Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ubiquinol-10 supplementation activates mitochondria functions to decelerate senescence in senescence-accelerated mice.

AIM The present study was conducted to define the relationship between the anti-aging effect of ubiquinol-10 supplementation and mitochondrial activation in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 1 (SAMP1) mice. RESULTS Here, we report that dietary supplementation with ubiquinol-10 prevents age-related decreases in the expression of sirtuin gene family members, which results in the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), a major factor that controls mitochondrial biogenesis and respiration, as well as superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2), which are major mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes. Ubiquinol-10 supplementation can also increase mitochondrial complex I activity and decrease levels of oxidative stress markers, including protein carbonyls, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites, malondialdehydes, and increase the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. Furthermore, ubiquinol-10 may activate Sirt1 and PGC-1α by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels that, in turn, activate cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). INNOVATION AND CONCLUSION These results show that ubiquinol-10 may enhance mitochondrial activity by increasing levels of SIRT1, PGC-1α, and SIRT3 that slow the rate of age-related hearing loss and protect against the progression of aging and symptoms of age-related diseases.
Convection in an internally cooled fluid layer heated from below

Abstract Convection in a homogeneously cooled layer heated by a fixed temperature at the lower boundary is investigated numerically for various Rayleigh numbers and Prandtl numbers . The upper boundary is kept insulating. Large aspect ratios up to 20 are used in order to study the large scale pattern of convection. The problem is mathematically identical with the problem of a homogeneously heated convection layer cooled from above. The mean temperature difference between the two boundaries decreases in proportion to .
Target Selection Signals for Arm Reaching in the Posterior Parietal Cortex

The selection of visual stimuli as a target for a motor action may depend on external as well as internal variables. The parietal reach region (PRR) in the posterior parietal cortex plays an important role in the transformation of visual information into reach movement plans. We asked how neurons in PRR of macaque monkeys reflect the decision process of selecting one of two visual stimuli as a target for a reach movement. Spiking activity was recorded while the animal performed a free-choice task with one target presented in the preferred direction and the other in the off direction of the cell. Stimulus-onset asynchrony (SOA) was adjusted to ensure that both targets were selected equally often and the amount of reward was fixed. Neural activity in PRR was action specific for arm reaching and reflected the timing of the SOA as well as the selection of reach targets. In individual trials, activity was strongly linked to the choice of the animal, and, for the majority of cells, target selections could be predicted from activity in the stimulation or planning period, i.e., before the movement started. Many neurons were gain modulated by the fixation position, but gain modulation did not influence the target selection process directly. Finally, it was found that target selection for saccade movements was only weakly represented in PRR. These findings suggest that PRR is involved in decision making for reach movements and that separate cortical networks exist for target selection of different types of action.
Reliability of Selected Measures of Musculo-skeletal Function Obtained During Closed Kinetic Chain Exercises at Multiple Velocities

Healthy young men (n = 52) and women (n = 50) with varied training backgrounds helped to determine the reliability of selected tests of musculoskeletal function derived from closed kinetic chain concentric exercise. Testing involved a computer controlled squat exercise at 6 velocities. The following were measured at each squat speed: peak force, average force, peak force to body weight ratio (relative peak force), average force to body weight ratio (relative average force), peak power, average power, peak power to body weight ratio (relative peak power), average power to body weight ratio (relative average power), work, relative peak position, peak hold time, pulse duration, and rise time. Subjects participated in two identical testing sessions separated by 48 hrs. Reliability was determined via coefficient alpha. Results revealed consistently high reliability levels (≥0.94) for all force, power, and work measurements. Reliability coefficients were somewhat lower and more variable for the remaining variables, especially those associated with timing. Thus it appears that the force, power, and work variables generated during the isokinetic squat exercises may be reliably obtained from healthy young men and women.
Disentangling gender, peace and democratization: the negative effects of militarized masculinity

This article investigates, both theoretically and empirically, the relationships between democratization, gender equality and peace. We argue that there is a need to scrutinize both the level of democracy as well as the level of masculine hegemony in societies. Methodologically, we use a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses to support our argument. We employ regression analysis to show that the relationship between the extent of democracy and the representation of women in politics appears, at first glance, to be non-existent but turns out to be a curvilinear one. We also show that democracy can facilitate peace, but only in interaction with the level of political gender equality, so that more democratic societies are more peaceful only if there have been moves to gender equality. Our interpretation of these findings is illustrated by the contemporary politics of Thailand. Recent political violence in southern Thailand can be accounted for in the context of it being only partly democratized, where a culture of militarized masculinity persists alongside with, and even within, democratic institutions. Such a culture makes it both difficult for women to enter the political sphere, despite democratic elections, and fosters political violence.
Bibliotherapy as an adjunct to psychotherapy for depression in older adults.

