Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Discovery of neurotrophic agents based on hydroxycinnamic acid scaffold

The number of people affected by neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease is rapidly increasing owing to the global increase in life expectancy. Small molecules with neurotrophic effects have great potential for management of these neurological disorders. In this study, different (C1–C12) alkyl ester derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) were synthesized (a total of 30 compounds). The neurotrophic capacity of the test compounds was examined by measuring promotion of survival in serum‐deprived conditions and enhancement of nerve growth factor (NGF)‐induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 neuronal cells. p‐Coumaric, ferulic, and sinapic acids and their esters did not alter cell survival, while caffeic acid and all its alkyl esters, especially decyl and dodecyl caffeate, significantly promoted neuronal survival at 25 μm. Methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl caffeate esters also significantly enhanced NGF‐induced neurite outgrowth, among which the most effective ones were propyl and butyl esters, which at 5 μm led to 25‐ and 22‐fold increases in the number of neurites, respectively. The findings of the docking study suggested phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) as the potential molecular target. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that alkyl esters of caffeic acid can be useful as scaffolds for the discovery of therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.
A neuropsychological investigation of the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System

Despite a strong historical association between frontal lobe lesions and executive dysfunction, questions remain regarding the neuropsychological characterization of specific regions within the prefrontal cortex, as well as the utility of some executive function measures. The Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS; Delis, Kaplan, & Kramer, 2001) has gained popularity as a collection of executive function tests, but its sensitivity and specificity for detecting focal frontal lobe dysfunction remain uncertain. The current study investigated performances of patients with focal ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC, n = 13), dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC, n = 14), and nonfrontal (NF, n = 18) lesions on the entire D-KEFS battery. We also obtained IQ data from conventional measures (the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Third Edition and Fourth Edition, WAIS–III/IV). On six D-KEFS indices, patients with dlPFC lesions performed lower than patients with vmPFC and NF lesions. On three other indices, the performances of the dlPFC group were lower than those of the NF group, but did not differ from those of the vmPFC group. However, none of these between-group differences were statistically significant after full-scale IQ and processing speed were controlled for, suggesting that the observed weaknesses in patients with dlPFC lesions were not specific to executive functions. Patients with vmPFC and NF lesions could not be differentiated based on their performances on any D-KEFS measures. While some D-KEFS measures show promise in differentiating patients with dlPFC lesions, the clinical advantage of using the D-KEFS over more traditional measures is not empirically compelling.
Treating pulmonary arterial hypertension: current treatments and future prospects

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) consists of a group of heterogeneous but distinct disorders characterized by complex proliferation of the pulmonary vascular endothelium and progressive pulmonary vascular remodeling that leads to right ventricular failure and death. Over the past two decades, significant advances in our understanding of the pathobiology of PAH have led to the development of several therapeutic targets in this disease. Besides conservative therapeutic strategies such as anticoagulation and diuretics, the current treatment paradigm for PAH targets the mediators of the three main biologic pathways that are critical for its pathogenesis and progression: endothelin receptor antagonists inhibit the upregulated endothelin pathway by blocking the biologic activity of endothelin-1; phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors prevent breakdown and increase the endogenous availability of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which signals the vasorelaxing effects of the downregulated mediator nitric oxide; and prostacyclin derivatives provide an exogenous supply of the deficient mediator prostacyclin. In addition to these established current therapeutic options, a large number of potential therapeutic targets are being investigated. These novel therapeutic targets include soluble guanylyl cyclase, phosphodiesterases, tetrahydrobiopterin, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2B, vasoactive intestinal peptide, receptor tyrosine kinases, adrenomedullin, rho kinase, elastases, endogenous steroids, endothelial progenitor cells, immune cells, bone morphogenetic protein and its receptors, potassium channels, metabolic pathways, and nuclear factor of activated T cells. This review provides an overview of the current therapeutic options and potential therapeutic targets for PAH.
Affinity labels for opioid receptors.

The concept of multiple opioid receptors and multiple modes of interaction with a single receptor emanated from two convergent lines of research. This proposal was based originally on a detailed analysis of a wide spectrum of structure-activity relationships among analgesic ligands (1, 2). Very soon, pharmacological studies complemented and provided a more detailed framework for this concept (3-5). More recently, the multiple receptor concept has been advanced through a number of in vitro and in vivo biological assays and the opioid receptor binding assay. Data from such studies have been summarized in a number of reviews (6-13). Based on a wide range of pharmacological tests in the chronic spinal dog, Martin and coworkers (14, 15) suggested the designation 1-'-, K, or IT for those receptors at which morphine, ketazocine, and SKF 10,047 (N-allyl­ normetazocine) respectively are postulated to interact. The notion of different receptors for morphine-like and ketazocineor nalorphine-like compounds has been strengthened by the use of the pA2 concept (16) both in vitro (17-19) and in vivo (5) and by various other testing methods in vivo (20-22). The 8 and E receptor through which the enkephalins and l3-endorphin respectively are thought to mediate their effects have been identified in vitro (19,23,24). Thea receptor in vivo has been implicated in a number of physiological functions
Globalization and Reproductive Tourism in the United Arab Emirates

