Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Studies on the Flavone Cytotoxicity and Binding to Tubulin

Three-Dimensional Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship(QSAR) has been investigated over 67 flavonoids to correlate and predict GI 50 values. The partial least-squares(PLS) model was performed to calculate the activity of each derivatives, and this was compared with the actual value. The results of the cross-validated( γ 2 =0.997) values show that cytotoxic activities play an important role which is in good agreement with the observed GI 50 values.
CODON USAGE BIAS IN H1N1 NEURAMINIDASE: SELECTION OR MUTATIONAL BIAS?

Article History: Influenza A virus (IAV) has been a major concern worldwide as a cause of high mortality and morbidity. In the present study, the complete coding regions of viral neuraminidase (NA) gene of IAV subtype H1N1 reported from India were analyzed for the possible codon usage bias using statistical and bioinformatics tools. A total of 34 NA coding sequences were used in the study. The results show a low bias in the coding region of the NA gene sequences. The RSCU values suggest a very low preference of the codons having dinucleotide CpG whereas most of the codons showed a preferred use of the dinucleotides CpA and TpA. The results suggest that there exists a balance between mutational pressure and natural selection to shape the codon usage bias in the IAV subtype which helps the virus adapt to differ ent host conditions.
Telomere attrition and dysfunction: a potential trigger of the progeroid phenotype in nijmegen breakage syndrome

Background: Nibrin, as part of the NBN/MRE11/RAD50 complex, is mutated in Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS), which leads to impaired DNA damage response and lymphoid malignancy. Results: Telomere length (TL) was markedly reduced in homozygous patients (and comparably so in all chromosomes) by ~40% (qPCR) and was slightly reduced in NBS heterozygotes older than 30 years (~25% in qPCR), in accordance with the respective cancer rates. Humanized cancer-free NBS mice had normal TL. Telomere elongation was inducible by telomerase and/or alternative telomere lengthening but was associated with abnormal expression of telomeric genes involved in aging and/or cell growth. Lymphoblastoid cells from NBS patients with long survival times (>12 years) displayed the shortest telomeres and low caspase 7 activity. Conclusions: NBS is a secondary telomeropathy. The two-edged sword of telomere attrition enhances the cancer-prone situation in NBS but can also lead to a relatively stable cellular phenotype in tumor survivors. Results suggest a modular model for progeroid syndromes with abnormal expression of telomeric genes as a molecular basis. Methods: We studied TL and function in 38 homozygous individuals, 27 heterozygotes, one homozygous fetus, six NBS lymphoblastoid cell lines, and humanized NBS mice, all with the same founder NBN mutation: c. 657_661del5.
PREDATION OF CATERPILLARS ON UNDERSTORY SAPLINGS IN AN OZARK FOREST

Abstract Predators of caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae) can indirectly enhance economic gains from plant resources by reducing herbivore damage to plants. For this study, we directly observed predation of caterpillars on understory trees in the Ozarks. Our objectives were to determine the relative importance of diurnal guilds of caterpillar predators, the time of day most diurnal predation events occur, and whether predators spend more time feeding in open or closed canopy areas. Once per month, June–September, we tethered caterpillars to understory saplings and recorded all predation events. Only invertebrate predators were observed feeding on caterpillars, and most predation events were attributed to ants and vespids (wasps, hornets and yellow jackets). Predation by vertebrate predators such as birds, small mammals, reptiles and amphibians was not observed. Most predation events took place at mid-day between 1200 and 1600 hrs. Predation pressure differed significantly over the four observation dates with peak ant predation in July and peak vespid predation in September. Canopy environment appeared to influence predation events as there was a trend towards higher vespid predation of caterpillars on open canopy as opposed to closed canopy saplings. Ants and vespids accounted for 90% of observed predation events; therefore they appear to be important predators of caterpillars during the summer months. Future studies at earlier sampling dates would be valuable in determining whether the relative importance of other diurnal guilds of caterpillar predators might be greater in the spring.
Glucocorticoids and Serum and Glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 are potent regulators of CFTR in the native intestine: implications for stress-induced diarrhea.

