Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dose‐dependent effect of 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose on glycoprotein mannosylation in cancer cells

High glucose consumption due to Warburg effect is one of the metabolic hallmarks of cancer. Consequently, glucose antimetabolites, such as 2‐deoxy‐glucose (2DG), can induce substantial growth inhibition of cancer cells. However, the inhibition of metabolic pathways is not the sole effect of 2DG on cancer cells. As mannose‐mimetic molecule, 2DG is believed to interfere with normal glycosylation of proteins in cells. Here, we address how 2DG influences protein glycosylation in cancer cells and discuss possible implications of the consequences of this influence. In detail, six colorectal cancer cell lines were examined for alterations of protein glycosylation by measuring monosaccharide incorporation into cellular glycoproteins and cell surface glycosylation by lectin FACS. A significant increase in mannose incorporation was observed on treatment with 2DG (1 mM for 48 h), which was also reflected by an increased binding of the mannose‐binding lectin Concanavalin A in FACS analysis. This phenomenon, which could be reversed by external addition of mannose, was not caused by 2DG‐mediated mannosidase inhibition, as shown by pulse‐chase experiments, arguing in favor of the hypothesis that 2DG directly influenced the incorporation of mannose. Increased mannose content was generally observed in cellular glycoproteins, including glycoproteins isolated from the plasma membrane fraction. Our results indicate that 2DG at low doses, which have only a limited metabolism‐related effect on glycosylation, induces a strong increase in mannose incorporation into cellular glycoproteins. On the other hand, higher 2DG concentrations (10 and 20 mM) led to a significant decrease of absolute mannose incorporation accompanied by a dramatically reduced protein synthesis rate. 2DG‐induced alterations of glycosylation may represent a novel mechanism potentially explaining the varied effects of 2DG on cancer cells. Moreover, 2DG treatment may open a path toward novel diagnostic and cancer therapeutic approaches, which specifically target altered glycoantigen structures induced by 2DG. © 2015 IUBMB Life, 67(3):218–226, 2015
Brucellosis among animals and human contacts in eastern Sudan.

OBJECTIVE To study the relative frequency of brucellosis among domestic animals in Kassala State, Sudan, in the year 1999 and compare the results of previous studies since 1908. Also to study the frequency rates of the disease in animal contacts in the area. METHODS Sero-survey for Brucella melitensis and Brucella abortus was carried out on sera of animals brought for slaughter to Kassala abattoir and on sera of occupational contacts of animals. All sera were tested by the slide agglutination test. The positive reactors were confirmed by tube agglutination test. RESULTS A total of 1225 sera were tested - 1038 were animal sera and 187 were human sera. Four percent of goats sera, 1% of sheep sera and 5% of cattle sera were found to be positive. Of the 64 camel sera tested, none were positive reactors. Of the occupational contacts, which included butchers, slaughterhouse workers, milkers and cow attendants, (1%) reacted positively. CONCLUSION The study showed low frequency rates of brucellosis among animals in the Kassala area compared with other parts of Sudan. Occupational contacts showed very low frequency rates of the disease. This is often over-looked by medical practitioners due to the overwhelming problem of malaria in the area. We draw the attention of practitioners to think of brucellosis in the differential diagnosis of fever especially in rural communities.
WISC-IV Profiles Are Associated With Differences in Symptomatology and Outcome in Children With ADHD

Objective: The current study investigated the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) cluster profiles of children with ADHD to examine the association between IQ profiles and diagnostic frequency, symptomatology, and outcome in this population. Method: Hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted on 189 children with a diagnosis of ADHD–inattentive (ADHD-I) and ADHD–combined (ADHD-C) subtypes. Clusters were then compared across symptom rating scale factor scores, behavioral rating scales, and achievement scores. Results: A five-cluster solution was extracted. One cluster was identified to have reduced processing speed relative to other WISC-IV indexes and significantly higher ratings of inattention and incidence of ADHD-I diagnosis. A second cluster had impairments in processing speed and working memory and was associated with impaired behavioral functioning. Conclusion: Findings support a relationship between reduced processing speed and inattention and provide evidence that WISC-IV profiles may be helpful in predicting symptomatology and outcome in children with ADHD.
Comparison of Digital Technology Competencies among Mexican and Spanish Secondary Education Students

