Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Actinin‐4 in keratinocytes regulates motility via an effect on lamellipodia stability and matrix adhesions

During wound repair, epidermal cells at the edge of an injury establish front‐rear polarity through orchestrated changes in their cytoskeleton and adhesion structures. The polarity and directed migration of such cells is determined by the assembly, extension, and stabilization of a lamellipodium. Actinin‐4 associates with lamellipodia and has been implicated in regulating lamellipodial structure, function and assembly. To study the functions of actinin‐4 in human keratinocytes, we used shRNA to generate knockdown cells and compared their motility behavior and matrix adhesion assembly to scrambled shRNA treated control keratinocytes. Actinin‐4 knockdown keratinocytes lack polarity, assemble multiple lamellipodia with a 2× increased area over controls, display reduced activity of the actin remodeling protein cofilin, and fail to migrate in a directional manner. This motility defect is rescued by plating knockdown cells on preformed laminin‐332 matrix. In actinin‐4‐knockdown keratinocytes, focal contact area is increased by 25%, and hemidesmosome proteins are mislocalized. Specifically, α6β4 integrin localizes to large lamellipodial extensions, displays reduced dynamics, and fails to recruit its bullous pemphigoid antigen binding partners. Together, our data indicate a role for actinin‐4 in regulating the steering mechanism of keratinocytes via profound effects on their matrix adhesion sites. —Hamill, K. J., Hopkinson, S. B. , Skalli, O. , Jones, J. C. R. Actinin‐4 in keratinocytes regulates motility via an effect on lamellipodia stability and matrix adhesions. FASEB J. 27, 546–556 (2013). www.fasebj. org
The role of politics and institutional environment on entrepreneurship: empirical evidence from Mozambique

This work investigates the relationship between the political and institutional environment and the development of entrepreneurship in Mozambique. Taking a literature review approach and using collected empirical data from interviewing 10 individuals playing different roles with impact on county’s entrepreneurial landscape, results support existing theory and suggest that this African country still has a long way to go in what relates governmental action to entrepreneurial development.
Tuberculin skin testing in BCG-vaccinated populations of adults and children at high risk for tuberculosis in Taiwan.

SETTING Various populations at high risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection and with high bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination coverage in eastern Taiwan. OBJECTIVE To investigate the usefulness of the tuberculin skin test (TST) to diagnose TB in BCG-vaccinated populations. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. RESULTS TST reaction size was recorded for 444 individuals ranging in age from 8 months to 99 years, of whom 94.3% had scars to suggest previous BCG vaccination. The TST-positive (> or =10 mm) rate was increased in all comparisons of higher to lower TB risk, including household contacts (relative risk [RR] 3.52, P < 0.0001) and intermediate risk residents (RR 2.30, P = 0.030) compared to a lower risk control group. Advancing age was generally associated with increases in the TST-positive rate. Gender or the number of BCG vaccinations had no relation to the TST-positive rate. CONCLUSIONS The results of this survey suggest that in eastern Taiwan a positive TST represents either active or latent TB infection rather than past BCG vaccination. Therefore, high BCG vaccination coverage in this region does not appear to limit the usefulness of the TST as a tool for diagnosing TB.
Poetry Written from the Words of People Given a Diagnosis of Dementia: A Narrative Analysis

Narrative - based research in dementia is limited. Theorists emphasise certain aspects as core features of ‘analysable’ narratives that are not reliably present in narratives of people diagnosed with dementia (e.g., temporality). This study, underpinned by social constructionist epistemology, demonstrates that attending to such narratives provides valuable understandings. Some narratives evidenced speakers’ lack of agency over their own experiences, appearing to coincide with constructions of low self - esteem, hopelessness, or being positioned by others into identities contradictory to speakers’ Self - constructs. Yet other na rratives demonstrated that, through acknowledgement and support of ‘personhood’, speakers retained a sense of control and purpose in their social worlds
Thirty Years of Sweat Chloride Testing at One Referral Center

