Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Persistent Anemia in Poor, Urban Pregnant Women of Chandigarh City, North India

Background: Maternal anemia continues to be a public health problem in India, despite existence of multipronged governmental programs to combat it. Objective: This study explores the determinants of persistent anemia in poor pregnant women in an urban population in Chandigarh, India. Methods: A mixed method approach was used to examine the causes of maternal anemia. Three focus group discussions with pregnant women from different socioeconomic groups and 2 with female health workers were conducted to explore their perceptions and beliefs about maternal anemia and iron folic acid (IFA) tablets in urban settings in 2009. This was followed by interviews of 120 pregnant women about their nutrition knowledge and practices. Food frequency questionnaires were used to estimate daily consumption of nutrients. Finally, a follow-up survey in health clinics explored issues of stock-outs of IFA. Results: Sixty-five percent of respondents had hemoglobin less than 11g/dL and were anemic. Only 35% respondents obtained free IFA through public health programs. While 53% of respondents knew that they should eat green leafy vegetables, only 8% reported daily consumption of these vegetables. Focus group discussions highlighted issues around lack of food, especially for slum women, and low decision-making power in the household. Stock-outs of IFA in facilities often pushed women to purchase IFA from chemist shops. Conclusions: Clear gaps emerged in pregnant women’s knowledge and practice regarding diet and IFA tablet use. Lack of control over decision-making due to their low status of women was also hindering IFA use and healthy eating.
Copper interconnect microanalysis and electromigration reliability performance due to the impact of TLP ESD

Electrostatic discharge events can degrade the electromigration (EM) reliability of devices. Transmission Line Pulsing (TLP) is used to simulate such an occurrence on copper interconnects and a study made on the impact of this on EM performance. Compelling evidence from TEM data suggests the change in the microstructure of the interconnects explains the creation of latent EM failures.
Intracellular uptake mechanism of lutein in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE Lutein is a carotenoid mainly found in green leafy vegetables and is located in the macula lutea in the human eye. It has received much attention recently due to its preventive effect on age-related macular degeneration, and it has been consumed as a supplement. However, little information about the pharmacokinetic properties of lutein is available. Detailed knowledge of pharmacokinetic properties of lutein is needed for the development of pharmaceutics. In this study, we focused on the macular accumulation of lutein and investigated the uptake mechanism into human retinal pigment epithelial cells. METHODS ARPE-19 cells were used for the study on the accumulation mechanism of lutein. The concentration of lutein was determined using an HPLC system. Involvement of scavenger class B type 1 (SR-B1) in the accumulation of lutein in ARPE-19 cells was suggested from the results of an inhibition study using block lipid transport 1 (BLT-1), a selective inhibitor of SR-B1. To investigate the involvement of SR-B1 in more detail, small interfering RNA (siRNA) was transfected and the mRNA and protein expression levels of SR-B1 were assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS We confirmed a sufficient siRNA knockdown effect in both mRNA and protein expression levels of SR-B1. We then found that lutein uptake was significantly decreased by siRNA knockdown of SR-B1. CONCLUSION The uptake of lutein was significantly decreased by 40% compared with the control uptake level. This suggested that active transport of lutein into ARPE-19 cells is mainly via SR-B1, given the result that lutein uptake at 4ºC was about 40% less that that at 37ºC.
A Wrapper for Low-Power Error-Correcting Data Delivery in On-Chip Networks

Network-on-chip (NoC) design provides designers a communication infrastructure to integrate heterogeneous intellectual property (IP) cores. To reuse IPs based on shared buses in the NoC architecture, an interface is needed for the NoC communication protocol. In this paper, we present a wrapper design for low-power error-correcting data delivery in on-chip networks. Our wrapper not only provides an interface for reusing IP cores based on the AMBA bus, but also lowers down power dissipation and improves robustness of data transmission. We have implemented this IP wrapper using cell-based design with UMC 0.18 mum technology. It shows that the wrapper design is feasible and efficient.
Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ethanolic extracts from eleven spice plants

