Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impulsiveness and video game addiction

espanolLa impulsividad ha sido asociada con el abuso de drogas y las adicciones comportamentales. La impulsividad puede modular el desarrollo de la adiccion a los videojuegos. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar la relacion entre impulsividad, la frecuencia e intensidad de uso de videojuegos y la adiccion a los videojuegos. Un total de 411 adolescentes de 12 a 16 anos de edad, cumplimentaron la escala GASA (Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents), la Escala de Impulsividad de Plutchik y un cuestionario sobre la conducta de juego. Los analisis descriptivos de la conducta de juego revelaron diferencias de genero, por lo tanto se adopto un enfoque de genero. Los resultados indican que la impulsividad esta asociada a la adiccion a los videojuegos en ambos generos y mantiene relacion unicamente con el tiempo dedicado a los videojuegos en dias laborales. Atendiendo a los resultados, la impulsividad es un factor a considerar en el desarrollo de adiccion a video juegos. Por lo tanto, la impulsividad debe ser tenida en cuenta para explicar la conducta problematica de videojuegos, asi como e EnglishImpulsiveness has been associated with substance abuse disorders and behavioural addictions. Impulsiveness could play a role in the development of video game addictions. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between impulsiveness, amount of video gaming and addiction to video gaming. A total of 411 adolescents aged from 12 to 16 fulfilled GASA (Gaming Addiction Scale for Adolescents), the Plutchik Impulsiveness Scale and a videogame behaviour questionnaire. Descriptive analysis of videogame behaviour found gender differences, therefore analysis differentiate between genders. Results indicate that impulsiveness is associated with addiction to video games in both genders, and it appears to be related to time spent on video games only in weekdays. According to the results, impulsiveness is a factor to consider for understanding the development of addiction to video games. Thus, impulsiveness should be taken into account to explain problematic gaming behaviour as well as to design preventive and treatment interventions.
A Single Maturation Cleavage Site in Adenovirus Impacts Cell Entry and Capsid Assembly

Proteolytic maturation drives the conversion of stable, immature virus particles to a mature, metastable state primed for cell infection. In the case of human adenovirus, this proteolytic cleavage is mediated by the virally encoded protease AVP. Protein VI, an internal capsid cement protein and substrate for AVP, is cleaved at two sites, one of which is near the N terminus of the protein. In mature capsids, the 33 residues at the N terminus of protein VI (pVIn) are sequestered inside the cavity formed by peripentonal hexon trimers at the 5-fold vertex. Here, we describe a glycine-to-alanine mutation in the N-terminal cleavage site of protein VI that profoundly impacts proteolytic processing, the generation of infectious particles, and cell entry. The phenotypic effects associated with this mutant provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the multifunctional nature of protein VI. Based on our findings, we propose that the primary function of the pVIn peptide is to mediate interactions between protein VI and hexon during virus replication, driving hexon nuclear accumulation and particle assembly. Once particles are assembled, AVP-mediated cleavage facilitates the release of the membrane lytic region at the amino terminus of mature VI, allowing it to lyse the endosome during cell infection. These findings highlight the importance of a single maturation cleavage site for both infectious particle production and cell entry and emphasize the exquisite spatiotemporal regulation governing adenovirus assembly and disassembly. IIMPORTANCE Postassembly virus maturation is a cornerstone principle in virology. However, a mechanistic understanding of how icosahedral viruses utilize this process to transform immature capsids into infection-competent particles is largely lacking. Adenovirus maturation involves proteolytic processing of seven precursor proteins. There is currently no information for the role of each independent cleavage event in the generation of infectious virions. To address this, we investigated the proteolytic maturation of one adenovirus precursor molecule, protein VI. Structurally, protein VI cements the outer capsid shell and links it to the viral core. Functionally, protein VI is involved in endosome disruption, subcellular trafficking, transcription activation, and virus assembly. Our studies demonstrate that the multifunctional nature of protein VI is largely linked to its maturation. Through mutational analysis, we show that disrupting the N-terminal cleavage of preprotein VI has major deleterious effects on the assembly of infectious virions and their subsequent ability to infect host cells.
Paeoniflorin attenuates CLP-induced acute liver injury by activating Nrf 2 / γ-GCS in rats

