Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Control of Zn uptake in Arabidopsis halleri: a balance between Zn and Fe

Zinc (Zn) is an essential plant micronutrient but is toxic in excess. To cope with excess Zn, plant species possess a strict metal homeostasis mechanism. The Zn hyperaccumulator Arabidopsis halleri has developed various adaptive mechanisms involving uptake, chelation, translocation and sequestration of Zn. In this mini review, we broadly discuss the different Zn tolerance mechanisms and then focus on controlled Zn uptake in A. halleri. Members of the ZRT/IRT-like protein (ZIP) family of metal transporters are mainly regulated by Zn and are involved in Zn uptake. A few members of the ZIP family, such as IRT1 and IRT2, are regulated by iron (Fe) and can transport multi-metals, including Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, and Co. This mini-review also discusses the differential expression of multiple metal ZIP transporters in A. halleri and A. thaliana, a non-hyperaccumulator, with Zn exposure as well as Fe deficiency and their role in controlled Zn uptake and tolerance.
Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Chotpoti Vendors in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Background : Chotpoti is a popular street food among all groups of people from low to high income in most cities of Bangladesh. Objective : This study was conducted to describe the vending sites, the stalls and equipments used for food preparation, current level of food safety knowledge of vendors and the way to prepare foods to understand the risks of food contamination and opportunities for prevention. Materials and Methods : This cross-sectional study was conducted between July and October, 2012. We selected 18 popular chotpoti vending sites including market places, bus stops, road sides and amusement parks located under Dhaka city corporation areas by judgment sampling. From each study site we randomly selected six vendors for interview. A structured pretested questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were collected on (i) socio-economic and demographic characteristics of the respondents; (ii) health and personal hygiene knowledge of vendors; (iii) vendors’ food handling practices and (iv) source of ingredients and process of chotpoti making. Location of the chotpoti vendors, utensils used, handling of food, place of preparation of chotpoti, environment surroundings of the stall, general processing of chotpoti and hygienic practices were observed and recorded through an observation checklist. Results : We interviewed a total of 110 vendors. All vendors were male, the majority was between 21 and 30 years of age. Majority (58.2%) of the vendors acquired the knowledge of chotpoti preparation through observation. Nearly all vendors (99%) handled food with bare hands, 95% did not use aprons and hair covering and 94% handled money while serving chotpoti. Most vendors had leftovers; out of those 30% reported discarding them and the rest stored them for following day’s sale with inappropriate storage. Nearly one-third (32.7%) of the vendors washed their utensils with dirty water which is recycled. Majority reported that they changed the bucket water only once per 12 hours. Presence of flies was observed on food and surroundings of 33% of the stalls. Of the vendors interviewed, most of them did not have garbage receptacles and 23% disposed wastes nearby their stalls and 76% disposed in nearby dustbin. Conclusion : This study demonstrates that chotpoti vendors do not have formal education and formal training on food preparation. Moreover, lack of hand hygiene knowledge, infrequent cleaning of utensils with soap, inappropriate management of leftover foods, and lack of proper waste management create numerous possibilities for food contamination. Consumption of street vended chotpoti may pose a risk of food borne diseases and steps should be taken to educate and train the vendors on personal hygiene and food handling practices. J Enam Med Col 2017; 7(2): 69-76
Caution over use of ES2 as a model of ovarian clear cell carcinoma

Dear Sir, Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the ovary is a subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) known for its relative resistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy and poor prognosis. CCC account for up to 25% of ovarian carcinomas in Japan while make up only about 10% in North America. Analysis of archived pathology records on cases of ovarian cancer managed by Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, from January 1993 to June 2012 revealed that CCC constituted 22.4% of EOC locally. Moreover, its yearly incidence showed a significant increase (unpublished results). Studies on ovarian CCC are therefore important and of regional significance. Genetic and molecular biological studies of ovarian CCC often involve in vitro experiments using several widely recognised ovarian CCC cell lines including ES2, TOV-21G, OVISE, OVTOKO and OVMANA.1 However, we found that ES2, a widely used ovarian CCC cell line established in the late 1980s, displayed unusual features distinct from other ovarian CCC cell lines. Such observations led us to question its true histological identity. Verification of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1β (HNF-1β) expression in our ovarian cancer cell lines has been carried out. HNF-1β is a transcription factor found to be considerably upregulated in almost all ovarian CCC through CpG island hypomethylation but not in other histological subtypes …
In vivo contribution of murine mesenchymal stem cells into multiple cell-types under minimal damage conditions

