Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short and Long-Term Effects of Baccharis articulata on Glucose Homeostasis

In this study, the in vivo effect of the crude extract and n-butanol and aqueous residual fractions of Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers. on serum glucose levels, insulin secretion and liver and muscle glycogen content, as well as in vitro action on serum intestinal disaccharidase activity and albumin glycation were investigated. Oral administration of the extract and fractions reduced glycemia in hyperglycemic rats. Additionally, the n-butanol fraction, which has high flavonoids content, stimulated insulin secretion, exhibiting an insulinogenic index similar to that of glipizide. Also, the n-butanol fraction treatment significantly increased glycogen content in both liver and muscle tissue. In vitro incubation with the crude extract and n-butanol and aqueous residual fractions inhibited maltase activity and the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Thus, the results demonstrated that B. articulata exhibits a significant antihyperglycemic and insulin-secretagogue role. These effects on the regulation of glucose homeostasis observed for B. articulata indicate potential anti-diabetic properties.
Genome-Wide Identification of Binding Sites Defines Distinct Functions for Caenorhabditis elegans PHA-4/FOXA in Development and Environmental Response

Transcription factors are key components of regulatory networks that control development, as well as the response to environmental stimuli. We have established an experimental pipeline in Caenorhabditis elegans that permits global identification of the binding sites for transcription factors using chromatin immunoprecipitation and deep sequencing. We describe and validate this strategy, and apply it to the transcription factor PHA-4, which plays critical roles in organ development and other cellular processes. We identified thousands of binding sites for PHA-4 during formation of the embryonic pharynx, and also found a role for this factor during the starvation response. Many binding sites were found to shift dramatically between embryos and starved larvae, from developmentally regulated genes to genes involved in metabolism. These results indicate distinct roles for this regulator in two different biological processes and demonstrate the versatility of transcription factors in mediating diverse biological roles.
Electronic Program Guide for RF Fed TV Channels

Electronic Program Guide (EPG) is a feature where the program schedule of the channel is shown as a blended text over the video of the channel user is viewing. In case of STB the hardware is aware of which channel it is tuned to and so its possible to show EPG information easily. But in India where, still 93% of total TV viewers are watching TV from Radio Frequency fed cable, it becomes a challenge to provide EPG, this is because the service providers do not telecast a particular channel in a particular frequency. So in such a scenario, it is not possible to provide EPG easily. In this paper authors have proposed a system that facilitates showing EPG information even in case of RF fed TV. This works by recognizing the channel by identifying the logo of the channel. After the channel is identified, the EPG is obtained by looking up the URL of the particular channel. The EPG is obtained from the URL. The EPG is finally rendered on the video of the channel. The system is developed on a DSP platform that can recognize the channel within a delay of 2 seconds after changing the channel. The system works with 100% accuracy for the channels whose channel logos never disappear from the video. The system cannot work when there is no channel logo in the video which sometimes happen in India when advertisements are shown.
Subclinical Vascular Brain Damage, Vascular Risk Factors, and Depression in Successful Cognitive Aging

of a dissertation at the University of Miami. Dissertation supervised by Professor Lora E. Fleming. No. of pages in text. (142) Currently, about one in every eight Americans is age 65 or older; by the year 2050, it will be one in five people. Given this “graying” of the population, research into successful aging is of increasing relevance. The question of how to precisely define successful aging, however, has not been completely answered. Likewise, the role of vascular risk factors, subclinical vascular brain damage, and other biopsychosocial characteristics in normal cognitive aging are not well understood. This Dissertation focused on the identification of some of the physiological, behavioral, and social risk factors that distinguish people able to maintain extraordinary health at an advanced age. Specifically, we aimed to create an ecologically valid definition of successful aging that incorporates both physical well-being and cognitive abilities, and to report the prevalence of successful cognitive aging in a population-based multi-ethnic cohort of older adults. We sought to describe how the prevalence varies by several sociodemographic and psychosocial determinants, and to investigate global vascular risk, depressive symptomatology, and MRI markers of subclinical vascular brain damage as correlates of successful cognitive aging. We observed the prevalence of successful cognitive aging to be 37% in the study sample (N=1,162) of a diverse racial/ethnic population in Northern Manhattan (NYC, NY). The prevalence decreased with increasing age; we did not observe any differences by racial/ethnic group, but did note a lower prevalence with lower socioeconomic status. Several social resources and selfreported quality of life were related to successful cognitive aging, and appeared more important than demographic variables alone. We found that the likelihood of successful cognitive aging decreases with increasing global vascular risk score, more severe depressive symptomatology, and greater white matter damage. The field of successful aging requires further study. Consideration of such biopsychosocial factors as socioeconomic status, social support, quality of life, and depressive symptoms alongside novel indicators of disease and disability including global vascular risk and white matter hyperintensity burden is essential. It may lead to a more robust definition of successful cognitive aging replete with opportunities to modify the aging process, as many of the factors investigated in this study are modifiable.
Are Koreans Prepared for the Rapid Increase of the Single-Household Elderly? Life Satisfaction and Depression of the Single-Household Elderly in Korea

