Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
University of Birmingham d-Tubocurarine and berbamine

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are widely used for the treatment of life-threatening bacterial infections, but cause permanent hearing loss in a substantial proportion of treated patients. The sensory hair cells of the inner ear are damaged following entry of these antibiotics via the mechano-electrical transducer (MET) channels located at the tips of the hair cell’s stereocilia. d-Tubocurarine (dTC) is a MET channel blocker that reduces the loading of gentamicin-Texas Red (GTTR) into rat cochlear hair cells and protects them from gentamicin treatment. Berbamine is a structurally related alkaloid that reduces GTTR labeling of zebraﬁsh lateral-line hair cells and protects them from aminoglycoside-induced cell death. Both compounds are thought to reduce aminoglycoside entry into hair cells through the MET channels. Here we show that dTC ( ≥ 6.25 µ M) or berbamine ( ≥ 1.55 µ M) protect zebraﬁsh hair cells in vivo from neomycin (6.25 µ M, 1 h). Protection of zebraﬁsh hair cells against gentamicin (10 µ M, 6 h) was provided by ≥ 25 µ M dTC or ≥ 12.5 µ M berbamine. Hair cells in mouse cochlear cultures are protected from longer-term exposure to gentamicin (5 µ M, 48 h) by 20 µ M berbamine or 25 µ M dTC. Berbamine is, however, highly toxic to mouse cochlear hair cells at higher concentrations ( ≥ 30 µ M) whilst dTC is not. The absence of toxicity in the zebraﬁsh assays prompts caution in extrapolating results from zebraﬁsh neuromasts to mammalian cochlear hair cells. MET current recordings from mouse outer hair cells (OHCs) show that both compounds are permeant open-channel blockers, rapidly and reversibly blocking the MET channel with half-blocking concentrations of 2.2 µ M (dTC) and 2.8 µ M (berbamine) in the presence of 1.3 mM Ca 2 + at − 104 mV. Berbamine, but not dTC, also blocks the hair cell’s basolateral K + current, I K,neo , and modeling studies indicate that berbamine permeates the MET channel more readily than dTC. These studies reveal key properties of MET-channel blockers required for the future design of successful otoprotectants.
Isoﬂavonoid and Lignan Phytoestrogens as Dietary Biomarkers 1,2

Isoﬂavones and lignans are biologically active plant-food constituents that have potential chemo-preventive properties. Quantitation of isoﬂavones and lignans in humans is necessary to establish the beneﬁts and risks of exposure to these compounds in populations and to determine which components of a mixed diet contribute to the exposure. Isoﬂavones and lignans are metabolized by colonic bacteria to more biologically active metabolites; thus both the parent compounds and the metabolites are measured routinely. Isoﬂavonoids (genistein, daidzein, dihydrodaidzein, O -desmethylangolensin and equol) and lignans (enterolactone, enterodiol, matairesinol and secoisolariciresinol) can be quantiﬁed in various body ﬂuids. Typically, high concentrations of isoﬂavonoids in urine and serum are associated with soy consumption, and high concentrations of lignans are associated primarily with intake of whole grains and other ﬁber-containing plant foods. Controlled feeding studies and nutritional epidemiologic studies demonstrate a linear dose response between dietary intake and urinary excretion of isoﬂavones. Lignan excretion is associated positively with dietary ﬁber intake as well as with diets that are on average higher in ﬁber and carbohydrate and lower in fat; thus lignans have also been proposed as a marker of healthier dietary patterns. The complex interactions between the colonic environment and the external and internal factors that modulate it contribute to signiﬁcant variation in serum and urinary phytoestrogen levels among individuals. Understanding these sources of variation is important to be able to use these measures effectively as dietary biomarkers. J. Nutr. 133: 956S–964S, 2003.
Rearrange and Hypermutate Autonomously The Multiple Shark Ig H Chain Genes

