Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective effects of prostaglandin A1 in rat models of permanent focal cerebral ischemia are associated with nuclear factor‐κB inhibition and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ up‐regulation

We have previously reported that prostaglandin A1 (PGA1) reduces infarct size in rodent models of focal ischemia. This study seeks to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying PGA1's neuroprotective effects against ischemic injury. Rats were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) by intraluminal suture blockade. PGA1 was injected intracerebroventricularly (icv) immediately after ischemic onset. Western blot analysis was employed to determine alterations in IκBα, pIKKα, and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ). Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) p65 and the expression of PPAR‐γ. RT‐PCR was used to detect levels of c‐Myc mRNA. The contribution of PPAR‐γ to PGA1's neuroprotection was evaluated by pretreatment with the PPAR‐γ irreversible antagonist GW9662. A brief increase in pIKKα levels and rapid reduction in IκBα were observed after ischemia. PGA1 blocked ischemia‐induced increases in pIKKα levels and reversed the decline in IκBα levels. Ischemia‐induced nuclear translocation of NF‐κB p65 was attenuated by PGA1. PGA1 also repressed the ischemia‐induced increase in expression of NF‐κB target gene c‐Myc mRNA. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated an increase in PPAR‐γ immunoreactivity in the nucleus of striatal cells at 3 hr after pMCAO. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of PPAR‐γ protein significantly increased at 12 hr and peaked at 24 hr. PGA1 enhanced the ischemia‐triggered induction of PPAR‐γ protein. Pretreatment with the irreversible PPAR‐γ antagonist GW9662 attenuated PGA1's neuroprotection against ischemia. These findings suggest that PGA1‐mediated neuroprotective effect against ischemia appears to be associated with blocking NF‐κB activation and likely with up‐regulating PPAR‐γ expression. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Leakage of aquaporin 5 in the tear of dacryoadenitis mice.

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to investigate whether leakage of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) in tear is associated with damage of lacrimal glands (LGs) in dacryoadenitis models. METHODS Female MRL/lpr (24-week-old), male NOD/Shi Jci (5-, 8-, and 10-week-old), female NFS/s-TX (10-week-old), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced dacryoadenitis model mice were used. Tear fluid was collected by a cotton thread. Tear proteins in the thread were dissolved in sodium dodecyl sulfate buffer, and AQP5 proteins were analyzed by the Western blot technique using anti-AQP5 antibody. LGs were prepared for hematoxylin and eosin staining or immunostaining of AQP5. RESULTS In MRL/lpr, NFS/s-TX, 8- and 10-week-old NOD/Shi Jci mice, AQP5 protein was detected in the tear by Western blot analysis. Inflammatory lymphocyte infiltrations were observed in LGs of these dacryoadenitis model mice. In contrast, AQP5 leakage and damage of LG were not observed in normal mice. In 5-week-old NOD/Shi Jci mice, infiltration was not seen in LG, and AQP5 leakage was not detected in the tear. In LPS-induced dacryoadenitis model mice, either tissue destruction with inflammation in LG or AQP5 leakage in the tear was observed. AQP5 in the tear and tissue inflammation in LGs was not found in control mice. These results indicate that AQP5 is leaked in tears when LGs are damaged by dacryoadenitis. CONCLUSIONS Leakage of AQP5 in the tear was found to be related to LG damage. This finding suggests that detection of AQP5 in tear is useful for specific diagnosis of LG disorders with tissue destruction.
Abdominal Obesity in Adult Nigerian Africans: Prevalence and Co-Occurrence with Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in a Resource Poor Setting of a Rural Hospital in Eastern Nigeria

