Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Potential Therapeutic Effect of Allogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Chronic Cerebral Murine Toxoplasmosis

Background and Aim: Toxoplasma infection is mainly latent and cause severe disease only if reactivation occurs especially for brain cysts. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of BM-MSCs on murine chronic toxoplasmosis experimental model. Methods: Female Swiss albino mice (n=100) were divided into 5 groups (20 mice each). Group I (infected, injected with BM-MSCs); Group II (infected, treated with BM-MSCs and Spiramycin-Metronidazole); Group III (infected, treated with Spiramycin-Metronidazole); Group IV (infection control) and Group V (non infected, injected with BM-MSCs). Results: In Regarding the mean Toxoplasma brain cyst count, after 7 and 14 days, group I was significantly lower than group II, higher than group III and non-statistically different from group IV. Group II was significantly higher than in groups III and IV. Group III showed a significant decrease in brain cyst count versus group IV. As regards the histopathological examination of brain sections, after 7 and 14 days, group I showed the least histopathological inflammatory changes which was significantly lower than that of group IV. Group II revealed the most profound histopathological inflammatory changes. Group III showed mild to moderate inflammatory changes with a non-significant difference from group IV. As regards the survival rate, the group I showed the highest, group II showed the lowest mean survival time, which was statistically significant versus group IV. Group III showed a non-significant difference versus group IV. Conclusion: MSCs have an anti-inflammatory effect and prolong the survival of T. gondii infected mice; however, they have a non
Raman 2D Peak Line Shape in Epigraphene on SiC

We measured a 2D peak line shape of epitaxial graphene grown on SiC in high vacuum, argon and graphene prepared by hydrogen intercalation from the so called buffer layer on a silicon face of SiC. We fitted the 2D peaks by Lorentzian and Voigt line shapes. The detailed analysis revealed that the Voigt line shape describes the 2D peak line shape better. We have determined the contribution of the homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening. The homogeneous broadening is attributed to the intrinsic lifetime. Although the inhomogeneous broadening can be attributed to the spatial variations of the charge density, strain and overgrown graphene ribbons on the sub-micrometer length scales, we found dominant contribution of the strain fluctuations. The quasi free-standing graphene grown by hydrogen intercalation is shown to have the narrowest linewidth due to both homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening.
The identification of therapeutic targets and virulence factors of Clostridium difficile

Clostridium difficile, a Gram-positive spore forming bacteria, is the leading cause of healthcare-associated diarrhoea in the UK and represents a major healthcare challenge. The vegetative form of the bacterium colonises the gut mucosa and produces two exotoxins, which are responsible for the pathology associated with the bacterium. We thus sort to characterise the host immune response directed against the surface of the bacterium and toxins A and B. Our studies revealed that the vegetative form of the pathogen is capable of altering its physiology in vitro to produce two distinct colony morphotypes. The differences observed in the cell surface, autolytic activity and bile salt sensitivity; suggest that the M2 morphotype may be better equipped to survive in the hostile conditions encountered in the gut. The mechanisms by which these changes are mediated are as yet unclear; however given the characteristics of the morphotypes it may involve one or more phase variable proteins. The identification of immunogenic proteins, including pyruvate-flavodoxin oxidoreductase, an anaerobic metabolism enzyme associated with oxidative stress warrants further investigation. To be effective, a future immuno-therapeutic should target the form of bacteria which is most often encountered during infection. Toxins A and B remain the primary virulence factors of C. difficile, with toxin neutralising antibodies targeting the receptor binding domains conferring protection and reducing recurrent infection. To characterise the antibody response directed against toxins A and B, the cell binding and translocation domains of each toxin were expressed in Escherichia coli. To identify immunogenic regions, the native, recombinant and toxoided proteins were subjected to enzymatic digestion with clostripain and probed with toxin neutralising animal sera and sera from C. difficile infected patients. The immune sera consistently identified two fragments of 40 and 60 kDa within both toxins A and toxin B, which may contain toxin neutralising epitopes and thus warrant further investigation.
Work-family conflict and job dissatisfaction among police officers: mediation of threat to family role and moderation of role segmentation enhancement

This study investigates the mechanism between work-family conflict (WFC) and job dissatisfaction by considering threat to family role as a mediator and role segment enhancement as a moderator. ,The data were collected from 245 male and 245 female police officers using a questionnaire-based survey method through convenience sampling. ,Results revealed that threat to family role partially mediates the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Role segment enhancement was also noted to weaken the association between WFC and job dissatisfaction. Moreover, the study revealed that male employees are more likely to draw a boundary between their work and family domain, which was not found in their female counterparts. ,The survey for this study was conducted in a male-dominant developing country, so results may be different in developed countries. The study has theoretical and managerial implications. ,This study adds value to the existing literature on work-family conflicts in the perspective of source attribution and boundary management. Further, to the best of researchers' knowledge, none of the previous studies have examined role segment enhancement and threat to family role among the police workforce.
The Board Size and Board Composition Impact on Financial Performance: An Evidence from the Pakistani and Chinese Listed Banking Sector

