Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pentoxifylline: A Potent Inhibitor of Angiogenesis via Blocking STAT3 Signaling in B16F10 Melanoma

Pento xifylline (PTX) has been shown to exert anti-metastatic activity in solid tumor. In the present study the underlying mo lecular mechanism of the anti- angiogenic activ ity of PTX was investigated in highly metastatic B16F10 melano ma. PTX suppressed the phosphorylation of Signal transducer activator of Transcription 3(STAT3) and its upstream kinases in B16f10 melano ma at nontoxic dosages. It also reduced the expression of HIF1α, VEGF (potent angiogenic factor), its receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) and pro-inflammatory cytokines which play a significant role in induction of angiogenesis in solid tu mors. Moreover, PTX significantly suppressed the microvessel density around tumor induced in mice by injecting B16F10 cells intradermally on shaven ventral site. The inhibition in vasculature around tumor resulted in regression of tumor volume in PTX treated group of animals as compared to untreated group. These findings suggest that PTX exert anti-tu mor activity by inhibit ing angiogenesis via targeting the STAT3 signaling pathway in B16F10 melanoma
DNA sequencing by nanopores: advances and challenges

Developing inexpensive and simple DNA sequencing methods capable of detecting entire genomes in short periods of time could revolutionize the world of medicine and technology. It will also lead to major advances in our understanding of fundamental biological processes. It has been shown that nanopores have the ability of single-molecule sensing of various biological molecules rapidly and at a low cost. This has stimulated significant experimental efforts in developing DNA sequencing techniques by utilizing biological and artificial nanopores. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the nanopore sequencing field with a focus on the nature of nanopores and on sensing mechanisms during the translocation. Current challenges and alternative methods are also discussed.
Discrimination index of Y-chromosomal haplotypes in an Antioquia ( Colombia ) population sample

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) in a sample of 507 healthy male blood donors from Antioquia (Colombia) were studied. 323 different haplotypes were found, 256 of them being unique. Gene diversity ranged between 0.3640 at DYS393 and 0.8900 at DYS385. The haplotype diversity value (power of discrimination (PD) and power of exclusion (PE)) calculated from all eight loci combined was 0.9946, which is informative. This study provides further information on the Y-chromosome polymorphisms commonly used in paternity testing, forensic genetics and in the population genetic studies of complex patterns of sex differential racial admixture. D 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Acoustic radiation potential on a sphere in plane, cylindrical, and spherical standing wave fields

We have applied the method of Gor’kov for deriving the acoustic radiation potential on a sphere in an arbitrary sound field. Generalized potential and force expressions are derived for arbitrary standing wave modes in rectangular, cylindrical, and spherical geometries for the case where the sphere radius is much smaller than the wavelength (kR≪1). Criteria for determining radiation potential minima are derived and examples of characteristic spatial radiation potential profiles are presented. Single modes that can sustain stable positioning are discussed for each geometry. The localizing force strengths for representative standing wave modes in the three geometries are also compared. In this paper, we consider the positioning of samples due to acoustic forces only. However, the method developed here is general and can be extended to include gravity or other external forces.
BIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPABILITY FROM SEEDS OF SALICORNIA BEGELOVII COLLECTED FROM AL JUBAIL, EASTERN PROVINCE, SAUDI ARABIA

Salicornia begelovii Torr displays excessive biotechnological prospective as a salt-water irrigated crop. Qualitative and quantitative compositions of fatty acids were analyzed in the seeds of Salicornia begelovii collected from the eastern region, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia. Hexane extraction of the seed oil from Salicornia begelovii yielded 29% of total lipids. The GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy) investigation of the hexane extracts revealed five major peaks for the seed oil: 72.5 wt. % linoleic-ω6 acid (18:2), 7.4 wt. % palmitic acid (16:0), 13.3 wt. % oleic acid (18:1), 2.14 wt. % stearic acid (18:0) and 2.3 wt. % linolenic-ω3 acid (18:3). The quantity of the both saturated palmitic and stearic acids amounted (9.18%) in S. begelovii seed oil. The antioxidant capability of S. begelovii seed oil were determined and expressed by hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity and radical scavenging effects of the extract on DPPH free radical were studied. The composition of the oil was nutritive and medical health value was high, in addition to, it’s composition very similar to that of safflower oil. No unwanted fatty acid constituents were established in S. begelovii seed oil, and it could be suggested for biofuel fabrication.
Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of Mixed Ligand Complexes of Pd(II) Ions with Oxalic Acid and Heterocyclic Amines