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are tools to be used to support educational processes and students have access to them more and more every day. However this does not assure the appropriate use of these tools. That is why the objective of the present study is to identify the level of competency in the use of ICT of students in secondary schools in Obregon City, Sonora, Mexico, in the opinions of the students themselves and of their teachers and to compare this with the level of digital competencies of students in some regions of Spain, using an investigation carried out earlier. Two questionnaires with 51 questions were used, one for 949 students and the other for 49 teachers. The results show that students claim to have between moderately and very high levels of competence in ICT skills while their teachers say the students have high levels of competence in some technological skills such as producing a written documents with a word processor. In the study in Spain, students and teachers voiced similar averages in the highest level of competencies, but differed in the competencies with the lowest averages.
How does a foreign subsidiary’s differentiation strategy fit competitive dynamics and mandate?

Purpose Drawing on the contingency perspective of strategy, the purpose of this paper is to extend current understanding of fit between a differentiation strategy of the industrial firm’s foreign subsidiary and key contextual boundaries. Design/methodology/approach A conceptual framework is developed in which a differentiation strategy involves the complementary approaches of innovativeness and customer responsiveness. The key boundaries consist of local competitive dynamics and the value-adding mandate assigned to the subsidiary. Detailed features of four types of differentiation strategies are identified by analysing strategies applied by subsidiaries of industrial firms operating on the US market. Findings Four propositions are developed regarding alignment between strategy types and the boundaries. Relationships are proposed regarding a strategy type and a context specified by rivalry/relational competitive dynamics, and a broad/narrow value-adding mandate. Research limitations/implications The conceptual framework and the propositions may be tested by analysing statistical data on industrial firms’ subsidiaries operating in several host countries. Practical implications To increase a foreign subsidiary’s contribution to the global competitiveness of an industrial firm, an awareness of the boundaries to the subsidiary’s strategy of differentiation that may hamper the subsidiary’s performance is essential. Originality/value The conceptual framework, and the propositions, contributes to literature on the industrial firm’s global strategy because it focuses on subsidiary strategy and extends present understanding of the mechanisms that drive the effectiveness of a foreign subsidiary’s differentiation strategy.
Transitioning from university to teaching in schools located in rural and remote settings

This paper reports the findings of research which focused on fourth year pre-service teachersâ€™ perceptions of the issue of their transition from pre-service university student to in-service teaching, specifically in rural and remote settings. The results of a survey which focused on studentsâ€™ perceived levels of readiness and comfort when considering teaching in a rural or remote school as a first posting are presented. Background data were collected revealing that the majority of the pre-service teachers (n=39) identified their hometown as rural and/or as a small city within a 400 km radius from the regional University. Â Analysis of data indicated 32 of the participants wanted to teach in a rural school, two wanted to move closer to the coast and five were unsure. Â Leximancer text-mining software was employed to examine the responses to five questions including: how they would describe themselves as a teacher; what differences existed between rural and urban teaching; what their ideas were regarding what constituted good rural teaching; and what may be the difficulties in rural teaching. The last section of the results provides a profile of the number of preservice teachers (PSTs) intending to teach in rural settings. Â The findings confirmed previous research that suggested that many teachers in rural settings originate from small rural and remote communities. The concepts and themes emerging from the analysis of the open ended survey data are presented as the major findings. Â Implications of the research include recommendations that pre-service teacher education programs could be more responsive to student needs, resulting in greater preparation for teachers entering the teaching profession in rural and remote settings.
Sexual harassment during clinical clerkships in Dutch medical schools

Context Sexual harassment of medical students has been the focus of many international studies. Prevalence rates from 18% to over 60% have been reported. However, a Dutch study at Nijmegen Medical School found the prevalence rate to be lower (13.3% in the total group; 20% among female students only).
Risk of upper gastrointestinal events with the use of various NSAIDs: A case-control study in a general population

