Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organic arsenical exposure stimulates atherosclerosis through oxidative stress increase and adhesion molecule expression

Approximately 100 million people are exposed to arsenic worldwide, majorly through drinking water and anthropogenic activities. Monosodium methylarsonate (MSMA) is a potent organoarsenical content of herbicides used in many Asian countries. Epidemiological studies have linked inorganic arsenic exposure with atherosclerosis, whereas organoarsenicals toxicological studies are scanty. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme suppresses systemic Ox-LDL generation, thereby preventing atherosclerosis. We investigated effects of MSMA oral exposure on PON1, lipid peroxidation and atherosclerosis development. Five groups (n=11) of Sprague- Dawley rats received daily intubation of MSMA at 0 (control), 42.1, 63.2, 126.4 and 210.7 mg/kg BW respectively for 16 weeks. Serum samples were analysed for PON1 activities, Ox-LDL and MDA levels. Histomorphometric evaluation (H&E and VVG) and immunohistochemistry (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) were done on aorta. High mortality rate led to discontinuation of 126.4 and 210.7 mg/kg BW treatment groups. Groups treated with 42.1 and 63.2 mg/kg B.W. MSMA had a significantly higher MDA (p=0.004,CI: 2.73-0.82) and Ox-LDL (p<0.0001,CI: 2425.07-955.45) levels but lower PON1:Ox-LDLratio (p<0.0001,CI: 0.49-1.07) compared to control. Microscopically, treatment groups showed early atherosclerotic intima thickening and positive VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expressions. In conclusion, chronic MSMA exposure reduced PON1 ability to hydrolyse Ox-LDL and also induced inflammation by elevating oxidative stress that supports early atherosclerosis development.
The Relationship between Self-Concept, Intrinsic Motivation, Self-Determination and Academic Achievement among Chinese Primary School Students

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between self-concept, intrinsic motivation and self-determination with academic achievement among the respondents. The sample of the study was 200 students in standard 5 and standard 6 from a Chinese primary school in Johor, Malaysia. Data was collected using a self-developed set of questionnaire. The reliability of the instrument was tested using Cronbach’s Alpha and the result was 0.941. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0. Pearson correlation at the significant level of 0.05 was used in order to determine the relationships among the measured variables. Research finding shows that correlations between independent variables (self-concept, intrinsic motivation and self-determination of the respondents) and dependent variable (academic achievement) were all significantly low. Analysis of previous research discovers several salient factors in relation to the current research findings.
Effects of seed priming on germination and emergence traits of two soybean cultivars under salinity stress

To evaluate effects of seed priming with potassium nitrate on germination and emergence traits of two soybean cultivars in salinity stress, two laboratorial and greenhouse experiments were carried out as a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with 4 replications in the Seed Physiology Research Department of Agricultural Faculty of Bu-Ali Sina university, Iran. Treatments were included of two soybean cultivars (Sahar and Gorgan-3), two levels of non-priming and priming with potassium nitrate at 6 g l �¹ concentration and three levels of salinity (0, 4 and 8 ds m -1 induced by sodium chloride). The results showed that Sahar cv. was superior to Gorgan-3 cv. in all traits and in both experiments. Seed priming with Kno3 caused a significant increase in germination and emergence percentage, radicle and plumule length, seedling dry weight, plant height, plant leaf area and plant dry weight. Also at the salinity stress, mean germination and emergence time of primed seeds were less than non-primed seeds, significantly. At the salinity stress, specific highest salinity level, final germination percentage, radicle and plumule length, plant height, plant leaf area and plant dry weight of primed seeds were more than non-primed seeds, significantly. Positive effects of priming with potassium nitrate on seeds of Gorgan-3 cv. were greater than those of Sahar cv.
An Assembly Factor Promotes Assembly of Flavinated SDH1 into the Succinate Dehydrogenase Complex1[OPEN]

A second plant succinate dehydrogenase assembly factor is identified for the assembly of SDH1 with SDH2. Succinate dehydrogenase (Complex II; SDH) plays an important role in mitochondrial respiratory metabolism. The SDH complex consists of four core subunits and multiple cofactors, which must be assembled correctly to ensure enzyme function. To date, only an assembly factor (SDHAF2) required for FAD insertion into subunit SDH1 has been identified in plants. Here, we report the identification of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) At5g67490 as a second SDH assembly factor. Knockout of At5g67490 (sdhaf4) did not cause any phenotypic variation in seedlings but resulted in a decrease in both SDH activity and the succinate-dependent respiration rate as well as increased accumulation of succinate. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed stable levels of FAD-SDH1 in sdhaf4, together with increased levels of the FAD-SDH1 assembly factor, SDHAF2, and reduced levels of SDH2 compared with the wild type. Loss of SDHAF4 in sdhaf4 inhibited the formation of the SDH1/SDH2 intermediate, leading to the accumulation of soluble SDH1 in the mitochondrial matrix and reduced levels of SDH1 in the membrane. The increased levels of SDHAF2 suggest that the stabilization of soluble FAD-SDH1 depends on SDHAF2 availability. We conclude that SDHAF4 acts on FAD-SDH1 and promotes its assembly with SDH2, thereby stabilizing SDH2 and enabling its full assembly with SDH3/SDH4 to form the SDH complex.
Computers, Environment and Urban Systems A Dempster-Shafer based approach to the detection of trajectory stop points

Nowadays, location-based data collected by GPS-equipped devices such as smartphones and cars are often stored as spatio-temporal sequences of points denoted as trajectories. The analysis of the large generated trajectory databases such as the detection of patterns, outliers, and stops has a great importance for many application domains. Over the past few years, several successful trajectory data infrastructures have been progressively developed for a large range of applications in both the terrestrial and maritime environments. However, it still appears that amongst many research issues to consider, the resulting uncertainties when analyzing local trajectory properties have not been completely taken into account. In particular, determining for instance certainty rates, while detecting stop points, might have valuable impacts on most cases. The framework developed in this paper introduces an approach based on the Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence, and whose objective is to detect trajectory stop points and associated degrees of uncertainty. The approach is experimented using a large urban trajectory database and is compared to several computational algorithms introduced in previous studies. The results show that our approach reduces uncertainty values when detecting trajectory stop points as well as a signi ﬁ cant improvement of the recall and precision values.
Not in My Community: Social Pressure and the Geography of Dismissals

We investigate the impact of local social pressure on firms’ firing decisions. Using linked employer-employee data, we show that secondary establishments located further away from headquarters have higher dismissal rates than those located closer. The effect of distance on dismissals is stronger, the greater the visibility of the firm in the local community of its headquarters and the larger the degree of selfishness of that community. We show that these findings can be explained by the social pressure exerted by the communities where firms’ headquarters are located, which induces CEOs to refrain from dismissing at short distance from their headquarters.
Neuroprotective Effects of Cyclosporine in a Porcine Pre-Clinical Trial of Focal Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be a hallmark of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and plays a pivotal role in the resulting cellular injury. Cyclophilin D–mediated activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore has been suggested to contribute to this secondary injury cascade. Cyclosporine possesses neuroprotective properties that have been attributed to the desensitization of mitochondrial permeability transition pore activation. In vivo animal experiments have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of cyclosporine in more than 20 independent experimental studies in a multitude of different experimental models. However, the majority of these studies have been carried out in rodents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel and cremophor/kolliphor EL–free lipid emulsion formulation of cyclosporine in a translational large animal model of TBI. A mild-to-moderate focal contusion injury was induced in piglets using a controlled cortical impact device. After initial step-wise analyses of pharmacokinetics and comparing with exposure of cyclosporine in clinical TBI trials, a 5-day dosing regimen with continuous intravenous cyclosporine infusion (20 mg/kg/day) was evaluated in a randomized and blinded placebo-controlled setting. Cyclosporine reduced the volume of parenchymal injury by 35%, as well as improved markers of neuronal injury, as measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging. Further, a consistent trend toward positive improvements in brain metabolism and mitochondrial function was observed in the pericontusional tissue. In this study, we have demonstrated efficacy using a novel cyclosporine formulation in clinically relevant and translatable outcome metrics in a large animal model of focal TBI.
Global Aging: Issues, Answers, More Questions

Global aging will be a major determinant of long run economic development in industrial and developing countries. The extent of the demographic changes is dramatic and will deeply affect future labor, financial and goods markets. The expected strain on public budgets and especially social security has already received prominent attention, but the aging poses many other economic challenges that threaten productivity and growth if they remain unaddressed. While aging is global, there are marked differences in the speed and the extent of the aging processes across countries. These differences are likely to generate different growth paths and change the international pecking order, e.g. within the G8 countries. Due to the globalization of labor, financial and goods markets, however, these differential demographic developments will also precipitate trade and factor movements. Exploiting these movements offers large chances during the aging process. Purpose of this paper is to review the most important economic chances and challenges due to global aging. It summarizes what we know and identifies research areas where it is important to know more.
Coordinated Direct and Relay Transmission Using Uplink NOMA