The present work has been designed for the characterization and antibacterial studies of mixed ligand complexes of Pd(II) ions with phthalic acid and heterocyclic amines. The general formula of the complexes is (MLL / ) [where, M = Pd(II); L = Oxalic acid, C 2 O 4 , L / = Quinoline, C 9 H 7 N(1); iso -Quinoline, C 9 H 7 N(2)]. The complexes were prepared in the solid form and characterized by elemental analysis, conductivity & magnetic measurements and infrared & electronic spectroscopic studies. The infrared spectra of the complexes confirmed the coordination of metal ion with ligands. Their antibacterial activity has been evaluated by the disc diffusion method against seven pathogenic bacteria (three gram positive and four gram negative). The complexes were shown to exhibit mild to moderate antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bpj.v17i1. 22314 Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Journal 17 (1): 46-50, 2014
Simulation Based Estimation Using Extended Balanced Augmented Empirical Likelihood

This paper introduces an extension of the balanced augmented empirical likelihood method for estimating simulation models. We analyze its performance empirically using Monte-Carlo methods, and demonstrate that our new method increases the ﬂexibility and accuracy of the empirical likelihood approach, while preserving both its limit distribution and its consistency for moment condition models. We illustrate the efﬁciency of our method in terms of simulation sample size by estimating the parameters of a geometric Brownian motion process.
Table1. Carnltlneand Acylcarnitinesas Measured by Fractionationwith PerchloricAcid

CLINICALCHEMISTRY,Vol. 31, No. 3, 1985 491 aca. Clin Chem 29, 1090-1092 (1983). 6. Robinson BA, Stokes RH. Electrolyte Solutions, 2nd ed. (revised), Butterwonth and Co., Ltd., London, 1970. 7. Buster P, Vink KU. Direct potentiometnc determination of sodium ion in blood. I. Potentiometric response in simple sodium chloride solutions. Clin Chem 30, 6-10 (1984). 8. Morf WE. The origin of transient response phenomena of ion-selective electrodes. Anal Lett 10, 87-97 (1977).
ANALYSIS, DETECTION POLICY, AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF DETECTING TASK PLANNING ERRORS AND CONFLICTS

Executive Summary In this research, we analyze the impact and severity of conflicts and errors that occur during task planning through collaboration. Taxonomy of conflict and error problems and alternative detection methods are categorized to review the different types of conflict and error situations. Three techniques are developed and applied for the impact analysis. First, a performance measure, " detect-ability " , is defined to evaluate the detection potential of given detection methods. This measure and its analysis can provide the necessary decision-making information for the design of conflict/error detection. In addition, a cost-damage analysis based on available conflict/error knowledge is also applied to help decide on the optimum detection policy. Third, a viability measure is adapted for detection protocols and agents, and is applied as a measure of impact on the company to examine the detection policy and detection performance for collaborative task planners. The paper describes these three techniques, and experimental results in using them. The experiments indicate clearly that a detection policy associated with the cost-damage analysis method can maintain significantly higher viability of the collaborating planners, hence, positive total impact. This result is important, because it points to specific design guidelines for CEDM (Conflict and Error Detection Management) systems.
The Art of Law and Economics: An Autobiographical Essay

ground will be deterred from choosing a career in economics. This was not always the case. Like Krugman, I came to economics from a liberal arts background, picking up technical skills as needed both during and after graduate school. My journey, however, was more circui tous and unplanned than Krugman's. That I ended up a professor of economics and law is the outcome of an unlikely chain of events. I started out as an art major at the High School of Music & Art in New York City. Although art majors also were required to take the standard fare of academic courses, it was not a strenuous academic program, and it was possible to do reasonably well without much effort. The emphasis was clearly on the arts, and many graduates went on to specialized art and music colleges in the New York area. I ruled that out since I was only an average art student. I also experimented with architecture in high school. But here I fared no better and decided not to pursue it further, in part, because my closest friend had far more talent than I.2 When I entered Columbia College at seven teen I was not well prepared for its demanding academic program (which remains largely intact to this day). I had a good background in the arts but undeveloped study habits. Playing tennis and piano, frequenting jazz clubs and just hanging around Greenwich Village with my high school friends held my interest more than studying western civilization and humanities. But in one respect Music and Art taught me a valuable lesson. It impressed upon me the importance of being creative and imaginative in one's work. I have carried that lesson with me throughout my academic career. I strive to be imaginative both in my choice of topics and my approach to them. Rarely have I come up with a topic by sifting through the economics literature or scouring footnotes hoping to find loose ends to tidy up. I have often stumbled upon a good topic while preparing my classes, participating in seminars and workshops, auditing law school classes, talking to colleagues or just reading the newspaper. The trick is to recognize what one has stumbled upon, or as Robertson Davies writes in his latest novel: "to see what is right in front of one's nose; that is the task. "3
Examination and Comparison of Microbial Diversity in Field-Scale Sewage Sludge Composters

