Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of fucoidan on the biotinidase kinetics in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult to treat with anticancer drugs. Therefore, development of new drugs for HCC is required. MATERIALS AND METHODS The livers of 14 hepatoma patients accompanied by hepatitis B (2 cases) and hepatitis C (12 cases) were used. The biotinidase kinetics of HCC tissues were compared to those of the adjacent liver tissues of 13 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 1 chronic active hepatitis (CAH). RESULTS The Kip (the inhibition constant by biotin) of HCC tissues were consistently higher than those of LC (plus CAH) tissues: the Kip was 450+/-231 micromol/l in HCC tissues and 240+/-111 micromol/l in LC (plus CAH) tissues, p<0.001. This increase of Kip is considered to be due to an increase of biotin repulsion by biotinidase in the HCC tissues. Fucoidan, a sulfated poly-fucose, was found to decrease the Kip of biotinidase in HCC tissues, and conversely to increase it in LC tissues. Fucoidan was also found to decrease the Kip of the hepatoma HuH-6 cells. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that fucoidan has a potential therapeutic effect on HCC.
Identification of Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat (VNTR) Sequences in Acinetobacter baumannii and Interlaboratory Validation of an Optimized Multiple-Locus VNTR Analysis Typing Scheme

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is an important opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial outbreaks, mostly occurring in intensive care units. Due to the multiplicity of infection sources, reliable molecular fingerprinting techniques are needed to establish epidemiological correlations among A. baumannii isolates. Multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) has proven to be a fast, reliable, and cost-effective typing method for several bacterial species. In this study, an MLVA assay compatible with simple PCR- and agarose gel-based electrophoresis steps as well as with high-throughput automated methods was developed for A. baumannii typing. Preliminarily, 10 potential polymorphic variable-number tandem repeats (VNTRs) were identified upon bioinformatic screening of six annotated genome sequences of A. baumannii. A collection of 7 reference strains plus 18 well-characterized isolates, including unique types and representatives of the three international A. baumannii lineages, was then evaluated in a two-center study aimed at validating the MLVA assay and comparing it with other genotyping assays, namely, macrorestriction analysis with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and PCR-based sequence group (SG) profiling. The results showed that MLVA can discriminate between isolates with identical PFGE types and SG profiles. A panel of eight VNTR markers was selected, all showing the ability to be amplified and good amounts of polymorphism in the majority of strains. Independently generated MLVA profiles, composed of an ordered string of allele numbers corresponding to the number of repeats at each VNTR locus, were concordant between centers. Typeability, reproducibility, stability, discriminatory power, and epidemiological concordance were excellent. A database containing information and MLVA profiles for several A. baumannii strains is available from http://mlva.u-psud.fr/.
A novel cis-acting element that controls transcription of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA, depending on cell type

cis-acting elements for the transcription of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 DNA were analyzed in cell-free transcription and DNA transfection assays. Besides previously identified cis elements, a region adjacent to the enhancer element was found to regulate transcription in both assays. Loss of this region caused 4.3- and 1.6-fold transcription inhibition in a transfection assay with a T-cell line, MOLT-4, and a monocyte line, U937, respectively, whereas the same region appeared to function negatively with other T-cell lines, MT-4 and Jurkat. These results suggest that this novel cis element regulates the transcription of proviral DNA in a cell-type-specific manner.
Neuroprotective Effect of Ellagic Acid Against Chronically Scopolamine Induced Alzheimer ' s Type Memory and Cognitive Dysfunctions : Possible Behavioural and Biochemical Evidences

