Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CHEMOMETRIC STUDY OF SELECTED AGARWOOD OILS BY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY

NOR AZAH MA, ISMAIL N, MAILINA J, TAIB MN, RAHIMAN MHF & MUHD HAFIZI Z. 2014. Chemometric study of selected agarwood oils by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Agarwood oils are concentrated volatile aromatic compounds mainly produced by the distillation of agarwood ( Aquilana spp.). Currendy, grading of agarwood oil is done by trained personnel based on colour and odour. This technique is done manually and limited to sample repeatability. In this study, the chemical compositions of several selected agarwood oil samples were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their pattern recognition profiles were examined by chemometric analysis using principal component analysis (PCA) . The samples were categorised into two groups according to their quality: group A (high quality) and group B (unknown quality). At least 43 chemical compounds were identified from both groups. From PCA, six significant compounds were obtained, i.e. 4-phenyl-2-butanone, a-guaiene, ar-curcumene, 10-epi-y-eudesmol, s-dihydroagarofuran and valencene. Correlation analysis revealed significant and high correlation between groups A and B. This is due to samples from group B showing similarity to major compounds found in group A.
A PEDESTRIAN ROAD SURVEY OF AN UPLAND SNAKE COMMUNITY IN FLORIDA

Abstract A pedestrian survey of snakes was conducted for 1022 days (79% of the available days) along 6 km of rural roads through xeric upland habitats in Hernando County, Florida. Two hundred twenty-eight snakes of 18 species were recorded, 93% of which were dead. The relative abundance of many snake species, such as the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) and southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), differed between the road survey and three drift fence surveys in xeric upland habitats that trapped 22 species. The pedestrian road survey was successful at detecting small snake species and neonates. Mean annual mortality of all snake species was 12.8/km/yr, despite low traffic volume on the roads surveyed, and 70% of carcasses remained on roads for <1 day. Peak periods of snake activity were June–July and September–November. Snakes were not found along roads in proportion to the coverage of four natural and three ruderal habitat types; snakes were found proportionally less frequently adjacent to lawns and improved pastures. Some snake species, such as the southern hognose snake, can apparently persist in areas of fragmented and altered upland habitats, but this study suggests that loss and degradation of natural habitats may have long-term impacts on populations of large snake species. Roads may be a significant source of mortality for some snake populations, especially for dispersing neonates, which comprised 80% of road-killed snakes in September–December.
Review of past and present research on experimental models of moyamoya disease

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is characterized by a progressive steno-occlusive disease affecting the terminal portions of the cerebral internal carotid artery (ICA) and by formation of an abnormal vascular network at the base of the brain. Several pathogeneses, including inflammation, immune complex, upregulation of angiogenic factors, and abnormality of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been hypothesized. However, the mechanisms of MMD are largely unknown, and in vivo and in vitro models of MMD have not yet been established. Previously, inflammation- and immune-complex-related animal models have been reported but failed to reproduce severe stenotic lesions in the terminal portion of ICA. Thereafter, several clinical studies revealed that angiogenic activity of circulating EPCs was defective in MMD patients. These results suggested that the function and quantity of EPCs could be useful as a cellular model of MMD. Very recently, RING finger protein 213 (RNF213) was identified as an MMD susceptibility gene, a discovery that led to the efforts to generate gene mutation-based animal models. Although RNF213 knockout animal models have not yet successfully represented the phenotype of MMD, they have provided new insights into the role of RNF213 in remodeling after vascular injury and postischemic angiogenesis. Furthermore, the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and an appropriate differentiation protocol have made it possible to obtain abundant quantities of MMD-specific vascular cells. In summary, studies have shown that endothelial cells derived from MMD-iPSCs have impaired angiogenic activity, which is a finding consistent with the results of EPC studies. Further studies are needed to create true MMD-specific experimental models to promote understanding of MMC pathogenesis and aid drug development.
Estrogen receptor β1 exerts antitumoral effects on SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells

Estrogen receptor (ER) beta1 and its splice variants are expressed both in ovary and ovarian cancer. We studied the role of ERbeta1 and two of its splice variants in regulation of gene expression, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of an ovarian cancer cell line. In this study, we transfected SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells with vectors coding for ERbeta1 or its splice variants ERbeta-delta125 and ERbeta-delta1256, and tested their response to estrogen and tamoxifen in comparison with the untransfected cells. Heterologous expression of ERbeta1, but not of the exon-deleted ERbeta variants resulted in notably slower cell growth of SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells, an effect accompanied by more than tenfold increase of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1) transcript levels and a significant reduction of cyclin A2 mRNA levels. SK-OV-3 cells stably overexpressing ERbeta1 ligand independently also exhibited an increased apoptosis rate and a significantly decreased motility, an effect accompanied by upregulation of fibulin 1c. Our data demonstrate that ERbeta1, but not the exon-deleted isoforms tested exerts multiple antitumoral effects on SK-OV-3 ovarian cancer cells even in the absence of estradiol or functional ERalpha.
MEIOFAUNA-MACROFAUNA INTERACTIONS IN A HIGH SALT MARSH HABITAT'

Biological interactions between meiofauna and macroepifauna were studied in a high salt marsh habitat using manipulative techniques. When macroepifauna were excluded from experi- mental cage sites, meiofauna densities increased significantly compared to open, noncaged areas. Meiobenthic polychaetes and copepods displayed consistent, seasonal increases in abundance inside cages, although their patterns of response were notably different. The dominant meiobenthic cope- pods, Stenhelia (D.) bifidia, Microarthridion littorale, Enhvdrosoina propinquum, and SchiZopera knabeni, responded to macroepifauna exclusion by rapidly (within weeks) increasing in density inside cages and, subsequently, crashing to control field levels. Polychaetes, represented mainly by Man- avunkia aestuarina, increased more slowly than copepods inside cages, and unlike copepods. showed no signs of density limitation inside macroepifauna-excluded areas. In cage sites reopened to macro- epifauna influences, copepod densities decreased to values intermediate between cage and open con- trol areas, while polychaetes were quickly reduced to open field densities. The exclusion of macroe- pifauna not only produced changes in densities of polychaetes. but also resulted in increased survival of large size classes. My experimental results support the hypothesis that macroepifauna predation/ disturbance has an important effect on meiofaunal assemblages, thus providing insight into possible competitive associations between meiofauna taxa. The significance of meiofauna-macrofauna inter- actions in benthic systems is discussed.
Applications of kite aerial photography: Biocontrol of salt cedar (Tamarix) in the western United States

Abstract Salt cedar (Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.) is a small shrubby tree that is taking over wetland and riparian habitats in the western United States. Biocontrol experiments are underway based on the Chinese leaf-eating beetle, Diorhabda elongata deserticola, as a means for controlling salt cedar. Kite aerial photography and ground observations were conducted in 2003 to document the effects of beetle biocontrol on salt cedar at the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation study site near Pueblo, Colorado. High-resolution August images provided clear visual evidence of salt cedar defoliation by beetles, and the images were suitable for quantitative analysis. This approach could be employed successfully to monitor other types of biocontrol study sites.
Challenges for Plant Breeders from the View of Animal Nutrition

The question of how to feed the growing world population is very old, but because of the increase of population and possible climate change, currently it has an explosive impact. Plant breeding can be considered as the starting point for the whole human food chain. Therefore, high, stable and highly digestible yields of phytogenic biomass with low external inputs of non-renewable resources, such as water, fuel, arable land, fertilizers, etc.; low emissions of gases with greenhouse potential during cultivation; and high resistance against biotic and abiotic stressors, including adaptation to potential climate change, and a low concentration of undesirable substances in the plants are real challenges for plant breeders in the future. Virtually unlimited resources such as sunlight, nitrogen and carbon dioxide from the air as well as the genetic pool of microbes, plants and animals can be used to breed/develop optimal plants/crops. Biofortification of plants may also be an objective of plants breeders, but it is more important for human nutrition to avoid micronutrient deficiencies. A lower concentration of undesirable substances in the plants can be considered as more important than higher concentrations of micronutrients in plants/feeds. Animal nutritionists have various possibilities for feed additive supplementation to meet animal nutrient requirements. Examples to reduce undesirable substances in feed plants are discussed and shown in the paper. In summary, plant breeding has a large and strategic potential for global feed and food security. All breeding technologies may contribute to solving important global challenges, such as sustainable use of limited global resources, improved use of unlimited resources, adaption to climate change and lowering global greenhouse gas emission. More publically supported research seems to be necessary in this field. All methods of plant breeding that contribute to a more resource-efficient production of high and stable yields of available biomass should be used/combined.
Work/Life Balance

In this article, I contend that the well-intentioned discourse of work/life balance in the popular and scholarly press actually may undermine women's and men's attempts to live fulfilling lives. Drawing on feminist and critical perspectives, as well as my own efforts to find "balance" in a two-career family with two children under the age of 4, I illustrate (a) how the work/life discourse reflects the individualism, achievement orientation, and instrumental rationality that is fundamental to modem bureaucratic thought and action and (b) how such discourse may further entrench people in the work/life imbalance that they are trying to escape.
A Rapid HPLC Method for Separation and Determination of Major Organic Acids in Grape Musts and Wines

An isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the separation and quantitative analysis of the major carboxylic acids of grape musts and wines such as citric, tartaric, malic, lactic, and acetic acids. By using an Aminex HPX87-H, a strong cation exchange resin column eluted with dilute sulfuric acid, and monitoring with uv at 210 nm, sample preparation is reduced to simple membrane filtration for white wines or musts and to the removal of phenolic compounds employing disposable reverse phase cartridges for red wines. The use of mobile phase at a different pH for grape must and wine sample analysis allows the separation of compounds such as malic acid and fructose that normally coelute. The results of the HPLC analyses were compared with data obtained by other methods in a range of white wine, red wine, and must samples.
Purification of a high molecular weight actin filament gelation protein from Acanthamoeba that shares antigenic determinants with vertebrate spectrins

I have purified a high molecular weight actin filament gelation protein (GP-260) from Acanthamoeba castellanii, and found by immunological cross-reactivity that it is related to vertebrate spectrins, but not to two other high molecular weight actin-binding proteins, filamin or the microtubule-associated protein, MAP-2. GP-260 was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, selective precipitation with actin and myosin-II, chromatography on hydroxylapatite in 0.6 M Kl, and selective precipitation at low ionic strength. The yield was 1-2 micrograms/g cells. GP-260 had the same electrophoretic mobility in SDS as the 260,000-mol-wt alpha-chain of spectrin from pig erythrocytes and brain. Electron micrographs of GP-260 shadowed on mica showed slender rod-shaped particles 80-110 nm long. GP-260 raised the low shear apparent viscosity of solutions of Acanthamoeba actin filaments and, at 100 micrograms/ml, formed a gel with a 8 microM actin. Purified antibodies to GP-260 reacted with both 260,000- and 240,000-mol-wt polypeptides in samples of whole ameba proteins separated by gel electrophoresis in SDS, but only the 260,000-mol-wt polypeptide was extracted from the cell with 0.34 M sucrose and purified in this study. These antibodies to GP-260 also reacted with purified spectrin from pig brain and erythrocytes, and antibodies to human erythrocyte spectrin bound to GP-260 and the 240,000-mol-wt polypeptide present in the whole ameba. The antibodies to GP-260 did not bind to chicken gizzard filamin or pig brain MAP-2, but they did react with high molecular weight polypeptides from man, a marsupial, a fish, a clam, a myxomycete, and two other amebas. Fluorescent antibody staining with purified antibodies to GP-260 showed that it is concentrated near the plasma membrane in the ameba.
ANGPTL3 Stimulates Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Migration via Integrin αvβ3 and Induces Blood Vessel Formation in Vivo *