Over the past 2 decades, the discipline of anthropology has been deeply concerned with the processes and effects of globalization around the world. One of the major anthropological theorists of globalization, Arjun Appadurai, has delineated a “global cultural economy” in which global movements operate through 5 pathways, which he famously called “scapes. ” This article uses the language of “scapes” to examine the global flows involved in so-called “reproductive tourism,” or the search for assisted reproductive technologies across national and international borders. Reproductive tourism entails a complex “reproscape” of moving people, technologies, finance, media, ideas, and gametes, pursued by infertile couples in their “quests for conception. ” This article examines reproductive tourism to and from the United Arab Emirates, which is now the site of intense globalization and global flows, including individual and population movements for the purposes of reproductive and other forms of medical care.
Deficits in Size-Adjusted Bone Mass in Children with Alagille Syndrome

Objectives: To describe bone status in children with Alagille syndrome (AGS) and healthy control children adjusted for age, gender and height (HT), and to identify dietary intake and AGS-related factors associated with bone status. Methods: Prepubertal children with AGS and healthy controls comparable in age and ethnicity were evaluated. Subjects were ≥4 years of age, prepubertal and had whole body (WB) and/or lumbar spine (LS) dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans of acceptable quality. Anthropometric (weight, HT), diet and AGS-specific data (e.g., coefficient of fat absorption, labs, liver transplantation) were also collected. Bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC) and HT were log transformed for best fit. Bone data were analyzed unadjusted, adjusted for gender, age and HT, and as HT-specific z-scores. Results: AGS and control groups were similar in age, pubertal status and ethnicity. Children with AGS were small-for-age, had decreased BA and BMC-for-age, and decreased WB BA and BMC-for-HT z-scores compared to healthy controls. Prevalence of low BMC-for-HT z-scores (< −2) among AGS subjects was 20% for the WB and 39% for the LS. Bone mineralization was positively related to fat absorption but not dietary intake. Conclusions: Children with AGS have deficits in bone size and bone mass relative to body size. Modifiable factors, such as treatment of malabsorption should be explored as an early focus of AGS care to prevent bone fragility.
Epilysin (MMP-28) induces TGF-β mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition in lung carcinoma cells

Epilysin (MMP-28) is the newest member of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family. Although it is expressed in a number of tissues, no biological substrates or functions for this enzyme have been identified yet. We have expressed recombinant epilysin in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells and found that this resulted in stable and irreversible epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) accompanied by loss of cell surface E-cadherin, proteolytic processing of latent TGF-β-complexes and increased levels of active TGF-β. The cascade of events leading to the onset of EMT is prevented by the MMP inhibitor GM6001 or antibodies neutralizing the activity of TGF-β. Once EMT had occurred the cell phenotype could, however, not be reversed by the MMP-inhibitor. Importantly, the expression of epilysin also resulted in upregulation of MT1-MMP and gelatinase-B (MMP-9) and in the collagen invasive activity of A549 cells. Further, we found that epilysin and the recombinant hemopexin domain were targeted to the surface of epithelial cells. This cell surface interaction was sensitive to the proteolytic activity of MT1-MMP, and was lost after EMT. Current results indicate that epilysin can induce EMT and cell invasion through a TGF-β-dependent mechanism suggesting novel biological roles for this enzyme in the regulation of epithelial cell function and in the induction of carcinogenesis.
Genotyping of Hepatitis C Virus ( HCV ) in Infected Patients from Yemen

Hepatitis C virus has been considered to be one of the most important devastating causes of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatic cellular carcinoma. In this area, the epidemiology of hepatitis C is not well understandable in spite it was found to be endemic in Yemen.The distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in the Yemen is unknown, so a molecular study was carried to investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in HCV infected population of Sana’a, Yemen. A total of 502 HCV-positive clinical specimens (serum, EDTA plasma) with viral loads above 2,000 IU/ml were collected for genotyping. Genotyping of 502 samples revealed four different genotypes including 1 (1a and 1b), 2a, 3 (3a) and 4. The most prevalent genotype was 4 with rate of 63.7% followed by genotype 1a+1b (26.9%), 2a (7.6%) and 3a (1.8%). Genotypes 5 and 6 were not found in our patients. The predominance of HCV genotype 4 in our population confirms the predominance of HCV genotype 4 in Yemen and similar to most of the Arab countries in the Middle East.
Perception of health, well-being, and quality of life in female caregivers: Comparative study of a sample of adult and older women in Spain