Non-genomic Glucocorticoid (GC) and Serum and Glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1) signaling regulate ion transport, but CFTR has not been investigated in the intestine. We examined GC, SGK1 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) kinase signaling of CFTR ion transport in native intestine and the role of GCs on mRNA, protein, surface expression, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-elicited diarrhea. Rats were treated with dexamethasone (DEXA 2mg/kg, IP) or DMSO for 1, 4 and 24 h. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-activated ion transport was examined in the presence or absence of SGK1 and PI3K inhibitors. Phosphorylation of SGK1, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), and AKT kinases was confirmed by immunoblots using phosphor-specific antibodies. Tissue lysates were analyzed by mass spectrometry. CFTR and SGK1 mRNA were measured by qPCR. Changes in total and surface CFTR protein were determined. The role of GC in cGMP-activated CFTR ion transport was examined. GC synergistically increased CFTR ion transport by SGK1 and PI3K signaling and increased CFTR protein without altering SGK1 or CFTR mRNA. GC induced highest levels of CFTR protein at 4h that was associated with a marked increase in surface CFTR, phosphorylation of the ubiquitin ligase neural precursor cell expressed developmentally down-regulated 4-like (Nedd4-2), and 14-3-3 ε supporting their roles in surface retention and stability. Co-immunoprecipitation of CFTR, Nedd4-2 and 14-3-3 e indicated that assembly of this complex is a likely effector of the SGK and AKT pathways. Mass spectrometry identified phosphorylated peptides in relevant proteins. GC-SGK1 potently regulates CFTR in the intestine and is implicated in diarrheal disease.
3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic Acid Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response by Increasing SIRT1 Expression in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC) has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells and in LPS-induced septic mice. However, the effect of THC on the inflammatory response in vascular endothelial cells has not been clearly examined. The goal of the present study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory properties of THC and its underlying mechanism in LPS-challenged human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). THC significantly suppressed LPS-induced interleukin-1β production and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression and significantly decreased LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB activation by attenuating p65 phosphorylation and inhibitor of kappa B degradation. To understand the underlying mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of THC, the involvement of the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathway was examined. THC resulted in increased expression of SIRT1 in LPS-challenged HUVECs. Among the downstream molecular targets of SIRT1, the level of LPS-induced acetylated p53 was significantly decreased by THC treatment, whereas no noticeable change was observed in the levels of forkhead box O3 and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha. In conclusion, the results clearly demonstrate that THC possesses anti-inflammatory properties by increasing SIRT1 expression and subsequent suppression of p53 activation in LPS-challenged HUVECs.
Economic Development, Inequality and War 1

Economic stagnation, political decay, and deadly political violence interact in several ways: economic and political factors contribute to war, while war has an adverse effect on economic growth and political development. This article indicates how economic decline, income inequality, political authoritarianism, and pervasive rent-seeking by ruling elites contribute to war and state killings, responsible for more deaths than war. Economic regress and political decay bring about relative deprivation, the perception by social groups of injustice arising from a growing discrepancy between what they expect and get. Both greed and grievance drive contemporary civil wars. Political leaders, as in Sierra Leone, Angola, Congo-Kinshasa, and Liberia in the 1990s, may gain more from extensive unproductive, profit-seeking activities in a political system they control than from long-term efforts to build a well-functioning state in which economic progress and democratic institutions flourish. The political-economy analysis is reinforced by econometric analysis. Surprisingly, the econometric evidence indicates that the direction of causation is stronger from growth to emergencies than from emergencies to growth. Still, negative per capita growth interacts with political predation in a downward spiral, a spiral seen in African countries such as Angola, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Zaire (Congo) in the 1990s.
Risk Factors for Recurrent Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND To understand the clinical, bacterial, and host characteristics associated with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (R-SAB), patients with R-SAB were compared to contemporaneous patients with a single episode of SAB (S-SAB). METHODS All SAB isolates underwent spa genotyping. All isolates from R-SAB patients underwent Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE-indistinguishable pairs from 40 patients underwent whole genome sequencing (WGS). Acute phase plasma from R-SAB and S-SAB patients was matched 1:1 for age, race, gender, and bacterial genotype and underwent cytokine quantification using 25-analyte multiplex bead array. RESULTS R-SAB occurred in 69 (9.1%) of the 756 study patients. Of the 69 patients, 30 experienced relapse (43.5%) and 39 reinfection (56.5%). Age, race, hemodialysis dependence, presence of foreign body, MRSA, and persistent bacteremia were individually associated with likelihood of recurrence. Multivariate risk modeling revealed that African American (AA) hemodialysis patients were nearly two times more likely (OR = 9.652 [5.402 - 17.418]) than White hemodialysis patients (OR = 4.53 [1.696 - 10.879]) to experience R-SAB. WGS confirmed PFGE interpretations in all cases. Median RANTES levels in acute phase plasma from the initial episode of SAB were higher in R-SAB than in matched S-SAB controls (P = 0.0053, False Discovery Rate < 0.10). CONCLUSION This study identified several risk factors for R-SAB. The largest risk for R-SAB is among AA hemodialysis patients. Higher RANTES levels in R-SAB compared to matched controls warrants further study.
An Echo of Consciousness: Brain Function During Preferred Music