Objective: Acute liver injury (ALI) is a common and serious complication of sepsis. The imbalance between oxidation and anti-oxidation plays an important role in sepsis-induced ALI. Recent studies suggest that paeoniflorin (PF) may serve as an antioxidant. Nrf2-ARE signal pathway is known as an important anti-oxidative system. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of PF on sepsis-induced ALI in which the role of Nrf2 was explored. Methods: Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham group, sepsis group and PF group (n=12 per group). Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In PF group, rats were intraperitoneally rejected with PF at 90 mg/kg following CLP. The survival was determined within 48 h. At 6 h after treatment, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), MDA content and SOD activity were measured and the liver was harvested for the Western blot assay and real time PCR of Nrf2 and γ-GCS expressions. Results: Our results indicated that the survival rate within 48 h increased significantly, the serum ALT and malondialdehyde (MDA) reduced markedly, the serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased remarkably and the mRNA and protein expressions of nucleus Nrf2 and γ-GCS in the liver were increased significantly in PF group as compared to sepsis group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PF is able to protect against sepsis induced ALI via modulating Nrf2 signaling pathway.
Intercropping Halophytes to Mitigate Salinity Stress in Watermelon

Saline irrigation water can lead to salt buildup and reduced crop yields. Halophytic plants are known to accumulate excess salts in tissues, removing them from the immediate environment. This two-phase experiment explored the feasibility of intercropping watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. and Nakai var. lanatus) with halophytic species to mitigate the negative effects of saline irrigation water while providing a value-added crop. In the first experiment, six greenhouse-grown species were irrigated with water that was either deionized (0 dS m−1) or contained 3 or 6 dS m−1 of salts for 41 days and screened for growth and salt removal. Two halophytes were selected to be additively intercropped with watermelon under field conditions and irrigated with the same saline irrigation levels as the first experiment. Results indicated that garden orache (Atriplex hortensis L.) exhibited the highest growth rates and purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) accumulated high amounts of sodium in plant tissues under saline irrigation. The field experiment showed that watermelon yields, stem water potential, and fruit quality were not affected by saline irrigation; however, the watermelon/orache intercropping treatment had significantly higher yields. These results suggest intercropping with halophytes has the potential to contribute a value-added crop without reducing watermelon yields.
OUTPUT FEEDBACK NONLINEAR PREDICTIVE CONTROL -A SEPARATION PRINCIPLE APPROACH

Abstract Over the recent years many advances in the area of nonlinear model predictive control have been made. However, with respect to the output feedback problem and predictive control only a limited number of results are available. Most of the existing approaches do only guarantee local stability. In this note we propose the use of a high gain observer in combination with a sampled nonlinear predictive controller for a special MIMO system class. The resulting output feedback leads to semiglobal practical stability and recovery of performance of the state feedback controller. The results are valid for a wide class of NMPC schemes. Thus they can be considered as a special separation principle for NMPC.
CYTOTOXICITY STUDIES OF LASALOCID AND SILIBININ IN RAT HEPATOMA CELL CULTURE

