Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ferulic acid (FA) abrogates ionizing radiation-induced oxidative damage in murine spleen

Abstract Purpose: The spleen is a crucial organ manifesting immune functions. Thus, radiation-induced oxidative challenge is vulnerable for the spleen. Our major objective was to protect the spleen from radiation-induced anomalous situations and to identify the signaling pathways involved. Materials and methods: Swiss albino mice were treated with ferulic acid (FA) once in a day at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days before exposing them to single dose of 10 Gy irradiation. The ROS generation and MMP change were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of different signaling proteins was investigated by immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry. Results: FA pretreatment significantly prevented radiation-induced oxidative stress by downregulating TBARS formation and by upregulating SOD and catalase activity. FA scavenged ROS, prevented the alteration of MMP and downregulated the expression of stress marker Cdc42 and apoptotic markers p53, p21, Bax and PTEN. Cell cycle analysis showed DNA damage induced arrest of cells at subG0/G1 phase. Moreover, pretreatment with FA augmented Bcl2 expression and also increased the level of p-PI3K. Conclusion: FA prevented the activation of apoptotic signaling events in the spleen by interfering with the free radical chain reaction and by scavenging superfluous ROS. This is perhaps the first comprehensive study with a mechanistic viewpoint that FA can protect the spleen from ionizing radiation.
Viewpoint escape FDI from emerging markets: clarifying and extending the concept

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the concepts of escape FDI and institutional voids using an industry study within a large emerging market (China). The author shows how regulatory and structural weaknesses in the Chinese dairy sector may prompt “escape” investment and how outsider firms might use such a strategy to regain competitiveness. Design/methodology/approach The paper develops and refines an important international business concept which has received very little research attention, within the setting of an industry study. Findings The concept of escape FDI is critiqued and extended to consider cases where discrimination occurs and industry restructuring triggers escape FDI. Research limitations/implications The discussion is based on a single industry and home country. Further work to develop and test these ideas in a broader context is needed. Practical implications The author identifies the conditions most likely to trigger escape FDI as well as firm and home country characteristics favouring such a strategy. Originality/value The author extends the concept of escape FDI in the context of government-driven structural reform and political discrimination creating favoured “insider” firms and disadvantaged “outsiders”.
Serine/Threonine Kinase 17A Is a Novel p53 Target Gene and Modulator of Cisplatin Toxicity and Reactive Oxygen Species in Testicular Cancer Cells*

Testicular cancer is highly curable with cisplatin-based therapy, and testicular cancer-derived human embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells undergo a p53-dominant transcriptional response to cisplatin. In this study, we have discovered that a poorly characterized member of the death-associated protein family of serine/threonine kinases, STK17A (also called DRAK1), is a novel p53 target gene. Cisplatin-mediated induction of STK17A in the EC cell line NT2/D1 was prevented with p53 siRNA. Furthermore, STK17A was induced with cisplatin in HCT116 and MCF10A cells but to a much lesser extent in isogenic p53-suppressed cells. A functional p53 response element that binds endogenous p53 in a cisplatin-dependent manner was identified 5 kb upstream of the first coding exon of STK17A. STK17A is not present in the mouse genome, but the closely related gene STK17B is induced with cisplatin in mouse NIH3T3 cells, although this induction is p53-independent. Interestingly, in human cells containing both STK17A and STK17B, only STK17A is induced with cisplatin. Knockdown of STK17A conferred resistance to cisplatin-induced growth suppression and apoptotic cell death in EC cells. This was associated with the up-regulation of detoxifying and antioxidant genes, including metallothioneins MT1H, MT1M, and MT1X that have previously been implicated in cisplatin resistance. In addition, knockdown of STK17A resulted in decreased cellular reactive oxygen species, whereas STK17A overexpression increased reactive oxygen species. In summary, we have identified STK17A as a novel direct target of p53 and a modulator of cisplatin toxicity and reactive oxygen species in testicular cancer cells.
Reliability of Six Physical Performance Tests in Older People With Dementia

