Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor in human and pig spermatozoa

Estrogens are known to influence functional properties of mammalian spermatozoa inducing rapid responses through the classical estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ). Recently, the G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) has been identified as mediator of fast non‐genomic estrogen effects in different cells. This work investigated the expression of GPER in human and pig spermatozoa using immunofluorescence, Western blot analysis and RT‐PCR. GPER was found to be confined to the mid‐piece of human sperm cells, whereas it was detected in the acrosomal region, the equatorial segment and the mid‐piece of pig spermatozoa. Furthermore, in the male gametes of both species, the immunoblots of sperm extracts revealed a band at ~42 kDa, consistent with the GPER molecular weight, and RT‐PCR detected the GPER transcripts. This is the first report demonstrating the expression of GPER in human and pig mature sperm cells and evidencing its species‐specific cellular localization.
Reading Difficulties and Dyslexia: An interpretation for teachers

edited by J. P. Das, 2009, New Delhi, India, Sage, 184 pp. + bibliography and notes, UK£14.99 (paperback), ISBN 978‐81‐7829‐895‐5 This is a timely publication as dyslexia becomes more widely accept.
Side population purified from hepatocellular carcinoma cells harbors cancer stem cell–like properties

Recent advances in stem cell biology enable us to identify cancer stem cells in solid tumors as well as putative stem cells in normal solid organs. In this study, we applied side population (SP) cell analysis and sorting to established hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines to detect subpopulations that function as cancer stem cells and to elucidate their roles in tumorigenesis. Among four cell lines analyzed, SP cells were detected in Huh7 (0.25%) and PLC/PRF/5 cells (0.80%), but not in HepG2 and Huh6 cells. SP cells demonstrated high proliferative potential and anti‐apoptotic properties compared with those of non‐SP cells. Immunocytochemistry examination showed that SP fractions contain a large number of cells presenting characteristics of both hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineages. Non‐obese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) xenograft transplant experiments showed that only 1 × 10 3 SP cells were sufficient for tumor formation, whereas an injection of 1 × 10 6 non‐SP cells did not initiate tumors. Re‐analysis of SP cell–derived tumors showed that SP cells generated both SP and non‐SP cells and tumor‐initiating potential was maintained only in SP cells in serial transplantation. Microarray analysis discriminated a differential gene expression profile between SP and non‐SP cells, and several so‐called “stemness genes” were upregulated in SP cells in HCC cells. In conclusion, we propose that a minority population, detected as SP cells in HCC cells, possess extreme tumorigenic potential and provide heterogeneity to the cancer stem cell system characterized by distinct hierarchy. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:240–251.)
Complete kinetic mechanism of elongation factor Tu‐dependent binding of aminoacyl‐tRNA to the A site of the E.coli ribosome

The kinetic mechanism of elongation factor Tu (EF‐Tu)‐dependent binding of Phe‐tRNAPhe to the A site of poly(U)‐programed Escherichia coli ribosomes has been established by pre‐steady‐state kinetic experiments. Six steps were distinguished kinetically, and their elemental rate constants were determined either by global fitting, or directly by dissociation experiments. Initial binding to the ribosome of the ternary complex EF‐Tu·GTP·Phe‐tRNAPhe is rapid (k1 = 110 and 60/μM/s at 10 and 5 mM Mg2+, 20°C) and readily reversible (k−1 = 25 and 30/s). Subsequent codon recognition (k2 = 100 and 80/s) stabilizes the complex in an Mg2+‐dependent manner (k−2 = 0.2 and 2/s). It induces the GTPase conformation of EF‐Tu (k3 = 500 and 55/s), instantaneously followed by GTP hydrolysis. Subsequent steps are independent of Mg2+. The EF‐Tu conformation switches from the GTP‐ to the GDP‐bound form (k4 = 60/s), and Phe‐tRNAPhe is released from EF‐Tu·GDP. The accommodation of Phe‐tRNAPhe in the A site (k5 = 8/s) takes place independently of EF‐Tu and is followed instantaneously by peptide bond formation. The slowest step is dissociation of EF‐Tu·GDP from the ribosome (k6 = 4/s). A characteristic feature of the mechanism is the existence of two conformational rearrangements which limit the rates of the subsequent chemical steps of A‐site binding.
Fortnightly Review: Lessons from international experience in controlling pharmaceutical expenditure II: influencing doctors

