Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liposomes and niosomes as potential carriers for dermal delivery of minoxidil

The aim of this work was to formulate minoxidil loaded liposome and niosome formulations to improve skin drug delivery. Multilamellar liposomes were prepared using soy phosphatidylcholine at different purity degrees (Phospholipon® 90, 90% purity, soy lecithin (SL), 75% purity) and cholesterol (Chol), whereas niosomes were made with two different commercial mixtures of alkylpolyglucoside (APG) surfactants (Oramix® NS10, Oramix® CG110), Chol and dicetylphosphate. Minoxidil skin penetration and permeation experiments were performed in vitro using vertical diffusion Franz cells and human skin treated with either drug vesicular systems or propylene glycol–water–ethanol solution (control). Penetration of minoxidil in epidermal and dermal layers was greater with liposomes than with niosomal formulations and the control solution. These differences might be attributed to the smaller size and the greater potential targeting to skin and skin appendages of liposomal carriers, which enhanced globally the skin drug delivery. The greatest skin accumulation was always obtained with non-dialysed vesicular formulations. No permeation of minoxidil through the whole skin thickness was detected in the present study irrespective of the existence of hair follicles. Alcohol-free liposomal formulations would constitute a promising approach for the topical delivery of minoxidil in hair loss treatment.
Metabolic changes during the transition from the fed to the acute feed-deprived state in prepuberal and mature gilts.

The present study compared the metabolic response to acute feed deprivation in ovariectomized prepuberal (P; n = 6), 62 +/- 2 kg BW, and mature (M; n = 6) gilts, 124 +/- 4 kg BW. Blood was collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 40, and 48 h after initiation of feeding. Samples were quantified for glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), beta-hydroxybutyrate (HBA), IGF-I, IGF binding proteins (BP)-1 to -4, cortisol, and amino acids (AA). At 24 h, blood samples were collected every 15 min for 8 h and an additional 1 h after i.v. injection of GnRH (.2 microgram/kg BW) and growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF; 1 microgram/kg BW). Samples were assayed for growth hormone (GH) and LH. Serum insulin concentrations were lower (P < .05) in P gilts. Plasma glucose concentrations were similar. Serum FFA concentrations were greater (P < .05) in P gilts. Serum concentrations of HBA were greater (P < .001) in P gilts at 48 h. Serum IGF-I concentrations were lower (P < .05) in P gilts by 16 h. Serum IGFBP-1-4 levels were similar. Serum cortisol concentrations were similar. Serum concentrations of the essential AA, isoleucine, lysine, threonine, valine, and phenylalanine were greater (P < .05) in P gilts at 40 h. Serum LH concentrations and response to GnRH were similar. Basal serum GH concentrations and peak response to GRF were greater (P < .05) in P than in M gilts. The transition from fed to unfed state occurs more rapidly in P than in M gilts.
Carbonates in the Martian meteorite Allan Hills 84001 formed at 18 ± 4 °C in a near-surface aqueous environment

Despite evidence for liquid water at the surface of Mars during the Noachian epoch, the temperature of early aqueous environments has been impossible to establish, raising questions of whether the surface of Mars was ever warmer than today. We address this problem by determining the precipitation temperature of secondary carbonate minerals preserved in the oldest known sample of Mars’ crust—the approximately 4.1 billion-year-old meteorite Allan Hills 84001 (ALH84001). The formation environment of these carbonates, which are constrained to be slightly younger than the crystallization age of the rock (i.e., 3.9 to 4.0 billion years), has been poorly understood, hindering insight into the hydrologic and carbon cycles of earliest Mars. Using “clumped” isotope thermometry we find that the carbonates in ALH84001 precipitated at a temperature of approximately 18 °C, with water and carbon dioxide derived from the ancient Martian atmosphere. Furthermore, covarying carbonate carbon and oxygen isotope ratios are constrained to have formed at constant, low temperatures, pointing to deposition from a gradually evaporating, subsurface water body—likely a shallow aquifer (meters to tens of meters below the surface). Despite the mild temperatures, the apparently ephemeral nature of water in this environment leaves open the question of its habitability.
Cross-Ethnicity Measurement Equivalence of Family Coping for Breast Cancer Survivors

Objective: The current study examines the equivalence of a measure of family coping, the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation scales (F-COPES), in Chinese American and Korean American breast cancer survivors (BCS). Methods: Factor structure and cross-ethnicity equivalence of the F-COPES were tested using structural equation modeling with 157 Chinese American and Korean American BCS in California. Results: Of the original F-COPES subscales, acquiring social support, reframing, and passive appraisal did not adequately fit the data. Thus, a modified five-factor structure of the F-COPES was created. The modified F-COPES was validated with respect to quality of life, psychological distress, and family communication. Conclusions: The findings illustrate the importance of cross-ethnicity measurement testing and provide a rationale for developing culturally tailored measurements for ethnic minority populations.
Organisational Security Culture and Information Security Compliance for E-Government Development: The Moderating Effect of Social Pressure