Sharks and skates are representatives of the earliest vertebrates with an immune system based on V(D)J rearrangement. They possess a unique Ig gene organization consisting of 15 to >50 individual IgM loci, each with one VH, two DH, one JH, and one set of constant region exons. The present study attempts to understand how multiple Ig genes are regulated with respect to rearrangement initiation and to targeting during somatic hypermutation. The linkage of three single-copy IgH genes was determined, and single-cell genomic PCR studies in a neonatal animal were used to examine any relationship between relative gene position and likelihood of rearrangement. Our results show that one to three IgH genes are activated independently of linkage or allelic position and the data best ﬁt with a probability model based on the hypothesis that V(D)J rearrangement occurs as a sequence of trials within the B cell. In the neonatal cell set, two closely related IgH, G2A, and G2B, rearranged at similar frequencies, and their membrane forms were expressed at similar levels, like in other young animals. However, older animals displayed a bias in favor of the G2A isotype, which suggests that although rearrangement at G2A and G2B was randomly initiated during primary repertoire generation, the two very similar IgM sequences appear to be differentially expressed with age and exposure to Ag. We performed genomic single-cell PCR on B cells from an immunized individual to study activation-induced cytidine deaminase targeting and found that hypermutation, like V(D)J rearrangement, occurred independently among the many shark IgH. The Journal of Immunology , 2011, 187: 000–000. Y i ascertainable genes. From the probability model, we calculated the joint conditional probabilities: CP = Prob( X i + = x 1 , X i 2 = x 2 | u , Y ), for x 1 = 0 or 1, x 2 = 0 . u 2 1. Estimation of u and ﬁt of data to an optimal model was conducted in a manner similar to that used for the ﬁxed-genes model; the Monte Carlo simulation of the probability model data took into account the fact that under this model, the observable outcomes are not all equally probable. We conducted exact x 2 goodness-of-ﬁt tests of our data to assumptions 4 and 5. Statistical software used were SAS (SAS Institute, Cary, NC) Release 9.2 and StatXact PROCS for SAS, version 9 (Cytel, Cambridge, MA).
GCC Media Roles during the 2011 Arab Spring: An Analytical and Critical Overview

The central aim of this paper is to critically analyze the role of the media during public protests that occurred in the GCC countries during 2011. These protests were part of what came to be called the “Arab Spring”, which started in late 2010. Particular focus will be on how the Arab Spring resulted in fundamental changes and how various institutions played roles in this. The study draws on Gulf region literature about the Arab Spring in order to offer a critical and informed overview on the topic under discussion. The paper’s main question is: what are the main roles played by the GCC media (old/new) during the public protests of 2011? The paper argues that the role of the media in the 2011 protests, while important, was rather limited and affected by the unique contextual characteristics of the media environment in the GCC countries.
REVIEW 1 2 Children’s well-being at schools: impact of climatic conditions and 3 air pollution 4

42 Human civilization is currently facing two particular challenges: population growth with a 43 strong trend towards urbanization and climate change. The latter is now no longer seriously 44 questioned. The primary concern is to limit anthropogenic climate change and to adapt our 45 societies to its effects. Schools are a key part of the structure of our societies. If future gen- 46 erations are to take control of the manifold global problems, we have to offer our children the 47 best possible infrastructure for their education: not only in terms of the didactic concepts, but 48 also with regard to the climatic conditions in the school environment. Between the ages of 6 49 and 19, children spend up to eight hours a day in classrooms. The conditions are, however, 50 often inacceptable and regardless of the geographic situation, all the current studies all re- 51 port similar problems: classrooms being too small for the high number of school children, 52 poor ventilation concepts, considerable outdoor air pollution and strong sources of indoor air 53 pollution. 54 There been discussions about a beneficial and healthy air quality in classrooms for many years now and in years extensive studies have been out worldwide. The 56 problems have been clearly outlined on a scientific level and there are prudent and feasible 57 concepts to improve the situation. The growing number of publications also highlights the importance of this subject. High carbon dioxide concentrations in classrooms, which indicate poor ventilation conditions, and the increasing particle matter in urban outdoor air have, in particular, identified as primary of poor air quality this, the conditions in most continue to be in of for this. In some cases, the local administrative bodies do not have the budgets re- quired to address such concerns, in other cases regulations and laws stand in contradiction to the demands for better indoor air quality, and sometimes the problems are simply ignored. This review summarizes the current results and knowledge gained from the scientific litera- ture on air quality in classrooms. Possible scenarios for the future are discussed and guide- line values proposed which can serve to help authorities, government organizations and commissions improve the situation on a global level.
Ligand, Bcl-2, and Bax Humans: Altered Expression of Fas (CD95), Fas Increased Apoptosis of T Cell Subsets in Aging