Background Physical performance tests are important for assessing the effect of physical activity interventions in older people with dementia, but their psychometric properties have not been systematically established within this specific population. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the relative and absolute test-retest reliability of the 6-m walk test, the Figure-of-Eight Walk Test (F8W), the Timed “Up & Go” Test (TUG), the Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques–4 (FICSIT–4) Balance Test, the Chair Rise Test (CRT), and the Jamar dynamometer. These tests are used to assess gait speed, dynamic balance, functional mobility, static balance, lower-limb strength, and grip strength, respectively. Design This investigation was a prospective, nonexperimental study. Methods Older people with dementia (n=58, age range=70–92 years) performed each test at baseline and again after 1 week. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC), and log-transferred limits of agreement of Bland-Altman plots were calculated. Results The relative reliability of the F8W, TUG, and Jamar dynamometer was excellent (ICC=.90–.95) and good for the 6-m walk test, FICSIT–4, and CRT (ICC=.79–.86). The SEMs and MDCs were large for all tests. The absolute reliability of the TUG and CRT was significantly influenced by the level of cognitive functioning (as assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]). Limitations The specific etiology of dementia was not obtained. Conclusions The physical performance tests evaluated are useful for detecting differences in performance between older people with mild to moderate dementia and, therefore, are suitable for cross-sectional or controlled intervention studies. They appear less suitable to monitor clinically relevant intra-individual performance changes. Future studies should focus on the development of more sensitive tests and the identification of criteria for clinically relevant changes in this rapidly growing population.
Quantitative sputum culture as a means of excluding false positive reports in the routine microbiology laboratory

A relatively simple technique for sputum homogenization and dilution is described. Results show that this technique is reliable for isolation and quantitative culture of organisms from cases of chest infection. The technique has resulted in significant reduction in false positive reports, particularly when a system of interpretative reporting is utilized based on 107 organisms per millilitre of sputum being accepted as evidence of significant infection.
Responses to angiotensin peptides are mediated by AT 1 receptors in the rat

Champion, Hunter C. , Marc A. Czapla, and Philip J. Kadowitz. Responses to angiotensin peptides are mediated by AT1 receptors in the rat. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Endocrinol. Metab. 37): E115–E123, 1998. —The effects of the angiotensin AT1 and AT2 receptor antagonists candesartan and PD123,319 on hemodynamic responses to angiotensin peptides were investigated in the anesthetized rat. Injections of angiotensin II and III caused dose-related increases in systemic arterial and in hindquarters perfusion pressure that were reduced in an insurmountable manner by candesartan. Pressor responses to angiotensin IV were also attenuated, and a vasodepressor or vasodilator response to the angiotensin peptides was not unmasked by the AT1 receptor antagonists candesartan or losartan. The AT2 receptor antagonist PD123,319 had no significant effect on increases in systemic arterial and hindquarters perfusion pressure in response to the angiotensin peptides. Pressor responses to angiotensin peptides were not altered by adrenergic nerve terminal and a-receptor blocking agents or by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor sodium meclofenamate but were increased by an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The present results suggest that pressor responses to the angiotensin peptides are mediated by the activation of AT1 receptors and that AT2 receptors, the adrenergic system, or cyclooxygenase products do not appear to modulate hemodynamic responses to the angiotensin peptides in the anesthetized rat.
Coupled RT-fluxgates

A novel system, based on oscillating coupled hysteretic fluxgates, that allows the measuring of weak magnetic fields is presented here. The core device is the "residence times differences fluxgate" magnetometer (RT-fluxgate). The coupling of such systems via a linear unidirectional connection can lead to synchronized oscillations past a critical value of the coupling coefficient. The oscillation signal is very sensitive to small changes in target magnetic field and thus this coupled device can be used to quantify a weak target signal. A device prototype has been developed, and experimental characterizations showed oscillation phenomena and frequency shift in the presence of dc target signal as expected.
Adaptive feedback control using improved variable step-size affine projection algorithm for hearing aids

