Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genistein as Potential Therapeutic Candidate for Menopausal Symptoms and Other Related Diseases

Plant-derived compounds have recently attracted greater interest in the field of new therapeutic agent development. These compounds have been widely screened for their pharmacological effects. Polyphenols, such as soy-derived isoflavones, also called phytoestrogens, have been extensively studied due to their ability to inhibit carcinogenesis. These compounds are chemically similar to 17β-estradiol, and mimic the binding of estrogens to its receptors, exerting estrogenic effects in target organs. Genistein is an isoflavone derived from soy-rich products and accounts for about 60% of total isoflavones found in soybeans. Genistein has been reported to exhibit several biological effects, such as anti-tumor activity (inhibition of cell proliferation, regulation of the cell cycle, induction of apoptosis), improvement of glucose metabolism, impairment of angiogenesis in both hormone-related and hormone-unrelated cancer cells, reduction of peri-menopausal and postmenopausal hot flashes, and modulation of antioxidant effects. Additionally, epidemiological and clinical studies have reported health benefits of genistein in many chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis, and aid in the amelioration of typical menopausal symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. Although the biological effects are promising, certain limitations, such as low bioavailability, biological estrogenic activity, and effects on target organs, have limited the clinical applications of genistein to some extent. Moreover, studies report that modification of its molecular structure may eliminate the biological estrogenic activity and its effects on target organs. In this review, we summarize the potential benefits of genistein on menopause symptoms and menopause-related diseases like cardiovascular, osteoporosis, obesity, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and breast cancer.
Meaning-Centered Men’s Groups: Initial Findings of an Intervention to Enhance Resiliency and Reduce Suicide Risk in Men Facing Retirement

ABSTRACT Objectives: To assess the preliminary effectiveness of Meaning-Centered Men’s Groups (MCMG), a 12-session existentially-oriented, community-based, psychological group intervention designed to enhance psychological resiliency and prevent the onset or exacerbation of suicide ideation among men who are concerned about or struggling with the transition to retirement. Methods: We recruited 30 men (n= 10 per group), 55 years and older (M= 63.7, SD= 4.1) from community settings to participate in a course of MCMG to be delivered in a community center. Participants completed eligibility, pre-, mid-, and post-group assessments of suicide ideation and psychological risk and resiliency factors. Results: Participants experienced significant increases in attitudinal sources of meaning in life, psychological well-being, life satisfaction, retirement satisfaction, and general health, and decreases in depression, hopelessness, loneliness, and suicide ideation. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that MCMG is a novel men’s mental health intervention that may help to enhance psychological well-being and potentially reduce the severity or prevent the onset of symptoms of depression, hopelessness, and suicide ideation. Clinical Implications: Upstream psychological interventions may serve an important role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention with potentially vulnerable individuals facing challenging life transitions.
Disentangling genetic and environmental influences on children’s development: introducing a novel methodology

The present study describes a novel methodology to examine the interplay between genetic and environmental influences on children’s development. Families of children aged 4 – 10 years born by one of five methods of assisted reproductive technologies, specifically homologous in vitro fertilization (IVF), sperm donation, egg donation, embryo donation, and gestational surrogacy, were contacted through fertility clinics and mailed a set of questionnaires focusing on the quality of family interaction, parenting, marital satisfaction, parent and child psychological health, economic conditions and family demographics. Analyses are described that highlight the novelty of this research design to disentangle genetic, intrauterine and early social environmental influences on children’s development. First, results are described whereby comparisons were made between children born through assisted reproductive technologies and children conceived naturally in relation to patterns of association between levels of interparental conflict, parent-to-child hostility and children’s symptoms of depression. Second, results are described where comparisons were made between patterns of association between parent depressive symptoms, family relationship quality (interparental and parent-child relations) and children’s symptoms of depression. Finally, a strategy that allows examination of relative genetic and intrauterine environmental influences on children’s health and mental health outcomes is described. Results are discussed in relation to implications for development of future intervention and prevention programmes
Relationship of obstructive sleep apnoea severity and subclinical systemic atherosclerosis