While the earth’s biodiversity has been studied in detail, to date, microbes have been completely omitted from meta-analytical studies of biodiversity data sets (Balmford & Bond, 2005; Diaz et al., 2006). In fact, biodiversity data sets are far from being considered a comprehensive global resource (Collen et al., 2008). Since the origin of prokaryotes on Earth over 3.5 billion years ago, the extent of evolutionary diversification within this group has been truly immense (DeLong & Pace, 2001; Payne et al., 2009). Microbial communities play important biological roles, such as the global cyclical change of materials in various environments (Diaz et al., 2006). As a result, existing biodiversity includes a vast and largely undiscovered diversity of microbes, which are probably very important for the sustainability of ecosystems (Swift et al., 2004). Hence, detailed investigation to characterize the global biodiversity of microbes is a very important task. Microbes have always formed a major component of global biodiversity, either as producers (e.g., phototrophic blue-green algae) or decomposers (e.g., heterotrophic bacteria) (Naeem et al., 2000). Furthermore, in the future, they may serve as producers of useful alternative energy sources (Ohnishi et al., 2010). For example, phototrophic microorganisms use the energy from light for the production of biomass, which is an energy source stored in all living organisms. In fact, microbial decomposers are used in industry to convert microbial biomass and organic waste materials, such as domestic garbage, into biofuels, such as methane, ethanol, and hydrogen (Swift et al., 2004; Kayhanian et al., 2007). Microbes are also used for bioremediation, which is the cleanup of pollution caused by human activities (Jorgensen et al., 2000). In this process, various microbes have been isolated from nature, which are capable of degrading spilled oil, solvents, and other environmentally toxic pollutants. Furthermore, the breadth of microbial diversity on Earth provides genetic resources that offer solutions for environmental and energy issues, and research in this area is currently expanding. Considering the serious environmental and energy issues that humans face today, a better understanding of the ecophysiology of environmental microbes is warranted to address problems such as resource depletion and environmental pollution.
Density Dependence of Electron Spin Relaxation Time in GaA

The electron density dependence of the electron spin relaxation time in a system of electrons interacting with phonons through phonon-modulated spin-orbit coupling was calculated using the formula for electron spin resonance derived by the projection-reduction method. The electron spin relaxation time in GaAs increased with increasing electron density, and the electron density was found to affect the electron spin relaxation differently according to temperature. The electron spin in GaAs was relaxed mainly by optical phonon scattering at high electron densities and piezoelectric phonon scattering at relatively low electron densities.
The Nature of Associated Absorption and the Ultraviolet-X-Ray Connection in 3C 288.1

We discuss new Hubble Space Telescope spectroscopy of the radio-loud quasar 3C 288.1. The data cover ~590 to ~1610 Å in the quasar rest frame. They reveal a wealth of associated absorption lines (AALs) with no accompanying Lyman-limit absorption. The metallic AALs range in ionization from C III and N III to Ne VIII and Mg X. We use these data and photoionization models to derive the following properties of the AAL gas: (1) There are multiple ionization zones within the AAL region, spanning a factor of at least ~50 in ionization parameter. (2) The overall ionization is consistent with the "warm" X-ray continuum absorbers measured in Seyfert 1 nuclei and other QSOs. (3) However, the column densities implied by the AALs in 3C 288.1 are too low to produce significant bound-free absorption at any UV-X-ray wavelengths. Substantial X-ray absorption would require yet another zone, having a much higher ionization or a much lower velocity dispersion than the main AAL region. (4) The total hydrogen column density in the AAL gas is log NH(cm-2) ≈ 20.2. (5) The metallicity is roughly half solar. (6) The AALs have deconvolved widths of ~900 km s-1, and their centroids are consistent with no shift from the quasar systemic velocity (conservatively, within ±1000 km s-1). (7) There are no direct indicators of the absorber's location in our data, but the high ionization and high metallicity both suggest a close physical relationship to the quasar/host galaxy environment. Finally, the UV continuum shape gives no indication of a "blue bump" at higher energies. There is a distinct break of unknown origin at ~1030 Å, and the decline toward higher energies (with spectral index α ≈ -1.73, for fν ∝ να) is even steeper than a single power-law interpolation from 1030 Å to soft X-rays.
Fuzzy Mathematical Model For A Lot-Sizing Problem In Closed-Loop Supply Chain

The aim of lot sizing problems is to determine the periods where production takes place and the quantities to be produced in order to satisfy the customer demand while minimizing the total cost. Due to its importance on the efficiency of the production and inventory systems, Lot sizing problems are one of the most challenging production planning problems and have been studied for many years with different modeling features. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy mathematical model for the single-item capacitated lot-sizing problem in closed-loop supply chain. The possibility approach is chosen to convert the fuzzy mathematical model to crisp mathematical model. The obtained crisp model is in the form of mixed integer linear programming (MILP), which can be solved by existing solver in crisp environment to find optimal solution. Due to the complexity of the problems harmony search (HS) algorithm and genetic algorithm (GA) have been used to solve the model for fifteen problem. To verify the performance of the algorithm, we computationally compared the results obtained by the algorithms with the results of the branch-and-bound method. Additionally, Taguchi method was used to calibrate the parameters of the meta-heuristic algorithms. The computational results show that, the objective values obtained by HS are better from GA results for large dimensions test problems, also CPU time obtained by HS are better than GA for Large dimensions.
PUB16 gene expression under abiotic stress and their putative role as an ARM repeat protein in Arabidopsis thaliana self-pollination pathway

