Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social interaction following severe closed head injury

Synopsis This paper describes research which sought to investigate and describe the interpersonal relationships and vulnerability to psychiatric disturbance in severely closed head injured subjects. The head injured subjects were severely injured, with mild or extremely severely injured individuals being excluded from this study. Self-report by the injured individual was compared with relatives' reports. Fifteen head injured people were individually matched with non-head injured people from the general population who acted as controls. Each subject nominated one ‘close other’ for comparative interview. The dependent variables included interpersonal relationships, non-psychotic psychiatric disturbance and behavioural change. The head injured group differed significantly from the control group in the quantity of interaction but not in the perceived quality of interaction. The groups differed significantly on behavioural change. No significant difference was found between responses given by the head injured and their ‘close other’ compared with the controls. Deficient quantity of interpersonal relationships and greater vulnerability to psychiatric disorders was shown in this sample. Further research on the assessment of long-term social outcome and psychiatric stability in the head injured could assist in the improved long-term rehabilitation of the survivors.
Interpersonal Barriers to Stopping Animal Abuse

Research into bystander apathy has focused on the barriers to intervening when the perpetrators and witnesses of violence are strangers. Although violence also occurs in the presence of friends, family, and other close ties, it is unclear how these affiliations constrain the behavior of bystanders in these situations. To explore this question, qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 adolescents who were bystanders to animal abuse committed and/or witnessed by family members, friends, or known others. Most interviewees claimed that, despite feeling disturbed by the animal abuse, they did little if anything to stop the abuse and did not report it to adult authority figures. Friendship norms and breeches presented most interviewees with significant barriers that either stopped or tempered their interventions. Implications of these findings are discussed for educating adolescents to intervene on behalf of abused animals.
Key Factors Influencing Individual Knowledge Capability in KIFs

Abstract—Knowledge management (KM) literature has mainly focused on the antecedents of KM. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of specific human resource management (HRM) practices on employee knowledge sharing and its outcome as individual knowledge capability. Based on previous literature, a model is proposed for the study and hypotheses are formulated. The cross-sectional dataset comes from a sample of 19 knowledge intensive firms (KIFs). This study has run an item parceling technique followed by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on the latent constructs of the research model. Employees’ collaboration and their interpersonal trust can help to improve their knowledge sharing behaviour and knowledge capability within organisations. This study suggests that in future, by using a larger sample, better statistical insight is possible. The findings of this study are beneficial for scholars, policy makers and practitioners. The empirical results of this study are entirely based on employees’ perceptions and make a significant research contribution, given there is a dearth of empirical research focusing on the subcontinent.
Effect of Elicitor Dosage and Exposure Time on Biosynthesis of Indole Alkaloids by Catharanthus roseus Hairy Root Cultures

Late exponential phase hairy root cultures of Catharanthus roseus were elicited with pectinase and jasmonic acid. The effects of elicitor concentration and exposure time on growth and levels of several compounds in the indole alkaloid biosynthetic pathway were monitored. Pectinase decreased the fresh weight to dry weight ratio of the roots, while addition of jasmonic acid had no significant effect. Selective effects on indole alkaloid yields were observed upon addition of elicitors. An increase of 150% in tabersonine specific yield was observed upon addition of 72 units of pectinase. Transient studies at the same level demonstrated possible catabolism as serpentine, tabersonine, and lochnericine levels decreased immediately after elicitation. The levels of these compounds recovered back to control levels or were higher than the control levels after some time. Jasmonic acid was found to be a unique elicitor leading to an enhancement in flux to several branches in the indole alkaloid pathway. Jasmonic acid addition caused an increase in the specific yields of ajmalicine (80%), serpentine (60%), lochnericine (150%), and hörhammericine (500%) in dosage studies. Tabersonine, the likely precursor of lochnericine and hörhammericine, decreased at lower levels of jasmonic acid and then increased with increasing jasmonic acid concentration. Transient studies showed that lochnericine and tabersonine levels go through a maxima, then decrease back to control levels and reduce below control levels, respectively. The yields of ajmalicine, serpentine, and hörhammericine increased continuously after the addition of jasmonic acid. The methods described in this article could generally be used in devising strategies for enhancement in productivity of secondary metabolites and for probing and studying the complex secondary metabolite pathways in plant tissue cultures.
Cellular Models and In Vitro Assays for the Screening of modulators of P-gp, MRP1 and BCRP

