Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of genomic 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine during mouse oocyte growth

Recent studies of the demethylation process in murine zygotes have shown that 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) is first converted into 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) or further‐oxidized cytosines in the paternal genome by the maternal ten–eleven translocation 3 (TET3) enzyme. This process is crucial for normal embryogenesis, and our aim was to elucidate the effect of Tet3 on the maternal genome during female germ‐line development. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that 5hmC was clearly present in fully grown oocytes but not in nongrowing and early growth‐stage oocytes. The 5hmC in the maternal genome was clearly detectable in DNA methyltransferase 3‐like enzyme (Dnmt3L)‐null oocytes and their fertilized zygotes, although Dnmt3L is essential for DNA methylation in oocytes. An analysis using an enzyme digestion‐based method showed that 5hmC was present in LTR retrotransposons from the late growth period of oocytes. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis showed that Tet3 expression was enhanced during oocyte growth and exhibited an approximately 40‐fold increase between nongrowing and fully grown oocytes. Our results show that 5hmC is generated since the oocyte growth stage, accompanied by up‐regulation of Tet3; 5hmC is located mainly in LTR retrotransposons, indicating that 5hmC generated in growth‐stage oocytes is responsible for genomewide demethylation after fertilization.
PAPER Special Section on Parallel and Distributed Computing and Networking Hierarchical Architecture for Peer-to-Peer Video on Demand Systems with the Notion of Dynamic Swarms ∗

This paper proposes a method to reduce the playback suspension in a Video-on-Demand system based on the Peer-to-Peer technology (P2P VoD). Our main contribution is twofold. The first is the proposal of a hierarchical P2P architecture with the notion of dynamic swarms. Swarm is a group of peers to have similar playback position and those swarms are connected with an overlay so that requested pieces are forwarded from a swarm to another swarm in a bucket brigade manner, where the forward of pieces is regulated by the super-peer (SP) of each swarm. The second contribution is the proposal of a match making scheme between requests and uploaders. The simulation result indicates that the proposed scheme reduces the total waiting time of a randomized scheme by 24% and the load of the media server by 76%. key words: Peer-to-Peer, video-on-demand, playback suspension, matchmaking
An investigation of preference uncertainty in the contingent valuation study

This study investigates the respondents’ preference uncertainty in the dichotomous choice (DC) contingent valuation study for gathering information on willingness to pay (WTP). To this end, we use polychotomous choice (PC) question and DC question with certainty level for two split samples. We find that incorporating preference uncertainty has a significant effect on the WTP estimates and, more importantly, the DC question with certainty level produces more efficient WTP estimate than the PC question.
The evaluation model of a commercial bank loan portfolio

As in other countries where the traditional banking is dominating, the major part of banks’ assets and loan interest income makes a significant share of banks’ income. Inappropriate loan portfolio evaluation might have negative impact on a commercial bank's performance, the overall banking system, and the economic growth of the country. It is not enough for a bank to have a precise strategy, high lending culture, and observance of general principles to ensure the further growth of profitable loans. It is necessary to apply various evaluation methods of historical and present data, of ratios and factors enabling to implement coherent and comprehensive loan portfolio evaluation, and to encompass different factors as far as possible. Due to a complex business environment and intense competition between banks, it is not enough to evaluate a commercial bank loan portfolio only through the aspect of credit risk, i.e. loss probability level aspect, as is suggested by the scientists. As to every business subject striving for a successful performance and further development, it is essential for a bank to earn profit by financing the other subjects, and to establish the level of assets liquidity.
On the Improper Use of CRC for Cryptographic Purposes in RFID Mutual Authentication Protocols

Mutual authentication is essential to guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an RFID system. One area of interest is the design of lightweight mutual authentication protocols that meet the limited computational and energy resources of the tags. These protocols use simple operations such as permutation and cyclic redundancy code for cryptographic purposes. However, these functions are cryptographically weak and are easily broken. In this work, we present a case against the use of these functions for cryptographic purposes, due to their simplicity and linear properties, by analyzing the LPCP protocol. We evaluate the claims of the LPCP resistance to de-synchronization and full disclosure attacks and show that the protocol is weak and can be easily broken by eavesdropping on a few mutual authentication sessions. This weakness stems from the functions themselves as well as the improper use of inputs to these functions. We further offer suggestions that would help in designing more secure protocols.
Corner fed microstrip antenna array with reduced cross polarization and side lobe level

