Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Troglitazone Antagonizes Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Reprogramming of Adipocyte Gene Expression by Inhibiting the Transcriptional Regulatory Functions of NF-κB*

Troglitazone (TGZ), a member of the thiazolidinedione class of anti-diabetic compounds and a peroxisome proliferator activator receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) agonist, restores systemic insulin sensitivity and improves the full insulin resistance syndrome in vivo. The mechanisms underlying its in vivo function are not understood. Here we investigated the potential functional interaction between PPAR-γ and NF-κB in adipocytes. We show that TGZ selectively blocked tumor necrosis factor-α-induced and NF-κB-dependent repression of multiple adipocyte-specific genes and induction of growth phase and other genes. This occurs without interfering with NF-κB expression, activation, nuclear translocation, or DNA binding and without suppressing NF-κB-dependent survival signals. Notably, the expressions of some tumor necrosis factor-α-induced genes in adipocytes were unaffected by PPAR-γ activation. In reporter gene assays in HeLa cells, ectopic expression of PPAR-γ abolished induction of a NF-κB-responsive reporter gene by the p65 subunit (RelA) of NF-κB, and the inhibition was further enhanced in the presence of TGZ. Conversely, overexpression of p65 inhibited induction of a PPAR-γ-responsive reporter gene by activated PPAR-γ in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect was independent of the presence of NF-κB-binding sites in the promoter region. Other NF-κB family members, p50 and c-Rel as well as the S276A mutant of p65, blocked PPAR-γ-mediated gene transcription less effectively. Thus, p65 antagonizes the transcriptional regulatory activity of PPAR-γ in adipocytes, and PPAR-γ activation can at least partially override the inhibitory effects of p65 on the expression of key adipocyte genes. Our data suggest that inhibition of NF-κB activity is a mechanism by which PPAR-γ agonists improve insulin sensitivity in vivo and that adipocyte NF-κB is a potential therapeutic target for obesity-linked type 2 diabetes.
Oxygen sensing mechanisms in retinal vascular development and disease

Oxygen sensing is a fundamental biological process which is critical for appropriate development of the eye and implicated in neovascular eye disease including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. This thesis describes a programme of work designed to investigate the role of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (Hif’s), its downstream effector proteins, and its upstream regulator, the von Hippel Lindau protein (Vhl), in the development of the eye and neovascular eye disease. The first part of this work investigates the consequences of Hif activation in the developing retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) using a tissue specific knockout technology in mice. It demonstrates that appropriate regulation of Hif’s by Vhl is essential for normal RPE and iris development, ocular growth and vascular development and indicates that ocular hypoxia may be a previously unrecognised mechanism in the development of microphthalmia. The second part of this work studies the role of Hif1a in myeloid cells in the development of pathological neovascularisation using tissue-specific knockout technology and murine models for retinal and choroidal neovascularisation. It demonstrates that Hif1a signalling in myeloid cells contributes substantially to the development of retinal and choroidal neovascularisation and provides a rationale for developing antiangiogenic treatments that target Hif1a signalling in myeloid cells in neovascular eye disease. The third part of this work investigates the oxygen distribution in the vitreous and its relation to HIF1a and its downstream molecules in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in man. It identifies significant intraocular oxygen gradients in PDR with areas of hyperoxia and hypoxia and demonstrates increased levels of HIF1a in the vitreous in PDR which correlate with increased levels of inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines in PDR. These findings suggest that HIF1a activation by inflammation and/or hypoxia is a central feature in the progression of PDR and that its inhibition may potentially serve as a target for therapeutic intervention.
Expanding our knowledge of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like phytases : mechanism, substrate specificity and pathways of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate dephosphorylation