Eleven ethanolic extracts from spices of Melissa officinalis, Mentha piperita, Laurus nobilis, Rhus coriaria, Dianthus coryophyllum, Piper nigrum, Capsicum annum, Juniperus oxycedrus, Erica arborea, Colutea arborescens, and Cuminum cyminum collected from various regions of Turkey and local markets were assayed for the in vitro antibacterial activity against 3 Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis) and 2 Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), using agar dilution methods. In addition, their possible toxicity to Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger was determined, using both agar dilution and disc-diffusion methods. The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of the M. piperita, L. nobilis and J. oxycedrus ethanolic extracts was 5 mg/mL for all the microorganisms tested. P. aeruginosa was the most sensitive bacterial strain to P. nigrum and E. arborea extracts among both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested with MIC of 5 mg/mL. The extracts of L. nobilis, D. coryophyllum, J. oxycedrus and C. arborescens showed higher inhibitory activity against the yeast C. albicans and the fungus A. niger than the standard antifungal nystatin.
Alcohol, Policy and Politics in Kazakhstan

Abstract Alcohol consumption in post-communist Kazakhstan remains at high levels and episodic heavy drinking, characteristic of the spirits-drinking regions of the former USSR, is still the national drinking style. Reported levels of alcohol-related harm are rising but assessment of trends in levels of consumption and harm is hindered by the disruption to data collection in the post-independence period and the continuing poor availability of public information. There is evidence however that changes in the republic's ethnic profile are connected with a downward trend in overall consumption rates, though changes in lifestyles may be leading to more drinking amongst women and young people. The numbers undergoing treatment for alcohol problems are greater than ever before. Alcohol problems are still perceived as entrenched and non-urgent, but in the present climate of greater stability and prosperity they are beginning to attract more attention from government. Underlying policy trends will depend on the overall direction of Kazakhstan's political and cultural development. This article assesses drinking patterns and related problems in Kazakhstan, and examines government responses and policies. The article is based on documentary research, visits to organisations and interviews.
Evolutionary Game between Commensal and Pathogenic Microbes in Intestinal Microbiota

The human intestinal microbiota plays a fundamental role in host health and is associated with many diseases when the homeostasis is disturbed. Although recent achievements in metagenomic sequencing have begun to reveal the variety of microbial composition associated with healthy and disease states, species-specific interactions and systematic dynamics still pose a great challenge to resolve the complexity of human microbiota. Using Clostridium difficile infection in human intestinal microbiota as an example, we apply evolutionary game theory to gain a fundamental understanding of the phenotypic variability and dynamic progression of microbiota. Here, microbiota dynamics are determined by the frequency-dependent fitness of each phenotypic population in the presence of the others. More specifically, the fitness is a function of phenotypic composition of the microbiota. We show how the phenotypic variability of microbiota can be explained by game theoretical approach. Knowledge of this study provides a new perspective in administrating antibiotic when dealing with pathogenic invasion. Instead of solely targeting to pathogens, therapies should aim at the whole ecosystem by reducing the fitness of pathogens compared to that of commensal microbes. In this case, the system will eradicate the pathogens by itself.
The Drosophila tom retrotransposon encodes an envelope protein