Adjudge the neuroprotective ability of Ellagic acid (EA) as a constructive herbal drug to impede cholinergic dysfunctions and oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in chronically administered scopolamine induced Alzheimer’s type dementia in rats. Alzheimer’s type dementia was induced by chronically administered intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (0.7 mg/kg) to rats for period of 7 days. EA (25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) and Donepezil (0.5 mg/kg) were administrated to rats orally daily for a period of 13 days. Memory-related behavioral parameters were evaluated using the elevated plus maze (EPM) for 2 days and morris water maze (MWM) for 5 days. At the end of protocol schedulei.e day 14, biochemical parameters were estimated like AChE, MDA, GSH, catalase and SOD to evaluate the neuroprotective action of EA via AChE inhibition and antioxidant activity. Chronically injected scopolamine treatment increased the transfer latency in EPM, escape latency time and shortened time spent in the target quadrant in MWM; these effects were reversed by EA. Scopolamine-mediated changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and AChE activity were significantly attenuated by EA in rats. Recovery of antioxidant capacities, including reduced glutathione (GSH) content, and the activities of SOD and catalase was also evident in EA treated rats. The present findings sufficiently encourage that EA has a major role in the neuroprotection in chronically injected Scopolamine induced Alzheimer type dementia. The EA can be used as an effectual herbal treatment to prevent cholinergic dysfunctions and oxidative stress associated with Alzheimer type dementia.
Localisation within the global supply chain: evidence from the sporting goods industry

Purpose: The prevalence of operating within a global network of suppliers and customers has become so embedded within operations management research that is the accepted approach to operating. Even new, small organisations are able to tap into global networks of suppliers to source not only low cost generic components but complex, highly specialised finished goods (Mangan et al. 2010). This has created a whole field of research looking at factors affecting how global supply chains can be designed to enable focal firms (even small ones) to be able to compete in terms of price and functionality on a global stage. However, this perspective had tended to focus upon the global supply chain from the perspective of the focal firm, and how the global supply chain has allowed them to compete. The work has unfortunately paid far less attention to those within the supply chain, or not until they start creating problems for the focal firm (Frankental 2004). In such situations, a lack of attention, combined with unscrupulous activities can lead to significant reputational risk (BBC 2014).
Reshaping agriculture to reduce obesity.

AbstractThis chapter provides an overview of the global burden of the growing obesity epidemic and reviews regional trends in macronutrient availability. It then presents drivers of food overconsumption and explains the likely contribution of agriculture to the growing obesity epidemic in low- and middle-income countries. The chapter concludes by discussing key challenges to reforming agricultural policies for reducing obesity and the potential contribution of food policy research.
Observation of chiral edge states with neutral fermions in synthetic Hall ribbons

Visualizing edge states in atomic systems Visualizing edge states in atomic systems Simulating the solid state using ultracold atoms is an appealing research approach. In solids, however, the charged electrons are susceptible to an external magnetic field, which curves their trajectories and makes them skip along the edge of the sample. To observe this phenomenon with cold atoms requires an artificial magnetic field to have a similar effect on the neutral atoms (see the Perspective by Celi and Tarruell). Stuhl et al. obtained skipping orbits with bosonic atoms using a lattice that consisted of an array of atoms in one direction and three internal atomic spin states in the other. In a complementary experiment, Mancini et al. observed similar physics with fermionic atoms. Science, this issue pp. 1514 and 1510; see also p. 1450 Analogs of quantum-Hall-effect edge states are observed with fermionic ytterbium-173 atoms in a synthetic lattice. [Also see Perspective by Celi and Tarruell] Chiral edge states are a hallmark of quantum Hall physics. In electronic systems, they appear as a macroscopic consequence of the cyclotron orbits induced by a magnetic field, which are naturally truncated at the physical boundary of the sample. Here we report on the experimental realization of chiral edge states in a ribbon geometry with an ultracold gas of neutral fermions subjected to an artificial gauge field. By imaging individual sites along a synthetic dimension, encoded in the nuclear spin of the atoms, we detect the existence of the edge states and observe the edge-cyclotron orbits induced during quench dynamics. The realization of fermionic chiral edge states opens the door for edge state interferometry and the study of non-Abelian anyons in atomic systems.
Emotional Appeals in Advertising Banking Services

Advertisements are considered as stimuli which consumers will respond to. Banks can develop emotionally appealing advertisements, but they are not guaranteed a positive emotional reaction. The unprecedented turbulence and uncertainty experienced in the banking industry has increased the need to appear more appealing to consumers. Taking into consideration the global financial crisis, the current challenges of competition and open banking, and the looming threat of Brexit, this book explores how UK banks are pulling at consumers’ heart strings with appeals that are often filtered through personal ideologies, life experiences and previous exposure to brands. It investigates consumers’ perception of this strategy, as well as the wider implications of using emotional appeals in financial services advertising. Based on empirical data and research, this book will prove invaluable to students, researchers and managers alike.
Factors Influencing Visual Acuity in Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy.

