Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gene Therapy in the Developing Countries

Gene therapy is treatment directed to curing genetic disease by introducing normal genes into the patients in order to overcome the effects of abnormal genes using technique of genetic engineering. The most radical approach involves applying this at the early stage in the embrayo, so that the new gene would be incorporated into the germ cells and hence will be inheritable. This approach is not considered to be safe either safe or ethical because the consequences may affect the descendants of the patients. Therefore, this review throws more light on gene therapy, its application and consequences in the developing countries.
Modality and a priori knowledge

The prominence of questions regarding the relationship between a priori knowledge and the modalities in contemporary philosophy is largely due to the influence of Immanuel Kant and Saul Kripke. Although Kant’s primary focus is on epistemological questions that pertain to the nature and existence of a priori knowledge and Kripke’s primary focus is on metaphysical and semantic issues that pertain to the modalities, the relationship between a priori knowledge and the modalities plays a prominent role in the work of both. As we shall see, many of the contemporary discussions take as their point of departure either particular views of one of them or apparent disagreements between them.
A molecular and functional evaluation of the egg mass color polymorphism of the spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum

The spotted salamander, Ambystoma maculatum, has three types of egg masses; white, clear, and intermediate. White and clear forms are widely-distributed and often sympatric, whereas intermediate forms may be scarce or absent in local populations. Opacity of the egg mass depends on the concentration of hydrophobic protein crystals (1-3 μm in length, 15,400 kD in molecular size) in the outer jelly layers of white and intermediate egg masses. A water soluble protein (14,400 kD) replaces the hydrophobic crystals entirely in outer jelly layers of clear egg masses and partly in intermediate egg masses, and is found in the inner jelly of all three egg mass types. A mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis supports the hypothesis that these variants represent a simple polymorphism of a single gene, rather than the presence of a cryptic species complex
XRCC1 immunohistochemical expression in DMBA – induced oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with different thymoquinone preparations

The X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1) enzyme plays an important role in the DNA repair pathway. XRCC1 polymorphism increased the risk of human oral squamous cell carcinoma. Loading of thymoquinone on gold nanoparticles as a drug carrier, had revealed a superior anti-cancer effect as a chemotherapeutic agent in DMBA-induced OSCC. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of DNA repair enzyme X-ray repair cross-complementing 1 (XRCC1) following treatment of induced oral cancer in hamster buccal pouch with thymoquinone (TQ) only and loaded on gold nanoparticles (AuNps). Sixty male Syrian golden hamsters were divided into 4 groups: Group A: (negative control). The left pouches of the rest of animals were painted with the carcinogen DMBA (3times / week/ 12 weeks), then: Group B: (positive control), Group C: painted and injected intraperitoneally (i.p) with TQ only (3 times/week for 6 and 12 weeks). Group D: painted with TQ loaded on AuNps (3 times/week for 6 and 12 weeks). After euthanization, all pouches were surgically excised, fixed and processed for H&E and XRCC1 immunohistochemical stains. Groups B, C1, C2, and D1 showed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with low intensity of immune staining. Groups D2 showed remarkable regression of tumors both clinically and histologically with high intensity of IHC staining. Loading of TQ at low concentration (0.001 mg/kg) on AuNps /12 weeks was a promising chemotherapeutic combination, through enhancing XRCC1 expression to regress the carcinogenesis process. This effect could be due to the anti-oxidant, free-radicle scavenging effect and enhancing apoptosis by TQ.
Cloud-Edge Orchestration for the Internet of Things: Architecture and AI-Powered Data Processing