Background: Abdominal obesity is socially and culturally not recognized as a health problem in Nigeria. However, the deleterious effects of abdominal obesity are on the cardio-metabolic disorders such as hypertension, dysglycaemia and dyslipidaemia. Of great concern in rural Nigeria is that most adult patients with abdominal obesity are not routinely diagnosed and therefore do not receive appropriate management Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of abdominal obesity in adult Nigerian Africans and its co-occurrence with cardio-metabolic risk factors in a resource poor setting of a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria Methods: This was a descriptive study carried out from June 2008 to June 2011. A total of 3012 adult patients aged 18-91 years were screened for abdominal obesity using the third report of National Cholesterol Education Panel(NCEP) in adult (ATP III) criterion and 350 patients who had WC ≥102cm and ≥88cm for men and women respectively were screened for cardio-metabolic risk factors. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia were defined using JNC 7, American Diabetic Association and the third report of NCEP in adult (ATP III) criteria respectively. The data collected included basic demographic variables, blood pressure, waist circumference, and fasting lipid profile and plasma glucose. Results: . The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 11.6%. The most common co-occurring primary cardio-metabolic risk factor was hypertension (44.6%). Others included isolated dyslipidaemia(22.6%) and diabetes mellitus(7.1%). Conclusion: Abdominal obesity exists among the study population and co-occurred with cardio-metabolic risk factors with hypertension being the most frequent and diabetes the least. Abdominal obesity should be considered during clinical encounter with adult Nigerians in the study area alongside the complex of other primary cardio-metabolic risk factors.
From school to work: Coherence between learning in school and learning in workplaces for apprentices in the Media graphics programme in Norway

A key challenge in vocational education and training (VET) programmes is the lack of coherence between the school-based and the enterprise-based parts of learning. This study explores the conditions that are important for the perception of coherence between learning in school and workplaces by interviewing apprentices enrolled in the Media graphics programme in Norway. In addition to the views of apprentices, the study also includes the perspectives of other participants in the vocational education system, such as media teachers and instructors in the workplaces and apprenticeship training office. The interview data revealed that the media education in school had facilitated the students’ learning primarily by allowing them to work on authentic media productions. Despite this, however, some of the apprentices experienced a lack of coherence between learning in school and learning in enterprises, mainly because there were few opportunities to specialise in their chosen vocation in school, and limited cooperation between schools and workplaces about placement periods.
Histochemical distribution of endothelin‐converting enzyme subtypes in Podarcis sicula (Squamata, Lacertidae) tissues

The distribution of endothelin‐converting enzyme (ECE) in the lizard Podarcis sicula was investigated immunohistochemically using antibodies against endothelin‐converting enzyme ECE‐1 and endothelin‐converting enzyme ECE‐2 homologues. In all the tissues examined, immunoreactivity for both antibodies was found, although the distribution and degree of expression varied. Strong immunoreactivity was found in the endothelial cells and chromaffin tissue for both enzymes, whereas other tissues such as nervous tissue, renal tissue and hepatocytes display distinct patterns. Current knowledge does not allow correlation of these distribution patterns to specific functions but the data suggest that, in reptiles as in mammals, ECE is probably involved in physiological functions such as paracrine activity through endothelins and/or other substrates.
The hypervariable region 1 protein of hepatitis C virus broadly reactive with sera of patients with chronic hepatitis C has a similar amino acid sequence with the consensus sequence.

Hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) proteins of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have been reported to react broadly with sera of patients with HCV infection. However, the variability of the broad reactivity of individual HVR1 proteins has not been elucidated. We assessed the reactivity of 25 different HVR1 proteins (genotype 1b) with sera of 81 patients with HCV infection (genotype 1b) by Western blot. HVR1 proteins reacted with 2-60 sera. The number of sera reactive with each HVR1 protein significantly correlated with the number of amino acid residues identical to the consensus sequence defined by Puntoriero et al. (G. Puntoriero, A. Lahm, S. Zucchelli, B. B. Ercole, R. Tafi, M. Penzzanera, M. U. Mondelli, R. Cortese, A. Tramontano, G. Galfre', and A. Nicosia. 1998. EMBO J. 17, 3521-3533. ) (r = 0.561, P < 0.005). The most widely reactive HVR1 protein, 12-22, had a sequence similar to the consensus sequence. The peptide with C-terminal 13-amino-acids sequence of HVR1 protein 12-22 (NH2-CSFTSLFTPGPSQK) was injected into rabbits as an immunogen. The rabbit immune sera reacted with 9 of 25 HVR1 proteins of genotype 1b including HVR1 protein 12-22 and with 3 of 12 proteins of genotype 2a. These results indicate that the HVR1 protein broadly reactive with patients' sera has a sequence similar to the consensus sequence, can induce broadly reactive sera, and could be one of the candidate immunogens in a prophylactic vaccine against HCV.
A Compact Broadband MEMS-Integrated Diversity System

