Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of short-term chronic ethanol intoxication and ethanol withdrawal on the molecular composition of the rat hippocampus by FT-IR spectroscopy.

BACKGROUND The numerous adverse effects of ethanol abuse and ethanol withdrawal on biological systems are well documented. Conversely, the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these pathological effects is still incomplete. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of short-term chronic ethanol administration and ethanol withdrawal on the molecular structure and function of hippocampal tissue, a brain region important for mnemonic processes and known to be highly susceptible to ethanol intoxication. METHODS Ethanol was administered to adult Wistar rats by intragastric intubation for 15 days with a stepwise increase in the daily dose from 6 to 12 g/kg body weight, with the highest dose delivered for the last 2 days only. The total daily dose of ethanol was divided into 3 equal portions administered 4 hours apart. Animals were sacrificed by decapitation at 4, 24, and 72 hours after the last ethanol administration to examine potential effects of ethanol intoxication and ethanol withdrawal. Ethanol-related molecular changes were monitored by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. RESULTS Significant changes in the hippocampal content, structure, and function of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids were recorded under ethanol intoxication. Seventy-two hours after the cessation of ethanol administration, during the late phase of withdrawal, alterations in the macromolecules' content and conformational changes in protein and nucleic acid structure ameliorated, while the changes in macromolecular ratios, lipid order, and dynamics aggravated. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that 15 days of binge-like drinking resulting in the high blood alcohol concentration (varying in the dose-dependent manner between 253 and 606 mg/dl) produced a strong physical dependence manifested mainly by the changes in lipid profiles pointing toward withdrawal-induced oxidative stress. These results show that ethanol withdrawal may cause equal to or even more severe brain damage than the ethanol itself, which should be considered when designing antialcohol therapies.
The relationship of socio‐demographic factors and satisfaction with social support at five and 10 yr after heart transplantation

Despite the fact that social support has been found to be important to cardiovascular health, there is a paucity of information regarding the relationship between social support and outcomes long term after heart transplantation (HT). The purposes of this study were to examine demographic and psychosocial characteristics and their relationship to social support after HT and to identify whether socio‐demographic variables are predictors of satisfaction with social support post‐HT.
Highly lytic and persistent lentiviruses naturally present in sheep with progressive pneumonia are genetically distinct