Background Given its emotional and autobiographical properties, music appears as a potential aid in diagnostic assessment and therapeutics in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Several studies have shown boosting effects on behavior and brain functioning when patients were exposed to (their preferred) music. Objective To investigate if these effects on the brain's spontaneous activity are dependent on the level of consciousness. Methods Nine post-comatose patients and eight healthy control subjects were assessed using fMRI in two conditions: rest (without stimulation) and music. All patients presented at least an auditory startle, thereby suggesting the presence of residual auditory function. A gradient of consciousness (from unresponsive wakefulness syndrome to healthy subjects) was formulated to evaluate consciousness-level-dependent increases in brain activity and connectivity. Network-based functional connectivity assessed auditory, default-mode, frontoparietal and music-evoked emotions networks. Furthermore, exploratory voxel-to-voxel analyses were performed at the whole brain level using intrinsic connectivity contrast and (fractional) amplitude of low frequency fluctuations. Results Stronger consciousness-level-dependent increases within network-to-voxel analysis of connectivity were found in the frontoparietal network with the precuneus during music stimulation compared to rest. Voxel-to-voxel analyses showed stronger increases of intrinsic connectivity in the music condition compared to rest in regions previously related to music processing. There were consistently more regions with increased connectivity during the main effect of music compared to rest. These increases of connectivity during music were observed in brain regions involved in consciousness, language, emotion and memory processing. Conclusions Our results show that music seems to trigger more substantial connectivity changes compared to rest, pointing towards the potential ability of music to stimulate patients' brain function. Further research should focus on effects of music in general, its specific acoustical features and the effects of simple auditory stimuli, as well as the possible therapeutic and diagnostic effects of music in well controlled clinical trials.
A study of the incremental power of using Statement of Cash Flows ratios in predicting companies’ failure in Malaysia

The main purpose of this study is to test whether adding statement of cash flow data to accrual ratios can increase the prediction power of the company failure model applied to Malaysian listed companies. As a starting point, we apply Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA) to develop a brand new company failure prediction model. Our empirical evidence shows that a combined use of ratios derived from income statement (I/S), balance sheet (B/S) and statement of cash flow provides a better predicting power than only using I/S and B/S. Our results show high successful prediction rates of our model. Tested on holdout samples, we achieved 91.07 percent for a one-year prediction and 89.29 percent for a two-year prediction.
Financial Vulnerability and Worker Well-Being: A Comparison of Long-Term Services and Supports Workers With Other Health Workers

Over 1.5 million new jobs need to be filled by 2026 for medical assistants, nursing aides, and home care aides, many of which will work in the long-term services and supports (LTSS) sector. Using 16 years of data from the American Time Use Survey, we examined the financial vulnerability of high-skill and low-skill LTSS workers in comparison with other health care workers, while providing insight into their well-being by measuring time spent on work and nonwork activities. We found that, regardless of skill status, working in LTSS was associated with lower wages and an increased likelihood of experiencing poverty compared with other health care workers. Results from time diary data indicated that the LTSS workforce spent a greater share of their time working and commuting to work. Low-skill LTSS workers were hardest hit, spending more time on paid and unpaid activities, such as household and child care responsibilities.
Evaluation of oxidative stress biomarkers and liver and renal functional parameters in patients during treatment a mental health unit to treat alcohol dependence

Abstract Alcohol dependence is one of the main reasons for inpatient admission to psychiatric hospitals. The abuse of this chemical substance can cause modifications in our organism and among them, variations in the oxidative stress parameters. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital unit to treat alcohol dependence, comparing oxidative stress, renal and hepatic function parameters from the moment of admission to those obtained at discharge. Hepatic function was verified through gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT), alkaline-phosphatase (ALP), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST) and alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) activity measurements. Urea and creatinine serum levels were measured for kidney function evaluation. Oxidative stress was evaluated by superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Medications used during hospital stay were record and their influence over the measured parameters analyzed. Twenty-eight patients (82% male, 44 ± 13 years old) were included in this study. A significant increase in BMI of patients after the period of hospitalization could be observed. There were reductions in creatinine, AST, ALT, GGT and ALP serum levels. SOD levels were lower at discharge, while GPx and FRAP presented higher levels. Chlorpromazine use showed influence over some hepatic function markers (ALT, GGT and ALP) and oxidative stress parameters (CAT and GPx); while carbamazepine use influenced GGT and FRAP. Patients on alcohol dependence treatment had significant improvements of renal and hepatic function parameters and higher GPx and FRAP values after the hospitalization period, which indicates reversion of alcohol effects over oxidative stress parameters.
Comparative study between topical tranexamic acid alone versus its combination with autologous platelet rich plasma for treatment of melasma