A multidisciplinary-research effort encompassing compact broadband antenna design, indoor channel characterization, and an RF microelectromechanical-system (RF MEMS) technology with its application to a diversity system for indoor wireless communications is presented in this paper. We first introduce a coplanar waveguide-fed compact wideband antenna and characterize its impedance and radiation characteristics. The antenna has a 42% impedance bandwidth covering the frequency band of 4-6 GHz. Subsequently, a series of experiments are conducted to characterize the diversity performance of a system using three elements of the proposed antenna for nonline-of-sight indoor multipath environments. From these experiments, we evaluate the performance of the diversity system by calculating power correlation coefficients, power imbalance, and diversity gain. Microwave-laminate-compatible RF MEMS process technology, which has been recently developed in the author's group, is used to construct a microelectromechanically switched pattern-diversity antenna on RT/Duroid5870 microwave laminate. Radiation and impedance characteristics of this antenna are provided, and its reconfigurability capabilities for mobile environment are discussed
Development and Characterisation of a Glutamate‐Sensitive Motor Neurone Cell Line

Abstract: Modification of the growth conditions of NSC‐34 mouse neuroblastoma × motor neurone cells by serum depletion promotes the expression of functional glutamate receptors as the cells mature into a form that bears the phenotypic characterisation of motor neurones. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated the presence of the glutamate receptor proteins NMDAR1, NMDAR2A/B, GluR1, GluR2, GluR2/3, GluR4, GluR6/7, and KA2. Toxicity assays using cell counting techniques demonstrated a mild but significant cell death (∼30%, p < 0.01) following a 24‐h exposure to 1 mM glutamate that could be prevented by the presence of the glutamate receptor antagonists (+)‐5‐methyl‐10, 11‐dihydro‐5H‐dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten‐5, 10‐imine maleate (10 μM) and 2,3‐dioxo‐6‐nitro‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydrobenzo[f]quinoxaline‐7‐sulphonamide (1 μM). As an indication of glutamate receptor functional activity a novel approach was used to detect the production of free radicals following stimulation with glutamate receptor agonists. The release of superoxide free radicals was detected using a microelectrochemical sensor following addition of glutamate receptor agonists to the cell bathing solution. Alterations in intracellular calcium concentrations were examined using fura‐2 imaging. Exposure of the differentiated NSC‐34 cells to glutamate leads to an increase in intracellular calcium concentrations that is prevented by the presence of glutamate receptor antagonists. The motor neurone origin of these cells makes them particularly useful for investigating the potential role of glutamatergic toxicity in motor neurone degeneration.
One Money, One Market

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional group in South Asia, which comprises the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. The surface area of SAARC member countries is 5.13 million square km. It is the second most populous and most densely populated geographical region in the world. A group of countries facing symmetric shocks are benefited to introduce a common currency. This book develops a five-variable Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model to test the symmetry of five types of shocks i.e., external global and regional; domestic supply, interest rate and exchange rate shocks. The results show asymmetric correlations among domestic shocks. In addition, lower factor mobility, lower degree of intra-regional trade, and lack of political integration suggest that the SAARC countries are not yet ready to introduce a common currency.
Usefulness of contrast-enhanced transabdominal ultrasound for tumor classification and tumor staging in the pancreatic head