Ovine and caprine lentiviruses share the capacity to induce slowly progressive and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (leukoencephalitis or visna), lungs (progressive pneumonia or maedi), and joints (arthritis) in their natural hosts. Studies on their replication indicated that ovine lentiviruses and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) recently isolated in the United States establish persistent infection in ovine and caprine fibroblasts, whereas older prototype ovine lentiviruses such as Icelandic visna virus or American progressive pneumonia virus irreversibly lyse fibroblast cultures. Since all of the recent isolates were found to be persistent, Narayan et al. (J. Gen. Virol. 59:345-356, 1982) concluded that the highly lytic viruses were only tissue-culture-adapted strains. In the present report, we isolated new ovine lentiviruses from French sheep with naturally occurring progressive pneumonia which are either highly lytic (five isolates), as are the Icelandic strains of visna virus, or persistent (one isolate), as are CAEV or American persistent ovine lentiviruses. Protein and nucleic acid content analyses of these new highly lytic (type I) and persistent (type II) isolates indicated that type I and type II ovine lentiviruses were genetically distinct, type I and type II viruses being closely related to the Icelandic strains of visna virus and to CAEV, respectively. We conclude that (i) highly lytic ovine lentiviruses, such as the Icelandic prototype strains of visna virus and persistent lentiviruses more related to CAEV, are naturally present in the ovine species, and (ii) irreversible cell lysis induced by highly lytic viruses does not result from a tissue culture adaptation of field isolates that were originally persistent but is instead the consequence of a genetic content distinct from that of persistent viruses.
MicroRNA-196a-5p is a potential prognostic marker of delayed lymph node metastasis in early-stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRs) are expected to serve as prognostic tools for cancer. However, many miRs have been reported as prognostic markers of recurrence or metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. We aimed to determine the prognostic markers in early-stage tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC). Based on previous studies, we hypothesized that miR-10a, 10b, 196a-5p, 196a-3p, and 196b were prognostic markers and we retrospectively performed miR expression analyses using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of surgical specimens. Total RNA was isolated from cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissue as control, and samples were collected by laser-capture microdissection. After cDNA synthesis, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed. Statistical analyses for patient clinicopathological characteristics, recurrence/metastasis, and survival rates were performed to discern their relationships with miR expression levels, and the 2−ΔΔCq method was used. miR-196a-5p levels were significantly upregulated in early-stage TSCC, particularly in the lymph node metastasis (LNM) group. The LNM-free survival rate in the low miR-196a-5p ΔΔCq value regulation group was found to be lower than that in the high ΔΔCq value regulation group (P=0.0079). Receiver operating characteristic analysis of ΔΔCq values revealed that miR-196a-5p had a P-value=0.0025, area under the curve=0.740, and a cut-off value=−0.875 for distinguishing LNM. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine LNM-related miRs in early-stage TSCC as well as miRs and ‘delayed LNM’ in head and neck cancer. miR-196a-5p upregulation may predict delayed LNM. Our data serve as a foundation for future studies to evaluate miR levels and facilitate the prediction of delayed LNM during early-stage TSCC, which prevent metastasis when combined with close follow-up and aggressive adjuvant therapy or elective neck dissection. Moreover, our data will serve as a foundation for future studies to evaluate whether miR-196a-5p can serve as a therapeutic marker for preventing metastasis.
Improved Sufficient Condition for Performance Guarantee in Generalized Orthogonal Matching Pursuit

We present sufficient conditions under which the generalized orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm recovers the true support set in the noiseless and noisy compressive sensing problems. We derive new bounds of inner products and norms of sparse signals using restricted isometry constants. The proposed sufficient conditions for the successful signal recovery are improved sufficient conditions over the existing ones.
Impact of High Protein Intake on Viral Load and Hematological Parameters in HIV-infected Patients.

BACKGROUND The impact of protein intake level leads to considerable alterations of the host essential amino acid profiles in the context of chronic viral infectious process. Amino acids play an important role in the pathogenesis of virus-related infections both as basic substrates for constant protein synthesis and as regulators in many metabolic pathways. The excess or deficiency of these host essential nutritional elements can play a limiting role in the life cycle of some viruses. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to determine the changes of hematological parameters and viral load due to the high protein and L-lysine amino acid intake in HIV-infected patients. METHODS Case-control study was performed in the Municipal Center of HIV/AIDS prophylaxis, Surgut, Russian Federation. RESULTS The obtained data indicate that excess of dietary protein and L-lysine can increase the risk of high HIV replication, subsequent acceleration of immunosuppression and the disease progression. The present survey shows that HIV-infected Khanty indigenous people have the highest levels of plasma L-lysine and HIV-1 RNA and a more pronounced state of immunosuppression in comparison with the total patients' cohort. CONCLUSION There was evidence for an association between plasma L-lysine level and viral load. These findings are important for understanding the pathogenic impact of animal protein and Llysine consumption on the HIV-1 RNA levels and must be considered in further research for the development of new approaches in the treatment of HIV infection in era of HAART.
Performance of a proportion‐based approach to meta‐analytic moderator estimation: results from Monte Carlo simulations

