Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of rabies virus infection on gene expression in mouse brain

A variety of molecular genetic approaches were used to study the effect of rabies virus (RV) infection on host gene expression in mouse brain. The down-regulation of gene expression was found to be a major effect of RV infection by using subtraction hybridization. However, a combination of techniques identified approximately 39 genes activated by infection. These included genes involved in regulation of cell metabolism, protein synthesis, synaptic activity, and cell growth and differentiation. Northern blot analysis to monitor temporal activation of several of these genes following infection revealed essentially two patterns of activation: (i) an early response with up-regulation beginning within 3 days after infection and correlating with transcription of RV nuclear protein; and (ii) a late response with enhanced expression occurring at days 6–7 after infection and associated with peak RV replication. The gene activation patterns and the known functions of their products suggest that a number of host genes may be involved in the replication and spread of RV in the brain.
“On Optimal Dividend Strategies in the Compound Poisson Model”, by Hans U. Gerber and Elias S. W. Shiu, April 2006

HANSJÖRG ALBRECHER* AND STEFAN THONHAUSER† This elegant paper of Professors Gerber and Shiu provides a justification of the consideration of threshold models in connection with optimal dividend payout schemes in the classical risk model. In Section 9 the authors show that, in the case of bounded dividend intensity, for exponential claim sizes the optimal dividend strategy is a threshold strategy. In this discussion we would like to show that for Erlang(2) claim sizes one can find parameter choices for which the threshold strategy is optimal and others for which it is not. For that purpose, let us first derive the solution of the integro-differential equations (5.1) and (5.2) of the paper for p(y) 2ye y (y 0, 0). Multiplying equation (5.1) by e x and calculating the second derivative with respect to x, one obtains
Gap junctions: structure and function (Review)

Gap junctions are plasma membrane spatial microdomains constructed of assemblies of channel proteins called connexins in vertebrates and innexins in invertebrates. The channels provide direct intercellular communication pathways allowing rapid exchange of ions and metabolites up to ~1 kD in size. Approximately 20 connexins are identified in the human or mouse genome, and orthologues are increasingly characterized in other vertebrates. Most cell types express multiple connexin isoforms, making likely the construction of a spectrum of heteromeric hemichannels and heterotypic gap junctions that could provide a structural basis for the charge and size selectivity of these intercellular channels. The precise nature of the potential signalling information traversing junctions in physiologically defined situations remains elusive, but extensive progress has been made in elucidating how connexins are assembled into gap junctions. Also, participation of gap junction hemichannels in the propagation of calcium waves via an extracellular purinergic pathway is emerging. Connexin mutations have been identified in a number of genetically inherited channel communication-opathies. These are detected in connexin 32 in Charcot Marie Tooth-X linked disease, in connexins 26 and 30 in deafness and skin diseases, and in connexins 46 and 50 in hereditary cataracts. Biochemical approaches indicate that many of the mutated connexins are mistargeted to gap junctions and/or fail to oligomerize correctly into hemichannels. Genetic ablation approaches are helping to map out a connexin code and point to specific connexins being required for cell growth and differentiation as well as underwriting basic intercellular communication.
HIV/STD: the women to blame? Knowledge and attitudes among STD clinic attendees in the second decade of HIV/AIDS

We aimed to determine the knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/STDs among women attending an STD clinic by interviewing 520 randomly selected women. Nearly all had heard of HIV/AIDS/STDs, with posters, pamphlets and the radio being the main source of their information. The years of schooling was the only predictive factor of knowing a preventive measure of HIV. Two-thirds thought they were at risk of contracting HIV from their regular partner. Knowledge of the sexual habits of their male partners was low with 260 (50%) of the women distrusting their partner. Only 52 (10%) of respondents admitted to sex in exchange for gifts or money. In the event of a positive HIV test result, the perceived partner response would be to blame the woman for introducing the infection into the relationship. After a positive HIV test result, only 3.5% would resort to using condoms while another 3.7% would try to pass on the disease to other people. The quality of their knowledge of the transmission of HIV was low in spite of the fact that most respondents have heard of HIV/AIDS/STDs. Violence against women was expected in relation to a positive test result. There is a need for better educative effort on the modes of transmission and prevention of HIV, also in ‘low risk’ populations.
The Trojan Horse for the Americanization of Europe? Polish Industrial Relations towards the EU

This article discusses the implications of EU enlargement eastward for the so-called `European social model' and the `Europeanization' of industrial relations. After considering the standpoints of EU bodies, it supports an alternative `agency-based' perspective. A deeper analysis of the Polish case reveals that not only has enlargement an impact on industrial relations, but conversely industrial relations has a considerable impact on enlargement. A particular asymmetry is detected. In the West, employers strongly promote enlargement and unions (especially in some countries) are increasingly sceptical; in the East, the opposite is the case. This asymmetry increases the risks of American-style fragmentation of European industrial relations.
Suppression of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide by Asparagus racemosus root extract using in vitro studies.