A coordinated direct and relay transmission is proposed using uplink non-orthogonal multiple access (UP-NOMA). A two-user UP-NOMA scenario is considered, where a cell-center user directly communicates with a base station (BS), whereas a cell-edge user needs the assistance of a half-duplex decode-and-forward relay to communicate with the BS. The ergodic sum capacity of UP-NOMA is analyzed under both perfect and imperfect successive interference cancellation. The superiority of UP-NOMA over conventional multiple access is demonstrated through simulation and analysis.
The Impact of Marital Withdrawal and Secure Base Script Knowledge on Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting

The current study examines associations between marital conflict and negative parenting behaviors among fathers and mothers, and the extent to which internal working models (IWMs) of attachment relationships may serve as sources of risk or resilience during family interactions. The sample consisted of 115 families (mothers, fathers, and their 6-month-old infants) who participated in a controlled experiment. Couples were randomly assigned to engage in either a conflict or positive marital discussion, followed by parent-infant freeplay sessions and assessment of parental IWMs of attachment (i.e., secure base script knowledge). While no differences in parenting behaviors emerged between the conflict and positive groups, findings revealed that couple withdrawal during the marital discussion was related to more intrusive and emotionally disengaged parenting for mothers and fathers. Interestingly, secure base script knowledge was inversely related to intrusion and emotional disengagement for fathers, but not for mothers. Furthermore, only among fathers did secure base script knowledge serve to significantly buffer the impact of marital disengagement on negative parenting (emotional disengagement). Findings are discussed using a family systems framework and expand our understanding of families, and family members, at risk.
University Students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards the National Premarital Screening Program of Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND There is an elevated rate of hereditary hemoglobinopathies in Arab populations. To address this, the Saudi government has implemented a mandatory premarital screening (PMS) program. Nevertheless, reports have shown that 48% of genetically incompatible partners have decided to marry. To address this, more information is needed on people's beliefs on these issues. AIM To investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Taif University students towards the national PMS program. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using a questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted during April-May 2016 on a random sample of university students in Taif City. It was administered electronically and primarily distributed through social media. RESULTS Most participants (97.4%) were aware that genes may transmit hereditary diseases and had heard about the PMS program. Most participants who partook in the PMS justified it based on preventing disease transmission to their offspring and ensuring their partner's health. A fair number (82.9%) were willing to change their decision to marry in the case of receiving incompatible results. Moreover, the majority of the participants (91.8%) demanded the implementation of a law that prohibits incompatible marriages. CONCLUSION Most Taif University students have a generally positive attitude and good intended practices toward PMS. However, targeted educational programs about the importance of PMS are strongly recommended to eliminate all factors that may affect the success of the PMS program.
Comparison of p 53 and prohibitin expression in the spectrum of hepatitis , cirrhosis , and hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: To investigate the correlation of p53 and prohibitin (PHB) expression in the spectrum of hepatitis, cirrhosis, and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Hepatic biopsies from patients with HCC (n = 60), cirrhosis (CIR, n = 30), hepatitis C virus (HCV, n = 30), and normal livers (NL, n = 20) were examined for immunohistochemical expression of RelA/p65, tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (TNFR1), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), p53, and PHB. The samples were also analysed by nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) Southwestern histochemistry and a transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labelling assay. Results: Expression of NFκB and RelA/p65 was detected increasingly from NL to CIR, but had a diminished labelling in the HCC cases (P < 0.05). Expression levels of TNFR1 and TRAIL followed the same pattern (P < 0.05). Apoptosis was increased in HCC, but was progressively reduced from CIR to NL (P < 0.05). p53 and PHB nuclear expressions were amplified in cases of HCC, but diminished in NL, HCV, and CIR (P < 0.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that in addition to well-understood sequences of proinflammatory events such as TNF-induced NFκB activation and NFκB/TRAIL pathwaymediated apoptosis, development of HCC is also influenced by regulation of p53 and PHB tumour suppressor function. Additional studies are necessary to explain the contradictory mechanisms of the tumour microenvironment observed in the sequence of HCV, CIR, and HCC.
Operating room nurses’ perception of professional values