The angiopoietin family of secreted factors is functionally defined by the C-terminal fibrinogen (FBN)-like domain, which mediates binding to the Tie2 receptor and thereby facilitates a cascade of events ultimately regulating blood vessel formation. By screening expressed sequence tag data bases for homologies to a consensus FBN-like motive, we have identified ANGPTL3, a liver-specific, secreted factor consisting of an N-terminal coiled-coil domain and the C-terminal FBN-like domain. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments, however, failed to detect binding of ANGPTL3 to the Tie2 receptor. A molecular model of the FBN-like domain of ANGPTL3 was generated and predicted potential binding to integrins. This hypothesis was experimentally confirmed by the finding that recombinant ANGPTL3 bound to αvβ3 and induced integrin αvβ3-dependent haptotactic endothelial cell adhesion and migration and stimulated signal transduction pathways characteristic for integrin activation, including phosphorylation of Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and focal adhesion kinase. When tested in the rat corneal assay, ANGPTL3 strongly induced angiogenesis with comparable magnitude as observed for vascular endothelial growth factor-A. Moreover, the C-terminal FBN-like domain alone was sufficient to induce endothelial cell adhesion and in vivo angiogenesis. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ANGPTL3 is the first member of the angiopoietin-like family of secreted factors binding to integrin αvβ3 and suggest a possible role in the regulation of angiogenesis.
Problems With the Identification of Enterprise Competencies and the Implications for Assessment and Development

This article reviews the problems entailed in identifying enterprise competency. It particularly highlights some definitional problems and the limitations of some common competency identification techniques. The importance of identifying occupational competencies has been asserted by the Training Agency, largely as a result of concerns about British competitiveness, particularly in light of the Single European Market, 1992. Concerns to identify and improve managerial competency have stemmed from reports that British managers are less educated and receive less training than their European contemporaries (Handy, 1987; Constable & McCormick, 1987). During 1985, a survey of British companies found that over half of them provided no training for any of their managers. (Mangham, 1986).
XENOBIOTIC REGULATION OF THE ATP BINDING CASSETTE TRANSPORTER ABCB6 AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE TO HEPATIC HEME HOMEOSTASIS

In the present study, we demonstrate that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the widely distributed environmental toxicants up-regulate Abcb6 expression in both mice and humans. Moreover, in vivo studies in aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) knock-out mice demonstrate that PAH induction of Abcb6 is mediated by AhR. Promoter activation studies combined with electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrate direct interactions between the AhR binding sites in the Abcb6 promoter and the AhR receptor, implicating drug activation mechanisms for Abcb6 similar to those found in inducible P450s. These studies are the first to describe direct transcriptional activation of both mouse and human Abcb6 by xenobiotics.
Vector Control of two five-phase induction Machines Connected in Series powered by Matrix Converter

Drive system of two five-phase motor serial connected is available in the literature. The power supply of such system is considered as matrix converter (direct AC-AC converter) with three-phase input and five-phase output. The main advantages of such drive topology are the sinusoidal source side current with a controllable input side power factor. The decoupled control is achieved similar to the inverter based drive system. In this paper; we presented the decoupled control of two five-phase Induction Machine (IM) connected in series and powered by five-phase matrix converter. Analytical and simulation results are presented.
THE VIABILITY OF TRANSGENESIS FOR CONTROL OF MALARIA

Malaria is a serious problem and a reason for severe mortality especially in developing countries. Several techniques such as insecticides, drugs, sterile insect technique, etc. have been employed by researchers to eradicate the lethal disease. However, the parasites and vectors gained significant immunity against the treatment. Incorporation of genetically modified vectors (GMVs) into disease control could be promising. Genetic modification (GM) of mosquitoes offers opportunities for controlling malaria. Transgenic strains of mosquitoes have been developed and evaluation of these to 1) replace or suppress wild vector populations and 2) reduce transmission and deliver public health gains are an imminent prospect. Identification of promoters, effectors, and reporter genes affecting malaria in mice further developed hopes for this process. This review focuses on malaria and the use of transgenesis for its prevention and cure, along with highlighting the associated challenges. Unlike other current therapies, there are no precedents (yet) of successful transgenesis application, leading to the classification of this strate gy as linear technology-push, but researchers are optimistic that these strategies could be further improved.
From the Editor's Desk