Aging is associated with lymphopenia and progressive decline in T cell functions; however, the mechanisms underlying these defects are unclear. We analyzed the expression of genes promoting apoptosis ( fas/fasL 1 and bax ) and those inhibiting apoptosis ( bcl-2 and bcl-x L ) in lymphocytes from aging and young subjects at the protein level, using ﬂow cytometry/Western blotting, and at the mRNA level, using quantitative PCR. Susceptibility of T cell subsets to undergo anti-Fas-induced apoptosis was analyzed by propidium iodide staining, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) assay, DNA fragmentation assay, and staining with Hoechst 33342 dye. An increased expression of Fas and Fas ligand and a decreased expression of Bcl-2 were observed in both CD4 1 and CD8 1 T cells from aging as compared with young controls. Increased Fas and decreased Bcl-2 expression were also found in memory cells of both CD4 1 and CD8 1 T cell subsets from aging. Bax expression was increased in lymphocytes from aging at both the protein and mRNA level. No signiﬁcant difference was observed in Bcl-x L expression between aging and young; however, the ratio of Bax:Bcl-x L was increased in aging. An increased proportion of CD4 1 and CD8 1 T cell subsets from aging underwent apoptosis following anti-Fas Ab treatment as compared with CD4 1 and CD8 1 T cell subsets from young controls. These data suggest that increased apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms responsible for lymphopenia and T cell deﬁciency associated with human aging. The Journal of Immunology, 1998, 160: 1627–1637.
Inhaled corticosteroids and extracellular matrix production

only able to sample the large airways for bronchial biopsies. Furthermore, as we used one or two biopsies of the large airways, we cannot exclude the possibility that local heterogeneity of bronchial cells and extracellular matrix proteins caused a bias in our results. In addition, we can only speculate on the effect of inhaled corticosteroids in the small airways.
bronchial in aluminum

Lung function and bronchial reactivity in aluminum potroom workers. 1989;15:296- 301. Lung function and bronchial reactivity were measured in 38 aluminum potroom workers with no airway symptoms and in 20 healthy referents (office workers). All of the participants were non smokers. The magnitude of exposure to airborne dust (alumina) and fluor ides was determined. The alu minum potroom workers had obstructive lung function impairment with a significant decrease in expira tory flow and an increase in residual volume. Diffusing capacity was found to be lower than in the refer ents. No bronchial hyperreactivity was found in the aluminum potroom workers. The exposure to inhaled alumina and particulate and gaseous fluorides in the plant was low, 15-20070 of the Swedish exposure limits. The finding of only modest lung function alterations with no bronchial hyperreactivity in the alu minum potroom workers is not consistent with the results of other authors. This discrepancy can proba bly be explained by the fact that the exposure to inhaled contaminants in the investigated aluminum plant was low.
Comparative Evaluation Of Clinical Characteristics And Visual Outcomes Of Traumatic And Non-Traumatic Graft Dehiscence Following Corneal Transplantation Surgery Clinical