Rapid development of e-government has exposed critical public information to the possibility of cybercrime. Information security has become a critical issue that needs to be adequately addressed in e-government development. This paper develops an information security compliance model by drawing insights from organizational and institutional theory literature to examine how organizational security culture influences information security compliance in public organizations for e-government development. It also investigates the role of social pressure in moderating the relationship between information security culture and information security compliance. The study explores three specific dimensions of information security culture: management commitments, accountability and information security awareness. The result of a hierarchical regression analysis indicates that management commitments, accountability, information security awareness, and social pressure have a significant positive impact on information security compliance in public organizations. The moderating role of social pressure, however, is only significant in augmenting the relationship between accountability and information security compliance. This study contributes to the information security compliance research by highlighting the criticality of establishing an information security culture within public organisations to promote information security compliance.
The Synergistic Effects of Vitamin D Metabolites and Transforming Growth Factor-β on Costochondral Chondrocytes Are Mediated by Increases in Protein Kinase C Activity Involving Two Separate Pathways.

Transforming growth factor- b (TGF b ), as well as the vitamin D 3 metabolites 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 (1,25) and 24,25-dihydroxyvi- tamin D 3 (24,25), regulate chondrocyte differentiation and maturation during endochondral bone formation. Both the growth factor and secosteroidsalsoaffectproteinkinaseC(PKC)activity,althougheachhasitsownuniquetimecourseofenzymeactivation.VitaminD 3 metabolite effects are detected soon after addition to the media, whereas TGF b effects occur over a longer term. The present study examines the interrelation between the effects of 1,25, 24,25, and TGF b on chondrocyte differentiation, matrix production, and prolif- eration. We also examined whether the effect is hormone-specific and maturation-dependent and whether the effect of combining hormone and growth factor is mediated by PKC. This study used a chondrocyte culture model developed in our laboratory that allows comparison of chondrocytes at two stages of differentiation: the more mature growth zone (GC) cells and the less mature resting zone chondrocyte (RC) cells. Only the addition of 24,25 with TGF b showed synergistic effects on RC alkaline phosphatase- specific activity (ALPase). No similar effect was found when 24,25 plus TGF b was added to GC cells or when 1,25 plus TGF b were added toGCorRCcells.Theadditionof1,25plusTGF b and24,25plusTGF b to GC and RC cells, respectively, produced a synergistic increase in [ 35 S]sulfateincorporationandhadanadditiveeffecton[ 3 H]thymidine incorporation. To examine the signal transduction pathway involved in producing the synergistic effect of 24,25 and TGF b on RC cells, the level of PKC activity was examined. Addition of 24,25 and TGF b for 12 h produced a synergistic increase in PKC activity. Moreover, a similareffectwasfoundwhen24,25wasaddedforonlythelast90minofa12-hincubation.However,asynergisticeffectcouldnotbefoundwhen24,25wasaddedforthelast9minorthefirst90minofincubation.Tofurtherunderstandhow24,25andTGF b may mediate the observed synergistic increase in PKC activity, the pathways po-tentially leading to activation of PKC were examined. It was found that 24,25 affects PKC activity through production of diacylglycerol, not through activation of G protein, whereas TGF b only affected PKC activity through G protein. The results of the present study indicate that vitamin D metabo- lites and TGF b produced a synergistic effect that is maturation-dependent and hormone-specific. Moreover, the synergistic effect be- tween 24,25 and TGF b was mediated by activation of PKC through two parallel pathways: 24,25 through diacylglycerol production and TGF b through G protein activation. ( Endocrinology 139: 534–545, 1998)
Jacobian-Based Iterative Method for Magnetic Localization in Robotic Capsule Endoscopy

The purpose of this study is to validate a Jacobian-based iterative method for real-time localization of magnetically controlled endoscopic capsules. The proposed approach applies finite-element solutions to the magnetic field problem and least-squares interpolations to obtain closed-form and fast estimates of the magnetic field. By defining a closed-form expression for the Jacobian of the magnetic field relative to changes in the capsule pose, we are able to obtain an iterative localization at a faster computational time when compared with prior works, without suffering from the inaccuracies stemming from dipole assumptions. This new algorithm can be used in conjunction with an absolute localization technique that provides initialization values at a slower refresh rate. The proposed approach was assessed via simulation and experimental trials, adopting a wireless capsule equipped with a permanent magnet, six magnetic field sensors, and an inertial measurement unit. The overall refresh rate, including sensor data acquisition and wireless communication was 7 ms, thus enabling closed-loop control strategies for magnetic manipulation running faster than 100 Hz. The average localization error, expressed in cylindrical coordinates was below 7 mm in both the radial and axial components and 5$^\circ$ in the azimuthal component. The average error for the capsule orientation angles, obtained by fusing gyroscope and inclinometer measurements, was below 5$^\circ$.
Mixed Methods Research in Occupational Therapy: A Survey and Critique