The tom transposable element of Drosophila ananassae is mobilized with high frequency in the germ line of females from the ca; px strain, and its insertion results in mutations that show almost exclusively dominant eye phenotypes. tom is a long terminal repeat-containing retrotransposon that encodes three different open reading frames (ORFs). It is expressed in the nurse cells during oogenesis, in the central and peripheral nervous systems during embryonic development, and in the imaginal discs of the larva. tom RNA accumulates in the germarium of ovaries from ca; px females but not in the parental inactive strain, suggesting that this altered pattern of tom expression might be the cause of the high rate of mobilization of this retrotransposon. The specificity of tom-induced eye phenotypes can be explained by the presence of regulatory sequences responsible for expression of tom in the eye imaginal discs of third-instar larvae. These sequences might cause overexpression of adjacent genes affected by tom-induced mutations, resulting in the death of undifferentiated cells located anterior to the morphogenetic furrow. In addition to the full-length RNA, tom is also transcribed into a spliced subgenomic transcript that encodes a protein resulting from the fusion between the amino-terminal region of the first (gag) and the third ORFs. The protein encoded by this RNA shows structural characteristics such as a signal peptide, glycosylation sites, endopeptidase cleavage site, and fusion peptide that are typical of the envelope proteins of retroviruses. Antibodies against tom ORF3 recognize two different proteins present in female ovaries, suggesting that tom might be able to form infective viral particles that could play a role in the horizontal transmission of this retrotransposon.
Modified nonrecursive comb decimation structure

This paper presents the nonrecursive comb decimation structure for the decimation factors which are the power of five. As a difference to CIC (Cascade-Integrator-Comb) structure which is area efficient, a nonrecursive structure is a power efficient. However, this structure has a low attenuation in the folding bands (bands around the zeros of comb filter), which can deteriorate the decimated signal. We proposed a modified structure in which a simple multiplierless filter is inserted in the last stage. The proposed method is based on exploiting the properties of the system function of the convolution of a comb filter with itself.
Results Vascular Contractility Mediated by B 2 R in Rabbit Jugular Vein

In a contractility assay based on the rabbit jugular vein, the structurally related drugs NPC 17731 or icatibant (1 to 3 nmol/L) were insurmountable antagonists of bradykinin (BK) B 2 receptors (B2Rs). After ample washing (3 hours), the antagonism exerted by these peptides was not reversible. By contrast, the antagonist LF 16.0687 (30 to 100 nmol/L) was competitive and reversible. A rabbit B 2R–green fluorescent protein (B 2R-GFP) conjugate was expressed in mammalian cells. In COS-1 cells, it exhibited an affinity for [ H]BK (KD51.61 nmol/L) similar to that of the wild-type rabbit B2R. The stably expressed construction in HEK-293 cells was functionally active (phospholipase A 2 assay), and the antagonists mentioned above retained their respective surmountable or insurmountable behavior. Competition of [ H]BK binding to B2R-GFP by the antagonists or BK was largely reversible after a 3-hour washout period at 0°C; at 37°C, icatibant or NPC 17731 effects were not reversible. B 2R-GFP was visualized in the plasma membranes of HEK-293 cells and rapidly internalized in response to BK. NPC 17731 or icatibant slowly translocated B2R-GFP into cells over 24 hours, whereas LF 16.0687 had no effect on the subcellular distribution of B 2R-GFP. Cell extract immunoblotting with anti-GFP antibodies revealed a 101to 105-kDa protein that was not significantly degraded on 24 hours of cell treatment with any of the ligands but was translocated in part to the 15 000-g pellet of the extract on treatment with BK or the noncompetitive antagonists. NPC 17731 and icatibant are noncompetitive, nonequilibrium antagonists that promote the cellular sequestration of rabbit B 2R expressed in an heterologous system. (Hypertension. 2000;35:1319-1325.)
Starting with scratch in CS 1

1. Summary Scratch [4] is both a social computing environment and a rich programming language with a highly supportive interface. Although originally intended for an audience younger than college freshman, there is growing interest in using Scratch at the undergraduate level as a gentle introduction to hard concepts. David Malan and Henry Leitner first presented their experience teaching Harvard introductory CS courses with Scratch at SIGCSE two years ago [3]. At SIGCSE 08 John Maloney and Ursula Wolz provided the SIGCSE community with an overview of the language and the social computing website. John also presented research results at SIGCSE 08 on the popularity of programming among young people in a community clubhouse setting [4]. The kids preferred to program rather than play computer games. At both Harvard and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) we have seen similar phenomena where the flexibility, simplicity and ease with which students can make their programming experience highly personal in a supportive community, actively engages them in the process of learning to program regardless of ethnicity or gender.
Molecular and Functional Identification of Cyclic AMP-Sensitive BKCa Potassium Channels (ZERO Variant) and L-Type Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels in Single Rat Juxtaglomerular Cells