This research investigates the performance of a proportion‐based approach to meta‐analytic moderator estimation through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. This approach is most useful when the moderating potential of a categorical variable has not been recognized in primary research and thus heterogeneous groups have been pooled together as a single sample. Alternative scenarios representing different distributions of group proportions are examined along with varying numbers of studies, subjects per study, and correlation combinations. Our results suggest that the approach is largely unbiased in its estimation of the magnitude of between‐group differences and performs well with regard to statistical power and type I error. In particular, the average percentage bias of the estimated correlation for the reference group is positive and largely negligible, in the 0.5–1.8% range; the average percentage bias of the difference between correlations is also minimal, in the −0.1–1.2% range. Further analysis also suggests both biases decrease as the magnitude of the underlying difference increases, as the number of subjects in each simulated primary study increases, and as the number of simulated studies in each meta‐analysis increases. The bias was most evident when the number of subjects and the number of studies were the smallest (80 and 36, respectively). A sensitivity analysis that examines its performance in scenarios down to 12 studies and 40 primary subjects is also included. This research is the first that thoroughly examines the adequacy of the proportion‐based approach. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Digitalisation Success in Learning Organisation: Preliminary Outlook

he use of digital information tools in our daily life, demands technicalcompetencies to navigate through digital information successfully. Everylearning organisation today, facing a lot of challenges to keep theirinstitutions going, increasing in growth and sustainable effectively in amodest world. Knowledge is the main resource and the important essencein any of learning organisations. Knowledge management nowadays ispractically accessible through digital tools. The need on which digitalcompetency level and resources availability, are the key factors ondigitalisation success process. This only a concept paper, hence the purposeof this paper is to reveal that in a learning organisation, the digitalisationprocess maybe success with the help of technology, resources and thecompetences of the users. The concept is developed by an extensive literaturereview of on digitalisation and analysis of different knowledge sources ina learning organisation. The key concept can be used by practitioners indeveloping a learning organisation to guide them to choose a sufﬁcientsubset of tools that covers the digitalisation processes to ensure that noprocess is overlooked. The result of successful digitalisation is an interestingarea for further research. However, the current view on value underlies init offering practitioners in giving at least a starting point. The paper can beused by educational organisations to guide on successful in digitalisationprocess effectively and efﬁciently. The paper addresses some of the socialelements related to successful in learning organisations. However, it is more technically targeted. Researchers have analysed that holistic overview andthe effect of digital competence towards the successful of digitalisationprocess. Furthermore, limited research addresses the successful ofdigitalisation process because of the constrains in resources.
A study on the polymorphisms of the renin–angiotensin system pathway genes for their effect on blood pressure levels in males from Algeria

Introduction Several studies have assessed the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and polymorphisms within the genes encoding angiotensinogen (AGT), angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). However, considering the relatively large discrepancy in frequency and impact of these variants between ethnic groups and populations, still unavailable data from Algerian population are needed. Objective Our purpose is to evaluate the association between the AGT M235T, AT1R +1166A/C and ACE I/D polymorphisms and variations in systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and pulse pressure (PP) values. Methods The associations with BP were assessed in a representative sample of 115 male subjects free of coronary heart disease (CHD). The AGT M235T, AT1R +1166A/C and ACE I/D polymorphisms were determined by PCR-ASO and PCR-RFLP analysis, respectively. Results We showed no associations between the AGT M235T, AT1R +1166A/C nor the ACE I/D polymorphisms with variations in BP values. However, concerning the ACE I/D polymorphism, subjects carrying the ACE I allele tended to have higher SBP (+4.1 mmHg) and PP values (+3.2 mmHg) than DD subjects (adjusted p = 0.087 and p = 0.102, respectively). Conclusion The ACE I/D polymorphism needs further investigation in a larger Algerian study, especially concerning its putative impact on SBP and PP.
PTEN Represses RNA Polymerase I Transcription by Disrupting the SL1 Complex

