Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association between Polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor Gene ApaI, BsmI and TaqI and Muscular Strength in Young Chinese Women

UNLABELLED The association between the polymorphisms of vitamin D receptor gene ApaI, BsmI and TaqI and isokinetic muscular strength was examined in 109 healthy, young Chinese women. METHODS Genomic DNA was extracted from mouthwash samples and vitamin D receptor genotypes were determined with the established methods. The peak torque of the dominant limb in concentric and eccentric knee extensors and flexors and elbow extensors and flexors was measured using Cybex-Norm-770 isokinetic dynamometer at slow and fast velocities. The distribution frequency of vitamin D receptor gene alleles was analyzed by chi-square test. The difference in muscular strength between VDR genotype groups was analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The ApaI, BsmI and TaqI alleles and genotype frequencies appeared to be in a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Subjects with the vitamin D receptor ApaI null (A allele) mutation (AA) exhibited significantly lower knee and elbow concentric or eccentric peak torque than those with aa homozygous or Aa heterozygous. The BB & Bb group showed significantly higher peak torque in concentric knee flexors than bb group. No association was found between vitamin D receptor gene TaqI and muscular strength. The data indicated that vitamin D receptor gene ApaI and BsmI polymorphisms rather than TaqI polymorphism might be associated with muscular strength.
HIV transmission and 24-month survival in a randomized trial of HAART to prevent MTCT during pregnancy and breastfeeding in Botswana

Objectives:HAART for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) may impact long-term survival of women and children. Design:Randomized clinical trial. Methods:HIV-infected pregnant women with CD4+ cell count at least 200 cells/&mgr;l were randomly assigned to abacavir, zidovudine, lamivudine (arm A) or lopinavir–ritonavir, zidovudine–lamivudine (arm B) from week 26 to 34 gestation through planned weaning by 6 months postpartum. Women with baseline CD4+ cell count less than 200 cells/&mgr;l received nevirapine–zidovudine–lamivudine indefinitely (Obs arm), as did randomized women later qualifying for treatment. Results:Among 560 randomized and 170 observational women enrolled, there were 14 deaths (1.9%) – one antenatally (Obs), three from delivery to 6 months postpartum (1 arm A, 2 Obs), and 10 from 6 to 24 months postpartum (5 arm A, 3 arm B, 2 Obs). Time to death or CD4+ cell count below 200 cells/&mgr;l was shorter in arm A vs. B (P = 0.03). Of the 709 live-born children, 97% breastfed for a median of 5.8 months. Of 37 (5.2%) deaths by 24 months, nine were before breastfeeding initiated (3 arm A, 2 arm B, 4 Obs); six while breastfeeding (1 arm A, 2 arm B, 3 Obs); and 22 after weaning (9 arm A, 11 arm B, 2 Obs). Only eight children (1.1%) were HIV-infected at 24 months (6 arm A, 1 arm B, 1 Obs), all before 6 months. Conclusion:Low MTCT was maintained through extended follow-up in all arms. Disease progression appeared slower after discontinuing protease inhibitor-based HAART, but a concerning number of maternal deaths occurred after stopping either regimen. Strategies to improve maternal and child survival in the postintervention period are required.
Falls among community‐dwelling elderly people of Hokkaido, Japan

Background: Although the circumstances surrounding falls among community‐dwelling elderly people have been described by numerous studies, there are few that have reported falls in the northern regions of Japan, such as Hokkaido, that experience a severe winter with heavy snow. As a preliminary study, we surveyed the circumstances of falls among community‐dwelling elderly people in Hokkaido with a self‐administered questionnaire.
Is There a Case for Intergenerational Transmission of Female Labour Force Participation and Educational Attainment? Evidence from Greece During the Crisis