Expanding our knowledge of protein tyrosine phosphatase-like phytases: mechanism, substrate specificity and pathways of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate dephosphorylation A novel bacterial protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-like enzyme has recently been isolated that has a PTP-like active site and fold and the ability to dephosphorylate myo-inositol hexakisphosphate. In order to expand our knowledge of this novel class of enzyme, four new representative genes were cloned from 3 different anaerobic bacteria related to clostridia and the recombinant gene products were examined. A combination of site-directed mutagenesis, kinetic, and high-performance ion-pair chromatography studies were used to elucidate the mechanism of hydrolysis, substrate specificity, and pathways of Ins P6 dephosphorylation. The data indicate that these enzymes follow a classical PTP mechanism of hydrolysis and have a general specificity for polyphosphorylated myo-inositol substrates. These enzymes dephosphorylate Ins P6 in a distributive manner, and have the most highly ordered pathways of sequential dephosphorylation of InsP6 characterized to date. Bioinformatic analyses have indicated homologues that are involved in the regulation of cellular function.
Revealed Preferences of Mutual Fund Investors in Good and Bad Times

Recent works demonstrate that the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) alpha is most likely used by investors as the performance measure in mutual fund. I explore the validity of this claim in different market conditions and show that the CAPM is only preferred by investors in good times, but it fails against the simple model (fund return minus market return) in bad times. Fund characteristics and investor sophistication cannot explain the pattern. The time-varying fund flow sensitivity to different fund performance components matters. Decomposing the fund return measured by this simple model into the CAPM alpha and a component proxy for market timing performance, I find that the fund flow sensitivity to market timing performance is countercyclical.
Effects of Capital Structure and Board Structure on Corporate Performance of Selected Firms in Nigeria

This paper seeks to examine the effect of capital structure and board structure on firm performance in Nigeria using secondary data consisting of forty listed companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) within the period of 2008 to 2016. Data were merged and pooled for analysis, the unit root test; co -integration, granger causality test, and regression were done accordingly. The paper established that there exists a significant negative relationship between capital structures (DER), a significant relationship between board size and a negative but not significant relationship between board duality and performance (ROA & ROE) in Nigeria respectively.
HPLC-NMR Chemical Profiling and Dereplication Studies of the Marine Brown Alga, Cystophora torulosa

A chemical profiling/dereplication exercise, involving the use of HPLC-NMR and mass spectrometry in combination with the MarinLit database, was conducted on the crude dichloromethane extract of the southern Australian marine brown alga Cystophora torulosa. This strategy was successful in identifying a total of nine secondary metabolites representing two principle structure classes, including seven resorcinol (1–7) and two polyene derivatives (8 and 9). Validation of this on-line dereplication strategy was supported by the isolation and complete 2D NMR assignment of the major secondary metabolite (1). This methodology was concluded to be suitable for the rapid on-line identification of the resorcinol and polyene structure classes that are frequently encountered in the genus Cystophora.
Influence of the system of rearing on cholesterol level and its fraction in blood serum of slow-growing chickens.

: In (cid:192) uence of the system of rearing on cholesterol level and its fraction in blood serum of slow-growing chickens . The experiment was car-ried out on 936 slow-growing chickens from the crossbreed of Cobb cock with Greenleg Partridge hen. Chicks were randomly divided into two groups: controlled group (BW) with no access to the (cid:191) eld and experimental group (W) with access to grass (cid:191) elds since their fourth week of life. In blood serum overall cholesterol, lipoproteins with high density (HDL), triacylglycerols (TG) level was marked. The concentration of lipoproteins with low density was calculated while using the Friedewald et al. formula (1972). No statistically signi (cid:191) cant in (cid:192) uence of sex and system of breeding on cholesterol and its fractions level in blood serum of crossbreed chickens was observed.
SURVEY OF FRESHWATER ALGAE FROM KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Altogether 214 species of algae belonging to 86 genera of 33 families, 15 orders, 10 classes and 6 phyla were collected from various freshwater habitats in three towns of Karachi City during May 2004 and September 2005. Among various phyla, Cyanophycota was represented by 82 species (38.32%), Volvophycota by 78 species (36.45%), Euglenophycota by 4 species (1.87%), Chrysophycota by 2 species (0.93%), Bacillarophycota by 38 species (17.76%) and Chlorophycota by 10 species (4.67%). Members of the phyla Cyanophycota and Volvophycota were most prevalent (74.8%) and those of Euglenophycota and Chrysophycota poorly represented (2.8%).
A MORPHOMETRIC STUDY OF FORAMEN MAGNUM IN DRY ADULT HUMAN SKULL

