Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective Effects of the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Losartan on Cisplatin-Induced Kidney Injury

Background: In the present study, we investigated the possible modulatory effect of losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, on oxidative stress induced by cisplatin (CDDP) as well as on CDDP uptake by the kidney. Methods: Rats were injected with a single dose of CDDP (7 mg/kg) and/or losartan (in either a single dose of 60 mg/kg or divided doses (10 mg/kg daily for 6 days), starting 1 h before CDDP injection. In addition, rat renal cortical slices were incubated with CDDP (2 mM) and/or losartan (2 mM) for 4 h. Nephrotoxicity was evaluated by measuring serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in vivo and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage in vitro; histopathological examination of kidney tissue was also done. Oxidative stress markers including reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides were also assessed. Furthermore, CDDP uptake by renal cortical slices was determined. Results: Losartan has protective effects against CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity as evidenced by restoration of normal serum levels of creatinine and BUN, and LDH leakage. Histopathological examination of the kidney confirmed these results. Also, losartan significantly counteracted CDDP-induced lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion. However, losartan did not affect CDDP uptake by the kidney. Conclusion: Our results indicate that losartan has proved to be a promising drug for clinical use as a nephroprotectant against CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity.
Sodium status of collapsed marathon runners.

CONTEXT Recommendations for prevention and treatment of medical emergencies in participants in marathon races center on maintenance of adequate hydration status and administration of fluids. Recently, new recommendations for fluid replacement for marathon runners were promulgated by medical and athletic societies. These new guidelines encourage runners to drink ad libitum between 400 and 800 mL/h as opposed to the previous "as much as possible" advice. OBJECTIVE To assess the sodium and hydration (plasma osmolality) status of collapsed marathon runners after the promulgation of new hydration guidelines. DESIGN Plasma sodium and osmolality values of runners who presented to the medical tent at the finish line of the 2003 Boston Marathon were measured. RESULTS Using reference ranges derived from the general population, of 140 collapsed runners, 35 (25%) were hypernatremic (sodium, >146 mEq/L) and 6 (12%) were hyperosmolar (osmolality, >296 mOsm/kg H(2)O), whereas 9 (6%) were hyponatremic (sodium, <135 mEq/L) and 8 (16%) were hypo-osmolar (osmolality, <280 mOsm/kg H(2)O). Compared with a population of marathon runners who had experienced no medical difficulties, 9% of the runners were hypernatremic, 5% were hyponatremic, 8% were hypo-osmolar, and none were hyperosmolar. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate a significant incidence of hypernatremia with hyperosmolality and hyponatremia with hypo-osmolality among collapsed runners despite the new fluid intake recommendations, suggesting that either further educational measures are required or that the new guidelines are not entirely adequate to prevent abnormalities in fluid balance. Furthermore, the immediate medical management of hypernatremia and hyponatremia is different. Administration of fluids to severely hyponatremic patients may result in fatal cerebral edema. Our findings caution against institution of treatment until laboratory tests determine the patient's sodium status.
Spatial and temporal variation in the infestation of sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) by the caligid copepod Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) in relation to sources of infection in Ireland

Infestations of post-smolt sea trout (Salmo trutta L.) by the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis Krøyer) were characterized in 42 estuaries over a 5 year period in Ireland. Spatial variation in infestation was more significant than temporal trends and existed at 3 levels; between regions (regions >100 km of coastline), between bays within regions (bays <50 km in length) and between estuaries within bays (distance between estuaries <10 km). The observed spatial structure in infestations inferred that production of the infective larvae varied between regions and bays and that there was limited movement of fish and infective larvae between regions and bays. In addition the different levels of infestation recorded between estuaries in the same bay indicated short spatial scale variability in parasite transmission. Significantly higher infestations occurred in bays that contained lice-infested farmed salmon. Lice-infested wild spring salmon, which were present in estuaries of some systems, did not have a significant positive impact on infestations.
Automated Assembly of Shredded Pieces From Multiple Photos

In this paper, we investigate the problem of automated assembly of shredded pieces from multiple photos, which has a board usage in many multimedia applications. Both shape and appearance information along the boundaries are utilized and extracted for each pieces, and then the candidate matchings between pieces are established based on these features. A weighted graph, called matching graph, whose vertices represent shredded pieces and edges represent candidate matchings is then constructed, and divided into separate subgraphs, with each subgraph corresponding to a desired photo. The assembly results are finally obtained by searching for a valid spanning tree for each subgraph. This proposed method can deal with cases in which materials are lost and/or pieces belonging to multiple photos coexist. And the experimental results well demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed method.
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING ON CONSUMER PURCHASE DECISION

This research paper audits the current situation of impact of social media on consumer purchase decision. about consumers in Five topics are recognized: (i) consumer advanced culture, (ii) reactions to social media publicizing, (iii) impacts of social media conditions on consumer behavior, (iv) portable situations, and (v) online word of mouth (WOM). By and large the studied past data shed light from various points on how consumers experience, impact, and are affected by the social media conditions in which they are arranged as a component of their everyday lives. Much is still to be comprehended, and existing information has a tendency to be excessively centered around WOM, which is just piece of the advanced consumer encounter. A few headings for future research are progressed to urge researchers to consider a more extensive scope of wonders.
Reference Price Effects: The Role of Multiple Internal Reference Prices and Semantic Cues.

