Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human MTH3 (NUDT18) Protein Hydrolyzes Oxidized Forms of Guanosine and Deoxyguanosine Diphosphates

Background: An oxidized guanine, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine, induces base mispairing, thereby altering genetic information. Results: Human MTH3 degrades 8-oxoguanine-containing nucleoside diphosphates to prevent misincorporation of 8-oxoguanine into DNA and RNA. Conclusion: MTH3 is closely related to MTH1 and MTH2 but differs in substrate specificity. Significance: MTH3 may be involved in maintaining the high fidelity of DNA replication as well as transcription under oxidative stress. Most of the proteins carrying the 23-residue MutT-related sequence are capable of hydrolyzing compounds with a general structure of nucleoside diphosphate linked to another moiety X and are called the Nudix hydrolases. Among the 22 human Nudix proteins (identified by the sequence signature), some remain uncharacterized as enzymes without a defined substrate. Here, we reveal that the NUDT18 protein, whose substrate was unknown, can degrade 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxo-Gua)-containing nucleoside diphosphates to the monophosphates. Because this enzyme is closely related to MTH1 (NUDT1) and MTH2 (NUDT15), we propose that it should be named MTH3. Although these three human proteins resemble each other in their sequences, their substrate specificities differ considerably. MTH1 cleaves 8-oxo-dGTP but not 8-oxo-dGDP, whereas MTH2 can degrade both 8-oxo-dGTP and 8-oxo-dGDP, although the intrinsic enzyme activity of MTH2 is considerably lower than that of MTH1. On the other hand, MTH3 is specifically active against 8-oxo-dGDP and hardly cleaves 8-oxo-dGTP. Other types of oxidized nucleoside diphosphates, 2-hydroxy-dADP and 8-hydroxy-dADP, were also hydrolyzed by MTH3. Another notable feature of the MTH3 enzyme is its action toward the ribonucleotide counterpart. MTH3 can degrade 8-oxo-GDP as efficiently as 8-oxo-dGDP, which is in contrast to the finding that MTH1 and MTH2 show a limited activity against the ribonucleotide counterpart, 8-oxo-GTP. These three enzymes may function together to help maintain the high fidelity of DNA replication and transcription under oxidative stress.
Trade Crisis? What Trade Crisis?

Abstract We investigate the 2008–2009 trade collapse using microdata from a small open economy, Belgium. Belgian exports and imports mostly fell because of smaller quantities sold and unit prices charged rather than fewer firms, trading partners, and products being involved in trade. Our difference-in-difference results point to a fall in the demand for tradables as the main driver of the collapse. Finance and involvement in global value chains played a minor role. Firm-level exports-to-turnover and imports-to-intermediates ratios reveal a comparable collapse of domestic and cross-border operations. Overall, our results reject a crisis of cross-border trade per se.
Elaboration et caractérisation mécanique, hygrique et thermique de composites bio-sourcés

