Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Investigation of Faculty Members' Engagement in Saudi Arabia

Faculty engagement has been proved to be a critical driver of the universities’ efficiency and effectiveness. The first step towards building an engaged workforce is to get a measure of faculty perceptions of their engagement level to their universities. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the faculty members' engagement in the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University. It examines the relationship between the faculty professional variablesand their level of engagement to their institutions. William Kahn's (1990) three-component model of employee engagement was partially adapted as a framework to measure the faculty members' engagement. A questionnaire was used to better address the objective of this study. The data were obtained from the Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Dammam University) through an internet-based survey. The validity and the reliability of the questionnaire has been evaluated and reported. Results of the analyses show that cognitive engagement is reported to be higher than both the emotional and physical engagement, with a mean rating of 4.040 and a standard deviation of . 487, based on the five-point scale. Given the engagement level of the faculty members in this study, the university administrators should develop policies, and strategies that encourage and support engagement among faculty members at the University in order to maximize their engagement. Policy makers must also take into consideration the needs of the faculty members
Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure on Stroke Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) predicts poor functional outcome after stroke and increases the risk for recurrent stroke. Less is known about continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on stroke recovery. METHODS In a pilot randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial, adult stroke rehabilitation patients were assigned to auto-titrating or sham CPAP without diagnostic testing for OSA. Change in Functional Independence Measure (FIM), a measure of disability, was assessed between rehabilitation admission and discharge. RESULTS Over 18 months, 40 patients were enrolled and 10 withdrew from the study: 7 from active and 3 from sham CPAP (p > 0.10). For the remaining 30 patients, median duration of CPAP use was 14 days. Average CPAP use was 3.7 h/night, with at least 4 h nightly use among 15 patients. Adherence was not influenced by treatment assignment or stroke severity. In intention-to-treat analyses (n = 40), the median change in FIM favored active CPAP over sham but did not reach statistical significance (34 versus 26, p = 0.25), except for the cognitive component (6 versus 2.5, p = 0.04). The on-treatment analyses (n = 30) yielded similar results (total FIM: 32 versus 26, p = 0.11; cognitive FIM: 6 versus 2, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS A sham-controlled CPAP trial among stroke rehabilitation patients was feasible in terms of recruitment, treatment without diagnostic testing and adequate blinding-though was limited by study retention and CPAP adherence. Despite these limitations, a trend towards a benefit of CPAP on recovery was evident. Tolerance and adherence must be improved before the full benefits of CPAP on recovery can be assessed in larger trials.
Kidney transplantation in type 2 diabetic patients: a comparison with matched non-diabetic subjects.

BACKGROUND Because they generally are older and frequently have co-morbidities, patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and end-stage renal disease seldom are selected for renal transplantation. Thus, information on transplantation results from controlled studies in this high-risk category of patients is scarce. We have compared the results of kidney transplantations in type 2 diabetic patients with carefully matched non-diabetic subjects. METHODS All first cadaveric renal transplants performed in type 2 diabetic patients from January 1, 1988 to December 31, 1998 in our centre were included. Non-diabetic controls were individually matched with diabetic patients with respect to year of transplantation, sex, age, selected immunological parameters, and graft cold ischaemia. RESULTS We included 64 type 2 diabetic and 64 non-diabetic patients who were followed for a mean period of 37+/-27 and 41+/-31 months, respectively, after renal transplantation. Patient survival at 1 and 5 years post-transplant was 85 and 69 vs 84 and 74% (P=0.43, NS), while graft survival rates censored for patient death were 84 and 77 vs 82 and 77% for diabetic and non-diabetic subjects, respectively (P=0.52, NS). With graft survival results not censored for death with functioning graft, no significant change was seen (diabetic vs non-diabetic group: 77 and 54 vs 73 and 61%, P=0.19, NS). Age, but not the presence of diabetes, was the only factor significantly affecting patient survival when both patient groups were pooled. With regard to post-transplant complications requiring hospitalization, there was a significant difference only in the number of patients who had amputations (diabetic vs non-diabetic group: 8 vs 0, P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patient and graft survival after kidney transplantation was similar in type 2 diabetic and matched non-diabetic subjects, with more amputations occurring in the diabetic group. Thus, at a single-centre level renal transplantation results almost equivalent to those in non-diabetic patients may be achieved in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Novel angiogenesis inhibitors in nonsmall cell lung cancer