Using logit regressions techniques for binary response models, fit by maximum likelihood with robust standard errors, the analysis investigates the intergenerational transmission of female labour force participation and the intergenerational transmission of educational outcomes in Greece. To conduct this study, we pioneer in the utilization of a unique dataset, the European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) for Greece. Data refer to 2011 when the first elements of the economic adjustment programme were being put into place. Most importantly, the EU-SILC 2011 wave is the latest one to include an ad hoc module on the intergenerational transmission of disadvantages. Results show that a wife’s labour force participation decision is related to her husband’s mother’s and mother’s participation, and even more strongly related to her own level of educational achievement along with the number of children in the household. The labour force participation of the mother of the husband is more important than that of the woman’s own mother, indicating a strong transmission of the husband’s cultural model. Concerning educational attainment, parental educational background, and especially maternal, is identified as a key determinant of women’s high level of educational achievement.
Functional and Compositional Stability of Bacterial Metacommunities in Response to Salinity Changes

Disturbances and environmental change are important factors determining the diversity, composition, and functioning of communities. However, knowledge about how natural bacterial communities are affected by such perturbations is still sparse. We performed a whole ecosystem manipulation experiment with freshwater rock pools where we applied salinity disturbances of different intensities. The aim was to test how the compositional and functional resistance and resilience of bacterial communities, alpha- and beta-diversity and the relative importance of stochastic and deterministic community assembly processes changed along a disturbance intensity gradient. We found that bacterial communities were functionally resistant to all salinity levels (3, 6, and 12 psu) and compositionally resistant to a salinity increase to 3 psu and resilient to increases of 6 and 12 psu. Increasing salinities had no effect on local richness and evenness, beta-diversity and the proportion of deterministically vs. stochastically assembled communities. Our results show a high functional and compositional stability of bacterial communities to salinity changes of different intensities both at local and regional scales, which possibly reflects long-term adaptation to environmental conditions in the study system.
Survival role of protein kinase C (PKC) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and determination of isoform expression pattern and genes altered by PKC inhibition

Recent studies have suggested that protein kinase C (PKC) activation plays an important role in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In order to characterize the role of PKC in CLL, we investigated the expression pattern of PKC isoforms in CLL cells (7 cases) and evaluated the effect of PKC inhibition on the survival of CLL cells (20 cases). Expression of the classical PKC isoforms β and γ, the novel isoform δ and the atypical isoform ζ was seen in all analyzed patient samples by Western blot analysis. Expression of the PKC isoforms α, ε, and ι was variable. Following incubation with the PKC inhibitor, safingol, CLL cells underwent marked apoptosis in all cases. In order to characterize the molecular events associated with the apoptotic effect of PKC inhibition, gene expression patterns in CLL cells were evaluated by cDNA‐microarray analysis. Following safingol treatment, several genes showed marked downregulation and PKC‐related proteins demonstrated decreased hybridization signals. Among these proteins, CREB and Daxx were further studied by using Western blotting, nuclear binding assay and confocal immunofluorescent microscopy. These studies showed significant inhibition of these proteins, consistent with the results of microarray gene analysis. Overall, these findings suggest that PKC activation is important for CLL cell survival and that inhibitors of PKC may have a role in the treatment of patients with CLL. Am. J. Hematol. 79:97–106, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithm for minimax optimization

Minimax optimization requires to minimize the maximum output in all possible scenarios. It is a very challenging problem to evolutionary computation. In this paper, we propose a surrogate-assisted evolutionary algorithm, Minimax SAEA, for tackling minimax optimization problems. In Minimax SAEA, a surrogate model based on Gaussian process is built to approximate the mapping between the decision variables and the objective value. In each generation, most of the new solutions are evaluated based on the surrogate model and only the best one is evaluated by the actual objective function. Minimax SAEA is tested on six benchmark problems and the experimental results show that Minimax SAEA can successfully solve five of them within 110 function evaluations.
Vaccinia virus membrane proteins p8 and p16 are cotranslationally inserted into the rough endoplasmic reticulum and retained in the intermediate compartment

