A regulatory role for repeated decoy transcription factor binding sites in target gene expression

Repetitive stretches of DNA that contain transcription factor (TF) binding sites can act as decoys that sequester TFs. This study shows that these decoy sites can have important indirect effects on transcriptional regulation by altering the dose–response between a TF and its target promoter

Selection of representative feature training sets with self-organized maps for optimized time series modeling and prediction: application to forecasting daily drought conditions with ARIMA and neural network models

While the simulation of stochastic time series is challenging due to their inherently complex nature, this is compounded by the arbitrary and widely accepted feature data usage methods frequently applied during the model development phase. A pertinent context where these practices are reflected is in the forecasting of drought events. This chapter considers optimization of feature data usage by sampling daily data sets via self-organizing maps to select representative training and testing subsets and accordingly, improve the performance of effective drought index (EDI) prediction models. The effect would be observed through a comparison of artificial neural network (ANN) and an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models incorporating the SOM approach through an inspection of commonly used performance indices for the city of Brisbane. This study shows that SOM-ANN ensemble models demonstrate competitive predictive performance for EDI values to those produced by ARIMA models

Risk factors influencing the bone health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

Background: Bone loss is being increasingly identified in premenopausal and early postmenopausal women. The significance of low bone mineral density (BMD) in females needs to be addressed. Female reproductive system plays a major role in regulating the bone loss from menarche to senescence. The purpose of our study is to identify the menstrual and reproductive factors that may lead to decreased bone mass during the premenopausal period so that early intervention could lead to improved bone health.Methods: The study was conducted on 100 women aged 40 - 60 years attending the outpatient department in Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India. Their age, parity, body mass index, age at menarche, age at first pregnancy, duration of breast feeding, use of combined oral contraceptive, interpregnancy interval and BMD values were recorded. BMD was measured by dual- energy x-ray absorptiometry. Pearson test was used for correlation analysis. Comparison between the groups was conducted using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test.Results: A significant negative correlation was established between parity, age at menarche, duration of breast feeding and BMD values. On the other hand, BMI and duration of oral contraceptive use showed a significant positive correlation with BMD values.Conclusions: Identification of risk factors for low BMD will provide the opportunity for early intervention to preventosteoporosis and will reduce the burden of unnecessary BMD testing in elderly age group for screening of osteoporosis

Variable mass accretion and failed wind explain changing look phenomena in NGC 1365

Changing look active galactic nuclei (CLAGNs) show complex nature in their X-ray spectral shape and line of sight column density variation. The physical mechanisms responsible for these variations are unclear. Here, we study the spectral properties of a CLAGN, NGC\,1365 using combined {\it XMM-Newton} and {\it NuSTAR} observations to understand the CL behavior. The model fitted mass accretion rate varied between $0.003\pm 0.001$ and $0.009\pm0.002$ $\dot M_{\rm Edd}$ and the dynamic corona changed from $28\pm 3$ to $10\pm1$ $r_g$. We found that the variable absorption column density correlates with the mass accretion rate and the geometry of the corona. The derived wind velocity was sufficiently low compared to the escape velocity to drive the wind away from the disc for the epochs when column densities were high. This suggests that the high and variable absorption can be due to failed winds from the disc. Our estimated ratio of mass outflow to inflow rate from the inner region of the disc lies between $0.019\pm0.006$ and $0.12\pm0.04$. From spectral fitting of the combined data, we found the mass of the central black hole to be constant $4.38\pm0.34 - 4.51\pm0.29 \times10^{6} M_\odot$, consistent with earlier findings. The confidence contours of $N_H$ with other model parameters show that the model fitted parameters are robust and non-degenerate. Our study construed that the changing accretion rate, which is a fundamental physical quantity and the geometry of the corona driving the CL phenomena in NGC\,1365. The physical picture considered in this work connects both variable continuum and variable absorbing medium scenarios.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in A&A, comments welcom

Effects of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper on the incidence of alveolar osteitis after surgical removal of an impacted mandibular third molar

Background: Alveolar osteitis (AO) is a commonly seen post‑operative complication during the wound‑healing period after permanent tooth extraction or surgical removal of impacted third molar teeth.Objectives: The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate the effects of administration of the topical hemostatic agent Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) into the socket on AO formation after impacted mandibular third molar extraction.Patients and Methods: Bilaterally, 100 half‑impacted mandibular third molars were extracted in 50 patients. Then, 1.0 mL ABS was administered to achieve hemostasis in one half of the sockets and as a control, the other half was irrigated with 1.0 mL physiological serum after surgery.Results: There was no statistically significant difference in terms of AO formation (P > 0.05) between the extraction sites. However, the postoperative pain in ABS administration sites was higher than in the other sites for the first 2 days after surgery (P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results showed that ABS administration did not increase the incidence of AO formation. Thus, ABS can be used safely for hemostasis after impacted mandibular third molar surgery.Key words: Alveolar osteitis, Ankaferd Blood Stopper, hemostasis, third mola

Experience of hysteroscopy in a rural tertiary care center of Haryana, India

Background: During the last few decades hysteroscopy has become a tool of choice for evaluation of uterine cavity due to its “see and treat “benefits. It is more accurate and less invasive. Introduction of hysteroscopy in gynecological practice is the need of time. Aim of our study is to share the experience of hysteroscopy, its learning curve and limitations in a rural tertiary care center of Haryana.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all the hysteroscopy procedure done from January 2016 to December 2018 from the hospital records.Results: Total 118 hysteroscopy were done but record of only 110 was available. Out of 110, 37(33%) were operative and 73(67%) were diagnostic. 36% were done for AUB, 33%  for infertility, 15% for misplaced cu t, 6% for amenorrhea, 2% in cases of RPL and rest for some less common indications. Out of operative hysteroscopy major procedures done were polypectomy and removal of misplaced Cu-T. Septal resection was also done in 3 cases. Number of operative hysteroscopy has increased over the time period of study.Conclusions: Hysteroscopic evaluation of uterine cavity is a reliable method for both diagnostic and treatment purpose. Proportion of hysteroscopy procedures and its learning curve will improve with persistent effort

Bank Stock Returns and Economic Growth in Malaysia: An Empirical Analysis of Post-Consolidation Period

There has been a revival of interest in examining the link between stock market-growth and finance-growth hypotheses. However, the existing studies do not gauge the performance of bank functioning directly on the economic performance. The study, therefore, reviews and extends the empirical analysis between bank stock returns and long-run economic growth in Malaysia. Applying autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model, the results suggest a strong positive and significant relationship not only between stock market excess return and economic growth, but also between bank excess return and economic growth. The study also shows that this relationship is further enhanced by the development of domestic financial system

An analysis of Australia's carbon pollution reduction scheme

The authors review the decision-making since the Labour Government came into office (November 2007). The Australian Government’s ‘Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme’ White Paper (15 December 2008) proposes that an Australian Emissions Trading Scheme (AETS) be implemented in mid-2010. Acknowledging that the scheme is comprehensive, the paper finds that in many cases, Australia will take a softer approach to climate change through the AETS than the European Union ETS(EUETS). The paper assesses key issues in the White Paper such as emissions reduction targets, GHG coverage, sectoral coverage, inclusion of unlimited quantities of offsets from Kyoto international markets and exclusion of deforestation activities