Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cloning, Tissue Distribution, Genomic Organization, and Functional Characterization of NBC3, a New Member of the Sodium Bicarbonate Cotransporter Family*

Previous functional studies have demonstrated that muscle intracellular pH regulation is mediated by sodium-coupled bicarbonate transport, Na+/H+ exchange, and Cl−/bicarbonate exchange. We report the cloning, sequence analysis, tissue distribution, genomic organization, and functional analysis of a new member of the sodium bicarbonate cotransporter (NBC) family, NBC3, from human skeletal muscle. mNBC3 encodes a 1214-residue polypeptide with 12 putative membrane-spanning domains. The ∼ 7.8-kilobase transcript is expressed uniquely in skeletal muscle and heart. The NBC3 gene (SLC4A7) spans ∼80 kb and is composed of 25 coding exons and 24 introns that are flanked by typical splice donor and acceptor sequences. Expression of mNBC3 cRNA inXenopus laevis oocytes demonstrated that the protein encodes a novel stilbene-insensitive 5-(N-ethyl-N-isopropyl)-amiloride-inhibitable sodium bicarbonate cotransporter.
EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AT 835 MHz ON GROWTH, MORPHOLOGY AND SECRETORY CHARACTERISTICS OF A MAST CELL ANALOGUE, RBL‐2H3

A mast cell line, RBL‐2H3, was exposed to 835MHz for 20 minutes, three times per day for 7 days at a power density of 8.1±3mW/cm2From day 4 onwards, it was observed that the rate of DNA synthesis and cell replication increased, that actin distribution and cell morphology became altered, and the amount of β‐hexosaminidase (a marker of granule secretion) released in response to a calcium ionophore was significantly enhanced, in comparison to unexposed cultures. There were no effects seen on levels of cytoskeletal protein synthesis or of beta‐actin mRNA. Morphological changes persisted following subculture for at least 7 days in the absence of further exposure. It is hypothesized that effects of exposure to an electromagnetic field at 835MHz may be mediated via a signal transduction pathway.
Determinants of Smallholder Pulse Producers Market Orientation in Southern Ethiopia

Pulse crops production and factors influencing the intensity market orientation were conducted in selected districts of southern Ethiopia. A total of 183 farmers were selected randomly and interviewed using structured schedule. The finding reveals that 73% of households produce haricot beans in the study areas on about 17.2% of total cultivated land. Out of the total produce of haricot bean close to 56% were sold. Next to haricot bean, chickpea is important pulse crop and is produced by 26.8% of the households. About 69.5% of total chickpea produce was sold indicating that chickpea is an even more important cash crop. The average level of market orientation index for haricot bean was 0.4 while that of chickpea 0.53, indicating moderate level of households market orientation. The Tobit estimation result show that household head education level, access to credit and land per capita positively influenced chickpea market orientation while being male head of a household and accesses to credit increased the predicted value of haricot bean market orientation. The key implication of this study is that interventions aimed at promoting market orientation of pulse crops should promote smallholder access to credit, human capital development and women empowerment.
Thrombin generation as an intermediate phenotype for venous thrombosis

Summary In vitro thrombin generation, which reflects an individual’s plasma coagulation potential and has been shown to correlate with the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), might represent a useful intermediate phenotype for the genetic dissection of VTE. As a proof of principle, we have investigated whether the thrombin generation assay can detect changes in the haemostatic balance associated with common genetic variation affecting the level or function of coagulation factors and inhibitors. The study population consisted of 140 healthy individuals. Plasma levels of coagulation factors and inhibitors and thrombin generation parameters determined at low tissue factor (TF) ± thrombomodulin (TM) and at high TF ± activated protein C (APC) were available from a previous study. All individuals were genotyped for F5 Leiden, F2 G20210A and 19 additional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in haemostasis-related genes. The association of each SNP with plasma levels of the corresponding proteins and with thrombin generation parameters (lag time, peak height and endogenous thrombin potential [ETP]) was evaluated by statistical analysis. Not only F5 Leiden and F2 G20210A, but also several other common SNPs, significantly affected thrombin generation parameters. In particular, FGA A1069G (Thr312Ala) decreased the ETP-APC, F2 A19911G increased the ETP-APC, F10 IVS2 C+517G decreased the ETP+APC, F12 C-46T decreased peak height at low TF, and TFPI T-287C and TFPI IVS7 T-33C decreased the ETP+APC. These results indicate that the thrombin generation assay is sensitive to genetic variation in haemostasis-related genes, which makes it a promising tool to identify novel genetic risk factors of VTE.
Sharing Tourism Experiences