Bibliotherapy, reading a self-help book for the treatment of psychological problems, has been shown to be effective as a "stand-alone" treatment for depression. Many practitioners recommend self-help books as an adjunct to treatment. This article offers some guidelines for the use of bibliotherapy as an adjunct to individual psychotherapy with depressed older adults. Two clinical cases demonstrate how bibliotherapy can be used effectively in conjunction with individual psychotherapy.
Black, White, and Rainbow [of Desire]: the colour of race-talk of pre-service world language educators in Boalian theatre workshops

This article examines how Boalian Theatre of the Oppressed exercises helped instructors and pre-service teachers navigate the consequences of ventriloquized, racialized discourses in a pre-service world language teacher education classroom. Applying a critical and performative approach, we analyse the mostly White student–actors’ varying representations of a “White teacher’s” use of the term “hoodlum” for classroom management and the resulting communication breakdown that occurred between the teacher and a “Black parent. ” Findings indicate that rehearsing pre-service teachers’ classroom struggles helped to move the group away from monochromatic perceptions of White/Black, Teacher/Parent interactions to a polychromatic view of interlocutors’ multiple histories and investments. This study has implications for revitalizing the place of world language education in K-12 education, extending the acquisition of second language verbs and nouns to incorporate connections between language, culture, history, and power.
Lack of Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-G expression in early embryos is not related to germinal defects or impairment of interleukin-10 production by embryos

The expression of Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-G molecules is a mandatory prerequisite for the development of pregnancy but no hypotheses have yet been advanced regarding the lack of HLA-G modulation expression in a percentage of early embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF). One possible hypothetical model assumes that the absence of regulation of HLA-G or impaired interleukin (IL)-10 secretion could be related to germinal defects. We investigated the presence of soluble HLA-G antigens in supernatants of single embryo cultures from couples admitted to a second fertilization procedure; these couples showed a complete absence of HLA-G modulation in the first cycle's embryo supernatants (0/31). The results obtained in the second IVF cycle showed embryo supernatants positive for HLA-G (14/40), suggesting that the previous lack of antigen modulation is independent of germinal defects. Furthermore, since it has been reported that oocytes and early embryos can secrete IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine produced by type 2 helper T cells that induces upregulation of HLA-G expression in monocytes and trophoblasts, we investigated the levels of IL-10 and soluble HLA-G in 40 embryo culture supernatants from 21 IVF cycles. No associations were observed between the presence of IL-10 and the production and concentrations of soluble HLA-G, or between IL-10 levels and pregnancy outcome. These results indicate that the lack of HLA-G production in early embryos is not related to germinal defects or to impairment in embryo IL-10 secretion but could be ascribed to possible uncorrected fertilization processes.
Clinical observational gait analysis to evaluate improvement of balance during gait with vibrotactile biofeedback.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study explores the effect of vibrotactile biofeedback on gait in 20 patients with bilateral vestibular areflexia using observational gait analysis to score individual balance. METHODS A tilt sensor mounted on the head or trunk is used to detect head or body tilt and activates, via a microprocessor, 12 equally distributed vibrators placed around the waist. Two positions of the tilt sensor were evaluated besides no biofeedback in three different gait velocity tasks (slow/fast tandem gait, normal gait on foam) resulting in nine different randomized conditions. Biofeedback activated versus inactivated was compared. Twenty patients (10 males, 10 females, age 39-77 years) with a bilateral vestibular areflexia or severe bilateral vestibular hyporeflexia, severe balance problems and frequent falls participated in this study. RESULTS Significant improvements in balance during gait were shown in our patients using biofeedback and sensor on the trunk. Only two patients showed a significant individual gait improvement with the biofeedback system, but in the majority of our patients, it increased confidence and a feeling of balance. CONCLUSION This study indicates the feasibility of vibrotactile biofeedback for vestibular rehabilitation and to improve balance during gait.
Human localization based on the fusion of vision and sound system

In this paper, a method for accurate human localization using a sequential fusion of sound and vision is proposed. Although the sound localization alone works well in most cases, there are situations such as noisy environment and small inter-microphone distance, which may produce wrong or poor results. A vision system also has deficiency, such as limited visual field. To solve these problems we propose a method that combines sound localization and vision in real time. Particularly, a robot finds rough location of the speaker via sound source localization, and then using vision to increase the accuracy of the location. Experimental results show that the proposed method is more accurate and reliable than the results of pure sound localization.
A capacitor cross-coupled common-gate low-noise amplifier