Purpose: To compare patient demographics, clinical associations and visual outcomes between traumatic and non-traumatic wound dehiscence, following corneal transplantation. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients presenting with post-keratoplasty wound dehiscence to the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital between January 2005 and December 2017. Patients with wound dehiscence following keratoplasty of any cause were included. Results: Of 71 eyes from 71 patients included, 60 (85%) were penetrating keratoplasty patients. The mean age was 56.4 years (SD=22.7, range 17.6 – 97) and 62% (n = 44) of patients were male. There were 28 (39%) cases of traumatic dehiscence and 43 (61%) cases of non-traumatic dehiscence. The median time interval from keratoplasty to dehiscence was signi ﬁ cantly less in non-traumatic patients than traumatic patients (0.2 years, IQR 0.1 – 2.0 vs 2.3 years, IQR 0.3 – 14.8, p=0.01). There was no signi ﬁ cant difference in best-corrected visual acuity at 6 months between traumatic and non-traumatic dehiscence (6/60 vs 6/36, p=0.62), suture technique (continuous vs interrupted, p=0.12), or graft type (penetrating keratoplasty vs deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty) after adjusting for keratoconus (p=0.41). Conclusion: Post-keratoplasty wound dehiscence is a serious complication and can cause signi ﬁ cant loss of vision. While the risk of dehiscence is lifelong, the ﬁ rst 3 years post-keratoplasty carry the highest risk, with non-traumatic dehiscence tending to occur earlier than traumatic dehiscence.
Gender differences in the correlates of academic achievement among students

Purpose: Prior research has highlighted gender differences in academic motivational attributes, and how these predict academic achievement for each gender, however, a vast amount of inconsistency exists amongst such literature. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the predictive value of academic motivation (achievement goal, leaning goal, performance goal, self-efficacy, and active learning strategies) and study time in explaining academic achievement amongst male and female students. Methodology: Cross-sectional survey design was applied. Participants were sampled opportunistically, and consisted of final year undergraduate students, including both males ( n = 126) and females ( n = 189) attending various courses at a UK university. Findings: Multiple regression analysis carried out for each gender revealed that study time, active learning strategies, performance goal, and self-efficacy were significant predictors of achievement for males, whereas self-efficacy was the only significant predictor of achievement for females. Value: These findings offer practical implications in terms of methods employed by educators to enhance academic achievement. Such implications highlight the importance of the development of self-efficacy in both genders and propose methods in which universities can enhance motivation in male and female students. Recommendations for future research are also made.
Running head: GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE-SUPPORTIVE COGNITIONS Gender-based violence-supportive cognitions in adolescent girls and boys: The function of violence exposure and victimisation

Violence against women and girls is widespread in the Caribbean, which may be due to heightened acceptance of such acts in this specific social context. In spite of this, studies investigating attitudes towards violence and their correlates among participants drawn from the region are missing. In order to address this void in the literature, we examined associations between violence exposure and victimisation and two gender-based violence-related cognitions (attitudes towards male physical domestic violence and social norms regarding physical violence against girls) as well as general beliefs about violence, using structural equation modelling. Participants were a sample of adolescent girls ( n = 661; M age = 13.15) and boys ( n = 639; M age = 13.22) from two Eastern Caribbean countries, Barbados and Grenada, recruited from 10 primary schools, nine secondary schools, and two youth offender centres. In considering that girls and boys were previously demonstrated to differ in their experiences as well as tolerance of violence, structural models were specified and tested separately for the two sexes. Results indicated that violence victimisation was positively strongly associated with attitudes towards male physical domestic violence and social norms regarding physical violence against girls among boys. Increased violence victimisation among girls, in turn, correlated with increased acceptance of social norms regarding physical violence against girls, but this relationship was weak. Violence exposure did not have any significant associations with any of the attitudinal variables included in the study. We discuss the importance of these findings for the development of appropriate gender-based violence prevention strategies for youths from the Eastern Caribbean.
[Elderly victims of trauma: analysis of the risk factors].

