Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Students’ Gender and their Use of Politeness Strategies in the “Results and Discussions Section” of PhD Dissertations

The researcher analyzed the Result and Discussion Sections of 10 dissertations of Iranian PhD students and 10 British PhD students by aiming to investigate their use of politeness strategies using Brown and Levinson’s (1987) taxonomy and its relationship with the gender of the authors. The results proved that Iranian writers most frequently used negative politeness strategies, followed by positive politeness strategies. British writers, like Iranians, used negative politeness strategies more than the others. The next frequent strategy was positive politeness strategies. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the frequency of politeness strategies used by Persian and British writers. Considering the gender, there is a significant difference between the positive strategies used by male and female Iranians. In fact, unlike the Male Iranian authors who used more positive strategies, the female Iranian authors used fewer strategies and this difference was significant. However, that there was no significant difference between the positive strategies used by British male and female participants. Also, there was a significant difference between the negative strategies used by male and female Iranians. In fact, the results show that the female Iranian authors used fewer strategies and this difference was significant. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the negative strategies used by British male and female participants.
Diversity-Multiplexing Tradeoff in MISO/SIMO Systems at Finite SNR

In this paper, we consider multiple-input single-output (MISO) and single-input multiple-output (SIMO) systems, and study the diversity-multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) for them at finite signal to noise ratio (SNR). To characterize the tradeoff, the outage probability versus SNR is extracted. The diversity gain is defined as the slope at a particular SNR of the outage probability versus SNR curve and the multiplexing gain is measured as the ratio of the system spectral efficiency to the capacity of an additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. This paper provides a useful tool to examine the DMT of MISO/SIMO systems in practical (finite SNR) situation.
A study of antibiotic sensitivity pattern and detection of fluoroquinolones resistance to Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections

To know effect of Antibiotics and Fluroquinolones resistance of E.coli from urinary tract infection, 100 urine samples with growth of E.coli were selected for this study. Clean catch midstream urine was collected from patients and subjected for Gram s stain and cultured on Nutrient agar, Blood agar & Mac Conkey s medium. E.coli was identified based on standard pattern of colony characters & biochemical tests. Antibiogram was done by Kirby - Bauer disc diffusion method on Muller hinton agar. Isolated organisms shown highest resistance to Cotrimoxazole (85%) followed by ciproflokacin(63%), and Cefipime (59%). Sulbactum/Cefoperazone (70%), Nitrofurantoin (69%) and Amikacin (63%) showed very high sensitive patterns. patients were treated with higher generations of fluoroquinolones shown slight decrease in resistance rates of both decreased sensitive s and resistance rates combined as 80% for first generation drugs (Ciprofloxacin),79% for second generation drugs (Levofloxacin),77% for third generation drugs-(Gatifloxacin); 75% for fourth generation drugs(Moxifloxacin). Fluoroquinolones antibiotic resistance is becoming a big problem for public health which threatens the lives of hospitalized individuals as well as those with chronic conditions and adds considerably to health care cost. Therefore it is an important issue to be addressed by policy makers to formulate a strict fluoroquinolones antibiotic prescription policy for urinary tract infections in our country. K e y w o r d s Urinarytract infection, E. coli, Fluoroquinolones
The sterols of echinoderms

The pioneering work of Bergmann and his colleagues demonstrated that marine invertebrates in many cases contain complex sterol mixtures consisting of C27, C28 and C29 sterols of varying degrees of unsaturation (Bergmann 1949, 1962). The sterols found in the phylum Echinodermata have proved of particular interest not only from the point of view of their composition and biological origin but also from phylogenetic considerations. Dorée (1909) first recognized that the sterol of a starfish differed from cholesterol, the typical sterol of higher animals. Later Kossel & Edlbacher (1915) obtained the sterol from a starfish, Asteropecten aurantiacus, and named it stellasterol. Subsequently Bergmann & Stansbury (1944) concluded that starfish sterols are mixtures which include stellastenol (1) and stellasterol, the 22, 23-dihydro derative of stellastenol (Shoppee 1964) Extending their studies Bergmann and co-workers demonstrated that the echinoderms can be divided into two groups on the basis of the types of sterol which they contain. Crinoidea (sea lilies), Ophiuroidea (brittle stars) and Echinoidea (sea urchins) contain sterols with a ∆5 bond while the Asteroidea (starfish) and Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers) contain mixtures in which sterols with a ∆7 bond predominate (Bergmann 1962). This division of echinoderms according to sterol type has recently been confirmed by Gupta & Scheuer (1968) using more modern methods of sterol analysis. Bergmann (1962) concluded that the distribution of ∆5 and ∆7 sterols in the different classes of echinoderms is a reflexion of the phylogenetic relationships which exist in the phylum. From embryological evidence there is a close relationship between the asteroids and holothuroids on the one hand and the ophiuroids and echinoids on the other (Bergmann 1962; Hyman 1955). In addition to the data on sterols other comparative biochemical evidence on the occurrence and distribution of batyl alcohol, spinochromes and phosphagens in echinoderms is in accord with these phylogenetic relationships (Singh, Moore & Scheuer 1967; Bolker 1967 α). The validity of the embryological and biochemical evidence, however, has been contested by Fell who regards the asteroids to be more closely related to the ophiuroids while the holothuroids have some affinities with the echinoids (Fell 1948, 1963, 1965; Fell & Pawson 1966; Bolker 1967α).
ACUTE RENAL TOXICITY WITH COMBINED USE OF AMPHOTERICIN B AND CYCLOSPORINE AFTER MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