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common form of sleep disordered breathing. Untreated OSA might accelerate atherosclerosis, potentially increasing the cardiovascular disease burden in patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between objectively measured OSA severity and the presence of subclinical systemic atherosclerosis using noninvasive measurements, including tomographic quantification of the calcium burden. A total of 2157 participants of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, who were free of structural heart disease and underwent both in-home polysomnography and chest computed tomography, were cross-sectionally analysed. Participants were divided into three groups based on the severity of OSA: no OSA (apnoea–hypopnoea index (AHI) <5 events·h−1, n=1096), mild OSA (AHI 5– <15 events·h−1, n=700) and moderate-to-severe OSA (AHI ≥15 events·h−1, n=361). Calcium deposits in the thoracic aorta and coronary arteries were measured by the Agatston score. Participants with moderate-to-severe OSA were 1.6 times (95% CI 1.18–2.15 times; p=0.002) more likely to have ascending thoracic aorta calcification (≥100 units) than those without OSA, after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, the association between moderate-to-severe OSA and ascending thoracic aorta calcification of subjects with higher epicardial fat volume was slightly stronger than that in patients without OSA and in the lowest epicardial fat volume tertile (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.30–3.43). Severity of OSA in the general population was independently associated with subclinical systemic atherosclerosis. These findings highlight the potential importance of severe OSA, especially in subjects with higher epicardial fat, as a possible predictive factor for systemic atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. In this large population-based study, obstructive sleep apnoea was associated with greater thoracic aorta calcification as early signs of cardiovascular disease, especially in patients with higher epicardial fat volume http://bit.ly/31v1jKV
Glycemic status and its effect in Neonatal Sepsis - A prospective study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Nepal

1Department of Pediatric, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal 2Department of Pharmacology, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal 3Department of Pharmacy, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal 4Department of Community Medicine, Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal More Information
Random regressions models to describe the genetic variation of milk yield in Holstein breed

Data comprising 68,523 test day milk yield of 8,536 cows of the Holstein breed, calving from 1996 to 2001, were used to compare random regression models, for estimating variance components. Test day records (TD) were analyzed as multiple traits, considering each TD as a different trait. The test day records were analyzed as longitudinal traits by different random regression models regarding the function used to describe the trajectory of the lactation curve of the animals. The Wilmink’s exponential function, the Ali and Schaeffer logarithmic function and the Legendre orthogonal polynomials of second and fourth order were used. The comparisons among the models were based on the following criteria: estimates of variance components of the multiple-trait model and random regressions models, values of residual variance and values of the logarithms of the likelihood functions. The heritability estimates obtained using the multiple-trait model varied from 0.110 to 0.244, for the random regression models the values ranged from 0.127 to 0.301, being the largest estimates observed in the models with larger number of parameters. The random regression models which used the Legendre polynomials was the model which better described the genetic variation of the milk yield.
Hypertension Induced by Aripiprazole Use in an Autistic Child Patient

Atypical antipsychotics in children and adolescents are widely used for aggression, emotional variability and psychosis treatment. Aripiprazole is also an atypical antipsychotic that increasingly used in children and adolescents with schizophrenia, autism and bipolar disorder. In this case report, a medically healthy patient with autism associated with behavioral problems is presented with the development of hypertension after the onset of aripiprazole and the return of blood pressure to normal levels after withdrawal of the drug. The purpose of this case study is to discuss and report the emergence of aripiprazole-induced hypertension as a side effect of drugs in children and adolescents.
The Value and the Risk of Aggregate Human Capital Implications From a General Equilibrium Model

This paper derives the value and the risk of aggregate human capital in a dynamic equilibrium production model. The model shows that, under parsimonious assumptions, the relationship between consumption growth and the ratio of wages to consumption is counter-cyclical. As a result, human capital is less risky than equity, implying that the risk premium of human capital is lower than that of equity. With lower expected returns than equity, human capital has a weight in the aggregate wealth portfolio that exceeds the ratio of wages to consumption. Calibrating the model, I find three key results. First, the weight of human capital in the aggregate wealth portfolio is 85%. Second, a portfolio invested 35% in equity and 65% in risk-free bonds approximately replicates aggregate human capital returns. Third, the covariance between equity returns and human capital returns is twice as large as the covariance between equity returns and wage growth. Based on the results of the model, I estimate human capital returns between 1959 and 2007 and conclude that this estimate of returns to human capital better explains the cross-section of asset returns than an estimate based on aggregate wage growth. ∗The financial support of the Batten Institute, the Dean Witter Foundation, and the White Foundation is gratefully appreciated. I thank Nigel Barradale, Jonathan Berk, Sebastien Betermier, Mario Capizzani, Jaime Cassasus, Pierre Collin-Dufresne, Stefano Corradin, Andrés Donangelo, Greg Duffee, Nicolae Gârleanu, Thomas Gilbert, Barney Hartman-Glaser, Sara Holland, Christine Parlour, Nishanth Rajan, Adam Szeidl, Carles Vergara-Alert, Johan Walden and participants at U.C. Berkeley’s finance seminar for helpful comments and suggestions. Any errors remain my own. †Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley. Email: palacios@haas.berkeley.edu. Phone: +1(510)717-6453. Address: S545, #1900, Berkeley, California, 94720-1900 (USA). http://faculty.haas.berkeley.edu/palacios
Decision-making of patients with major depressive disorder in the framework of action control