The armadillo repeat super-family proteins (ARM repeat super-family proteins) possess tandem armadillo repeats and have been postulated to play different roles in plant development, morphogenesis, defense, cell death, and signal transduction through hormone signalling. In The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR), we found 113 loci closely related to ARM repeat family proteins. This extensive group of proteins was studied in flowers tissues by western blot using antibodies directed against the most conserved region of the ARM repeat family proteins. The amino acid residues sequences from TAIR were aligned and the resulting phylogenetic tree allows us to inferring their evolutionary relationships. The main finding was the high similarity between the gene product of PUB16 (At5g01830, A. thaliana) and ARC1 (Brassica napus). In order to search a possible role for PUB16 we carried out stress bioassays using hormonal and saline approaches. Gene expression using RT-PCR showed that some of the ARM repeat super-family proteins are expressed both under salt or hormonal stress conditions. Particularly these studies allowed to detect and semi-quantify PUB16 gene expression in normal or stress growth conditions. In this approach it was revealed that, only in presence of GA, the expression of mRNA-PUB16 became evident. To morphologically verify the increasing number of germinated pollen grain in gibberellins treated flowers, we used epi-fluorescence microscopy assay. These results suggest that PUB16 may participate in GA signaling pathway favoring self-pollination.
A Stochastic Trust Region Algorithm

An algorithm is proposed for solving stochastic and finite sum minimization problems. Based on a trust region methodology, the algorithm employs normalized steps, at least as long as the norms of the stochastic gradient estimates are within a user-defined interval. The complete algorithm---which dynamically chooses whether or not to employ normalized steps---is proved to have convergence guarantees that are similar to those possessed by a traditional stochastic gradient approach under various sets of conditions related to the accuracy of the stochastic gradient estimates and choice of stepsize sequence. The results of numerical experiments are presented when the method is employed to minimize convex and nonconvex machine learning test problems, illustrating that the method can outperform a traditional stochastic gradient approach.
Florigen (II): It is a Mobile Protein

The true identity of florigen - the molecule(s) that migrates from leaves to apical meristem to initiate flowering - was notoriously elusive, having made it almost the "Bigfoot" of plant biology. There was never a lack of drama in the field of florigen study, and florigen researchers have once again experienced such a swing in the last two years. We wrote a minireview last year in this journal (Yu et al. 2006) to excitedly salute, among other discoveries, the notion that the flowering locus T (FT) mRNA might be the molecular form of a florigen. However, this hypothesis was challenged in a little less than two years after its initial proposition, and the original paper proposed that the FT mRNA hypothesis was retracted (Huang et al. 2005; Bohlenius et al. 2007). Interestingly enough, the FT gene previously proposed to encode a florigen was never challenged. Rather, the FT protein, instead of the FT mRNA, is now believed to migrate from leaves to the apical meristem to promote floral initiation. In this update, we will share with our readers some entertaining stories concerning the recent studies of florigen in five different plant species. In addition to the published reports referenced in this update, readers may also refer to our previous minireview and references therein for additional background information (Yu et al. 2006).
Hepatoprotective effects of antioxidants against non- target toxicity of the bio-insecticide spinosad in rats

1 Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, Egypt. 2 Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. BOX 10219, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia. 3 Economic Entomology ands Pesticide Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo Universitry, Giza, Egypt. 4 National Organization for Drug Control and Research (NODCAR), Giza, Egypt. 5 Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. 6 Department of Zoology, and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan StateUniversity, East Lansing, MI, USA. 7 Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia 8 Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 9 School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China. 10 School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Musical Performance : a Composition of Monads ( in Workshop : Logic and Music )

Much work has been done on computer representations of music at the physical level. Developments such as K-nets by Klumpenhouwer and Lewin provide a way for representing transformations from one pitch-class to another. Category theory should facilitate the development of a logical approach to music, which can be mapped into one of the physical approaches for implementation. Towards this aim Mazzola and Andreatta developed the idea of a category of directed graphs (objects = notes or chords, edges = music operations such as transposition), as a topos-based approach for a description of the music, ultimately delivering the generalised PK-net with the concepts of form and support. PK-nets enable heterogeneous collections of musical objects to be naturally compared and manipulated as described by Popoff, Andreatta and Ehresmann [1].