Aim: To study the morphology and morphometry of foramen magnum in dry adult human skull. Materials and method: Ninety eight skulls were investigated for foramen magnum. The shape of foramen magnum was noted and classified into oval, round, tetragonal and asymmetrical. The length (antero-posterior) and width (transverse) of foramen magnum was measured using pair of dividers and ruler. Results: 44 foramina magna were observed to be oval, 20 were tetragonal, 18 were round and 13 were found to be asymmetrical. The average length was 34.8 ± 2.45 (29-42) mm and average width was 30 ± 2.29 (26-36) mm. 3 skull showed occipitalization of atlas vertebra. Conclusion: These data may be of use as a morphometric database for description of “normal” variants of foramen magnum morphology.
Species diagnostics protocols : PCR and other nucleic acid methods

Isolation and Purification of Plant Nucleic Acids: Genomic and Chloroplast DNA. Isolation and Purification of Insect DNA Isolation and Purification of Vertebrate DNAs. Statistical Analysis of Arbitrarily Primed PCR Patterns in Molecular Taxonomic Studies. Molecular Identification of Phytopathogenic Viruses. Improved PCR Methods for Identification of Phytopathogenic Viruses. PCR Detection of HIV. The Use of Consensus PCR and Direct Sequence Analysis for the Identification of HPV. The Identification of Dengue Virus Using PCR. The Design and Application of Ribosomal RNA-Targeted, Fluorescent Oligonucleotide Probes for the Identification of Endosymbionts in Protozoa. Subtraction Hybridization for the Isolation of Strain-Specific Rhizobium DNA Probes. The Use of RAPD for Generating Specific DNA Probes for Microorganisms. ITS-RFLP Matching for Identification of Fungi. Specific PCR Primers for the Identification of Endomycorrhizal Fungi. Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) for the Identification of Endomycorrhizal Fungi. The Use of RAPD for Isolate Identification of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Establishing Relationships Between Closely Related Species Using Total Genomic DNA as a Probe. Detection and Characterization of Leishmania Parasites by DNA-Based Methods: Southern Blotting and PCR. The Molecular Identification of Trypanosomes. Detection and Identification of the Four Malaria Parasite Species Infecting Humans by PCR Amplification. The Use of Degenerate Primers in Conjunction with Strain and Species Oligonucleotides to Classify Onchocerca volvulus. The Use of Synthetic DNA Probes for the Field Identification of Members of the Anopheles gambiae Complex. PCR of the Ribosomal DNA Intergenic SpacerRegions as a Method for Identifying Mosquitoes in the Anopheles gambiae Complex. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Analyses: Distinguishing African and European Honey Bees. Differential Screening for the Isolation of Species-Specific Sequences in the Anopheles farauti Complex. RAPD-PCR with Parasitic Hymenoptera. The Use of Selective Enrichment for the Isolation of Species-Specific DNA Probes for Insects. Index.
Evaluation of the defensive behavior in two honeybee races Iranian honeybee (Apis mellifera meda) and Carniolan honeybee (Apis mellifera carnica) and grooming behavior of different bee races in controlling Varroa destructor mite in honey bee colonies in Iran

Two honeybee races Apis mellifera meda (Indigenous) and Apis mellifera carnica (hybrid) were used to study and compare the evaluation of the defensive behavior and the grooming behavior of the two honeybee races was evaluated against Varroa destructor mite in honey bee colonies in Iran in 2015-2016. Results also indicated that the hygienic and grooming behavior of imported bee (Apis mellifera carnica) was more efficient as compared indigenous bee (Apis mellifera meda). The findings of the research revealed that the Carniolan honeybee hybrid colonies showed more effective defensive behavior against Varroa destructor (38.50%) as compared to indigenous (41.20%) honeybee colonies. The study also indicated that the number of covered combs with bees was lower in Iranian race (Non-aggressive and Aggressiveness), whereas the highest value was recorded with the aggressive Carniolan bees. Different forms of damage to the Varroa destructor mites may be due to the genetic origin of the bee race.
Asymmetric Information, Financial Reporting, and Open-Market Share Repurchases