This paper presents design and analysis of large corner fed microstrip antenna array at C band. Two configurations of corner fed arrays are designed to analyze and compare their performance. Symmetric corner feed configuration provides reduced side lobe level and cross polarization level. A series of non-radiating edge corner fed linear array up to 31-elements are designed with a stable broadside beam, low cross polarization level and reduced side lobe level. Cross-polarization of lower than −35dB is achieved with beam directed at the boresight. Planar array of 13 × 13 elements is designed using corner fed technique in E and H planes which provides moderate gain of 24dBi at C band. The side lobe level of lower than −20dB and − 14dB in E and H plane is achieved. However, cross polarization of lower than −23dB in E and H plane respectively, is achieved at the boresight for this planar array. This array can be used for long range radar and WLAN applications.
Postthaw Evaluation of In Vitro Function of Epididymal Spermatozoa from Four Species of Free-Ranging African Bovids1

Abstract An improved understanding of reproductive physiology in nondomestic bovids is necessary for the development of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) for use in the conservation of endangered bovids. In this study, epididymal spermatozoa were recovered from blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), and black wildebeest (Connochaetes gnou) following organized culls in South Africa. Our objectives were 1) to characterize the quality of epididymal spermatozoa, 2) evaluate the effectiveness of a cryopreservation protocol, and 3) compare postthaw sperm longevity (motility, viability, and acrosomal integrity) and functionality in two culture media with two capacitation reagents (caffeine and heparin). Following recovery, spermatozoa were diluted in EQ extender, slow-cooled, and frozen in the presence of 5% glycerol. Thawed spermatozoa were separated on a Percoll gradient and diluted in fertilization media (SOF for fertilization [SOFfert]; 0.6% BSA, 0.0 mM glucose, 25.0 mM NaHCO3) or modified SOFfert (1.2% BSA, 1.5 mM glucose, 37.0 mM NaHCO3) and either heparin or caffeine, and incubated for 6 h. Spermatozoa from these species maintained an average of 64% initial motility after thawing. Incubation medium and capacitation reagent had species-specific effects on the motility, viability, and acrosomal integrity of spermatozoa, suggesting ART procedures need to be optimized for each species. Springbok spermatozoa were also shown to be competent for in vitro fertilization. Information from this study concerning sperm physiology in blesbok, African buffalo, springbok, and black wildebeest will be useful in the development of ART for the conservation of these and other species of bovids.
Estimating degree distributions of large networks using non-backtracking random walk with non-uniform jump

This work presents a hybrid sampling method that mixes a non-backtracking random walk and a variation of random walk with jump. We show that the proposed method combines the strengths of both random walks. In particular, the walker of our method will not backtrack to the previously visited vertex so it is likely to produce less number of duplicate samples than the simple random walk. Moreover, the walker's ability to jump ensures that it will explore a network faster. We applied our method on six real world online networks where some of the networks contain millions of vertices. The experimental results show that our method outperformed a non-backtracking random walk and a random walk with jump on estimating degree distributions.
Merger Arbitrage Short Selling and Price Pressure

We evaluate the over-valuation hypothesis and merger arbitrage price pressure hypothesis as potential explanations for the observed negative returns to stock acquirers around merger announcement. Using daily shorting flow data, we show that the majority of the negative announcement returns can be attributed to price pressure induced by merger arbitrage short selling. Additional analysis of shorting activity and associated returns for floating-exchange-ratio stock acquirers at deal closings and among withdrawn stock deals further supports merger arbitrage price pressure explanation. We also find merger arbitrage activity increases with estimated arbitrage spread on a daily basis. As a whole, the results suggest that merger arbitrageurs play a critical role in stock mergers.
Investments in Adult Lifelong Learning

The economic analysis of labor and employment law is a bold effort to apply economic theory to explain important empirical facts about the regulation of the employment relationship and to provide positive predictions and normative analyses that are useful to policy-makers. This book draws together 24 chapters, by leading scholars in the field, summarizing the important theoretical and empirical work that has been done to date on a wide spectrum of labor and employment law topics including: regulating employment contracts, unions, collective bargaining, minimum wages, health insurance, executive pay, workersâ€™ compensation, unemployment, occupational health and safety, discrimination, needs of families, training and slave labor, to name but a few.
Fatores Determinantes do Endividamento: um Estudo Empírico no Setor de Telecomunicações Brasileiro

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os fatores determinantes do endividamento das companhias do setor de telecomunicacoes brasileiro a luz das Teorias do Static Trade-Off (STT) e da Pecking Order (POT). A metodologia utilizada foi a de analise de regressao multipla com dados em painel para o periodo de 2002 a 2013, utilizando como variaveis dependentes o endividamento de curto prazo e o endividamento de longo prazo, e como variaveis independentes, a rentabilidade, a tangibilidade, o crescimento, o tamanho e o risco. Como resultados, observou-se uma relacao negativa entre as variaveis rentabilidade, tamanho e risco para com o endividamento de curto prazo, e uma relacao negativa entre o tamanho e o risco para com o endividamento de longo prazo.
Effect of Nutritional Status and Ozone Exposure on Some Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Rat Brain Regions

Abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of nutritional condition and simulated exposure to ozone on Glutathione (GSH), the activity of Na+/K+ ATPase and lipid peroxidation in rat brain. Male Wistar rats were fed with 7% and 23% protein diets. Two groups were formed for each nutritional condition: one group was exposed for 15 successive days to 0.75 ppm of ozone and the other to air. Subsequently, the brain was dissected in cortex, hemispheres, cerebellum, and brainstem to measure the activity of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), ATPase, and levels of GSH. The activity of Na+/K+ ATPase increased in cerebellum of well-nourished rats exposed to ozone, while total ATPase and TBARS decreased in all studied areas in the malnourished groups. The levels of GSH decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in the brain of rats fed with 7% of protein diet and exposed to ozone but increased in rats fed with normal diet and exposed to ozone. These results suggest that malnutrition causes alterations in the values of Na+/K+ ATPase, total ATPase, GSH, and lipid peroxidation, while ozone contributes to these modifications. As a consequence, both variables are involved in oxidative stress in the rat brain.
Australia and the European Union: conflict, competition or engagement in agricultural and agri-food trade?

Many scholars have mounted convincing cases that the engagement of Australia and the European Union (EU) has been characterised by skirmishes regarding the Common Agricultural Policy and its distortion of world markets, and lack of Australian access to EU markets. This article illustrates that agricultural and agri-food trade constitutes a relatively small portion of Australia–EU trade flows; that Australia exports more goods to the EU than in the past; and that, in some agri-food sectors, it exports more goods to the EU than the EU does to Australia. Further, it argues that conflict and competition regarding the Common Agricultural Policy need to be understood in the broader context of world trade and in the context of a new and deeper engagement between the two interlocutors.
Immunocytochemical expression of dopamine‐related transcription factors Pitx3 and Nurr1 in prenatally stressed adult rats

Rats exposed to different types of stress during the last week of pregnancy produce offspring that show severe anomalies in neural development and brain morphology. We have previously reported that prenatal stress (PS) induced by immobilization increases D2‐type dopamine (DA) receptor levels in the adult offspring, with a concomitant reduction in DA release in prefrontal cortex after amphetamine stimulation. Recently, two transcription factors, Nurr1 and Pitx3, have been identified that are expressed at critical moments of DA neuron differentiation. Their genetic expression is activated immediately after these neuron determinations and maintained through adult life. Nurr1 regulates several proteins that are required for dopamine synthesis and regulation, and Pitx3 is specifically involved in the terminal differentiation and maintenance of dopamine neurons. By means of an immunocytochemistry approach, we studied the expression of Nurr1 and found an ubiquitous distribution in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, and midbrain, whereas Pitx3 remains restricted to the mesencephalic DA neurons such as substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area. Our results show that the expression of both Nurr1 and Pitx3 increased in prenatally stressed adult offspring in the ventral tegmental area, whereas no changes were observed in the substantia nigra area. It might be hypothesized that the increase of the specific dopaminergic transcription factors might be a compensatory mechanism to counteract the reduction in dopamine levels previously observed as a consequence of prenatal stress. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A common shift in real interest rates across countries

This paper documents common shifts in the behaviour of real interest rates across different countries following the announcement of monetary policy regime changes of US Federal Reserve procedures in October 1979. This evidence suggests that the observed, big fluctuations in real interest rates in the seventies and eighties across countries may be linked to the changes of the US monetary policy. It also emphasizes the international effects of US monetary policy on ex ante real interest rates across countries.
Social motility in Myxococcus xanthus requires FrzS, a protein with an extensive coiled‐coil domain

Gliding motility in the developmental bacterium Myxococcus xanthus involves two genetically distinct motility systems, designated adventurous (A) and social (S). Directed motility responses, which facilitate both vegetative swarming and developmental aggregation, additionally require the ‘frizzy’ (Frz) signal transduction pathway. In this study, we have analysed a new gene (frzS), which is positioned upstream of the frzA–F operon. Insertion mutations in frzS caused both vegetative spreading and developmental defects, including ‘frizzy’ aggregates in the FB strain background. The ‘frizzy’ phenotype was previously considered to result only from defective directed motility responses. However, deletion of the frzS gene in an A−S+ motility background demonstrated that FrzS is a new component of the S‐motility system, as the A−frzS double mutant was non‐spreading (A−S−). Compared with known S‐motility mutants, the frzS mutants appear similar to pilT mutants, in that both produce type IV pili, extracellular fibrils and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O‐antigen, and both agglutinate rapidly in a cohesion assay. The FrzS protein has an unusual domain composition for a bacterial protein. The N‐terminal domain shows similarity to the receiver domains of the two‐component response regulator proteins. The C‐terminal domain is composed of up to 38 heptad repeats (a b c d e f g)38, in which residues at positions a and d are predominantly hydrophobic, whereas residues at positions e and g are predominantly charged. This periodic disposition of specific residues suggests that the domain forms a long coiled‐coil structure, similar to those found in the α‐fibrous proteins, such as myosin. Overexpression of this domain in Escherichia coli resulted in the formation of an unusual striated protein lattice that filled the cells. We speculate on the role that this novel protein could play in gliding motility.
Effects of interest rate, exchange rate and their volatilities on stock prices: evidence from banking industry of Pakistan