Recent clinical and experimental data showed the involvement of reactive oxygen species/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in many human pathophysiological conditions. Antioxidant activity of the aqueous (ARA) and ethanolic extracts (ARE) of Asparagus racemosus (AR) root were evaluated in a series of in vitro assays including ROS generation in chemicals and biological model systems. The dose-dependent ARA and ARE extracts showed the scavenging activity against DPPH (IC50 = 60.7 and 52.5 microg/ml), nitric oxide (IC50 = 141.9 and 63.4 microg/ml), superoxide (IC50 = 221 and 89.4 microg/ml), hydroxyl (IC50 = 318.7 and 208.8 microg/ml) and ABTS. + (IC50 = 134.5 and 71.9 microg/ml) radicals. The antioxidant capacity of ARA and ARE were assessed for their reducing power using FRAP (Ferric Reducing antioxidant power) and potassium ferricyanide reducing methods as well as free radical scavenging capacity by TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) method. ARA and ARE extracts were also found to be effective at suppressing lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+/ascorbate system in rat liver mitochondrial preparation (IC50 = 511.7 and 309.2 microg/ml, respectively). Further, ARA and ARE root extracts significantly decreased (P < 0.05) copper-mediated human LDL oxidation by prolongation of lag phase time with decline in oxidation rate, maximal yield of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides and malondialdehyde concentrations. The addition of ARA and ARE root extracts to human serum significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the formation of lipid peroxidation in medium. Trolox, alpha-tocopherol and mannitol were tested similarly to compare their antioxidant activities. In conclusion, antioxidant activity of ARE as compared to ARA extract is more effective which act as hydrogen donors, metal ion chelators, reducing agents, radical scavengers and anti-lipid peroxidative. These effects are attributed to the high amount of lipophilic phenolics content of ARE root extract.
LARM: A Load-Aware Routing Metric for multi-radio Wireless Mesh Networks

A multi-radio Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) is a multi-hop network that consists of mesh routers and mesh clients, where mesh routers are equipped with multiple radio interfaces and form the backbone of the mesh network. To provide backbone support, it is necessary to reduce interference and balance load in Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs). We propose load-aware routing metric (LARM), which captures the difference in transmission rates, packet loss ratio, intra/inter-flow interference and traffic load in multi-radio mesh networks. The LARM metric helps finding paths that are better in terms of balancing load and reducing the inter-flow and intra-flow interference in multi-radio networks. Simulation results show that LARM metric significantly outperforms several existing routing metrics in multi-radio wireless mesh networks.
Coexistence, Genetically Modified Biotechnologies and Biosafety: Implications for Developing Countries

Several countries have implemented policies and regulatory frameworks to comply with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and to address consumer and producer concerns over genetically modified (GM) biotechnologies.1 Biosafety regulatory frameworks include laws and regulations to assess, manage, and communicate the biosafety profiles of GM technologies. Other countries have initiated discussions of production systems that could allow their producers to capture potential benefits derived from adopting GM biotechnologies. One such production system is Coexistence. Coexistence has been suggested for implementation in the European Union (EU) as a production system that allows the simultaneous cultivation of
A 1982 Survey of Corporate Leasing Analysis

* Over the years the difficulty in resolving the issues in lease-buy analysis has given rise to textbook expositions that vary widely in form, if not in content. This situation may have resulted in some confusion among practitioners and some erroneous decisions. Indeed practitioner errors were apparently uncovered by Anderson and Martin [1] in a 1975 survey. Since the time of their survey, progress has been made in clarifying the issues in lease-buy analysis. This article addresses how this progress has influenced corporate procedures.
Sustaining the Forests: The Community‐based Approach in South and South‐East Asia

The concept of sustainability emphasizes four basic principles when applied to rural communities: that basic needs must be met; that resources should be subject to local control; that local communities must have a decisive voice in planning; and that they should represent themselves through their own institutions. These principles have been notionally accepted by development planners and conservationists at all levels. Yet, throughout the tropical forest belt, they are being systematically overridden by international and national policies and development programmes, leading to increasing poverty, social conflict and rapid deforestation. Traditional knowledge and systems of land use have proved far more environmentally appropriate, resilient and complex than initially supposed by outsiders. Forest peoples have successfully opposed many socially and environmentally destructive development schemes proposed for their lands. However, these societies are not resisting all change: population increase and the internal dynamic for development have also created social and environmental problems. A review of community‐based initiatives in South and South‐East Asia shows that in some countries, positive initiatives have been taken by local and national governments to promote a community‐based approach. Notable successes have been achieved but many other initiatives have failed. The examples show that, besides the four principles noted above, environmentally successful management also depends on innovative political organization at the community level.
The Stability of Joint Ventures: Reciprocity and Competitive Rivalry

The focus of the following empirical analysis is the influence of reciprocity and long-term relationships on the stability of joint ventures. These cooperative incentives are offset by industry structural conditions, which may promote competitive rivalry among the partners. To separate these effects on joint venture survival, the hypothesized relationships are proxied by variables drawn from industry and questionnaire data, and estimated under a hazard model specification. A theoretical implication of the findings is to suggest a shift of attention from the transaction to the economic relationship as the unit of analysis. Copyright 1989 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
A moving object extraction and classification system based on Zynq and IBM SuperVessel

In this demonstration, we develop a moving object extraction and classification system based on a heterogeneous acceleration platform that consists of a local Zynq terminal and FPGA clusters on the IBM SuperVessel cloud. Extraction of the moving object from the streaming video input is offloaded to the Zynq terminal, while the classification is executed on the cloud. FPGA high level synthesis and Xilinx SDSoC Environment are applied to develop the extraction part of the system. In evaluation, the extraction and classification parts of our system achieve performance of 30 fps and 1 fps respectively for 1080P streaming video input. This demonstration displays a feasible framework for the hardware acceleration of computer vision applications and a possible job division between the terminal and the cloud.
The role of NF-κB activation in the pathogenesis of acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is an inflammatory disease of the pancreas which, in its most severe form, is associated with multi-organ failure and death. Recently, signalling molecules and pathways which are responsible for the initiation and progression of this disease have been under intense scrutiny. One important signalling molecule, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), has been shown to play a critical role in the development of acute pancreatitis. NF-κB is a nuclear transcription factor responsible for regulating the transcription of a wide variety of genes involved in immunity and inflammation. Many of these genes have been implicated as central players in the development and progression of acute pancreatitis. This review discusses recent advances in the investigation of pancreatic and extrapancreatic (lungs, liver, monocytes and macrophages, and endothelial cells) NF-κB activation as it relates to acute pancreatitis.
Entrepreneurial ability, venture investments, and risk sharing

A number of issues that relate to the desirability and implications of new venture financing are examined within a principal-agent framework that captures the essence of the relationship between entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The model suggests: 1 As long as the skill levels of entrepreneurs are common knowledge, all will choose to involve venture capital investors, since the risk sharing provided by outside participation dominates the agency relationship that is created. 2 The less able entrepreneurs will choose to involve venture capitalists, whereas the more profitable ventures will be developed without external participation because of the adverse selection problem associated with asymmetric information. 3 If a costly signal is available that conveys the entrepreneur's ability, some entrepreneurs will invest in such a signal and then sell to investors; these entrepreneurs, however, need not be the more able ones. The implications for new venture financing of these and other findings are discussed and illustrated by example.
Disclosure Laws and Takeover Bids

THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT not only prohibits the making of false statements, but also requires that parties to a takeover bid make positive disclosures. This paper discusses some of the effects of requiring positive disclosure as opposed to simply outlawing the making of false statements. We begin in Section 1 by asking how much disclosure will be voluntarily forthcoming if lying is illegal but there is no positive disclosure requirement. Rather than starting with the complex problem of disclosure in takeover bids, we first consider the simpler case of a seller who knows something about the quality of the item he is selling. We show that if there is no transactions cost$then it will always be in the seller's interest to disclose the quality of the item voluntarily. It is not an equilibrium for the seller to withhold information in an attempt to defraud. Section 2 uses the model of takeovers in Grossman and Hart [6] to analyze the effect on the takeover bid process of requiring the firm carrying out the takeover (i.e., the acquiring firm) to make particular disclosures required by the Securities and Exchange Act. We focus on the effect of implicitly requiring the disclosure of any intention to dilute the rights of shareholders who do not tender. We show that this type of disclosure may overly hinder the takeover bid process. This will have an adverse effect on managerial efficiency.
Development and psychometric validation of an eating disorder-specific health-related quality of life instrument.

OBJECTIVE Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been used increasingly as an outcome measure in clinical research. Although the generic quality of life instruments has been used in previous research, disease-specific instruments offer greater sensitivity and responsiveness to change than generic instruments. No such disease-specific instrument is currently available that applies to eating-disordered samples. METHOD The current article reports on the development and validation of the Eating Disorders Quality of Life (EDQOL) instrument, a disease-specific HRQOL self-report questionnaire designed for disordered eating patients. RESULTS The EDQOL demonstrates excellent psychometric properties. CONCLUSION The application of the EDQOL as an outcome measure in eating disorder research is considered.
Obstructive sleep apnea with severe chronic airflow limitation. Comparison of hypercapnic and eucapnic patients.

The mechanism of sustained awake hypercapnia in the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) is unknown. Recent work has implicated coexisting chronic airflow limitation (CAL) as an important contributing factor. We approached this question by studying consecutive patients with both OSA syndrome and severe CAL in detail and comparing those with and without retention of CO2 while awake. Of 28 patients with both severe OSA (mean NREM apnea index = 48 +/- 9, SEM) and severe CAL (mean FEV1 = 1.07 +/- 0.07 L), 14 had persistent awake hypercapnia (mean PaCO2 = 50 +/- 1 mm Hg), and 14 were normocapnic (mean PaCO2 = 40 +/- 1 mm Hg). When separated according to their PaCO2 level, there was no difference in the apnea indices in both non-rapid-eye-movement (NREM) sleep, or rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, although the hypercapnic group had lower average levels of oxyhemoglobin saturation in both NREM (SaO2 = 77 +/- 2% versus 85 +/- 3%, p less than 0.05) and REM (SaO2 = 60 +/- 4% versus 82 +/- 3%, p less than 0.001) sleep. The mean values for FEV1, VC, lung volumes, and diffusing capacity for CO measured while awake did not differ. The hypercapnic group had lower awake PaO2 levels (p less than 0.001), were heavier (p less than 0.05), had narrower upper airway size on CT scan measurements (p less than 0.01), and gave a history of much heavier alcohol intake (p less than 0.05). Our results demonstrate that some patients with severe OSA and severe CAL can maintain normal awake arterial CO2 levels. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The location of clinically diagnosed secondary caries.

OBJECTIVE This practice-based study involved private practitioners who reported on the location of 1,100 sites of clinically diagnosed secondary caries. METHOD AND MATERIALS The secondary caries was noted on schematic diagrams on which the clinicians made an outline of the restoration and marked the location of the caries with a red pen. The secondary caries was classified as being located gingivally, occlusally/incisally, or at any other location of the restoration. RESULTS Overall, 80% to 90% of the clinically diagnosed secondary caries was reported to be located gingivally, irrespective of the type of restoration or restorative material employed. Class II restorations, analyzed separately, showed a slightly higher relative proportion of occlusal secondary caries on resin composite (16%) than on amalgam (8%) restorations. CONCLUSION A number of patient, operator, and material factors may contribute to the development of secondary caries and in the differential diagnosis of marginal discrepancies, including secondary caries, at the gingival area of restorations.
On Some Statistical Aids Toward Economic Production

This paper covers management's responsibility for 1 design of product; 2 specification of service offered; 3 measurement by simple statistical methods of the amount of trouble with product or with service that can be ascribed to causes that only management can act on; 4 action on the causes so indicated. It shows by principle and by example how management may observe week by week the effects of guided effort toward reduction of trouble. The paper upsets a number of commonly accepted principles of administration. For example, a job-description, for best economy, should require the production-worker to achieve statistical control of his work; to meet specifications without paying the high cost of inspection, rework, and replacement. Statistical evidence of performance replaces opinion of foreman and supervisor. As a second principle, it is demoralizing and costly to call the attention of a production-worker to a defective item when he is in a state of statistical control. The fault for the defective item is not chargeable to the worker, but to the system. Fewer defectives can come only from a change in the system, not from efforts of the production-worker. Third, it is better to shift to a totally different job a worker that has developed statistical control of bad habits in his present job. All variation in quality-characteristics dimension, hardness, color causes loss, whether the variation results in defective product or not. Economies in manufacture are a natural consequence of reduction in the variation of a quality-characteristic. The author divides causes of variation into two sources: 1 the system common causes, the responsibility of management; 2 special causes, which are under the governance of the individual employee. In the author's experience, losses from the system overshadow losses from special causes. The same principles apply to sales and to service.
Honeysand: An Open Source Tools based Sandbox Environment for Bot Analysis and Botnet Tracking

Malware analysis is a process of determining the intent and modus operandi of a given malware sample. It is the first step in process of developing any preventive or defensive measure against a malware attack. The work presented in this paper is focused on the dynamic malware analysis. Dynamic malware analysis is one of the malware analysis techniques, in which the malware sample is executed in a controlled environment called sandbox and the effects of the execution at different levels of system abstractions (I.e. operating system, network, or kernel) are captured, stored and processed. In this paper we are presenting the design details of a malware execution environment named as Honeysand. The presented solution is specifically designed for catering the needs of performing dynamic analysis for a class of malwares known as bot. Bot is a class of mwalre that have the ability to coordinate among themselves and create a network of infected systems which is under the control of a single machine called command & control server [18] . Based upon the proposed system design we have developed a prototype system using the honeypot technology as a base with some other open source tools configured over it and used this prototype to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solution.