ABSTRACT Introduction: Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience dysfunctional emotional states and cognitive impairments, leading to behavioural, social, and functional issues. Neurocognitive theory proposes that the initiation and maintenance of MDD is primarily the result of a deficit of action control which in turn would lead to decision-making impairments. Methods: We assessed 27 medicated outpatients with MDD who were demographically matched with 16 healthy participants on decision-making (DM) processes (Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and Reversal Learning Task (RLT)), clinical variables (depressive symptoms and self-efficacy), and volition (Lille Apathy Rating Scale). Results: Patients with MDD displayed deficits on the IGT but not on the RLT. Correlational analysis of patients with MDD revealed no significant associations between IGT or RLT performance and volition, depressive symptom severity, and self-efficacy. However, differences on the IGT between patients with MDD and controls became non-significant when controlling for the variance of these scores. Conclusions: MDD appears to have an impact on dynamic DM processes, while basic processes are preserved. Limitations as well as directions for future research are discussed with regard to the neurocognitive model of depression.
Redescription of the marine ciliate Cardiostomatella vermiforme (Kahl, 1928) Corliss, 1960

Summary Cardiostomatella vermiforme , a large-sized loxocephalid ciliate, was found in the mesopsammon of the Saudi coast of the Red Sea at Jeddah, a biotope very similar to that, where Kahl (1928) discovered the type population. The morphology and infraciliature of C. vermiforme were studied in live and protargol-impregnated cells. The morphologic and morphometric data largely agree with the original description.
Very high resolution profiles of four diffuse interstellar bands

Ultra-high-resolution (R ∼ 300 000) profiles of four diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) are presented. The λλ 5797-, 5850-, 6196- and 6379- ˚ A DIBs were observed towards the reddened supergiant HD 24398, a line of sight free of Doppler splitting; thus the observed profiles can be considered as intrinsic to the DIB carriers. Three of the profiles show substructure which supports the hypothesis of a molecular origin for these DIBs.
Quality study of user activity using mobile device. Pan and touch & hold gestures

The article presents the results of a quality study of the gestures performed by the users of a mobile device. The mobile device was a Nokia Lumia 800 smartphone. The results of the study concern the basic gestures of pan and touch & hold, and include the duration and precision of such gesture performance. The results include the division of participating users into groups by age and by daily smartphone use and non-daily smartphone use. A comparison of the determined characteristics between the groups is presented.
Economic Growth, Economic Freedom, and Corruption: Evidence from Panel Data

Economic Freedom is considered to be conducive to growth while corruption is mostly found to be anti-growth. A related question could be whether Economic Freedom reduces the possible adverse effect of corruption on economic growth. Moreover, how are corruption and growth possibly affected by the major components of Economic Freedom? For example, a major element of economic freedom is Size of the Government which consists of taxes, among others. Income tax is considered as a levy on agent’s incentive to productive activity by reducing an agent’s property right. However, if revenue collected from taxes is used by the government in productive sectors then the adverse effect of taxes might decrease. On the other hand, negative effect of taxes on growth might be accentuated by higher degree of corruption. This paper examines the effects of corruption, economic freedom and its major components and their possible cross effects with corruption on economic growth. By using cross-country data and a panel estimation procedure it turned out that economic freedom was generally positively associated while corruption was negatively associated with growth though the result for the later is not robust. The influence on corruption seemed to decline in the presence of high degree of Economic Freedom. However, the findings were not as robust when components of Economic Freedom were considered separately.
ROOTING OF Leucadendron sp. (PROTEACEAE) EL ENRAIZAMIENTO DE Leucadendron sp. (PROTEACEAE)