Murine mesenchymal stem cells are capable of differentiating in vitro into different lineages under stimulation with certain cytokines, growth factors and chemicals. However, the true capacitiy of these cells to contribute to different cell-types in vivo is still unclear, especially under minimal injury conditions. In this study, we describe a method of purifying murine mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and efficiently transducing them using a lentivirus vector expressing the eGFP reporter gene. Lentivirus-transduced mesenchymal stem cells retained their in vitro ability to differentiate into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes as well as into myocyte- and astrocyte-like cells. eGFP-mesenchymal stem cells were delivered systemically into minimally injured syngeneic mice. Tracking and tissue-specific differentiation were determined by PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We found donor-derived hepatocytes, lung epithelial cells, myofibroblasts, myofibers and renal tubular cells in some of the recipient mice. Our data indicate that even in the absence of substantial injury, phenotypically defined murine mesenchymal stem cells could acquire tissue specific morphology and antigen expression and thus contribute to different tissue cell-types in vivo.
E-GOVERNMENT SERVICES: APPLYING THE UTAUT MODEL

E-government services aims to provide citizens with more accessible, accurate, real-time and high quality services and information. Although the public sectors in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have promoted their e-Government services for many years, its uses and achievements are few. Therefore, this paper explores the key factors of Saudi citizens’ acceptance through a research survey and by gathering empirical evidence based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and the Use of Technology (UTAUT). Survey Data collected from 400 respondents was examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) technique and utilized AMOS tools. The study results explored the factors that affect the acceptance of e-government services in KSA based on UTAUT model. Moreover, as a result of this study an amended UTAUT model was proposed. Such a model contributes to the discussion and development of adoption models for technology.
A Phase I–II trial of polyethylene glycol‐conjugated L‐asparaginase in patients with multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. New agents are needed to improve therapy for patients with this disease. Previous investigators evaluated in vitro sensitivity of myeloma cells to polyethylene glycol‐conjugated L‐asparaginase (PEG‐L‐asparaginase) using the human tumor clonogenic assay. Of the 19 myeloma samples evaluated, 63% were inhibited at 0.075 IU/mL, and 74% were inhibited at 0.75 IU/mL. PEG‐L‐asparaginase is a form of Escherichia coli‐derived L‐asparaginase that is bound covalently to polyethylene glycol. Compared with the native form, it has a longer half‐life and is less likely to cause allergic reactions.
Alleviation of salt stress in wheat seedlings by mammalian sex hormones.

BACKGROUND Salinity is one of the most serious constraints facing agriculture today. Some mechanical, chemical and biological approaches are being pursued to cope with soil salinity. Although exogenously treated mammalian sex hormones (MSHs), progesterone, β-estradiol and androsterone, activate significant effects in various biological aspects in plants growing under normal conditions, there is no report investigating their effects on plants growing under salt stress. The present study aimed to investigate whether MSHs could alleviate the destructive effect of salt stress on wheat seedlings and thereby increase their salt tolerance. Wheat leaves were sprayed with 10(-6), 10(-8) and 10(-10) mol L(-1) concentrations of MSH on the ninth day after sowing. MSH-treated seedlings (10-day-old seedlings) were subjected to salt stress for 5 days (between days 10 and 15). RESULTS At all the concentrations tested, MSH treatment provided a significant protection against to detrimental effects of salt stress in wheat seedlings. It improved dry weight, sugar, proline, protein, chlorophyll and glutathione contents in comparison to salinity alone. Similarly, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and nitrate reductase activities also were augmented by MSH treatment. On the other hand, increases in lipid peroxidation level, superoxide production and hydrogen peroxide content arising from salt treatment were reduced by MSH treatment. The highest salt tolerance was obtained at the concentrations of 10(-6) mol L(-1) for progesterone and 10(-8) mol L(-1) for β-estradiol and for androsterone. CONCLUSION MSHs could be used effectively to protect wheat seedlings from the destructive effects of salt stress by stimulating both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant mechanism and by promoting levels of osmotic protectants such as proline and sugars resulting in osmotic adjustment, carbon storage and radical scavenging in plants.
A Trust-Based Message Reporting Scheme For VANET

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANET), trust establishment among communicating vehicles is important to be built to secure messages' exchange and reliability. In this paper, the proposed scheme presents a categorized decentralized trust management evaluation scheme for nodes in vehicular ad hoc environments. Each node is evaluated individually according to its interactions during event reporting. Based on this evaluation, a node is assigned a category level (according to its trust value) and a confidence measure, which determine the degree of trustworthiness of nodes' generated reports during broadcasting. The scheme integrates role-based trust with experience-based trust, to form a combined trust model, taking into account the history of the driver's interactions. Case studies and evaluation of the protocol, showed early malicious node detection, which leads to an efficient reporting scheme.
Novel Roles of CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides as a Leader for the Sampling and Presentation of CpG-Tagged Antigen by Dendritic Cells1