The role of cyclosporine alone or in combination with amphotericin B in the development of renal toxicity was evaluated in 47 marrow transplant recipients. Cyclosporine alone was given to 21 patients and 10 received cyclosporine plus amphotericin B. These were compared with 16 patients who received methotrexate and amphotericin B. Serum creatinine doubled within 14–30 days in 8 of 21 patients who received only cyclosporine. Of 16 patients given amphotericin B in conjunction with methotrexate, only 3 doubled their serum creatinine within 5 days of starting amphotericin B. In contrast, of 10 patients who received amphotericin B in combination with cyclosporine, 5 doubled and 3 tripled their serum creatinine within 5 days. This increase in creatinine was significantly greater than that seen in patients receiving cyclosporine alone or methotrexate and amphotericin B combined. These results suggest that administration of cyclosporine and amphotericin B simultaneously should be undertaken with caution to avoid severe renal toxicity.
Heat-Induced Antigen Retrieval Restores Electrostatic Forces: Prolonging the Antibody Incubation as an Alternative

The term antigen retrieval was introduced by Shi et al. (1) to describe a process of heating formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections for improved immunoreactivity of tissue antigens with their specific antibodies. Although it has currently become an essential part of immunohistochemistry, the exact nature of this process remains unknown. The following report will describe the rationale and results of experiments that associate the restoration of electrostatic (coulombic) forces with the functional basis of antigen retrieval. Critical support for this was derived by the application of relevant tenets regarding the sensitivity of immune reactions to pH and ionic strength and through the use of prolonged antibody incubations. For the majority of the investigated tissue antigens, prolonging the antibody incubation time from a standard 10 minutes to 60 minutes represented an effective alternative to heat-induced antigen retrieval. The report will carefully weigh the advantages and disadvantages of prolonged antibody incubations versus antigen retrieval procedures.
Unification in intuitionistic logic

Abstract We show that the variety of Heyting algebras has finitary unification type. We also show that the subvariety obtained by adding it De Morgan law is the biggest variety of Heyting algebras having unitary unification type. Proofs make essential use of suitable characterizations (both from the semantic and the syntactic side) of finitely presented projective algebras.
Quantification of systemic and local immune responses to individual rotavirus proteins during rotavirus infection in mice

The purpose of the present study was to develop a quantitative assay that could be used to measure the local and systemic immune responses to specific rotavirus proteins following rotavirus infection of adult mice. To measure these responses, we used an immunocytochemical staining assay of Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf-9) cells which were infected with recombinant baculovirus expressing selected rotavirus proteins. The specificity of the assay was documented by using a series of monoclonal antibodies to individual rotavirus proteins. We observed that the assay had high levels of sensitivity and specificity for a series of VP7- and VP4-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibodies which recognized conformation-dependent epitopes on their target proteins. We also studied immunoglobulin G (IgG) immune responses in serum and IgA immune responses in the stools of mice infected with wild-type murine rotavirus strain EHPw. In both sera and stools, the most immunogenic proteins were VP6 and VP4. VP2 was less immunogenic than VP6 or VP4, and the immune responses to VP7, NSP2, and NSP4 were very low in serum and undetectable in stools.
Accumulation of a novel spliceosomal complex on pre-mRNAs containing branch site mutations

Pre-mRNA assembles into spliceosomal complexes in the stepwise pathway E-->A-->B-->C. We show that mutations in the metazoan branchpoint sequence (BPS) have no apparent effect on E complex formation but block the assembly of the A complex and the UV cross-linking of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) proteins. Unexpectedly, a novel complex, designated E*, assembles on pre-mRNAs containing BPS mutations. Unlike the E complex, the E* complex accumulates in the presence of ATP. U1 snRNP and U2AF, which are tightly bound to pre-mRNA in the E complex, are not tightly bound in the E* complex. Significantly, previous work showed that U1 snRNP and U2AF become destabilized from pre-mRNA after E complex assembly on normal pre-mRNAs. Thus, our data are consistent with a model in which there are two steps in the transition from the E complex to the A complex (E-->E*-->A). In the first step, U1 snRNP and U2AF are destabilized in an ATP-dependent, BPS-independent reaction. In the second step, the stable binding of U2 snRNP occurs in a BPS-dependent reaction.
Physical activity long-term after liver transplantation yields better quality of life.