ABSTRACT In a study on informal or unpaid care, it is difficult to identify the consequences and effects of care provision on the caregiver’s daily life. Thus, it is important to analyze the perceptions of the individual caregiver. This study describes the perceptions of health, well-being, support networks, and quality of life of 13 women aged between 45 and 70 years after completing an intervention program. The data indicate that caregivers’ health and quality of life worsen with the intervention, and their well-being and social relations (through new technologies) improve.
Development of New Strategy for Analysis of Chromatographic Behavior on the Basis of Moment Theory

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has already been essential as a powerful tool for fine separations. However, still now, some apparatuses, e.g., high pressure pumps and high performance columns, have rapidly been developed in order to establish fast chromatography techniques with high efficiency. On the other hand, the further progress of chromatographic technologies needs the pursuit of fundamental studies on the separation mechanism. Chromatographic behavior, such as the sample retention, band broadening, elution peak profile, column efficiency, separation performance, and so on, depends on both the retention equilibrium and mass transfer kinetics in the column. A great number of research works have been carried out so far on the retention equilibrium in chromatography. However, chromatographic behavior has not so abundantly been investigated from kinetic points of view because of some essential difficulties concerning the kinetic study. Additionally, in contrast with the extensive applications of various HPLC instruments and separation media developed in recent decades, it seems that arrangements of theoretical bases and experimental strategies relating to the kinetic study are not well recognized by most chromatographers. Now, it is required to develop a new strategy for the analysis of chromatographic behavior beyond the ordinary “plate theory” and “rate theory” of chromatography [1−3]. The author has developed an analytical system based on the “moment theory” [3−5], which contributes to the kinetic study on chromatographic behavior, and applied the new approach to the experimental study on separation mechanism. Some fundamentals of Focusing Review
The SCL gene is formed from a transcriptionally complex locus

We describe the structural organization of the human SCL gene, a helix-loop-helix family member which we believe plays a fundamental role in hematopoietic differentiation. The SCL locus is composed of eight exons distributed over 16 kb. SCL shows a pattern of expression quite restricted to early hematopoietic tissues, although in malignant states expression of the gene may be somewhat extended into later developmental stages. A detailed analysis of the transcript(s) arising from the SCL locus revealed that (i) the 5' noncoding portion of the SCL transcript, which resides within a CpG island, has a complex pattern of alternative exon utilization as well as two distinct transcription initiation sites; (ii) the 5' portions of the SCL transcript contain features that suggest a possible regulatory role for these segments; (iii) the pattern of utilization of the 5' exons is cell lineage dependent; and (iv) all of the currently studied chromosomal aberrations that affect the SCL locus either structurally or functionally eliminate the normal 5' transcription initiation sites. These data suggest that the SCL gene, and specifically its 5' region, may be a target for regulatory interactions during early hematopoietic development.
Developing a model of conflict in virtual learning communities in the context of a democratic pedagogy

In this paper, we argue that in order to get a fuller understanding of the complexity of conflict in democratic pedagogies in online and blended learning settings, it is important to know not only how to manage or resolve it, but also how it is triggered and can be avoided. The emancipatory nature of democratic pedagogies fosters differences, and differences provide the basis for the emergence of conflict among learning community members. Much has been written on certain aspects of conflict, such as conflict management or effects of conflict; however, these studies are frequently disparate and fragmented. Conflict has a cyclical dynamic and the main purpose of this study has been to experimentally build an analytical model of this cyclical dynamic of conflict, drawing on both literature and research data.We believe that such a model might empower practitioners and designers of democratic pedagogies to embrace and work with the differences that lead to conflict, as a way to support collaborative learning and action. The model of conflict which emerged at the end of the study is supported by illustrative qualitative evidence and constituted in a diagrammatic depiction of analytic themes that illustrate the connections between these themes, and the values ascribed to them. The outcomes of this study have implications for developing learning strategies for distance and blended learning
Evidence that Ecotropic Murine Leukemia Virus Contamination in TZM-bl Cells Does Not Affect the Outcome of Neutralizing Antibody Assays with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1

