Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Middle‐Aged Female Rats Lack the Dynamic Changes in GAD67 mRNA Levels Observed in Young Females on the Day of a Luteinising Hormone Surge

The hypothalamic decapeptide gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH), modulates gonadotrophin synthesis and secretion and is essential for the preovulatory luteinising hormone (LH) surge. As females age, there is a gradual attenuation and eventual loss of the preovulatory LH surge and oestrous cyclicity. Data from previous studies have demonstrated evidence of compromised GnRH neuronal function at this time. The present study begins to explore the hypothesis that the age‐related attenuation of the LH surge and decline in GnRH neuronal function are due, in part, to increased inhibitory influences on GnRH neurones. In situ hybridisation (ISH) was used to assess relative levels of mRNA for one isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the rate‐limiting enzyme for GABA synthesis. Ovariectomised young and middle‐aged rats were injected with oestradiol benzoate and progesterone in a regimen for LH surge induction. Animals were killed at time points prior to, during the ascending phase, and during the peak and early descending phase of the LH surge. Dynamic changes in GAD67 mRNA levels were observed in young but not middle‐aged females in two regions known to be important for LH surge induction, the rostral proeptic area in the region of the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis (OVLT) and in the ventral periventricular preoptic area. Furthermore, GAD67 mRNA levels were elevated in middle‐aged relative to young females in the region of the OVLT at the time of LH surge induction and in the ventral periventricular preoptic area prior to surge induction. Age‐related differences were not observed in other brain regions analysed. These data suggest that GABA synthesis may be elevated in middle‐aged relative to young females in specific brain regions at critical times in conjunction with the LH surge, and that the lack of dynamic changes in GABA levels in these regions may contribute to the attenuated LH surge observed in middle‐aged females.
English Language Teaching in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Past, Present and Beyond

Abstract 2014 realized the introduction of a comprehensive English language teaching curriculum, the English Language Curriculum for Elementary, Intermediate and Secondary Schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Grades 4 - 12, 2014 - 2020. This research paper seeks to provide an inclusive timeline of the development (English language) education from the time King AbdulAziz Ibn Saud united the Arabian Peninsula and created the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The chronology of English language curriculum reforms and education development provide evidence of a country seeking to define itself. Oil wealth drastically altered the Kingdom’s fortunes and provided it with choices, development and opportunities. Recently, Tatweer Company for Educational Services in partnership with the Ministry of Education has provided customized English language textbooks and supplementary material complemented by a range of professional development programs. However, as recent research suggests there is more than needs to be done to support the continual improvement in the learning and teaching of English as the Kingdom continues to move into the developed world with less reliance on oil and a focus on becoming a knowledge based society. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s National Transformation Program and Vision 2030 support and provide the blueprint for this goal to be achieved.
Perceptions of learning effectiveness in M-learning: scale development and student awareness

The purpose of this study is to develop a multi-dimensional scale to measure students' awareness of key competencies for M-learning and to test its reliability and validity. The Key Competencies of Mobile Learning Scale (KCMLS) was determined via confirmatory factor analysis to have four dimensions: team collaboration, creative thinking, critical thinking and problem solving, and communication. The research subjects are 815 students from the elementary school that participate in M-learning programme in Taiwan. The research results show that students have better self-awareness in team collaboration and creative thinking, but have worse self-awareness in critical thinking and problem solving. This study also found that there was no significant difference between genders in the KCMLS, but students who study in the schools that committed in M-learning longer have higher awareness in all dimensions than students who study in the schools that committed to M-learning in fewer years.
Associations between three common MicroRNA polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma risk in Chinese.

AIM Associations between polymorphisms in miR-146aG>C, miR-196a2C>T and miR-499A>G and risk of HCC, and interaction with HBV infection in a Chinese population, were the target of the present research. METHODS The duplex polymerase-chain-reaction with confronting-two-pair primers (PCR-RFLP) was performed to determine the genotypes of the miR-146aG>C, miR-196a2C>T and miR-499A>G genotypes. Associations of polymorphisms with the risk of HCC were estimated by conditional logistic regression analysis. RESULTS Drinking, family history of cancer, HBsAg and HCV were risk factors for HCC. Multivariate regression analyses showed that subjects carrying the miR-196a2 CC genotype had significantly increased risk of HCC, with an adjusted OR (95% CI) of 2.18 (1.23-3.80). In addition, cases carrying the miR-196a2 C allele had a 1.64-fold increase in the risk for HCC (95%CI=1.03-2.49). The miR-196a CT and TT genotypes greatly significantly increased the risk of HCC in subjects with HBV infection, with adjusted ORs (95% CI) of 2.02 (1.12-3.68) and 2.69 (1.28-5.71), respectively. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that miR-196a2 CC genotype and C allele have an important role in HCC risk in Chinese, especially in patients with HBV infection.
An earnings, liquidity, and market model