ABSTRACT PTEN is a tumor suppressor whose function is frequently lost in human cancer. It possesses a lipid phosphatase activity that represses the activation of PI3 kinase/Akt signaling, leading to decreased cell growth, proliferation, and survival. The potential for PTEN to regulate transcription of the large rRNAs by RNA polymerase I (RNA Pol I) was investigated. As increased synthesis of rRNAs is a hallmark of neoplastic transformation, the ability of PTEN to control the transcription of rRNAs might be crucial for its tumor suppressor function. The expression of PTEN in PTEN-deficient cells represses RNA Pol I transcription, while decreasing PTEN expression enhances transcription. PTEN-mediated repression requires its lipid phosphatase activity and is independent of the p53 status of the cell. This event can be uncoupled from PTEN′s ability to regulate the cell cycle. RNA Pol I is regulated through PI3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin/S6 kinase, and the expression of constitutively activated S6 kinase is able to abrogate transcription repression by PTEN. No change in the expression of the RNA Pol I transcription components, upstream binding factor or SL1, was observed upon PTEN expression. However, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate that PTEN differentially reduces the occupancy of the SL1 subunits on the rRNA gene promoter. Furthermore, PTEN induces dissociation of the SL1 subunits. Together, these results demonstrate that PTEN represses RNA Pol I transcription through a novel mechanism that involves disruption of the SL1 complex.
P‐glycoprotein and BCL‐2 levels predict outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Summary. Concurrent resistance mechanisms, such as P‐glycoprotein (PGP) and bcl‐2, may contribute to a worse outcome in adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Between 1990 and 2000, we analysed PGP and bcl‐2 by flow cytometry, using two anti‐PGP (C219 and JSB‐1) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and an anti‐bcl‐2 mAb in 115 de novo adult ALL patients. Both a longer overall survival (OS) and longer disease‐free survival (DFS) were observed in PGP‐negative patients (23%vs 0% at 3 years, P = 0·011 and 29%vs 0% at 2 years, P = 0·006 for C219 respectively; 42%vs 0% at 1·5 years, P = 0·004 and 53%vs 0% at 8·5 months, P = 0·00006 for JSB‐1 respectively). Bcl‐2 positivity was associated with a significantly higher complete remission rate (90%vs 66%, P = 0·01). Moreover, in 69 patients not presenting with either t(9;22) or B‐mature immunophenotype, PGP negativity (JSB‐1) maintained its significant favourable prognostic impact with regard to OS (41%vs 0% at 1·5 years, P = 0·009) and DFS (83%vs 0% at 6 months, P = 0·0005). Importantly, within a subset of 62 patients with normal (n = 31) or unknown (n = 31) karyotype, PGP (JSB‐1)‐negative patients showed both a significantly longer OS and DFS (63%vs 0% at 1·4 years, P = 0·018 and 84%vs 0% at 6 months, P = 0·001 respectively). In multivariate analysis, JSB‐1 (P = 0·008) and cytogenetics (P = 0·02) were found to be independent prognostic factors with regard to DFS. Therefore, in adult ALL, PGP and bcl‐2 represent sensitive indicators of clinical outcome, and potential targets of novel molecules aimed at overcoming chemoresistance and recurrent relapses.
Does Wealth Matter for Responsible Investment? Experimental Evidence on the Weighing of Financial and Moral Arguments

Responsible investment is increasingly prevalent, and both financial and moral concerns can drive such investment. In this article, we investigate how responsible investors of different wealth weigh financial and moral arguments. Prior research on different factors that may codetermine responsible investment behavior yield competing predictions about the influence of personal wealth on investment. We conduct a large-scale natural field experiment on responsible investment, wherein we treat investors with financial, moral, and no arguments. We find that there is a statistically and economically significant difference in responsiveness to financial and moral arguments between investors of different wealth. Specifically, financial arguments are more effective than are moral arguments for high wealth investors but not for low wealth investors, and the effect is particularly high for the wealthiest investors. The findings hold for several different measures of wealth. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the moderating effect of wealth on responsible investment choice. Furthermore, these insights may enable more fine-tuned strategies to stimulate responsible investment among different individual investor segments.
Decreased Numbers of CD57+CD3- Cells Identify Potential Innate Immune Differences in Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