The main objective of this research is to investigate the impact of board size and board composition on financial performance of banks. The sample of this study consists on two countries listed bank sector Pakistan and China. The annul data is used from 2009-2018 to find the objective of this study. The Panel regression model is used to check the relationship between dependent and independent variables. Return on Asset and Return on Equity is used as performance checker dependent variables. The results of this study confirm board size coefficient value positive for ROA and negative for ROE but shows insignificant behavior for Pakistani banking sector while in Chinese banking sector the coefficient value of board size positively for ROA and ROE at 10% level. The board composition coefficient shows the negatively significant with ROA but insignificantly related to ROE for Pakistani banking sector. However, in Chinese banking sector the coefficient value of board composition is insignificant for both ROA and ROE. This study is helpful for banks, management of banks, policy makers, researcher as well as Government.
Evaluation of Microwave Diathermy Effect on Equine Flexor Tendons: A Preliminary Study

Artificially induced tendinitis animal models are crucial to guarantee the significance and applicability of the study output. Herein, we propose that increasing tendon temperature could be a good model that is capable to mimic the clinically introduced tendinitis cases. Microwave radiofrequency radiation is one of the techniques used clinically to increase the heat of tissue situated superficial in the body. The aim of this study is to investigate the thermal effect of the microwave beam on the flexor tendons at the metacarpal/metatarsal region of donkeys cadaver. Twelve hindlimb and twelve forelimb were obtained from six cadaveric donkeys were exposed to different microwave setting 30W/30min, 30W/15min, 25W/30 min, 25W/15min, 20W/30min and 20W/15min. The temperatures were recorded after each microwave session using a sensitive thermometer. Our results revealed a highly significant effect on temperature output between different watt setting and time at all the anatomical sites. Using of 30W/30min setting resulted in significantly higher temperature which estimated by 53.5±0.6, 47.5±0.6 and 45.5±0.6 Co at the following areas skin/superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), SDFT/ deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) and DDFT/ Check ligament (CKL) respectively. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that increasing the exposure time is more effective in increasing the local temperature than increasing power exposure. In conclusion, the microwave diathermy can provide temperature gradient on flexor tendons that mimic that occurring during over exercise.
Removal of Heavy Metals from Industrial Effluent Using Bacteria

Industrial development results in the generation of industrial effluents, and if untreated results in water, sediment and soil pollution. (Fakayode and Onianwa, 2002; Fakayode, 2005). Industrial wastes and emission contain toxic and hazardous substances, most of which are detrimental to human health (Jimena et al.,2008; Ogunfowokan et al.,2005; Rajaram et al., 2008). The key pollutants include heavy metals, chemical wastes and oil spills etc. Heavy metal resistant bacteria have significant role in bioremediation of heavy metals in wastewater. The objective of this work is to study the role of bacteria in removing the heavy metals present in the industrial effluent.Five effluent samples out of nine were selected for this study due to high content of heavy metals. The heavy metals Hg and Cu were removed by Bacillus sp. The average Hg reduction was 45% and Cu reduction was recorded as 62%. The heavy metals Cd, As and Co were removed by Pseudomonas sp. The average Cd reduction was 56%, average As reduction was 34% and average Co reduction was recorded as 53%. The heavy metals Cd and Cu were removed by Staphylococcus sp. The average Cd reduction was 44% and average Cu reduction was recorded as 34%.
Handbook of Fermented Functional Foods