En reponse aux preoccupations environnementales, l'utilisation du beton de chanvre s'est developpee ces dernieres annees et a montre son efficacite d'un point de vue hygrothermique. L’analyse de son cycle de vie souligne l’interet environnemental du chanvre et montre que le constituant le plus impactant est le liant, generalement a base de chaux. L'objectif de cette these est de developper des composites a base de chanvre en substituant a la chaux une matrice minerale moins impactante. Plusieurs formulations sont realisees avec differentes matrices liantes et differents dosages en chanvre. D'une part, le liant commercial ThermOⓇ est utilise pour produire des betons de chanvre «classiques», servant de reference comparative. D' autre part, des matrices liantes sont developpees a base de fines issues de boue de lavage. La terre commerciale ClaytecⓇ est egalement consideree. Apres avoir presente les differentes matieres premieres retenues pour cette etude. Le liant ThermOⓇ est caracterise pour differents dosages en eau. Les fines issues de boues de lavage font l'objet d'une etude de stabilisation visant a satisfaire des objectifs de resistance mecanique de la matrice liante. Une stabilisation avec 5 % de ciment portland couple a 5% de ThermOⓇ est retenue pour la suite de l'etude. Cette formulation n'impacte pas significativement la conductivite thermique de la matrice liante, tout en permettant d'atteindre les objectifs mecaniques fixes. Les composites realises avec les differents liants selectionnes presentent des dosages chanvre / liant evoluant entre 0.4 et 0.75, dosage conventionnels pour des applications toit, mur et dalle. Ils sont mis en œuvre par compaction, ce qui conduit a des masses volumiques comprises entre 370 et 6 15 kg/m3 et des porosites comprises entre 70 et 81 %. Les comportements mecaniques, thermiques et hygriques des composites sont evalues. Les performances mecaniques mesurees repondent aux exigences des regles professionnelles Construire en Chanvre, y compris pour les composites realises avec des fines non stabilisees. Les isothermes de sorption obtenues sont des sigmoides de classe II ou Ill. presentant des teneurs en eau plus elevees pour les composites realises avec le ThermOⓇ. Les valeurs MBV obtenues montrent que les composites a base de fines ou de terre ClaytecⓇsont meilleurs regulateurs hygriques que les composites realises avec le liant ThermOⓇ, respectivement classes excellents et tres bons regulateurs hygriques. Les performances thermiques des composites en permettent un usage en isolation repartie. Au point sec, la conductivite thermique depend essentiellement de la masse volumique, sans impact du type de liant. Lorsque l'humidite relative ambiante augmente, la conductivite thermique des composites a base de liant ThermOⓇ est plus impactee que celle des autres composites, en lien avec les isothermes de sorption. Cette etude montre donc toute la pertinence du developpement de composites formules a l'aide de fines issues de boues de lavage en substitution de la chaux.
Hemorrhagic and Clotting Abnormalities in Infectious Bursal Disease in Specific-Pathogen-Free Chicks

2 Abstract: Investigation to know the hemorrhagic and clotting mechanisms in very virulent (vv) infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection of Malaysian isolate was carried out in chicks. One-hundred-ten, 32-day- old Specific-pathogen-free chicks were divided into IBD and control groups, each consisting 55 chicks. The IBD group was inoculated orally with 0.1 mL/chick of inoculums containing vvIBDV isolate with a titre of 10 EID /mL, while the other group served as controls. Four chicks each in IBD and control groups were 6.8 50 sacrificed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 hours and days 1, 2, 3 and 4 post-infection (pi). Blood sample were collected for thrombocyte count and coagulation tests prior to necropsy. On necropsy gross lesions were recorded. The IBDV infected chicks showed clinical signs of acute disease starting day 2 pi. At days 3 and 4 pi significant (p<0.05) thrombocytopenia and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and whole blood recalcification time (WBRT) were recorded corresponding to the occurrence of higher frequency of hemorrhage in the bursa of Fabricus, thigh muscle and mucosal junction between proventriculus and gizzard, which indicate the presence of clotting deficiency. Hence, it was concluded that the vvIBDV of Malaysia isolates caused clotting abnormality that are consistent with the pathogenesis of the disease and it appears that this abnormality in vvIBDV infection could be due to thrombocytopenia and/or coagulation factors deficiencies, or both.
Development of Rating Curve for Ofu River at Oforachi Hydrometric Station

The stage-discharge rating curve is widely used in the research for analysis of flow regime and design of hydraulic structure and river channel where the measurement of discharge is difficult especially in developing countries like Nigeria. This study sought to develop a stage-discharge relationship for Ofu River in Nigeria where water resources project planning has been limited by the unavailable of stream flow data. Discharge Measurement was carried out using Valeport Current meter while stage was measured using staff gauge at Oforachi Bridge hydrometric station from February, 2016 to January, 2017. The Stage and discharge results were used to determine the curve coefficient via regression analysis and finally the rating curve equation for the river at this station. The Oforachi Bridge serves as the permanent control, thus the curve is reliable. Keywords: Discharge, Efficiency, Ofu River, Rating curve, Hydrometric station
The Role of Environmental Heterogeneity in Meta‐Analysis of Gene–Environment Interactions With Quantitative Traits

