Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of humor on short-term memory in older adults: a new component for whole-person wellness.

CONTEXT For older adults, the damaging effects of aging and stress can impair the ability to learn and sustain memory. Humor, with its associated mirthful laughter, can reduce stress and cortisol, a stress hormone. Chronic release of cortisol can damage hippocampus neurons, leading to impairment of learning and memory. OBJECTIVES The primary goal of this study was to determine whether watching a humorous video had an effect on short-term memory in an older population. DESIGN The research team designed a randomized, controlled trial. SETTING The study took place at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. PARTICIPANTS The research team recruited 20 normal, healthy, older adults, 11 males and 9 females. INTERVENTION The humor group (n = 10, mean = 69.3 ± 3.7 y) self-selected 1 of 2 humorous videos--a Red Skelton comedy or a montage of America's Funniest Home Videos--and watched it for 20 min. A control group (n = 10, mean = 68.7 ± 5.5 y) sat calmly for 20 min and were not allowed to read, sleep, or talk on a cell phone. OUTCOME MEASURES The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test was used to assess short-term memory--learning ability, delayed recall, and visual recognition. Salivary cortisol levels were measured at predetermined times. RESULTS Learning ability improved by 38.5% and 24.0% in the humor and control groups, respectively (P = .014). Delayed recall improved by 43.6% and 20.3% in the humor and control groups, respectively (P =.029). Within the humor group, delayed recall (43.6%) was significant compared with learning ability (38.5%) (P = .002). At 3 predetermined time points, significant decreases in salivary cortisol were observed in the humor group (P = .047, P = .046, and P = .062, respectively). CONCLUSION The study's findings suggest that humor can have clinical benefits and rehabilitative implications and can be implemented in programs that support whole-person wellness for older adults. Learning ability and delayed recall are important to these individuals for a better quality of life--considering mind, body, spirit, social, and economic aspects. Older adults may have age-associated memory deficiencies. However, medical practitioners now can offer positive, enjoyable, and beneficial humor therapies to improve these deficiencies.
TreeSketch: interactive procedural modeling of trees on a tablet

TreeSketch is a system for modeling complex trees that look natural yet are creatively designed. The system integrates procedural tree generation with a multi-touch tablet interface that provides detailed control of tree form. The procedural component is based on the concept of tree self-organization and simulates competition of branches for space and light as the tree develops from a seedling. The modeler can control this process by directing growth with a procedural brush, changing parameters as the tree grows, interleaving controlled and autonomous growth, and editing generated forms. Complex trees can be created in a matter of seconds.
Preformulation Studies on Solid Self-Emulsifying Systems in Powder Form Containing Magnesium Aluminometasilicate as Porous Carrier

The influence of alkaline and the neutral grade of magnesium aluminometasilicate as a porous solid carrier for the liquid self-emulsifying formulation with ibuprofen is investigated. Ibuprofen is dissolved in Labrasol, then this solution is adsorbed on the silicates. The drug to the silicate ratio is 1:2, 1:4, and 1:6, respectively. The properties of formulations obtained are analyzed, using morphological, porosity, crystallinity, and dissolution studies. Three solid self-emulsifying (S-SE) formulations containing Neusilin SG2 and six consisting of Neusilin US2 are in the form of powder without agglomerates. The nitrogen adsorption method shows that the solid carriers are mesoporous but they differ in a specific surface area, pore area, and the volume of pores. The adsorption of liquid SE formulation on solid silicate particles results in a decrease in their porosity. If the neutral grade of magnesium aluminometasilicate is used, the smallest pores, below 10 nm, are completely filled with liquid formulation, but there is still a certain number of pores of 40–100 nm. Dissolution studies of liquid SEDDS carried out in pH = 1.2 show that Labrasol improves the dissolution of ibuprofen as compared to the pure drug. Ibuprofen dissolution from liquid SE formulations examined in pH of 7.2 is immediate. The adsorption of the liquid onto the particles of the silicate causes a decrease in the amount of the drug released. Finally, more ibuprofen is dissolved from S-SE that consist of the neutral grade of magnesium aluminometasilicate than from the formulations containing the alkaline silicate.
Endogenous Human Brain Dynamics Recover Slowly Following Cognitive Effort

