Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phytochemical Analysis of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, Its Antioxidant Activity and Aldose Reductase Inhibitory Potential

The aim of this study was to determine aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory activity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity of compounds from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb (AP). We isolated agrimoniin (AM), four flavonoid glucosides and two flavonoid glucuronides from the n-butanol fraction of AP 50% methanol extract. In addition to isolated compounds, the AR-inhibitory activity and the DPPH free radical scavenging activity of catechin, 5-flavonoids, and 4-flavonoid glucosides (known components of AP) against rat lens AR (RLAR) and DPPH assay were measured. AM showed IC50 values of 1.6 and 13.0 μM against RLAR and DPPH scavenging activity, respectively. Additionally, AM, luteolin-7-O-glucuronide (LGN), quercitrin (QU), luteolin (LT) and afzelin (AZ) showed high inhibitory activity against AR and were first observed to decrease sorbitol accumulation in the rat lens under high-sorbitol conditions ex vivo with inhibitory values of 47.6%, 91.8%, 76.9%, 91.8% and 93.2%, respectively. Inhibition of recombinant human AR by AM, LGN and AZ exhibited a noncompetitive inhibition pattern. Based on our results, AP and its constituents may play partial roles in RLAR and oxidative radical inhibition. Our results suggest that AM, LGN, QU, LT and AZ may potentially be used as natural drugs for treating diabetic complications.
Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Web-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Meaningful Social Connections Compared with Usual Care Control in People of Retirement Age Recruited from Workplaces

Background Lifestyle interventions delivered during the retirement transition might promote healthier ageing. We report a pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based platform (Living, Eating, Activity and Planning through retirement; LEAP) promoting healthy eating (based on a Mediterranean diet (MD)), physical activity (PA) and meaningful social roles. Methods A single blinded, two-arm RCT with individual allocation. Seventy-five adult regular internet users living in Northeast England, within two years of retirement, were recruited via employers and randomised in a 2:1 ratio to receive LEAP or a ‘usual care’ control. Intervention arm participants were provided with a pedometer to encourage self-monitoring of PA goals. Feasibility of the trial design and procedures was established by estimating recruitment and retention rates, and of LEAP from usage data. At baseline and 8-week follow-up, adherence to a MD derived from three 24-hour dietary recalls and seven-day PA by accelerometry were assessed. Healthy ageing outcomes (including measures of physiological function, physical capability, cognition, psychological and social wellbeing) were assessed and acceptability established by compliance with measurement protocols and completion rates. Thematically analysed, semi-structured, qualitative interviews assessed acceptability of the intervention, trial design, procedures and outcome measures. Results Seventy participants completed the trial; 48 (96%) participants in the intervention and 22 (88%) in the control arm. Participants had considerable scope for improvement in diet as assessed by MD score. LEAP was visited a median of 11 times (range 1–80) for a mean total time of 2.5 hours (range 5.5 min– 8.3 hours). ‘Moving more‘, ‘eating well’ and ‘being social’ were the most visited modules. At interview, participants reported that diet and PA modules were important and acceptable within the context of healthy ageing. Participants found both trial procedures and outcome assessments acceptable. Conclusions The trial procedures and the LEAP intervention proved feasible and acceptable. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of LEAP to promote healthy lifestyles warrant evaluation in a definitive RCT. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02136381
Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome and Functional and Structural Brain Impairments in Adolescence

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) parallels the rise in childhood obesity. MetS is associated with neurocognitive impairments in adults, but this is thought to be a long-term effect of poor metabolism. It would be important to ascertain whether these brain complications are also present among adolescents with MetS, a group without clinically manifest vascular disease and relatively short duration of poor metabolism. METHODS: Forty-nine adolescents with and 62 without MetS, matched on age, socioeconomic status, school grade, gender, and ethnicity, received endocrine, MRI, and neuropsychological evaluations. RESULTS: Adolescents with MetS showed significantly lower arithmetic, spelling, attention, and mental flexibility and a trend for lower overall intelligence. They also had, in a MetS-dose–related fashion, smaller hippocampal volumes, increased brain cerebrospinal fluid, and reductions of microstructural integrity in major white matter tracts. CONCLUSIONS: We document lower cognitive performance and reductions in brain structural integrity among adolescents with MetS, thus suggesting that even relatively short-term impairments in metabolism, in the absence of clinically manifest vascular disease, may give rise to brain complications. In view of these alarming results, it is plausible that obesity-associated metabolic disease, short of type 2 diabetes mellitus, may be mechanistically linked to lower the academic and professional potential of adolescents. Although obesity may not be enough to stir clinicians or even parents into action, these results in adolescents strongly argue for an early and comprehensive intervention. We propose that brain function be introduced among the parameters that need to be evaluated when considering early treatment of childhood obesity.
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE ACOUSTIC IMPEDANCE OF THE MIDDLE EAR AND ITS TRANSMISSION PROPERTIES.