ABSTRACT We combine the market with earnings, liquidity and their respective growth, with motivation via a simple pricing equation, to model the cross-section with three, four and five factors. As first-order variables in widespread investor use for over a hundred years, earnings and liquidity have ready connection to investor preferences. They obtain as good a cross-sectional description of security prices as other factor models without redundancy. We weight portfolios on volume, relying on a direct SDF representation of investor’s preference for liquidity, demonstrating its additional dimension. Recent research arguing for the demise of liquidity is premature; indeed, its importance has grown.
Elevated mutant frequencies in lymphoid tissues persist throughout plasmacytoma development in BALB/c.lambdaLIZ mice.

Using the phage lambdaLIZ-based transgenic in vivo mutagenesis assay, the mean mutant frequencies in the target gene, lacI, were found to be significantly increased in lymphoid tissues of congenic BALB/c.lambdaLIZ N5 mice in the terminal stage of a plasmacytoma induction experiment, 213-280 days after the first i.p. injection of the plasmacytomagenic agent pristane (2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane). In plasmacytoma-bearing mice (n = 7), mutant frequencies in the spleens and mesenteric lymph nodes were elevated 2.46-fold and 5.35-fold, respectively, when compared with age-matched controls. In plasmacytoma-negative mice (n = 11), mutant frequencies were increased 2.30-fold (spleens) and 3.48-fold (mesenteric nodes). These results, interpreted in conjunction with our previous findings (K. Felix et al., Cancer Res., 58: 1616-1619, 1998) of approximately 3-fold elevations in pristane-induced splenic mutagenesis on day 42 postpristane, indicate that increased mutant levels in lymphoid tissues persist throughout plasmacytomagenesis in genetically susceptible BALB/c mice.
Evaluation of normalization methods on neuro-genetic models for stock index forecasting

With the rise of artificial intelligence technology and the growing interrelated markets of the last two decades offering unprecedented trading opportunities, technical analysis simply based on forecasting models is no longer enough. To meet the trading challenge in today's global market, technical analysis must be redefined. Before using the neural network models some issues such as data preprocessing, network architecture and learning parameters are to be considered. Data normalization is a fundamental data preprocessing step for learning from data before feeding to the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Finding an appropriate method to normalize time series data is not a simple task. This work evaluates various normalization methods used in ANN model trained with gradient descent (ANN-GD), genetic algorithm (ANN-GA), and functional link artificial neural network model trained with GD (FLANN-GD) and genetic algorithm (FLANN-GA). The study is applied on daily closing price of Bombay stock exchange (BSE) and experimental result.
Interdependence of Russo-Japanese Relations and Mutual Images of Japan and Russia

Abstract The current efforts of Moscow and Tokyo to unblock the territorial impasse are complicated by some barriers of a socio-psychological character, including mutual mistrust and contradictory images of past events. Public opinion surveys reveal predominant vectors in Russo-Japanese relations, which the authors believe strongly correlate with the evolution of the contradictory images. Apparently, these images surprisingly exhibit interrelated ‘mirror’ dynamics connected with the independent variable – events happening in bilateral relations. Apparently, these images surprisingly exhibit interrelated ‘mirror’ dynamics connected with the independent variable – events happening in bilateral relations. The authors also investigate how public opinion has a real impact on politics and relations between states. In the authors’ opinion, Russia and Japan definitely do not have major unresolved problems in their bilateral relations, with the exception of the territorial problem. However, why is the public so suspicious of Russia? Can the territorial dispute be the only reason? It is far from that. The analyzed arguments give grounds to believe that it is very difficult for Japan and Russia to find a mutually acceptable solution, as their relations are not free from suspicion and mutual mistrust which are deeply rooted in the history of their relations. It will be much easier to overcome the mistrust and, accordingly, to reach agreement on the territorial issue when they manage to calmly analyze the historical grudges, understand their nature and origin, and realize that this is history, which has no contemporary value.
Redistribution, Polarization, and Ideology