BACKGROUND/AIM Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex, and severe heterogeneous neurodevelopmental pathologies with accepted but complex immune system abnormalities. Additional knowledge regarding potential immune dysfunctions may provide a greater understanding of this malady. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CD57(+)CD3(-) mature lymphocyte subpopulation of natural killer cells as a marker of immune dysfunction in ASD. MATERIALS AND METHODS Three-color flow cytometry-based analysis of fresh peripheral blood samples from children with autism was utilized to measure CD57(+)CD3(-) lymphocytes. RESULTS A reduction of CD57(+)CD3(-) lymphocyte count was recorded in a significant number of patients with autism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION We demonstrated that the number of peripheral CD57(+)CD3(-) cells in children with autism often falls below the clinically accepted normal range. This implies that a defect in the counter-regulatory functions necessary for balancing pro-inflammatory cytokines exists, thus opening the way to chronic inflammatory conditions associated with ASD.
The Effect of Dividend Policy on Stock Price: Evidence from the Indian Market

One of the most debated issue in the field of corporate finance is the relationship between dividend policy and market price of share. There is good amount of literature for and against this issue. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate the effect of dividend policy on market prices of shares of Nifty 50 companies listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for 2008–2017. The data have been analysed by employing multiple panel data regression models namely pooled regression, fixed effect model and random effect model. The Hausman test has been used to suggest the most appropriate regression model. The result of the Hausman test indicates that random effect model is more relevant in describing the relationship among the given variables. The results of the random effect regression model support the relevant approaches of dividend policy. Thus, we conclude that there is significant effect of dividend policy on the stock price of firms.
Assessing the Potential of Sustainable Value Chains in the Collaborative Economy

The current business paradigm entails a narrow, profit-centered and managerially-focused nature. This article proposes that the study of the collaborative economy necessitates an inevitable shift in the conventional business paradigm and suggests that the institutional school of marketing thought, in general, and the electric theory of marketing, in particular, offers a useful theoretical framework for investigating the theoretical impact of the collaborative economy on the value chain. Uber is used as an illustrative case, on which the electric theory of marketing is applied, to demonstrate how the archetype of the collaborative economy theoretically impacts the value chain and contributes to sustainability in the value chain in the transportation services industry. The study provides further insights in the form of suggestions and propositions for ensuring sustainability in the value chain of collaborative systems.
Rapid and Specific Detection of Toxigenic Staphylococcus aureus: Use of Two Multiplex PCR Enzyme Immunoassays for Amplification and Hybridization of Staphylococcal Enterotoxin Genes, Exfoliative Toxin Genes, and Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 Gene

ABSTRACT Two multiplex PCR enzyme immunoassays (PCR-EIAs) were developed forStaphylococcus aureus exotoxin gene screening as an alternative to the conventional biological assays, which depend on detectable amounts of toxins produced. One set of oligonucleotide primers and probes was designed to search for enterotoxin A to E genes (entA, entB, entC,entD, and entE), and the other one was designed to detect the staphylococcal exfoliative toxin genes (etaand etb) and the toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 gene (tst). Oligonucleotide primers were used as published previously, modified or newly developed to meet the requirements of both good size-distinguishable amplification bands of multiplex PCR and the temperature limit of the uracil DNA glycosylase system for carryover protection. Amplification products were visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis, and specificity was controlled with the aid of a DNA EIA system using oligonucleotide probes derived from the sequences of the S. aureus toxin genes. PCR procedures were performed by using template nucleic acids extracted from a panel of S. aureus reference strains and from a collection of 50 clinical strains. The PCR results were compared with those of immunological toxin production assays. This multiplex PCR-EIA system offers an alternative method for the rapid, sensitive, specific, and simultaneous detection of the clinically important exotoxin potency of isolatedS. aureus strains for diagnostic purposes as well as research studies.