Social media changes how travelers see and experience their trip. This study first proposes a framework which describes the relationships between social media and the tourism experience. Based upon this framework, it then examines the impact of social media when travelers share their emotions and perceptions after the trip. The results of the study confirm that sharing positive experiences post trip increases travelers’ positive affect while decreasing negative affect and therefore leads toward more positive overall evaluations. Further, we find that sharing unsatisfactory travel experiences through social media helps to reduce negative perceptions of the trip, which, in turn, enhances posttrip evaluations.
Temperature Effects on the Dynamics of Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Populations in the Laboratory

Abstract We investigated how constant temperatures of 22, 24, and 26°C experienced across the full life cycle affected the dynamics of caged populations of Aedes albopictus (Skuse). All cages were equipped with plastic beakers that served as sites for oviposition and larval development. We measured the per capita daily mortality and emergence rates of the adults and size of adult females, and estimated the intrinsic rate of increase (r) and asymptotic density (K) for each caged population. Populations at 26°C had greater intrinsic rates of increase and lower asymptotic densities than populations at 22 and 24°C. Populations at high temperatures initially had greater daily per capita emergence rates, and steeper declines in per capita emergence rate as density increased over the course of the experiment. There was no temperature effect on the size of adult females nor on the per capita daily mortality rate of adults. Results indicated that populations of Ae. albopictus occurring in regions with relatively high summer temperatures are likely to have high rates of population growth with populations of adults peaking early in the season. These populations may attain relatively low peak densities of adults. Populations occurring in regions with low summer temperatures are likely to experience slow, steady production of adults throughout the season with population size peaking later in the season, and may attain higher peak densities of adults. High temperature conditions, associated with climate change, may increase the rate of spread of Ae. albopictus by increasing rates of increase and by enhancing colonization due to rapid population growth.
Aids mortality and the mobility of children in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

This paper examines the effect of parental death on the mobility of 39,163 children aged 0–17 in rural KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, in 2000 and 2001. Parental mortality from all causes prior to and during follow-up increased the risk of a child moving by nearly two times after we controlled for the age and gender of the child and household characteristics. However, in the follow-up period, child mobility following maternal deaths from AIDS was lower than child mobility following maternal deaths from other causes. Younger children, boys, and children whose mothers or fathers were resident members of the children’s households were also less likely to move.
Research in Dental Health Education and Health Promotion: A Review of the Literature

This article presents a review of research in dental health education and health promotion. In the period 1982 to 1992, a total of 57 studies evaluating the effectiveness of interventions to alter individuals' behavior related to dental health were identified. Combining the results of these 57 studies with descriptive articles published over the same period, it appears that dental health education can result in improvements in objective measures of dental health behaviors and actual oral health measures, but has only limited success in changing attitudes towards dental issues and achieves only short-term gains in knowledge. The limited use of theoretical frameworks, poor statistical analyses, the use of convenient samples and the short postintervention follow-up periods diminish the contribution of this research to the development of dental health policy and the formation of strategies to improve the health of communities.
Reduced apoptosis in term placentas from gestational diabetic pregnancies

Gestational diabetic mellitus (GDM) pregnancies have an increased risk of macrosomic infants and large placental mass, though the mechanisms explaining each of these is uncertain. We sought to evaluate the contribution of apoptosis to placental size and the expression of glucose transporters (SLC2A) in GDM pregnancies. Maternal age and pre-pregnancy body weight were documented. Newborn weights were recorded after delivery. Placentas 37–40-week gestation from control patients (no pregnancy complication) (n = 5), or with GDM (n = 5) were weighed immediately after delivery. Villous samples (4 mm diameter) were collected and divided into specimens; one was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for immunostaining using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and activated caspase-3. The other specimen was snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at −80°C for active caspase-3, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), SLC2A1 and SLC2A3 gene expression analysis. Our results showed that maternal age and pre-pregnancy body weight were significantly higher in the GDM group when compared with those from the controls (P < 0.05). The mean neonatal birth weight and placenta weight were significantly higher in the GDM group compared with that from the controls (P < 0.05). The apoptotic index of placentas (0.05 ± 0.01 v. 0.17 ± 0.04, P < 0.04), active caspase-3 polypeptide fragments and PARP protein were significantly decreased in GDM placentas as compared with controls. Further, the level of placental SLC2A1 protein expression was ∼3-fold higher in GDM placentas. Our results suggest that reduced apoptosis in GDM placentas may contribute to increased placental tissue, which together with enhanced SLC2A1 expression, could play a role in fetal macrosomia.
Prevalence of persistent pain after endodontic treatment and factors affecting its occurrence in cases with complete radiographic healing.

AIMS To (i) determine the prevalence of persistent dento-alveolar pain following nonsurgical and/or surgical endodontic treatment conducted in a teaching dental hospital and (ii) identify the risk factors associated with persistent pain after apparently successful root canal treatment. STUDY DESIGN A total of 175 patients/teeth were reviewed 12-59 months following treatment. The patients were examined clinically and radiographically and a detailed pain history obtained. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between potential risk factors and persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment. RESULTS The prevalence of persistent pain after successful root canal treatment was 12% (21/175). Treatment success was determined by the absence of clinical and radiographic signs of dental disease. The factors that were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with persistent pain following endodontic treatment were: 'duration of preoperative pain' [odds ratio (OR) = 8.6], 'preoperative pain from the tooth' (OR = 7.8), 'preoperative tenderness to percussion' (OR = 7.8), 'previous chronic pain problems' (OR = 4.5), 'gender' (OR = 4.5) and 'history of painful treatment in the orofacial region' (OR = 3.8). 'Type of treatment received (surgical or nonsurgical treatment)' showed borderline significance at the 10% level. CONCLUSIONS The presence and duration of preoperative pain from the tooth site, lasting at least 3 months, a positive history of previous chronic pain experience or painful treatment in the orofacial region, and female gender were important risk factors associated with persistent pain after successful endodontic treatment.
3-D Semianalytical Surface Charge Model Including Relative Permeability Using Polynomial Approximation

To model a magnet, the surface charge model can be used. This results in fast and accurate analytical solutions when the relative permeability is equal to one. If this is not the case, the model has to be calculated numerically and the computational time increases significantly. In this paper, a polynomial approximation of the surface charge is therefore proposed to obtain a semianalytical model. The results are less accurate than the numerical model. It is, however, about 300 times faster. This 3-D model is used to model, a magnet, a soft-magnetic block in an external field, and a gravity compensator, which is a combination of magnets and a soft-magnetic plate.
Role of Bacillus subtilis DNA Glycosylase MutM in Counteracting Oxidatively Induced DNA Damage and in Stationary-Phase-Associated Mutagenesis

