Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Achillea millefolium L. Essential Oil Inhibits LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Nitric Oxide Production in RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Achillea millefolium L. is a member of the Asteraceae family and has been used in folk medicine in many countries. In this study, 19 compounds in A. millefolium essential oil (AM-EO) have been identified; the major components are artemisia ketone (14.92%), camphor (11.64%), linalyl acetate (11.51%) and 1,8-cineole (10.15%). AM-EO can suppress the inflammatory responses of lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages, including decreased levels of cellular nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion production, lipid peroxidation and glutathione (GSH) concentration. This antioxidant activity is not a result of increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, but rather occurs as a result of the down-regulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, thus reducing the inflammatory response. Therefore, AM-EO can be utilized in many applications, including the treatment of inflammatory diseases in the future.
Advancements and Clinical Significance of Breast Cancer Exosome Detection

Exosomes, which are lipid bilayer vesicles actively secreted by cells with a diameter of 30-100 nm, play a crucial role in the occurrence, development, and formation of the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer. They have become an important component of liquid biopsies for breast cancer and ideal targets for early diagnosis, treatment assessment, and clinical therapy. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women. However, traditional exosome detection methods have several limitations, and there are still many difficulties and challenges in achieving widespread clinical application of exosomes. Nowadays, significant progress has been made in exosome detection and analysis techniques, including optical methods such as colorimetry, fluorescence, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, as well as various electrochemical and thermal signal methods. This review summarizes the current biomarkers and novel developments in detection techniques applied to liquid biopsy of exosomes in breast cancer.
Rituximab treatment in adults with refractory minimal change disease or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Rituximab (RTX) may benefit patients with glomerular disease who suffer from focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) or minimal change disease (MCD). Here, we have described our experience treating 6 FSGS and 9 MCD patients with steroid-dependent/refractory nephrotic syndrome (NS) with RTX. Patients received RTX (375 mg/m2) intravenously on days 1, 8, 23, and 29. During a median follow-up of 8 months (range, 3-36 months) after RTX administration, all patients achieved complete or partial remission. Relapses decreased by approximately 30-fold compared with the year preceding RTX treatment, and an 89.27% reduction in proteinuria was observed. Furthermore, RTX treatment could decrease medical costs by 76.52% compared with the costs associated with the long-term use (for 12-13 months) of steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. In conclusion, RTX treatment was safe and effective for patients with refractory FSGS or MCD.
Hazardous drinking and the NHS: the costs of pessimism and the benefits of optimism.

From its inception, the NHS has seen a period of seemingly relentless rises in alcohol consumption and the associated health and wider social harms, particularly since 1970.1 Our national performance is also deteriorating in the context of wider European trends.2 For liver cirrhosis mortality, which is a key indicator of alcohol harms in the general population, England and Wales have moved from having the lowest rates to a current rate similar to that of other western countries for both sexes and across all age groups. Scotland has moved from a similarly low position to now having some of the highest rates in western Europe. These recent increases are the steepest in western Europe.2 The cultural acceptability of both drinking and drunkenness have been promoted aggressively and expensively by the alcohol industry, and the lack of any strategic alcohol response has been a striking failure. Now, finally, this deficiency has been recognised and we have seen the development of the first national alcohol strategy for England.3 Unfortunately, politicians seem to lack the commitment to introduce potentially unpopular changes that would undoubtedly improve the health of the nation as a result of the known relationships between price, prevalence of heavy drinking and associated …
Human T-cell clones with reactivity to Mycobacterium leprae as tools for the characterization of potential vaccines against leprosy

T-cell clones with the T4 phenotype were established from patients with tuberculoid leprosy. The antigen reactivity of these clones ranged from stringent specificity for Mycobacterium leprae to broad cross-reactivity with other mycobacteria. Killed M. leprae had a weak stimulatory capacity which could be enhanced by ultrasonication. Among the three candidate antileprosy vaccines, M. leprae, M. bovis BCG, and the ICRC (Indian Cancer Research Center) strain, the last was superior in stimulating cross-reactive T4 clones. This finding argues for a differential masking of similar or identical membrane antigens in various mycobacterial species. T-cell clones with defined reactivity patterns for mycobacterial antigens could be helpful tools for the characterization of an antileprosy vaccine.
On the blind separation of non-circular sources

