Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHANGES IN VISUAL EVOKED POTENTIALS, LIPID PEROXIDATION AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES IN RATS EXPOSED TO RESTRAINT STRESS: EFFECT OF L-CARNITINE

The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of L-carnitine on lipid peroxidation, Visual Evoked Potentials (VEPs) and antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase and catalase in rats exposed to chronic restraint stress. Forty male Wistar rats, aged three months were used. They were equally divided into four groups: control (C), the group exposed to restraint stress (R), the group treated with L-carnitine(L) and the group exposed to stress and treated with L-carnitine (RL). Chronic restraint stress was applied for 21 days (1 h/day) and L-carnitine (50 mg/kg/day) was given by gavage to the L and RL groups for the same period.Brain and retina levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were significantly increased in the R group and were not altered in the L group compared to the C group. Brain and retina TBARS levels were lower in the RL group than in the R group. Brain and retina superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were significantly decreased in the L and R groups compared to the C group. L-carnitine pretreatment had no significant effect on superoxide dismutase and catalase activity in the RL group. All latencies of VEP components were prolonged in the R and L groups with respect to the C group. L-carnitine increased the latencies of all VEP components in the L group whereas shortened them in the RL group compared to their control groups. L-carnitine may be a promising agent for the prevention of VEP and TBARS alterations caused by stress.
Acid catalysis of the formation of the slow-folding species of RNase A: evidence that the reaction is proline isomerization.

Unfolded RNase A is known to contain an equilibrium mixture of two forms, a slow-folding form (U(1)) and a fast-folding form (U(2)). If U(1) is produced after unfolding by the slow cis-trans isomerization of proline residues about X-Pro imide bonds, then the formation of U(1) should be catalyzed by strong acids. Therefore, the rate of formation of U(1) has been measured at different HClO(4) concentrations. After rapid unfolding of the native protein in concentrated HClO(4) at 0 degrees , the slow formation of U(1) was measured by use of refolding assays. Catalysis of its formation was found at HClO(4) concentrations above 5 M. The uncatalyzed reaction follows apparent first-order kinetics but, in the acid-catalyzed range, two reactions are found. The faster reaction produces two-thirds of the slow-folding species and shows acid catalysis above 5 M HClO(4). Catalysis of the slower reaction begins at 8 M HClO(4). The faster reaction shows a 100-fold increase in rate at 10.6 M HClO(4) over the rate of the uncatalyzed reaction of 5 M. The activation enthalpy of the uncatalyzed reaction has been measured in two sets of unfolding conditions: DeltaH(double dagger) is 21.5 kcal/mol (1 kcal = 4.2 x 10(3) J) in 3.3 M HClO(4) and 21.0 kcal/mol in 5 M guanidine HCl, pH 2.5. Both acid catalysis of the formation of U(1) and its high activation enthalpy are consistent with the rate-limiting step being cis-trans isomerization either of X-Pro imide bonds or of peptide bond. The rate of the uncatalyzed reaction is in the range expected for proline isomerization and is 0.1% of that of peptide bond isomerization; thus, the simplest explanation for the formation of U(1) is proline isomerization. Earlier data, showing that the kinetic properties of the U(1) right arrow over left arrow U(2) reaction in refolding conditions differ from those of proline isomerization, can be explained if there is kinetic coupling between early steps in the folding of U(1) and its conversion to U(2). The existence of two acid-catalyzed reactions that are distinguished by the HClO(4) concentration at which catalysis begins suggests that at least two essential proline residues produce slow-folding species of RNase A by isomerization after unfolding. Because protonation of imide bonds is responsible for acid catalysis of proline isomerization, the slower reaction probably involves an imide bond with a low pK. It may be the bond connecting Lys-41 and Pro-42, because the positive charge on Lys-41 could make this bond more difficult to protonate.
Hub location under hub congestion and demand uncertainty: the Brazilian case study