Colombian flower growers are faced with economic and social problems, so they are looking for alternatives, which include Proteas, ornamentals that require research that ensures an appropriate, local technical management. One of the Proteas most likely to be involved in this search is the genus Leucadendron. Therefore, this study aimed to establish the best basis for rooting its cuttings. The experimental design was a split plot design with a factorial arrangement. Four substrates were evaluated in combination with two auxins, naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and indolebutiric acid (IBA), three doses each, plus a commercial control. Each treatment was repeated three times and the experimental unit consisted of 30 stakes at the first locality and 25 at the second one. The most relevant results showed that vermiculite was the best substrate for rooting cuttings of Leucadendron at both localities. Also, it was identified that IBA is the growth regulator which improved the rooting percentage, the root volume, the stem decreased the percentage of losses.
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of the Shear Behavior of Ultrahigh-Performance Concrete Construction Joints

Shear performance of plain UHPC (ultrahigh-performance concrete) construction joints is studied in both experimental and analytical ways. In push-off tests, three different contact surfaces of the construction joint were considered, while the case without any joint was provided for the reference. Test results indicate that the geometry of contact surfaces greatly affects shear performance of the construction joint. With simplifying structural behavior of contact surfaces and UHPC substrate, the finite-element analysis model is developed for every case studied by utilizing the ABAQUS software and validated against the test results. Agreement between experimental and numerical simulation results is excellent especially in terms of displacement, strength, and failure mechanism. It is expected that the present work provides a basis for further study on reinforced UHPC construction joints.
Lactobacillus hordniae, a New Species from the Leafhopper (Hordnia circellata)

A gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, originally thought by Auger (1974) to be the agent of Pierce's disease of grapevines, is commonly associated with Hordnia circellata, one of the leafhopper vectors of the disease. The bacterium has the following colonial and cellular characteristics: smooth, glistening white, or chalky colonies, 0.4 to 0.5 mm in diameter with entire margins; gram positive becoming gram variable after 5 days in culture; nonmotile and nonsporeforming; grows between 15 and 37°C with an optimum between 28 and 30°C and no growth at 9 or 45°C; optimum growth occurs at pH 6.5, with growth observed at pH 4.5 and pH 9.0. The bacterium does not survive after 5 to 7 days of growth and must be maintained on fresh medium. It is rod-shaped (0.6 by 1.5 to 2.0 μm), growing in short chains of three to four cells each, and possesses mesosomes and a cell wall of uniform thickness (28 to 35 nm) that consists of an electrondense outer layer and an inner layer resembling unit-membrane structure. The organism is a facultative anaerobe which reacts negatively in tests for cytochrome oxidase, catalase, “gelatinase,” urease, tryptophanase, and nitrate and disulfide reductase activities. No dextran or levan is produced from sucrose. It produces L-(+)-lactic acid but not D-(—)-lactic acid from glucose and sucrose fermentation, acetylmethylcarbinol, or arginine deaminase. Glucose, sucrose, galactose, maltose, fructose, trehalose, salicin, inulin, and cellobiose, but not gluconate, lactose, mannose, mannitol, sorbitol, melibiose, or raffinose, were utilized as carbon sources. Its chromosome has an average guanine-plus-cytosine content of 32.75 mol%. Based on these features, the bacterium appears to be a hitherto unrecognized species of the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus hordniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HC-1 (= ATCC 29071).
The Development, Growth, and Regeneration of the Crystalline Lens: A Review

ABSTRACT Purpose: This review aims to provide an understanding of the history of research on, the biological processes governing the different forms of, and an overview of more recent work on lens regeneration as they will likely prove vital in bringing the study of lens regeneration into the clinic.Methods: A review of the literature on lens regeneration research was conducted.Results: Lens regeneration is characterized by the regrowth or repair of the lens following the removal of either a portion or of the entire lens. A brief history of research on lens regeneration is provided, from the discovery in early antiquity of the ability of some animals to regenerate lost tissue, to the systematic cataloguing of the mechanisms of lens regeneration in the 19th century, until the more modern unraveling of the genetic and biochemical processes governing lens regeneration. The anatomy and physiology of the lens as well as the mechanisms by which the lens develops inform its regenerative capabilities by determining the processes that must occur in order to regrow a new lens or repair a damaged one. Lens regeneration occurs by one of several species-dependent methods: some amphibians can regrow a new lens after complete removal of the old one while some mammals can only repair a damaged lens. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms controlling the different types of lens regeneration.Conclusion: The development and growth of the intact lens influence the mechanisms that govern lens regeneration. Recent advances in the field have begun to apply concepts of the field in the clinic and have made significant progress towards realizing the goal of using lens regeneration to repair a damaged lens in the clinic.