The cytoprotective effect of silibinin in course of cytotoxicity induced by lasalocid had been measured in rat hepatoma FaO cell line. In the course of the study, MTT test (cellular metabolism), coomassie brillant blue binding test - CBB (total cellular proteins), and LDH release test (membrane integrity) were applied. In addition, changes in the cell morphology after 24 h treatment were observed by light microscopy. The effective concentrations, EC50 were quantified for each compound alone, whereas the nature of their co-action was assessed by isobologram plotting. Lasalocid EC50 ranged from 4 to 10 µM and microphotographs showed significant morphological changes of the cells after 24 h exposure. Silibinin EC50 ranged from 40 to 42 µM for MTT and CBB assays, and 63 µM for LDH assay, and no significant morphological changes occurred. When lasalocid EC50 was used in combination with silibinin in 1-250 µM concentrations, the EC50 values were plotted at 36 µM and 72 µM in MTT and LDH assays, respectively. Thus co-actions of the two drugs led to significant diminishing of lasalocid cytotoxicity in respect to cellular metabolism and membrane integrity. The isobolograms showed remarkable antagonistic effect of silibinin in the course of lasalocid cytotoxic action. Although a considerable interaction was concisely relevant to hepatoma cell line FaO, the promising results incline to extend the study on other in vitro models (primary hepatocytes), as well as to investigate in vivo the cytoprotective effect of silibinin against lasalocid in target animals.
Spatial and socio-demographic disparities of cancer morbidity in Nigeria: patterns and factors.

An analysis of cancer pattern among states in Nigeria was undertaken with a view to identify spatial variations and the associated factors which could aid in the allocation of health resources and intervention planning. Retrospective cancer data from 1987 to 1996 were retrieved from five national cancer registries in Nigeria which included the cancer patients’ age, gender, cancer site and residential area. In addition, socio demographic, environmental and pathogenic data used as explanatory variables were collected from secondary sources. Results showed that all cancer sites according to WHO classification were reported in Nigeria. The five leading cancer groups within the study period were breast, cervical, leukaemia/lymphoma, gastro-intestine and bone cancer (19–8%). At each of the cancer registries (zones), cancer occurrence varied in composition and magnitude. Cancer incidence varied significantly (P <0.05) among states; 70–125 in Oyo and Osun, and 15–40 in Enugu, Lagos, Ondo, Kwara, Ogun, Anambra, Imo and Abia state. There was positive correlation between cancer pattern and indices of urbanization, industrialisation and biomass energy utilisation in each state (R = 0.79–0.56) explaining between 31% to 63% (R2 =0.31–0.63) of the observed variation in specific cancer pattern. Further, inequality in the development level of the states influenced the cancer pattern. Socio-medical resources allocation for cancer control should thus take cognizance of the regional heterogeneous cancer profile in the country for optimum results. Keywords: cancer, cancer factors, cancer profile, morbidity, spatial variation of cancer, socio-medical resource allocation
Kinetics of pressure solution at halite‐silica interfaces and intergranular clay films

Pressure solution is widely regarded as a potentially important deformation mechanism along crustal faults and during aliagenesis, yet the mechanisms and kinetics of this process remain highly controversial. To better understand the fundamental factors controWing the rates of pressure solution at the grain-to-grain scale, we conducted experiments in which convex halite lenses were pressed against fiats of fused silica in brine. Fluid pressures were maintained at 0.1 MPa; temperatures and mean contact normal stresses ranged from 8.3 o to 90.2oC and 0.5 to 13.5 MPa, respectively. The geometry and growth rate of the contact spot between the two lenses and the rate at which the lenses approached one another (convergence) were monitored using reflected light interferometry and transmitted light photomicrography. Convergence occurred when halite and silica lenses were pressed together in brine (halite/silica experiments). No undercutting was observed, and dry control experiments indicated negligible dislocation creep. Convergence rates in experiments at 50.2oC ranged from 0.01 to 0.05/m/d, depending on mean normal stress and contact spot radius. The data are consistent with intergranular pressure solution (IPS) rate-limited by diffusion through an intergranular film with a very high diffusion coefficient ( 10 -5- 10 -7 cm2/s). The data further suggest that the diffusion coefficient and/or thickness of this film increases with decreasing normal stresses, at least for normal stresses less than about 4 MPa. As no island-channel boundary structures were observed, we propose that this film consists of a continuous layer of strongly adsorbed (i.e., structured) water that is maintained between the halite and silica lenses during deformation. Convergence rates in similar experiments conducted at a constant load of 0.11 N but at 8.3 o, 50.2 o, and 90.2oC were approximately constant at a given normal stress and contact spot size. The cause of this temperature insensitivity is unknown but might result from changes in interphase boundary structure or thickness with increasing temperature that are sufficient to offset the expected thermal activation. An experiment was also conducted in which a halite lens was pressed against a fused silica fiat coated with an 0.8-/m-thick film of Na-montmorillonite in brine. This clay film produced an approximately fivefold increase in convergence rates over those observed in a halite/ silica experiment conducted without clay at the same load and temperature. The strong sensitivity of IPS rates both to contact spot radius and to the presence of second phases along grain boundaries suggests that fine-grained, clay-rich fault gouges and multiphase granular aggregates should be particularly susceptible to pressure solution creep in the middle to upper crust.
The ‘DODO’ survey — I. Limits on ultra-cool substellar and planetary-mass companions to van Maanen's star (vMa 2)