In this work, a mixed integer nonlinear programming model combining direct service links, demand uncertainty and congestion effects is proposed. This model is efficiently solved by Generalized Benders Decomposition, for instances of moderate sizes and reasonable number of scenarios. The deployed algorithms are further used for re-designing the Brazilian air transportation network, enabling the analysis of future demand scenarios and providing decision support about the optimal investment policy for Brazil.
Deletion of interleukin (IL)‐12p35 induces liver fibrosis in dominant‐negative TGFβ receptor type II mice

Mice with a dominant‐negative transforming growth factor β receptor restricted to T cells (dnTGFβRII mice) develop an inflammatory biliary ductular disease that strongly resembles human primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Furthermore, deletion of the gene encoding interleukin (IL)‐12p40 resulted in a strain (IL‐12p40−/−dnTGFβRII) with dramatically reduced autoimmune cholangitis. To further investigate the role of the IL‐12 cytokine family in dnTGFβRII autoimmune biliary disease, we deleted the gene encoding the IL‐12p35 subunit from dnTGFβRII mice, resulting in an IL‐12p35−/− dnTGFβRII strain which is deficient in two members of the IL‐12 family, IL‐12 and IL‐35. In contrast to IL‐12p40−/− mice, the IL‐12p35−/−mice developed liver inflammation and bile duct damage with similar severity but delayed onset as the parental dnTGFβRII mice. The p35−/− mice also demonstrated a distinct cytokine profile characterized by a shift from a T‐helper 1 (Th1) to a Th17 response. Strikingly, liver fibrosis was frequently observed in IL‐12p35−/− mice. In conclusion, IL‐12p35−/− dnTGFβRII mice, histologically and immunologically, reflect key features of PBC, providing a useful generic model to understand the immunopathology of human PBC. (HEPATOLOGY 2013;)
Correlative study of angiogenesis and dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging features of hepatocellular carcinoma

Purpose: To explore the correlation between contrast‐enhancement patterns on dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) and angiogenesis by analyzing microvessel density (MVD), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and P53 protein expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and Methods: MRI was performed with a GE Signa 1.5T MR scanner using SE and FMPSPGR sequences in 30 patients (38 lesions) during the period October 1998 to March 2000. All had histopathologically proven HCC. MR images were reviewed/analyzed retrospectively. The 30 patients were between 35 and 65 years of age (average age 58; 18 M and 12 F). SE T1WI, PDWI, and T2WI were acquired initially. The FMPSPGR sequence was acquired in the same position. The DCE‐MRI was performed in the arterial, portal vein, and delay phase after a bolus injection of Gd‐DTPA. The specimens were stained immunohistochemically for CD34, VEGF, and P53. MVD was highlighted by anti‐CD34 antibody staining. The enhancement features of HCC lesions were studied correlatively with the tumor MVD, VEGF, and P53 expression at protein level. Results: In the arterial phase, the results showed that MVD of HCC in the high‐enhancement group (229.76±80.96) was higher than that in the equal‐enhancement (173.09±61.38) and low‐enhancement groups (153.00±108.58) (P<0.01, respectively). VEGF expression of HCC in the high‐enhancement group (68.42%) was higher than that in the equal‐enhancement (36.36%) and low‐enhancement groups (38.89%) (P<0.05, respectively). In the portal vein phase, MVD of HCC in the enhancement group (259.80±93.30) was higher than that in the non‐enhancement group (178.64±92.65) (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between VEGF expression and the enhancement feature in the portal vein phase. In the delay phase, MVD of HCC in the ring‐enhancement group (269.06±57.89) was significantly higher than that in the non‐ring‐enhancement group (144.10±88.90) (P<0.01). There was a significant difference in VEGF expression between the ring‐enhancement group (76.47%) and the non‐ring‐enhancement group (42.86%) (P<0.05). No significant correlation was detected between P53 protein expression and the enhancement feature. Relative enhancement (RE) correlated with MVD, but not with VEGF and P53 protein expression. Conclusion: The contrast‐enhancement patterns on DCE‐MRI are influenced by tumor angiogenesis, as reflected by elevated VEGF expression, and are therefore valuable indicators for accessing tumor angiogenic activity and tumor neovascularization in vivo in HCC patients.
The controllable elements of the total retail experience : a study of clothing shoppers