The History of Feremented Foods, J.B. Prajapati and B.M. Nair Challenges Associated with the Development of Probiotic-Containing Functional Foods, N. Kearney, C. Stanton, C. Desmond, M. Coakley, J.K. Collins, G. Fitzgerald, and R.P. Ross The Properties of Enterococcus faecium and the Fermented Milk Product- Gaio(R), M.C. Bertolami and E.R. Farnworth Kefir-A Fermented Milk Product, E.R. Farnworth and I. Mainville Yogurt and Immunity: The Health Benefits of Fermented Milk Products That Contain Lactic Acid Bacteria, J. Van de Water and P. Naiyanetr Health Properties of Milk Fermented with Lactobacillus. Casei strain Shirota (LcS), K. Miyazaki and T. Matsuzaki Biologically Active Peptides Released in Fermented Milk: Role and Functions, G. Vinderola, A. de Moreno de LeBlanc, G. Perdigon, and C. Matar Cheese and Its Potential As a Probiotic Food, K.J. Heller, W. Bockelmann, J. Schrezenmeir, and M. deVrese Natto: A Soybean Food Made by Fermenting Cooked Soybeans with Bacillus subtilis (natto), T. Hosoi and K. Kiuchi Fermented Meat, W.P. Hammes, D. Haller, and M.G. Ganzle Miso: Production, Properties, and Benefits to Health, Y. Minamiyama and S. Okada Korean Fermented Foods: Kimchi and Doenjang, J. Surh, Y. -K. L. Kim, and H.Kwon Lactobacillus plantarum: The Role in Foods and in Human mHealth, G. Molin Sauerkraut, W. Holzapfel, U. Schillinger, and H. Buckenhuskes New Trends of Table Olive Processing for Quality Control and Functional Proprieties, M. Hamdi Traditional Chinese Fermented Foods, Y-H.P. Hsieh, S. Pao, and J. Li Tempeh: A Mold-Modified Indigenous Fermented Food, D.Y. C. Fung and B.A. Crozier-Dodson Thai Fermented Foods: Microorganisms and Their Health Benefits, S. Tanasupawat and W. Visessanguan Production of Probiotic Cultures and Their Addition in Fermented Foods, C.P. Champagne and H. Mollgaard The Future for Fermented Foods, E.R. Farnworth Index
Decomposing value globally

ABSTRACT This paper utilizes an international context and revisits the findings which argue that the positive relation between book-to-market ratio and future equity returns is driven by historical changes in firm size in the US. After confirming these results in the US setting both in the original and a more recent sample period, we find that they do not hold in regions outside the US. In the international sample, book-to-market ratio has a significantly positive relation with future equity returns even after changes in firm size are controlled for in regression analyses. This positive relation is again visible when the orthogonal component of book-to-market ratio (which is independent of changes in firm size) is used as a sorting variable in portfolio analyses. Country-level analyses confirm the findings from regional analyses.
Hypermethylation in Gene Promoters Are Induced by Chronic Exposure to Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylenes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Gas station attendants are occupationally exposed to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) compounds and thus more susceptible to the biological effects of this mixture present in gasoline, especially due to the carcinogenicity of benzene. Furthermore, the harmful effects of BTEX exposure may be potentiated by genetic and epigenetic inactivation of critical genes. The objective was to evaluate such gene-BTEX interactions accessing the promoter methylation status of p14ARF, p16INK4A and GSTP1 in peripheral blood leukocyte samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS The 59 exposed and 68 unexposed participants from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were included. The promoter methylation status was accessed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism was investigated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. RESULTS Both p14ARF and p16INK4A were significantly hypermethylated in exposed subjects compared to unexposed (p = 0.004 and p<0.001, respectively). Additionally, p16INK4A hypermethylation in the exposed group was correlated with chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) (p = 0.018), thus highlighting the influence of the gene-environment interactions on genome instability. Noteworthy, p16INK4A methylation was significantly associated with miscarriage among female attendants (p = 0.047), in which those who reported miscarriage exhibited hypermethylation in at least 2 of the 3 genes analyzed. The GSTP1 heterozygote genotype, which could affect the metabolism of benzene detoxification, was found in both groups but was more frequent in those occupationally exposed. No significant association was observed between GSTP1 genotypes and methylation status. CONCLUSION Together, these findings indicate that gas station attendants with the aforementioned epigenetic and genetic profiles may be at greater risk of occupational BTEX exposure-induced genome instability, which could require concerted efforts to establish more preventive actions and constant biomonitoring in gas station attendants.
Identity in Adulthood—Stable or Flexible

The traditional approach to identity is focused on research of identity attainment in adolescence and early adulthood. Research of identity in adulthood is scarce, but outlines interesting perspectives. This article is focused on the specific features, typical for the transitional periods of identity reformulation throughout lifespan as adaptive response to the experienced contextual specificity. 703 Bulgarian volunteers in total, aged 18 - 60, were administered EOMEIS-2 in two different periods—2008 and 2018. The main objective of the study is three-fold: 1) to account changes in identity statuses distribution in the two time points—2008 and 2018; 2) to describe the most preferred identity status for adults in Bulgaria; and 3) to outline the most frequent statuses as ensuring the best adaptation of the person to the context. The general results reveal that there is no change in the distribution of the identity statuses. 82% of the adults prefer to postpone their stable commitments and reorganize their identity. Furthermore, this is not a result of inner choice but mainly adaptive response to the requirements of the context. Environment, perceived as unstable and preventing strong commitments, results in identity choices postponement as most adaptive person-context transaction.
Spermiogenesis and sperm ultrastructure of Poracanthium furcatum (Digenea, Opecoelidae), a parasite of Mullus surmuletus (Pisces, Teleostei)