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing CpG motifs have been highlighted as potent Th1 activators. We previously reported that Ag and CpG, when conjugated together, synergistically promoted the Ag-specific Th1 development and inhibited the Th2-mediated airway eosinophilia. In this study, we examined the mechanisms underlying the synergism of the covalent conjugation. The CpG-OVA conjugate enhanced the Th1 activation and development. These characteristic features of the conjugate could not be ascribed to the polymerization of OVA, but mirrored the augmented binding of the CpG-tagged Ag to dendritic cells (DCs) in a CpG-guided manner, because phycobiliprotein, R-PE, conjugated to CpG stained a higher proportion of DCs with higher intensity than the mixture. R-PE fluorescence was emitted from cytoplasmic portions of the DCs, which simultaneously expressed costimulatory molecules and IL-12. The CpG-conjugated R-PE trafficking described above actually served as a potent Ag. These results indicate that CpG conjugated to Ag exhibit novel joint properties as promoters of Ag uptake and DC activators, thereby potentiating the ability of DCs to generate Th1 cells. The DNA-mediated promotion of Ag uptake would be advantageous for evoking host immune responses against invading microorganisms.
Towards a spatial ability training to improve Mental Imagery based Brain-Computer Interface (MI-BCI) performance: A Pilot study

Although Mental Imagery based Brain-Computer Interfaces (MI-BCIs) seem to be very promising for many applications, they are still rarely used outside laboratories. This is partly due to suboptimal training protocols, which provide little help to users learning how to control the system. Indeed, they do not take into account recommendations from instructional design. However, it has been shown that MI-BCI performances are significantly correlated to certain aspects of the users' cognitive profile, such as their Spatial Abilities (SA). Thus, it remains to be elucidated whether training the SA of BCI users would also improve their BCI control performance. Therefore, we proposed and validated an SA training that aimed at being included in an MI-BCI training protocol. Our pre-studies indeed confirmed that such a training does increase people's SA abilities. We then conducted a pilot study with 3 participants, one with a standard MI-BCI training protocol, one with the proposed SA training integrated into a standard MI-BCI training, and another control integrating another training, here verbal comprehension tasks, into a standard MI-BCI training. While such a small population cannot lead to any strong result, our first results show that SA training can indeed be integrated into MI-BCI training and is thus worth being further investigated for BCI user training.
What medical students value in a population health tutor: characteristics for consideration in staff recruitment and development.

BACKGROUND Recent moves to integrate aspects of population health into medical curricula have created new staff development challenges for many institutions. Small group teaching in population health is a relatively new initiative, often requiring recruitment of additional staff and considerable training. This analysis identifies the tutor characteristics rated most positively by medical students in a small-group course in population health and discusses their implication for staff recruitment and development. METHOD Retrospective evaluation of tutors by students using a self-administered questionnaire. Overall tutor rating was analysed against various tutor characteristics, using univariate logistic regression methods. Optional qualitative comments were summarized by thematic methods and triangulated with findings from the quantitative analysis. RESULTS Creating a supportive group climate was the tutor attribute most positively evaluated by students (OR=9.62, 95%CI 4.46-20.83). Perceived interest in teaching (OR=8.93, 95%CI 3.83-20.83) and the ability to give useful feedback (OR=8.40, 95%CI 4.07-17.54) were also highly rated by students as valuable qualities in their tutors. Qualitative analysis highlighted the importance of informed comment, good knowledge and expert input from tutors. CONCLUSION Whilst a degree of content expertise in population health was desirable in a tutor, its value was secondary to good facilitation skills and an enthusiasm for teaching when student evaluation was considered. Faculties implementing small-group methods of teaching population health should consider facilitation skills and interest in teaching as priorities when recruiting and training staff. As is the case for self-directed student-led learning in basic and clinical sciences, these appear to be more influential than content expertise, from the students' perspective.
Development and demonstration of a diode laser sensor for a scramjet combustor

Hypersonic vehicles, based on scramjet engines, have the potential to deliver inexpensive access to space when compared with rocket propulsion. The technology, however, is in its infancy and there is still much to be learned from fundamental studies. ¶ Flows that represent the conditions inside a scramjet engine can be generated in ground tests using a free-piston shock tunnel and a combustor model. These facilities provide a convenient location for fundamental studies and principles learned during ground tests can be applied to the design of a full-scale vehicle. ¶ A wide range of diagnostics have been used for studying scramjet flows, including surface measurements and optical visualisation techniques. ¶ The aim of this work is to test the effectiveness of tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) as a scramjet diagnostic. ¶ .
A Two-level Approach to Coding Dialogue for Discourse Structure: Activities of the 1998 DRI Working Group on Higher-level Structures

This paper presents a novel two-level scheme for coding discourse structure in dialogue, which was created by the authors for the discourse structure subgroup of the 1998 DRI meeting on dialogue tagging. We discuss the theoretical motivations and framework for the coding proposal, and then review the results of coding exercises performed by the 1998 DRI discourse structure subgroup using the new manual. Finally, we provide suggestions for improving the scheme arising from the working group activities at the third DRI meeting.
Hedge Fund Activism and CEO Compensation∗