Objective. The gastrointestinal (GI) safety of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in a real-life setting remains ill defined. The aim of this study was to examine the risk of upper GI events associated with various NSAIDs in a general population. Material and methods. A nationwide, register-based, matched case-control study was carried out in outpatient residents of Finland in 2000–04. Cases with upper GI events (n=9191) were drawn from the Hospital Discharge Register and individually matched to controls (n=41,780) from the Population Register. Results. The semi-selective NSAIDs (nimesulide, nabumetone, meloxicam, etodolac) had the highest odds ratio for upper GI events even after adjusting for various potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.63; 95% CI 3.08–4.28), followed by non-selective (2.98; 2.70–3.29) and COX-2 selective NSAIDs (2.53; 2.09–3.07). When the current use of semi-selective NSAIDs was compared with that of non-selective and COX-2 selective NSAIDs, the AORs were 1.54 (1.13–2.09) and 1.67 (1.10–2.53), respectively. The AORs for the use of COX-2 selective NSAIDs did not differ statistically from the non-selective NSAIDs (AOR 0.92; 0.65–1.31). The AORs for individual NSAIDs varied across and within categories. Conclusions. As a group, the GI safety of the COX-2 selective NSAIDs was not demonstrated as definitively superior to non-selective NSAIDs. Semi-selective NSAIDs do not seem to offer any GI advantage over other NSAIDs.
Resident Endothelial Progenitor Cells From Human Placenta Have Greater Vasculogenic Potential Than Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells From Umbilical Cord Blood.

Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) isolated from umbilical cord blood (CBECFCs) are highly proliferative and form blood vessels in vivo. The purpose of this investigation was to isolate and characterize a population of resident ECFCs from the chorionic villi of term human placenta and provide a comparative analysis of their proliferative and vasculogenic potential with CBECFCs. ECFCs were isolated from umbilical cord blood and chorionic villi from placentas obtained by caesarean deliveries. Placental ECFCs (PECFCs) expressed CD144, CD31, CD105, and KDR and were negative for CD45 and CD34, consistent with other ECFC phenotypes. PECFCs were capable of 28.6 ± 6.0 population doublings before reaching senescence (vs. 47.4 ± 3.2 for CBECFCs, p < 0.05, n = 4). In single cell assays, 46.5 ± 1.2% underwent at least one division (vs. 51.0 ± 1.8% of CBECFCs, p = 0.07, n = 6), and of those dividing PECFCs, 71.8 ± 0.9% gave rise to colonies of >500 cells (highly proliferative potential clones) over 14 days (vs. 69.4 ± 0.7% of CBECFCs, p = 0.07, n = 9). PECFCs formed 5.2 ± 0.8 vessels/mm(2) in collagen/fibronectin plugs implanted into non-obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice, whereas CBECFCs formed only 1.7 ± 1.0 vessels/mm(2) (p < 0.05, n = 4). This study demonstrates that circulating CBECFCs and resident PECFCs are identical phenotypically and contain equivalent quantities of high proliferative potential clones. However, PECFCs formed significantly more blood vessels in vivo than CBECFCs, indicating that differences in vasculogenic potential between circulating and resident ECFCs exist.
Outcomes of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Left In Place after Kidney Transplantation

No clear consensus has been reached regarding the optimal time to remove the peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) after kidney transplantation (KT). This retrospective observational study, conducted in a single peritoneal dialysis (PD) unit including all PD patients who received a KT between 1995 – 2015, was undertaken to evaluate the clinical outcomes and potential complications associated with a PDC left in place after KT. Of the 132 PD patients who received a KT, 20 were excluded from the study. Of the remaining, 112 (85%) patients with functioning KT were discharged with their PDC left in place and had it removed in a mean interval of 5 ± 3 months after KT, after achieving optimal graft function. During this follow-up period, 7 patients (6%) developed exit-site infection and there were 2 cases (2%) of peritonitis; all of them were successfully treated. Delayed PDC removal after KT is associated with low complication rates, although regular examination is needed so that mild infections can be detected early and therapy promptly instituted.
Allometric Modeling of Ciclesonide, a Nonhalogenated Glucocorticoid, and Its Active Metabolite, Desisobutyrylciclesonide, Using Animal-Derived Pharmacokinetic Parameters

Ciclesonide, a novel glucocorticosteroid, through a rapid metabolism to desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-ciclesonide), provides an effective treatment option for asthma episodes by the inhaled route of administration. The availability of pharmacokinetic parameters (clearance [CL/F]; volume of distribution [Vd/F]; elimination half-life [T1/2]; and elimination rate constant [Kel]) in mice, rats, rabbits, and dogs enabled the prediction of human parameter values for des-ciclesonide using the well-accepted tool of allometry after intravenous administration of ciclesonide. However, as a result of the rapid conversion of ciclesonide, it was possible to perform allometry for the CL parameter only. Simple allometry (CL = 4.781W0.7874; R2 = 0.9968) appeared to predict the CL of ciclesonide in close proximity of the observed value (observed: 101.25 L/h versus predicted: 135.62 L/h). In a similar manner, simple allometry predicted the human pharmacokinetic parameters of des-ciclesonide (CL/F, Vd/F, T1/2, and Kel) within a two- to threefold range of the observed values. The allometric equations for des-ciclesonide parameter values were: CL/F = 4.8166W0. 492 (R2 = 0.8598); Vd/F = 19.052W0. 632 (R2 = 0.9049); T1/2 = 3.7598W−0.1611(R2 = 0.8551); and Kel = 0.1832W0. 1596 (R2 = 0.8632). In conclusion, the data suggested that allometry tool may be amenable for the prediction of the pharmacokinetic parameters of des-ciclesonide despite differences in the conversion rates and bioavailability of the active metabolite in various animal species.
Shoulder Arthroplasty with or without Resurfacing of the Glenoid in Patients Who Have Osteoarthritis*

Background: The indications for resurfacing of the glenoid in patients who have osteoarthritis of the shoulder are not clearly defined; some investigators routinely perform hemiarthroplasty whereas others perform total shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: Forty-seven patients (fifty-one shoulders) who were scheduled to have a shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of degenerative osteoarthritis were randomly assigned, according to a random-numbers table, to one of two groups: replacement of the humeral head with resurfacing of the glenoid with a polyethylene component with cement (total shoulder arthroplasty [twenty-seven shoulders]) or replacement of the humeral head without resurfacing of the glenoid (hemiarthroplasty [twenty-four shoulders]). All patients received the same type of humeral component, and all operations were performed by or under the direct supervision of the same surgeon. The patients were followed for a mean of thirty-five months (range, twenty-four to seventy-two months) postoperatively. Evaluation was performed with use of the scoring systems of the University of California at Los Angeles and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons. Results: No difference was observed between the preoperative scores for the two groups of patients. Postoperatively, the mean scores with use of the University of California at Los Angeles system and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons system were 23.2 points (range, 10 to 31 points) and 65.2 points (range, 15 to 94 points), respectively, after hemiarthroplasty and 27.4 points (range, 9 to 34 points) and 77.3 points (range, 3 to 100 points), respectively, after total shoulder arthroplasty. With the numbers available for study, no significant difference was found between the two operative groups with respect to the postoperative score. (Thirty-five subjects per group would be needed, assuming an effect size of 0.60 and a power of 0.80.) Total shoulder arthroplasty provided significantly greater pain relief (p = 0.002) and internal rotation (p = 0.003) than hemiarthroplasty did. Total shoulder arthroplasty also provided superior results in the specific areas of patient satisfaction, function, and strength, although none of these differences were found to be significant, with the numbers available. Total shoulder arthroplasty was associated with increased cost ($1177), operative time (thirty-five minutes), and blood loss (150 milliliters) per patient compared with hemiarthroplasty. To date, none of the total shoulder arthroplasties in the study group have been revised. Hemiarthroplasty yielded equivalent results for elevation and external rotation. Three of the twenty-five patients who had had a hemiarthroplasty needed a subsequent operation for resurfacing of the glenoid. The mean cost for the revision operations was $15,998. Conclusions: Total shoulder arthroplasty provided superior pain relief compared with hemiarthroplasty in patients who had glenohumeral osteoarthritis, but it was associated with an increased cost of $1177 per patient.
The Importance of Major Mergers in the Build Up of Stellar Mass in Brightest Cluster Galaxies at z = 1

