Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of peptides derived from traditional Greek yoghurt on expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes by ovine monocytes and neutrophils

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of yoghurt peptides on expression of various pro- and anti-inflammatory genes by ovine monocytes and neutrophils. A total of eight commercial traditional-type Greek yoghurts made with ovine or bovine milk were used. Water-soluble extracts (WSEs) were obtained from all samples. Peptides present in WSE induced cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression and down-regulated inducible NO synthase, Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist and Ιnterleukin-12β gene expression in both cell types. Treatment of neutrophils with WSE resulted in a decrease in Interleukin-1β gene expression relative to control. There was a different response from monocytes and neutrophils regarding Transforming Growth Factor-β1 gene expression with an increase by monocytes and a decrease by neutrophils relative to control. Expression of Ιnterferon-γ and Ιnterleukin-10 remained unaffected. In conclusion, peptides derived from Greek yoghurt exhibited a mixed effect (pro- and anti-inflammatory) on two immunocompetent cell populations, although the anti-inflammatory effect was more pronounced.
A Privacy-Aware Dynamic Authentication Scheme for IoT Enabled Business Services

— Tech-savvy users are striving to bring automation and digitization in their lifestyle to make life more comfortable and efficient; Internet of Things (IoT) is an enabler in this direction. Technology advancements and new business opportunities are rapidly changing the IoT adoption landscape, and thereby security and privacy concerns have also started raising and realizing. The increasing number of IP enabled electronic devices, enormous data generation, and communication traffic have enhanced the attack surface for security and privacy violators. Many security attack scenarios are the result of poor identification and authentication mechanisms of communicating entities. In this paper, we present a secure scheme to perform a business transaction initiated by a smart device in the IoT environment. Scheme performs dynamic authentication of a business transaction while ensuring the privacy of the associated user(s). This scheme relies on Message Authentication Code (MAC) and dynamic key generation method to achieve a secure workflow. In this paper, we present a pluggable Roaming Smart Meters (RSM) concept to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed authentication scheme.
New Zealand Society of Animal Production online archive

Vigour of dairy calves in the first few days of life may be a relevant predictor of subsequent performance in an artificial-rearing system. This experiment aimed to evaluate two scoring systems to determine whether they detected variation in beef-sired calves born in the New Zealand pastoral dairy system. The scoring systems included a vigour score devised for housed dairy calves in Canada which had a range of physical and physiological parameters assessed, and a drinking score assessed at the feeder in the first few days of life (1=calf does not attempt to suck on feeder, 5=calf drinks vigorously for the whole feed). Calves generally scored highly (17-21 out of a possible 22 points) on the vigour score and meconium staining, head/tongue swelling, movement and heart rate showed little to no variation among calves. The drinking score showed that few calves scored in the low categories, and the scoring system may be improved by creating greater separation within the higher categories. Angus-cross calves were more likely to have a higher drinking score than Hereford-cross calves, and light or young calves were more likely to have low drinking scores.
Wnt/β-catenin Pathway Functions by Inactivation of Tcf7l1 Protein

The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway classically functions through the activation of target genes by Tcf/Lef–β-catenin complexes. Each Tcf/Lef in mammals is believed to function as a switch, going from a transcriptional repressor in the absence of Wnt stabilized β-catenin to a transcriptional activator in the presence of Wnt-stabilized β-catenin. I determined that mouse Tcf7l1 (formerly named Tcf3) mediates a distinct and new form of regulation of the pathway, which is independent of transactivator activity of Tcf7l1-β-catenin complexes. Instead of switching Tcf7l1 into a transactivator, Wnt/β-catenin reduces Tcf7l1 protein levels, which relieves repression of target genes, such as Lef1. Experiments using mouse embryonic stem cells show that recombinant Wnt3a, GSK3-inhibition, or simply increasing β-catenin levels were all sufficient to reduce Tcf7l1 protein independent of mRNA levels. The effect did not occur in Tcf7l1ΔN/ΔN ES cells, which lack nine Tcf7l1 residues necessary for binding to β-catenin. Thus, β-catenin binding to Tcf7l1 is necessary and sufficient for destabilizing Tcf7l1 protein in stem cells. We ablated the Tcf7l1-β-catenin interaction by generating a mouse Tcf7l1ΔN knockin allele and show Tcf7l1ΔN blocks Wnt-reduction of Tcf7l1, inhibits Lef1 expression, and causes peri-natal lethality in Tcf7l1ΔN/ΔN mice. Interestingly, Tcf7l1-/ΔN mice developed into viable and ostensibly normal adult mice, demonstrating that reducing the amount of Tcf7l1 replaced the requirement for Tcf7l1-β-catenin interaction. These findings impact understanding of the mechanisms whereby Wnt/β-catenin mediates its effects, especially in Tcf7l1-expressing stem cells and tumor cells.
Transcriptional regulation and structural organization of the human cytosolic phospholipase A2 gene