In this paper we address the blind separation of an instantaneous complex mixture of statistically independent non-circular signals. We show that, if the sources are non-circular at order 2, by exploiting all the second-order information, the mixing matrix can be estimated up to a real orthogonal factor. This is based on a link with the Takagi factorization, for the computation of which we derive a Jacobi-type algorithm. We prove that, if the sources are non-circular at order 4, after a classical prewhitening, the remaining unitary factor can be found via a simultaneous Takagi factorization / Hermitian Eigenvalue Decomposition (EVD). We also describe a variant in which no hard prewhitening is carried out. In addition, we pay some attention to the issue of dimensionality reduction, in the case where there are fewer sources than sensors.
Intermodal Auditory, Visual, and Tactile Attention Modulates Early Stages of Neural Processing

We used event-related potentials (ERPs) and gamma band oscillatory responses (GBRs) to examine whether intermodal attention operates early in the auditory, visual, and tactile modalities. To control for the effects of spatial attention, we spatially coregistered all stimuli and varied the attended modality across counterbalanced blocks in an intermodal selection task. In each block, participants selectively responded to either auditory, visual, or vibrotactile stimuli from the stream of intermodal events. Auditory and visual ERPs were modulated at the latencies of early cortical processing, but attention manifested later for tactile ERPs. For ERPs, auditory processing was modulated at the latency of the Na (29 msec), which indexes early cortical or thalamocortical processing and the subsequent P1 (90 msec) ERP components. Visual processing was modulated at the latency of the early phase of the C1 (62–72 msec) thought to be generated in the primary visual cortex and the subsequent P1 and N1 (176 msec). Tactile processing was modulated at the latency of the N160 (165 msec) likely generated in the secondary association cortex. Intermodal attention enhanced early sensory GBRs for all three modalities: auditory (onset 57 msec), visual (onset 47 msec), and tactile (onset 27 msec). Together, these results suggest that intermodal attention enhances neural processing relatively early in the sensory stream independent from differential effects of spatial and intramodal selective attention.
Simultaneous tensor subspace selection and clustering: the equivalence of high order svd and k-means clustering

Singular Value Decomposition (SVD)/Principal Component Analysis (PCA) have played a vital role in finding patterns from many datasets. Recently tensor factorization has been used for data mining and pattern recognition in high index/order data. High Order SVD (HOSVD) is a commonly used tensor factorization method and has recently been used in numerous applications like graphs, videos, social networks, etc. In this paper we prove that HOSVD does simultaneous subspace selection (data compression) and K-means clustering widely used for unsupervised learning tasks. We show how to utilize this new feature of HOSVD for clustering. We demonstrate these new results using three real and large datasets, two on face images datasets and one on hand-written digits dataset. Using this new HOSVD clustering feature we provide a dataset quality assessment on many frequently used experimental datasets with expected noise levels.
A New Ossicle Homograft Inactivation/Preservation Procedure: Clinical Results

A new NaOH-autoclaving inactivation/preservation procedure (IPP) for ossicle homografts, complying with the actual infectious disease guidelines, has been developed and used in our institution for 5 years. This study compares the clinical and audiological results of middle ear reconstruction using the new NaOH-autoclaving inactivated ossicle homografts (22 patients) and the previously used cialit-formaldehyde inactivation procedure (28 patients). During the follow-up period, no homograft extrusion, resorption or disease transmission was observed either for the NaOH-autoclaving or for the cialit-formaldehyde protocol. A postoperative air-bone gap of less than 20 dB in 44% and a postoperative hearing improvement of 10–50 dB in 70% of patients complies with the published success rates of homograft ossiculoplasty in the literature. The analysis and comparison of both tested IPP-patient groups showed no statistically significant differences in the clinical and the audiological results. The NaOH-autoclaving inactivation/preservation protocol should increase ossicle homograft safety even with respect to prion exposure. The good anatomic and audiological long-term results of the new IPP protocol confirm homograft ossicles as a valid and inexpensive approach for middle ear reconstruction.
The Influence of Islamic Work Ethic, Productivity, and Employee Performance: Mediating Work Quality at KSPPS BMT

Islamic work ethic and productivity in the Islamic world play a crucial role in shaping individual character in the context of the world of work. The concept of Islamic work ethic is based on moral and ethical principles embodied in Islam, while productivity is an important factor in achieving individual and organizational goals. , The research technique used is quantitative, with data collection using questionnaire methods, and the number of samples in this study is 110 employees. The analysis in this study was assisted using SmartPLS 3.0. The results showed that Islamic work ethic has a positive and significant effect on employee performance, productivity has a positive and significant effect on employee performance, Islamic work ethic has a positive and significant effect on work quality, productivity has a positive and significant effect on work quality, Islamic work ethic has a positive but not significant influence on work quality mediated by employee performance, Productivity has an effect on work quality mediated by employee performance, and employee performance has a positive and significant effect on work quality
Drug Delivery: Enabling Technology for Drug Discovery and Development. iPRECIO® Micro Infusion Pump: Programmable, Refillable, and Implantable