Mixed qualitative and quantitative studies are becoming popular in social sciences research and are recognized as legitimate project designs. However, diverse definitions and applications are common and little consensus exists about exactly what constitutes a mixed methods approach. In this article, the authors provide an overview of various approaches to mixed methods and present the findings derived from a survey of mixed methods research published between 2000 and 2005 in nine occupational therapy journals. The results from this survey indicate that, although the use of mixed methods is relatively common (14% of all research articles published), there are several methodological issues to be considered. These include the subordinate positioning of qualitative findings and lack of justification for using mixed methods. Recommendations are offered to conceptually advance future applications and guide occupational therapy researchers considering the use of mixed methods.
Implementing, Embedding, and Integrating Practices: An Outline of Normalization Process Theory

Understanding the processes by which practices become routinely embedded in everyday life is a long-standing concern of sociology and the other social sciences. It has important applied relevance in understanding and evaluating the implementation of material practices across a range of settings.This article sets out a theory of normalization processes that proposes a working model of implementation, embedding and integration in conditions marked by complexity and emergence. The theory focuses on the work of embedding and of sustaining practices within interaction chains, and helps in understanding why some processes seem to lead to a practice becoming normalized while others do not.
Extending Body Space in Immersive Virtual Reality: A Very Long Arm Illusion

Recent studies have shown that a fake body part can be incorporated into human body representation through synchronous multisensory stimulation on the fake and corresponding real body part – the most famous example being the Rubber Hand Illusion. However, the extent to which gross asymmetries in the fake body can be assimilated remains unknown. Participants experienced, through a head-tracked stereo head-mounted display a virtual body coincident with their real body. There were 5 conditions in a between-groups experiment, with 10 participants per condition. In all conditions there was visuo-motor congruence between the real and virtual dominant arm. In an Incongruent condition (I), where the virtual arm length was equal to the real length, there was visuo-tactile incongruence. In four Congruent conditions there was visuo-tactile congruence, but the virtual arm lengths were either equal to (C1), double (C2), triple (C3) or quadruple (C4) the real ones. Questionnaire scores and defensive withdrawal movements in response to a threat showed that the overall level of ownership was high in both C1 and I, and there was no significant difference between these conditions. Additionally, participants experienced ownership over the virtual arm up to three times the length of the real one, and less strongly at four times the length. The illusion did decline, however, with the length of the virtual arm. In the C2–C4 conditions although a measure of proprioceptive drift positively correlated with virtual arm length, there was no correlation between the drift and ownership of the virtual arm, suggesting different underlying mechanisms between ownership and drift. Overall, these findings extend and enrich previous results that multisensory and sensorimotor information can reconstruct our perception of the body shape, size and symmetry even when this is not consistent with normal body proportions.
Coupled Factorial Hidden Markov Models (CFHMM) for Diagnosing Multiple and Coupled Faults

In this paper, we formulate a coupled factorial hidden Markov model-based (CFHMM) framework to diagnose dependent faults occurring over time (dynamic case). In our previous research, the problem of diagnosing multiple faults over time (dynamic multiple fault diagnosis (DMFD)) is solved based on a sequence of test outcomes by assuming that the faults and their time evolution are independent. This problem is NP-hard, and, consequently, we developed a polynomial approximation algorithm using Lagrangian relaxation within a FHMM framework. Here, we extend this formulation to a mixed memory Markov coupling model, termed dynamic coupled fault diagnosis (DCFD) problem, to determine the most likely sequence of (dependent) fault states, the one that best explains the observed test outcomes over time. An iterative Gauss-Seidel coordinate ascent optimization method is proposed for solving the DCFD problem. A soft Viterbi algorithm is also implemented within the framework for decoding-dependent fault states over time. We demonstrate the algorithm on simulated systems with coupled faults and the results show that this approach improves the correct isolation rate (CI) as compared to the formulation where independent fault states (DMFD) are assumed. As a by-product, we show empirically that, while diagnosing for independent faults, the DMFD algorithm based on block coordinate ascent method, although it does not provide a measure of suboptimality, provides better primal cost and higher CI than the Lagrangian relaxation method for independent fault case. Two real-world examples (a hybrid electric vehicle, and a mobile autonomous robot) with coupled faults are also used to evaluate the proposed framework.
Bridging the Gap between Monkey Neurophysiology and Human Perception: An Ambiguity Resolution Theory of Visual Selective Attention