The purpose of this dissertation is two fold. The first objective is to assess the effect of price promotion on consumers’ evaluation o f the value o f the deal independent of the specific IRP used by consumers. Towards this end, a subjective measure called “perceived fairness o f the offer price” is introduced in a model hypothesizing relations among transaction utility, acquisition utility, and perceived value of the deal. The proposed model was compared to an existing model designed to predict and explain perceived value o f the deal using a survey-based methodology, in the first study. Results indicate that the proposed model has a better fit and the proposed construct better predicts the value o f the deal. The second objective o f this dissertation is to study the effect of semantic cues on consumers’ perceptions about the value o f the deal, search intention and shopping intention. These effects were determined using two 2x2x2 experimental designs in the second and third studies. In the second study the price level ($249 V5. $399), nature of price comparison (between store vs. within store) and cue concreteness (concrete vs. abstract) were manipulated. Results indicate that semantic cues affect consumers perceptions of value and search intentions at moderate price levels. At exaggerated price levels there is no effect of cue concreteness. At moderate price levels, the concrete price cue is more effective than abstract cues in the case o f between store price comparison. Also, the between store price comparison is more effective than the within store price comparison in the case of concrete cues. In the third study, the location where the ad is viewed (at home vs. in store), nature of price comparison (between store v& within store), and cue concreteness (concrete abstract) were manipulated. Results indicate that semantic cues affect consumers' evaluation o f the price promotion when the consumers
Students’ Needs Analysis on Genre-based Listening Material at University Level

The present paper explores students’ needs analysis on genre-based multimedia listening material for the development of students’ listening skills for English department students at university level. This research was a part of research and development conducted based on both qualitative and quantitative methods. This needs analysis cover necessity, lack, and wants. Information on necessities is taken from the curriculum of English Department of UNP, users, teacher books, and other relevant documents. To obtain the data, the English department students of FBS Universitas Negeri Padang in Indonesia were given the questionnaire in the preliminary study in obtaining students’ needs. The questionnaires were used to obtain the information on students’ necessity, lack, and want. The research findings show that the genre-based material for listening is needed to develop students’ listening skills. For the media, students also need multimedia material which help them in understanding the situation and information.
Drainage Development in the Dunhuang Basin, NE Tibet, Controlled by Multi-Segment Fault Growth

The Dongbatu Shan (DBTS, also known as the Nanjie Shan), which interrupts the northern Tibetan foreland in the Dunhuang basin, is an active anticline. It has accommodated the northwestern growth of the eastern Altyn Tagh fault system (ATF). Although several thrust faults have been identified around the DBTS, their evolution history and influence on regional landscape have received little attention during the late-Quaternary. In this study, several geomorphic methods are used to investigate the interaction between drainage development and tectonic movement around DBTS. Based on high-resolution satellite images, field investigation, and cosmogenic nuclide 10Be dating method, the fluvial landform sequences around DBTS were constructed. Using quantitative geomorphology methods including landscape relief profile, asymmetry factor (AF), and transverse topographic symmetry factor (T), we hypothesize that drainage deflection is controlled by multi-segment fault growth. Combining the results of the above-mentioned methods, we propose that Yulin He, flowing across the DBTS, had gone through several abandonments since the late mid-Pleistocene due to the lateral propagation of DBTS. Affected by the discharge of channel and multi-segment fault growth, our research confirms that the direction of river abandonment may have decoupled with the mountain range propagation trend. Based on the chronology dating, the DBTS has gone through two severe uplifts since ∼208 ka and the shortening rate across the central DBTS is constrained to be ∼1.47 mm/yr since ∼83 ka. Given the fact that thrust faults are widely developed around DBTS, we propose that the flower-like structure formed by the northward growth of the eastern ATF could better explain the development of the secondary subparallel faults.
Effectiveness of mechanical weed control on Italian flint varieties of maize