Successful drug delivery using implantable pumps may be found in over 12,500 published articles. Their versatility in delivering continuous infusion, intermittent or complex infusion protocols acutely or chronically has made them ubiquitous in drug discovery and basic research. The recent availability of iPRECIO®, a programmable, refillable, and implantable infusion pump has made it possible to carry out quantitative pharmacology (PKPD) in single animals. When combined with specialized catheters, specific administration sites have been selected. When combined with radiotelemetry, the physiologic gold standard, more sensitive and powerful means of detecting drug induced therapeutic, and/or adverse effects has been possible. Numerous application examples are cited from iPRECIO® use in Japan, United States, and Europe with iPRECIO® as an enabling drug delivery device where the refillable and programmability functionality were key benefits. The ability to start/stop drug delivery and to have control periods prior dosing made it possible to have equivalent effects at a much lower dose than previously studied. Five different iPRECIO® applications are described in detail with references to the original work where the implantable, refillable, and programmable benefits are demonstrated with their different end-points.
NK Cell Responsiveness Is Tuned Commensurate with the Number of Inhibitory Receptors for Self-MHC Class I: The Rheostat Model 1

Inhibitory receptors that engage self-MHC class I molecules enable NK cells to detect disease-associated loss of MHC class I on surrounding cells. Previous studies showed that some NK cells lack all receptors for self-MHC class I, yet fail to exhibit autoimmunity because they are generally hyporesponsive to stimulation. We asked whether NK cells exist in only two states, responsive and hyporesponsive, corresponding to cells that express or fail to express inhibitory receptors for self-MHC class I. The alternative model is that NK cells vary continuously in their responsiveness, based on variations in the number of different inhibitory and stimulatory receptors they express, which is known to vary. In this study, we show in the murine system that NK cell responsiveness increases quantitatively with each added self-MHC-specific inhibitory receptor. Genetic analysis demonstrated that interactions of each of the receptors with self-MHC class I were necessary to observe augmented responsiveness. These findings suggest that NK cell responsiveness is comparable to a rheostat: it is tuned to an optimal set point depending on the inhibitory and stimulatory interactions encountered in the normal environment, so as to ensure self-tolerance and yet optimize sensitivity to changes in normal cells.
Alcohol consumption over time and mortality in the Swedish Women’s Lifestyle and Health cohort

Background Alcohol consumption is steadily increasing in high-income countries but the harm and possible net benefits of light-to-moderate drinking remain controversial. We prospectively investigated the association between time-varying alcohol consumption and overall and cause-specific mortality among middle-aged women. Methods Among 48 249 women at baseline (33 404 at follow-up) in the prospective Swedish Women's Lifestyle and Health cohort, age 30–49 years at baseline, we used repeated information on alcohol consumption and combined this method with multiple imputation in order to maximise the number of participants and deaths included in the analyses. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to calculate HRs for overall and cause-specific mortality. Results During >900 000 person/years, a total of 2100 deaths were recorded through Swedish registries. The median alcohol consumption increased from 2.3 g/day in 1991/1992 (baseline) to 4.7 g/day in 2004 (follow-up). Compared with light drinkers (0.1–1.5 g/day), a null association was observed for all categories of alcohol consumption with the exception of never drinkers. The HR comparing never with light drinkers was 1.46 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.74). There was a statistically significant negative trend between increasing alcohol consumption and cardiovascular and ischaemic heart diseases mortality. The results were similar when women with prevalent conditions were excluded. Conclusions In conclusion, in a cohort of young women, light alcohol consumption was protective for cardiovascular and ischaemic heart disease mortality but not for cancer and overall mortality.
Strategies for reducing body fat mass: effects of liposuction and exercise on cardiovascular risk factors and adiposity