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are highly expressed in tumor cells, as well as in organs involved in absorption and secretion processes, mediating the ATP-dependent efflux of compounds, both endogenous substances and xenobiotics, including drugs. Their expression and activity levels are modulated by the presence of inhibitors, inducers and/or activators. In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies with both known and newly synthesized P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inducers and/or activators have shown the usefulness of these transport mechanisms in reducing the systemic exposure and specific tissue access of potentially harmful compounds. This article focuses on the main ABC transporters involved in multidrug resistance [P-gp, multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)] expressed in tissues of toxicological relevance, such as the blood-brain barrier, cardiovascular system, liver, kidney and intestine. Moreover, it provides a review of the available cellular models, in vitro and ex vivo assays for the screening and selection of safe and specific inducers and activators of these membrane transporters. The available cellular models and in vitro assays have been proposed as high throughput and low-cost alternatives to excessive animal testing, allowing the evaluation of a large number of compounds.
More than One Tandem Repeat Domain of the Extracellular Adherence Protein of Staphylococcus aureus Is Required for Aggregation, Adherence, and Host Cell Invasion but Not for Leukocyte Activation

ABSTRACT The extracellular adherence protein (Eap) is a multifunctional Staphylococcus aureus protein and broad-spectrum adhesin for several host matrix and plasma proteins. We investigated the interactions of full-length Eap and five recombinant tandem repeat domains with host proteins by use of surface plasmon resonance (BIAcore) and ligand overlay assays. In addition, agglutination and host cell interaction, namely, adherence, invasion, and stimulation of proliferation, were determined. With plasmon resonance, the interaction of full-length Eap isoforms (from strains Newman and Wood 46) with fibrinogen, fibronectin, vitronectin, and thrombospondin-1 was found to be specific but with different affinities for the ligands tested. In the ligand overlay assay, the interactions of five single tandem repeat domains (D1 to D5) of Eap-7 (from strain CI-7) with fibronectin, fibrinogen, vitronectin, thrombospondin-1, and collagen I differed substantially. Most prominently, D3 bound most strongly to fibronectin and fibrinogen. Full-length Eap, but none of the single tandem repeat domains, agglutinated S. aureus and enhanced adherence to and invasion of host cells by S. aureus. Constructs D3-4 and D1-3 (in cis) increased adherence and invasiveness compared to what was seen for single Eap tandem repeat domains. By contrast, single Eap tandem repeat domains and full-length Eap similarly modulated the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs): low concentrations stimulated, whereas high concentrations inhibited, proliferation. Taken together, the data indicate that Eap tandem repeat domains appear to have distinct characteristics for the binding of soluble ligands, despite a high degree of sequence similarity. In addition, more than one Eap tandem repeat domain is required for S. aureus agglutination, adherence, and cellular invasion but not for the stimulation of PBMC proliferation.
A Fully Integrated CMOS Power Amplifier Using Superharmonic Injection-Locking for Short-Range Applications

This work demonstrates the feasibility of using a superharmonic injection-locked oscillator as a power amplifier for short-range, low-power applications. This paper presents two fully integrated, differential superharmonic injection-locked power amplifiers (ILPA) operating at 433 MHz and 2.4 GHz. The two circuits were fabricated in a standard 0.18 μ m CMOS technology. Measurement results of the 2.4 GHz ILPA show a maximum gain of 31 dB from only one stage that occupies a chip area of only 0.6 mm2 with all components fully integrated. The ILPA delivers an output power of 7.6 dBm from a 1.5 V supply voltage with a power added efficiency of 36%.
Effect of Addition of Citric Acid and Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate to a Sugar-Free Chewing Gum on Enamel Remineralization in situ

Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) has been shown to remineralize enamel subsurface lesions in situ. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CPP-ACP in a fruit-flavoured sugar-free chewing gum containing citric acid on enamel remineralization, and acid resistance of the remineralized enamel, using an in situ remineralization model. The study utilized a double-blind, randomized, crossover design with three treatments: (i) sugar-free gum (2 pellets) containing 20 mg citric acid and 18.8 mg CPP-ACP, (ii) sugar-free gum containing 20 mg citric acid alone, (iii) sugar-free gum not containing CPP-ACP or citric acid. Ten subjects were instructed to wear removable palatal appliances, with 4 half-slab insets of human enamel containing demineralized subsurface lesions and to chew gum (2 pellets) for 20 min 4 times per day for 14 days. At the completion of each treatment the enamel half-slabs were removed and half of the remineralized lesion treated with demineralization buffer for 16 h in vitro. The enamel slabs (remineralized, acid-challenged and control) were then embedded, sectioned and subjected to microradiography to determine the level of remineralization. Chewing with gum containing citric acid and CPP-ACP resulted in significantly higher remineralization (13.0 ± 2.2%) than chewing with either gum containing no CPP-ACP or citric acid (9.4 ± 1.2%) or gum containing citric acid alone (2.6 ± 1.3%). The acid challenge of the remineralized lesions showed that the level of mineral after acid challenge was significantly greater for the lesions exposed to the gum containing CPP-ACP.
Increased systolic blood pressure in rat offspring following a maternal low-protein diet is normalized by maternal dietary choline supplementation