We report limits in the planetary-mass regime for companions around the nearest single white dwarf to the Sun, van Maanen’s star (vMa 2), from deep J-band imaging with Gemini North and Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) mid-IR photometry. We find no resolved common proper motion companions to vMa 2 at separations from 3 to 45 arcsec, at a limiting magnitude of J ≈ 23. Assuming a total age for the system of 4.1 ± 1 Gyr, and utilizing the latest evolutionary models for substellar objects, this limit is equivalent to companion masses >7 ± 1 MJup(T eff ≈ 300 K). Taking into account the likely orbital evolution of very low mass companions in the post-main-sequence phase, these J-band observations effectively survey orbits around the white dwarf progenitor from 3 to 50 au. There is no flux excess detected in any of the complimentary Spitzer IRAC mid-IR filters. We fit a white dwarf model atmosphere to the optical BVRI, JHK and IRAC photometry. The best solution gives T eff = 6030 ± 240 K, log g = 8.10 ± 0.04 and, hence, M = 0.633 ± 0.022 M� . We then place a 3σ upper limit of 10 ± 2 MJup on the mass of any unresolved companion in the 4.5 μm band.
Cytokine-Regulated Eosinophil Migration in Inflammatory Disorders

Lampinen, M. 2000.Cytokine-regulated eosinophil migration in inflammatory disorders. Clinical and experimental studies. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine 971. 60 pp. Uppsala. ISBN 91-554-4849-6. The accumulation of eosinophil granulocytes (EOS) at sites of inflammation is a common feature of asthma, allergic rhinitis and inflammatory bowel disease. The aim of the present investigation was to study the mechanisms involved in this accumulation. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid obtained from patients with birch-pollen allergy during the season exhibited increased eosinophil chemotactic activity compared with pre-season BAL fluid from the same patients. We identified IL-5, IL-8 and RANTES as the main eosinophil chemotactic agents in the BAL fluid. Only EOS from allergic donors responded to IL-8. IL-2 inhibited albumin-stimulated eosinophil migration towards buffer or chemoattractants. EOS from allergic subjects were less sensitive to this inhibition than EOS from normal subjects, and in vitro priming of the EOS with IL-5 prevented the inhibitory effect of IL-2. We therefore hypothesise that IL-2 acts as an autocrine regulator of EOS migration, and that this inhibitory effect may be down-regulated in allergy, resulting in increased migration of EOS towards chemotactic factors. The stimulation of eosinophil migration by albumin is mediated by PI3 kinase. Decreased expression of CD49d and CD49f caused by albumin may decrease the adhesiveness of the EOS, which in turn may facilitate migration. We found higher chemotactic activity in perfusion fluids from patients with ulcerative colitis than from control patients. The chemotactic activity correlated with the concentrations of eosinophil granule proteins in the perfusion fluids. IL-5 and TNF-α were identified as two of the chemotactic agents in the perfusion fluid that were inhibited by steroid treatment. Agents with steroid-insensitive chemotactic activity remain to be identified.
Commentary (Ganti et al): Current Issues in Lung Cancer Screening