Background In functional magnetic resonance imaging, the brain's response to experimental manipulation is almost always assumed to be independent of endogenous oscillations. To test this, we addressed the possible interaction between cognitive task performance and endogenous fMRI oscillations in an experiment designed to answer two questions: 1) Does performance of a cognitively effortful task significantly change fractal scaling properties of fMRI time series compared to their values before task performance? 2) If so, can we relate the extent of task-related perturbation to the difficulty of the task? Methodology/Principal Findings Using a novel continuous acquisition “rest-task-rest” design, we found that endogenous dynamics tended to recover their pre-task parameter values relatively slowly, over the course of several minutes, following completion of one of two versions of the n-back working memory task and that the rate of recovery was slower following completion of the more demanding (n = 2) version of the task. Conclusion/Significance This result supports the model that endogenous low frequency oscillatory dynamics are relevant to the brain's response to exogenous stimulation. Moreover, it suggests that large-scale neurocognitive systems measured using fMRI, like the heart and other physiological systems subjected to external demands for enhanced performance, can take a considerable period of time to return to a stable baseline state.
Brane-world black hole solutions via a confining potential

Using a confining potential, we consider spherically symmetric vacuum (static black hole) solutions in a brane-world scenario. Working with a constant curvature bulk, two interesting cases/solutions are studied. A Schwarzschild-de Sitter black hole solution similar to the standard solution in the presence of a cosmological constant is obtained which confirms the idea that an extra term in the field equations on the brane can play the role of a positive cosmological constant and may be used to account for the accelerated expansion of the universe. The other solution is one in which we can have a proper potential to explain the galaxy rotation curves without assuming the existence of dark matter and without working with new modified theories (modified Newtonian dynamics)
The use of program profiling for software maintenance with applications to the year 2000 problem

This paper describes new techniques to help with testing and debugging, using information obtained from path profiling. A path profiler instruments a program so that the number of times each different loop-free path executes is accumulated during an execution run. With such an instrumented program, each run of the program generates a path spectrum for the execution—a distribution of the paths that were executed during that run. A path spectrum is a finite, easily obtainable characterization of a program's execution on a dataset, and provides a behavior signature for a run of the program.
Critical imagination: A pedagogy for engaging pre-service teachers in the university classroom

In this paper we consider the aspect of teacher education which takes place, not in the school, but in the university classroom. Teaching about teaching, it is argued, must be grounded in students’ understanding of the present, but must foster both hope and critique. Beginning from Maxine Greene’s (2000) concept of imagination, this paper develops a notion of critical imagination as a way of conceptualizing a critical pedagogy in the university classroom. Two pedagogical strategies based on critical imagination are outlined and analyzed. Writing is prioritized as a pedagogical tool. Excerpts from our professional teaching journals, together with samples of students’ writing in response to these strategies, clothe the strategies in the reality of teaching practice. We argue that the use of teaching strategies based on critical imagination as a means of ‘jarring’ students to think differently seems to move our students to think a little more humanely and a little more critically. But this is neither a simple nor unproblematic task.
Circadian Variation of the Response of T Cells to Antigen

Circadian clocks regulate many important aspects of physiology, and their disturbance leads to various medical conditions. Circadian variations have been found in immune system variables, including daily rhythms in circulating WBC numbers and serum concentration of cytokines. However, control of immune functional responses by the circadian clock has remained relatively unexplored. In this study, we show that mouse lymph nodes exhibit rhythmic clock gene expression. T cells from lymph nodes collected over 24 h show a circadian variation in proliferation after stimulation via the TCR, which is blunted in Clock gene mutant mice. The tyrosine kinase ZAP70, which is just downstream of the TCR in the T cell activation pathway and crucial for T cell function, exhibits rhythmic protein expression. Lastly, mice immunized with OVA peptide-loaded dendritic cells in the day show a stronger specific T cell response than mice immunized at night. These data reveal circadian control of the Ag-specific immune response and a novel regulatory mode of T cell proliferation, and may provide clues for more efficient vaccination strategies.
Developing Intercultural Competence in Practice