With challenges in data harmonization and environmental heterogeneity across various data sources, meta‐analysis of gene–environment interaction studies can often involve subtle statistical issues. In this paper, we study the effect of environmental covariate heterogeneity (within and between cohorts) on two approaches for fixed‐effect meta‐analysis: the standard inverse‐variance weighted meta‐analysis and a meta‐regression approach. Akin to the results in Simmonds and Higgins ( ), we obtain analytic efficiency results for both methods under certain assumptions. The relative efficiency of the two methods depends on the ratio of within versus between cohort variability of the environmental covariate. We propose to use an adaptively weighted estimator (AWE), between meta‐analysis and meta‐regression, for the interaction parameter. The AWE retains full efficiency of the joint analysis using individual level data under certain natural assumptions. Lin and Zeng (2010a, b) showed that a multivariate inverse‐variance weighted estimator retains full efficiency as joint analysis using individual level data, if the estimates with full covariance matrices for all the common parameters are pooled across all studies. We show consistency of our work with Lin and Zeng (2010a, b). Without sacrificing much efficiency, the AWE uses only univariate summary statistics from each study, and bypasses issues with sharing individual level data or full covariance matrices across studies. We compare the performance of the methods both analytically and numerically. The methods are illustrated through meta‐analysis of interaction between Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in FTO gene and body mass index on high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol data from a set of eight studies of type 2 diabetes.
The Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt): A Longitudinal Study of Child and Adolescent Development

Rates of emotional and behavioral problems among children and adolescents in China are increasing and represent a major public health concern. To investigate the etiology of such problems, including the effects and interplay of genes and environment, the Beijing Twin Study (BeTwiSt) was established. A representative sample of adolescent twins in Beijing (N = 1,387 pairs of adolescent twins, mostly between the ages of 10 and 18 years) was recruited and assessed longitudinally. Data collection included the following: emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., depressive symptoms, anxiety, delinquency, drinking, and smoking); family, peer, and school environments; stress; social and academic competence; cognitive traits (e.g., emotion suppression, rumination, and effortful control); and saliva samples for DNA genotyping and sequencing. The combination of quantitative and molecular genetic approaches and the timeliness of the project, with the sample residing in a region with a rapidly changing economic and cultural climate, are particular strengths of this study. Findings from this study are expected to help understanding of the etiological mechanisms underlying child and adolescent normal and abnormal development in regions undergoing substantial social, cultural, and economic changes.
Effects of natural phytochemicals in Angelica sinensis (Danggui) on Nrf2‐mediated gene expression of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes and anti‐inflammation

The root of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (abbreviated as AS) (Danggui) has a long history in Asian herbal medicine. Recently, it was demonstrated that AS possesses anti‐cancer and anti‐oxidant activities. Because the transcription factor Nrf2 mediates the expression of many cellular anti‐oxidative stress genes, including genes that are involved in phase II drug metabolism and anti‐oxidative stress, this study sought to investigate whether pure compounds from AS or an AS extract could activate antioxidant response element (ARE)‐mediated gene expression and induce anti‐inflammatory activities. Z‐Ligustilide (Ligu), 3‐butylidenephthalide (Buty) and CO2 supercritical fluid‐extracted lipophilic AS extract (SFE) were tested in HepG2‐C8 cells stabilized with ARE luciferase reporter gene. Ligu and Buty caused significant toxicity only at 100 μm. All three samples induced ARE‐luciferase activity; however, SFE at 8.5 µg/ml induced ARE‐luciferase activity 2–3 fold more potently than did either of the pure compounds. SFE also significantly increased the endogenous mRNA of Nrf2 and the Nrf2 target anti‐oxidative gene NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1). The protein expression of NQO1 was also significantly induced by SFE. In RAW 264.7 cells, SFE suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced IL‐1β and TNF‐α expression about 2 fold stronger than sulforaphane, whereas both pure compounds and SFE suppressed inflammatory nitric oxide (NO) production. In summary, this study demonstrates that AS has anti‐inflammatory effects and activates the Nrf2 pathway, which protects against oxidative stress. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of Plant Oil Interesterified Triacylglycerols on Lipemia and Human Health