Abstract— This study aimed at identifying the type and functional significance of potassium channels and voltage-dependent calcium channels (Cav) in single rat JG cells using whole-cell patch clamp. Single JG cells displayed outward rectification at positive membrane potentials and limited net currents between −60 and −10 mV. Blockade of K+ channels with TEA inhibited 83% of the current at +105 mV. Inhibition of KV channels with 4-AP inhibited 21% of the current. Blockade of calcium-sensitive voltage-gated K+ channels (BKCa) with charybdotoxin or iberiotoxin inhibited 89% and 82% of the current, respectively. Double immunofluorescence confirmed the presence of BKCa and renin in the same cell. cAMP increased the outward current by 1.6-fold, and this was inhibited by 74% with iberiotoxin. Expression of the cAMP-sensitive splice variant (ZERO) of BKCa was confirmed in single-sampled JG cells by RT-PCR. The resting membrane potential of JG cells was −32 mV and activation of BKCa with cAMP hyperpolarized cells on average 16 mV, and inhibition with TEA depolarized cells by 17 mV. The cells displayed typical high-voltage activated calcium currents sensitive to the L-type Cav blocker calciseptine. RT-PCR analysis and double-immunofluorescence labeling showed coexpression of renin and L-type Cav 1.2. The cAMP-mediated increase in exocytosis (measured as membrane capacitance) was inhibited by depolarization to +10 mV, and this inhibitory effect was blocked with calciseptine, whereas K+-blockers had no effect. We conclude that JG cells express functional cAMP-sensitive BKCa channels (the ZERO splice variant) and voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels.
The Relation between Postural Movement and Bilateral Motor Integration: Comment on Lin, et al. (2012)

In a recent study, Lin, Wu, Lin, Wu, Wu, and Kuo (2012) contributed to the theory of sensory integration by showing a high correlation between postural movement and bilateral motor integration. However, in their analysis, the authors excluded a subscale measuring reflex integration, since they regarded its items as being unconnected to postural movement and bilateral motor integration. This comment offers a complementary view and suggests that there may be a connection with reflex integration.
Dynamic regulation of Drosophila nuclear receptor activity in vivo

Nuclear receptors are a large family of transcription factors that play major roles in development, metamorphosis, metabolism and disease. To determine how, where and when nuclear receptors are regulated by small chemical ligands and/or protein partners, we have used a `ligand sensor' system to visualize spatial activity patterns for each of the 18 Drosophila nuclear receptors in live developing animals. Transgenic lines were established that express the ligand binding domain of each nuclear receptor fused to the DNA-binding domain of yeast GAL4. When combined with a GAL4-responsive reporter gene, the fusion proteins show tissue- and stage-specific patterns of activation. We show that these responses accurately reflect the presence of endogenous and exogenously added hormone, and that they can be modulated by nuclear receptor partner proteins. The amnioserosa, yolk, midgut and fat body, which play major roles in lipid storage, metabolism and developmental timing, were identified as frequent sites of nuclear receptor activity. We also see dynamic changes in activation that are indicative of sweeping changes in ligand and/or co-factor production. The screening of a small compound library using this system identified the angular psoralen angelicin and the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb as activators of the Ultraspiracle (USP) ligand-binding domain. These results demonstrate the utility of this system for the functional dissection of nuclear receptor pathways and for the development of new receptor agonists and antagonists that can be used to modulate metabolism and disease and to develop more effective means of insect control.
Additive anti-inflammatory effect of formoterol and budesonide on human lung fibroblasts

Background: It has been shown that treatment with a long acting β2 agonist in addition to a glucocorticoid is beneficial in the treatment of asthma. In asthma inflammatory cells, particularly eosinophils, migrate into the pulmonary tissue and airway lumen by means of adhesion molecules expressed on resident tissue cells—that is, fibroblasts—and become activated by cytokines and adhesive interactions. A study was undertaken to determine whether an interaction exists between the long acting β2 agonist formoterol and the glucocorticoid budesonide on inhibition of adhesion molecule expression, as well as chemo/cytokine production by human lung fibroblasts. Methods: Lung fibroblasts were preincubated with therapeutically relevant drug concentrations of 10−8 M to 10−10 M. Cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β (1 or 10 U/ml) for 8 hours and supernatants were collected for measurement of GM-CSF and IL-8 concentrations. The cells were fixed and subjected to a cell surface ELISA technique to measure the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Results: Formoterol exerted an additive effect on the inhibition of IL-1β stimulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 upregulation and GM-CSF production by budesonide in concentrations of 10−9 M and above (p<0.05). IL-8 production was not influenced by formoterol. Conclusion: Formoterol exerts an additive effect on the anti-inflammatory properties of budesonide. In vitro data support the finding that the combination of budesonide and formoterol in asthma treatment strengthens the beneficial effect of either drug alone.
Viewpoint: City-regions: where next?

The United Kingdom is one of the most centralised countries in the developed world, and its cities and towns lack financial power. Over the past decade, decentralised government has been realised in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, but in England, with the notable exception of London, devolution is still unfinished business. Too many decisions affecting localities are still taken by Whitehall. This excessive centralisation is holding back the UK's towns and cities. In addition, there is an unhealthy proliferation of quangos, agencies and partnerships few of which are directly accountable to local people. As a result, the role of elected local government has diminished over the last few decades. So too has the public's engagement in decisions that affect their daily lives on transport, skills, housing and planning. This Viewpoint sets out a future direction for the devolution of powers and funding from the centre to cities and towns, with a strong emphasis on city-regions and economic development. It includes fresh ideas on regional and sub-regional governance, and a call for business to work more constructively with local councils. There are two major reasons why England needs more radical devolution. First, England currently suffers from an uneven pattern of economic performance between and within its regions. This performance gap was confirmed by last year's State of the English Cities report (Parkinson et al., 2006), with cities in the south and east performing on average 30 per cent better than those in the north and west. Despite a great deal of investment and reform, these regional disparities are likely to persist long into the future.
Effective Vaccine for Lassa Fever

ABSTRACT Lassa fever has been estimated to cause 5,000 deaths annually in West Africa. Recently, war in the zone where Lassa fever is hyperendemic has severely impeded control and treatment. Vaccination is the most viable control measure. There is no correlation between antibody levels and outcome in human patients, and inactivated vaccines produce high titers of antibodies to all viral proteins but do not prevent virus replication and death in nonhuman primates. Accordingly, we vaccinated 44 macaques with vaccinia virus-expressed Lassa virus structural proteins separately and in combination, with the object of inducing a predominantly TH1-type immune response. Following Lassa virus challenge, all unvaccinated animals died (0% survival). Nine of 10 animals vaccinated with all proteins survived (90% survival). Although no animals that received full-length glycoprotein alone had a high titer of antibody, 17 of 19 survived challenge (88%). In contrast, all animals vaccinated with nucleoprotein developed high titers of antibody but 12 of 15 died (20% survival). All animals vaccinated with single glycoproteins, G1 or G2, died, but all those that received both single glycoproteins (G1 plus G2) at separate sites survived, showing that both glycoproteins are independently important in protection. Neither group had demonstrable antibody levels prior to challenge. We demonstrate that in primates, immune responses to epitopes on both glycoproteins are required to protect against lethal challenge with Lassa virus without having untoward side effects and that this protection is likely to be primarily cell mediated. We show that an effective, safe vaccine against Lassa virus can and should be made and that its evaluation for human populations is a matter of humanitarian priority.