The acoustic impedance at the eardrum and the cochlear microphonic potential at constant sound pressure level at the eardrum were measured in anesthetized cats and rabbits. It was found that the inverse of the impedance (admittance) and the cochlear microphonic potential at constant sound pressure are proportional over a large frequency range. In addition, the effects of opening of the middle-ear cavities and of variation of the air pressure in the cavity, as well as of activity of the middle-ear muscles were studied. In further experiments, the impedance of the eardrum itself and of the middle ear with the cochlea disconnected was measured.
Information Accessibility of the Charcoal Burning Suicide Method in Mainland China

Background There has been a marked rise in suicide by charcoal burning (CB) in some East Asian countries but little is known about its incidence in mainland China. We examined media-reported CB suicides and the availability of online information about the method in mainland China. Methods We extracted and analyzed data for i) the characteristics and trends of fatal and nonfatal CB suicides reported by mainland Chinese newspapers (1998–2014); ii) trends and geographic variations in online searches using keywords relating to CB suicide (2011–2014); and iii) the content of Internet search results. Results 109 CB suicide attempts (89 fatal and 20 nonfatal) were reported by newspapers in 13 out of the 31 provinces or provincial-level-municipalities in mainland China. There were increasing trends in the incidence of reported CB suicides and in online searches using CB-related keywords. The province-level search intensities were correlated with CB suicide rates (Spearman’s correlation coefficient = 0.43 [95% confidence interval: 0.08–0.68]). Two-thirds of the web links retrieved using the search engine contained detailed information about the CB suicide method, of which 15% showed pro-suicide attitudes, and the majority (86%) did not encourage people to seek help. Limitations The incidence of CB suicide was based on newspaper reports and likely to be underestimated. Conclusions Mental health and suicide prevention professionals in mainland China should be alert to the increased use of this highly lethal suicide method. Better surveillance and intervention strategies need to be developed and implemented.
Zinc-Induced Cortical Neuronal Death: Contribution of Energy Failure Attributable to Loss of NAD+ and Inhibition of Glycolysis

Excessive zinc influx may contribute to neuronal death after certain insults, including transient global ischemia. In light of evidence that levels of intracellular free Zn2+associated with neurotoxicity may be sufficient to inhibit glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), experiments were performed looking for reduced glycolysis and energy failure in cultured mouse cortical neurons subjected to lethal Zn2+exposure. As predicted, cultures exposed for 3–22 hr to 40 μm Zn2+ developed an early increase in levels of dihydroxy-acetone phosphate (DHAP) and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) and a progressive loss of ATP levels, followed by neuronal cell death; furthermore, addition of the downstream glycolytic substrate pyruvate to the bathing medium attenuated the fall in ATP and neuronal death. However, an alternative to direct Zn2+ inhibition of GAPDH was raised by the observation that Zn2+exposure also induced an early decrease in nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) levels, an event itself capable of inhibiting GAPDH. Favoring this indirect mechanism of GAPDH inhibition, the neuroprotective effects of pyruvate addition were associated with normalization of cellular levels of NAD+, DHAP, and FBP. Zn2+-induced neuronal death was also attenuated by addition of the energy substrate oxaloacetate, the activator of pyruvate dehydrogenase, dichloroacetate, or the inhibitors of NAD+ catabolism, niacinamide or benzamide. Acetyl carnitine, α-keto butyrate, lactate, and β-hydroxy-butyrate did not attenuate Zn2+-induced neurotoxicity, perhaps because they could not regenerate NAD+ or be used for energy production in the presence of glucose.
Rac1 Regulates the NLRP3 Inflammasome Which Mediates IL-1beta Production in Chlamydophila pneumoniae Infected Human Mononuclear Cells

Chlamydophila pneumoniae causes acute respiratory tract infections and has been associated with development of asthma and atherosclerosis. The production of IL-1β, a key mediator of acute and chronic inflammation, is regulated on a transcriptional level and additionally on a posttranslational level by inflammasomes. In the present study we show that C. pneumoniae-infected human mononuclear cells produce IL-1β protein depending on an inflammasome consisting of NLRP3, the adapter protein ASC and caspase-1. We further found that the small GTPase Rac1 is activated in C. pneumoniae-infected cells. Importantly, studies with specific inhibitors as well as siRNA show that Rac1 regulates inflammasome activation in C. pneumoniae-infected cells. In conclusion, C. pneumoniae infection of mononuclear cells stimulates IL-1β production dependent on a NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated processing of proIL-1β which is controlled by Rac1.
Private traits and attributes are predictable from digital records of human behavior