Liposuction is the most popular aesthetic surgery performed in Brazil and worldwide. Evidence showing that adipose tissue is a metabolically active tissue has led to the suggestion that liposuction could be a viable method for improving metabolic profile through the immediate loss of adipose tissue. However, the immediate liposuction-induced increase in the proportion of visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue could be detrimental to metabolism, because a high proportion of visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue is associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The results of studies investigating the effects of liposuction on the metabolic profile are inconsistent, however, with most studies reporting either no change or improvements in one or more cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, animal studies have demonstrated a compensatory growth of intact adipose tissue in response to lipectomy, although studies with humans have reported inconsistent results. Exercise training improves insulin sensitivity, inflammatory balance, lipid oxidation, and adipose tissue distribution; increases or preserves the fat-free mass; and increases total energy expenditure. Thus, liposuction and exercise appear to directly affect metabolism in similar ways, which suggests a possible interaction between these two strategies. To our knowledge, no studies have reported the associated effects of liposuction and exercise in humans. Nonetheless, one could suggest that exercise training associated with liposuction could attenuate or even block the possible compensatory fat deposition in intact depots or regrowth of the fat mass and exert an additive or even a synergistic effect to liposuction on improving insulin sensitivity and the inflammatory balance, resulting in an improvement of cardiovascular risk factors. Consequently, one could suggest that liposuction and exercise appear to be safe and effective strategies for either the treatment of metabolic disorders or aesthetic purposes.
A Case of a South African Municipality's Audit Opinion, Audit Implementation Plan, and Service Delivery

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the perceptions of employees of a municipality in South Africa on how audit opinions are crafted into the audit implementation plan, and how such opinions affect service delivery. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a quantitative approach using a questionnaire as a data collection instrument. A case study approach was used, with the questionnaire administered to only one municipality that had had an audit opinion in the past three years. Findings: The study found that some staff were not aware of the existence of the Audit Implementation Plan in the municipality. However, the respondents acknowledged the implications of audit opinions for the municipality’s budget and service delivery. Furthermore, employees showed positive attitudes towards the effects of audit opinions on the municipality’s operations. Implications/Originality/Value: The findings have implications for public governance and monitoring of audit implementation plans by municipalities.
Regional Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Novelty Seeking and Antisocial Personality: A Positron Emission Tomography Study

Novelty seeking (NS) and antisocial personality (ASP) are commonly exhibited by those who suffer from addictions, such as substance abuse. NS has been suggested to be a fundamental aspect of ASP. To investigate the neurobiological substrate of NS and ASP, we tested the relationship between regional cerebral glucose metabolism and the level of NS, determining the differences between individuals with and without ASP. Seventy-two healthy adults (43 males, mean age±SD=38.8±16.6 years, range=20~70 years; 29 females, 44.2±20.1 years, range=19~72 years) underwent resting-state brain positron emission tomography (PET) 40 minutes after 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) injection. Within 10 days of the FDG PET study, participants completed Cloninger's 240-item Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) to determine NS scores. Participants with and without ASP were grouped according to their TCI profiles. Statistical parametric mapping analysis was performed using the FDG PET and TCI profile data. NS scores positively correlated with metabolism in the left anterior cingulate gyrus and the insula on both sides of the brain and negatively correlated with metabolism in the right pallidum and putamen. Participants with ASP showed differences in cerebral glucose metabolism across various cortical and subcortical regions, mainly in the frontal and prefrontal areas. These data demonstrate altered regional cerebral glucose metabolism in individuals with NS and ASP and inform our understanding of the neurobiological substrates of problematic behaviors and personality disorders.
Footprint: cellular assisted Wi-Fi AP discovery on mobile phones for energy saving

Recently commercial mobile phones have been shipped with integrated Wi-Fi NIC (Network Interface Card), while a fundamental barrier for easily using such Wi-Fi is its high energy cost for phone. We profile two integrated mobile phone Wi-Fi NICs and observe that the energy cost on PSM (Power Saving Mode) is greatly reduced, yet the scan state still costs most of the energy when it's not connected on discovering potential AP (Access Point). In this paper, we propose footprint, leveraging the cellular information such as the overheard cellular tower IDs and signal strength, to guild the Wi-Fi scan and thus greatly reduce the number of unnecessary scans through the changes and history logs of the mobile user's locations. Our experiments and implementation demonstrate that our scheme effectively saves energy for mobile phone integrated with Wi-Fi.
Phobic, panic, and major depressive disorders and the five-factor model of personality.

This study investigated five-factor model personality traits in anxiety (simple phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia, and panic disorder) and major depressive disorders in a population-based sample. In the Baltimore Epidemiologic Catchment Area Follow-up Study, psychiatrists administered the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry to 333 adult subjects who also completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. All of the disorders except simple phobia were associated with high neuroticism. Social phobia and agoraphobia were associated with low extraversion. In addition, lower-order facets of extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with certain disorders (i.e., low positive emotions in panic disorder; low trust and compliance in certain phobias; and low competence, achievement striving, and self-discipline in several disorders). This study emphasizes the utility of lower-order personality assessments and underscores the need for further research on personality/psychopathology etiologic relationships.