Objective To conduct a descriptive analysis of the sweat test (ST), associating ST results with epidemiological data, CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) mutations and reasons to indicate the ST, as well as correlating sweat sodium and sweat chloride concentrations in subjects. Methods Retrospective survey and descriptive analysis of 5,721 ST at a university referral center. Results The inclusion of the subjects was based on clinical data related with cystic fibrosis (CF) phenotype. The samples were grouped by (i) sweat chloride concentrations (mEq/L): <30: 3,249/5,277 (61.6%); ≥30 to <60: 1,326/5,277 (25.1%); ≥60: 702/5,277 (13.3%) and (ii) age: (Group A––GA) 0 to <6 months; (Group B––GB) ≥6 months to <18 years; (Group C––GC) ≥18 years. Digestive symptoms showed higher prevalence ratio for the CF diagnosis as well as association between younger age and higher values of sweat chloride, sweat sodium, and chloride/sodium ratio. The indication of ST due to respiratory symptoms was higher in GB and associated with greater age, lower values of sweat chloride, sweat sodium, and chloride/sodium ratio. There was higher prevalence of ST with sweat chloride levels <30 mEq/L in GB, ≥60 mEq/L in GC, and with borderline level in GB. There was positive correlation between sweat sodium and sweat chloride. Sweat chloride/sweat sodium and sweat sodium–sweat chloride indexes showed association with sex, reason for ST indication, and CFTR mutations. Sex alters some values presented in the ST. The number of ST/year performed before and after the newborn screening implementation was the same; however, we observed a higher number of borderlines values. A wide spectrum of CFTR mutation was found. Severe CFTR mutations and F508del/F508del genotype were associated with highest probability of ST chloride levels ≥60 mEq/L, and the absence of CFTR mutations identified was associated with borderline ST and respiratory symptoms. Conclusions ST data showed wide variability dependent on age, sex, reason for examination indication, CFTR mutations, and weight of the collected sweat sample. Sweat sodium concentration is directly correlated with sweat chloride levels and it could be used as a quality parameter.
Management of intracranial atherosclerotic disease

Intracranial Atherosclerotic Disease (ICAD) is a significant cause of ischemic stroke which is used to be neglected. Due to developments in imaging technologies as well as increased use of endovascular interventional procedures and conventional catheter angiography on practice of stroke, ICAD found being much more associated with the etiology of ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack today. That it is more common among Asians, Hispanics and Afro-Americans compared to caucasians indicates the heterogeneous tendency of this subgroup of stroke in terms of race and ethnicity. Stroke due to ICAD occurs in various mechanisms such as thrombotic occlusion, artery to artery embolism, hemodynamic ischemia and penetrating vascular occlusion, and moreover, clinically significant findings can be seen in the presence of moderate stenosis (<%50). It is required to be clarified whether such various mechanisms have a role in frequent occurrence of recurrent strokes in ICAD, and which strategies are required to be applied in diagnosis and treatment. In this review, the management of ICAD will be discussed in accompaniment of current publications.
Obesity and youth diabetes: distinguishing characteristics between islet cell antibody positive vs. negative patients over time

Obese youth clinically diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently have evidence of islet cell autoimmunity. We investigated the clinical and biochemical differences, and therapeutic modalities among autoantibody positive (Ab+) vs. autoantibody negative (Ab−) youth at the time of diagnosis and over time in a multi‐provider clinical setting.
RNA interference machinery regulates chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis in fission yeast

The regulation of higher-order chromosome structure is central to cell division and sexual reproduction. Heterochromatin assembly at the centromeres facilitates both kinetochore formation and sister chromatid cohesion, and the formation of specialized chromatin structures at telomeres serves to maintain the length of telomeric repeats, to suppress recombination, and to aid in formation of a bouquet-like structure that facilitates homologous chromosome pairing during meiosis. In fission yeast, genes encoding the Argonaute, Dicer, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase factors involved in RNA interference (RNAi) are required for heterochromatin formation at the centromeres and mating type region. In this study, we examine the effects of deletions of the fission yeast RNAi machinery on chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis. We find that the RNAi machinery is required for the accurate segregation of chromosomes. Defects in mitotic chromosome segregation are correlated with loss of cohesin at centromeres. Although the telomeres of RNAi mutants maintain silencing, length, and localization of the heterochromatin protein Swi6, we discovered defects in the proper clustering of telomeres in interphase mitotic cells. Furthermore, a small proportion of RNAi mutant cells display aberrant telomere clustering during meiotic prophase. This study demonstrates that the fission yeast RNAi machinery is required for the proper regulation of chromosome architecture during mitosis and meiosis.
Development of a young persons’ HIV clinic in a District General Hospital: a case note review resulting in informed change

In recognition of the increasing number of HIV-infected young people attending the HIV department at a district general hospital, a case note review was conducted. There was a high prevalence of psychosocial problems and medical complexity among this cohort. As a result, tailored young persons’ services were developed. Effective utilisation of the existing skill-mix and resources were key to success.
The ‘Centre Effect’ in Nephrology: What Do Differences between Nephrology Centres Tell Us about Clinical Performance in Patient Management?