Part I In the classroom: beginners: the intercultural partnership project - Carol Morgan (England) intermediate: teaching intercultural competence through literature - Eva Burwitz-Melzer (Germany) "Up the Hills of Identity" - Eva Tarasheva and Leah Davcheva (Bulgaria) advanced: visual codes and modes of presentation of TV news broadcasts - Maria Metodieva Genova (Bulgaria) an approach to implementing a cultural studies syllabus - Iskra Georgieva (Bulgaria) "Family Life" and "Regional Identity" - comparative studies while learning French - Sylvia Duffy and Janet Mayes (England) trainee teachers: "It must be cultural because I don't do it" - cultural awareness in initial TESOL teacher education - Mary Williams (England). Part II Beyond the classroom: using new technologies: virtual intercultural competence - a programme for Japanese elementary school students - Lynne Parmenter and Yuichi Tomita (Japan) students as virtual ethnographers - exploring the language/culture connection - Sheila Carel (USA) working in tandem - an Anglo-French project -Clare Dodd (England) new tools for old tricks - information and communication technology in teaching British cultural studies - Paul Whittaker (Czech Republic) in the field: tandem learning as an intercultural activity - Jane Woodin (England) "Why do Danes put their elderly in homes? " - working outside the classroom with adult second language learners - Judith Parsons and Peter Junge (Denmark). Part III Developing resources: cultural understanding in Danish schools - Leon Aktor and Karen Risager (Denmark) "I thought my teacher fancied me" - Tanya Madjarova, Magdalena Botsmanova and Tanya Stamatova (Bulgaria) British and Bulgarian Christmas cards - a student research project - Krassimira Topuzova (Bulgaria) study of landscapes as an approach to openness to others - Fran oise Vigneron (France).
Applying new optimization algorithms to more predictive control

The connections between optimization and control theory have been explored by many researchers and optimization algorithms have been applied with success to optimal control. The rapid pace of developments in model predictive control has given rise to a host of new problems to which optimization has yet to be applied. Concurrently, developments in optimization, and especially in interior-point methods, have produced a new set of algorithms that may be especially helpful in this context. In this paper, we reexamine the relatively simple problem of control of linear processes subject to quadratic objectives and general linear constraints. We show how new algorithms for quadratic programming can be applied efficiently to this problem. The approach extends to several more general problems in straightforward ways.
Effect of speech coders on speech recognition performance

Speech coders with bitrates as low as 2.4 kbits/s are now being developed for speech transmission in the telecommunications industry. For speech coders to work at this reduced bitrate, some speech information has to be removed and it is only natural to expect that the performance of speech recognition systems will deteriorate when coded speech is applied as input to a recognition system. The results of a study to examine the effects speech coders have on speech recognition am presented. Six different speech coders ranging from 4.8 kbits/s to 40 kbits/s are used with two different speech recognition systems: (1) isolated word recognition and (2) phoneme recognition from continuous speech. The effects on speech recognition performance by tandeming each of the speech coders are also presented.
Developing a Framework for Examining the use of Mobile Transactions in Saudi Arabia: the User’s Perspective