Background and significance of research: Nurses’ awareness of professional values and how those values affect their behaviors is an integral part of nursing care. There is a large body of research on nursing professional values, however, a careful survey of the available literature did not yield any studies investigating the status of professional values in operating rooms. Objective: This study aims to investigate the perception of operating room nurses of university hospitals toward professional values. Research plan: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using Schank and Weis’s Nurses Professional Values Scale–Revised. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS version 16. Participants and settings: The 513 participants of the study consisted of operating room nurses and nurse anesthetists from six university hospitals. Ethical considerations: This study has been approved by the ethics committee of the university. Findings: The mean total professional values score of the operating room staff was found to be 100.84 ± 15.685, which indicates that the participants had a positive perception toward observance of nursing professional values in practice. The results showed that the participants considered the domains of justice and activism as, respectively, the most and the least important. The operating room staff’s overall professional values scores were not found to correlate significantly with their ages, professional experience, university majors, or attendance at ethics workshops. However, a significant difference was found between the professional values scores of the female and male staff. The professional values scores of the operating room nurses and the nurse anesthetists were not significantly different (p value = 0.494). Conclusion: Operating room staff’s awareness of professional values is essential to providing care to patients based on professional principles. Accordingly, there is need for programs to raise operating room nurses’ awareness of their professional duties and improve their professional performance.
Incidence and location of positive surgical margin among open, laparoscopic and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer patients: a single institutional analysis

Objective To evaluate the positive surgical margin rates and locations in radical prostatectomy among three surgical approaches, including open radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinical outcomes at our institution of 450 patients who received radical prostatectomy. Multiple surgeons were involved in the three approaches, and a single pathologist conducted the histopathological diagnoses. Positive surgical margin rates and locations among the three approaches were statistically assessed, and the risk factors of positive surgical margin were analyzed. Results This study included 127, 136 and 187 patients in the open radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy groups, respectively. The positive surgical margin rates were 27.6% (open radical prostatectomy), 18.4% (laparoscopic radical prostatectomy) and 13.4% (robot-assisted radical prostatectomy). In propensity score-matched analyses, the positive surgical margin rate in the robot-assisted radical prostatectomy was significantly lower than that in the open radical prostatectomy, whereas there was no significant difference in the positive surgical margin rates between robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. In the multivariable analysis, PSA level at diagnosis and surgical approach (open radical prostatectomy vs robot-assisted radical prostatectomy) were independent risk factors for positive surgical margin. The apex was the most common location of positive surgical margin in the open radical prostatectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy groups, whereas the bladder neck was the most common location in the robot-assisted radical prostatectomy group. The significant difference of positive surgical margin locations continued after the propensity score adjustment. Conclusions Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy may potentially achieve the lowest positive surgical margin rate among three surgical approaches. The bladder neck was the most common location of positive surgical margin in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and apex in open radical prostatectomy and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Although robot-assisted radical prostatectomy may contribute to the reduction of positive surgical margin, dissection of the bladder neck requires careful attention to avoid positive surgical margins.
Infestation, Population Density and Sterilization Effects on Rice Weevils (Sitophilus oryzae L.) in Stored Milled Rice Grains in Sierra Leone

Sitophilus oryzae (L.) is one of the most important insect pests infesting stored food grains. The level of infestation, population density, the relationship between damage level and weevil population in stored rice grain samples were investigated. The effect of hot air sterilization on weevil population density was also examined. Samples (including; 29 imported, 16 parboiled and 62 raw milled rice) were randomly collected from markets across Sierra Leone and subjected to storage treatments under laboratory conditions at room temperature (with and without prior sterilization). The results show a significantly higher number of rice weevils in raw milled rice (156.0) with correspondingly higher level of grain damage (1.28); than the imported (3.2 and 0.03), and parboiled (21.7 and 0.11) rice grains, respectively. This suggests that locally produced raw milled rice may be more prone to rice weevil infestation, than either parboiled or imported rice grains. Results of pre-storage sterilization treatment suggest that hot air sterilization eliminates weevils in stored rice, where as the unsterilized rice grains remained prone to rice weevil infestation. These results lead to the conclusion that the nature of rice grain products and pre-storage treatment influence the degree of rice weevil infestation during storage and that heat sterilization could be a useful option in the management rice weevil in stored rice grains.
Indexed type theories

Abstract In this paper, we define indexed type theories which are related to indexed (∞-)categories in the same way as (homotopy) type theories are related to (∞-)categories. We define several standard constructions for such theories including finite (co)limits, arbitrary (co)products, exponents, object classifiers, and orthogonal factorization systems. We also prove that these constructions are equivalent to their type theoretic counterparts such as Σ-types, unit types, identity types, finite higher inductive types, Π-types, univalent universes, and higher modalities.