Improving the quality of care provided by nephrology centres to patients with kidney disease requires a clear understanding of how to compare performance after adjustment for case mix, combined with a detailed understanding of the structure and processes that are associated with the achievement of good clinical results. In this review, we discuss how to measure quality of care (using process or outcome measures), how to take case mix into account, how best to display comparisons between nephrology centres, and how to study the causes of real variations in quality between centres. This is a narrative review; we include examples from other fields in which the centre effect has been studied, including education.
Integrating Altruism and the Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Patronage Intention of a Green Hotel

This study describes the use of the new model of environmental behavior, which links altruism with the theory of planned behavior (TPB), to predict the relatively difficult behavioral intention of visiting a green hotel in Taiwan. The objectives of the study are threefold. First, the authors empirically examine how individual characteristics of the TPB model affect traveler intention to visit green hotels; second, they apply a TPB model to construct an amended model that focuses on altruism, imported from psychology-based research. Third, by capturing the affective component that motivates behavioral intention, the altruism construct will help bolster the TPB model to the domain of visiting a green hotel. The findings show that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and altruism all positively affect customer intention to visit a green hotel. This study also derives wider implications for managers in the hospitality industry, both from a theoretical and practical viewpoint.
Glycemic control of type 2 diabetes and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population.

OBJECTIVE We investigated the association between glycemic control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) and severe periodontal disease in the US adult population ages 45 years and older. METHODS Data on 4343 persons ages 45-90 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study III were analyzed using weighted multivariable logistic regression. Severe periodontal disease was defined as 2 + sites with 6 + mm loss of attachment and at least one site with probing pocket depth of 5 + mm. Individuals with fasting plasma glucose > 126 mg/dL were classified as having diabetes; those with poorly controlled diabetes (PCDM) had glycosylated hemoglobin > 9% and those with better-controlled diabetes (BCDM) had glycosylated hemoglobin <or= 9%. Additional variables evaluated in multivariable modeling included age, ethnicity, education, gender, smoking status, and other factors derived from the interview, medical and dental examination, and laboratory assays. RESULTS Individuals with PCDM had a significantly higher prevalence of severe periodontitis than those without diabetes (odds ratio = 2.90; 95% CI: 1.40, 6.03), after controlling for age, education, smoking status, and calculus. For the BCDM subjects, there was a tendency for a higher prevalence of severe periodontitis (odds ratio = 1.56; 95% CI: 0.90, 2.68). CONCLUSION These results provide population-based evidence to support an association between poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus and severe periodontitis.
Performance of angiographic, electrocardiographic and MRI methods to assess the area at risk in acute myocardial infarction

Objective Validation of methods to assess the area at risk (AAR) in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction is limited. A study was undertaken to test different AAR methods using established physiological concepts to provide a reference standard. Main outcome measured In 78 reperfused patients with first ST elevation myocardial infarction, AAR was measured by electrocardiographic (Aldrich), angiographic (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI), APPROACH) and cardiovascular magnetic resonance methods (T2-weighted hyperintensity and delayed enhanced endocardial surface area (ESA)). The following established physiological concepts were used to evaluate the AAR methods: (1) AAR size is always ≥ infarct size (IS); (2) in transmural infarcts AAR size=IS; (3) correlation between AAR size and IS increases as infarct transmurality increases; and (4) myocardial salvage ((AAR-IS)/AAR×100) is inversely related to infarct transmurality. Results Overall, 65%, 87%, 76%, 87% and 97% of patients using the Aldrich, BARI, APPROACH, T2-weighted hyperintensity and ESA methods obeyed the concept that AAR size is ≥IS. In patients with transmural infarcts (n=22), Bland–Altman analysis showed poor agreement (wide 95% limits of agreement) between AAR size and IS for the BARI, Aldrich and APPROACH methods (95% CI −22.9 to 29.6, 95% CI −28.3 to 21.3 and 95% CI −16.9 to 20.0, respectively) and better agreement for T2-weighted hyperintensity and ESA (95% CI −6.9 to 16.6 and 95% CI −4.3 to 18.0, respectively). Increasing correlation between AAR size and IS with increasing infarct transmurality was observed for the APPROACH, T2-weighted hyperintensity and ESA methods, with ESA having the highest correlation (r=0.93, p<0.001). The percentage of patients within a narrow margin (±30%) of the inverse line of identity between salvage extent and infarct transmurality was 56%, 76%, 65%, 77% and 92% for the Aldrich, BARI, APPROACH, T2-weighted hyperintensity and ESA methods, respectively, where higher percentages represent better concordance with the concept that the extent of salvage should be inversely related to infarct transmurality. Conclusions For measuring AAR, cardiovascular magnetic resonance methods are better than angiographic methods, which are better than electrocardiographic methods. Overall, ESA performed best for measuring AAR in vivo.
Outcome uncertainty and the couch potato audience