Cytokines are established regulators of the arachidonic acid cascade in lung cells. The levels of various arachidonic metabolites distinguish the normal and pathogenic states of the human lung. Arachidonyl-selective cytosolic phospholipase A2(cPLA2) is ubiquitously present in human lung and is most likely the rate-limiting step in eicosanoid generation. We therefore studied the regulation of this pivotal gene in human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells by proinflammatory cytokines. We demonstrate a dose- and time-dependent induction of human cPLA2 mRNA by interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ as well as the abrogation of this induction by glucocorticoids. Nuclear runoff studies demonstrate that de novo transcription of thecPLA 2 gene is required for cytokine induction. We have characterized the human cPLA 2 gene, which is encoded by 18 exons and spans in excess of 137 kb. Deletion analysis of a 3.4-kb fragment of the human promoter identified two regions responsible for basal expres.
Characterization of novel biogenic amine receptors in the human bloodfluke «Schistosoma mansoni»

The genome of the human bloodfluke Schistosoma mansoni encodes 18 putative biogenic amine-like G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These receptors are potential targets for the development of antischistosomal drugs. One of these sequences, SmGPR-1 (formerly SmGPCR), was previously cloned and was identified as a histamine receptor. In this study, we expanded the functional analysis of SmGPR-1 by studying its expression and tissue distribution both at the RNA and protein levels in different developmental stages of the parasite. In the second part of the study, we cloned and characterized two structurally related receptors, named SmGPR-2 and SmGPR-3. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the three receptors are members of a new clade of biogenic amine GPCRs and are characterized in part by the absence of a highly conserved aspartate (Asp3.32) of the third transmembrane domain. Like SmGPR-1, our first cloned receptor, SmGPR-2, was activated by histamine and its developmental expression at the mRNA level was similar to that of SmGPR-1, both receptors being upregulated in young schistosomula. However, their tissue localization was different. SmGPR-1 was enriched in the tegument, subtegumental musculature and the suckers, whereas SmGPR-2 was associated with neurons of the subtegumental plexuses. The distribution of these receptors correlated with that of histaminergic neurons, which were also detected in the subtegumental neuronal plexuses, the innervation of the suckers, elements of the central nervous system and transverse commissures. These studies suggest that histamine is an important neurotransmitter system in schistosomes. The third receptor investigated in this study, SmGPR-3, was not responsive to histamine but rather was found to have broad specificity for catecholamines, particularly dopamine and related metabolites. In vitro assays of cultured schistosomula revealed that many of the ligands that interact with SmGPR-3 also have strong effects on larval motilit%%%%Au genome de Schistosoma mansoni, un parasite sanguin de l'homme, on retrouve 18 recepteurs putatifs a amine biogene couples aux proteines G (RCPG). Ces recepteurs ont un potentiel therapeutique contre les infections aux schistosomes. La sequence SmGPR-1 (anciennement SmGPCR) a deja ete clonee et identifiee comme un recepteur a l'histamine. Une analyse fonctionnelle plus poussee de SmGPR-1 est l'objet de cette these. L'analyse de taux d'ARNm et de proteines a differents stades de developpement du parasite a servi a l'etude de l'expression et la repartition tissulaire de SmGPR-1. Deux recepteurs similaires, de par leur structure, le SmGPR-2 et le SmGPR-3 ont ete identifies, clones et caracterises lors de cette etude. Suite a des analyses bioinformatiques, ces trois recepteurs ont revele leur appartenance a une nouvelle variante de recepteurs a amine biogene couples aux proteines G caracterises par l'absence d'aspartate conserve (Asp3.32) dans le troisieme domaine transmembranaire. Tout comme SmGPR-1, le recepteur SmGPR-2 est active par l'histamine, et…
Partial Least Square-based Model Predictive Control for Large-scale Manufacturing Process with Disturbances

The Model Predictive Control (MPC) method has been widely accepted as a useful tool for keeping the quality on target in the manufacturing process. However, the conventional MPC methods are inadequate for the large-scale manufacturing process particularly in the presence of disturbances. The goal of the paper is to suggest a Partial Least Square (PLS)based MPC methodology for accommodating the characteristics of the large-scale manufacturing process with disturbances. The detailed objectives are: (1) to identify a reliable prediction model that handles the large-scale “short and fat” data, (2) to design an effective control model that both maximizes the required quality and minimizes the labor costs associated with changing the process parameters, and (3) to develop an efficient optimization algorithm that reduces the computational burden of the large-scale optimization. The case study and experimental results demonstrate that the presented MPC methodology provides the set of optimal process parameters for quality improvement. In particular, the quality deviations are reduced by 99.4%, the labor costs by 84.2%, and the computational time by 98.8%. As a result, the proposed MPC method will save cost and time in achieving the desired quality for the large-scale manufacturing process with disturbances.
Alterations in Lipid Metabolism in Mouse Tissues and Hepatic Cell Lines in Response to the Trans10,Cis12-18:2 Isomer of Conjugated Linoleic Acid

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv DEDICATION vi TABLE OF CONTENTS vii LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF FIGURES xii CHAPTER 1 Literature Review 1 Health benefits of CLA 3 Inhibition of carcinogenesis 4 Inhibition of atherosclerosis 5 Effect on immune functions 6 Role in Type 2 diabetes 8 Modulation of lipid metabolism and gene expression by CLA 9 Hydrolysis 11 Lipogenesis 11 Oxidation 11 Desaturation 11 Adipose 15 Liver 18 Bone 20 Muscle 21 CHAPTER 2 Abstract 38 Introduction 39 Materials and Methods 41 Animals, Diets, and Sampling 41 Statistical Analysis 45 Results 47 Discussion 50 Conclusions 55 Literature Cited 56 CHAPTER 3 Abstract 70 Introduction 71 Materials and Methods 72 Animals, Diets, and Sampling 72 Fatty acid analyses 72 RNA, DNA, and Protein 73 Plasmid amplification and isolation of cDNA probes 75 Northern analysis for detection of SCD and FAS mRNA 76
Iraqi Rice Husk Potency to Eleminate Toxic Metals From Aqueous Solutions and Utilization From Process Residues

This investigation is related to study the ability of Iraqi Rice Husk (IRH) on the removal of seven toxic metals pollutant which were (Co, Hg, Li, Sb, Sn, V, and W) ions from simulated synthetic aqueous solution (SSAS) using different design parameters by adsorption process. The design parameters studied to adsorb these metal ions using (IRH) as an adsorbent material were initial concentration of metal ion (each one alone), height of absorbance material packing which was (IRH), pH, time of treatment, flow rate and feed temperature. Results show that the removal efficiency of toxic metals (Co, Hg, Li, Sb, Sn, V, and W) from (SSAS) was decreased with increasing of initial concentration, flow rate and pH for some toxic metals which were (Co, Hg, Sb, and V) while it was increased with increasing absorbance material bed height, feeding temperature and pH for rest metals (Li, Sn and W). Statistical model is achieved to find an expression relates overall operating parameters with the removal efficiency for each metal ions used in this treatise in a general equation. The results show that the promoted type Y-zeolite catalyst by (Co, Hg, Li, Sb, Sn, V, and W) ions give higher conversion and better selectivity of n-heptane isomerization than normally type Y-zeolite catalyst and the (IRH) adsorb (Co, Hg, Li, Sb, Sn, V, and W) from (SSAS) showed a good behaviour as rodenticide. By this way we can possess different benefits which are: remove the seven toxic metal ions contaminated the water, get rid of agricultural waste (IRH), in the same time, produce light and more benefit hydrocarbons from n-heptane isomerization using a type Y-zeolite catalyst synthesis from remaining (IRH) and prepare an active rodenticide. So, it can discard more toxic waste in a coast and eco-friendly method.
A digital fountain approach to reliable distribution of bulk data

The proliferation of applications that must reliably distribute bulk data to a large number of autonomous clients motivates the design of new multicast and broadcast protocols. We describe an ideal, fully scalable protocol for these applications that we call a digital fountain. A digital fountain allows any number of heterogeneous clients to acquire bulk data with optimal efficiency at times of their choosing. Moreover, no feedback channels are needed to ensure reliable delivery, even in the face of high loss rates.We develop a protocol that closely approximates a digital fountain using a new class of erasure codes that for large block sizes are orders of magnitude faster than standard erasure codes. We provide performance measurements that demonstrate the feasibility of our approach and discuss the design, implementation and performance of an experimental system.
The role of dispositional and situational factors in cognitive interference

Two studies investigated the cross-temporal stability and cross-situational consistency of cognitive interference. In Study 1, 70 college students reported on the intrusive thoughts they experienced during 2 course examinations and a self-reflective task. In Study 2, 55 college athletes reported on intrusive thoughts following 2 course examinations and 2 regular season football games. Major findings were (a) cognitive interference showed both cross-temporal stability and cross-situational consistency, (b) it was predicted by a measure of dispositional intrusive thinking, (c) the link between cognitive interference and dispositional intrusive thinking was not accounted for by indices of depressive symptomatology and trait anxiety, and (d) the degree of cross-situational consistency of cognitive interference and the content of these intrusive thoughts were influenced by situational factors.
A review on linkage mapping for drought stress tolerance in rice

Rice is one of the most widely grown cereal crops in the world and is the staple food of more of the world's population. Environmental degradation, including pollution, increase in night time temperature due to global warming reductions in suitable arable land, water, labour and energy dependent fertilizer provide constraints to rice productivity. Drought stress is a major abiotic threat to rice production and its yield stability which leads to production of drought tolerant rice cultivars. Linkage analysis will help us to identify the genes contributing to drought tolerance in rice and their relative contribution to the very important trait.
Expression, purification and characterization of carbohydrate-binding proteins

iv List of Figures. v List of Tables.vii List of Abbreviations.ix Acknowledgements. xii Chapter 1: Introduction.1 1.1 Carbohydrate-binding Proteins. 1 1.2 Protein Expression and Purification in Escherichia coli. 4 1.2.1 Recombinant Protein Expression. 4 1.2.2 Protein isolation by cell disruption. 7 1.2.3 Protein Purification. 8 1.3 Protein Characterisation. 10 1.3. 1 Glycan array screening. 10 1.3. 2 ELISA. 11 1.3. 3 Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). 16 1.4 Aims of Thesis. 18 Chapter 2: Materials & Methods.39 2.1 Acknowledgements. 39 2.2 Materials.39 2.3 Methods. 44 2.3. 1 Synthesis of C3.1 scFv and α-L-Fucosidase Genes.44 2.3. 2 Preparation of chemically competent cells.44 2.3. 3 Transformation of plasmid DNA into E.coli cells. 44 2.3. 4 Overnight cultures and glycerol stock. 45 2.3. 5 Isolation of plasmid DNA. 45 2.3. 6 Cloning of Genes into the expression vectors. 45 2.2. 7 Sequencing analysis.45 2.3. 8 Generation of B6.1 and B6.1 mut S100R scFvs via Site-Directed Mutagenesis (SDM). 46 2.3. 9 Generation of α-L-Fucosidase inactive mutants.49 2.3. 10 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). 51 2.3. 11 Protein expression protocol.52 2.3. 12 Protein isolation . 52 2.3. 13 Immobilised Metal Affinity Chromatography (IMAC). 52 2.3. 14 Sodium-dodecyl-sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). 53 2.3. 15 Western Blot. 54 2.3. 16 Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). 55 2.3. 17 Factor Xa Clevage of D224N-5His from MBP.55 2.3. 18 Extraction of Candida albicans cell wall components. 56 2.3. 19 Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)for the scFvs. 57 2.3. 20 Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay for α-L-Fucosidase
Identification of Multiple ς54-Dependent Transcriptional Activators inVibrio cholerae

ABSTRACT In the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae, the alternate sigma factor ς54 is required for expression of multiple sets of genes, including an unidentified gene(s) necessary for enhanced colonization within the host. To identify ς54-dependent transcriptional activators involved in colonization, PCR was performed with V. choleraechromosomal DNA and degenerate primers, revealing six novel and distinct coding sequences with homology to ς54-dependent activators. One sequence had high homology to the luxO gene of V. harveyi, which in that organism is involved in quorum sensing. Phenotypes of V. cholerae strains containing mutations in each of the six putative ς54-dependent activator genes identified one as a probable ntrChomologue. None of the mutant strains exhibited a defect in the ability to colonize infant mice, suggesting the presence of additional ς54-dependent activators not identified by this technique.
Screening, characterization and inhibition of viral cysteine proteinases

3C proteinases (3Cs) are a family of essential cysteine proteinases found in various viruses of medical and agricultural significance. Three lines of research related to the characterization of 3Cs were pursued. In the first, biological selections and screens were developed to evaluate proteinase activity in a high-throughput fashion. A selection system based on the cleavage of an engineered transcriptional regulator, XylR, by hepatitis A virus (HAV) 3C failed. However, this strategy facilitated the development of a screen based on the cleavage of fused green fluorescent protein variants, CyPet and YPet. The screen was used to demonstrate that HAV 3C prefers Ile, Val or Leu at the P4 position of the cleavage sequence, and Gly, Ser or Ala at the P1’ position. In the second project, the 3C from Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), a dicistrovirus, was investigated. IAPV has been associated with the recent colony collapse disorder afflicting commercial hives. A portion of the replicase including 3C was heterologously produced. The resulting autoprocessed fragments were analyzed using mass spectrometry to identify the 3C cleavage sequence PIVIE/AQT. This cleavage sequence likely occurs between the 3A/3B proteins of the polypeptide and is the first within the replicase to be described in this family of viruses. Thirdly, inhibitors of HAV 3C and SARS 3CL were developed. The ketoglutamine analogue (HIP2-171-2) competitively inhibited SARS 3CL with a Kic = 0.17 ± 0.03 μM and is among the most potent peptide inhibitors developed against this proteinase. The azapeptide epoxide (APE) KAE-3-91 irreversibly inhibited SARS 3CL with a kinact/Ki of 1900 ± 400 M s, which is similar in magnitude to that of the first iii generation APE’s produced to inhibit caspases. Finally, both SARS 3CL and HAV 3C were screened against a library of inhibitory halopyridinyl esters. Each of three halopyridinyl esters inhibited 3C with apparent Kic’s of 120-240 nM. However, further study revealed that the inhibitors were slowly hydrolyzed by both proteinases. Overall, the described screens and inhibitors should facilitate the further characterization of 3C and related proteinases as well as the development of novel antivirals.
Division of Labor Among Lesbian and Heterosexual Parents: Associations With Children's Adjustment

This study compared lesbian and heterosexual parents' division of household labor, satisfaction with division of labor, satisfaction with couple relationships, and associations of these variables with psychological adjustment of children. Participating lesbian (n = 30) and heterosexual (n = 16) couples all became parents by using anonymous donor insemination and had at least I child of elementary-school age. Although both lesbian and heterosexual couples reported relatively equal divisions of paid employment and of household and decision-making tasks, lesbian biological and nonbiological mothers shared child-care tasks more equally than did heterosexual parents. Among lesbian nonbiological mothers, those more satisfied with the division of family decisions in the home were also more satisfied with their relationships and had children who exhibited fewer externalizing behavior problems. The effect of division of labor on children's adjustment was mediated by parents' relationship satisfaction.