This study investigates the effects of exchange rate, interest rates, and their volatilities on stock prices of banking industry of Pakistan. Cointegration results suggests the existance of significant negative long run relationship between exchange rate and short term interest rate with stock prices. On the other hand, positive and significant relationship exists between volatilities of exchange rate and interest rate with stock prices. Causality analysis confirms bidirectional causality between exchange rate and stock prices. Whereas, unidirectional causality runs from short term interest rate to stock prices. Sensitivity analysis confirms that the results are robust. It is suggested that investors should invest in banking sector stocks when exchange rate and interest rates are highly volatile. The result also supports the view that exchange rate and interest rate can be used as an indicator for investment decision making in banking sector stocks.
Dexamethasone promotes osteoclastogenesis by inhibiting osteoprotegerin through multiple levels

Increased bone fragility attributed to osteopenia is a serious side effect of glucocorticoid treatment. Glucocorticoid‐induced bone loss is caused primarily by hypofunction and apoptosis of osteoblasts, and secondarily by accelerated bone resorption. To explore the mechanism whereby dexamethasone (Dex) stimulates osteoclastogenesis in the coculture system, we analyzed the effect of Dex on the expression of both mouse osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL). Dex reduced OPG transcripts and OPG protein secretion by the ST2 osteoblastic cells. Since mainly the c‐Jun homodimer maintains the steady‐state transcription of the OPG gene, we examined the effect of Dex on c‐Jun signaling in ST2 cells. Western blotting disclosed that Dex decreased the amount of phospho‐c‐Jun protein (p‐c‐Jun) and, correspondingly, the amount of the phosphorylated p46 isoform of Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). The amount of phospho‐SEK1 also decreased after Dex treatment, while the amounts of phospho‐ERK and p38 remained constant. Among mitogen‐activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitors, the JNK inhibitor mimicked the inhibitory effect of Dex on OPG promoter activity. On the other hand, Dex treatment per se showed a nominal increase of RANKL gene expression. A part of Dex‐mediated OPG gene suppression was achieved by the suppression of β‐catenin signaling. We speculate therefore that the bone resorptive action of Dex is mediated mainly by the inhibition of OPG by transrepressing the OPG gene through the AP‐1 site, with a reduction (mediated mainly by the decrease in the p46 isoform of JNK) in the proportion of p‐c‐Jun in a JNK‐dependent manner. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 335–345, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The use of Quantiferon-TB gold in-tube test in screening latent tuberculosis among Saudi Arabia dialysis patients

Background And Aim: Screening for tuberculosis (TB) is a key strategy for controlling infection. This study aimed to detect latent TB among dialysis patients. Methods: This is a prospective study conducted in King Saud University, Riyadh involving hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients aged ≥18 years. Patients were screened for latent TB infection (LTBI) using both TBskin test (TST) and QuantiFERONTB Gold In-Tube test (QFT-GIT). All participants were followed-up clinically and radiologically every 3 months for 2 years. Results: A total of 243 (181 HD and 62 PD) patients were included and 112(46.1%) were males. 45.3% showed positive QFT in HD patients with sensitivity of 91.7%, specificity of 71.4%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 19.5%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.1%. TST results in HD showed that positive TST was 17.4%, sensitivity was 63.2%, specificity was 95.5%, PPV was 51.5%, and NPV was 91.1%. Five (8.1%) showed positive QFT in PD patients with sensitivity of 7.7%, specificity of 91.8%, PPV of 6.6%, and NPV of 92.3%. TST results in PD showed that positive TST was 9.8%, sensitivity was 35.7%, specificity was 97.9%, PPV was 55.8%, and NPV was 93.3%. Previous TB infection was significantly correlated with QFT only in HD patients, but significantly associated with TST in both HD and PD patients. Also in HD, QFT was significantly associated with TST (P = 0.043). Conclusions: Due to high variability of QFT-GIT sensitivity, we recommend its use for its NPV and to use either TST or QFT in screening latent TB.