An adverse prenatal environment may induce long-term metabolic consequences, in particular hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A maternal low-protein (LP) diet is well known to result in increased blood pressure (BP) in offspring. Choline has been shown to have direct BP-reducing effects in humans and animals. It has been suggested that endogenous choline synthesis via phosphatidylcholine is constrained during maternal LP exposure. The present study investigates the effect of choline supplementation to mothers fed a LP diet during pregnancy on systolic BP (SBP) in offspring as measured by tail-cuff plethysmography. Wistar rats were assigned to one of three diets to be fed ad libitum throughout pregnancy: (1) control diet (CONT, 20% protein); (2) an LP diet (9% protein); and (3) LP supplemented with choline (LP + C). Dams were fed the CONT diet throughout lactation and offspring were fed the CONT diet from weaning for the remainder of the trial. At postnatal day 150, SBP and retroperitoneal fat mass was significantly increased in LP offspring compared with CONT animals and was normalized in LP + C offspring. Effects of LP + C reduction in SBP were similar in both males and females. Plasma choline and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were not different across treatment groups, but maternal choline supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in homocysteine concentrations in LP + C offspring compared with LP and CONT animals. The present trial shows for the first time that maternal supplementation with dietary choline during periods of LP exposure can normalize increased SBP and fat mass observed in offspring in later life.
Field exercise vs laboratory eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation to identify airway hyperresponsiveness in elite cold weather athletes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE For the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, athletes were required to submit objective evidence of asthma or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) for approval to inhale a beta(2)-agonist. Eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation (EVH) was recommended as a laboratory challenge that would identify airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) consistent with EIB. The objective was to compare the change in FEV(1) provoked by EVH with that provoked by exercise in cold weather athletes. DESIGN Spirometry was measured before and for 15 min after challenges. The two challenges were performed in random order at least 24 h apart. SETTING EVH was performed in the laboratory at 19 degrees C, and exercise took place in the field in the cold (2 degrees C, 45% relative humidity). PARTICIPANTS Thirty-eight athletes (25 female subjects; median age, 16 years). INTERVENTIONS For the EVH, athletes inhaled dry air containing 5% carbon dioxide for 6 min at a target ventilation equivalent to 30 times baseline FEV(1). Exercise was performed by cross-country skiing, ice skating, or running for 6 to 8 min. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS AHR consistent with EIB was defined as >or= 10% fall in FEV(1) from baseline after challenge. Eleven athletes were exercise positive (EX+) [FEV(1) fall, 20.5 +/- 7.3%], and 17 athletes were EVH positive (FEV(1) fall, 14.5 +/- 4.5%) [mean +/- SD]. Of 19 subjects with AHR, 58% were identified by exercise and 89% were identified by EVH. EVH identified 9 of 11 subjects who were EX+ and a further 8 subjects with potential for EIB. The average ventilation during EVH was 28 times FEV(1). CONCLUSION Performing EVH for 6 min in the laboratory had a greater chance of identifying AHR in these athletes compared with 6 to 8 min of field exercise in the cold. The EVH test will be useful to evaluate elite summer sports athletes whose widely different forms of exercise provide an "equipment" challenge to any laboratory.
Immediate/Early Response to Trypanosoma cruzi Infection Involves Minimal Modulation of Host Cell Transcription*

Host cell infection by the intracellular pathogen, Trypanosoma cruzi, involves activation of signaling pathways, cytoskeletal reorganization, and targeted recruitment of host cell lysosomes. To determine the consequences ofT. cruzi invasion on host cell gene expression, high density microarrays consisting of ∼27,000 human cDNAs were hybridized with fluorescent probes generated from T. cruzi-infected human fibroblasts (HFF) at early time points following infection (2–24 h). Surprisingly, no genes were induced ≥2-fold in HFF between 2 and 6 h post-infection (hpi) in repeated experiments while immediate repression of six host cell transcripts was observed. A significant increase in transcript abundance for 106 host cell genes was observed at 24 hpi. Among the most highly induced is a set of interferon-stimulated genes, indicative of a type I interferon (IFN) response to T. cruzi. In support of this, T. cruzi-infected fibroblasts begin to secrete IFNβ at 18 hpi following the induction of IFNβ transcripts. As compared with global transcriptional responses evoked by other intracellular pathogens, T. cruzi is a stealth parasite that elicits few changes in host cell transcription during the initiation of infection.
Analysis of a baroreflex model for the study of the chronotropic response to vagal nerve stimulation

This paper describes the integration of computational models of the cardiovascular system, the cardiac electrical activity and the baroreceptor reflex of the autonomic nervous system, with a model representing vagal nerve stimulation (VNS). Sensitivity analyses are performed in order to find the model parameters that produce significant effects on heart rate (chronotropic effect). The most significant parameters are adjusted in order to reproduce real data acquired from sheep suffering from heart failure, during VNS periods. Results show the potential of the model to generate realistic chronotropic responses to VNS.
Potency and selectivity of vardenafil: a phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitor

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a widespread, age-related medical condition that affects > 50% of men aged 40 – 70 years. Pharmacotherapy with orally available phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors offers a convenient and simple approach to treatment. Results of numerous clinical trials have demonstrated significant efficacy in restoring the ability to achieve and sustain an erection, and adverse side effects are generally mild-to-moderate in severity. Vardenafil is a highly selective, potent PDE5 inhibitor developed for the treatment of ED. The potency and selectivity of vardenafil for PDE5 and other PDE isoforms have been evaluated in vitro and in vivo and compared with other compounds in the class. This review will discuss the findings of biochemical, in vitro and in vivo experiments that indicate the superior potency and high selectivity of vardenafil.
Lateralized response to diazepam predicts temperamental style in rhesus monkeys.

Based on previous findings in humans and rhesus monkeys suggesting that diazepam has asymmetrical effects on frontal lobe activity and other literature supporting a role for the benzodiazepine system in the mediation of individual differences in anxiety and fearfulness, the relation between asymmetrical changes in scalp-recorded regional brain activity in response to diazepam and the temperamental dimension of behavioral inhibition indexed by freezing time in 9 rhesus monkeys was examined. Animals showed greater relative left-sided frontal activation in response to diazepam compared with the preceding baseline. The magnitude of this shift was strongly correlated with an aggregate measure of freezing time (r = .82). The implications of these findings for understanding the role of regional differences in the benzodiazepine system in mediating individual differences in fearfulness are discussed.
Follicular interactions affect the in vitro development of isolated goat preantral follicles

Summary The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the number of follicles per drop (one or three) and antral follicles on in vitro development of isolated goat preantral follicles. Preantral follicles were isolated through microdissection and distributed individually (control) or in groups of three follicles (treatment) in microdroplets of α-MEM with or without 1000 ng/ml follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Experiment 3 was divided into four treatments according to the presence of one or three preantral follicles, associated or not with antral follicles. After culture, oocytes were retrieved from morphologically normal follicles and submitted to in vitro maturation (IVM) and live/dead fluorescent labelling. Results of Experiment 1 (basic medium without FSH) showed that culture of preantral follicles in groups enhances viability, growth and antrum formation after 12 days. However, in the presence of FSH (Experiment 2), only the recovery rate of fully grown oocytes for IVM was significantly affected by grouping of follicles. In Experiment 3, in general, co-culture of preantral follicles with an early antral follicle had a detrimental effect on viability, antrum formation and production of oocytes for IVM. In conclusion, the performance of in vitro culture of goat preantral follicles is affected by the number of follicles per drop, the presence of an antral follicle and FSH.
The effect of alcohol consumption on endothelial adhesion molecule expression

Endothelial adhesion molecules (AM) play an important role in the pathogenesis of several diseases namely infections, neoplasms and chronic inflammatory diseases. Because alcoholic hepatitis and even atherosclerosis are considered as inflammatory diseases and ethanol may modulate inflammatory response, several researchers have investigated the link between ethanol consumption, endothelial AM and the development of both processes. In vitro, animal and human studies have analysed the effects of ethanol and non‐alcoholic components of alcoholic beverages on inflammatory biomarkers of atherosclerosis such as monocyte and endothelial AM. These studies have shown that both ethanol and non‐alcoholic components of alcoholic beverages, mainly polyphenols, reduce intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) and E‐selectin expression of vascular endothelium, as well as monocyte adhesion to this endothelium. These data suggest that moderate alcohol intake has an anti‐inflammatory effect on the cardiovascular system and reduces early serum markers of atherosclerosis. However, at higher doses ethanol may exert an inflammatory effect. In fact, chronic alcoholics exhibit significantly higher serum levels of endothelial AM than abstainers and moderate drinkers. In addition, an upregulation of E‐selectin, ICAM‐1 and VCAM‐1 is also detected in liver biopsies obtained from patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The clinical usefulness of the measurement of serum endothelial AM is discussed.
Designing Online Marketplaces: Trust and Reputation Mechanisms

Online marketplaces have proliferated over the past decade, creating new markets where none existed. By reducing transaction costs, online marketplaces facilitate transactions that otherwise would not have occurred and enable easier entry of small sellers. One central challenge faced by designers of online marketplaces is how to build enough trust to facilitate transactions between strangers. This paper provides an economist’s tool kit for designing online marketplaces, focusing on trust and reputation mechanisms.