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been deeply penetrated into a wide range of important and critical sectors, including smart city, water, transportation, manufacturing, and smart factory. Massive data are being acquired from a fast growing number of IoT devices. Efficient data processing is a necessity to meet diversified and stringent requirements of many emerging IoT applications. Due to the constrained computation and storage resources, IoT devices have resorted to the powerful cloud computing to process their data. However, centralized and remote cloud computing may introduce unacceptable communication delay since its physical location is far away from IoT devices. Edge cloud has been introduced to overcome this issue by moving the cloud in closer proximity to IoT devices. The orchestration and cooperation between the cloud and the edge provides a crucial computing architecture for IoT applications. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool to enable the intelligent orchestration in this architecture. This article first introduces such a kind of computing architecture from the perspective of IoT applications. It then investigates the state-of-the-art proposals on AI-powered cloud-edge orchestration for the IoT. Finally, a list of potential research challenges and open issues is provided and discussed, which can provide useful resources for carrying out future research in this area.
Forest Sector Impacts from Changes in Forest Productivity Under Climate Change

The consequences of elevated carbon dioxide and climate change on forest systems and the role that economics could play in timber harvest and vegetation change have not been addressed together. A framework was developed to link climate change scenarios, an ecosystem model, a forest sector model and a carbon accounting model. Four climate scenarios were used to estimate net primary productivity (NPP) for forests in the United States. Changes in NPP were estimated using TEM, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model which uses spatially referenced information on climate, soils and vegetation to estimate important carbon and nitrogen fluxes and pool sizes within ecosystems at the continental scale. Changes in NPP under climate change were used to modify timber growth within the Aggregate Timberland Assessment Model (ATLAS), which is a part of the forest sector model (TAMMATLAS) used by the Forest Service to examine timber policy questions. The changes in timber inventories were then translated into changes in the amount of carbon stored on private timberlands using a national carbon model (FORCARB). Regional changes in productivity filter through the forest sector and result in changes in land use and timber consumption. Long-term changes in carbon storage indicate that these private timberlands will be a source of carbon dioxide for all but the most optimistic climate change scenario.
Applicability of Saliva for Evaluation of Some Biochemical Parameters of Kidney and Liver Function in Healthy Individuals

Background and objectives: Proper diagnosis of clinical conditions is a major goal of clinical and biochemical analyses. Recently, increasing efforts have been put on the use of less invasive sampling techniques with optimal sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of saliva instead of blood for measuring biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function in healthy individuals. Methods: Plasma and saliva samples were collected from 100 healthy volunteers to measure level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), urea and creatinine using a fully automated chemistry analyzer (ACE Alera) with ready to use validated kits. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out using MediCal program to calculate sensitivity and specificity and area under ROC (AUC). Results: The mean (standard deviation) salivary level of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 20.9 (20.7) U/L, 25.8 (17.9) U/L, 10.6 (11.8) U/L, 9.6 (4.37) U/L, 0.16 (0.13) mg/dL, 0.09 (0.05) mg/dL and 35.6 (15.2) mg/dL, respectively. Saliva to blood ratios of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 14%, 113%, 65%, 45%, 19%, 12% and 130%, respectively. The suggested normal saliva ranges of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea were 7-98 (U/L), 31-104 (U/L), 6-31 (U/L), 15-24 (U/L), 00.13 (mg/ dL), 0.14-0.31 (mg/ dL) and 45-74 (mg/ dL), respectively. The calculated sensitivity and specificity values were 38% and 85% for ALP), 80% and 76% for AST, 75% and 45% for ALT, 60% 91% for GGT, 49% and 38% for total bilirubin, 20% and 91% for creatinine and 100% and 75% for urea. The AUC was higher than 0.7 for urea, GGT and AST, indicating good sensitivity and specificity of saliva testing for evaluation of these enzymes. Conclusion: Based on the results, saliva could be as a noninvasive method of assessing kidney and liver function. Saliva may be a favorable alternative to plasma for measuring level of urea, GGT and AST in humans.
Corrigendum

