Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exosomes Interactions with the Blood–Brain Barrier: Implications for Cerebral Disorders and Therapeutics

The Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB) is a selective structural and functional barrier between the circulatory system and the cerebral environment, playing an essential role in maintaining cerebral homeostasis by limiting the passage of harmful molecules. Exosomes, nanovesicles secreted by virtually all cell types into body fluids, have emerged as a major mediator of intercellular communication. Notably, these vesicles can cross the BBB and regulate its physiological functions. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which exosomes regulate the BBB remain unclear. Recent research studies focused on the effect of exosomes on the BBB, particularly in the context of their involvement in the onset and progression of various cerebral disorders, including solid and metastatic brain tumors, stroke, neurodegenerative, and neuroinflammatory diseases. This review focuses on discussing and summarizing the current knowledge about the role of exosomes in the physiological and pathological modulation of the BBB. A better understanding of this regulation will improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of cerebral diseases and will enable the design of effective treatment strategies.
Combined Inhibition of UBE2C and PLK1 Reduce Cell Proliferation and Arrest Cell Cycle by Affecting ACLY in Pan-Cancer

Various studies have shown that the cell-cycle-related regulatory proteins UBE2C, PLK1, and BIRC5 promote cell proliferation and migration in different types of cancer. However, there is a lack of in-depth and systematic research on the mechanism of these three as therapeutic targets. In this study, we found a positive correlation between the expression of UBE2C and PLK1/BIRC5 in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, revealing a potential combination therapy candidate for pan-cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), cell phenotype detection, and RNA-seq techniques were used to evidence the effectiveness of the combination candidate. We found that combined interference of UBE2C with PLK1 and UBE2C with BIRC5 affected metabolic pathways by significantly downregulating the mRNA expression of IDH1 and ACLY, which was related to the synthesis of acetyl-CoA. By combining the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib and the ACLY inhibitor bempedoic acid, it showed a higher synergistic inhibition of cell viability and higher synergy scores in seven cell lines, compared with those of other combination treatments. Our study reveals the potential mechanisms through which cell-cycle-related genes regulate metabolism and proposes a potential combined targeted therapy for patients with higher PLK1 and ACLY expression in pan-cancer.
Studies on the Characteristics of Deposition of Chicken IMP and IMF

The characteristics of deposition of chicken IMP and IMF were investigated in this experiment. Arbor Acres (AA) and Beijing Fatty Chickens (n=200, respectively) were raised under the same condition and were slaughtered at 28 d, 56 d and 90 d to assay the content of IMP and IMF in breast and leg muscle. The results showed that the IMP content of Beijing Fatty Chicken was significantly higher than that of AA (P0.01), and also significant difference existed between them in IMF (P0.01). The IMP content in breast muscle was higher than that in leg muscle (P0.01), while the IMF was inverse (P0.01). IMP content of female was a little bit higher than that of male (P0.05). IMF content varied with growth rate, and showed no association with sex. IMF content increased with age, while IMP did not.
Orthostasis Is Impaired Due to Fatiguing Intensive Acute Concentric Exercise Succeeded by Isometric Weight-Loaded Wall-Sit in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: A Pilot Study

The aim of the study was to investigate any indication of diminished orthostatic tolerance as a result of fatiguing intensive acute concentric exercise with a successive isometric wall-sit followed by an orthostatic stress test, with a special focus on any distinguishable alterations due to a delayed-onset muscle soreness effect. The exercise protocol was carried out among nineteen (10 female, 9 male) junior swimmers from the Hungarian National Swim Team. All athletes showed a positive orthostatic stress test right after our exercise protocol. The diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower due to the delayed-onset muscle soreness effect in the standing position after the supine position of the orthostatic stress test, in contrast to the athletes who did not experience delayed-onset muscle soreness. Furthermore, the heart rate was dysregulated in athletes with a delayed-onset muscle soreness effect when they assumed a supine position after the sustained standing position during the orthostatic stress test, in contrast to the athletes without delayed-onset muscle soreness. Interesting to note is that, in three subjects, the sustained standing position decreased the heart rate below the level of the initial supine position and six athletes experienced dizziness in the standing position, and all of these athletes were from the group that experienced delayed-onset muscle soreness. Accordingly, this study, for the first time, demonstrated that delayed-onset muscle soreness impairs orthostasis after unaccustomed fatiguing intensive acute concentric exercise with a successive isometric weight-loaded wall-sit; however, validation of this association should be investigated in a larger sample size.
Screening six cultivars of cowpea (Vignia unguiculata L.) walp for adaptation to soil contaminated with spent engine oil