This is the second of three papers that review international policies to control spending on drugs and to improve the efficiency of drug use. This paper reviews policies influencing doctors' prescribing of drugs—particularly the use of budgetary restrictions, information and feedback, and guidelines—and evaluates the impact of these policies. Studies evaluating incentive systems are limited, but evidence suggests that providing information on its own will not lead to substantial changes in practice and that more active strategies should be evaluated In Britain several initiatives have been introduced with the aim of improving the efficiency of general practitioners' prescribing behaviour. These include providing data on prescribing analysis and cost (PACT), indicative prescribing budgets, and general practice fundholding. The impact of these policies on prescribing costs has been inadequately evaluated, but it seems to have been limited.1 Can British policy makers learn from other countries' initiatives? In this paper we examine the impact of policies aimed at directly influencing doctors' prescribing practice. Details of our literature search are in the first paper in this series. In Germany budgetary restrictions were introduced in January 1993 that placed a limit on drug costs. The first DM280m (£130m) spent above this limit is paid for out of physicians' remuneration budgets. It was not anticipated that this would have a dramatic effect on doctors' prescribing as it represented only 1% of their total income from treating patients with statutory health insurance. However, there was an immediate and pronounced drop in the number of prescriptions, from 795 million in 1992 to 712 million in 1993. This was accompanied by a change in the product mix of prescribed drugs, in particular a move to generic substitutes and older established drugs. Spending on drugs in 1993 was 25% lower than in 1992.2 Since then prescriptions have tended …
Speaker-independent isolated word recognition using multiple hidden Markov models

A multi-HMM speaker-independent isolated word recognition system is described. In this system, three vector quantisation methods, the LBG algorithm, the EM algorithm, and a new MGC algorithm, are used for the classification of the speech space. These quantisations of the speech space are then used to produce three HMMs for each word in the vocabulary. In the recognition step, the Viterbi algorithm is used in the three subrecognisers. The log probabilities of the observation sequences matching-the models are multiplied by the weights determined by the recognition accuracies of individual subrecognisers and summed to give the log probability that the utterance is of a particular word in the vocabulary. This multi-HMM system results in a reduction of about 50% in the error rate in comparison with the single model system.
The Australian digital technologies curriculum: challenge and opportunity

There is a call for change in the treatment of ICT curriculum in our schools driven by the relatively recent acknowledgement of the growing importance of ICT in industry and society, and the need to empower youth as producers, as well as consumers, of technology. ICT curriculum in previous incarnations tended to focus on ICT as a tool, with the development of digital literacy as the key requirement. Areas such as computer science (CS) or computational thinking were typically isolated into senior secondary programs, with a focus on programming and algorithm development, when they were considered at all. New curricula introduced in England, and currently under debate within Australia, have identified the need to educate for both digital literacy and CS, and the need to promote both learning areas from the commencement of schooling, Foundation (F) to year 12. In this paper, we discuss the main trends and learning objectives of these new curricula, identifying key areas requiring further research and development by the CS Education community. We undertake a review of current research in CS Education within the F-12 context, to identify research that can guide effective implementation and provide opportunities for further research.
Improving Communication Within a Managerial Workgroup

This paper describes an experiment designed to improve communication in a managerial workgroup. The experiment involved the use of laboratory (experience-based) education (Bradford, Gibb, & Benne, 1964; Bennis & Schein, 1965) and wvas designed on the assumption that improvement of communication in managerial workgroups enhances task effectiveness.
Sepsis: definition, epidemiology, and diagnosis