The use of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis has identified the gene products A14L (p16) and A13L (p8) as abundant membrane proteins of the first infectious form of vaccinia virus, the intracellular mature virus (IMV; O. N. Jensen, T. Houthaeve, A. Shevchenko, S. Cudmore, T. Ashford, M. Mann, G. Griffiths, J. Krijnse Locker, J. Virol. 70:7485-7497, 1996). In this study, these two proteins were characterized in detail. In infected cells, both proteins localize not only to the viral membranes but also to tubular-cisternal membranes of the intermediate compartment, defined by the use of antibodies to either rab1A or p21, which colocalize with rab1A (J. Krijnse Locker, S. Schleich, D. Rodriguez, B. Goud, E. J. Snijder, and G. Griffiths, J. Biol. Chem. 271:14950-14958, 1996). Both proteins appear to reach this destination via cotranslational insertion into the rough endoplasmic reticulum, as shown by in vitro translation and translocation experiments. Whereas p16 probably spans the membrane twice, p8 is inserted into the membrane by means of its single NH2-terminal hydrophobic domain, adopting a topology which leaves the C terminus exposed to the cytoplasm. Combined immunocytochemical and biochemical data show that p16 is a member of the inner of the two IMV membrane layers, whereas p8 localizes to both the inner and the outer membrane. These findings are discussed with respect to our model of IMV membrane assembly.
Circadian regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis proteins in mouse bone marrow and tumor

Proapoptotic drugs such as docetaxel displayed least toxicity and highest antitumor efficacy following dosing during the circadian rest phase in mice, suggesting that cell cycle and apoptotic processes could be regulated by the circadian clock. In study 1, mouse bone marrow and/or tumor were obtained every 4 h for 24 h in C3H/HeN mice with or without MA13/C mammary adenocarcinoma in order to determine the circadian patterns in cell‐cycle phase distribution and BCL‐2 anti‐apoptotic protein expression. In study 2, mouse bone marrow from B6D2F1 mice was sampled every 3 h for 24 h in order to confirm the BCL‐2 rhythm and to study its relation with 24 h changes in the expression of proapoptotic BCL‐2‐associated X protein (BAX) protein and clock genes mPer2, mBmal1, mClock, and mTim mRNAs. The rhythms in G1‐, S‐ or G2/M‐phase cells were shifted in tumor compared with bone marrow. In the tumor, the mean proportion of G2/M‐phase cells increased by 75% from late rest to late activity span (P from cosinor = 0.001). No 24 h rhythm was found for BCL‐2 in tumors. In contrast to this, in the bone marrow, mean BCL‐2 expression varied 2.8‐fold in B6D2F1 mice (P=0.025) and 3‐ or 4.5‐fold in tumor‐bearing and nontumor‐bearing C3H/HeN mice, with a peak during the early rest span (P=0.024 and P<0.001, respectively). BAX varied fivefold during the 24 h span with a major peak occurring near mid‐activity (P=0.007). The mean mRNAs of mPer2, mClock, and mBmal1 varied twofold to threefold over the 24 h, with high values during the activity span (P<0.05). In the tumor, the circadian organization in cell‐cycle phase distribution was shifted and BCL2 rhythm was ablated. Conversely, a molecular circadian clock likely regulated BCL‐2 and BAX expression in the bone marrow, increasing cellular protection against apoptosis during the rest span.
Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor and Urinary Neopterin Concentrations in Malignant Lymphoma