ABSTRACT The TZM-bl cell line that is commonly used to assess neutralizing antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was recently reported to be contaminated with an ecotropic murine leukemia virus (MLV) (Y. Takeuchi, M. O. McClure, and M. Pizzato, J. Virol. 82:12585-12588, 2008), raising questions about the validity of results obtained with this cell line. Here we confirm this observation and show that HIV-1 neutralization assays performed with a variety of serologic reagents in a similar cell line that does not harbor MLV yield results that are equivalent to those obtained in TZM-bl cells. We conclude that MLV contamination has no measurable effect on HIV-1 neutralization when TZM-bl cells are used as targets for infection.
Self-Reference Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensor Based on Multiple-Beam Interference

We demonstrated a novel self-reference surface plasmon resonance (SPR) fiber biosensor, which provided a multiple-beam interference referencing signal for refractive index (RI) compensating. The sensor was fabricated by splicing a capillary to a multimode fiber (MMF) coated with a gold film. The gilded MMF acts as the measuring channel while the capillary is used as referencing channel. The experiment result showed that the measuring signal has an irreversible change corresponding specific binding and referencing signal has reversible change. It indicated that the measuring signal can inspect biomolecular interactions in real time and the referencing signal can be used to compensate for interference effects due to bulk RI changes. The sensor provides a high sensitivity of 1470.291 nm/RIU and a resolution about 3.536 × 10-5 RIU. In addition, this self-reference SPR biosensor we proposed is low cost, simple, and reproduction, which can be applied in biochemical sensing field.
The specificity of viral and bacterial sialidases for alpha(2-3)- and alpha(2-6)-linked sialic acids in glycoproteins.

The anomeric specificity of six sialidases (Vibrio cholerae, Arthrobacter ureafaciens, Clostridium perfringens, Newcastle disease virus, fowl plague virus and influenza A2 virus sialidases) was assessed with sialylated antifreeze glycoprotein, ovine submandibular gland glycoprotein and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, resialylated specifically in alpha(2-3) or alpha(2-6) linkage with N-acetylneuraminic acid or N-glycolylneuraminic acid using highly purified sialyltransferases. The rate of release of sialic acid from these substrates was found to correlate well with the specificity observed earlier with the same sialidases using small oligosaccharide substrates, i.e., alpha(2-3) glycosidic linkages are hydrolyzed faster than alpha(2-6) linkages, with the exception of the enzyme from A. ureafaciens. Sialidase activity was higher with N-acetylneuraminic acid when compared with N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The studies also showed that the core oligosaccharide and protein structure in glycoproteins may influence the rate of release for different glycosidic linkages.
The influence of aerobic fitness and fibromyalgia on cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To investigate cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses to exercise in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), accounting for comorbid fibromyalgia (FM) and controlling for aerobic fitness. METHODS Twenty-nine patients with CFS only, 23 patients with CFS plus FM, and 32 controls completed an incremental bicycle test to exhaustion. Cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses were measured. Results were determined for the entire sample and for 18 subjects from each group matched for peak oxygen consumption. RESULTS In the overall sample, there were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory parameters between the CFS only group and the controls. However, the CFS plus FM group exhibited lower ventilation, lower end-tidal CO2, and higher ventilatory equivalent of carbon dioxide compared with controls, and slower increases in heart rate compared with both patients with CFS only and controls. Peak oxygen consumption, ventilation, and workload were lower in the CFS plus FM group. Subjects in both the CFS only group and the CFS plus FM group rated exercise as more effortful than did controls. Patients with CFS plus FM rated exercise as significantly more painful than did patients with CFS only or controls. In the subgroups matched for aerobic fitness, there were no significant differences among the groups for any measured cardiorespiratory response, but perceptual differences in the CFS plus FM group remained. CONCLUSION With matching for aerobic fitness, cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in patients with CFS only and CFS plus FM are not different from those in sedentary healthy subjects. While CFS patients with comorbid FM perceive exercise as more effortful and painful than do controls, those with CFS alone do not. These results suggest that aerobic fitness and a concurrent diagnosis of FM are likely explanations for currently conflicting data and challenge ideas implicating metabolic disease in the pathogenesis of CFS.
Case study research: a multi‐faceted research approach for IS

Abstract. A wide variety of approaches can be applied under the heading of case study research; this paper explicitly discusses the range of the alternatives. Many papers discussing case study research emphasize one particular variation of case study research only. The current paper provides an overview of the various uses of case study research in the information systems field by describing the different ways in which case study research can be used, using examples from published IS literature for illustration, and providing references to other method papers for more detailed discussion of each alternative. Researchers are reminded that case study research can be used in the positivist and interpretivist traditions, for testing or building theory, with a single or multiple case study design, using qualitative or mixed methods. The range of case study research alternatives makes it a highly versatile research strategy for IS