Woods, A. H. , Bonnecaze, R. T. and Zrubek, B. (2005). Oxygen and water flux across eggshells of Manduca sexta. J. Exp. Biol. 208, 1297-1308. In both the on-line and print versions of this paper, the left hand y axis of Fig. 6A was labelled incorrectly as: Water vapour flux 106 (mol s–1 m–2). The correct label should read: Water vapour flux 105 (mol s–1 m–2). The error does not affect any of the conclusions of the paper and the authors apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Relationship between Depression and Cognitive Impairment among Elderly: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Depression and cognitive impairment are common mental health problems among elderly, although few studies have examined their co-occurrence in aging population. So the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between depression and cognitive impairment in older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on 506 older adults were presented to the health centers of the municipality of Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using the sociodemographic questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Data were analyzed by using SPSS-17 with correlation analysis and logistic regression. Results: The mean age of the participants was 65.71 years. Older people (>75 years) had more twice risk (95% CI: 1.01-4.90) for cognitive dysfunction. There was a significant correlation between MMSE and GDS. Elderly with collegiate education had 85% (95% CI: 0.1-0.5) and employed elderly had 56% (95% CI: 0.04-0.74) lower risk for cognitive dysfunction. Elderly with severe depression had twice risk (95% CI: 1.41-4.8) for cognitive dysfunction. Conclusion: Findings suggest there is a relationship between depression and cognitive impairment among the elderly. These findings emphasis on assessing cognitive impairment and depression in geriatric assessment in elderly.
ARE SHOCKS TO ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN USA PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY?: SECTORAL ANALYSIS

Energy is one of the most important strategic factors for sustainable economic growth. Energy consumption is investigated within the framework of four sectors, i. e. residential sector, commercial sector, industrial sector and transport sector. The energy consumption levels of these sectors, long term consumption amounts and the sustainability of this consumption as well as whether these shocks are temporary or permanent play a role in the development of energy policies for countries. The energy consumption of the US, listed under the developed country category, has been increasing steadily in connection with its economic growth. In this respect, the purpose of this study is to analyze at the sectoral level whether the shocks in the USA’s sectoral energy consumption are temporary or permanent. The annual data over the period 1949 – 2014 are analyzed using the RALS LM unit root test method in this study investigating whether the shocks in total energy consumption in the US economy are temporary or permanent as per sectors. The study introduced two basic contributions to literature. The first contribution is that it is the first study in literature investigating the situation at the sectoral level in the US. The second contribution is the methodology used. The RALS LM unit root test offers two basic advantages. Firstly, the RALS LM test does not depend on the nuisance parameter and secondly, the RALS LM test utilizes information on non-normal errors. According to the analyses made, the shocks in energy consumption in the transport sector of the US have got a permanent impact.
Can underwater refuges protect fish populations against cormorant predation? Evidence from a large‐scale multiple pond experiment

Artificial structures can protect fish against predation by cormorants (Phalacocorax spp.). However, their effectiveness in larger water bodies with different fish communities in the presence of natural vegetation still needs to be explored. Using a large-scale field experiment with 24 ponds stocked with differently composed fish communities, the present study investigates the extent to which the effect of artificial refuges on fish is species-specific and determined by the characteristics of the fish community. This study provides strong experimental evidence for artificial refuges protecting fish against predation from cormorants, even in the presence of submerged vegetation. The effect of refuges was, however, highly species-specific and depended on the composition of the fish community. Strong positive effects of refuges on rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.), and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), populations were observed, especially in ponds where these species dominated. Overall, the total biomass of young-of-the-year, 1-year-old and adult rudd and roach was on average 500, 7 and 15 times lower in ponds without than in ponds with refuges, respectively. No effect of artificial refuges on other fish species was found. This study indicates that artificial refuges can facilitate the coexistence of predation vulnerable fish populations with cormorants in lakes and ponds.
Mechanisms of Mitotic Recombination

INTRODUCTION Chromosomal recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae occurs at three distinct life-cycle stages of diploid cells: (1) mitotic recombination, during vegetative cell division; (2) meiototic recombination, in diploid cells uncommitted to haploidization following exposure to a meiosis-inducing environment (see Esposito and Esposito 1978); and (3) meiotic recombination, in cells that complete meiosis and ascosporogenesis (see Fogel et al. 1979). Interest in the mechanisms of mitotic recombination has been stimulated by the observation that certain mutagenic carcinogens are also recombinagens in in yeast (Zimmermann et al. 1966) and data indicating that genetic recombination is sometimes involved in the control of gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes (cf. McClintock 1961; Esposito and Esposito 1977; Silverman et al. 1979). Current studies of the molecular mechanisms and genic control of spontaneous and induced mitotic recombination in S. cerevisiae focus upon answering three basic, related questions regarding mitotic exchange: (1) At what stages of the mitotic cell cycle does mitotic exchange occur? (2) Can the properties of mitotic and meiotic recombination be accounted for by a single molecular model of DNA recombination? (3) To what extent do genes controlling mitotic exchange participate in the control of meiotic recombination, homothallic interconversion of mating-type alleles, and other cellular pathways of DNA synthesis and repair? In the following discussion we summarize the properties of intergenic and intragenic mitotic recombination of standard marker loci, aspects of mitotic exchange between sister chromatids, and the phenotypes of rec mutants relevant to these questions. MITOTIC GENE CONVERSION AND RECIPROCAL EXCHANGE Intergenic and intragenic.
The effect of meal size distribution and timing on interstitial glucose responses in healthy volunteers

There is a diurnal variation in postprandial glucose responses due to a progressive decrease in glucose intolerance and an increase insulin resistance through the day (Van Cauter et al. 1992; Service et al. 1983). Thus consuming a majority of food intake late in the day, compared to early in the day induces a less healthy metabolic response profile. In this study 24 hour glucose monitors have been utilised to assess glucose responses continually at one minute intervals to compare the complete 24 hour glycaemic profile when the same foods are consumed but in opposed temporal patterns. The aim is to assess the effects of meal size and time of day on glycaemic responses in healthy volunteers under real life conditions. Seven healthy participants (3 M, 4 F) mean age 21.9 years (1.46 SD) were recruited to take part in a randomised intervention crossover study. The study had of two meal sizes (1200 kcals, 400 kcals) and two distribution patterns. The lunch time meal was similar on both occasions (470 kcals). Leg 1 volunteers consumed a small breakfast meal (SBM) at 08:00 h followed by a set lunch (13:00 h) and a large evening meal (LEM) at 20:00 h: Leg 2 of the study the SBM and LEM were reversed. The calculated glycaemic index (GI) of the large meal was 76 and the small meal was 65 (Frost and Dornhurst 2000). Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) that monitor changes in interstitial glucose responses were worn for 5 days. Subjects underwent study legs on day 2 and 4 in a random order. Statistical analyses using repeated measures ANOVA (factors, time and treatment) was performed on individual glucose data and paired t tests on total incremental area under curve (AUC) for glucose response over 24 hours (see histogram).
Effects of Reaction Condition on Conversion of Fish Meat into Organic Acids and Amino Acids by Sub-critical Water Hydrolysis

魚肉の亜臨界水加水分解を513K (3.35MPa) , 528K (4.32MPa) , 548K (5.51MPa) において検討した。 反応条件は水相, 油相, 固相の全有機炭素 (TOC) 分布に大きな影響を与えた。 無機炭素 (IC) 収率は全有機炭素 (TOC) 収率に比較して著しく小さかったが, 炭酸が無機炭素のほとんどを占めた。 酸化剤の添加は反応生成物の組成に大きな影響をおよぼした。 適当量の酸化剤の添加によって, 生成物の組成を制御できる可能性を示した。
EFFECTS OF BESTATIN AND PHOSPHORAMIDON ON THE HYPERTENSIVE RESPONSE TO PHYSOSTIGMINE IN THE RAT