On 29 March 2005 a 41 year old journalist died of sepsis six days after a minor surgical procedure; she had consulted eight doctors over the intervening Easter bank holiday weekend. Whereas the national press focused on the political question relating to the provision of out of hours medical services in the United Kingdom, the coroner pointed out that “non-recognition of the seriousness of her condition contributed [to her death]. ” With an estimated annual mortality of between 30 and 50 deaths per 100 000 population,1 2 this condition ranks in the top 10 causes of death,3 affects all ages, and occurs in the community, in long term care facilities, and among patients admitted to hospital under the care of any, and every, medical specialty. #### Summary points Systemic illness caused by microbial invasion of normally sterile parts of the body is referred to as “sepsis. ” This is a term that specifically serves to differentiate an illness of microbial origin from an identical clinical syndrome that can arise in several non-microbial conditions, of which pancreatitis is the archetype. The similarity in clinical picture is explained by the pathophysiological role …
Communitarianism, freedom, and the nation‐state

As many authors have acknowledged in these pages, Will Kymlicka has produced an admirable attempt to reconcile the differences of communitarians and liberals. However, Kymlicka's synthesis ignores the aspects of each theory which make his task impossible. Particularly, his analysis rests upon a misleading picture of communitarian community and an incomplete appreciation of the divergent liberal and communitarian understandings of freedom and pluralism. In the process of demonstrating the incompatibility of these theories, the similarities between communitarianism and nationalism are explored.
Factors influencing tinnitus loudness and annoyance.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the 2 major components of tinnitus severity, loudness and annoyance, and their degree of dependence on characteristics of tinnitus manifestation, history, and etiology. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey performed during the first months of 2004. SETTING Nonclinical population. PARTICIPANTS A total of 4995 members of the German Tinnitus League. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Comprehensive screening questionnaire, including the Klockhoff and Lindblom loudness grading system and the miniversion of the Tinnitus Questionnaire. RESULTS A moderate correlation of 0.45 was found between tinnitus loudness and annoyance. Both factors were generally higher in men, those older than 50 years, those with binaural and centrally perceived tinnitus, those with increased noise sensitivity, and those who had continuous tinnitus without interruptions. Tinnitus that lasted 12 months or less had a stronger influence on annoyance (odds ratio [OR], 1.96) than on loudness (OR, 0.45), whereas the contrary was found for tinnitus of more than 5 years' duration (ORs, 0.72 and 2.11, respectively). Loudness and annoyance were increased in subjects with coexisting hearing loss, vertigo, and hyperacusis. The impact of hyperacusis on annoyance was clearly stronger than on loudness (ORs, 21.91 vs 9.47). CONCLUSIONS Several clinical factors of tinnitus influence perceived loudness and annoyance. Both are distinguishable components of tinnitus severity.
A New Approach to Steganography using Sinc-Convolution Method

Abstract — Both image steganography and image encryption have advantages and disadvantages. Steganograhy allows us to hide a desired image containing confidential information in a covered or host image while image encryption is decomposing the desired image to a non-readable, non-comprehended manner. The encryption methods are usually much more robust than the steganographic ones. However, they have a high visibility and would provoke the attackers easily since it usually is obvious from an encrypted image that something is hidden! The combination of steganography and encryption will cover both of their weaknesses and therefore, it increases the security. In this paper an image encryption method based on sinc-convolution along with using an encryption key of 128 bit length is introduced. Then, the encrypted image is covered by a host image using a modified version of JSteg steganography algorithm. This method could be applied to almost all image formats including TIF, BMP, GIF and JPEG. The experiment results show that our method is able to hide a desired image with high security and low visibility.
Analyzing law-making from a business process view: The paradox of law-making

REQUIRED) The law-making process is the source of legislation and is inextricably bound up with the developments of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of e-government. Against this backdrop, both the normative law-making process (as prescribed in law) and the law-making processes as found in practice are being analyzed. Both types of processes are modeled using Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) and the process descriptions are compared with each other. The retrospective analyses of several cases show deviations from normative processes as prescribed in law. It was found that the law-making process is a highly fragmented process and that there is hardly any back office integration. Paradoxically, law (resulting from the law-making process) complicates the improvement of the law-making process. Our analysis shows that the law-making process can be treated like any other business process. We recommend the use of business process (re-)engineering and transformation instruments to improve the law-making process.
Optimal Capital Income Taxation