Field experiments were carried out in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons at the Delta State University, Asaba Campus Teaching and Research Farm to screen six cultivars of cowpea (IT80D- 699, IT82 (e-18), IT84S- 2246- 4, TVx3236, IT90K–277-2 and IT870- 941- 1) for adaptation to soil contaminated with spent engine oil. 0 (control), 25, 50, 75 and 100 ml of the oil served as the treatments. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The results showed that cowpea cultivars grown in 25 ml of spent engine oil gave consistently significant higher (P  0.05) values than the control and the other treatments (50, 75 and 100 ml) of the spent oil in terms of plant height, leaf area, number of leaves, stem diameter, days to 50% flowering, number of nodes on main stem, number of branches, and number and length of peduncles. The results also showed that as from the 50 ml of oil application to soil, all the traits examined showed significant reductions (P ³ 0.05) when compared to their controls, however, TVx3226 and IT84S – 2246-4 were higher in performance whereas, IT890.699 and IT870- 941-, showed the lowest inhibitory effect. The study also showed a build up of heavy metals in oil-impacted soil. The current study has demonstrated that spent engine oil has a highly significant effect of reducing the growth characteristics of the six cultivars of cowpea examined with the TVx3236 and the IT84S- 2246- 4 showing some levels of tolerance hence, they can be recommended to farmers in oil impacted areas. Key words: Screening, cowpea cultivars, adaptation, spent engine oil.
Evolution of Boron and Nitrogen Content During Illitization of Bentonites

The incorporation of boron (B) and nitrogen (N) into illite is the key demand-side process responsible for the diagenetic budget of these elements in sedimentary basins, with important implications for pore-water chemistry, natural-gas composition, and borehole geophysics. The purpose of the present study was to take advantage of recent advances in quantitative mineral analysis of sedimentary rocks which have opened new possibilities for investigating this particular process. In order to avoid complications with recycled (detrital) N and B, clays from pyroclastic horizons of sedimentary rocks (bentonites) were used. The B and N contents in illite-smectite were measured in samples from different sedimentary basins, representing a complete range of diagenetic alteration. The bulk-rock chemical measurements, performed on raw rock samples in order to avoid any loss of exchangeable B and N, were referred to the contents of illite-smectite clays and to the content of illite alone, both measured by a combination of XRD and chemistry-based techniques.Both B and N (as NH4) are present in illite, so their contents in illite-smectite clay increase in a more or less linear manner with progressing illitization. Thus, during diagenesis, the illite-smectite clay is a net consumer of B and N from the pore water. The amount of N in individual illite layers decreases during diagenesis and the amount of B either decreases or remains stable. Bentonitic illite must acquire both B and N from outside of the bentonite bed. In one diagenetic cycle, bentonitic illite fixes up to 800–1000 ppm B and up to >1% N expressed as (NH4)2O, corresponding to >20% of the fixed cation sites.
Technical Effeciency of Smallholder Sorghum Producers: The Case of Hidabu Abote District, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

: In Ethiopia increasing productivity and efficiency in crop production could be taken as an important step towards attaining food security. This study was aimed to measure technical efficiency of smallholder sorghum producers in Hidabu Abote district, Ethiopia. A two stages sampling technique was used to select 153 sample farmers to collect primary data during 2020/21 production year. Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier and a two-limit Tobit model was used for the analysis. The result of stochastic frontier model revealed a statistically significant positive elasticity of labour and oxen power. The estimated mean value of technical efficiency was 65.2%. A two-limit Tobit model found that education, soil fertility and extension contact contributed significantly and positively to technical efficiency, while striga weed had a significant and negative effect. So, due attention should be given to improve soil fertility, expand education and supply striga resistance varieties.
International Journal of Speleology

: “Nothing could possibly live there! ” They believed. Indeed, until recently, few specialized cave-adapted animals were known from volcanic, tropical, or oceanic island caves, and plausible theories had been put forward to explain their absence. But assume nothing in science! One must illuminate, explore, and survey habitats before declaring them barren. Our understanding of cave biology changed dramatically about 50 years ago following the serendipitous discovery of cave-adapted terrestrial arthropods in Brazil and on the young oceanic islands of the Galápagos and Hawai‘i. These discoveries and subsequent studies on the evolutionary ecology of cave animals have revealed a remarkable hidden fauna and created new sub-disciplines within biospeleology. Biological surveys of caves in other regions have continued to expand our understanding of the evolution, adaptation, and ecology of the subterranean biome. We now predict that, rather than being relicts trapped in caves by changing climate, many animals actively colonized caves and adapted to exploit food resources wherever there were suitable subterranean voids. The physical environment in caves can be determined with great precision because the habitat is buffered by rock. Furthermore, the bizarre adaptations displayed by obligatory cave animals are similar across many taxonomic groups. These two characteristics make caves nearly ideal natural laboratories for studying evolution and ecology. However, to the untrained researcher, caves can appear hostile and dangerous, and in fact, fieldwork in caves requires a unique marriage of athletic ability and science. In other words, cave research is exciting! In this contribution, I describe the exploration, discovery, and research in tropical caves and describe the factors that delayed the recognition of a significant tropical cave fauna.
Analysis of the source areas of early immigrant white-backed planthopper Sogatella furcifera(Horváth) in Guangdong Province