Abstract Objective. To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and compare it to ultrasound (US) and 64-slice-CT (64-CT) for diagnosing, staging and evaluation of resectability of pancreatic cancer. Material and methods. US, CEUS and 64-CT were performed in 49 consecutive patients with pancreatic head tumors and with suspected cancer. After evaluation 44 patients had pancreatic head adenocarcinoma and 5 had chronic pancreatitis, all confirmed by histology. Results. The sensitivity of US, CEUS and 64-CT for diagnosing malignant pancreatic head tumors was 89%, 86% and 93%, respectively, and the overall accuracy was 82%, 86% and 88% respectively. There was no significant difference in the malignant tumor size measurement between US and CEUS (p = 0.3619) or between US and 64-CT (p = 0.2129), but a significant difference was seen in the size measured by CEUS and 64-CT (p = 0.0197). The CEUS measurements on the tumor size were smaller. The overall accuracy for M staging of the patients who had surgery for adenocarcinoma was 86% and 90% for US + CEUS and 64-CT, respectively. By performing the CEUS and 64-CT we additionally found, respectively, 35% and 45% non-resectable patients of a group of patients, who were considered resectable on the primary radiological image material. Conclusions. CEUS may be a useful diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and staging of pancreatic head tumors. For the assessment of resectability CEUS did not prove useful. However, CEUS seemed very useful as an additional instrument in the detection of non-resectable patients already considered resectable on primary radiological image material.
ICR-Induced Frameshift Mutations in the Histidine Operon of Salmonella

Both the acridine half-mustard, ICR191, and the nonalkylating azaacridine derivative, ICR364-OH, induce three classes of frameshift mutations in the histidine operon of Salmonella typhimurium. (i) One class is completely stable in reversion tests and is presumed to represent deletion of one or a few critical nucleotide pairs or two nearby frameshifts. One extended deletion was found out of 11 stable mutations. (ii) Of two spontaneously reverting classes which also are considered to predominantly involve base deletions, one is unaffected in reversion with ICR191, nitrosoguanidine, and diethylsulfate, and the other is induced to revert with ICR191. (iii) A third class, considered to predominantly involve base additions, responds in reversion tests with ICR191 as well as with nitrosoguanidine and diethylsulfate. Other investigators have shown that one mutant of this class is a “plus” frameshift and that nitrosoguanidine acts in reversion to delete a guanine plus cytosine base pair. Although such plus frameshifts are found with high frequency among mutations selected from acridine-treated bacteria or when strong selection pressure is applied for their detection in reversion tests, data from this laboratory indicate that this class of plus frameshifts is rare among mutations derived spontaneously or after treatment with a variety of other mutagens. Finally, we demonstrate that the alkylating ICR191 and the nonalkylating ICR364-OH preferentially cause mutations in different chromosome regions and that their spectra of activity only partially overlap that found for spontaneous frameshift mutations.
The Influence of “Sin Tax” on the Economic Sustainability of Small, Medium and Micro Liquor Store Enterprises in the Northern Suburbs of the Cape Metropolis, South Africa

Abstract In South Africa, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) are imperative in providing employment opportunities and alleviating poverty. As such, the contribution of SMMEs towards economic growth is highly valued. SMMEs constitute 97 percent of all businesses in South Africa; contributing 35 percent to the national Gross Domestic Product. Despite the latter, research shows that 70 percent of SMMEs fail within their first three years of operation; caused by numerous factors that affect their overall sustainability. A major factor these entities face is high taxation rates; making it difficult for SMMEs to become sustainable. The main objective of this study was to determine the extent to which customs and excise duties influence the economic sustainability of SMMEs. The study was exploratory and quantitative in nature and non-probability sampling was used to obtain data from respondents. It was found that SMMEs’ economic sustainability was adversely affected by customs and excise duties.
Spatial Heterogeneity of Typical Ecosystem Services and Their Relationships in Different Ecological–Functional Zones in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Region, China

Recognizing changes in ecosystem services (ES) and their relationships is the basis of achieving sustainable regional development. Regional collaborative development has become the core strategy of the development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (BTH) region. However, sub regions have different ecological changes and relationships. Here, we quantify and map ES, including water yield, sediment retention, carbon sequestration and grain productive capacity in 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, using several biophysical models and explore the relationships of spatial correction, trade-offs and synergies among multiple ES in different spatial scales. Results across the four years show that the quality and variation tendency of ES from each region are spatially heterogeneous. The relationship between ES that are not significant in the entire region shows different correlations in individual ecological–functional zones. From the perspective of regional disparity, the effect of land use factor and correlative mechanisms among ES are analyzed. To observe the spatiotemporal variations and relationships of ES in individual regions, land use management policies are proposed on the basis of the results of the relationships among ES.
Association between the occurrence of falls and the performance on the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in elderly women.

BACKGROUND Because the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT) requires agility in its performance, we hypothesized that the test may be associated with balance and risk of falls in the elderly. OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare the association between the performance on the ISWT, the timed up and go (TUG) and the occurrence of falls in the elderly. METHOD Thirty-three elderly individuals (68±7 years) performed the TUG and the ISWT. Balance was assessed using the Berg Scale (BBS). Participants who fell at least twice in the last 12 months were placed in the "falls" group (FG) and all other participants comprised the control group (CG). RESULTS There were seventeen elderly women in the FG and 16 in the CG. Participants from the FG had a significant worse performance (p<0.05) on the TUG (8.01±0.22 vs. 6.22±0.21 s), BBS (51±3 vs. 55±1 points) and ISWT [313±79 (92±15%pred.) vs. 395±75 m (113±19%pred.)] than participants from the CG. The ISWT significantly correlated with the TUG (r=-0.75, p<0.001), BBS (r=0.50, p=0.002) and number of falls (r=0.36, p=0.031). After logistic regression, the TUG was determinant (p=0.03) and the ISWT showed a tendency to determine the occurrence of falls (p=0.05). CONCLUSION The ISWT was a valid measure to assess the risk of falls and balance and therefore, may be useful for the simultaneous assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness and balance in older women.
Scan rate selection for coherent high-resolution maritime surveillance radar: An experimental study

Scan rate selection has a crucial impact on the performance of maritime surveillance systems. In this work, a sea clutter database has been used to obtain experimental insight on the trade-off between within-scan and scan-to-scan integration. This paper extends the previous empirical studies to the case of sub-meter range resolution Ka-band coherent sea-clutter data. Results show a clear performance improvement for faster scan rates provided that the number of coherently integrated samples is high enough.
Postnatal Development of the Skull of Dinilysia patagonica (Squamata‐Stem Serpentes)

The snake skull represents a profound transformation of the ancestral squamate cranium in which dermal skull roof bones were integrated with the braincase, in a manner convergent with that which occurred during the origin of mammals. However, the ontogeny of snake characters at the origin of the clade has until now been inaccessible. Here we describe a postnatal ontogenetic series of the Late Cretaceous stem snake Dinilysia patagonica and compare it to that of extant lizards and snakes. Comparative analysis indicates notable ontogenetic changes, including advanced state of ossification, isometric growth of the otic capsule, fusion of the stylohyal to the quadrate, and great posterior elongation of the supratemporal. Of these transformations, the unfused condition of braincase bones and the retention of a large otic capsule in adults are examples of paedomorphic and peramorphic processes, respectively. Some ontogenetic transformations detected, in particular those present in middle ear, skull roof and suspensorium, are strikingly similar to those present in extant snakes. Nevertheless, Dinilysia retains a lizard‐like paroccipital process without an epiphyseal extremity, and a calcified epiphysis that caps the sphenoccipital tubercle. Finally, the integration of the dermal skull roof with the braincase is similar to that seen in mammals with regard to the overall closure of the braincase, but the two evolutionary and developmental modules appear less integrated in snakes in that the parietal bone of the dermal skull roof progressively overlaps the supraoccipital of the chondrocranial braincase. Anat Rec, 297:560–573, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.