The serum concentrations of soluble interleukin-2 receptors and urine neopterin were studied in 82 patients with malignant lymphomas (25 patients with Hodgkin's disease and 57 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Increases in soluble interleukin-2 receptors and in urinary neopterin were significantly correlated with the clinical phase of the disease. The average values in both Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients suffering from the disease in its active phase were significantly higher than those of patients in complete remission. Neopterin concentrations (but not soluble interleukin-2 receptor concentrations) were also elevated in clinical stages III-IV of each disease. Urinary neopterin correlated directly and significantly with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and inversely with haemoglobin. Finally, a longitudinal analysis showed a general tendency for the markers to return to normal values, in accordance with the favourable outcome of therapy; this was more evident for urinary neopterin than for soluble interleukin-2 receptors. These findings seem to confirm that soluble interleukin-2 receptors and especially urinary neopterin can be useful markers for monitoring and prognosis of malignant lymphomas.
Subjective Time in Near and Far Representational Space

ObjectiveWe set out to measure healthy subjects' estimates of temporal duration during the imagination of left and right sides of an object located in either near or far representational space. BackgroundDuration estimates during the observation of small-scale scenes are shorter than those during the observation of the same scenes presented in a larger scale. It is not known whether a similar space-time relationship also exists for objects merely imagined and whether subjective time varies with a forced focus on either the left or the right side of a mental image. MethodsEyes closed, 40 healthy, right-handed subjects (20 women) had to imagine a standard Swiss railway clock either at a distance of 30 cm or 6 m. They were required to focus on the imagined movement of the second hand and provide estimates of elapsed durations of 15 and 30 seconds. Separate estimates for the left and right side of the clockface were obtained. The magnitude of implicit line bisection error was assessed in a separate task. ResultsIrrespective of side of the clockface, duration estimates were shorter for the clockface imagined in far space than for the one imagined immediately in front of the inner eye. For men, but not women, duration judgments (left relative to right side of the clockface) correlated with relative lengths of left and right line segments in the bisection task. ConclusionsSubjective time seems to run faster during the inspection of a small-size compared with a larger-size mental image. This finding underlines the equivalence of the laws that guide both exploration and representation of space. Together with the observed correlation between spatial and temporal measures of lateral asymmetries, the result also illustrates the conceptual similarities in the processing of space and time. The normative data presented here may be useful for clinical applications of the paradigm in patients with hemispatial neglect or a distorted perception of time.
Exploring the effects of corporate governance and human governance on management commentary disclosure

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of corporate governance and human governance on management commentary disclosure among Malaysian Public Listed in the Main Market, Bursa Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe annual reports of 150 companies listed on the main market, Bursa Malaysia, for the year ended 2014, are examined to analyze the company’s management commentary disclosure using content analysis. A management commentary disclosure index was developed based on the five elements that had been established by the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB) in Practices of Management Commentary’s framework. The study considers four corporate governance mechanisms such as board composition, board size, board’s education and ownership structure. Structural equation modeling (SEM -PLS), partial least squares (PLS) and SmartPLS software were used to measure the impact of corporate governance and human capital on management commentary disclosure.FindingsThe results reveal that most of the information disclosure by Malaysian Listed companies was not presented in a complete and balanced manner and not providing an insight because they are more focused on describing the process. Besides, there was no clear link between companies’ strategies and performance measure. Consequently, the reporting is not balanced and cannot assist the shareholders in understanding the opportunities and risk associated with the business. The results, based on a structural model, indicated that only two variables, namely, board size and board independence, showed a positive and significant influence on the degree of disclosure information of management commentary. Board independence is the most significant variable that influences the degree of corporate governance and human capital on management commentary disclosure.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the information disclosure literature as it presents in empirical evidence proving that governance mechanism affects the management commentary disclosure of information by companies. This study also provides additional information which is expedient to other researchers since there is lack of studies in management commentary which relates the attributes of corporate and human governance mechanisms as key drivers in providing management commentary information. Importantly, this study will stimulate the interest of academics in research activities concerning the attributes of governance mechanisms and corporate and human governance on management commentary activities.
Social Engagement After Nursing Home Admission: Racial and Ethnic Disparities and Risk Factors