The objective of this study was to identify the risk factors for trauma among the elderly, using a quantitative, cross-sectional approach, as well as logistical regression analysis. This study was performed at the emergency rooms of two hospitals in Curitiba. Interviews were performed with 261 elderly individuals, 56.7% of whom were women, and 43.3% men. Their ages ranged between 60 and 103 years, with most being younger than 70 years (44.8%). The most frequent trauma mechanisms were: falls (75.9%), being run over (9.6%), direct trauma (5.4%) and motor vehicle accident (3.8%). The multivariate analysis permitted the authors to affirm that the female gender, the presence of a caregiver, the utilization of continuous-use medication, and the presence of hearing impairment significantly increased the risk of trauma due to falls. Individuals having vision problems (without the use of glasses) and aged individuals with a monthly income of less than three minimum salaries tend to have a higher risk of suffering trauma due to falls. If the factors that greatly influence trauma among the elderly are evaluated during nursing appointments, it is possible to promote health interventions that favor their prevention. Language: pt
Enhancing wellbeing: An emerging model of the adaptive functions of listening.

Affect regulation is generally considered the most important function of music listening (FML). Yet, models of wellbeing also highlight engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement, and other adaptive functions that music may facilitate. However, there is currently no consensus as to how these adaptive FML co-function within an enhancement system that supports wellbeing. The current study used the collective intelligence methodology, Interactive Management (IM) to address this gap in the literature. Four IM sessions were conducted, two with younger adults ( N = 24) and two with older adults ( N = 19). Participants responded to the stimulus question “why do you listen to music? ” Each participant then voted for five FML they believed were most significant for enhancing wellbeing. The eight highest ranked functions were entered into Interpretive Structural Modelling software, and relations between pairs of FML were discussed. Four structural models were generated demonstrating potential interdependencies in FML in the context of wellbeing enhancement. Age differences emerged in the FML considered adaptive: younger adults emphasized affect regulation and social connection, whereas older adults emphasized more eudaimonic functions of music (e.g., Transcendence and personal growth). The influence of FML are discussed in reference to key wellbeing and developmental theories.
LSU Digital

We consider the problem of binary hypothesis testing using a distributed wireless sensor network. Identical binary quantizers are used on the sensor’s observations and the outputs are encrypted using a probabilistic cipher. The third party (enemy) fusion centers are unaware of the presence of the probabilistic encipher. We ﬁnd the optimal (minimum-probability-of-error) fusion rule for the ally (friendly) fusion center subject to a lower bound on the the probability of error for the third-party fusion centers. To obtain the minimum probability of error, we ﬁrst prove the quasi-convexity of error probability with respect to the sensor’s threshold for a given cipher and show the existence of a unique positive minimum for error probability of the ally fusion center. The threshold corresponding to the minimum error-probability is evaluated numerically and the appropriate cipher that deteriorates the performance of the third-party fusion center below the required limits is obtained. Our results show that, by adjusting the sensor threshold and the encryption parameters, it is possible to achieve acceptable performance for the ally fusion center while causing signiﬁcant degradation to the performance of the third party fusion center.
(2019). Modalities, cohesion, and information flow. Proceedings of the ACM on Programming Languages, 3(POPL), [20].

It is informally understood that the purpose of modal type constructors in programming calculi is to control the flow of information between types. In order to lend rigorous support to this idea, we study the category of classified sets, a variant of a denotational semantics for information flow proposed by Abadi et al. We use classified sets to prove multiple noninterference theorems for modalities of a monadic and comonadic flavour. The common machinery behind our theorems stems from the the fact that classified sets are a (weak) model of Lawvere’s theory of axiomatic cohesion. In the process, we show how cohesion can be used for reasoning about multi-modal settings. This leads to the conclusion that cohesion is a particularly useful setting for the study of both information flow, but also modalities in type theory and programming languages at large.