Purpose of review The fact that growth and spread of tumours are dependent on angiogenesis has led to the investigation of the role of antiangiogenic agents in the therapeutic strategies for thoracic tumours such as nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This review summarizes and evaluates the recent developments in this field. Recent findings Bevacizumab, an antivascular endothelial growth factor antibody, has been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC of nonsquamous histology in combination with a platinum-containing chemotherapy. Like in other cancer entities, the antiangiogenic concept in NSCLC comprises maintenance therapy with the antiangiogenic compound until disease progression. Moreover, over the last years, new antiangiogenic agents have been tested in clinical trials in NSCLC patients. Recent trials have demonstrated the efficacy of antiangiogenic agents in combination with docetaxel in the second-line setting. Summary These studies – together with experiences from other cancer entities – have revived the field of antiangiogenic treatment in lung cancer.
Novel macrolide‐resistance genes, mef(C) and mph(G), carried by plasmids from Vibrio and Photobacterium isolated from sediment and seawater of a coastal aquaculture site

The aim of this study was to determine whether mef(C) and mph(G), originally found on the transferable multi‐drug plasmid pAQU1 from Photobacterium damselae subsp. damselae isolated from seawater of a fish farm, are responsible for conferring macrolide resistance. Since these genes are localized head‐to‐tail on pAQU1 and only four nucleotides exist between them, the single‐ and combination‐effect of these genes was examined. When mph(G) alone was introduced to Escherichia coli, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against erythromycin, clarithromycin and azithromycin increased, whereas introduction of mef(C) alone did not influence macrolide susceptibility. Introduction of both mef(C) and mph(G) dramatically increased the MICs to the same three macrolides, i.e. >512 μg ml−1, >512 μg ml−1 and 128 μg ml−1 respectively. These results suggest that the macrolide phosphotransferase encoded by mph(G) is essential for macrolide resistance, while the efflux pump encoded by mef(C) is required for high‐level macrolide resistance. The tandem‐pair arrangements of the mef(C) and mph(G) genes were conserved on plasmids ranging in size from 240 to 350 kb of the 22 erythromycin‐resistant strains belonging to Vibrio and Photobacterium obtained from the fish farm. Sixteen of 22 plasmids ranged in size from 300 to 350 kb. This is the first report of novel macrolide resistance genes originating from a marine bacterium.
Effects of apelin on retinal microglial cells in a rat model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy of prematurity

This study explores the effects of apelin on retinal microglial cells in rat models of oxygen‐induced retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Totally, 274 rats were selected for establishing oxygen‐induced retinopathy (OIR) models, and 92 healthy rats for control group. OIR rats were assigned into OIR, 10−5 g/L apelin, 10−4 g/L apelin, and 10−3 g/L apelin groups. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine morphology of microglial cells and cell number. CDllb, ionized calcium‐binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA‐1), TNF‐α, and iNOS mRNA and protein expressions were identified using RT‐qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. ELISA was employed to determine the levels of VEGF and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). The amoeboid microglial cells were found in the OIR and 10−3 g/L apelin groups, while bipolar microglial cells were found in the normal control, 10−5 g/L apelin and 10−4 g/L apelin groups. In the 1, 2, 3, and 4th week after apelin treatment, there were significantly decreased bipolar microglial cells, lower mRNA and protein expressions of CDllb, IBA‐1, TNF‐α and iNOS, and the levels of VEGF and GFAP in the 10−4 g/L apelin group than in the OIR, 10−3 g/L apelin and 10−5 g/L apelin groups. The differences between the normal control and 10−4 g/L apelin groups are not significant. Compared with the OIR group, the 10−5 g/L apelin and 10−3 g/L apelin groups presented decreased microglial cells and mRNA and protein expressions of CDllb, IBA‐1, TNF‐α, and iNOS. Appropriate concentration of apelin may reduce retinal microglial cells in a rat model of oxygen‐induced ROP.
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol changes after continuous egg consumption in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between continuous egg consumption with Thai life-style dietary and serum lipids of healthy young people. MATERIAL AND METHOD Fifty-six participants with an average age of 35 were enrolled. In an experimental method of cholesterol intake, all participants were fed an additional egg per day to their basic diet. This project ran for 12 weeks. RESULTS The 12-week egg consumption significantly increased serum total cholesterol by 0.27 +/- 0.15 mmol/L (10.43 +/- 5.80 mg/dL) (p < 0.05). The HDL-cholesterol (HDL-c) increased significant by 0.55 +/- 0.06 mmol/L (21.80 +/- 2.25 mg/dL) (p < 0.001) while the total cholesterol (TC) decreased as the HDL-c ratio was 0.94 +/- 1.1 (p < 0.001). No significant changes were found in LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglyceride levels. The present study showed that small serum LDL-c changed in response to change of egg consumption. Additionally, 12-week egg consumption also resulted in an increasing HDL-c level. CONCLUSION In the majority of healthy adults, an addition of one egg per day to a normal fat diet could raise HDL-c levels and decreased the ratio of TC toHDL-c. Therefore, egg consumption might benefit blood cholesterol.
Jaw muscularization requires Dlx expression by cranial neural crest cells

The origin of active predation in vertebrates is associated with the rise of three major, uniquely derived developmental characteristics of the head: (i) migratory cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) giving rise to most skeletal skull elements; (ii) expression of Dlx genes by CNCCs in the Hox-free first pharyngeal arch (PA1); and (iii) muscularization of PA1 derivatives. Here we show that these three innovations are tightly linked. Expression of Dlx genes by CNCCs is not only necessary for head skeletogenesis, but also for the determination, differentiation, and patterning of cephalic myogenic mesoderm leading to masticatory muscle formation. In particular, inactivation of Dlx5 and Dlx6 in the mouse results in loss of jaw muscles. As Dlx5/6 are not expressed by the myogenic mesoderm, our findings imply an instructive role for Dlx5/6-positive CNCCs in muscle formation. The defect in muscularization does not result from the loss of mandibular identity observed in Dlx5/6−/− mice because masticatory muscles are still present in EdnRA−/− mutants, which display a similar jaw transformation. The genesis of jaws and their muscularization should therefore be seen as an integrated Dlx-dependent developmental process at the origin of the vertebrate head. The role of Dlx genes in defining gnathostome jaw identity could, therefore, be secondary to a more primitive function in the genesis of the oral skeletomuscular system.
A model for planning the product portfolio and launch timings under resource constraints

Product design is increasingly becoming a critical function in many organisations having significant impact on their performance. It aims at the selection of a near-optimal mix of products and attribute-levels to offer in the target market. The standard product portfolio planning approach has focused on selecting optimum product profiles based on part-worth utility data. However, given that product development happens in multiple stages, combining the product definition decisions with the product development feasibility will provide organisations with a more inclusive and global solution. This paper considers a resource-constrained environment with a multi-stage product development cycle and presents an approach for helping an organisation to select the definitions of products for its product portfolio and the feasible launch timings. The proposed framework will aid product managers and researchers to identify and evaluate alternative product definitions using a Mixed Integer Linear Programming model in order to determine the alternatives which best balance product features and product development.
An N-terminal Segment of the Active Component of the Bacterial Genotoxin Cytolethal Distending Toxin B (CDTB) Directs CDTB into the Nucleus*

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), produced by Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, is a putative virulence factor in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. It is a cell cycle specific inhibitor at the G2/M transition. CDTB, one of the subunits of the CDT holotoxin, is implicated in a genotoxic role after entering the target cells, whereby chromosomal damage induces checkpoint phosphorylation cascades. CDTB microinjected into the cytoplasm was shown to localize in the nucleus and induce chromatin collapse. To investigate the molecular mechanism involved in nuclear transport of CDTB, we used transient expression and microinjection of a CDTB-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein. After microinjection, His-tagged CDTB-GFP entered the nucleus in 3–4 h. Leptomycin B did not increase the speed of entry of the fusion protein, suggesting that the relatively slow entry of the fusion protein is not due to the CRM1-dependent nuclear export of the protein. Nuclear localization of the CDTBGFP was temperature-dependent. An in vitro transport assay demonstrated that the nuclear localization of CDTB is mediated by active transport. An assay using transient expression of a series of truncated CDTB-GFP fusion proteins revealed that residues 48–124 constitute the minimum region involved in nuclear transport of CDTB. A domain swapping experiment of the region involved in nuclear transport of CDTB with an SV40 T nuclear localization signal indicated that CDTB is composed of two domains, an N-terminal domain for nuclear transport and a C-terminal active domain. Our results strongly suggest that nuclear localization of CDTB is required for the holotoxin to induce cytodistension and cell cycle block. This is the first demonstration that a bacterial toxin possessing a unique domain for nuclear transport is transferred to the animal cell nucleus by active transport.
Stroke after thrombolysis. Mortality and functional outcomes in the GUSTO-I trial. Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries.

BACKGROUND Stroke is the most feared complication of thrombolysis for acute myocardial infarction because of the resulting mortality and disability. We analyzed the incidence, timing, and outcomes of stroke in an international trial. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients were randomly assigned to one of four thrombolytic strategies. Neurological events were confirmed clinically and anatomically and were adjudicated by a blinded committee. Stroke survivors, categorized by residual deficit and disability, assessed their quality of life with a time trade-off technique. Multivariable regression identified patient characteristics associated with intracranial hemorrhage. Over-all, 1.4% of the patients had a stroke (93% anatomic documentation). The risk ranged from 1.19% with streptokinase/subcutaneous heparin therapy to 1.64% with combination thrombolytic therapy (P = .007). Primary intracranial hemorrhage rates ranged from 0.46% with streptokinase/subcutaneous heparin to 0.88% with combination therapy (P < .001). Of all strokes, 41% were fatal, 31% were disabling, and 24% were nondisabling, with no significant treatment-related differences. Stroke subtype affected prognosis: 60% of patients with primary intracranial hemorrhage died and 25% were disabled versus 17% dead and 40% disabled with nonhemorrhagic infarctions. Patients with moderate or severe residual deficits showed significantly decreased quality of life. Advanced age, lower weight, prior cerebrovascular disease or hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, randomization to tissue plasminogen activator, and an interaction between age and hypertension were significant predictors of intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS Stroke remains a rare but catastrophic complication of thrombolysis. Additional studies should assess the net clinical benefit of thrombolysis in high-risk subgroups, particularly the elderly and patients with prior cerebrovascular events.
The Wider Benefits of Adult Learning: Work-Related Training and Social Capital

We propose a regression-adjusted matched difference-in-differences framework to estimate non-pecuniary returns to adult education. This approach combines kernel matching with entropy balancing to account for selection bias and sorting on gains. Using data from the German SOEP, we evaluate the effect of work-related training, which represents the largest portion of adult education in OECD countries, on individual social capital. Training increases participation in civic, political, and cultural activities while not crowding out social participation. Results are robust against a variety of potentially confounding explanations. These findings imply positive externalities from work-related training over and above the well-documented labor market effects.
Azithromycin buccal patch in treatment of chronic periodontitis

Aim: This study aims to explore the clinical, microbiological, and biochemical impact of azithromycin (AZM) buccal patch in chronic generalized patients as a monotherapy as well as an adjunct to nonsurgical therapy. Materials and Methods: A parallel design was used forty periodontitis patients were randomly allocated into five groups, namely Group 1 scaling root planing (SRP) alone, Group 2 (SRP + AZM patch group), Group 3 (SRP + AZM tablet group), Group 4 (AZM patch monotherapy), and Group 5 (AZM tablet as monotherapy). Plaque index, gingival bleeding index, modified gingival index, probing pocket depth (PPD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were assessed at baseline and 21 and 90 days. Subgingival pooled plaque sample was collected to assess periodontopathogens like Porphyromonas gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia (Pi) by anaerobic culture method. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was also evaluated at baseline and 21 days. Periodontal maintenance was performed in Group 1 until 90th day, and clinical parameter was assessed at the end of 90th day. Results: SRP + AZM tablets showed greater reduction in clinical parameters (P < 0.05) AZM as monotherapy did not offer clinical benefits over SRP. Baseline data were compared at the end, i.e., 90th day a significant reduction in plaque scores, gingival bleeding, and PPD was observed however no significant gain in the clinical attachment was observed. Conclusion: The monotherapy resulted in no improvement of periodontal parameters, microbial parameters, and TNF-α level. It is safe to use AZM + SRP as a mode of nonsurgical treatment in periodontitis patients.
Marker-exchange mutagenesis of a pectate lyase isozyme gene in Erwinia chrysanthemi

The phytopathogenic enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi contains pel genes encoding several different isozymes of the plant-tissue-disintegrating enzyme pectate lyase (PL). The pelC gene, encoding an isozyme with an approximate isoelectric point of 8.0, was mutagenized by a three-step procedure involving (i) insertional inactivation of the cloned gene by ligation of a kan-containing BamHI fragment from pUC4K with a partial Sau3A digest of E. chrysanthemi pelC DNA in pBR322; (ii) mobilization of the pBR322 derivative from Escherichia coli to E. chrysanthemi by the helper plasmids R64drd11 and pLVC9; and (iii) exchange recombination of the pelC::kan mutation into the E. chrysanthemi chromosome by selection for kanamycin resistance in transconjugants cultured in phosphate-limited medium (which renders pBR322 unstable). The resulting E. chrysanthemi mutant was Kanr Amps, lacked pBR322 sequences, and was deficient in only one of the four major PL isozymes, PLc, as determined by activity-stained isoelectric-focusing polyacrylamide gels. The rates of PL induction and cell growth in a medium containing polygalacturonic acid as the sole carbon source were not significantly reduced in the mutant. No difference was detected in the ability of the mutant to macerate potato tuber tissue. The evidence suggests that this isozyme is not necessary for soft-rot pathogenesis.
Structure-based prediction of Wnt binding affinities for Frizzled-type cysteine-rich domains

Wnt signaling pathways are of significant interest in development and oncogenesis. The first step in these pathways typically involves the binding of a Wnt protein to the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of a Frizzled receptor. Wnt-Frizzled interactions can be antagonized by secreted Frizzled-related proteins (SFRPs), which also contain a Frizzled-like CRD. The large number of Wnts, Frizzleds, and SFRPs, as well as the hydrophobic nature of Wnt, poses challenges to laboratory-based investigations of interactions involving Wnt. Here, utilizing structural knowledge of a representative Wnt-Frizzled CRD interaction, as well as experimentally determined binding affinities for a selection of Wnt-Frizzled CRD interactions, we generated homology models of Wnt-Frizzled CRD interactions and developed a quantitative structure-activity relationship for predicting their binding affinities. The derived model incorporates a small selection of terms derived from scoring functions used in protein-protein docking, as well as an energetic term considering the contribution made by the lipid of Wnt to the Wnt-Frizzled binding affinity. Validation with an external test set suggests that the model can accurately predict binding affinity for 75% of cases and that the error associated with the predictions is comparable with the experimental error. The model was applied to predict the binding affinities of the full range of mouse and human Wnt-Frizzled and Wnt-SFRP interactions, indicating trends in Wnt binding affinity for Frizzled and SFRP CRDs. The comprehensive predictions made in this study provide the basis for laboratory-based studies of previously unexplored Wnt-Frizzled and Wnt-SFRP interactions, which, in turn, may reveal further Wnt signaling pathways.