The affine projection algorithm (APA) is commonly used for adaptive filtering in acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) due to its higher convergence and tracking rate compared to the conventional normalized least mean squares (NLMS) algorithm, especially for spectrally colored incoming signals. However, its application to adaptive feedback control (AFC) in hearing aids (HAs) is still not common because of the inherent correlation between the loudspeaker and incoming signals as well as the increase in computational complexity. In this paper, we investigate a way to employ a low projection order APA in conjunction with an improved practical variable step-size (IPVSS) for the prediction error method (PEM) based adaptive feedback control in HAs. The proposed approach is evaluated for a speech incoming signal and for a sudden change of the acoustic feedback path. The experimental results show that the proposed approach yields much better performance than a system employing either the upper or the lower fixed step-size used in the IPVSS as well as the PEM using the IPVSS for the NLMS algorithm (PEM- IPVSS-NLMS). By choosing a small projection order for the APA there is only a slight increase in the computational complexity. Moreover, a small amount of frequency shifting (FS) is integrated to further improve the system's performance.
The serological relationship between Yersinia enterocolitica O9 and Escherichia coli O157 using sera from patients with yersiniosis and haemolytic uraemic syndrome

SUMMARY Sera from patients with yersiniosis. shown to contain antibodies to Yersinia enterocolitica O9; and sera from patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) caused by Escherichia coli O157, were used to investigate serological cross-reactions between Y. enterocolitica O9 and E. coli O157. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was isolated from strains of Y. enterocolitica O9 and E. coli O157 and reacted with sera by immunoblotting and ELISA. Sera from patients with HUS contained antibodies to the LPS of E. coli O157 only; 80% of sera from patients with yersiniosis contained antibodies to the LPS of Y. enterocolitica O9 and E. coli O157. This one-way cross-reaction was also detected using hyperimmune rabbit antisera.
Emperical Perspectives of Social Media andInternational Entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Entrepreneurs all over seek ways of introducing their products to international markets, but international business environment pose a lot of opportunities and threats to foreign entrants. The cultural, political and technological environment has a lot to do in entrepreneurial success in global markets. The study examined the effect of social media on international entrepreneurship in Nigeria. The general objective of the study is to critically determine the extent to which social media have contributed to the international venturing of entrepreneurs in Nigeria. One hundred questionnaires were administered to collect primary data that treated appropriate research questions and four hypotheses were tested accordingly. The results of this study indicated that technological advancement has significant impact on business transactions of international entrepreneurs which could be traceable to the fact that most small business entrepreneurs are technological inclined to transact businesses. The study found that so far the proper understanding of the usage of social media tools has offered more to the entrepreneurial venture decision making. Also the social media tool has been proven to enhance business dealings which also have to do with entrepreneurial success in the international markets. The study recommends that since technological products provide ample benefits for international entrepreneurs, organizations should endeavour to provide indispensable technologies that supports international transactions .
Landscape discontinuities influence gene flow and genetic structure in a large, vagile Australian mammal, Macropus fuliginosus

Large vagile mammals typically exhibit little genetic structuring across their range, particularly when their habitat is essentially continuous. We investigated the population genetic structure of a large vagile Australian macropodid, Macropus fuliginosus, which is continuously distributed across most of southern Australia, using nine highly polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. Five distinct genetic units were identified across the range, four on the mainland and one on Kangaroo Island. In addition to the predicted historic Nullarbor Plain Barrier, two unexpected mainland barriers to gene flow were identified. Both were associated with landscape discontinuities (Swan River, Flinders Ranges), which appear within the dispersal capabilities of M. fuliginosus. Typical of large vagile mammals, M. fuliginosus displays high genetic diversity (with the exception of an insular population) and weak genetic structuring (within genetic units). However, the expansion of M. fuliginosus from southwestern Australia during the Pleistocene has resulted in significantly reduced genetic diversity in eastern populations. No significant sex‐biased dispersal was detected, although differences in habitat, densities and climatic conditions between the eastern and western regions of the range appear to influence dispersal with the effects of isolation by distance only evident in the west. These results suggest that the biogeography of southern Australia is more complex than previously thought and reveal that seemingly minor landscape features can significantly impact genetic structuring in large vagile mammals.
Correlation between epithelial cell permeability of cephalexin and expression of intestinal oligopeptide transporter.

The proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter (PEPT1) has been shown to mediate mucosal cell transport of di- and tripeptide, and some peptidomimetic drugs. In this study, we determined the correlation between PEPT1 protein expression and the permeability of cephalexin, a substrate of PEPT1, in human PEPT1 (hPEPT1)-overexpressed Caco-2 cells (Caco-2/hPEPT1 cells) and rat jejunum. Caco-2/hPEPT1 cells with various levels of hPEPT1 expression were established by an adenoviral transfection system. The effective intestinal permeability (P(eff)) in rat jejunum was evaluated using a single pass in situ perfusion method. The level of PEPT1 in Caco-2/hPEPT1 cells and rat intestinal mucosal samples was quantitated by densitometry after immunoblotting and enhanced chemiluminescence detection. In Caco-2/hPEPT1 cells, an excellent correlation was observed between cephalexin uptake and hPEPT1 expression (R2 = 0.96, P < 0.005). This demonstrates that cephalexin uptake is directly proportional to hPEPT1 expression. In the rat perfusion study, the mean P(eff) +/- S.D. (n = 15) of cephalexin was 3.89 +/- 1.63 x 10(-5) cm/s. A very significant correlation between PEPT1 expression and cephalexin permeability with an R2 = 0.63 (P < 0.001) was observed. This indicates that the variation in PEPT1 expression is one of the major factors accounting for variable intestinal cephalexin absorption. To our knowledge, this is the most direct evidence that variation of PEPT1 expression is correlated with absorption permeability variation of peptide-like compounds in vitro and in vivo.
Establishment of Age- and Gender-Specific Reference Ranges for 36 Routine and 57 Cell Population Data Items in a New Automated Blood Cell Analyzer, Sysmex XN-2000

We established age- and gender-specific reference ranges for the 36 routine complete blood cell (CBC) and 57 cell population data (CPD) items in the Sysmex XN-2000 (Sysmex, Japan). In total, 280 peripheral blood samples were obtained from an equal number of healthy adults. Values for 36 routine items and 57 CPD items were obtained for each sample, and the results were categorized into six subgroups (N>39 in each subgroup) according to patient age (20-40, 41-60, and >60 yr) and gender (male and female), and compared with respect to age and gender differences. The majority of data items (22 of 36 routine CBC items and 44 of 57 CPD items) exhibited significant differences (P≤0.05) in their results with respect to age or gender, and several red cell-, lymphocyte-, and platelet-related data tended to decrease in women or older adults. These results provide a basis for establishing age- and gender-specific reference ranges for routine and CPD items in Sysmex XN-2000. Furthermore, these reference ranges could be used to determine clinical significance for new items of Sysmex XN-2000 in further studies.
The NanA Neuraminidase of Streptococcus pneumoniae Is Involved in Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a major cause of bacteremia, pneumonia, and otitis media despite vaccines and effective antibiotics. The neuraminidase of S. pneumoniae, which catalyzes the release of terminal sialic acid residues from glycoconjugates, is involved in host colonization in animal models of infection and may provide a novel target for preventing pneumococcal infection. We demonstrate that the S. pneumoniae neuraminidase (NanA) cleaves sialic acid and show that it is involved in biofilm formation, suggesting an additional role in pathogenesis, and that it shares this property with the neuraminidase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa even though we show that the two enzymes are phylogenetically divergent. Using an in vitro model of biofilm formation incorporating human airway epithelial cells, we demonstrate that small-molecule inhibitors of NanA block biofilm formation and may provide a novel target for preventative therapy. This work highlights the role played by the neuraminidase in pathogenesis and represents an important step in drug development for prevention of colonization of the respiratory tract by this important pathogen.
Prospective Clarification of the Utility of the Palliative Prognostic Index for Patients With Advanced Cancer in the Home Care Setting