Later this month, thousands of toxicologists will gather in San Diego, California, for the 54th Annual Society of Toxicology Meeting. Attendees will be treated to a plethora of scientific presentations, including those from prominent influential scientists such as Craig Venter, one of the key players in the sequencing of the human genome and a leader in synthetic biology (see Editorial that includes an interview with Dr Venter); Brigitta Stockinger, an expert on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor from the MRC in London; and Marcia McNutt, the Editor-in-Chief of Science. As always, we invite attendees to submit the work they present at the national meeting as fully developed manuscripts to ToxSci. Many of the papers in the current issue grew out of posters and presentations at past SOT-sponsored meetings, and it is great to see these initial presentations develop into the papers you see before you. In this issue, we have an exciting Contemporary Review on the role of the astrocytic mitochondria in neurodegeneration. I also suggest you to read the Letter to the Editor regarding scientific misconduct. Ignoring this topic consistently leads to its reappearance at the most unwelcome times. Our field must be diligent with training and oversight to prevent misconduct and be willing to act forcefully when it is identified. I encourage the readers to look inside ToxSci for the best original research in the field of toxicology. —Gary W. Miller
Anomaly Detection via Mining Numerical Workflow Relations from Logs

Complex software-intensive systems, especially distributed systems, generate logs for troubleshooting. The logs are text messages recording system events, which can help engineers determine the system’s runtime status. This paper proposes a novel approach named ADR (stands for Anomaly Detection by workflow Relations), which employs matrix nullspace to mine numerical relations from log data. The mined relations can be used for both offline and online anomaly detection and facilitate fault diagnosis. We have evaluated ADR on log data collected from two distributed systems. ADR successfully mined 87 and 669 numerical relations from the logs and used them to detect anomalies with high precision and recall. For online anomaly detection, ADR employs PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) to find the optimal sliding windows’ size and achieves fast anomaly detection. The experimental results confirm that ADR is effective for both offline and online anomaly detection.
Response to Comment on “30,000-Year-Old Wild Flax Fibers”

Bergfjord et al. express doubts regarding our identification of flax fibers on the basis of the morphology of their internal layers. The authors use microphotographs and descriptions of the outer layers of fibers as arguments for their claims. Morphology and structure of the outer and inner parts of fibers are radically different, however, rendering their reservations misplaced.
Respuesta productiva de becerros Holstein alimentados con alfalfa de diferente calidad y enzimas fibrolíticas en la etapa pre y pos destete

La adicion de enzimas fibroliticas (EF) y alfalfa de diferente calidad se evaluo en 36 becerros Holstein de siete dias de edad, en los periodos pre y posdestete, sobre comportamiento productivo, digestibilidad aparente y evolucion ruminal. Antes del destete, los animales fueron alimentados con 4 L de leche (LE), alimento iniciador (IN) y heno de alfalfa. Los tratamientos fueron: 1) LE-IN + alfalfa baja en fibra, 2) como 1 + EF, 3) LE-IN + alfalfa regular en fibra, 4) como 3 + EF, 5) LE-IN + alfalfa alta en fibra y 6) como 5 + EF. El experimento duro 105 dias, con el destete el dia 60. Las enzimas mejoraron (P0.05). La digestibilidad de materia seca (MS), proteina cruda (PC) y fibra detergente neutro (FDN) no cambio por la calidad de la alfalfa ni por EF (P>0.05) en ambos periodos, se observaron diferencias entre periodos (P0.05). Las enzimas mejoraron la ganancia de peso y la eficiencia solo en el periodo predestete.