The role of screening in order to detect lung cancer at an earlier stage has been widely debated for the past 4 decades. In this review, Dr. Mulshine focuses on the current issues in lung cancer screening in light of the findings of the International Early Lung Cancer Action Project (I-ELCAP) As the article mentions, the diagnosis of lung cancer is often made at a stage when the disease is no longer amenable to cure. This is probably the most important cause for the dismal outcomes of patients with lung cancer overall.
Ice nucleating particles at a coastal marine boundary layer site: correlations with aerosol type and meteorological conditions

Abstract. Information on what aerosol particle types are the major sources of ice nucleating particles (INPs) in the atmosphere is needed for climate predictions. To determine which aerosol particles are the major sources of immersion-mode INPs at a coastal site in Western Canada, we investigated correlations between INP number concentrations and both concentrations of different atmospheric particles and meteorological conditions. We show that INP number concentrations are strongly correlated with the number concentrations of fluorescent bioparticles between −15 and −25 °C, and that the size distribution of INPs is most consistent with the size distribution of fluorescent bioparticles. We conclude that biological particles were likely the major source of ice nuclei at freezing temperatures between −15 and −25 °C at this site for the time period studied. At −30 °C, INP number concentrations are also well correlated with number concentrations of the total aerosol particles ≥ 0.5 μm, suggesting that non-biological particles may have an important contribution to the population of INPs active at this temperature. As we found that black carbon particles were unlikely to be a major source of ice nuclei during this study, these non-biological INPs may include mineral dust. Furthermore, correlations involving chemical tracers of marine aerosols and marine biological activity, sodium and methanesulfonic acid, indicate that the majority of INPs measured at the coastal site likely originated from terrestrial rather than marine sources. Finally, six existing empirical parameterizations of ice nucleation were tested to determine if they accurately predict the measured INP number concentrations. We found that none of the parameterizations selected are capable of predicting INP number concentrations with high accuracy over the entire temperature range investigated. This finding illustrates that additional measurements are needed to improve parameterizations of INPs and their subsequent climatic impacts.
Low Dose of IL-12 Stimulates T Cell Response in Cultures of PBMCs Derived from Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients *

Cancer induces tolerance by suppressing immune function, modulating the T helper activity and causing an imbalance of cytokines produced by T cells. IL-12 is an immune regulatory cytokine with potent anti-tumor activity and its signalling network leads to polarization of naive CD4 T cells into Th1. In pre-clinical studies, administration of recombinant IL-12 by intravenous injection or IL-12 plasmid DNA by intra-tumoral injection showed some anti-tumor effects, measurable immunological responses, but also important dose-dependent side effects. We investigated the ability of low doses of IL-12 to modulate the T cell subpopulations in cultures of PBMCs derived from Non Small Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients and to induce lysis of lung adenocarcinoma cells by T cells. PBMCs were stimulated with different doses of IL-12 and T cell phenotype was evaluated. IL-12 at 0.01 pg/ml significantly increased the number of CD4 and CD8 T cells, in particular of CD4/IFN producing cells. IL-12 did not stimulate T regulatory, but it increased the lysis of lung adenocarcinoma cells induced by T cells. Our results showed that low doses of IL-12 modulated T cell subpopulations in vitro and it increased their lytic activity on adenocarcinoma cells. Thus we hypothesize the use of low dose of IL-12 as a therapeutic tool against pathologies characterized by a T cell imbalance, in order to promote an immuno-modulation.
Centroid features for classification of armed/unarmed multiple personnel using multistatic human micro-Doppler

This study analyses the use of human micro-Doppler signatures collected using a multistatic radar system to identify and classify unarmed and potentially armed personnel walking within a surveillance area. The signatures were recorded in a series of experimental tests and analysed through short time Fourier transform followed by feature extraction and classification. Features based on singular value decomposition and on the centroid of the micro-Doppler signature are proposed and their suitability for armed versus unarmed classification purposes discussed. It is shown that classification accuracy above 95% can be achieved using a single feature. Features based on the centroid of the signatures are shown to be also effective in cases where there are two people walking together in the same direction and at similar speed, and one of them may be armed or not, i.e. for targets not easily separable in range or in Doppler.