Older adults admitted to nursing homes (NHs) are at risk for low social engagement, which has associations with medical, psychological, and social well-being. Minorities may be at a disadvantage for social engagement because of their racial or ethnic group identity. This study assessed whether there were racial/ethnic disparities in social engagement among older adults (N = 15,927) at 1 year after their NH admission using multi-level predictors. No racial or ethnic-based disparities in social engagement were found; hence, an analysis of risk factors at NH admission that predicted low social engagement at 1 year for all residents was conducted. Significant risk factors for low social engagement were low social engagement at admission, deficits in activities in daily living and cognition, problems with vision and communication, and residing in an NH in an urban community. Results highlight the importance of initiating interventions to increase social engagement at the time of NH admission.
IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE ACTIVITY OF SERUM FROM LIVER‐GRAFTED RATS: PASSIVE ENHANCEMENT OF FULLY ALLOGENEIC HEART GRAFTS AND INDUCTION OF SYSTEMIC TOLERANCE

Immunological enhancement of allogeneic heart graft survival by serum from rats tolerized by liver grafting has been studied. Serum taken from long-term-surviving PVG rats carrying orthotopic DA liver transplants (OLT serum) was able to increase the survival time of PVG.RT1a heterotopic heart grafts in PVG recipients. Administration of 1 ml of OLT serum at the time of heart grafting led to permanent survival of the grafts in all animals. The recipients became systemically tolerant of RT1a and several weeks later were able to accept permanently skin grafts from the same donor strain, while rejecting third-party grafts. Enhancement appeared to be mediated initially by IgG antibodies in the OLT serum against class II donor RT1a antigens; significant enhancement was produced by as little as 100 μg of antibody. Recipient alloantibody responses following enhancement were studied and showed selective suppression of the anti-class-I (RT1Aa) antibody levels, while the anti-class-II antibody response was apparently unaffected. The implications of these results for mechanisms of unresponsiveness following enhancement and liver transplantation are discussed.
An evaluation of the media coverage of Aisling Brady McCarthy, through ‘The Boston Nanny’ Case: Distinguishing the differences between localised, tabloid and broadsheet Irish print media and American print media reports.

Aisling Brady McCarthy featured in global headlines in January 2013, when she was first charged with the death of a baby which had been in her care for several months, whilst she worked as a nanny in America. Comparable to all murder stories Aisling’s case received a high level of attention, as the case had strong evidence weaknesses from the start. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the manner in which Aisling was reported on throughout the ‘Boston Nanny Trial’, with particular examination of Irish and American print media organisations. My research was centred on a content analysis approach using media framing, coding and tonality assessments. The data sample involved three Irish print media organisations and one American print media organisation, The Boston Globe, The Irish Daily Mail, The Anglo Celt and The Irish Independent. The basis for this data sample selection was to include, a broadsheet, tabloid, American and local example of a print media establishment. This dissertation analysed data from 2013 until the trail ended in 2015 when Aisling was exempt of the murder charges. The dissertation aims are to determine whether there are any similarities between the Irish and American print media organisations as well as any diversity in the reporting of the ‘Boston Nanny Case’ by the chosen Irish newspapers. The content analysis highlighted a wide range of similarities in the Irish and American case coverage with the Irish Daily Mail and The Boston Globe having increased news coverage in 2015, while The Irish Independent and The Anglo Celt seen its highest rate of news coverage in 2013. Overall, the attribution of responsibility frame was the most dominant throughout the data, with the human interest frame utilised most often by The Anglo Celt. The tonality of nearly all of the newspapers proved to be generally neutral with The Anglo Celt producing the most positive articles concerning Aisling and her case. The Boston Globe’s coverage of the ‘Boston Nanny Case’ presents a very different interpretation of the mainstream US media, by reporting on the case in a generally neutral way, with some opinion based reports suggesting the evidence surrounding Aisling’s case to be faulty. Moreover, The Anglo Celt, which was selected as a local print media example displayed some signs of favouritism and a non-objective tone towards Aisling with an early judgement of her innocents.