BACKGROUND Transplantation is the only effective method of treatment for end-stage and acute liver failure. Increased average survival time has been observed, and results from improved surgical technique and amended immunosuppression protocols. However, longer survival of patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) results in higher rate of various complications and ailments (eg, chronic fatigue, anxiousness, social isolation). Hence, gradual deterioration of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is likely. The goal of this study was to examine the relation between physical activity and quality of life in patients 5 years after OLT. MATERIAL/METHODS Twenty-six randomly selected patients who survived more than 5 years after orthotopic liver transplantation were included into the study. An SF-36 questionnaire was used for assessment of quality of life. Physical activity was measured subjectively by characterizing its type, duration and frequency per week during the previous 12 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the results of physical activity assessment. Group A consisted of patients who had indicated they had a sedentary life style, and group B of those regularly engaging in physical exercise. RESULTS Results of the SF-36 questionnaire in 10 categories were compared between the 2 groups. The majority of aspects of health-related quality of life (physical function, body problems, general health, social function, and emotional reaction) were significantly improved in patients who indicated they regularly engaged in physical exercise. CONCLUSIONS Better quality of life was observed in patients who were physically active after OLT. Improving life quality with regular physical activity could be a valuable supplementation of complex management of OLT recipients.
Influences of Respiratory Cycle on Simple Reaction Time

The effect of respiration on simple auditory reaction time was studied. In the first study, reaction times and respiratory phase data were collected during spontaneous breathing; in Study 2, a warning light signaled S to hold his breath in either inspiration or expiration. Both experiments showed faster reaction times with expiration. This is contradictory to reaction time findings reported by other investigators who have studied effects of respiration.
Correction: Nitrate Reduction to Nitrite, Nitric Oxide and Ammonia by Gut Bacteria under Physiological Conditions

There are errors in the Funding section. The correct funding information is as follows: This study was supported by grants from the intramural program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Works Title Baroreflex mechanisms in major depression

Background: Recent studies have shown that depressive disorder is associated with impaired baroreceptor or baroreflex sensitivity, which is proposed to be a predisposing factor for sudden death in patients with manifest cardiac disease. These studies have not evaluated the afferent and efferent components of the cardiac baroreflex loop or other baroreflex mechanisms that regulate target processes (cardiac metabolism and blood pressure variability) related to the impairment. The objective of this study was to gain more insight into autonomic functioning in depressive disorder to more fully examine the potential basis for increased cardiac mortality. Methods: The subjects were 28 women and men with unipolar major depression who were taking antidepressant medications and who were in partial remission and free of cardiovascular or other serious disease, and 28 healthy control subjects matched for sex, age, and ethnicity. The two samples were compared for negative affective dispositions (anger expression, hostility, defensiveness, anxiety), spontaneous (closed-loop) baroreflex activity, heart rate, heart rate variability, systolic blood pressure, and heart rate-systolic blood pressure double product under resting conditions. Results: Depressed patients showed a general disposition to anger suppression coupled with higher hostility and anxiety, and lower defensiveness. The patients showed higher general sympathetic activity (high levels of blood pressure, low frequency heart rate variability) and lower parasympathetic-related activity (high heart rate and reduced high frequency heart rate variability) with affected cardiac metabolism estimated by the double product. Depressed patients had lower baroreflex sensitivity related to a higher gain of the afferent component of the baroreflex without respective gain adjustment of its efferent component (reflex gain ‘de-afferentation’). It was coupled with a compensatory higher number of effective baroreflex reactions (reflex gating ‘re-afferentation’). Antidepressant agents and depressed mood had additional independent effects on baroreflex sensitivity through the efferent component of the cardiac baroreflex loop. Conclusions: The data indicate that different baroreflex components and mechanisms may be impaired in patients with depression and may contribute to their increased cardiac risk.
Book Review: The Effect of Health Insurance on Medical Care Utilization and Implications for Insurance Expansion: A Review of the Literature

Both the costs and benefits associated with extending health insurance coverage depend on the extent and exact ways in which health insurance affects the utilization of medical care. We review the literature relating to such effects with the goal of informing researchers interested in simulating the impact of policy initiatives aimed at achieving universal coverage. Overall, this literature is quite consistent in finding significant effects of insurance on all types of utilization. Insurance coverage increases outpatient utilization by roughly 1 visit per year for children and between 1 and 2 visits for adults. For both children and adults, these visits are associated with an increased receipt of preventive care. Insurance coverage also increases inpatient utilization for children and adults; for children, there is some evidence that insurance coverage reduces ambulatory care sensitive hospital admissions.
Structure-function analysis of HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells)