We explore the link between open-market share repurchases (OMRs) and asymmetric information based on financial reporting quality and find that opaque firms experience positive abnormal returns of twice the magnitude of those of transparent firms. These significant differences remain after controlling for governance, earnings management, and firm characteristics. We document significantly positive long-run postannouncement returns for opaque firms, but not for transparent firms. We find that takeover activity and premiums rise with repurchase activity by opaque firms, which may explain some of the wealth effects. Our results suggest that asymmetric information plays an important role in the wealth effects around OMRs.
Riqueza de morcegos insetívoros em lagoas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

Amostragens de morcegos na regiao neotropical geralmente, contem poucas especies insetivoras. Apesar da elevada riqueza de morcegos insetivoros, o uso de rede de neblina resulta em baixa captura dessa guilda. As mais comumente amostradas no sudeste do Brasil sao Molossus molossus, Molossus rufus e Myotis nigricans, mesmo representados por reduzido numero de capturas sao capturados proximos aos seus refugios. Apesar de ser conhecida a preferencia de especies de morcegos insetivoros por ambientes riparios, poucos estudos tem explorado esses ambientes. O objetivo deste trabalho e analisar a riqueza de morcegos insetivoros em 31 lagoas no Estado do Rio de Janeiro usando redes de neblina. Em 1.995 horas de esforco de coleta, foram obtidas 2.159 capturas de 26 especies exclusivamente ou parcialmente insetivoras. Oito especies foram capturadas somente sobre as lagoas. A especie mais frequente foi Myotis nigricans. Foi observado que as lagoas margeadas de florestas se mostraram ricas. A riqueza de especies de morcegos nas lagoas nao se diferenciou pela presenca ou nao de vegetacao aquatica e entre as lagoas salobras e doces. A amostragem em lagoas de tamanho medio ou grande e proximas a areas residenciais podem ser as mais produtivas para a captura de especies insetivoras. Tres especies amostradas sao raramente citadas em inventarios faunisticos: Macrophyllum macrophyllum, Lophostoma brasiliensis e Thyroptera tricolor. A realizacao de coletas com redes de neblina abertas sobre aguas calmas foi mais representativa de morcegos insetivoros e pode resultar em uma melhor amostragem da assembleia de morcegos.
The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region-taxonomy of the T. bessonii, T. bonibony, T. dysalum, T. marginatum, T. tsingy, and T. weitzeckeri species groups

The taxonomy of the T. bessonii, T. bonibony, T. dysalum, T. marginatum, T. tsingy, and T. weitzeckeri species groups isrevised. A total of 33 species is treated, of which 27 are newly described and one is raised to species status. The T. weitzeckeri group contains the single species T. humbloti Forel, which is of Afrotropical origin and the only representativeof the group in the Malagasy region. The species T. bessonii Forel, T. dysalum Bolton, T. marginatum Forel, and T. stein- heili Forel, which were originally members of the T. weitzeckeri group, are now placed in other groups. Tetramorium bes- sonii is the core species of the T. bessonii group, which also contains the four newly described species T. artemis sp. n. , T. malagasy sp. n. , T. ryanphelanae sp. n. , T. wardi sp. n. , and T. orientale Forel stat. n. , which was a junior synonym of T. bessonii but is now raised to species rank. The T. dysalum group is a moderately-sized group with ten species, of whichonly T. dysalum and T. steinheili were previously known; the other eight species are all newly described. The newly described species in this group are: T. ambatovy sp. n. , T. macki sp. n. , T. mallenseana sp. n. , T. orc sp. n. , T. robitika sp. n. , T. sargina sp. n. , T. yammer sp. n. , and T. vohitra sp. n. A lectotype and several paralectotypes of T. steinheili are desig-nated. Tetramorium marginatum is the central species of the T. marginatum group, which also includes the five newly de-scribed species T. valky sp. n. , T. hector sp. n. , T. norvigi sp. n. , T. shamshir sp. n. , and T. silvicola sp. n. The T. bonibony and T. tsingy groups represent completely new groups that consist entirely of previously unknown, undescribed species.The first group holds the new species T. bonibony sp. n. , T. kali sp. n. , T. sada sp. n. , T. nosybe sp. n. , T. olana sp. n. , T. popell sp. n. , and T. trafo sp. n. and T. vony sp. n. The last group, the T. tsingy group, only contains the two species T. tyrion sp. n. and T. tsingy sp. n. , both among the rarest Tetramorium species in Madagascar. All groups are fully revised withillustrated species-level identification keys, and all species are described/re-described and illustrated with high qualitymontage images. In addition, the current status of the Malagasy Tetramorium species groups is discussed and further modifications are proposed.
Studies on user control in ambient intelligent systems