Previous studies of attendance demand for professional team sports have failed to yield clear- cut findings on the importance of outcome uncertainty to consumers. But potentially fewer problems should arise in examining the link between outcome uncertainty and demand in the television market for team sports, which in the case of English Premier League football is in fact a more important component in total club revenue. This study models both the choice of which games to show and the size of audience attracted by each game, exploiting data on audience sizes for games between 1993 and 2002. We propose a new measure of match outcome uncertainty and, from our results, both the broadcaster and the audience appear interested in competitive balance.
Effect of aqueous and alcoholic Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) extracts against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in comparison to chlorhexidine: An in vitro study

Introduction: Stevia (S. rebaudiana) a herb which has medicinal value and was used in ancient times as a remedy for a great diversity of ailments and sweetener. Leaves of Stevia contain a high concentration of Stevioside and Rebaudioside which are supposed to be sweetening agents. Aim: To compare the efficacy of aqueous and alcoholic S. rebaudiana extract against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in comparison to chlorhexidine. Materials and Methods: In the first part of the study, various concentrations of aqueous and ethanolic Stevia extract were prepared in the laboratory of Pharmacy College. It was then subjected to microbiological assay to determine its zone of inhibition using Agar disk diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) using serial broth dilution method against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Chlorhexidine was used as a positive control. One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test was used for multiple group comparisons followed by Tukey post hoc for group wise comparisons. Results: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of aqueous and ethnolic Stevia extract against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus were 25% and 12.5% respectively. Mean zone of inhibition of the aqueous and alcoholic Stevia extracts against Streptococcus mutans at 48 hours were 22.8 mm and 26.7 mm respectively. Mean zone of inhibition of the aqueous and alcoholic Stevia extracts against Lactobacillus acidophilus at 48 hours were 14.4 mm and 15.1 mm respectively. Mean zone of inhibition of the chlorhexidine against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus at 48 hours was 20.5 and 13.2 respectively. Conclusion: The inhibitory effect shown by alcoholic Stevia extract against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus acidophilus was superior when compared with that of aqueous form and was inferior when compared with Chlorhexidine.
Feature representation learning on multi-scale receptive fields for objection recognition

In this paper, we have proposed a novel feature representation on multi-scale receptive fields for objection recognition. The method is based on a modified convolutional neural networks (CNN), named network-in-network (NIN), which has shown a good performance in some computer vision tasks. However, applying NIN to some specific applications may encounter a few problems. First, the NIN removes the fully connected layers, which makes it unsuited to use in large-scale face recognition due to lack of an efficient feature representation, even though it brings a lot of performance benefits. Second, some lowerlayer features, which can make the feature representation more discriminative, is unused. In the pure forward architecture, these features are unseen to the classifier. To solve the two problems, we present a multi-scale receptive fields (MSRF) representation learning scheme. Based on a well trained NIN, we add a pathway to top layer and design a feature vector as final representation. In our experiments, we compare the result of our multi-scale receptive fields with standard NIN architecture. The results show our method can obtain a more explicit feature representation and improvements in performance.
Effect of raised body fat on vitamin D, leptin and bone mass.

OBJECTIVE To estimate leptin, vitamin D and bone mineral density levels in individuals with high fat mass, and to assess any correlation. METHODS The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Basic Medical Sciences Institute, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre, Karachi, and Aga Khan University, Karachi, from August 2012 to July 2014, and comprised healthy male volunteers between the ages of 18-60 years. Body fat percentage was determined using bioelectrical impedance analysis and the participants were classified as: Group A (15-21.9); Group B (22-27.9); and Group C (>28). Bone mineral density was calculated by ultrasound bone densitometer (T-score between +1 and ? 1 considered normal). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits were used to determine the levels of vitamin D and leptin. SPSS 19 was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 132 male subjects participated in this study, with each of the 3 groups having 44(33.3%). Despite all groups having low Vitamin D, a marked decrease was observed in group C compared to groups A and B (p <0.018). Bone mineral density T-score was <-1; total calcium was within normal range in all three groups. Serum leptin was raised in Group C compared to group A and B (p=0.03). Body fat percentage was negatively associated with vitamin D (p=0.004; r = -0.351), while it was positively correlated with leptin (p =0.038; r = 0.256). CONCLUSIONS Excess of body fat percentage led to decreased vitamin D and raised leptin. However, bone mineral density and calcium levels were within normal range, suggesting that other factors might have played a role in maintaining bone mass in obese individuals, such as leptin.
Leptin, insulin, insulin‐like growth factors and their binding proteins in cord serum: insight into fetal growth and discordancy

Objective Singleton infants with intrauterine growth restriction have an adaptive hormonal profile characterized by decreased levels of IGF‐1, IGF‐2, IGFBP‐3 and insulin and elevated levels of IGFBP‐1 and IGFBP‐2. This study examined the association between cord serum levels of six growth factors and anthropometric features at birth in twins in order to determine the intrauterine growth factor interactions and to characterize the specific hormonal profile of small discordant twins.