The human genome sequence encodes fewer proteins than expected, suggesting that one protein can have several functions and adjust their structure to meet different structural demands. Changes in tertiary structure have mostly been associated with disease and the most striking example is the prion protein, which changes from a mixed alpha-helical and beta-sheet conformation to the beta-sheet rich, disease causing iso-form. Protein folding is becoming recognised as a mechanism to generate beneficial functional diversity, however. One example is alpha-lactalbumin, which by unfolding forms a tumoricidal complex with oleic acid called human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (HAMLET), which kills tumor cells. We investigated how protein sequence variation influences the formation of HAMLET, by comparing human, bovine, equine, caprine and porcine alpha-lactalbumin (paper I). The fatty acid specificity in HAMLET was studied using fatty acids differing in chain lenth, saturation and orientation of the double bond (paper II). We have also used stably unfolded alpha-lactalbumin mutants (paper III) to exclude effects of the native protein in tumor cells. In an attempt to determine the three-dimensional structure of HAMLET (paper IV) crystals were characterised by X-ray diffraction at 1.8 A resolution. The unit cell differed significantly from native alpha-lactalbumin, confirming that the protein had undergone major structural alterations to form HAMLET. These studies have added significantly to our understanding of HAMLET as a tumoricidal molecular complex. It is possible that HAMLET is only one of many beneficial protein-folding variants waiting to be discovered. (Less)
Environmental Effects on Fish Sex Determination and Differentiation

Environmental factors affect the sex ratio of many gonochoristic fish species. They can either determine sex or influence sex differentiation. Temperature is the most common environmental cue affecting sex but density, pH and hypoxia have also been shown to influence the sex ratio of fish species from very divergent orders. Differential growth or developmental rate is suggested to influence sex differentiation in sea bass. Studies in most fish species used domestic strains reared under controlled conditions. In tilapia and sea bass, domestic stocks and field-collected populations showed similar patterns of thermosensitivity under controlled conditions. Genetic variability of thermosensitivity is seen between populations but also between families within the same population. Furthermore, in the Nile tilapia progeny testing of wild male breeders has strongly suggested the existence of XX males in 2 different natural populations. Tilapia and Atlantic silverside studies have shown that temperature sensitivity is a heritable trait which can respond to directional (tilapia) or frequency dependent selection. In tilapia, transitional forms within a genetic sex determination (GSD) and environmental sex determination (ESD) continuum seem to exist. Temperature regulates the expression of the ovarian-aromatase cyp19a1 which is consistently inhibited in temperature masculinized gonads. Foxl2 issuppressed before cyp19a1. Recent in vitro studies have shown that foxl2 activates cyp19a1, suggesting that temperature acts directly on foxl2 or further upstream. Dmrt1 up-regulation is correlated with temperature-induced male phenotypes. Temperature through apoptosis or germ cell proliferation could be a critical threshold for male or female sex differentiation.
Fundamental limitations of conventional-FET biosensors: Quantum-mechanical-tunneling to the rescue

Electrical detection of biomolecules using Field-Effect-Transistors (FETs) [1-5] is very attractive, since it is label-free, inexpensive, allows scalability and on-chip integration of both sensor and measurement systems. Nanostructured FETs, especially nanowires have gained special importance due to their high electrostatic control and large surface-to-volume ratio. In order to configure the FET as a biosensor (Fig. 1(a)), the dielectric/oxide layer on the semiconductor is functionalized with specific receptors. These receptors capture the desired target biomolecules (a process called conjugation), which due to their charge produce gating effect on the semiconductor, thus changing its electrical properties such as current, conductance etc. Thus it is intuitive, that greater the response of the FET to the gating effect, higher will be its sensitivity where sensitivity can be defined as the ratio of change in current due to biomolecule conjugation to the initial current (before conjugation). While the highest response to gating effect can be obtained in the subthreshold region, the conventional FETs (CFET) suffer severely due to the theoretical limitation on the minimum achievable Subthreshold Swing (SS) of [KBT/q ln(10)] due to the Boltzmann tyranny (Fig. 1(b)) effect where KB is the Boltzmann constant and T is the temperature. This also poses fundamental limitations on the sensitivity and response time of CFET based biosensors [6]. In recent times, Tunnel- FETs have attracted a lot of attention for low power digital applications [7]-[17], due to their ability to overcome the fundamental limitation in SS (60 mV/decade) of CFETs. Recently, it has been shown that the superior subthreshold behavior of TFETs can be leveraged to achieve highly efficient biosensors [6]. This is possible, thanks to the fundamentally different current injection mechanism in TFETs in the form of band-to-band tunneling [17]. The working principle of TFET biosensors is illustrated in Fig. 1c.