The conventional common-gate low-noise amplifier (CGLNA) exhibits a relatively high noise figure (NF) at low operating frequencies relative to the MOSFET f/sub T/, which has limited its adoption notwithstanding its superior linearity, input matching, and stability compared to the inductively degenerated common-source LNA (CSLNA). A capacitor cross-coupled g/sub m/-boosting scheme is described that improves the NF and retains the advantages of the CGLNA topology. The technique also enables a significant reduction in current consumption. A fully integrated capacitor cross-coupled CGLNA implemented in 180-nm CMOS validates the g/sub m/-boosting technique. It achieves a measured NF of 3.0 dB at 6.0 GHz and consumes only 3.6 mA from 1.8 V; the measured input-referred third-order intercept ( IIP3) value is 11.4 dBm. The capacitor cross-coupled g/sub m/-boosted CGLNA is attractive for low-power fully integrated applications in fine-line CMOS technologies.
Optimal Sequential Multi-Way Number Partitioning

Given a multiset of n positive integers, the NP-complete problem of number partitioning is to assign each integer to one of k subsets, such that the largest sum of the integers assigned to any subset is minimized. Last year, three different papers on optimally solving this problem appeared in the literature, two from the ﬁrst two authors, and one from the third author. We resolve here competing claims of these papers, showing that different algorithms work best for different values of n and k , with orders of magnitude differences in their performance. We combine the best ideas from both approaches into a new algorithm, called sequential number partitioning, and also introduce a hybrid algorithm that achieves the best performance for each value of n and k . Number partitioning is closely related to bin-packing, and advances in either problem can be applied to the other.
Characteristic changes in psychiatric symptoms, cortisol and melatonin but not prolactin in primary hyperparathyroidism

Psychiatric symptoms in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are usually characterized as depressive. In this study 13 patients with PHPT and six control patients with atoxic nodular goiter underwent psychiatric ratings with the comprehensive psychopathological rating scale (CPRS) the day before surgery. The 21 items in this scale were grouped into clusters. The ratings were repeated after successful removal of a parathyroid adenoma. Diurnal serum concentrations of cortisol, melatonin and prolactin were studied pre‐ and postoperatively in eight of the patients. Patients with PHPT had significantly higher CPRS total scores, 8.5 ± 1.3, compared with goiter controls, 1.9 ± 0.8, and showed a significant improvement of psychiatric symptoms after excision of the parathyroid adenoma, to 3.3 ± 0.9. The preoperative diurnal and peak levels of cortisol and melatonin were higher (P < 0.05) than after surgery. Serum melatonin fell to levels lower than those in healthy controls. Correlations were found between some clusters or items and cortisol or melatonin. Serum prolactin levels were normal and unaltered by parathyroid surgery. It is concluded that patients with PHPT show well defined psychiatric symptoms many of which are correlated to alterations in serum cortisol and melatonin accompanying PHPT. The improvement of symptoms seen after successful surgery further suggests that PHPT is associated with a specific psychiatric disorder similar to but distinguishable from major depressive disorder.
Increasing Engagement of Preschoolers With Disabilities Through Correspondence Training and Picture Cues

This investigation evaluated the effects of a hierarchical intervention that consisted of picture cues and correspondence training procedures to increase engagement of 4 young children with significant developmental delays during classroom free play sessions. Up to three levels of intervention were introduced with each child, with more intrusive levels being used only when less intrusive levels had failed to impact behavior. A multiple-probe design across children was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Results of the study were mixed, with 2 children requiring less intrusive levels of intervention and 2 children requiring the entire intervention package in order to reach criterion.
Nomenclature and Significance of Innate/Natural Immune Mechanisms and of Species Specific Resistance