SIGNIFICANCE In eyes with mild Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy without significant corneal edema, objective scattering index has the strongest influence on distance visual acuity, followed by the anterior corneal densitometry. Our findings suggest that distance visual acuity deteriorates in eyes with higher forward light scatter. PURPOSE To evaluate the factors affecting distance visual acuity in patients with Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy. METHODS This retrospective study comprised 31 eyes of 31 patients with mild Fuchs' dystrophy without corneal edema and 25 eyes of 25 age-matched healthy subjects. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between distance acuity with age, sex, forward light scatter, corneal backward scatter, anterior and posterior corneal higher-order aberrations, endothelial cell density, central corneal thickness, and corneal astigmatism. RESULTS The forward light scatter, corneal backward scatter, and corneal higher-order aberrations were significantly larger in the Fuchs' dystrophy group than those in the control group (P ≤ .004). In a univariate analysis, with higher forward light scatter, anterior corneal backward scatter, corneal higher-order aberrations, and age, the distance acuity significantly deteriorated in eyes with Fuchs' dystrophy. In a multiple linear regression analysis, explanatory variables relevant to the distance acuity were the forward light scatter (P < .001, partial regression coefficient B = 0.035) and anterior corneal backward scatter (P = 0.2, B = 0.008) (adjusted R = 0.694). CONCLUSIONS Eyes with higher light scatter, especially forward light scattering, showed deteriorated visual acuity. Results suggest that forward light scatter and corneal backward scatter play a more important role in visual performance than corneal higher-order aberrations in Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy.
Role for ICAT in beta-catenin-dependent nuclear signaling and cadherin functions.

Inhibitor of beta-catenin and TCF-4 (ICAT) is a 9-kDa polypeptide that inhibits beta-catenin nuclear signaling by binding beta-catenin and competing its interaction with the transcription factor TCF (T cell factor), but basic characterization of the endogenous protein and degree to which it alters other beta-catenin functions is less well understood. At the subcellular level, we show that ICAT localizes to both cytoplasmic and nuclear compartments. In intestinal tissue, ICAT is upregulated in the mature, nondividing enterocyte population lining intestinal villi and is absent in the beta-catenin/TCF signaling-active crypt region, suggesting that its protein levels may be inversely related with beta-catenin signaling activity. However, ICAT protein levels are not altered by activation or inhibition of Wnt signaling in cultured cells, suggesting that ICAT expression is not a direct target of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. In cells where beta-catenin levels are elevated by Wnt, a fraction of this beta-catenin pool is associated with ICAT, suggesting that ICAT may buffer the cell from increased levels of beta-catenin. Distinct from TCF and cadherin, ICAT does not protect the soluble pool of beta-catenin from degradation by the adenomatous polyposis coli containing "destruction complex. " Although ICAT inhibits beta-catenin binding to the cadherin as well as TCF in vitro, stable overexpression of ICAT in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells shows no obvious alterations in the cadherin complex, suggesting that the ability of ICAT to inhibit beta-catenin binding to the cadherin may be restricted in vivo. MDCK cells overexpressing ICAT do, however, exhibit enhanced cell scattering on hepatocyte growth factor treatment, suggesting a possible role in the regulation of dynamic rather than steady-state cell-cell adhesions. These findings confirm ICAT's primary role in beta-catenin signaling inhibition and further suggest that ICAT may have consequences for cadherin-based adhesive function in certain circumstances, implying a broader role than previously described.
A genetic variation in the fat mass‐ and obesity‐associated gene is associated with obesity and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in a Chinese population

Recently, a genome‐wide association study identified a strong association between the fat mass‐ and obesity‐associated rs9939609 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the risk of obesity in European population. However, the results in Chinese population were reported to be contradictory. Therefore, our aim was to examine whether this SNP is associated with obesity and newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Chinese population.
Verifiable auctions for ad exchanges