Both the recent advances in mobile technologies and the high penetration rate of mobile communication services have had a profound impact on our daily lives, and are beginning to offer interesting and advantageous new services. In particular, the mobile transaction (m-transaction) system has emerged, enabling users to pay for physical and digital goods and services using their mobile devices whenever they want, regardless of their location. Although it is anticipated that m-transactions will enjoy a bright future, there is apparently still reluctance among users to accept mobile transactions. Besides analyzing the literature, the authors have conducted five empirical studies to develop a robust comprehensive framework that encompasses the key factors which could affect Saudi users’ intentions to use m-transactions. This paper aims to summarize and discuss these studies, show how they have evolved in several stages, aiming to reach a satisfactory level of maturity and finally shed light on interesting results.
Textural Features of Pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT Images: Prognostic Significance in Patients with Advanced T-Stage Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Previous studies have shown that total lesion glycolysis (TLG) may serve as a prognostic indicator in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC). We sought to investigate whether the textural features of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT images can provide any additional prognostic information over TLG and clinical staging in patients with advanced T-stage OPSCC. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT images of 70 patients with advanced T-stage OPSCC who had completed concurrent chemoradiotherapy, bioradiotherapy, or radiotherapy with curative intent. All of the patients had data on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and were followed up for at least 24 mo or until death. A standardized uptake value (SUV) of 2.5 was taken as a cutoff for tumor boundary. The textural features of pretreatment 18F-FDG PET/CT images were extracted from histogram analysis (SUV variance and SUV entropy), normalized gray-level cooccurrence matrix (uniformity, entropy, dissimilarity, contrast, homogeneity, inverse different moment, and correlation), and neighborhood gray-tone difference matrix (coarseness, contrast, busyness, complexity, and strength). Receiver-operating-characteristic curves were used to identify the optimal cutoff values for the textural features and TLG. Results: Thirteen patients were HPV-positive. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, tumor TLG, and uniformity were independently associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). TLG, uniformity, and HPV positivity were significantly associated with overall survival (OS). A prognostic scoring system based on TLG and uniformity was derived. Patients who presented with TLG > 121.9 g and uniformity ≤ 0.138 experienced significantly worse PFS, DSS, and OS rates than those without (P < 0.001, < 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). Patients with TLG > 121.9 g or uniformity ≤ 0.138 were further divided according to age, and different PFS and DSS were observed. Conclusion: Uniformity extracted from the normalized gray-level cooccurrence matrix represents an independent prognostic predictor in patients with advanced T-stage OPSCC. A scoring system was developed and may serve as a risk-stratification strategy for guiding therapy.
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor in Megakaryocytes*♦

The biosynthesis of endogenous brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has thus far been examined in neurons where it is expressed at very low levels, in an activity-dependent fashion. In humans, BDNF has long been known to accumulate in circulating platelets, at levels far higher than in the brain. During the process of blood coagulation, BDNF is released from platelets, which has led to its extensive use as a readily accessible biomarker, under the assumption that serum levels may somehow reflect brain levels. To identify the cellular origin of BDNF in platelets, we established primary cultures of megakaryocytes, the progenitors of platelets, and we found that human and rat megakaryocytes express the BDNF gene. Surprisingly, the pattern of mRNA transcripts is similar to neurons. In the presence of thapsigargin and external calcium, the levels of the mRNA species leading to efficient BDNF translation rapidly increase. Under these conditions, pro-BDNF, the obligatory precursor of biologically active BDNF, becomes readily detectable. Megakaryocytes store BDNF in α-granules, with more than 80% of them also containing platelet factor 4. By contrast, BDNF is undetectable in mouse megakaryocytes, in line with the absence of BDNF in mouse serum. These findings suggest that alterations of BDNF levels in human serum as reported in studies dealing with depression or physical exercise may primarily reflect changes occurring in megakaryocytes and platelets, including the ability of the latter to retain and release BDNF.
Comparative study of various subpopulations of cytotoxic cells in blood and ascites from patients with ovarian carcinoma