Abstract Background Tranexamic acid is a promising drug for melasma treatment, but its topical formulation has limited efficacy. Its use as liposome based cream or in combination with other modalities might help to achieve better results. Objective Comparing efficacy of topical tranexamic acid 5% in liposome base alone versus its combination with intradermal platelet rich plasma (PRP) for melisma treatment. Methods Forty female patients with melasma were divided randomly into 2 equal groups who were treated with topical tranexamic acid 5% cream twice daily for 12 weeks and group B received additional intradermal injections of PRP every 3 weeks throughout the treatment period. Evaluation was done through modified MASI score and patient satisfaction after one month from the end of treatment. Results Both groups showed significant improvement of modified MASI score after treatment. Significantly better treatment response and patient satisfaction were detected in patients of group B (p = .024, .029). The side effects of PRP were mild and tolerable and tranexamic acid was well tolerated. Conclusion 5% topical tranexamic acid in liposome base is thought to be safe and effective modality for treatment of melasma. PRP is advisable as an autologous safe elixir which boosts the therapeutic effect of tranexamic acid.
Preparation and characterization of HA–PEG–PCL intelligent core–corona nanoparticles for delivery of doxorubicin

The objective of the present study was to synthesize core–corona nanoparticles of doxorubicin (DOX) using hyaluronic acid–polyethyleneglycol–polycaprolactone (HA–PEG–PCL) copolymer for tumor targeting. Targeting efficiency of HA–PEG–PCL nanoparticles was compared with non-HA-containing nanoparticles (methoxy poly ethylene glycol (MPEG)–PCL). The copolymers were chemically synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopies. The nanoparticles were characterized for shape and morphology by transmission electron microscopy, particle size, percentage of drug entrapment, and in vitro drug release profile. Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction studies were also performed to appraise the crystalline or amorphous nature of DOX inside the polymer matrix. Formulations were prepared using different DOX:polymer ratios (1:1–1:3 w/w) and the optimum formulation with the drug:polymer ratio of 1:1 showed the mean particle size of 95 ± 5 nm and entrapment efficiency of 95.56% in the case of HA–PEG–PCL nanoparticles, while the values were 115 nm and 95.50%, respectively, in the case of MPEG–PCL nanoparticles. The HA–PEG–PCL nanoparticles could release DOX for up to 17 days, whereas the MPEG–PCL nanoparticles could release it for up to 14 days. The hemolytic toxicity and hematological studies confirmed that both DOX-loaded HA–PEG–PCL and MPEG–PCL nanoparticles were safe and suitable for sustained and targeted drug delivery. The tissue distribution study and tumor growth inhibition were performed after intravenous injection of nanoparticles in Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT)-bearing mice. The nanoparticles of HA–PEG–PCL copolymer accomplishes efficient delivery of DOX in EAT tumor when compared with the MPEG–PCL nanoparticles by the process of receptor-mediated endocytosis, as well as enhanced permeability and retention effect.
Frontal Beta Activity in the Meta-Intention of Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have high theta and low beta activity in the frontal lobe. The higher the theta/beta ratio, the lower the level of central nervous system (CNS) cortical arousal. However, there is seldom evidence between electroencephalograms (EEGs) and the patient’s intentionality to regulate the cortical activity of executive attention tasks. We investigated whether children with ADHD intended to improve their performance in executive attention tasks and whether that increased their brain activity. Fifty-one children with ADHD (ADHD) and 51 typical developing (TD) children were investigated using focused attention (FA) and search attention (SA) tasks and a simultaneous EEG. The children were then regrouped as faster (ADHD-F, TD-F) and slower (ADHD-S, TD-S) depending on reaction time (RT). Quantitative EEGs of frontal lobe theta and beta activity at frontal F3, F4, and Fz were used. Twenty-eight (54.9%) ADHD children were regrouped as ADHD-S and 14 (27.5%) as TD-S. The ADHD-S group, however, had poorer FA and SA performance than the other 3 groups did: fewer correct answers, more frequent impulsive and missing errors, and higher RT variations. There were no significant differences in theta activity, but the TD-S group had higher beta activity than the ADHD-S group did. We conclude that the ADHD-F and ADHD-S groups had different attention processes. beta activity did not increase in the ADHD-S group, and their executive attention performance in the FA and SA tests was poor. It seems ADHD-S had poor meta-intention function. The frontal beta activity might be a feasible training target of neurofeedback in ADHD-S patients.
Transmission of Legionnaires’ Disease through Toilet Flushing

We describe 2 cases of healthcare-associated Legionnaires’ disease in patients in France hospitalized 5 months apart in the same room. Whole-genome sequencing analyses showed that clinical isolates from the patients and isolates from the room’s toilet clustered together. Toilet contamination by Legionella pneumophila could lead to a risk for exposure through flushing.