In order to determine the source area of early immigrant white-backed planthoppers Sogatella furcifera(Horvath) in Guangdong Province,and to establish a basis for regional forecasting and source suppression,the geographic distribution of the source area of early immigrant WBPH was analyzed by GIS(Geographic Information System),HYSPLIT,a trajectory analysis software for the simulation of migration pathways,and light trap catch data from 4 plant protection stations(including Leizhou,Zhaoqing,Qujiang and Meixian). We obtained the following results:(1) Peak light-trap catches of WBPH occurred during the double-cropping season for early and late-rice,and peaks of early immigrants were mainly concentrated in Leizhou from early April to late May,and in Zhaoqing,Qujiang and Meixian from May to June. (2) Based on light-trap catch data,the immigration peaks of WBPH in Qujiang and Zhaoqing were obviously higher than in Leizhou and Meixian. (3) Simulations of migration trajectories indicated that most of the early immigrants came from central and northern Vietnam,central and southern Laos,Hainan Province and southern Guangdong and Guangxi.The spatio-temporal distribution of source areas shifted gradually northward with the season.
Improving Oil Recovery Efficiency Using Corn starch as a Local Polymer for Enhanced Oil Recovery Processes

: Polymer flooding is a chemical enhanced oil recovery method that improves the recovery of oil by controlling the mobility of water to oil phase. It uses polymer solutions to increase the viscosity of the displacing water thereby decreasing water/oil mobility ratio (Speight, 2013). The volumetric and displacement sweep efficiencies are positively affected by polymer flooding. The viscosity of the aqueous phase is increased due to the molecular size and structure of the polymer used. The main objective of this research was to study the ability of cornstarch (local polymer) to recover additional oil after conventional water flooding. The objective was successfully achieved by injecting four different unconsolidated samples (sand pack) with cornstarch solution at varying concentration of 500ppm, 1000ppm, 3000ppm, and 9000ppm. From the results of the experiment conducted, it was deduced that Cornstarch has the ability to recover an additional volume of oil about half the volume of oil recovered during conventional water flooding (i.e. if 50% of oil initially in place was recovered during water flooding, cornstarch can recover an additional 25% of the residual oil after water flooding). Also, higher concentrations of cornstarch reduce the recovery factor due to polymer adsorption on the rock surfaces which alters the rock wettability. To reduce the adsorption effect of Cornstarch, it is recommended that the concentration of Cornstarch be measured after the flooding experiments for a better understanding of the adsorption mechanism of cornstarch.
Studies of time dependence of fields in Tevatron superconducting dipole magnets

The time variation in the magnetic field of a model Tevatron dipole magnet at constant excitation current has been studied. Variations in symmetry allowed harmonic components over long time ranges show a log t behavior indicative of 'flux creep'. Both short-time-range and long-time-range behavior depend on the excitation history. Similar effects are seen in the remnant fields present in full-scale Tevatron dipoles following current ramping. Both magnitudes and time dependences are observed to depend on details such as ramp rate, flattop duration, and number of ramps. In a few magnets, variations are also seen in symmetry-disallowed harmonics. >
Prostate Carcinogenesis: Actionable Inflammatory Storms ?

33 Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. Intra-prostatic 34 inflammation is a risk factor for prostate carcinogenesis, with diet, chemical injury, and an 35 altered microbiome being causally implicated. Inflammation can expand intra-prostatic 36 myeloid cells that promote immunosuppression, DNA double-strand breaks, and activate 37 androgen receptor (AR) target genes. AR signalling and free radicals mediate further DNA 38 damage, thereby driving the chronic activation of DNA repair genes (DRG) and tumour 39 suppressor genes, rendering them more susceptible to endogenous and exogenous mutagens. 40 These processes are accelerated in the context of germline DRG defects. We provide an 41 update on recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms through which 42 inflammation and immune-dysregulation facilitate prostate carcinogenesis. We explore novel 43 therapeutic and prevention strategies harnessing these discoveries.
Corporate Restructuring And Financial Performance Of Commercial Banks In Kenya