Aims: This study aimed to prospectively clarify the accuracy of the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) for advanced cancer patients in home care settings. Method: The study included 66 advanced cancer patients who received home visiting services between April 2010 and June 2012, and who died at home or in the hospital. Using medical records from initial home visits, we prospectively calculated PPI scores along with sensitivity and specificity. Results: For 3- and 6-week survival, prognostic prediction showed respective sensitivities of 60% and 70.6%, and specificities of 87.0% and 71.9%. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the PPI for advanced cancer patients in home care settings was lower than that reported for patients in palliative care units. Development of prognostic tools suitable for home care settings is needed.
Endothelial function in postmenopausal women with nighttime systolic hypertension

ObjectiveHypertension becomes more prevalent in women during their postmenopausal years. Nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) is especially predictive of adverse cardiac events, and the relationship between rising nighttime SBP and cardiovascular risk increases more rapidly in women compared with men. The reasons for the prognostic significance of nighttime SBP are not completely known but may involve vascular endothelial dysfunction. The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between nighttime SBP and endothelial function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and to determine whether postmenopausal women with nighttime hypertension (SBP ≥120 mm Hg) evidenced greater endothelial dysfunction compared with women with normal nighttime SBP. MethodsOne hundred postmenopausal women (mean [SD] age, 65.8 [7.5] y; mean [SD] body mass index, 28.3 [4.7] kg/m2; hypertension, 47%; coronary artery disease, 51%; mean [SD] clinic SBP, 137 [17] mm Hg; mean [SD] clinic diastolic blood pressure, 67 [11] mm Hg; nighttime hypertension, 34 women) underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, actigraphy, and brachial artery FMD assessment. ResultsMultivariate regression models showed that higher nighttime SBP and larger baseline artery diameter were inversely related to FMD. Nighttime SBP and baseline artery diameter accounted for 23% of the variance in FMD. After adjustment for baseline artery diameter, women with nighttime hypertension had lower mean (SD) FMD than women with normal nighttime SBP (2.95% [0.65%] vs 5.52% [0.46%], P = 0.002). ConclusionsNighttime hypertension is associated with reduced endothelial function in postmenopausal women. Research examining the therapeutic benefits of nighttime hypertension treatment on endothelial function and future cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women is warranted.
Characteristics of deep vein thrombosis associated with prolonged travel.

OBJECTIVES to identify the incidence of prolonged travel among consecutive patients with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and to investigate any differences in the patterns of traveller's thrombosis versus DVT's with no history of prolonged recent travel. METHODS of 137 consecutive patients, who were confirmed to have DVT by duplex ultrasonography, 36 were excluded because of either prolonged immobilisation or recent surgery. All patients were asked whether they had travelled within 2 weeks for more than 3h. The presence of other classic risk factors for DVT was also recorded. Patients who were unlikely to travel as a result of prolonged immobility for more than 2 weeks and those who underwent surgery within 2 weeks were excluded from the study. The extent and location of thrombi was also verified by duplex scanning in each patient. RESULTS of 101 patients, eligible for the final analysis, 15 (15%) claimed to have a recent travel, of whom 9 (9%) travelled by air. By comparison of a group of 106 patients with similar symptoms at presentation, but who had negative duplex finding 12 (11%) had a history of prolonged travel (p=0.8, Fisher's exact test). Travel-related DVT occurred to a significantly younger age group than non travellers. Thirteen (87%) out of 15 patients with travel-related DVT had another coexisting risk factor and 7 out of 10 patients had a positive thrombophilia screen. CONCLUSION The majority of those with travel-related DVT had other concomitant risk factors and a high incidence of a positive thrombophilia screen, suggesting that travel itself may act as an additive risk among those with pre-existing risk factors for DVT.