Abstract The ultrastructure of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of Poracanthium furcatum (Opecoelidae), parasite of the fish Mullussurmuletus , were studied by electron microscopy. Results were compared with those documented for other digeneans, in par-ticular with Opecoeloides furcatus , another opecoelid. Spermiogenesis follows the general pattern found in the Digenea.Nevertheless, a novel ultrastructural element is described. The posterior part of the centriole is unusual in that it comprises acentral element. The mature spermatozoon of P. furcatum presents some characteristics allowing distinction between it and O. furcatus , contrary to the external morphology. It contains a lateral expansion, two mitochondria and a nuclear biflagellarregion. Other important ultrastructural features in the spermatozoon include: external ornamentations of the plasma membrane,spine-like bodies, anterior and posterior extremities. All these elements of the male gamete are interesting criteria for phylo -genetic studies.
Cephaleuros virescens in Brazilian Mahogany: Algae Parasitic Disease Threatening an Important Reforestation Tree

The forest species are frequent targets of diseases. In this context, the plant-parasitic algae comprise a separate group in this process, including the algae genus Cephaleuros , which attacks mahogany cultivars. The objective of this work was to accomplish the molecular and morphological characterization of the causal agent of algae spots occurring in Brazilian mahogany ( Swietenia macrophylla ). Somatic and reproductive algae structures contained in lesions on the leaves had the DNA extracted and amplified by primers 18SHf and 18SLr of the rRNA nuclear gene 18S. Then, the amplicons were purified and sequenced. The algae structures too were characterized under light microscope. In addition, a total of 12 injured leaves located in the lower third of each attacked tree were randomly extracted for lesion characterization according to its size and number. After algae structures measurements, sporangiophores and sporangia had 260.2 x 12.9 μm and 25 x 18.8 μm. These measurements, combined with the molecular identification, indicated that the algae found in Brazilian mahogany leaves is C. virescens . Attacked leaves showed an average of 33 lesions, 60% of which were smaller than 2 mm in diameter, which shows great capacity of the pathogen to reach different parts of the foliar limb. These measurements, combined with molecular identification, confirmed the algae found in Brazilian mahogany leaves to be C. virescens .
Whiteness and Urban Planning

Abstract Problem, research strategy, and findings: The ability of planning to address America’s urban problems of inequality, crime, housing, education, and segregation is hampered by a relative neglect of Whiteness and its role in shaping urban outcomes. We offer a justification for centering Whiteness within urban planning scholarship and practice that would examine its role shaping and perpetuating regional and racial injustices in the American city. The focus of planners, scholars, and public discourse on the “dysfunctions” of communities of color, notably poverty, high levels of segregation, and isolation, diverts attention from the structural systems that produce and reproduce the advantages of affluent and White neighborhoods. Planners and planning scholars frequently invoke a “legacy of injustice” with regard to concentrated poverty and disadvantage but not in regard to neighborhoods of White affluence. One is segregated and problematized and the other is idealized. Takeaway for practice: Planners and planning scholars need to understand the role of Whiteness, in particular White affluence, to assess the potential impacts of planning interventions. Doing so will inform a wider range of planning approaches to problems of racial and spatial equity.
Association of lncRNA-p53 regulatory network (lincRNA-p21, lincRNA-ROR and MALAT1) and p53 with the clinicopathological features of colorectal primary lesions and tumors

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common intestinal cancer with a high mortality rate. Early detection of this type of cancer is fundamental to the prevention of the disease, which results in improved survival rates. In the human colon tissue, transition from normal epithelium to adenoma is considered to be caused by unknown molecular incidents occurring over 5–10 years. The detection of CRC has proved problematic when in the early stages of disease. In addition, identifying suitable biomarkers for the detection of CRC progress in patients remains one of the most significant challenges. Long non-coding RNAs have been demonstrated to contribute to the promotion of CRC. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical and biological significance of long intergenic non-coding (linc)RNA-p21, lincRNA-regulator of reprogramming (ROR) and metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in the colon tumor and polyp tissue, and the association that these have with the expression of p53 at the mRNA level. Neoplastic and paired adjacent normal tissue samples were obtained from 72 patients (46 polyps and 26 tumors). Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to determine the relative fold changes in the expression of lincRNA-p21, lincRNA-RoR, MALAT1 and p53 in the samples. A significant association was observed between the levels of MALAT1 and p53 in neoplasm tissues (R=0.073; P<0.05). The relative expression of the MALAT1 gene revealed a statistically significant difference between the different polyp types and number of polyps (P=0.0028 and 0.022, respectively). Adjuvant therapy in patients with tumors revealed an association between the levels of lincRNA-ROR and lincRNA-p21 expression (P=0.015 and 0.038, respectively). MALAT1 may be selected as an early detection biomarker for CRC. Furthermore, lincRNA-ROR and lincRNA-p21 may serve as prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in patients with CRC.