Recent independent results from numerical simulations and observations have shown that brightest cluster galaxies (BCGs) have increased their stellar mass by a factor of almost 2 between z ∼ 0.9 and z ∼ 0.2. The numerical simulations further suggest that more than half this mass is accreted through major mergers. Using a sample of 18 distant galaxy clusters with over 600 spectroscopically confirmed cluster members between them, we search for observational evidence that major mergers do play a significant role. We find a major merger rate of 0.38 ± 0.14 mergers per Gyr at z ∼ 1. While the uncertainties, which stem from the small size of our sample, are relatively large, our rate is consistent with the results that are derived from numerical simulations. If we assume that this rate continues to the present day and that half of the mass of the companion is accreted on to the BCG during these mergers, then we find that this rate can explain the growth in the stellar mass of the BCGs that is observed and predicted by simulations. Major mergers therefore appear to be playing an important role, perhaps even the dominant one, in the build up of stellar mass in these extraordinary galaxies.
Demonstration of a Strategy for Product Purification by High‐Gradient Magnetic Fishing: Recovery of Superoxide Dismutase from Unconditioned Whey

A systematic approach for the design of a bioproduct recovery process employing magnetic supports and the technique of high‐gradient magnetic fishing (HGMF) is described. The approach is illustrated for the separation of superoxide dismutase (SOD), an antioxidant protein present in low concentrations (ca. 0.15–0.6 mg L−1) in whey. The first part of the process design consisted of ligand screening in which metal chelate supports charged with copper(II) ions were found to be the most suitable. The second stage involved systematic and sequential optimization of conditions for the following steps: product adsorption, support washing, and product elution. Next, the capacity of a novel high‐gradient magnetic separator (designed for biotechnological applications) for trapping and holding magnetic supports was determined. Finally, all of the above elements were assembled to deliver a HGMF process for the isolation of SOD from crude sweet whey, which consisted of (i) binding SOD using Cu2+‐charged magnetic metal chelator particles in a batch reactor with whey; (ii) recovery of the “SOD‐loaded” supports by high‐gradient magnetic separation (HGMS); (iii) washing out loosely bound and entrained proteins and solids; (iv) elution of the target protein; and (v) recovery of the eluted supports from the HGMF rig. Efficient recovery of SOD was demonstrated at ∼50‐fold increased scale (cf. magnetic rack studies) in three separate HGMF experiments, and in the best of these (run 3) an SOD yield of >85% and purification factor of ∼21 were obtained.
A Liberal Actor in a Realist World. The European Union Regulatory State and the Global Political Economy of Energy

Young in this chapter are under-studied in scholarship. Nevertheless, one could speculate as to whether the authors’ purpose, which is mainly to draw attention to the fact that ‘shaping public memory through commemorative practices and landscapes’ merits ‘much fuller investigation’ (p. 246), really allows for an in-depth treatment of such transitional measures in the former Soviet republics. in fairness to the editors, it should be said that the analytical framework adopted for the collection left no post-communist transitional justice instruments out of the discussion, and the scant references to measures adopted in former Soviet republics is understandable, given the scarcity of such measures in these countries. Apart from this minor issue, i believe that Stan and Nedelsky’s ambitious and systematic book is bound to become a work of reference for scholars of transitional justice and area studies, and for political theorists alike. Since the volume forwards the understanding of transitional justice in several different ways, it is also not difficult to see it included in reading lists for advanced seminars or lectures in transitional justice or political theory.