We show that easily accessible digital records of behavior, Facebook Likes, can be used to automatically and accurately predict a range of highly sensitive personal attributes including: sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious and political views, personality traits, intelligence, happiness, use of addictive substances, parental separation, age, and gender. The analysis presented is based on a dataset of over 58,000 volunteers who provided their Facebook Likes, detailed demographic profiles, and the results of several psychometric tests. The proposed model uses dimensionality reduction for preprocessing the Likes data, which are then entered into logistic/linear regression to predict individual psychodemographic profiles from Likes. The model correctly discriminates between homosexual and heterosexual men in 88% of cases, African Americans and Caucasian Americans in 95% of cases, and between Democrat and Republican in 85% of cases. For the personality trait “Openness,” prediction accuracy is close to the test–retest accuracy of a standard personality test. We give examples of associations between attributes and Likes and discuss implications for online personalization and privacy.
Frontal Theta Dynamics during Response Conflict in Long-Term Mindfulness Meditators

Mindfulness meditators often show greater efficiency in resolving response conflicts than non-meditators. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the improved behavioral efficiency are unclear. Here, we investigated frontal theta dynamics—a neural mechanism involved in cognitive control processes—in long-term mindfulness meditators. The dynamics of EEG theta oscillations (4–8 Hz) recorded over the medial frontal cortex (MFC) were examined in terms of their power (MFC theta power) and their functional connectivity with other brain areas (the MFC-centered theta network). Using a flanker-type paradigm, EEG data were obtained from 22 long-term mindfulness meditators and compared to those from 23 matched controls without meditation experience. Meditators showed more efficient cognitive control after conflicts, evidenced by fewer error responses irrespective of response timing. Furthermore, meditators exhibited enhanced conflict modulations of the MFC-centered theta network shortly before the response, in particular for the functional connection between the MFC and the motor cortex. In contrast, MFC theta power was comparable between groups. These results suggest that the higher behavioral efficiency after conflicts in mindfulness meditators could be a function of increased engagement to control the motor system in association with the MFC-centered theta network.
A Historical Observation of the Intellectual and Institutional Structures of the Field

In this paper, we examine the evolution of the institutional and intellectual structures of the IS field. We argue that, though the field’s institutional structures—academic programs, journals, conferences, and professional associations— have developed admirably, the state of the field’s intellectual structure is less clear. We employ a co-citation lens to analyze the development and evolution of subfields across three periods. We rely on Culnan’s (1987) second cocitation study as a point of departure for our analysis. We then extend her work through two additional studies that individually assess the state of subfield development at distinct periods during the field’s history. Over the three periods, we note that the field has experienced change in subfield diversity and cohesion. Culnan’s study exhibits low levels of cohesion and diversity among topics. Our first study shows continued isolation but growth in subfield diversity. This period is indicative of a fragmented adhocracy. Our second study suggests increasing levels of integration despite only a slight reduction in subfield diversity. While we largely only describe the field’s evolution, any assessment of whether this evolution represents a positive or negative trajectory for the field will be subject to interpretation and debate.
On the Solstice Maxima and Azimuth‐Dependent Characteristics of the 150‐km Echoes Observed Using the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar

We present long overdue statistical analysis of the 150‐km echoes based on 10 years of observations made using the Equatorial Atmosphere Radar located at Kototabang, Indonesia. Analysis shows that while the basic features of the echoes are very similar to those observed from other equatorial/low‐latitude stations, occurrence and power/signal‐to‐noise ratio of the echoes are much higher in the solstices than in the equinoxes. Furthermore, both occurrence rate and power/signal‐to‐noise ratio of the echoes in the December solstice are marginally lower than those of the June solstice. The observed solstice‐equinox asymmetry has important implications with regard to the generation mechanism of the 150‐km echoes since this seasonal behavior cannot be accounted for by the recently proposed photoelectron‐induced enhanced plasma wave process alone. Equatorial Atmosphere Radar observations also display remarkable azimuthal variations of the echo characteristics, which indicate magnetic aspect angle dependence of the echoes. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the origin of the 150‐km echoes.
Rate And Method Of Suicide Attempts In The US Between 1992 And 2010: Geographic And Demographic Differences