In an economy with identical infinitely-lived households that obtain utility from leisure as well as consumption, Chamley (1986) and Judd (1985) have shown that the optimal tax system to pay for an exogenous stream of government purchases involves a zero tax rate on capital in the long run, with tax revenue collected by a distortionary tax on labor income. Extending the results of Hall and Jorgenson (1971) to general equilibrium, I show that if purchasers of capital are permitted to deduct capital expenditures from taxable capital income, then a constant tax rate on capital income is non-distortionary. Importantly, even though this specification of the capital income tax imposes a zero effective tax rate on capital, the capital income tax can collect substantial revenue. Provided that government purchases do not exceed gross capital income less gross investment, the optimal tax system will consist of a positive tax rate on capital income and a zero tax rate on labor income--just the opposite of the results of Chamley and Judd.
Drug resistance in multiple myeloma: latest findings and new concepts on molecular mechanisms

In the era of new and mostly effective therapeutic protocols, multiple myeloma still tends to be a hard-to-treat hematologic cancer. This hallmark of the disease is in fact a sequel to drug resistant phenotypes persisting initially or emerging in the course of treatment. Furthermore, the heterogeneous nature of multiple myeloma makes treating patients with the same drug challenging because finding a drugable oncogenic process common to all patients is not yet feasible, while our current knowledge of genetic/epigenetic basis of multiple myeloma pathogenesis is outstanding. Nonetheless, bone marrow microenvironment components are well known as playing critical roles in myeloma tumor cell survival and environment-mediated drug resistance happening most possibly in all myeloma patients. Generally speaking, however; real mechanisms underlying drug resistance in multiple myeloma are not completely understood. The present review will discuss the latest findings and concepts in this regard. It reviews the association of important chromosomal translocations, oncogenes (e.g. TP53) mutations and deranged signaling pathways (e.g. NFκB) with drug response in clinical and experimental investigations. It will also highlight how bone marrow microenvironment signals (Wnt, Notch) and myeloma cancer stem cells could contribute to drug resistance in multiple myeloma.
Uma revisão dos algoritmos de radicalização em língua portuguesa

espanolIntroduccion. La recuperacion de la informacion tuvo una importancia creciente con la generacion y el uso habitual de archivos digitales, principalmente en el ambito de la ciencia de la informacion. Una de las diversas estrategias de tratamiento de textos para la indexacion de su contenido por sistemas de recuperacion de la informacion es la llamada radicalizacion, que consiste en la reduccion de las palabras congeneres en una unica representacion. La radicalizacion depende de la estructura morfologica de la lengua que se propone tratar. Objetivo. Este articulo se pretende definir el concepto de radicalizacion, presentar los algoritmos disponibles en lengua portuguesa y tejer comentarios sobre varios puntos relativos al uso de esta clase de algoritmos. Metodologia. Se realiza una revision de toda la bibliografia pertinente a la radicalizacion en lengua portuguesa conocida por los autores. Resultados. Hasta el momento, hay solamente tres algoritmos divulgados que traten de la radicalizacion en lengua portuguesa: de Porter, de Orengo y de Gonzalez. Conclusion. Actualmente, la perfeccion del proceso de radicalizacion en lengua portuguesa no se puede conseguir con exito absoluto, en razon del poco estudio que se esta realizando en el area portuguesIntroducao. A recuperacao da informacao teve a sua importância aumentada com a geracao e o uso costumeiro de arquivos digitais, principalmente no âmbito da Ciencia da Informacao. Uma das diversas estrategias de tratamento dos textos para a indexacao do seu conteudo por sistemas de recuperacao da informacao e a denominada radicalizacao, que consiste na reducao de palavras congeneres em uma representacao unica. A radicalizacao depende da estrutura morfologica da lingua que se propoe a tratar. Objetivo. Este artigo pretende definir o conceito de radicalizacao, apresentar os algoritmos disponiveis para a lingua portuguesa e tecer comentarios sobre varios pontos relativos ao uso dessa especie de algoritmos. Metodologia. Realizou-se uma revisao de toda a literatura pertinente a radicalizacao em lingua portuguesa de conhecimento dos autores. Resultados. Ate o momento, ha apenas tres algoritmos divulgados que tratam da radicalizacao em lingua portuguesa: os de Porter, Orengo e Gonzalez. Conclusao. Atualmente, a perfeicao no processo de radicalizacao em lingua portuguesa nao pode ser obtida com sucesso absoluto, em razao do pouco estudo que e esta sendo desenvolvido na area.
Electrical stimulation directly induces pre-angiogenic responses in vascular endothelial cells by signaling through VEGF receptors

Controlling angiogenesis is crucial. Growth factors and cytokines are key regulators but a full understanding remains elusive. Endogenous electrical potential differences exist within and around the vasculature, both in relation to blood flow and in situations where active angiogenesis occurs, such as wound healing, development and tumor growth. Recent work shows that electrical stimulation induces significant angiogenesis in vivo, through enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by muscle cells. We report that applied electric fields (EFs) of small physiological magnitude directly stimulate VEGF production by endothelial cells in culture without the presence of any other cell type. EFs as low as 75-100 mV mm–1 (1.5-2.0 mV across an endothelial cell) directed the reorientation, elongation and migration of endothelial cells in culture. These pre-angiogenic responses required VEGF receptor activation and were mediated through PI3K-Akt and Rho-ROCK signaling pathways, resulting in reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. This indicates that endogenous EFs might play a role in angiogenesis in vivo by stimulating the VEGF receptor signaling pathway, to induce key pre-angiogenic responses. In addition, it raises the feasibility of using applied EFs to initiate and guide angiogenesis through direct effects on endothelial cells.
Explaining Split-Ticket Voting at the 1979 and 1997 General and Local Elections in England

Only in 1979, 1997 and 2001 have British general elections coincided with the annual local government elections. Uniquely, this study uses both survey and aggregate data to examine aspects of split-ticket voting at the simultaneous elections in 1979 and 1997. Through the use of bi- and multi-variate analysis, it suggests that ticket-splitting is a product of both voter attitudes and party strategies: although it is almost wholly confined to the less partisan, the electoral context in which those votes are being cast can play an additional and significant role in stimulating such behaviour.
Trajectories of career aspirations through adolescence and young adulthood: Early math achievement as a critical filter

Growth curve modelling was used to trace the trajectory of the prestige dimension of career aspirations from Grade 9 through to 3 years after high school, as a function of gender and early high school math achievement. The sample consisted of 218 university-bound adolescents (129 female, 89 male). Initial aspiration levels, the slope, and the curvature of the trajectories all differed significantly as a function of Grade 9 math performance. No significant gender or gender by achievement effects were found. These results support the notion that math achievement functions as a “critical filter” to subsequent career aspirations, with youth who performed poorly in Grade 9 math aspiring to careers that were of lower prestige. Implications of this research are discussed in terms of the development of young women's career aspirations, vocational outcomes, and involvement in higher level mathematics education.
Interactive Spoken Content Retrieval by Deep Reinforcement Learning

For text content retrieval, the user can easily scan through and select from a list of retrieved items. This is impossible for spoken content retrieval, because the retrieved items are not easily displayed on-screen. In addition, due to the high degree of uncertainty for speech recognition, retrieval results can be very noisy. One way to counter such difficulties is through user-machine interaction. The machine can take different actions to interact with the user to obtain better retrieval results before showing them to the user. For example, the machine can request extra information from the user, return a list of topics for the user to select from, and so on. In this paper, we propose using deep-Q-network (DQN) to determine the machine actions for interactive spoken content retrieval. DQN bypasses the need to estimate hand-crafted states, and directly determines the best action based on the present retrieval results even without any human knowledge. It is shown to achieve significantly better performance as compared with the previous hand-crafted states. We further find that double DQN and dueling DQN improve the naive version.