Why doesn’t rising inequality encourage income redistribution? The standard model posits that the more concentrated are income and wealth, the more the median voter values redistribution. Yet despite the marked increase in U.S. inequality, redistribution has barely changed. I approach this puzzle from a fresh angle by considering the role and nature of polarization for the politics of redistribution. While inequality increases voting elasticity with respect of redistribution, polarization has the opposite effect, thus reducing parties' accountability towards voters. But without further structure, inequality and polarization’s effects on redistribution cannot be determined. I demonstrate that for polarization to discourage redistribution, ideology must be a ``normal good'', i.e. its importance for the voters needs to rise with income. Using data from the American National Election Study and the Census, I verify that this is indeed the case. Armed with this result, I use the model to assess the effects of inequality and polarization on redistribution within no-inequality and no-polarization counterfactuals. Effects of ``income elastic'' ideology can account for the stability of redistribution policy, and shed light on the economic implications of political extremism. - Highlight the role of ``ideological salience'' (= importance that voters place on ideology); develop a model of party competition where voters are heterogenous in: 1. income, 2. ideology, 3. ideological salience to analyze the effect of income inequality and party polarization on redistribution. The results depend on the sign of the correlation between income and ideological salience - Validate the model: use survey data to estimate correlation between income and ideological salience via maximum simulated likelihood - Counterfactual analysis: calibrate the model to decompose effects of inequality and polarization - Model: 1. Inequality and polarization push redistribution in opposite directions 2. Sign of effects depends on which group (richer or poorer voters) cares more about social issues (has higher ideological salience) - Empirical analysis: income and ideological salience are positive correlated. In terms of the model, this implies that inequality increases redistribution, while party polarization decreases it - Counterfactual analysis: 1. Estimates of ideological salience, plus contemporaneous increase in inequality and polarization in 1980-2008, can account for stability of redistribution 2. Larger effect for Republican party
The origins of neoliberalism in late ‘socialist’ Hungary: The case of the Financial Research Institute and ‘Turnabout and Reform’

This article contributes to ongoing debates in the transformatology literature, as well as the wider literature on the global neoliberal revolution, on the origins of neoliberalism in Soviet-style economies. Within these debates, the transition to a (free) market economy and liberal democracy in Hungary and elsewhere in the former Soviet bloc has commonly been perceived as an exogenous process, dating to the annus mirabilis of 1989. This article challenges this consensus. Through a case study of the Financial Research Institute (Pénzügykutatási Intézet), the official research institute of the Ministry of Finance, and a programme of radical economic reform, known as ‘Turnabout and Reform’ (Fordulat és Reform), published in 1987 by a group of experts at the institute, the article demonstrates that in the case of Hungary, neoliberalism was not simply an ‘imported project’, which arrived ‘from the West’ on the eve of the formal transition in 1989–1990. Rather, it is argued that it emerged organically in Hungarian society in the 1980s, as a response by domestic economic and political elites to the deepening crisis of the Kádár regime. Hence, the essential aim of the ‘neoliberal turn’ was to reconfigure the Hungarian economy in line with the exigencies of the capitalist world economy, while ensuring that the political transition went as smoothly as possible. As such, while obviously a repudiation of past policy, policymakers in Budapest pursued the similar objectives as central planners under ‘actually existing socialism’.
Some Implications of Learning for Price Stability

Survey data on expectations of a range of macroeconomic variables exhibit low-frequency drift. In a New Keynesian model consistent with these empirical properties, optimal policy in general delivers a positive inflation rate in the long run. Two special cases deliver classic outcomes under rational expectations: as the degree of low-frequency variation in beliefs goes to zero, the long-run inflation rate coincides with the inflation bias under optimal discretion; for non-zero low-frequency drift in beliefs, as households become highly patient valuing utility in any period equally, the optimal long-run inflation rate coincides with optimal commitment – price stability is optimal. The optimal state-contingent response to cost-push disturbances similarly reflects properties of optimal discretion and optimal commitment, depending on the degree of low-frequency variation in beliefs. When beliefs exhibit substantial variation in response to short-run forecast errors, optimal policy is closer to commitment.
Arrhythmias in Athletes: Evidence-Based Strategies and Challenges for Diagnosis, Management, and Sports Eligibility

Assessment and management of cardiac rhythm disorders in athletes is particularly challenging. An accurate diagnosis and optimal risk-stratification are often limited because of substantial phenotypic overlap between pathological entities and adaptive cardiovascular responses that normally occur in athletes. An accurate diagnosis, however, is particularly important in this population, as 2 competing risks need to be cautiously balanced: the risk of under-diagnosis of an arrhythmogenic substrate that may trigger life-threatening events versus the risk of over-diagnosis that may result in an athlete’s improper disqualification. Accordingly, the management of arrhythmias in athletes may pose therapeutic dilemmas, and often differs substantially compared with the general population. In this review, we present the most frequently observed arrhythmias in athletes and briefly discuss their pathophysiologic substrate. We further propose diagnostic and therapeutic strategies based upon current guidelines, official recommendations, and emerging evidence from relevant clinical investigations. We focus particularly on disparities in current guidelines regarding the management of certain rhythm disorders, as these areas of uncertainty may reflect the challenging nature of these disorders and may indicate the need for individualized approaches in every-day clinical practice. A better understanding of the normal electrophysiological responses to chronic exercise, and of the pathophysiological basis and the true clinical significance of arrhythmias in athletes, may enhance decision-making, and may allow for management strategies which more prudently weigh the risk-to-benefit ratio of each approach.
Climate drives inter-annual variability in probability of high severity fire occurrence in the western United States