Applying a difference-in-differences approach, we document the effect of hedge fund activism on the corporate governance of target firms via the specific channel of CEO compensation. We hand-collect data on managerial pay, for a sample of 244 U.S. publicly-listed firms that were targets of activist hedge funds from 2009 to 2011, and their corresponding 244 industry, size and book-to-market matched firms. We find that target CEOs receive higher stock and total compensation, as compared to their peers, prior to an activist’s entry. The entry of hedge fund activists results in a decline in target CEO pay, to levels prevalent at matched firms. This decrease is not because target CEOs were extracting rents before activism, since CEO pay at target firms, prior to activism, was indeed sensitive to firm performance. Instead, we show that the entry of hedge fund activists results in a decline in not just the level, but also the pay-for-performance sensitivity of CEO stock awards and total pay at target firms. These findings indicate that incentive compensation and monitoring by activist hedge funds, act as substitutes in motivating CEOs to improve firm value. JEL: G23, G34
The standardization of terminology in neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with suggestions for diagnostic procedures

1Department of Urology, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany 2Department of Urology, University of Essen Medical School, Essen, Germany 3Komaki Shimin Hospital, Johbushi, Komaki, Japan 4Urodynamics Laboratory, Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Murnau, Germany 5University Hospital Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria 6Department of Urology, The Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, Sidney, Australia 7Geneva, Switzerland 8Department of Urology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Basic emotions, rationality, and folk theory

Abstract Answering the question of whether there are basic emotions requires considering the functions of emotions. We propose that just a few emotions are basic and that they have functions in managing action. When no fully rational solution is available for a problem of action, a basic emotion functions to prompt us in a direction that is better than a random choice. We contrast this kind of theory with a componential approach which we argue is either a version of the theory of basic emotions or else leads to the doctrine that emotions are mistaken tenets of folk psychology. We defend the psychological reality of the folk theory of emotions, and we argue that universal basic emotions make it possible to understand people from distant cultures, and to translate emotional terminology from one language to another. Finally, we show how theories of basic emotions can be tested, and indicate the kinds of empirical result that can bear on the issue.
Reducing Network Energy Consumption via Sleeping and Rate-Adaptation

We present the design and evaluation of two forms of power management schemes that reduce the energy consumption of networks. The first is based on putting network components to sleep during idle times, reducing energy consumed in the absence of packets. The second is based on adapting the rate of network operation to the offered workload, reducing the energy consumed when actively processing packets. For real-world traffic workloads and topologies and using power constants drawn from existing network equipment, we show that even simple schemes for sleeping or rate-adaptation can offer substantial savings. For instance, our practical algorithms stand to halve energy consumption for lightly utilized networks (10-20%). We show that these savings approach the maximum achievable by any algorithms using the same power management primitives. Moreover this energy can be saved without noticeably increasing loss and with a small and controlled increase in latency (<10ms). Finally, we show that both sleeping and rate adaptation are valuable depending (primarily) on the power profile of network equipment and the utilization of the network itself.
Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β and tumor necrosis factor α inhibit growth hormone stimulation of insulin-like growth factor I synthesis and growth hormone receptor mRNA levels in cultured rat liver cells

Low levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in critical illness are observed despite increased or normal levels of growth hormone (GH). The mechanisms for this apparent GH resistance have not been elucidated. As many of the acute inflammatory responses in critical illness are mediated by the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), the present studies evaluated IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha effects on steady-state and GH-stimulated IGF-I synthesis and GH receptor mRNA levels. In rat hepatocytes in primary culture, IGF-I released into culture medium was determined by radioimmunoassay, and quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction was used to measure IGF-I mRNA and GH receptor mRNA concentrations. Growth hormone increased GH receptor mRNA, IGF-I mRNA and IGF-I protein secreted into the culture medium. In cells not stimulated with GH, modest inhibitory effects of IL-1 beta on GH receptor mRNA, IGF-I mRNA and IGF-I protein levels were seen. However, the stimulatory effects of GH were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner both by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, and at higher cytokine concentrations no stimulatory effects of GH were observed. Both IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in submaximal dose had additive inhibitory effects on IGF-I protein concentrations but these effects did not result in irreversible damage to cells, as indicated by restoration of IGF-I and GH receptor mRNA levels to normal after withdrawal of cytokines. In conclusion, we demonstrated that in rat hepatocytes in primary culture IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha inhibited GH-stimulated IGF-I synthesis. Diminished GH receptor mRNA concentrations in response to IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha indicate that low IGF-I levels during severe illness, despite high circulating GH levels, may at least partially be a consequence of suppression of hepatic GH receptor synthesis by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha.