Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modern strategies to identify new molecular targets for the treatment of liver diseases: The promising role of Proteomics and Redox Proteomics investigations

Oxidative stress, due to an imbalance between the generation of ROS and the antioxidant defense capacity of the cell, is a major pathogenetic event occurring in several liver diseases, ranging from metabolic to proliferative. Main sources of ROS are represented by mitochondria and cytochrome P450 enzymes in the hepatocytes, Küppfer cells, and neutrophils. Oxidative stress affects major cellular components including lipids, DNA, and proteins. Through modulation of protein structure/function, ROS can influence gene expression profile by affecting intracellular signal transduction pathways. While several enzymatic and nonenzymatic markers of chronic oxidative stress are well known in liver, early protein targets of oxidative injury are yet poorly defined. Identification of these biomarkers will enable early detection of liver diseases and will allow monitoring the degree of liver damage, the response to pharmacological therapies, and the development of new therapeutic approaches. In the era of molecular medicine, new proteomic methodologies promise to establish a relationship between pathological hallmarks of the disease and protein structural/functional modifications, thus allowing a better understanding and a more rational therapy on liver disorders. Purpose of this review is to critically analyze the application of proteomic and redox proteomic approaches to the study of oxidative stress‐linked liver diseases.
Allele and genotype frequencies of polymorphic FMO3 gene in two genetically distinct populations

The aims of this study were to analyze flavin‐containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) polymorphisms and allele and genotype frequencies in 256 Han Chinese and 50 African‐American individuals, to compare the allele and genotype frequencies of these populations with those of other world populations. For Han Chinese, genotyping of three common single nucleotide polymorphisms, E158K, V257M and E308G was performed by polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP). For African‐Americans, genotyping of all coding exons was performed by modified PCR‐single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Evolutionary rates of FMO3 were estimated computationally. We found that there were significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies among Han Chinese, African‐Americans and other world populations. In Han Chinese, the minor allele frequencies (MAFs) were 0.229 (E158K), 0.203 (V257M) and 0.148 (E308G), respectively. In African‐Americans, MAFs were 0.48 (E158K), 0.05 (V257M) and 0 (E308G), respectively. There was rapid evolution during the divergence of primate FMO3. This is the first report comparing FMO alleles and genotypes between Han Chinese and African‐Americans. A Han Chinese population database has been established for three gene polymorphisms. The data presented here justify further pharmacogenetic studies for potentially optimizing recommended drug dosages and evaluating relationships with disease processes. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrasonographic evaluation of partially attenuated congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts in 14 dogs

Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate the portal vein in 14 dogs before, immediately after and four weeks after a partial ligation of a congenital extrahepatic portocaval shunt. By four weeks after the operation, the hepatofugal or zero flow in the portal vein segment cranial to the shunt origin had become a hepatopetal flow in 13 of the dogs, which became clinically healthy. The other dog continued to have a hepatofugal flow in the portal vein cranial to the origin of the shunt and continued to show clinical signs of hepatic encephalopathy. The shunt remained functional in six of the dogs, and three of them developed portosystemic collaterals in addition. In the other eight dogs the patent shunt was non-functional, because a hepatopetal flow was detected in the shunt adjacent to the portal vein. This flow was the result of the splenic vein entering the shunt, and the splenic blood dividing; some flowed via the shunt towards the portal vein, preventing the portal blood from shunting, and the rest flowed via the attenuated shunt segment to the caudal vena cava. Shunting of the splenic venous blood was clinically insignificant.
Development of a Novel, Compact, Balanced, Micropower Impulse Radar for Nondestructive Applications

In this paper, we present a novel development of compact micropower ultrawideband (UWB) radar by integrating ultrashort balanced transmitter, sampling receiver, and antennas into a single package. The developed transmitter produces a pair of Gaussian pulses with 1 MHz of PRF, 400 ps of duration, and 8.3 V for peak-to-peak amplitude. The receiver down-converts microwave signals with a conversion gain of 3 dB over a 4.5-GHz bandwidth. The integrated UWB micropower radar system allows for the short-range detection with high range resolution and accuracy, thus enhance effectively the capability of target detection and classification. The high performances of such radar system for detecting objects are demonstrated through the real-field tests of various target scenes.
Revisiting potential output in Denmark

Dette arbejdspapir giver en detaljeret beskrivelse af Danmarks Nationalbanks nuvaerende metode til at estimere potentiel produktion og produktionsgabet for dansk okonomi. Det overordnede metodeapparat svarer til den tidligere produktionsfunktionstilgang i Andersen og Rasmussen (2011), men de enkelte delmodeller for erhvervsfrekvens, ledighed og totalfaktorproduktivitet er revideret. For det forste sa indarbejder den nye modellering af den strukturelle erhvervsfrekvens eksplit demografi pa tvaers af aldersgrupper, studietilbojelighed og en "discouraged worker" effekt. For det andet sa anvendes der nu en lon-Phillips-kurve i estimationen af den strukturelle ledighed i stedet for lonkvoten, da sidstnaevnte lejlighedsvis revideres betydeligt. Endelig opstilles en unobserved components model for TFP-gabet, som erstatter det tidligere udvidede HP-filter. I modellen anvendes den ledige kapacitet i industrien fortsat som indikator for cykliske udsving i TFP. Resultaterne peger pa, at danske okonomi opererer meget taet pa sit konjunkturneutrale niveau i 2016. Den overordnede opfattelse af produktionsgabet er saledes uaendret.
Monetary policy rules with PID control features: evidence from the UK, USA and EU

ABSTRACT This paper considers the extent to which the monetary policy operations of three major central banks can be regarded as an application of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control rules. The paper outlines the general PID framework and estimates a series of dynamic models to identify how interest rate policy adjustments are affected by the rate of inflation and the level of macroeconomic activity. The paper examines data for the UK, the USA and the Eurozone. The results suggest that the PID rules can provide a useful theoretical and empirical framework for estimating central bank responses to the inflation and macroeconomic activity variables by improving the explanatory power of the Taylor rule model and determining the effect of the parameters.
Mitogn induced proliferation of isolated adult mouse schwann cells

The proliferation of neonatal Schwann cells (SCs) in response to mitogenic agents has been well analyzed in vitro, but a limited range of mitogens have been defined. We investigated whether three identified neonatal SC mitogens [glial growth factor (GGF), platelet‐derived growth factor BB (PDGF‐BB), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)] are required to stimulate mitosis of adult SCs. Adult SCs were isolated from mouse sciatic nerves by mechanical and chemical dissociation, following three experimental steps: (1) culturing the dissociated cells for 24 hr in 10% FCS‐F12 medium, (2) culturing these cells in serum‐free medium for the next 48 hr, and (3) purifying adult SCs by differential adhesion. We describe a new method for preparation of SCs from peripheral nerves of adult mouse that provides 99.5% pure SCs populations at cell yields of greater than 3 × 103 cells/mg of starting nerve wet weight within 5 culture days. Although mitosis of SCs in culture in response to mitogens requires the presence of serum, the complex nature of serum renders difficult a complete analysis of mitogens required for SCs DNA synthesis, so we examined the proliferating response of adult SCs to GGF, PDGF‐BB, and bFGF in serum‐free medium. GGF alone had mitogenicity for adult SCs in a dose‐dependent manner, and synergistic activation coupling with forskolin was not observed. Neither PDGF‐BB nor bFGF was mitogenic for adult SCs when used alone or with forskolin. Measurement of intracellular cyclic AMP levels in SCs cultured with these growth factors showed that cAMP levels were not changed by GGF and bFGF, and PDGF‐BB reduced the cAMP level to half of basal one. This study demonstrated that adult SCs could proliferate without serum factors and forskolin in response to GGF, and adult SCs were activated by GGF through a signal transduction pathway separate from the cyclic AMP‐dependent system. In addition, PDGF‐BB or bFGF has no mitogenic effect on adult SCs under serum‐free conditions. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Race to the Bottom: Low Productivity, Market Power, and Lagging Wages

Abstract “Dualism” in the structure of production across sectors of the U.S. economy, employment by sector, productivity levels and growth, real wages, and intersectoral terms of trade increased markedly between1990 and 2016. The discussion focuses on 16 sectors. Seven were “stagnant”—construction, education and health, other services, entertainment, accommodation and food, business services, and transportation and warehousing. They had low productivity levels, productivity growth rates hovering around zero, and low real wages. Their share of total employment rose from 47% in 1990 to 61% in 2016. The other “dynamic” sectors had higher and positively growing productivity while the terms of trade shifted against them. This bifurcation between industries is discussed in terms of a simple model. Increasing duality and secular stagnation are distinct possibilities.
CNF encodings of cardinality in formal methods for robustness checking of gate-level circuits

With decreasing transistor sizes, the susceptibility of digital circuits to soft errors will increase. Thus, the need to efficiently evaluate the robustness of a gate-level circuit to multiple simultaneous soft errors. We compare the efficiency of various CNF schemes for encoding of cardinality constraints, which control the number of simultaneously injected soft errors in a gate-level circuit, when the robustness of the circuit is computed with SAT-based formal methods.
Bridging the Gap Between Access and Persistence in Higher Education in the Caribbean

Currently, Caribbean higher education institutions benefit from relatively high retention rates among students, however they have seen a rise in low on-time, graduation rates. Given this context, this study applies Tinto’s theoretical framework (1975) for understanding and identifying the causes of low student retention and graduation rates at a regional university in Jamaica. Within a United States context, this institution would be considered a predominantly minority-serving institution such as historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) given its large population of Black students. Analysing data from the university’s Student Experience Survey, the results indicate that, academic performance and financial issues were leading factors to non-returning students and low graduation rates. The findings reflect that full-time status is the strongest predictor of GPA and on-time graduation. To bridge the gap between access and persistence, we suggest strategies to improve issues of inequities and academic engagement at both the individual and institutional level.
Predicting sexual coercion in early adulthood: The transaction among maltreatment, gang affiliation, and adolescent socialization of coercive relationship norms

Abstract This study tested a transactional hypothesis predicting early adult sexual coercion from family maltreatment, early adolescent gang affiliation, and socialization of adolescent friendships that support coercive relationship norms. The longitudinal study of a community sample of 998 11-year-olds was intensively assessed in early and middle adolescence and followed to 23–24 years of age. At age 16–17 youth were videotaped with a friend, and their interactions were coded for coercive relationship talk. Structural equation modeling revealed that maltreatment predicted gang affiliation during early adolescence. Both maltreatment and gang affiliation strongly predicted adolescent sexual promiscuity and coercive relationship norms with friends at age 16–17 years. Adolescent sexual promiscuity, however, did not predict sexual coercion in early adulthood. In contrast, higher levels of observed coercive relationship talk with a friend predicted sexual coercion in early adulthood for both males and females. These findings suggest that peers have a socialization function in the development of norms prognostic of sexual coercion, and the need to consider peers in the promotion of healthy relationships.
The Changing Geopolitics in the Arab World: Implications of the 2017 Gulf Crisis for Business.

The international community was caught by surprise on 5 June 2017 when Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt severed diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilizing the region. More than one year after this diplomatic rift, several questions remain unaddressed. This study focuses on the regional business costs of the year-long blockade on Qatar. We split the sample to compare the stock market performances of Qatar and its Middle Eastern neighbors before and after the Saudi-led Qatar boycott. We focus our attention on the conditional volatility process of stock market returns and risks related to financial interconnectedness. We show that the Gulf crisis had the most adverse impact on Qatar together with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Although not to the same degree as these three countries, Bahrain and Egypt were also harmfully affected. But shocks to the volatility process tend to have short-lasting effects. Moreover, the total volatility spillovers to and from others increase but moderately after the blockade. Overall, the quartet lobbying efforts did not achieve the intended result. Our findings underscore Qatar's economic vulnerability but also the successful resilience strategy of this tiny state. The coordinated diplomatic efforts of Qatar have been able to fight the economic and political embargo.
Characterization of a Root-Specific Arabidopsis Terpene Synthase Responsible for the Formation of the Volatile Monoterpene 1,8-Cineole1

Arabidopsis is emerging as a model system to study the biochemistry, biological functions, and evolution of plant terpene secondary metabolism. It was previously shown that the Arabidopsis genome contains over 30 genes potentially encoding terpene synthases (TPSs). Here we report the characterization of a monoterpene synthase encoded by two identical, closely linked genes, At3g25820 and At3g25830. Transcripts of these genes were detected almost exclusively in roots. An At3g25820/At3g25830 cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the protein thus produced was shown to catalyze the formation of 10 volatile monoterpenes from geranyl diphosphate, with 1,8-cineole predominating. This protein was therefore designated AtTPS-Cin. The purified recombinant AtTPS-Cin displayed similar biochemical properties to other known monoterpene synthases, except for a relatively low Km value for geranyl diphosphate of 0.2 μm. At3g25820/At3g25830 promoter activity, measured with a β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, was primarily found in the epidermis, cortex, and stele of mature primary and lateral roots, but not in the root meristem or the elongation zone. Although the products of AtTPS-Cin were not detected by direct extraction of plant tissue, the recent report of 1,8-cineole as an Arabidopsis root volatile (Steeghs M, Bais HP, de Gouw J, Goldan P, Kuster W, Northway M, Fall R, Vivanco JM [2004] Plant Physiol 135: 47–58) suggests that the enzyme products may be released into the rhizosphere rather than accumulated. Among Arabidopsis TPSs, AtTPS-Cin is most similar to the TPS encoded by At3g25810, a closely linked gene previously shown to be exclusively expressed in flowers. At3g25810 TPS catalyzes the formation of a set of monoterpenes that is very similar to those produced by AtTPS-Cin, but its major products are myrcene and (E)-β-ocimene, and it does not form 1,8-cineole. These data demonstrate that divergence of organ expression pattern and product specificity are ongoing processes within the Arabidopsis TPS family.
Production and Properties of Xylan-Degrading Enzymes from Cellulomonas uda

Xylan degradation and production of β-xylanase and β-xylosidase activities were studied in cultures of Cellulomonas uda grown on purified xylan from birchwood. β-Xylanase activity was found to be associated with the cells, although in various degrees. The formation of β-xylanase activity was induced by xylotriose and repressed by xylose. β-Xylosidase activity was cell bound. Both constitutive and inducible β-xylosidase activities were suggested. β-Xylanase and β-xylosidase activities were inhibited competitively by xylose. β-Xylanase activity had a pronounced optimum pH of 5.8, whereas the optimum pH of β-xylosidase activity ranged from 5.4 to 6.1. The major products of xylan degradation by a crude preparation of β-xylanase activity, in decreasing order of amount, were xylobiose, xylotriose, xylose, and small amounts of xylotetraose. This pattern suggests that β-xylanase activity secreted by C. uda is of the endosplitting type. Supernatants of cultures grown on cellulose showed not only β-glucanase but also β-xylanase activity. The latter could be attributed to an endo-1,4-β-glucanase activity which had a low β-xylanase activity.
Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PC10), p53 protein and c‐erbB‐2 in renal adenocarcinoma

Expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PC 10), p53 protein (CMI) and c‐erbB‐2 (NCL‐I) were immunohistochemically analysed in 123 renal adenocarcinomas with known follow‐up data. e‐erbB‐2 protein was weakly and focally expressed in 10% of the tumours, and the expression was not related to clinical or histological variables or survival. p53 protein was expressed in 33% of the tumours. Expression of p53 protein was independent of stage, grade and prognosis, while expressions of c‐erbB‐2 and p53 were weakly interrelated. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen was expressed in all tumours, and the fraction of PC 10‐positive nuclei was significantly related to grade, stage and prognosis. Multivariate analysis of clinical, histological and immunohistochemical prognostic factors indicated that the extent of the tumour, its histological differentiation and proliferation rate of the cancer cells are the most important prognostic factors. Recurrence‐free survival was related to the fraction of PCIO‐positive nuclei, histological differentiation, sex and expression of p53 protein. Over‐expression of p53 protein was related to a long recurrence‐free survival. Our results show that PC10 immunolabelling can be used to determine the prognostic category in renal adenocarcinoma, whereas the expressions of p53 protein or c‐erbB‐2 are only weak prognostic indicators. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improved 3-D Magnetic Properties Measurement of Silicon Steel Laminations Based on a Novel Sensing Structure

The precise 3-D magnetic property measurement of the silicon steel is important to improve the efficiency and performance in electrical equipment, such as electrical machines and power transformers. An improved 3-D magnetic property measurement method of the silicon steel laminations is proposed by using a novel sensing structure with interconnecting multiple sensing coils covered on the surface of the cubic specimen. Based on the new coil structure with high precise coefficients from comprehensive calibration, the accurate relationship between B and H vectors is obtained and analyzed under alternating and 3-D rotating excitations with the feedback control method, especially when the laminated direction is considered. Consequently, the experimental data of magnetic properties with high precision can be obtained, which can provide important reference in designing and optimizing electrical equipment.
How does economic policy uncertainty react to oil price shocks? A multi-scale perspective

ABSTRACT This paper provides evidence for the impact of oil price shocks on economic policy uncertainty (EPU) from a multi-scale perspective using discrete wavelet transform and VAR model. Results indicate that oil price shocks impose a positive effect on EPU at an original level while effects of oil price shocks on EPU are time-varying over different time-scales. Particularly, oil price shocks lead to a positive change in the trend of EPU in the short- and long-term. Whereas, in the medium term, the negative effect of oil price shocks on EPU is identified.
Synthesis and spectroscopic characterization study of new palladium complexes containing bioactive O,O-chelated ligands: evaluation of the DNA/protein BSA interaction, in vitro antitumoural activity and molecular docking

[Pd{(C,N)–C6H4CH2NH(Et) (Qu)] (2) and [Pd{(C,N)–C6H4CH2NH(Et) (Nar)] (3) (Qu = Quercetin, Nar = Naringin) mononuclear palladium (II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, IR and electronic spectroscopy. The interaction of the prepared complexes with calf thymus DNA and bovine serum albumin (BSA), monitored by UV–visible and fluorescence titrations, respectively, have been carried out to better understand the mode of their action under biological conditions. Intercalative binding mode between the complexes and DNA is suggested by the binding constant (Kb) values of 2.5 × 106 and 3.2 × 106 for complexes 2 and 3, respectively. In particular, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the complexes on two cancer cells lines (bladder carcinoma TCC and breast cancer MCF7) showed that the compounds had broad spectrum, anti-cancer activity with low IC50 values and the order of in vitro anticancer activities is consistent with the DNA-binding affinities. In the meantime, the quenching of tryptophan emission with the addition of complexes using BSA as a model protein indicated the protein binding ability. The quenching mechanisms of BSA by the complexes were static processes, according to the results obtained. The competitive binding using Warfarin, Digoxin and Ibuprofen site markers, which contain definite biding sites, demonstrated that the complexes bind to site I on BSA. Ultimately, the binding sites of DNA and BSA with the complexes have been determined by molecular modelling studies.