Retail clothing stores continually have to adapt to marketplace demands to remain competitive. Customer retention has become a major objective for many clothing retailers. This study combines the management of a number of the controllable personal and non-personal elements that a customer are exposed to and interacts within a retail store, as part of the shopping experience. The data analysis procedures closely followed the guidelines for scale development suggested by Churchill (1979). The empirical results suggest that there are five dimensions considered important by consumers when assessing their satisfaction with a total retail experience in a clothing store. These are: merchandise value, internal store environment, personal interaction with staff, merchandise variety and complaint handling. JEL M30
Mixed Integer Programming-Based Semiautonomous Step Climbing of a Snake Robot Considering Sensing Strategy

We propose a control method for semiautonomous step climbing by a snake robot. Our method is based on mixed integer quadratic programming to generate the reference trajectory of the head of the snake robot online. One of the features of the method is that it determines suitable positions and time duration in which to sense the surroundings before approaching the step. Furthermore, constraints on velocity and acceleration are taken into account, so that the snake robot can securely follow the generated trajectory. Our method was applied to a snake robot equipped with a laser range finder, which is used for step detection. Experiments were performed to verify the efficacy of the method.
Effect of hypotension preceding death on the function of lungs from donors with nonbeating hearts.

BACKGROUND A shortage of suitable brain-dead donors continues to severely limit lung transplantation. Use of donors with nonbeating hearts has been suggested as a solution. Lungs are unique, in that aerobic metabolism can continue in the absence of blood circulation because oxygen is present in airways and alveoli. Animal studies have shown reasonable cadaveric graft function up to several hours after sudden death by drug administration. However, hemodynamic instability before death may worsen lung function through activation and pulmonary sequestration of neutrophils and release of inflammatory mediators. Because many potential cadaveric donors experience hypotension before death, this study was undertaken to assess the effect of hypotensive shock on cadaveric lung viability. METHODS A rat isolated lung reperfusion model was used to assess pulmonary function over 3 hours of reperfusion or until gross pulmonary edema developed. Twenty-five rats were randomly allocated to the following study groups, which were based on status before lung harvest: (1) control: no interventions; (2) hypotensive: 1 hour of hypotension by exsanguination to a mean blood pressure of 30 to 40 mm Hg; (3) cadaver: death by cervical dislocation followed by 3 hours of in situ lung ischemia; (4) hypotensive + 3 hours cadaver: 1 hour of hemorrhagic shock, followed by death and 3 hours of in situ ischemia; (5) hypotensive + 2 hours cadaver: similar to group 4, except the in situ ischemia was abbreviated to 2 hours. RESULTS No significant differences were found among group 1, 2, or 3 lungs with regard to wet to dry weight ratios, gas exchange, and pulmonary arterial or airway pressures. However, all group 4 lungs became grossly hemorrhagic and developed severe pulmonary edema within 10 minutes of reperfusion. Group 5 lungs fared only marginally better, with two of five lungs tolerating 3 hours of reperfusion. CONCLUSIONS A period of hypotension before death severely impairs cadaveric lung viability.
Antisense-fos RNA causes partial reversion of the transformed phenotypes induced by the c-Ha-ras oncogene

Several lines of evidence have suggested that c-fos may act downstream from c-Ha-ras in a growth-regulatory signal transduction pathway. We used antisense RNA to inhibit c-fos gene expression and investigated the effects of diminished c-fos expression on the phenotypes induced by the EJ c-Ha-ras oncogene in NIH 3T3 cells. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that the antisense RNA caused a marked reduction in the amount of c-fos protein expressed following serum stimulation. EJ cells containing antisense-fos RNA continued to overexpress ras and remained capable of proliferating in vitro. However, the antisense-fos RNA caused a partial reversion of the major transformed phenotypes of EJ cells, including a restoration of both density-dependent growth arrest and the ability to be rendered quiescent by serum deprivation, a reversion to a flat morphology, inhibition of anchorage-independent growth, and inhibition of tumorigenicity in nude mice. Our results indicate that inhibition of c-fos expression, to a level still supporting in vitro proliferation, prevents the transforming effects of the ras oncogene; they thus provide additional evidence for the participation of c-fos in ras-regulated signal transduction pathways.
Serum Metabolomic Profiles Identify ER-Positive Early Breast Cancer Patients at Increased Risk of Disease Recurrence in a Multicenter Population