The position of the fatty acids (sn-1, sn-2 and sn-3) (stereospecific numbering (sn)) in triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules produces a characteristic stereospecificity that defines the physical properties of the fats and influences their absorption, metabolism and uptake into tissues. Fat interesterification is a process that implies a positional distribution of fatty acids (FAs) within the TAG molecules, generating new TAG species, without affecting the FA cis-trans natural balance. The interesterified (IE) fats, frequently used in the food industry comprise fats that are rich in long-chain saturated FAs, such as palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0). Within the interesterified fats, a critical role is played by FA occupying the sn-2 position; in fact, the presence of an unsaturated FA in this specific position influences early metabolic processing and postprandial clearance that in turn could induce atherogenesis and thrombogenesis events. Here, we provide an overview on the role of TAG structures and interesterified palmitic and stearic acid-rich fats on fasting and postprandial lipemia, focusing our attention on their physical properties and their effects on human health.
Evidence That Computer Science Grades Are Not Bimodal

It is commonly thought that CS grades are bimodal. We statistically analyzed 778 distributions of final course grades from a large research university, and found only 5.8% of the distributions passed tests of multimodality. We then devised a psychology experiment to understand why CS educators believe their grades to be bimodal. We showed 53 CS professors a series of histograms displaying ambiguous distributions and asked them to categorize the distributions. A random half of participants were primed to think about the fact that CS grades are commonly thought to be bimodal; these participants were more likely to label ambiguous distributions as "bimodal". Participants were also more likely to label distributions as bimodal if they believed that some students are innately predisposed to do better at CS. These results suggest that bimodal grades are instructional folklore in CS, caused by confirmation bias and instructor beliefs about their students.
Swift observations of GRB 060614: an anomalous burst with a well behaved afterglow

GRB 060614 is a remarkable gamma-ray burst (GRB) observed by Swift with puzzling properties, which challenge current progenitor models. In particular, the lack of any bright supernova (SN) down to very strict limits and the vanishing spectral lags during the whole burst are typical of short GRBs, strikingly at odds with the long (102 s) duration of this event. Here we present detailed spectral and temporal analysis of the Swift observations of GRB 060614. We show that the burst presents standard optical, ultraviolet and X-ray afterglows, detected beginning 4 ks after the trigger. An achromatic break is observed simultaneously in the optical and X-ray bands, at a time consistent with the break in the R-band light curve measured by the VLT. The achromatic behaviour and the consistent postbreak decay slopes make GRB 060614 one of the best examples of a jet break for a Swift burst. The optical and ultraviolet afterglow light curves have also an earlier break at 29.7 ± 4.4 ks, marginally consistent with a corresponding break at 36.6 ± 2.4 ks observed in the X-rays. In the optical, there is strong spectral evolution around this break, suggesting the passage of a break frequency through the optical/ultraviolet band. The very blue spectrum at early times suggests this may be the injection frequency, as also supported by the trend in the light curves: rising at low frequencies, and decaying at higher energies. The early X-ray light curve (from 97 to 480 s) is well interpreted as the X-ray counterpart of the burst extended emission. Spectral analysis of the BAT and XRT data in the ∼80 s overlap time interval show that the peak energy of the burst has decreased to as low as 8 keV at the beginning of the XRT observation. Spectral analysis of following XRT data shows that the peak energy of the burst continues to decrease through the XRT energy band and exits it at about 500 s after the trigger. The average peak energy Ep of the burst is likely below the BAT energy band (<24 keV at the 90% confidence level) but larger than 8 keV. The initial group of peaks observed by BAT (∼5 s) is however distinctly harder than the rest of the prompt emission, with a peak energy of about 300 keV as measured by Konus Wind. Considering the time-averaged spectral properties, GRB 060614 is consistent with the Eiso − E rest , Eγ − E rest ,a ndLp,iso − E rest correlations.
American Muslims’ Anger and Sadness about In-group Social Image

We present a novel study on the role of gender in perceptions of and emotions about in-group social image among American Muslims. Two hundred and five (147 females, 58 males) American Muslims completed a questionnaire on how Muslims feel in U.S. society. The study measured both stereotypical (i.e., ‘frightening,’ ‘oppressed’) as well as non-stereotypical in-group social images (i.e., ‘powerful,’ ‘honorable’). In particular, participants were asked how much they believe Muslims are seen as ‘frightening,’ ‘oppressed,’ ‘honorable,’ and ‘powerful’ in U.S. society, and how much anger and sadness they feel about the way U.S. society views Muslims. Participants believed Muslims are seen in stereotypical ways (i.e., as ‘frightening’ and ‘oppressed’) more than in non-stereotypical ways (i.e., as ‘powerful’ and ‘honorable’). Moreover, perceived in-group social image as ‘powerful’ or ‘honorable’ did not predict the intensity of felt anger or sadness. In contrast, the more participants believed Muslims are seen as ‘frightening,’ the more intense their anger and sadness. Furthermore, responses to perceived social image as ‘oppressed’ were moderated by gender. American Muslim female participants believed that Muslims are seen as ‘oppressed’ in U.S. society to a greater extent than male participants did. In addition, perceived social image as ‘oppressed’ only predicted anger for female participants: the more female participants believed Muslims are seen as ‘oppressed,’ the more intense their anger. This study contributes to the scarce literature on American Muslims in psychology, and shows that both anger and sadness are relevant to the study of perceived social image.
Epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in lung adenocarcinoma in India: A single center study

Background: Adenocarcinoma, a subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer, is the most frequent form occurring in the non-smokers. Mutation in tyrosine kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been a common feature observed in lung adenocarcinoma. The study was carried out to detect the prevalence of EGFR mutation in lung adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: EGFR mutation status in 166 lung adenocarcinoma patients was obtained retrospectively. Mutation tests were performed on paraffin embedded tissue blocks as a routine diagnostic procedure by polymerase chain reaction followed by direct nucleotide sequencing. Patient’s demographics and other clinical details were obtained from the medical records. Results: EGFR mutation was detected in 43/166 (25.9%) patients. Gender wise mutation was observed as 18/55 (32.7%) in females and 25/111 (22.5%) in males. Overall, EGFR mutation was correlated with never smokers and distant metastasis (P < 0.05), but not associated with the gender, disease stage and pleural effusion. Exon 19 deletions were significantly correlated with females, never smokers, pleural effusion and distant metastasis (P < 0.05). However, point mutation on exon 21 did not show any statistical association with the above variables. Median overall survival was 22 months (95% confidence interval, 15.4-28.6). Female sex, EGFR mutation and absence of metastasis are associated with good prognosis. Conclusion: EGFR mutation in lung adenocarcinoma was higher in never smokers, females and patients with distant metastasis. However, it was not linked with tobacco smoking. The prevalence of EGFR mutation observed is in range with the previously published reports from the Asian countries.
Assessing task importance and anxiety in medical school: an instrument development and initial validation study.

Recent research in medical education suggests that students' motivational beliefs, such as their beliefs about the importance of a task, and their emotions are meaningful predictors of learning and performance. The primary purpose of this study was to develop a self-report measure of "task importance" and "anxiety" in relation to several medical education competencies and to collect validity evidence for the new measures. The secondary purpose was to evaluate differences in these measures by year of medical school. Exploratory factor analysis of scores from 368 medical school students suggested two task importance factors and three anxiety factors. The task importance and anxiety subscales were weakly related to each other and exhibited consistently negative and positive correlations, respectively, with three self-efficacy subscales. The task importance subscales were positively related to "metacognition," whereas "interpersonal skills anxiety" and "health knowledge anxiety" were positively related to "procrastination. " All three anxiety factors were positively related to "avoidance of help seeking," whereas "interpersonal skills and professionalism importance" was negatively related to help avoidance behaviors. Finally, comparisons across the 4 years of medical school indicated that some aspects of task importance and anxiety varied significantly. Overall, findings from this study provide validity evidence for the psychometric quality of these scales, which capture task importance and anxiety in medical students. Limitations and implications for medical education research are discussed.