A long history of fire suppression in the western United States has significantly changed forest structure and ecological function, leading to increasingly uncharacteristic fires in terms of size and severity. Prior analyses of fire severity in California forests showed that time since last fire and fire weather conditions predicted fire severity very well, while a larger regional analysis showed that topography and climate were important predictors of high severity fire. There has not yet been a large-scale study that incorporates topography, vegetation and fire-year climate to determine regional scale high severity fire occurrence. We developed models to predict the probability of high severity fire occurrence for the western US. We predict high severity fire occurrence with some accuracy, and identify the relative importance of predictor classes in determining the probability of high severity fire. The inclusion of both vegetation and fire-year climate predictors was critical for model skill in identifying fires with high fractional fire severity. The inclusion of fire-year climate variables allows this model to forecast inter-annual variability in areas at future risk of high severity fire, beyond what slower-changing fuel conditions alone can accomplish. This allows for more targeted land management, including resource allocation for fuels reduction treatments to decrease the risk of high severity fire.
Targeting M3 Muscarinic Receptors for Colon Cancer Therapy.

BACKGROUND Expression and activation of subtype-3 muscarinic receptors (M3R) plays an important role in the progression of colorectal neoplasia. METHOD Herein, we describe the role of muscarinic receptors in colon cancer, focusing specifically on M3R, illustrate how M3R over-expression and activation of post-receptor signaling pathways potentiates tumor progression, and explore the efficacy and safety of a variety of therapeutic approaches that can target the molecules involved. RESULTS Colon cancers overexpress M3R mRNA (CHRM3) and protein, and post-M3R signaling stimulates cell proliferation. Post-M3R signal transduction is complex, involving interplay between epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR)/ERK and protein kinase C (PKC)/p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling pathways. In particular, the development of an invasive and metastatic phenotype requires that these signaling interactions augment cellular release of a key collagenase, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1). Blocking either M3R activation or post-M3R signaling attenuates MMP1 release and colon cancer invasiveness. CONCLUSION Parsing the complexities of these signaling interactions is important, not only to understand these mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression, but also to develop novel treatment modalities. Since the vast majority of persons with colon cancer die from disseminated disease, preventing or reversing metastatic spread of cancer cells by targeting M3R, post-M3R signaling, or MMP1 has therapeutic potential.
Comparison of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVagmVer Replication and CD4+ T-Cell Dynamics in Vervet and Sabaeus African Green Monkeys

ABSTRACT The simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) naturally infect a wide range of African primates, including African green monkeys (AGM). Despite moderate to high levels of plasma viremia in naturally infected AGM, infection is not associated with immunodeficiency. We recently reported that SIVagmVer90 isolated from a naturally infected vervet AGM induced AIDS following experimental inoculation of pigtailed macaques. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the replication of this isolate in two species of AGM, sabaeus monkeys (Chlorocebus sabaeus) and vervets (C. pygerythrus). Inoculation of sabaeus AGM with SIVagmVer90 resulted in low and variable primary and set-point viremia (<102 to 104 copies/ml). In contrast, inoculation of vervet AGM with either SIVagmVer90 or blood from a naturally infected vervet (Ver1) resulted in high primary viremia and moderate plateau levels, similar to the range seen in naturally infected vervets from this cohort. CD4+ T cells remained stable throughout infection, even in AGM with persistent high viremia. Despite the lack of measurable lymphadenopathy, infection was associated with an increased number of Ki-67+ T cells in lymph node biopsies, consistent with an early antiviral immune response. The preferential replication of SIVagmVer in vervet versus sabaeus AGM shows that it is critical to match AGM species and SIV strains for experimental models of natural SIV infection.
Antioxidant flavonoids from Alhagi maurorum

A new flavonoid, isorhamnetin-3-O-[-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), along with two known flavonoids 3′-O-methylorobol (2) and quercetin 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), was isolated from Alhagi maurorum. Their structures were established with the help of mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and in comparison with the literature data. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay.