Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tualang Honey Protects against BPA-Induced Morphological Abnormalities and Disruption of ERα, ERβ, and C3 mRNA and Protein Expressions in the Uterus of Rats

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) that can disrupt the normal functions of the reproductive system. The objective of the study is to investigate the potential protective effects of Tualang honey against BPA-induced uterine toxicity in pubertal rats. The rats were administered with BPA by oral gavage over a period of six weeks. Uterine toxicity in BPA-exposed rats was determined by the degree of the morphological abnormalities, increased lipid peroxidation, and dysregulated expression and distribution of ERα, ERβ, and C3 as compared to the control rats. Concurrent treatment of rats with BPA and Tualang honey significantly improved the uterine morphological abnormalities, reduced lipid peroxidation, and normalized ERα, ERβ, and C3 expressions and distribution. There were no abnormal changes observed in rats treated with Tualang honey alone, comparable with the control rats. In conclusion, Tualang honey has potential roles in protecting the uterus from BPA-induced toxicity, possibly accounted for by its phytochemical properties.
Corrective policy reactions: positive and negative budgetary punctuations

Abstract Punctuated equilibrium theory seeks to explain policy volatility and stability in government attention. In previous research into the temporal dynamics of punctuations, scholars found that punctuations occur in clusters – a recent budgetary punctuation increases the likelihood of a subsequent punctuation. This article examines the direction, positive or negative, of budgetary punctuations over time. Are budgetary punctuations corrective, grouping positive and negative changes? Or, do budgetary punctuations occur in cumulative trends of positive or negative changes? These questions address the heart of the theoretical metaphor for punctuated equilibrium. In an analysis of over 1,000 Texas school districts for nearly a 20-year-period, results support the notion of reactive patterns of budgetary punctuations – positive and negative budgetary punctuations pair up at a rate much higher than expected by chance. The findings demonstrate that even though it is likely to see consecutive positive and negative punctuations, they are not always fully corrective.
Dietary and pharmacological compounds altering intestinal calcium absorption in humans and animals

Abstract The intestine is the only gate for the entry of Ca to the body in humans and mammals. The entrance of Ca occurs via paracellular and intracellular pathways. All steps of the latter pathway are regulated by calcitriol and by other hormones. Dietary and pharmacological compounds also modulate the intestinal Ca absorption process. Among them, dietary Ca and P are known to alter the lipid and protein composition of the brush-border and basolateral membranes and, consequently, Ca transport. Ca intakes are below the requirements recommended by health professionals in most countries, triggering important health problems. Chronic low Ca intake has been related to illness conditions such as osteoporosis, hypertension, renal lithiasis and incidences of human cancer. Carbohydrates, mainly lactose, and prebiotics have been described as positive modulators of intestinal Ca absorption. Apparently, high meat proteins increase intestinal Ca absorption while the effect of dietary lipids remains unclear. Pharmacological compounds such as menadione, dl-butionine-S,R-sulfoximine and ursodeoxycholic acid also modify intestinal Ca absorption as a consequence of altering the redox state of the epithelial cells. The paracellular pathway of intestinal Ca absorption is poorly known and is under present study in some laboratories. Another field that needs to be explored more intensively is the influence of the gene × diet interaction on intestinal Ca absorption. Health professionals should be aware of this knowledge in order to develop nutritional or medical strategies to stimulate the efficiency of intestinal Ca absorption and to prevent diseases.
Magnetic motor evoked potential monitoring in the rat.

OBJECT The authors conducted a study to provide an objective electrophysiological assessment of descending motor pathways in rats, which may become a means for predicting outcome in spinal cord injury research. METHODS Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials (TMMEPs) were recorded under various conditions in awake, nonanesthetized, restrained rats. Normative data were collected to determine the reproducibility of the model and to evaluate the effect of changing the stimulus intensity on the evoked signals. In addition, an experiment was performed to determine if the TMMEPs produced were the result of auditory startle response (ASR) potentials elicited by the sound generated by the movement of the copper coil inside its casing during magnetic stimulation. Transcranial magnetic motor evoked potentials were elicited after magnetic stimulation. At 100% stimulus intensity, the mean forelimb onset latency was 4.2 +/- 0.39 msec, and the amplitude was 9.16 +/- 3.44 mV. The hindlimb onset latency was 6.5 +/- 0.47 msec, and the amplitude was 11.47 +/- 5.25 mV. As the stimulus intensity was decreased, the TMMEP onset latency increased and the response amplitude decreased. The ASR potentials were shown to have longer latencies, smaller amplitudes, and were more variable than those of the TMMEPs. CONCLUSIONS These experiments demonstrate that TMMEPs can be recorded in awake, nonanesthetized rats. The evoked signals were easy to elicit and reproduce. This paper introduces noninvasive TMMEPs as a new technique for monitoring the physiological integrity of the rat spinal cord.
Genetic diversity of schistosomes and snails: implications for control

SUMMARY Molecular approaches are providing new insights into the genetic diversity of schistosomes and their intermediate snail hosts. For instance, molecular tools based on the polymerase chain reaction are being developed for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis and the detection of prepatent schistosome infections in snails at transmission sites. Robust phylogenies of the different species of Schistosoma, Bulinus and Biomphalaria have been determined and novel methods are available to identify the different and cryptic taxa involved. Microsatellite analyses and mitochondrial DNA sequencing methods have been developed and are contributing to a better understanding of the genetic structure of both schistosome and snail populations. New sampling procedures to capture DNA of eggs and larval stages of schistosomes in field situations are facilitating more detailed and ethically advantageous studies on parasite heterogeneity. Knowledge of the genetic diversity of schistosome and snail populations adds a further dimension to the monitoring and surveillance of disease, and the implementation of new molecular-based approaches will be of increasing importance in helping to assess the impact of schistosomiasis control strategies.
Foreign Direct Investment Expansion and Tourism Receipts Econometrics Analysis and Forecasts in the case of Sri Lanka

-Tourism has become an important economic activity in all the countries of the world. It creates direct and indirect impact on the economy. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is considered as one of the routes through which developing countries can reach tourism. In this regard, Sri Lanka offers attractive investment opportunities for foreign companies and has adopted a number of policies to attract FDI into the country. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between tourism and Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka. Annual data gathered for the period from 1978 to 2014 and forecasted data for the period from 2015 to 2016 were used for the study. Data were analyzed using E-Views. Augmented Dickey-Fuller is used for unit root test, while Engle–Granger is used for co-integration, whereas Granger causality test was employed to find the causal relationships. The empirical evidence shows that there is a statistically significant and positive relationship between tourism receipts and Foreign Direct Investment. Granger causality test revealed that there exists two-way causality implying that Foreign Direct Investments helped to boost tourism sector while tourism earnings stimulated the Foreign Direct Investment.
Differences in diabetic co-morbidity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living in Bella Coola, Canada.

INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVES (1) To identify which medical disorders are significantly associated with being a diabetic in the setting of an isolated, rural community; and (2) to determine if there are differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal diabetics. METHODS DESIGN population based retrospective chart review. STUDY POPULATION people living in the Bella Coola Valley, Canada, and having a chart at the Bella Coola Medical Clinic as at September 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES known diabetes related co-morbidity (retinopathy, nephropathy, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy). RESULTS There were 126 adult (>18 years old) diabetics living in the Bella Coola Valley. Prevalence rates for history of alcohol issues, retinopathy, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and nephropathy were 44%, 14%, 19%, 8%, 7%, 10%, 54%, 47%, and 7% respectively. For the 1597 non-diabetics living in the Bella Coola Valley, respective prevalence rates for these same co-morbidities were 20%, 0.3%, 2%, 1.5%, 1%, 1%, 10%, 6%, and 0.6%. The study did not demonstrate that Aboriginal people living in the Bella Coola Valley have an increased prevalence of diabetes associated co-morbidities over and above that found in the non-Aboriginal diabetic population. This was despite the fact the smoking rate was higher in the Aboriginal population. CONCLUSIONS The development of diabetes in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people living in the Bella Coola Valley was clearly associated with the presence of multiple co-morbidities, including hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, and neuropathy. Rates of diabetes associated co-morbidities were similar for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal diabetic populations. The authors speculate that a diet rich in fish oils (omega-3 fatty acids) accounted for the lower than expected rates of cardiovascular disease among this Aboriginal population.
Design for privacy in public space

The role of public space in contemporary society is important to a person’s well-being as it provides useful function. However, privacy issues is problem when user use the public space. This study aims at investigating the relationship between elements of privacy and the types of public space in order to better user experience in public space. A total 40 participants (21 males and 19 females, aged from 22 to 25) were invited to participate. This study used user picture interview and value mapping to investigate relationship between privacy and public space. There were differences of privacy important in public space and each privacy elements had different meaning according to public space type. Designers could utilize this framework to develop public space in terms of privacy. The privacy elements are interpreted by user’s voice to elaborate specific meaning to protect privacy in public space.
Achieving Sub-ns switching of STT-MRAM for future embedded LLC applications through improvement of nucleation and propagation switching mechanisms

We present recent advances in writing speed of pSTT_MRAM which demonstrate its potential as a candidate for replacement of LCC cache for advanced technology nodes as well as applications where non-volatility may be needed. In this paper we explore the feasibility of sub-ns switching of devices and their characterization using comprehensive time resolved electrical measurement of the reversal mechanism. We show that the switching mechanism can be described as a simple nucleation followed by propagation model that can be characterized statistically. We further demonstrate that after optimization of the Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) stack, single devices can be switched reliably using write pulse length down to 750ps while preserving functionality and data retention @ 125°C. Results of the integration at array level on an 8MB test vehicle are also presented allowing full array writing using 3ns pulses without ECC and demonstrated data retention of 10 years (1ppm) at 125°C.
actDresses — Interacting with robotic devices — fashion and comics

Robotic devices, such as the Roomba vacuum cleaner, are customised and personalised by their users, using for example signs, stickers and clothes. The actDresses project explores how these metaphors from fashion and comics can be used in novel interactions with robotic devices. This movie shows one explorative prototype, where clothes and accessories are used to program the Roomba's behaviour. The clothes influence personality characteristics of the Roomba; the accessories, iconic flags, determine movement characteristics. Combined, the clothes and flags allow the user to create different types of behaviour.
The Human KDR/flk-1 Gene Contains a Functional Initiator Element That Is Bound and Transactivated by TFII-I*

KDR/flk-1, the receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor, is required for normal vascular development.KDR/flk-1 is a TATA-less gene, containing four upstream Sp1 sites and a single transcription start site, although analysis of the start site sequence discloses only weak similarities with the consensus initiator element (Inr) sequence. In vitro transcription assays, however, demonstrate that the region from −10 to +10 relative to the start site contains Inr activity that is orientation- and position-dependent, and mutagenesis of theKDR/flk-1 Inr reduces promoter activity to 28% of the wild-type promoter in transient transfection assays. Gel shift assays confirm that nuclear proteins specifically bind the Inr, and competition experiments demonstrate that TFII-I, a multifunctional Inr-binding nuclear protein, is a component of these DNA-protein complexes. TFII-I transactivates the wild-type KDR/flk-1promoter, but not a promoter containing a mutated Inr, in transient transfection assays. Immunodepletion of TFII-I from nuclear extracts prior to in vitro transcription assays abolishes transcription from the KDR/flk-1 Inr, an effect that can be rescued by adding back purified TFII-I, reflecting the importance of TFII-I in KDR/flk-1 Inr activity. These experiments demonstrate that the KDR/flk-1 gene contains a functional Inr that is bound by TFII-I and that both the functional Inr and TFII-I activity are essential for transcription.
Active transceiver design pattern for data communication applications

Developers of distributed applications need to write a significant volume of similar code to configure communication components and to achieve reliable and efficient communications in these applications. Moreover, different development environments and operating system utilities provide different interfaces and services to the communications protocol stack. Recently a significant body of work has been conducted in developing extensible object oriented design patterns to document and disseminate solutions to various recurring problems of communicating data between components of distributed applications. Reliable and efficient communications is achieved through the use of event driven and multithreaded components. This paper describes the active transceiver design pattern that focuses on the execution of distributed application components in a multi-threaded environment.
Statistical Applications in Genetics and Molecular Biology A New Type of Stochastic Dependence Revealed in Gene Expression Data

Modern methods of microarray data analysis are biased towards selecting those genes that display the most pronounced differential expression. The magnitude of differential expression does not necessarily indicate biological significance and other criteria are needed to supplement the information on differential expression. Three large sets of microarray data on childhood leukemia were analyzed by an original method introduced in this paper. A new type of stochastic dependence between expression levels in gene pairs was deciphered by our analysis. This modulation-like unidirectional dependence between expression signals arises when the expression of a ``gene-modulator'' is stochastically proportional to that of a ``gene-driver''. A total of more than 35% of all pairs formed from 12550 genes were conservatively estimated to belong to this type. There are genes that tend to form Type A relationships with the overwhelming majority of genes. However, this picture is not static: the composition of Type A gene pairs may undergo dramatic changes when comparing two phenotypes. The ability to identify genes that act as ``modulators'' provides a potential strategy of prioritizing candidate genes.
A transcriptionally defective long terminal repeat within an endogenous copy of mouse mammary tumor virus proviral DNA

Mouse mammary tumor virus proviral DNA is endogenous to most inbred strains of mice but in many strains is not transcriptionally active. This inactivity may be due to defects in the proviruses themselves or to position effects mediated by DNA sequences flanking the proviral units. The transcriptional competence of long terminal repeats (LTRs) derived from endogenous proviral DNA at genetic loci Mtv-8, Mtv-9, and Mtv-17 of the C57BL/6 mouse strain was examined with a transient transfection assay in which gene expression was monitored by expression of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. LTRs from Mtv-8 and Mtv-9 were able to direct glucocorticoid-induced chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression in this assay, while the LTR from Mtv-17 was only about 5% as effective. Analysis of chimeric LTRs indicated that the glucocorticoid-inducible transcriptional enhancer element within the Mtv-17 LTR is active when linked to a functional promoter from Mtv-8, whereas the promoter from Mtv-17 is defective in directing hormone-induced gene expression, even when linked to the Mtv-8 glucocorticoid-responsive enhancer. The DNA sequence of transcriptional control regions of the LTRs of all three endogenous proviral units was determined; this analysis revealed that the source of the defect in Mtv-17 is a single G-to-A transition at position-75 with respect to the site of transcription initiation that resides within the previously defined binding site for the transcription factor nuclear factor 1. Competition experiments with a gel electrophoresis mobility shift assay indicated that the affinity of nuclear factor 1 for DNA derived from Mtv-17 is significantly less than for comparable sequences derived from Mtv-8.
Analysis of Campylobacter jejuni capsular loci reveals multiple mechanisms for the generation of structural diversity and the ability to form complex heptoses

We recently demonstrated that Campylobacter jejuni produces a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) that is the major antigenic component of the classical Penner serotyping system distinguishing Campylobacter into >60 groups. Although the wide variety of C. jejuni serotypes are suggestive of structural differences in CPS, the genetic mechanisms of such differences are unknown. In this study we sequenced biosynthetic cps regions, ranging in size from 15 to 34 kb, from selected C. jejuni strains of HS:1, HS:19, HS:23, HS:36, HS:23/36 and HS:41 serotypes. Comparison of the determined cps sequences of the HS:1, HS:19 and HS:41 strains with the sequenced strain, NCTC11168 (HS:2), provides evidence for multiple mechanisms of structural variation including exchange of capsular genes and entire clusters by horizontal transfer, gene duplication, deletion, fusion and contingency gene variation. In contrast, the HS:23, HS:36 and HS:23/36 cps sequences were highly conserved. We report the first detailed structural analysis of 81‐176 (HS:23/36) and G1 (HS:1) and refine the previous structural interpretations of the HS:19, HS:23, HS:36 and HS:41 serostrains. For the first time, we demonstrate the commonality and function of a second heptose biosynthetic pathway for Campylobacter CPS independent of the pathway for lipooligosaccharide (LOS) biosynthesis and identify a novel heptosyltransferase utilized by this alternate pathway. Furthermore, we show the retention of two functional heptose isomerases in Campylobacter and the sharing of a phosphatase for both LOS and CPS heptose biosynthesis.
Global optimization of video quality by improved rate control on IP-networks

This paper addresses the optimal rate control in a communication network consisting of multiple users, transmitting video. We suggest that rate control in the Internet should take the signal properties into account. An optimal distribution of rates should maximise the aggregate quality of the received signals. This paper addresses video sequences specifically, but the results are expected to hold for more generalized signals as well. The optimal transmission rate of a user will vary in time. This is due to its dependence on time-varying parameters such as the traffic routing, network topology and the demands of other users. Moreover, the optimal transmission rate is dependent on the metric selected to describe the video quality. We show that when congestion is controlled `correctly' the optimal distribution of rates is an attractor. Using the proposed rate control mechanisms, the transmission rates will then converge weakly towards this attractor. The algorithm for rate control mechanisms for video transmission is then given. The proposed control mechanisms are directly implementable in the Internet without requiring intelligent feedback from the Internet gateways. Simulations using the proposed congestion control mechanisms have been conducted using different metrics to describe the video quality.
Early Transcription from Nonintegrated DNA in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

ABSTRACT Replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) involves obligatory sequential processes. Following viral entry and reverse transcription, the newly synthesized viral DNA integrates into the host chromatin. Integration is mandatory for viral production, yet HIV infection of CD4 T cells in vivo results in high levels of nonintegrated DNA. The biological potential of nonintegrated HIV DNA is unclear; however, prior work has demonstrated a limited transcription of the nef gene by nonintegrated HIV in infected quiescent T-cell populations. In a kinetic analysis of HIV infection of metabolically active transformed and primary CD4 T cells, we find an unexpected transient expression of both early and late message by nonintegrated HIV DNA. However, only the early multiply spliced transcript was measurably translated. This restriction of protein expression was due in part to inadequate Rev function, since expression of Rev in trans resulted in the expression of the late structural gene gag by nonintegrated HIV DNA.