ABSTRACT Reactive oxygen species (ROS) promote the synthesis of the DNA lesion 8-oxo-G, whose mutagenic effects are counteracted in distinct organisms by the DNA glycosylase MutM. We report here that in Bacillus subtilis, mutM is expressed during the exponential and stationary phases of growth. In agreement with this expression pattern, results of a Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of MutM in both stages of growth. In comparison with cells of a wild-type strain, cells of B. subtilis lacking MutM increased their spontaneous mutation frequency to Rifr and were more sensitive to the ROS promoter agents hydrogen peroxide and 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (Paraquat). However, despite MutM's proven participation in preventing ROS-induced-DNA damage, the expression of mutM was not induced by hydrogen peroxide, mitomycin C, or NaCl, suggesting that transcription of this gene is not under the control of the RecA, PerR, or σB regulons. Finally, the role of MutM in stationary-phase-associated mutagenesis (SPM) was investigated in the strain B. subtilis YB955 (hisC952 metB5 leuC427). Results revealed that under limiting growth conditions, a mutM knockout strain significantly increased the amount of stationary-phase-associated his, met, and leu revertants produced. In summary, our results support the notion that the absence of MutM promotes mutagenesis that allows nutritionally stressed B. subtilis cells to escape from growth-limiting conditions. IMPORTANCE The present study describes the role played by a DNA repair protein (MutM) in protecting the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis from the genotoxic effects induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) promoter agents. Moreover, it reveals that the genetic inactivation of mutM allows nutritionally stressed bacteria to escape from growth-limiting conditions, putatively by a mechanism that involves the accumulation and error-prone processing of oxidized DNA bases.
On Risk Aversion and Prudence

Building on the isomorphism between the theories of risk aversion and precautionary saving, an objective index of prudent behavior is introduced, which generalizes the riskiness index set forth by Aumann and Serrano (2008). A benchmark framework for the monotone relation between risk aversion and prudence results, in which absence of level effects and stochastic dominance of shocks are crucial, and generalized risk measures enable us to embed the fundamental result set forth by Menegatti (2007). Effective maps of completely proper rationality (Mantovi, 2013) enable one to parametrize departure from our benchmark framework in terms of level effects which preserve the positive effect of absolute risk aversion on absolute prudence.
NS5AISDR‐V3 region genetic variability of Tunisian HCV‐1b strains: Correlation with the response to the combined interferon/Ribavirin therapy

In the non‐structural protein 5A (NS5A) of hepatitis C virus (HCV), mutations within the interferon sensitivity‐determining region (ISDR), the PKR‐binding domain (PKR‐BD), the variable region 3 (V3), and the interferon/ribavirin resistance‐determining region (IRRDR) have been correlated with the IFN‐based therapy response. In Tunisia, where a high prevalence of HCV‐1b has been found, no data regarding the implication of NS5A in treatment response were available. The current study examined the relationship between the pre‐treatment mutation number within ISDR, PKR‐BD, V3, IRRDR, as well as in the entire ISDR‐V3 region of NS5A (aa 2209–2379) and the response to the 48‐week course of combined IFN plus ribavirin therapy in 15 HCV‐1b‐infected Tunisian patients. Referring to HCV‐J sequence, a significant high genetic variability was observed within PKR‐BD in the sustained virological responder patients compared to non‐responders (P = 0.040). More importantly, when considering the entire region from ISDR to V3, referred to as NS5AISDR‐V3, a clear difference in the mutation number was observed between sustained virological responders (19.6 ± 3.16) and non‐responders (15.0 ± 1.41) (P = 0.002). Additionally, a more detailed analysis of NS5AISDR‐V3 region revealed an elevated degree of mutation rate within the region located between amino acids 2282 and 2308 (P = 0.0006). Interestingly, an analysis of specific amino acid variations defined proline and serine at position 2300 as signature patterns for sensitive and resistant strains, respectively. The genetic variability within the NS5A region of HCV‐1b strains was associated with the response to the combined IFN plus ribavirin therapy in our Tunisian cohort. J. Med. Virol. 81:2021–2028, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cardiovascular and diabetes risk perception in a Hispanic community sample.