Purpose: Detecting signals of micrometastatic disease in patients with early breast cancer (EBC) could improve risk stratification and allow better tailoring of adjuvant therapies. We previously showed that postoperative serum metabolomic profiles were predictive of relapse in a single-center cohort of estrogen receptor (ER)–negative EBC patients. Here, we investigated this further using preoperative serum samples from ER-positive, premenopausal women with EBC who were enrolled in an international phase III trial. Experimental Design: Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy of 590 EBC samples (319 with relapse or ≥6 years clinical follow-up) and 109 metastatic breast cancer (MBC) samples was performed. A Random Forest (RF) classification model was built using a training set of 85 EBC and all MBC samples. The model was then applied to a test set of 234 EBC samples, and a risk of recurrence score was generated on the basis of the likelihood of the sample being misclassified as metastatic. Results: In the training set, the RF model separated EBC from MBC with a discrimination accuracy of 84.9%. In the test set, the RF recurrence risk score correlated with relapse, with an AUC of 0.747 in ROC analysis. Accuracy was maximized at 71.3% (sensitivity, 70.8%; specificity, 71.4%). The model performed independently of age, tumor size, grade, HER2 status and nodal status, and also of Adjuvant! Online risk of relapse score. Conclusions: In a multicenter group of EBC patients, we developed a model based on preoperative serum metabolomic profiles that was prognostic for disease recurrence, independent of traditional clinicopathologic risk factors. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1422–31. ©2017 AACR.
Teaching socially responsible strategic management through a computer-based business simulation game

Several business schools from around the world have joined a movement called Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiated by the United Nations to reform the teaching of business towards emphasizing social responsibility and sustainability. De La Salle University (DLSU) became a signatory to PRME in 2008. A key commitment to PRME is expressed in Principle 3, i.e., "Method: We will create educational frameworks, materials, processes and environments that enable effective learning experiences for responsible leadership. " Business simulation games have been used for more than 40 years. More recently, business faculty have been actively using computer-based games as part of their teaching methodology. In fact, the trend has been for the simulator to be the main activity in the business course, especially in strategy courses. Despite the substantial literature on educational business games, little mention has been made on how it can be used to teach socially responsible business practice. This paper addresses this research gap by describing the use of the Capitalism 2 computer-based business simulation to teach socially responsible strategic management in the undergraduate level in De La Salle University. The simulation has been used both within class and through an inter-class tournament. The intended learning outcome is that students will be able to pursue business strategy which will deliver quality products to customers, create jobs and continuously invest in the development of employees while achieving superior long-term financial returns. Student feedback on the experience is reported and recommendations for future educational use are given.
The Python-OpenDSS co-simulation for the evolutionary multiobjective optimal allocation of the single tuned passive power filters

The multiobjective allocation optimization of single tuned passive power filters for decreasing the power losses and harmonic mitigation in distribution networks is presented in the paper. The Pareto definition of the multiobjective problems is used in the paper. The two objectives problem consists of the two technical objective functions, the real power losses and the total harmonic distortion, is used. The evolutionary algorithm is used as optimization technique to solve the problem. The two open source software tools intended for evolutionary optimization and distribution system simulation are used in co-simulation. The presented procedure is demonstrated by applying it on the test feeder example. The comparison of the simulation results obtained by different evolutionary algorithms available in the used optimization tools is given.
A Study of Determination in Chinese Peasant Workers’ Wage: The Role of Human Capital and Market Segmentation

The result of OLS estimation indicates that peasant workers’ wage will increase by about 6.1% when education increases 1 year, and the wage increase of those who experienced professional training is about 15.7% more than those who not. After controlling other variables, industry monopoly not only brings minority’s prosperity but also majority’s poverty. Both human capital effect and labor market segmentation effect are enhanced obviously by Chinese marketization process. The conclusions imply that strengthening education and training and eliminating labor market segmentation will be very important policy to improve peasant workers’ wage. This paper also finds that none of the years of parental schooling, the numbers of brothers and sisters and the types of investigated area is an ideal IV when dealing with endogenous educational issues.
Three-dimensional coronary sinus reconstruction-guided left ventricular lead implantation based on intraprocedural rotational angiography: a novel imaging modality in cardiac resynchronization device implantation.