When the visual system must process multiple objects simultaneously, as in the visual search paradigm, the neural coding of individual objects can become ambiguous due to the visual system's extensive use of coarse coding and distributed representations. Here we propose that the primary role of visual selective attention within the ventral object recognition pathway is to resolve these ambiguities. We begin by reviewing previous studies of the effects of attention on neural responses in monkeys, which provide the basis for this hypothesis, and then describe a new set of experiments showing that similar attentional mechanisms operate in the human brain. In these new experiments, event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from normal human observers while they performed tasks analogous to those used previously in monkeys. The central finding was that an attention-related ERP wave called the "N2pc component" was present under the same conditions that led to attentional modulations of neural responses in monkey visual cortex. These human electrophysiological results provide a bridge between cognitive-level theories of visual attention and the behavior of individual neurons in visual cortex.
Curcumin improves tendon healing in rats: a histological, biochemical, and functional evaluation

ABSTRACT Curcumin, a compound extracted from the roots of Zingiberaceae, has been proposed as a treatment for tissue injury but studies are yet to be done on its effect on tendon healing. Therefore, we performed a series of experiments to test our hypothesis that curcumin has positive effects on tendon repair. Patellar tendon window defect was created in Sprague–Dawley rats and these were divided into two groups: (i) control and (ii) curcumin-treated. Curcumin (100 mg/kg body weight) was applied by oral gavage. Its potential for promoting tendon healing was assessed by histological evaluation, mRNA expression of tenocyte-related genes, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) activity, quantification of hydroxyproline (HOPro), and biomechanical testing. In this tendon injury model, curcumin significantly improved the healing properties as evidenced by extensive deposition of well-organized collagen fibers, decreased MDA levels, and increase in the biomechanical properties and MnSOD activity of the regenerated tendon tissues. The current study showed that curcumin can improve the quality of tendon rupture healing, and thus represents a promising strategy in the management of injured tendon tissue.
Attribute salience in graphical representations affects
 evaluation

By manipulating the scale in graphs, this study demonstrated a new evaluation bias caused by attribute salience in graphical representations. That is, (de)compressing the graph axis scale changed the relative distance with respect to the options of a given attribute and thus changed the salience of the information in graphical representations. Experiment 1 showed that the differences in the graphical representations had a significant impact on the evaluation. Experiment 2 repeated the scale manipulation effect in a different scenario and extended it to a multi-options context. Experiment 3 disentangled the effect of scale distance manipulation from the other variables (e.g., scale resolution and assignment of attributes to axes) and further supported the finding of Experiment 1. These results indicated that attribute salience in graphical representations clearly affects evaluations and that graphs can be manipulated to cause very different impressions of the same data. This finding is not consistent with the axioms of normative economic theory. Experiment 3 also tested the attribute importance hypothesis, but the evidence indicated that the participants did not regard the longer axis as the more important attribute. Finally, we related our findings to the impact of visual processing on decision making and discussed them from the perspective of two-system cognitive theory.
The Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles

This article describes the evolution, standardization, and preliminary validation of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles (PICTS), an instrument designed to measure thinking styles believed to be associated with serious patterns of criminal conduct. Responses obtained from 450 federal prison inmates were used to establish norms for the PICTS, assess the reliability of the various PICTS scales, and investigate preliminary validity issues. The results indicate that maximum-security subjects attained significantly higher scores on the PICTS thinking scales than minimum- and medium-security subjects and that the PICTS possesses sufficient reliability and initial validity to warrant continued investigation.
Behavioral Communities and the Atomic Structure of Networks

We develop a method of detecting the `behavioral communities' of a social network based on how people act when they choose their behaviors in coordination with their friends' behaviors. There can be multiple different `conventions' (equilibria) in which people in some parts of the network adopt a behavior while people in other parts of the network do not. We define atoms/communities to be groups of people who behave the same as each other in every convention. This provides a microfoundation for a method of detecting communities in social and economic networks. We characterize such behavioral communities in some random graphs as a function of how strongly the benefits of adopting the behavior depend on others' behaviors. We also discuss applications including: optimally seeding the diffusion of behaviors involving peer influence, detecting which demographics or nodal characteristics define a society's communities, estimating the strength of peer influence on behavior, as well as identifying missing network data by observing a series of conventions.
Multi‐scale Internet traffic forecasting using neural networks and time series methods

This article presents three methods to forecast accurately the amount of traffic in TCP/IP based networks: a novel neural network ensemble approach and two important adapted time series methods (ARIMA and Holt‐Winters). In order to assess their accuracy, several experiments were held using real‐world data from two large Internet service providers. In addition, different time scales (5 min, 1 h and 1 day) and distinct forecasting lookaheads were analysed. The experiments with the neural ensemble achieved the best results for 5 min and hourly data, while the Holt‐Winters is the best option for the daily forecasts. This research opens possibilities for the development of more efficient traffic engineering and anomaly detection tools, which will result in financial gains from better network resource management.