This study has developed a research model underpinned on Cohen and Bailey’s (1997) Team Effectiveness Framework to empirically analyze how leadership roles and team building & participation can predict TSMM. Based on 201 random sample responses from project managers in Malaysia, findings suggest that leadership roles can influence TSMM indirectly via team building & participation. Knowledge contribution of this study is that project managers should invest extra efforts in team building & participation as it is the main contributor to TSMM.
Research Trends of Inland Terminals: A Literature Review

Inland terminals are becoming an increasingly important factor for disburdening port storage capacities and the expansion of the port gravitational areas. The above defines inland terminals as facilities with prolonged activities of seaports, or an integral part of the port. Due to increased interest in the development of inland terminals, the literature in the field of inland terminals since the beginning of its research (1980) to the latest research in 2015 has been analysedand revised. The review will summarize the literature related to development, classification, technological processes and location of inland terminals. In the end, the paper identifies a new proposition for further research based on the current trends and developments in inland terminals as an important factor of intermodal transport.
Influence of oxyfluorination time on space charge behavior in polyethylene

Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) samples were surface oxyfluorinated for different times to investigate the influences of oxyfluorination time on charge injection from carbon black loaded poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate) (EVA) electrode and charge accumulation in bulk. Oxyfluorination led to the substantial variations in chemical composition, forming large numbers of various polar groups in the surface layers, depending on oxyfluorination time, as indicated by attenuated total reflection infrared (ATR-IR) analyses. Space charge measurements based on the pressure wave propagation method revealed obvious dependence of the charge injection and accumulation on oxyfluorination time when the samples were submitted to an average direct current field of about 50 kV/mm at 40°C. Suppression of the charge injection and accumulation by the oxyfluorinated surface layer was enhanced with extending oxyfluorination time. The total amounts of the positive and negative charges within the samples oxyfluorinated for 1, 6, and 13 h were calculated to be around 67, 50, and 29% of the total amount in the original sample, respectively. Diffusion of the volatile byproducts within the EVA electrode into LLDPE was evidenced by the ATR-IR analyses or indirectly by open-circuit thermally stimulated discharge current measurements. The diffusion influenced the charge injection and accumulation by changing charge traps in the surface layer and the field assisted ionization of the diffused volatile byproducts, and was influenced by the surface oxyfluorination depending on the treatment time. The influences of oxyfluorination on charge injection and accumulation were attributed to the remarkable increase in surface layer permittivity and the changes in its charge trap and barrier property to the diffusion of volatile by-products. The change in surface layer permittivity was indirectly evaluated by surface energy calculations.