The immune system of higher animals comprised of two parts: Innate – or Natural – (INIM-NIM) and Adaptive Immunity (ADIM). Innate resistance includes physical barriers (e.g. skin, cornea, mucous membranes, the blood-brain barrier BBB) chemical defense (HCl in the stomach, bile acids in the intestines, enzyme based protection) and Species Specific Resistance (SSR) to viruses and other pathogens. SSR may occur because of the lack of proper receptors for the pathogen to establish itself in the resistant animal species. Therefore, SSR is a phylogenetically determined property of various animal species. Innate immunity includes polyspecifc immune mechanisms with germ line gene based antigen receptors (INIR/NIR) that recognize phylogenetically preserved, highly cross-reactive (homologous) epitopes, or homotopes. Because both the antigen receptors (e.g. toll-like receptors TLR) and the homotopes (e.g., lipid A in bacterial lipopolysaccharide LPS) are constant, and fully differentiated immune (monocyte/macrophages and other leucocytes) and somatic cells express TLR, the entire organism is capable of responding instantaneously to infection or injury. Innate phagocytes, primarily monocyte/macrophages, support the development of adaptive immunity, by presenting antigen and by contributing cytokines for cell activation. If natural immunity is depressed, ADIM will be deficient. The natural immune system provides continuous protection for the host animals or men against the effects of stress, treatment of cytostatic drugs, septic shock, infectious diseases, and numerous other noxious agents. Neuroendocrine, nutritional and environmental factors regulate natural immunity. The maintenance of good NIM defense is most important in modern medicine. Radiodetoxified endotoxin (RD-LPS) stimulates NIM, and activates the bone marrow. Animal experiments and human studies showed that RD-LPS is a promising preparation for the elevation of natural immunity. RD-LPS is a potent immunological adjuvant in the case of inactivated virus vaccines (e.g. influenza).
Understanding Risk

Abstract Over an extremely short period of our history, computer systems and the Internet have become a critical element in our social and economic infrastructure. Most would agree that information systems and, dare I say, information security, have evolved into the most critical elements of our economic infrastructure. Security has been charged with a simple task: to plan, implement, and manage an integrated, heterogeneous security environment across hardware, operating systems, middleware, network protocols, applications, and databases. There is just one small problem. Security technology is relatively immature. Security tools are weak or lacking. The tools that are available are product based — not enterprisewide, which leads to many uncommon and unworkable solutions.
Chips, cheeks and carols: A review of recurrent perseveration in speech production

Background: Recurrent perseverative errors involve either the complete or partial repetition of a prior response to a new stimulus. They are commonly produced by speakers with aphasia and are difficult to remediate. During the preparation of this paper, Dr Lyndsey Nickels was funded by an Australian Research Council QE2 Fellowship. Aims: This paper reviews research on recurrent perseverative errors with a focus on different theoretical accounts. Main Contribution: Comparisons are drawn between the literature on perseveration in the non‐language‐impaired population and in aphasia. In addition, theories that relate perseverative errors to underlying levels of language processing breakdown are described and contrasted with those that propose that they are primarily caused by impaired inhibition of recent memory traces. Conclusions: Most recent studies have demonstrated systematic links between patterns of recurrent perseverative errors and underlying levels of language‐processing breakdown in individual speakers with aphasia. For the comprehensive investigation of recurrent perseverative errors the examination of both whole word (i.e., total) and phonological (i.e., blended) perseverations is important, as is the use of case series rather than group designs.
Promoting Pragmatic Awareness and Spoken Discourse Skills with EAP Classes

The development of speaking skills in EAP (English for Academic Purposes) courses is a relatively neglected and under-researched area of ESL teaching which relates to a problem facing overseas students preparing for courses in Australian universities. It has become increasingly clear that many of them have difficulty interacting professionally and socially with their native-speaking (NS) peers and teachers in academic contexts. This article draws on recorded data from a recently completed classroom research project, carried out by an EAP class in South Australia, to describe a process which allows non-native speaking (NNS) learners to experience authentic oral interaction with NSs, as well as providing opportunities for them to reflect on the linguistic and socio-pragmatic features of spoken discourse as they arise. This heightened awareness of language in context can build confidence in the learners' oral skills, and may enhance academic performance.
A survey of feline behavioral problems in Tehran

Behavioral problems in cats have drawn more attention in recent years since they affect the cat-owner relationship. This study was designed to study the rate of cats with undesirable behaviors according to their owners. Frequency of behavioral problems in 167 cats attending Small Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, was evaluated using a questionnaire. According to the results, 94.6% of owners reported that their cats have exhibited at least one undesirable behavior. Fearfulness, attention seeking, aggression towards other cats/people, scratching, and elimination problems were the most prevalent behavioral complaints reported by the owners; whereas obsessive behaviors were the least common behavioral complaints. In addition, data analysis suggested that age, breed, outdoor access, owner reaction towards the behavior and the cat’s interaction with other cats/people might have been associated with the development of some behavioral problems in cats. Considerable rate of undesirable behaviors in domestic cats in Iran is important enough to highlight the significance of veterinary intervention.