People have a deeply rooted need to experience control and be effective in interactions with their environments. At present times, we are surrounded by intelligent systems that take decisions and perform actions for us. This should make life easier, but there is a risk that users experience less control and reject the system. The central question in this thesis is whether we can design intelligent systems that have a degree of autonomy, while users maintain a sense of control. We try to achieve this by giving the intelligent system an 'expressive interface’: the part that provides information to the user about the internal state, intentions and actions of the system. We examine this question both in the home and the work environment. We find the notion of a ‘system personality’ useful as a guiding principle for designing interactions with intelligent systems, for domestic robots as well as in building automation. Although the desired system personality varies per application, in both domains a recognizable system personality can be designed through expressive interfaces using motion, light, sound, and social cues. The various studies show that the level of automation and the expressive interface can influence the perceived system personality, the perceived level of control, and user’s satisfaction with the system. This thesis shows the potential of the expressive interface as an instrument to help users understand what is going on inside the system and to experience control, which might be essential for the successful adoption of the intelligent systems of the future.
Identification of predicted genes expressed differentially in pituitary gland tissue of young growing bulls revealed by cDNA-AFLP technique

Differentially expressed transcript derived fragments (TDFs) of bovine pituitary gland tissue at different developmental ages of Limousine and Hereford bulls were identified by cDNA-AFLP technique. Study revealed comparatively higher differentially expressed transcripts in 6-month Limousine bulls and 12-month Hereford bulls. The BLASTn/p analysis identified 3 and 21 predicted genes which gave significant e-values for Limousine and Hereford respectively, in assembled Bos taurus genome. The identified predicted genes expressed in bovine pituitary gland showed their mapped positions on bovine chromosomes: BTA2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15-23, 26, and 28, respectively. Results based on TDF annotation identified 10 sequences that have BLAST hits to known annotated bovine genes and 14 sequences to unannotated contig regions in the latest gene Ensembl database Btau_4. 0. Two breed specific predicted target genes were validated by qRT-PCR. Within and between breeds, qRT-PCR results revealed highly significant differences in the expression levels of bovine euchromatic histone-lysine N -methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1 ) and NCK adaptor protein 2 (NCK2) predicted genes. Obtained results conclude that cDNA-AFLP is a reliable technique for studying within breed age dependent gene expression patterns.
Relationship between Spirituality and Death Anxiety in Patients with Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background and purpose: Cancer is a highly prevalent disease that could cause psychological and emotional complications such as death anxiety. On the other hand, spiritual well-being is an inherent element of health and may enhance patients’ adaptability to cope with their disease and associated anxiety. This study was done to determine the effect of spirituality in predicting death anxiety in patients with cancer. Materials and methods: This descriptive-correlational study was done in patients (n=100) with cancer in Sari, Iran 2017. The participants were selected using convenience sampling in Imam Khomeini Hospital. Data was collected by a demographic questionnaire, Templer Death Anxiety Scale (DAS), and Spirituality Questionnaire (SQ). The data was analyzed using Pearson correlation and Regression analysis. Results: The death anxiety score in 49 of the patients was high (higher than 8). The mean score for death anxiety and spirituality was 8.39±2.96 and 85.44±11.59, respectively. There was no relation between death anxiety and spirituality (P>0.05), but there were relations between death anxiety and dimensions of spirituality. Death anxiety level was highly correlated with spiritual practices dimension but had the least correlation with spiritual needs. Higher levels of spiritual practices can decrease the level of patient’s death anxiety. Conclusion: According to findings, spiritual practices dimension is a suitable predictor of death anxiety in patients with cancer, therefore, spirituality training might decrease the incidence or level of their death anxiety. © 2018, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.