Abstract Weed control is one of the most important practices for a satisfying crop performance. In organic farming, weeds are mainly controlled by using mechanical methods, which may result in incomplete crop selectivity. Maize is one of the crops for which mechanical weed control is commonly applied. To assess weed control efficacy and the possible crop injuries caused by mechanical interventions (harrowing, hoeing and ridging), a field experiment was carried out in 2013–2014 on traditional flint Italian varieties of maize (Marano, Ottofile, Pignoletto, Nostrano and the hybrid Maranello) suited for organic food production. The study included the following treatments: weed control with a spring tine harrow + hoeing and ridging (STH), manual weed removal all season long (MWR), spring tine harrowing + manual weed removal (STH + MWR) and an untreated check (CHK). In the 2 years, the experiment was carried out in two similar fields in which 60 plots (6 × 10 m) were arranged in a RCBD with three replications. Weed control efficacy was assessed by determining weed density, weed species composition and weed cover after each mechanical intervention in the STH and CHK plots. Weed diversity indices were also calculated at the final assessment. The possible crop injuries caused by mechanical means were assessed by determining maize plant height, number of leaves, and plant density after each mechanical intervention. At maturity, maize yield and other yield-related traits (1000-seed weight, hectolitre weight, and grain moisture) were determined. The results showed that the mechanical treatments lowered the weed infestation, without changing weed species dominance and slightly lowering species richness; even though they were not able to completely control the weeds. In both years, the final weed density in STH plots was of about 50 plants m−2. Better weed control was obtained when weeds were at early growth stages and with a repeated number of harrowing. Mechanical weeding did not cause significant injury in terms of plant height nor density; however, for Marano and Maranello, a delay in the crop cycle was observed as shown by the lower number of leaves in STH compared with MWR. Yield ranged from 0.3 t ha−1 for Marano CHK to 10.4 t ha−1 for the hybrid Maranello in MWR + STH. Yield and yield-related traits were not affected by mechanical weeding.
How does Toxoplasma gondii enter host cells?

Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoal parasite, is the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis. A main event in the pathologic course of this organism is the infection of both phagocytic cells and "nonprofessional phagocytes"--e.g., heart cells--and the subsequent destruction of these cells following massive multiplication of the parasite therein. There are two mechanisms of invasion. The parasite may enter a cell such as a macrophage by the well-known mechanism of phagocytosis without triggering its own death inside the cell. By the other process, communication of the parasite's apical pole and the host cell membrane may evoke a sequence of invasion steps different from that of phagocytosis. This invasion process involves the cooperation of the host cell and the parasite. The entry of the parasite is characteristically a rapid process that requires the input of energy by both of the cells involved. A series of cytochalasin-sensitive morphologic changes that are undergone by the parasite and the host cell lead to the interiorization of the parasite. Chemical factors, as well as membrane composition, microviscosity, and membrane structures on the host cell membrane, modulate the parasite's entry.
Targeting Angiogenesis in Cancer Therapy: Moving Beyond Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

UNLABELLED Angiogenesis, or the formation of new capillary blood vessels, occurs primarily during human development and reproduction; however, aberrant regulation of angiogenesis is also a fundamental process found in several pathologic conditions, including cancer. As a process required for invasion and metastasis, tumor angiogenesis constitutes an important point of control of cancer progression. Although not yet completely understood, the complex process of tumor angiogenesis involves highly regulated orchestration of multiple signaling pathways. The proangiogenic signaling molecule vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its cognate receptor (VEGF receptor 2 [VEGFR-2]) play a central role in angiogenesis and often are highly expressed in human cancers, and initial clinical efforts to develop antiangiogenic treatments focused largely on inhibiting VEGF/VEGFR signaling. Such approaches, however, often lead to transient responses and further disease progression because angiogenesis is regulated by multiple pathways that are able to compensate for each other when single pathways are inhibited. The platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor (PDGFR) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and FGF receptor (FGFR) pathways, for example, provide potential escape mechanisms from anti-VEGF/VEGFR therapy that could facilitate resumption of tumor growth. Accordingly, more recent treatments have focused on inhibiting multiple signaling pathways simultaneously. This comprehensive review discusses the limitations of inhibiting VEGF signaling alone as an antiangiogenic strategy, the importance of other angiogenic pathways including PDGF/PDGFR and FGF/FGFR, and the novel current and emerging agents that target multiple angiogenic pathways for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Significant advances in cancer treatment have been achieved with the development of antiangiogenic agents, the majority of which have focused on inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. VEGF targeting alone, however, has not proven to be as efficacious as originally hoped, and it is increasingly clear that there are many interconnected and compensatory pathways that can overcome VEGF-targeted inhibition of angiogenesis. Maximizing the potential of antiangiogenic therapy is likely to require a broader therapeutic approach using a new generation of multitargeted antiangiogenic agents.
Regulatory Potential of Fever-Range Whole Body Hyperthermia on Langerhans Cells and Lymphocytes in an Antigen-Dependent Cellular Immune Response1

The febrile response is one of the most common features of infection and inflammation. However, temperature is rarely a variable in experimental immunological investigations. To determine whether the thermal microenvironment has any immunoregulatory potential in an Ag-dependent response, we applied a mild fever-range whole body hyperthermia (FR-WBH) protocol to BALB/c mice experiencing the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction. We observed that the timing of this FR-WBH treatment relative to the different phases of the CHS response was crucial to the outcome. FR-WBH treatment before sensitization with a 0.5% FITC solution resulted in a depressed CHS response. This appears to be due to direct effects of FR-WBH on epidermal Langerhans cell trafficking to the draining lymph nodes. In contrast, application of FR-WBH directly after application of the elicitation dose of FITC solution resulted in an enhanced reaction. This result correlates with increased homing of lymphocytes to the site of elicitation. Overall, these data have important implications regarding the role of thermal changes experienced during infection and the clinical use of FR-WBH relative to immunotherapeutic strategies.
Media Framing of Zanu Pf Internal Succession Struggles: Mnangagwa and the Military Factor

This article discusses the representation of the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) internal succession battles, particularly presidential succession. The paper argues that two factions within ZANU PF, Team Lacoste (a faction that backed Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe) and G40 (a faction that supported Grace Mugabe to take over Presidency) fought fierce battles which the media extensively reported on. The article also argues that Grace’s overwhelming ambition to succeed her husband, Robert Mugabe, led to the events where she publicly attacked Emmerson Mnangagwa until Mugabe fired him. Mnangagwa’s dismissal from the post of Vice President precipitated dramatic events that led to the ‘military coup’ or intervention on 15 November 2017. It was widely believed that Mnangagwa enjoyed the support of the country’s securocrats, who include the country’s military, intelligence and the former liberation war fighters. This article further argues that the ‘military coup’ was a long planned strategy which began in 2008 but was brewing until it was finally triggered by the dismissal of Mnangagwa. The Zimbabwean electronic, print and social media platforms as well as foreign media actively covered the succession struggles. However, this paper only analysed the state-controlled daily, The Herald, and two daily privately owned newspapers Daily News and News Day, to examine how they framed the internal succession battles from October to December 2017. The three newspapers have diverse editorial and ideological agendas. The article concluded that The Herald, which is pro-government and ruling party, was torn-in-between Mugabe and Mnangagwa. News reporters were in a crisis on how to cover the events, especially from 13-15 November 2017, until state capture of strategic institutions by the military. However, privately owned newspapers maintained their middle of the road approach in covering the events. The paper can argue that state-controlled media’s ideological and editorial policies may change to suit interests of those in power thereby compromising ethical reportage. The article also concluded that Zimbabwe’s new dispensation is characterised by militarisation of state institutions with many key posts occupied by retired military personnel; which arguably may lead to manipulation of 2018 general elections. There is systematic purging of all perceived G40 members, (who are labeled as cabalists by Team Lacoste), including top civilian CIO members by Mnangagwa’s administration which is allegedly guided by Military Intelligence. ZANU PF succession politics may be far from being over as G40 members might be planning a comeback – only time will tell.
Avoiding Tolerance Against Prostatic Antigens With Subdominant Peptide Epitopes.

SUMMARY: A potential novel therapy for prostate cancer is the induction of immune responses to normal prostate-associated antigens (PAA). One approach is to use synthetic peptides from PAA to educate T cells as a means of developing a defined and specific immunotherapy for prostate cancer. A likely major hurdle when using normal PAA for this type of therapy is the tolerance that the immune system may already have for PAA. To evaluate mechanisms for overcoming tolerance, the authors assessed the level of tolerance to SV40T antigen in a transgenic mouse. The SV40T antigen is selectively expressed in the prostates of mice from the transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) model. The authors have shown that TRAMP mice are tolerant to a dominant cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitope from the SV40T antigen compared with nontransgenic littermates. The tolerance was exhibited as early as 4 weeks and as late as 24 weeks. The use of multiple injections of an oligonucleotide that contains an unmethylated CpG induced high levels of hematopoiesis but did not overcome the tolerance. Injection of an antibody to activate CD40 increased the CTL response in normal mice but also did not overcome tolerance. However, tolerance in the TRAMP mice was avoided when an epitope that had previously been characterized as a subdominant epitope was administered. The authors are investigating the potential of subdominant epitopes to induce prostatitis and antitumor responses. The results of this work should facilitate the development of immune-based therapies for prostate cancer.
The Effectiveness of Single‐Sex Schools Through Out‐Of‐School Activities: Evidence from South Korea

Students’ out‐of‐school activities and time use can play a crucial role in facilitating the effect of schools on students’ achievement. Using data from Seoul, South Korea, where students are randomly assigned into schools, we show that when single‐sex schools improve students’ test performance, their effect is positive on students’ time spent on study‐related out‐of‐school activities. Our results indicate that out‐of‐school activities explain roughly 21%–30% of the effect of single‐sex schooling on test performance.