It is widely recognized that one of the most effective suicide prevention strategies is to restrict access to highly lethal methods of suicide (e.g., firearms, pesticides). However, there is a paucity of recent studies that assess the potential correlates of method lethality, such as demographic and geographic variables. Therefore, the present study aims to address this gap in literature by analyzing method lethality used in suicide attempts across varying geographic and demographic variables, including region (West, Midwest, Northeast, South), Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), sex, age groups, races, and ethnicities using National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) data from 1992-2010. Results suggest that males are significantly more likely to use highly lethal methods when attempting suicide. Being non-Hispanic and living in a rural area was related to a higher likelihood of electing to use a highly lethal suicide attempt method, though these findings were not statistically significant. The implications for clinical practice and prevention policy are discussed.
Mathematical Programs with Complementarity Constraints in Function Space: C- and Strong Stationarity and a Path-Following Algorithm

An optimal control problem governed by an elliptic variational inequality is studied. The feasible set of the problem is relaxed, and a path-following-type method is used to regularize the constraint on the state variable. First order optimality conditions for the relaxed-regularized subproblems are derived, and convergence of stationary points with respect to the relaxation and regularization parameters is shown. In particular, C- and strong stationarity as well as variants thereof are studied. The subproblems are solved by using semismooth Newton methods. The overall algorithmic concept is provided, and its performance is discussed by means of examples, including problems with bilateral constraints and a nonsymmetric operator.
Linear Cascade GaN-Based Green Light-Emitting Diodes With Invariant High-Speed/Power Performance Under High-Temperature Operation

We demonstrate the performance of linear cascade green light-emitting diode (LED) arrays suited for use in plastic optical fiber (POF) communications in automobiles or harsh environments. With this three-LED array, driven by the constant voltage bias of an in-car battery output (12 V) we obtain high-speed ( ~ 100-Mb/s eye-opening), high-coupling power (0.9 mW), and a very small variation of coupled power versus temperature [- 0.12%degC-1 at room temperature (RT)] for the whole measured temperature range (i.e., RT to 120degC). Even under high bias current (100 mA) operation, our device can sustain a clear 150-Mb/s eye-opening from RT to 120degC. The static and dynamic measurement results indicate that the speed and power performance of this device are less sensitive to variations in ambient temperature than are those of the red resonant-cavity LEDs utilized for POF communication.
Isolation and characterization of a transposon-induced cytotoxin-deficient mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In order to provide a better system for investigating the role of cytotoxin in pathogenesis, we mutated wild-type Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA158 by introducing a transposon. The resulting pool of mutants was screened for cytotoxin-deficient strains. One mutant strain, PA114F5, was compared with PA158. Except for cytotoxin production and antibiotic resistance (specified by the transposon), the two strains appear isogenic. This mutant strain should be useful in further clarifying the role of cytotoxin in pathogenesis.
Human Action Recognition Using Optical Flow and Convolutional Neural Networks

The great scientific advance due to Convolutional Neural Networks (ConvNets) for image recognition problems encouraged many researchers to apply ConvNets on video understanding tasks such as human action recognition. However, related state-of-the-art approaches differ in various aspects, making it difficult to compare their results. This work compares some of those approaches in a shared environment using a standard protocol. The results give indication about the effectiveness of fundamental ideas behind proposed approaches and other influencing factors. Based on these findings several adaptations of the parameters and methods have been implemented and tested. Human action recognition problems are commonly approached by facing two complementary aspects of vision. The first one relies on appearance of shown objects, scenes and human poses. It can be considered a regular image recognition task. The second utilizes optical flow estimations to exploit motion information. Since image recognition already is a well-researched area, it is the temporal aspect which is in need of further investigation. The studies were therefore focused on optical flow, which allowed to deeper investigate the less researched sub-discipline.
Analytic solution of an integrated performance model of a computer communication network with window flow control

A method for analyzing the performance of computer communication networks using queueing network models (QNM's) is presented in this paper. The user/computer sites are interconnected by a wide-area network with an end-to-end window flow-control mechanism. The QNM for the system including the communication subnet and the host computers is intractable because of blocking due to window flow control and memory constraints at computer systems, even under otherwise analytically favorable assumptions. The approximate solution method, which is based on iteration and decomposition, combines several recently developed computationally inexpensive algorithms to compute user response times, taking into account the delay in the communication network and the processing time at computer systems. We also introduce a fast non-iterative procedure to analyze QNM's with external arrivals and with population size constraints, such that blocked customers are queued. The effect of the choice of window sizes and minimum link/bifurcated routing on system performance is investigated.