PURPOSE We examined perceptions of 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk or likelihood of having undiagnosed diabetes or impaired fasting glucose (IFG) with actual risk in a community sample of Hispanic adults. METHODS We conducted a survey of 183 Hispanic adults (> or =18 years) recruited at community events around Charleston, SC. Likelihood of having undiagnosed diabetes/IFG as well as 10-year CHD risk were calculated. Perceived risk was assessed with questions based on the Risk Perception Survey-Diabetes Mellitus. RESULTS Over half of respondents (54.8%) underestimated their likelihood of undiagnosed diabetes/IFG and 14.8% underestimated their 10-year CHD risk. Older and overweight respondents were more likely to underestimate their likelihood of undiagnosed diabetes/IFG. Respondents with family history of diabetes were the least likely to underestimate their likelihood of current undiagnosed diabetes/IFG. Respondents with diagnosed hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol or a family history of heart attack were more likely to underestimate their 10-year CHD risk. Men were more likely to underestimate their risk for diabetes/IFG and CHD risk. CONCLUSIONS Health education to improve accurate risk perception could improve health promotion for this population.
Exploratory and Exploitative Learning in New Product Development: A Social Capital Perspective on New Technology Ventures in China

The authors examine the differential effects of the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital on exploratory and exploitative learning in new product development in new ventures in China. In addition to investigating the potential nonlinear relationships between exploratory and exploitative learning and new product performance, the authors examine the relationship between the interaction of the two types of learning and new product performance. The findings suggest that different dimensions of social capital are indeed significantly related to the level of exploratory and exploitative learning. The results also support the argument that firms need a balance of exploratory and exploitative learning to enhance performance. The findings draw the attention of managers from multinational firms operating in China to the important role of social capital in enhancing new product performance.
Environmental Factors Influencing Corporate Governance

With the enthronement of democratic governance in Nigeria, there is the expectation that democracy would strengthen political institutions, regulatory institutions, and governance effectively, and by so doing, create an enabling environment for good corporate governance practices to thrive. This research uses data from World Bank Governance indicators for three countries, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt, and examines how institutional quality has changed from 1996 to 2012. The research methodology used in investigating this research is a cross-country research analysis. The findings of this research reveal that the adoption of democratic institutions has not significantly increased the institutional quality of political and regulatory institutions in Nigeria. On the contrary, there has been an increasing trend of political instability and violence; however, there appears to be significant improvement in freedom of the press, democracy has allowed pressed freedom to thrive.
Seasonal variation in chemical composition of size-segregated urban air particles and the inflammatory activity in the mouse lung

We investigated the seasonal variations in the chemical composition and in vivo inflammatory activity of urban air particulate samples in four size ranges (PM10–2.5, PM2.5–1, PM1–0.2, and PM0.2). The samples were collected in Helsinki using a high-volume cascade impactor (HVCI). Healthy C57BL/6J mice were intratracheally instilled with a single dose (10 mg/kg) of the particulate samples. The lungs were lavaged and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was assayed for indicators of inflammation and tissue damage: cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and keratinocyte-derived chemokine [KC]) at 4 h, and total cell number and total protein concentration at 12 h. The PM10–2.5 and PM2.5–1 samples had much higher inflammatory potency than the PM1–0.2 and PM0.2 samples. The relative inflammatory activities of the autumn samples were the highest on an equal mass basis, but when estimated for the particulate mass per cubic meter of air, the springtime samples had the highest inflammatory potential. Resuspended soil material and other non-exhaust particulate material from traffic were associated with a high inflammatory activity of the PM10–2.5 and PM2.5–1 samples. Secondary inorganic ions in the PM1–0.2 and PM0.2 samples had inconsistent negative or positive correlations with the inflammatory activity. There were no systematic seasonal variations in the tracers of incomplete combustion and atmospherically oxidized organics in the PM1–0.2 and PM0.2 samples, which probably explains their low correlations with the inflammatory activity. In conclusion, in a relatively clean Nordic city, the resuspension of road dust and other non-exhaust particulate material from traffic were the major sources of inflammatory activity of urban air inhalable particles.