AIMS Rotational angiography (RA) of the coronary sinus (CS) provides more anatomical insights compared with static angiographies. We evaluated intraprocedural three-dimensional (3D) CS reconstruction (RC) based on RA, using syngo(®) DynaCT Cardiac to guide CS lead implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS In 24 patients with indication for cardiac resynchronization therapy, intraprocedural RA and 3D RC of the CS was performed. Lead placement was guided by 3D image integration into real-time fluoroscopy. Rotational angiography and 3D RCs were evaluated regarding visibility of the CS and tributaries, CS-to-target vein angles, and vessel diameters. The target vein for CS lead implantation, identified by RA, was successfully displayed by 3D RC in 20 (91%) of 22 patients with adequate RA. All lead implantations were guided successfully by 3D image integration into real-time fluoroscopy. Cranial or caudal angulations were used in 95% of the procedures without further angiographies. Rotational angiography displayed a mean of 2.9 ± 1.0 second-order side branches compared with 1.8 ± 1.1 in 3D RCs (P< 0.05). The CS-to-target vein angle estimated from static projections (right anterior oblique 20°, left anterior oblique 40°, and even optimal RA view) differed substantially from 3D RCs. Main vessel diameters did not differ significantly between both techniques. CONCLUSION Intraprocedural 3D RC of the CS and 3D image integration-guided lead placement is feasible. Coronary sinus-to-target vein angles seemed to be misestimated even by RA views compared with 3D RC. Thus RA and 3D CS RC should be applied routinely for CS lead implantation.
Influenza Virus Can Enter and Infect Cells in the Absence of Clathrin-Mediated Endocytosis

ABSTRACT Influenza virus has been described to enter host cells via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. However, it has also been suggested that other endocytic routes may provide additional entry pathways. Here we show that influenza virus may enter and infect HeLa cells that are unable to take up ligands by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. By overexpressing a dominant-negative form of the Eps15 protein to inhibit clathrin-mediated endocytosis, we demonstrate that while transferrin uptake and Semliki Forest virus infection were prevented, influenza virus could enter and infect cells expressing Eps15Δ95/295. This finding is supported by the successful infection of cells with influenza virus in the presence of chemical treatments that block endocytosis, namely, chlorpromazine and potassium depletion. We show also that influenza virus may infect cells incapable of uptake by caveolae. Treatment with the inhibitors nystatin, methyl-β-cyclodextrin, and genistein, as well as transfection of cells with dominant-negative caveolin-1, had no effect on influenza virus infection. By combining inhibitory methods to block both clathrin-mediated endocytosis and uptake by caveolae in the same cell, we demonstrate that influenza virus may infect cells by an additional non-clathrin-dependent, non-caveola-dependent endocytic pathway. We believe this to be the first conclusive analysis of virus entry via such a non-clathrin-dependent pathway, in addition to the traditional clathrin-dependent route.
Unidirectional laning and migrating cluster crystals in confined self-propelled particle systems

One standard approach to describe the collective behaviour of self-propelled particles is the Vicsek model: point-like self-propelled particles tend to align their migration directions to the ones of their nearer neighbours at each time-step. Here we use a variant of the Vicsek model that includes pairwise repulsive interactions. Confining the system between parallel walls can qualitatively change its appearance: a laning state can emerge that is different from the ones previously reported. All lanes show on average the same migration direction of the contained particles with a finite separation distance between the lanes. Furthermore, in certain parameter ranges we observe collectively migrating clusters that arrange in an approximately hexagonal way. We suggest that the mechanism behind these regular textures is an overreaction in the alignment mechanism. Considering the more realistic scenario of non-point-like particles in the presence of confining surfaces is generally important for the comparison to experimental systems.