Aim of the study A number of observations have indicated that the immune system plays a significant role in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In cases of EOC, the prognostic significance of tumour infiltrating lymphocytes has not been clearly explained yet. The aim is to determine the phenotype and activation molecules of cytotoxic T cell and NK cell subpopulations and to compare their representation in malignant ascites and peripheral blood in patients with ovarian cancer. Material and methods Cytotoxic cells taken from blood samples of the cubital vein and malignant ascites were obtained from 53 patients with EOC. Their surface and activation characteristics were determined by means of a flow cytometer. Immunophenotype multiparametric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was carried out. Results CD3+ T lymphocytes were the main population of TILs (75.9%) and PBLs (70.9%). The number of activating T cells was significantly higher in TILs: CD3+/69+ 6.7% vs. 0.8% (p < 0.001). The representation of (CD3–/16+56+) NK cells in TILs was significantly higher: 11.0% vs. 5.6% (p = 0.041); likewise CD56bright and CD–56bright from CD56+ cells were higher in TILs (both p < 0.001). The activation receptor NKG2D was present in 45.1% of TILs vs. 32.3% of PBLs (p = 0.034), but we did not find a significant difference in the numbers of CD56+/NKG2D+ in TILs and PBLs. Conclusions These results prove that the characteristics and intensity of anti-tumour responses are different in compared compartments (ascites/PBLs). The knowledge of phenotype and functions of effector cells is the basic precondition for understanding the anti-tumour immune response.
Long-term Outcomes of Pediatric En Bloc Compared to Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience With 25 Years Follow-Up

Background Pediatric en bloc kidneys are considered marginal for transplantation into adults. We aimed to compare the long-term outcomes of pediatric en bloc versus living donor kidney transplantation. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken on pediatric en bloc and living donor kidney transplants performed at our center between 1990 and 2001. The outcomes compared between the groups included 25 year graft survival and longitudinal glomerular filtration rate. Results There were 72 pediatric en bloc and 75 living donor kidney recipients included in the analysis. Pediatric donors were 16.9 ± 11.2 months old and weighed 10.7 ± 3.8 kg with terminal serum creatinine of 0.50 ± 0.45 mg/dL. Living donors were 40.1 ± 9.4 years old and serum creatinine was 0.90 ± 0.16 mg/dL at the time of donation. En bloc kidney recipients had higher dialysis vintage (23.0 ± 29.2 months vs 14.3 ± 14.7 months; P = 0.03), and longer cold ischemia time (30.5 ± 9.8 hours vs 2.6 ± 0.9 hours, P < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimate revealed similar graft survival between the groups up to 27 years of follow up (log rank P = 0.78). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher in pediatric en bloc kidney recipients from years 5 through 17 posttransplantation. Conclusions Pediatric en bloc kidneys conferred long-term graft survival similar to living donor kidneys over a 25-year period after transplantation along with superior graft function. These findings support improved utilization of pediatric kidneys for transplantation into adults which not only helps to alleviate organ shortage but also provide excellent long-term function.
Role of cyclooxygenases COX-1 and COX-2 in modulating adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells Published, JLR Papers in Press, November 4, 2002. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M200357-JLR200

Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyses the rate-limiting step of prostanoid biosynthesis. Two COX isoforms have been identified, COX-1, the constitutive form, and COX-2, the inducible form. While COX-2 has been implicated in body fat regulation, the underlying cellular mechanism remains to be elucidated. The present study was undertaken to examine the potential role of COX in modulating adipogenesis and to dissect the relative contribution of the two isoenzymes in this process. COX-2 was found to be expressed in undifferentiated 3T3-L1 cells and down-regulated during differentiation, whereas the cellular level of COX-1 remained relatively constant. Abrogating the activity of either of these two isoenzymes by selective COX inhibitors accelerated cellular differentiation, suggesting that both COX isoenzymes negatively influenced differentiation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) significantly up-regulated COX-2 expression (∼2-fold) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells, whereas similar effect was not observed with COX-1 expression. Abrogating the induced COX-2 activity reversed the TNFα-induced inhibition of differentiation by ∼70%, implying a role for COX-2 in mediating TNFα signaling. Hence, both COX isoforms were involved in the negative modulation of adipocyte differentiation. COX-2 appeared to be the main isoform mediating at least part of the negative effects of TNFα.