Corporate restructuring is the process through which an organization modifies its financial operational and/ or organizational structure Regression techniques were used to analyze the valuables of the study. The study established the effect of corporate restructuring on financial performance of commercial banks in Kenya. The study population was 39 commercial banks. The study employed cross-sectional research design. Secondary data was collected using a survey collection sheet. The coefficient of corporate restructuring has negative and significant effect on financial performance of commercial banks. The study concluded that corporate restructuring has a negative and significant effect on the financial performance of commercial banks. It is important for policy makers and management of commercial banks to come up with restructuring policies to improve financial performance of commercial banks. Also, the management of commercial banks should ensure that banks adopt appropriate restructuring structures to improve performance.
The Repast Simulation/Modelling System for Geospatial Simulation

The use of simulation/modelling systems can simplify the implementation of agent-based models. Repast is one of the few simulation/modelling software systems that supports the integration of geospatial data especially that of vector-based geometries. This paper provides details about Repast specifically an overview, including its different development languages available to develop agent-based models. Before describing Repast’s core functionality and how models can be developed within it, specific emphasis will be placed on its ability to represent dynamics and incorporate geographical information. Once these elements of the system have been covered, a diverse list of Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) applications using Repast will be presented with particular emphasis on spatial applications utilizing Repast, in particular, those that utilize geospatial data.
On the Existence of Saddle Points for l 1 -Minimization Problems

—The sparse optimization problem has a wide range of applications in image processing, compressed sensing, and machine learning, etc. It is well known that l 1 -minimization problem plays an important role in studying sparse optimization problem from theoretical and algorithm aspects. In this paper, we mainly study the existence theory on saddle points for l 1 - minimization problem. Firstly, to overcome the nonsmoothness of l 1 -norm, we translate l 1 -minimization problem to an optimization programming with linear cost function by introducing new variable. Secondly, based on a new augmented Lagrangian function, the relationship on saddle points between the primal problem and the translated problems, associated with their duality problems, is established. It allows us to establish local saddle points by taking into account of second-order sufﬁcient conditions. Finally, global saddle points is established by using two different approaches. One is requiring that the optimal solution is unique. This assumption can be further removed in our another approach by using the perturbation analysis of primal problem
Economic geography and human capital accumulation in Turkey: evidence from micro-data

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of market access on human capital accumulation in Turkey. Using individual-level data, the analysis explores the background of human capital accumulation, combining market accessibility, wages and human capital development. Upon the treatment of wages as an endogenous covariate of interest and overtime work as an exogenous source of variation, we find evidence that the impact of market access on human capital development vanishes in ways not predicted by the augmented New Economic Geography set-up for human capital accumulation. Findings confirm that economic policies may be effective in reducing regional variation in human capital endowments.
Anchoring Heuristic in Option Pricing

An anchoring-adjusted option pricing model is developed in which the expected return of the underlying stock is used as a starting point that gets adjusted upwards to form expectations about corresponding call option returns. Anchoring bias implies that such adjustments are insufficient. In continuous time, the anchoring price always lies within the bounds implied by expected utility maximization when there are proportional transaction costs. Hence, an expected utility maximizer may not gain utility by trading against the anchoring prone investors. The anchoring model is consistent with key features in option prices such as implied volatility skew, superior historical performance of covered call writing, inferior performance of zero-beta straddles, smaller than expected call option returns, and large magnitude negative put returns. The model is also consistent with the puzzling patterns in leverage adjusted option returns, and extends easily to jump-diffusion and stochastic-volatility approaches.
JOURNAL OF LANGUAGE AND LINGUISTIC STUDIES

IELTS is used as a screening gatekeeper and plays a crucial role in Omani students to meet job requirements. This paper reports on Omani English-major undergraduate students’ reflections on their experience of the reading section of Academic IELTS. The main aim of the study was to elucidate their difficulties and coping strategies to inform EFL/ESL teachers and IELTS examiners and researchers. An IELTS mock reading test, under exam conditions, was administered to 45 Omani students majoring in English, and the participants were asked to write a reflective essay in response to the following prompts: “What were the difficulties that you encountered in your IELTS Academic Reading test, and how did you handle those challenges? ” Their answers touched upon their experience and challenges with the test (e.g. difficulties pertaining to cognition, content area knowledge, and the lack of familiarity with the test reading genres) as well as their strategies to address the challenges. The data were coded and analysed thematically and inductively. The findings showed that students reported a range of cognitive and metacognitive challenges and numerous coping strategies. This paper unravels some of the pedagogical implications and ideas that surfaced through the analysis of the students’ responses. © 2020 JLLS