This paper is about a critical component of the Web ecosystem that has so far received little attention in our community: ad exchanges. They run auctions to sell publishers’ inventory—space on a Web page—to advertisers who want to display ads in those spaces. Unfortunately, under the status quo, the parties to the auction cannot check that an auction was carried out correctly, which raises the following more general question: how can we create verifiability in low-latency, high-frequency auctions where the parties do not know each other? We address this question with the design, prototype implementation, and experimental evaluation of VEX. VEX introduces a technique for efficient, privacypreserving integer comparisons, couples these with careful protocol design, and guarantees that an incorrectly computed auction is detectable by all parties. We find that VEX adds little latency and significant (but tolerable) processing cost, and is practical, or nearly so.
Options américaines dans les modèles exponentiels de Lévy

L'objet de cette these est l'etude de l'option americaine dans un modele exponentiel de Levy general. Dans le premier chapitre nous etudions la continuite des reduites dans le cadre des processus de Markov de Feller. Ensuite, nous introduisons les processus de Levy multidimensionnels et nous montrons la continuite des reduites associees a ceux-ci. Dans le deuxieme chapitre, nous clarifions les proprietes basiques de la frontiere libre du put americain dans un modele exponentiel de Levy general avec dividendes. Nous commencons par caracteriser le prix de l'option americaine comme l'unique solution d'une inequation variationnelle au sens des distributions. Ce qui nous permettra de montrer la continuite de la frontiere libre et de donner une caracterisation explicite de la limite du prix critique pres de l'echeance. Dans le troisieme chapitre, nous etudions la continuite de la derivee de la fonction valeur du put americain a horizon fini et du put perpetuel. Nous donnons des conditions necessaires et d'autres suffisantes pour la verification du principe de smooth-fit. Dans le quatrieme chapitre, nous etudions la vitesse de convergence du prix critique vers sa limite a l'echeance dans le cadre d'un modele exponentiel de Levy, dans le cas de diffusion avec sauts, puis dans le cas d'un processus de Levy sans partie Brownienne. Apres, nous donnons cette vitesse dans le cas ou le terme de diffusion est absent. Enfin, dans le dernier chapitre, nous introduisons deux methodes numeriques pour le calcul des prix des options americaines : la methode de l'arbre multinomial et celle des differences finies. Nous comparons les deux approches et nous ameliorons la convergence de la premiere dans certains modeles exponentiels de Levy
Mouse olfactory sensory neurons express 10,000 genes

Olfactory epithelial cells from olfactory marker protein‐green fluorescent protein (OMP‐GFP) mice were separated by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting into a GFP+ sample enriched in mature olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) and a GFP– sample enriched in all other cells. GeneChip expression profiling of these samples provided a predictive measure of expression in OSNs. Validation tests comparing the ratio of GFP+/GFP– signal intensity against expression patterns from in situ hybridization for 189 mRNAs proved statistically significant and provided probabilities of expression in OSNs scaled according to the signal intensity ratios. These probabilities predict that, among 11,596 mRNAs detected in the GFP+ sample, more than 10,000 are expressed in OSNs. Transcripts and overrepresented categories of mRNAs detected in the GFP+ sample agreed with known properties of OSNs and predict additional properties. For example, ciliogenesis and spermatogenesis were overrepresented, consistent with similarities between OSN cilia and sperm flagella. Chromatin assembly mRNAs were expressed throughout the OSN cell lineage, consistent with the hypothesis that chromatin remodeling plays a role in OSN differentiation. We detected numerous signaling proteins and receptors, such as 30 nonchemosensory G‐protein‐coupled receptors, including the presynaptic glutamate receptor mGlur4 and the Wnt receptor Fzd3. The largest group of mRNAs, however, was the hundreds of transcriptional regulators that presumably determine the OSN phenotype. The absence of OMP protein in OMP‐GFP mice had no detectable effect on mRNA abundance. Within limits prescribed by the nature of microarray data and the in situ hybridization validation, these data should be useful in directing further experiments on OSN function. J. Comp. Neurol. 502:1138–1156, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Up-regulation of 8-oxo-dGTPase Activity of MTH1 Protein in the Brain, Testes and Kidneys of Mice Exposed to 137Cs γ Radiation

Abstract Mammalian MTH1 protein is an antimutagenic (2′-deoxy)ribonucleoside 5′-triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase that prevents the incorporation of oxidatively modified nucleotides into nucleic acids. It decomposes most specifically the miscoding products of oxidative damage to purine nucleic acid precursors (e.g. 8-oxo-dGTP, 2-oxo-dATP, 2-oxo-ATP, 8-oxo-GTP) that may cause point mutations or transcription errors when incorporated into DNA and RNA, respectively. The increased expression of MTH1 mRNA and MTH1 protein was previously proposed as a molecular marker of oxidative stress. Therefore, we hypothesized that increased 8-oxo-dGTPase activity of MTH1 protein in mouse organs could serve as a dose-dependent marker of exposure to ionizing radiation, which is known to induce oxidative stress. To test our hypothesis, we measured 8-oxo-dGTPase activity in six organs of male BL6 mice after exposure to 0, 10, 25 and 50 cGy and 1 Gy of 137Cs γ radiation given as a single whole-body dose (1 Gy/min). The mice were killed 4, 8 and 24 h after irradiation. A statistically significant induction of 8-oxo-dGTPase was found in brains, testes and kidneys but not in lungs, hearts or livers. Brains, which demonstrated the highest (4.3-fold) increase of 8-oxo-dGTPase activity, were shown to express ∼50% higher levels of MTH1 protein. However, due to the lack of a simple positive correlation between the dose and the observed 8-oxo-dGTPase activity in brain, testes and kidneys, we conclude that measurements of 8-oxo-dGTPase activity in these organs may serve as a rough indicator rather than a quantifiable marker of radiation-induced oxidative stress.
Conservative management of patients with intrathyroidal well-differentiated follicular thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Total or near-total thyroidectomy for the treatment of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). The prognosis of patients with low-risk FTC, however, is excellent, and thus total thyroidectomy may not be justifiable in such patients. METHODS A retrospective review identified 61 patients diagnosed with intrathyroidal well-differentiated FTC between 1958 and 1991. RESULTS Median age at diagnosis was 42 years (range, 15-78 years). Most patients (90.2%) had a lobectomy or subtotal thyroidectomy. Median tumor size was 3.0 cm (range, 0.9-9.5 cm). Fifty-eight patients (95.1%) received thyroid hormone supplementation, and 5 (8.2%) received radioactive iodine ablation postoperatively. Median follow-up was 11 years (range, 3-35 years). Local recurrence, metastasis, or both developed in 3 patients (4.9%), and all subsequently died of thyroid cancer. The cumulative 10- and 15-year cancer-specific survival rate was 96.5%. Factors significantly related to worse survival were oxyphilic histology (log-rank, P =.00) and tumor size of more than 4 cm (P =.001). However, neither was found to be an independent predictor of outcome by Cox multivariate analyses (P =.7 and.9, respectively). The extent of initial operation (unilateral versus bilateral procedure) was not significantly related to survival (P =.52). CONCLUSION Conservative management consisting mainly of lobectomy or subtotal thyroidectomy and thyroid hormone supplementation is associated with favorable outcome of patients with intrathyroidal well-differentiated FTC.
Factors Education Towards the Presentation of Accounting Information

This study aimed to identify and analyze the factors of education that affect the presentation of accounting information. The case study was conducted in Pharmaceutical wholesaler company (PBF) in Bandung City Indonesia. The method used in the research was a quantitative method by performing a linear regression analysis. The retrieval of data was obtained from 31 branch offices of PBF. Validity test was performed by Spearman Rank test and reliability was calculated by Cronbach Alpha formula. The results Showed that the factors of education positively and Significantly Affect on the presentation of accounting information partially. Quality of education has a significant effect on the presentation of accounting information. The research contributed to provide recommendation led to more qualified accounting information. Keywords— education, accounting information, presentation