Summary— Intracarotid (IC) injection of bestatin produced a dose‐dependent biphasic change in blood pressure (BP) of the rat, consisting of an initial short‐lasting fall followed by a long‐lasting increase. This effect was regularly depressed or abolished by IV injection of naloxone. IC injection of Leu‐enkephalin also produced a biphasic BP response, with the same characteristics as that produced by IC injection of bestatin. This effect was also easily blocked by IV injection of naloxone. IC injection of bestatin significantly potentiated the BP response to IC injection of Leu‐enkephalin. This potentiated response was blocked by naloxone. IC injection of both bestatin and phosphoramidon, whether separately or in combination, significantly depressed the hypertensive response to physostigmine. This depressive action of bestatin and phosphoramidon on physostigmine hypertension can be significantly antagonized or even reversed by IV injection of naloxone. IC injection of both bestatin and phosphoramidon did not affect the BP response to either acetylcholine or catecholamines. It is concluded that bestatin and phosphoramidon, injected into the carotid artery, inhibit the activity of aminopeptidase and «enkephalinase», thus producing an accumulation of enkephalins in the central nervous system. These enkephalins activate opioidergic receptors in the brain, but concomitantly produce a depression of the cholinergic‐adrenergic interaction in the central nervous system, which is known to be a prerequisite for the hypertensive response to physostigmine in the rat.
Soil and Moisture Relations of Scaptocoris divergens Froeschner (Hemiptera: Cydnidae)

This Neotropical, fossorial bug feeds on the roots of banana and other plants. In laboratory experiments it penetrated light soils more rapidly than heavy soils, but extremely dry and very wet soils were not penetrated and the insect survived exposure to excessive water rather poorly. Although starved insects survived rather well in moist soil, those removed from soil lost water rapidly and became desiccated in a few hours. In vertical chambers containing uniformly moist soil, both sexes responded positively and strongly to gravity; in both vertical and horizontal chambers, each containing two samples of soil that differed only in moisture content, both sexes responded positively and strongly to moisture. When S. divergens was presented with conflicting stimuli in vertical chambers (moist soil above the interface, dry soil and gravity below), both sexes reacted positively toward moisture, temporarily becoming negatively geotactic in this situation. The intensity of the moisture response was directly related to the difference in moisture content between the alternative soils, and inversely related to the moisture content of the drier soil. In horizontal chambers the mean distances that the insects moved from the interface into alternative moist and dry soils were not significantly different, which indicates that differences in soil consistency, as affected by moisture content, did not bias the insects' response to soil moisture. By ablation of successive antennal segments, the moisture receptors were localized on antennal segments 3 and 4 in the male and 1 through 4 in the female. With both sexes the intensity of the reaction was a function of the number of receptor-bearing segments remaining on the antennae. Specific moisturesensitive sensilla were not identified.
São Gonçalo Channel as an Ecological Corridor for the Movement of Migratory Fishes: Environmental History and Perspectives for Fishery Management in the Mirim Lagoon, South Brazil

Ecological corridors are important for maintaining the flow of species between habitat patches. The analysis of historical records of the dam-sluice gate construction process and the ecology of known migratory fishes in the Patos-Mirim hydrographic system reveals large spatial scale environmental changes, such as the loss of potential estuarine area of 2,536 km2 and the reduction of functional connectivity between the lagoons through the São Gonçalo channel corridor for five species: Genidens barbus, Genidens planifrons, Genidens genidens (sea catfishes), Micropogonias furnieri (whitemouth croaker) and Mugil liza (Lebranche mullet). Mitigation measures are indicated through the operation of the sluice gate system as well as the regulation of fishing along the São Gonçalo channel.
Long and short term changes in gonadal activity of field voles and bank voles

Seasonal breeding in field voles Microtus agrestis and bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus, involving long-term gonadal changes, is brought about by alterations in the pituitary content of gonadotrophins. Photoperiod is the most important environmental factor initiating these changes. In voles there appears to be an endogeneous circadian rhythm of sensitivity to light whose peak may be 12 hours after dawn. Day length measurement seems also to involve the pineal gland. Other factors probably modify photoperiod effects: light energy, plane of nutrition, ambient temperature, social influences, genotype. Bearing in mind these modifying factors, breeding seasons could vary in length according to the phase of the population cycle. Extrapolation from laboratory studies suggests that social factors could influence short-term reproductive changes, such as ovulation, corpus luteum function and pregnancy. First pregnancy in sexually mature bank voles may require humoral priming of the reproductive tract. Field voles and bank voles readily conceive post partum, but during lactation there is reduction in fertility which is lifted towards the end of the suckling period.