Purpose. In Korea, it has been estimated that the number of the single-household elderly increased 45% from 2005 to 2010. This research was conducted to provide empirical resources for development of a community mental health program by an explorative investigation on depression, coping mechanism, and life satisfaction of a single-household elderly population. Design and Methods. This research applied a descriptive survey research design. Participants were 225 single-household elderlies residing in Seoul, Korea. The geriatric depression scale and the satisfaction with life scale were used to check the level of depression and life satisfaction of the participants. Results. Results showed that 46.3 percent of the participants were categorized as having light-to-severe level of depression, and 80.5 percent of the participants responded that they were dissatisfied with their lives. This research demonstrated that the level of depression and life satisfaction of the Korean single-household elderly is statistically significantly related to age and gender as well as coping resources and human resources. Implications. Current public health services in Korea for the single-household elderly are still lacking and require active support, intervention, and research to provide effective programs and services. Case management, counseling, and various programs based on Korean culture including support from family members and community-based assistance are recommended to help the vulnerable population.
Sorting of an internalized plasma membrane lipid between recycling and degradative pathways in normal and Niemann-Pick, type A fibroblasts

We examined the metabolism and intracellular transport of a fluorescent sphingomyelin analogue, N-(N-[6-[(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4- yl)amino]caproyl])- sphingosylphosphorylcholine (C6-NBD-SM), in both normal and Niemann-Pick, type A (NP-A) human skin fibroblast monolayers. C6-NBD-SM was integrated into the plasma membrane bilayer by transfer of C6-NBD-SM monomers from liposomes to cells at 7 degrees C. The cells were washed, and within 3 min of warming to 37 degrees C, both normal and NP-A fibroblasts had internalized C6-NBD-SM from the plasma membrane, resulting in a punctate pattern of intracellular fluorescence. Rates for C6-NBD-SM internalization and transport from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane (recycling) were similar for normal and NP-A cells. With increasing time at 37 degrees C, internalized C6-NBD-SM accumulated in the lysosomes of NP-A fibroblasts, while normal fibroblasts showed increasing Golgi apparatus fluorescence with no observable lysosomal labeling. Since NP-A fibroblasts lack lysosomal (acid) sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), this result suggested that hydrolysis of C6-NBD-SM prevented its accumulation in the lysosomes of normal fibroblasts during its transport along the degradative pathway. We used the amount of C6-NBD- SM hydrolysis by A-SMase in normal cells as a measure of C6-NBD-SM transported from the cell surface to the lysosomes. After a lag period, C6-NBD-SM was delivered to the lysosomes at a rate of approximately 8%/h. This rate was approximately 18-19 fold slower than the rate of C6- NBD-SM recycling from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane. Thus, small amounts of C6-NBD-SM were transported along the degradative pathway, while most endocytosed C6-NBD-SM was sorted for transport along the plasma membrane recycling pathway.
Lapped nonlinear interpolative vector quantization and image super-resolution

This paper presents an improved version of an algorithm designed to perform image restoration via nonlinear interpolative vector quantization (NLIVQ). The improvement results from using lapped blocks during the encoding process. The algorithm is trained on original and diffraction-limited image pairs. The discrete cosine transform is used in the codebook design process to control complexity. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate improvements over the non-lapped algorithm in both observed image quality and peak signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the nonlinearity of the algorithm is shown to produce super-resolution in the restored images.
Factor structure of the parent perception of uncertainty scale in parents of children with cancer

The diagnosis of pediatric cancer still places families atrisk for psychosocial difficulties despite improving cure rates [1]. Parents of children diagnosed with cancer often experience considerable uncertainty. Illness uncertainty is defined as a cognitive stressor, or perceptual state of doubt, or loss of control that changes over time [e.g., 2], which arises in situations where illness-related outcomes are unpredictable, or there is insufficient information regarding severity and prognosis (see Wright et al., 2009 or Stewart et al., 2000 for reviews of the construct). Illness uncertainty is associated with psychological distress in parents of children with a chronic illness and is a salient predictor of adjustment outcomes (e.g., depression) across chronic illnesses [3,4] and has been the target of recent intervention work [5]. Illness uncertainty in parents is typically measured with the Parental Perception of Uncertainty Scale (PPUS) [6]. The original factor analysis conducted by Mishel [7] was validated within a heterogeneous sample of hospitalized children using principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation. A four-factor solution (i.e., ambiguity, lack of clarity, lack of information, and unpredictability) was chosen on the basis of theoretical interpretability [7]. Considerable research supports illness uncertainty and its linkage to parental adjustment [e.g., 6,3]; however, no studies to our knowledge have examined the psychometric properties of the PPUS since its original development. Recent advancements in oncology treatment, including improvements in diagnostic ability and treatment approaches, may have impacted parental perceptions of their child’s illness, thereby potentially changing the experience of uncertainty. Further, documenting the factor structure of illness uncertainty (e.g., lack of information) can inform specific target areas for future psychosocial interventions. Thus, a new investigation of the utility of the PPUS among parents of children diagnosed with cancer is warranted. The current study examined the factor structure of the PPUS in parents of children diagnosed with cancer and also examined convergent validity of the PPUS.
Psychophysical investigation of facial expressions using computer animated faces

The human face is capable of producing a large variety of facial expressions that supply important information for communication. As was shown in previous studies using unmanipulated video sequences, movements of single regions like mouth, eyes, and eyebrows as well as rigid head motion play a decisive role in the recognition of conversational facial expressions. Here, flexible but at the same time realistic computer animated faces were used to investigate the spatiotemporal coaction of facial movements systematically. For three psychophysical experiments, spatiotemporal properties were manipulated in a highly controlled manner. First, single regions (mouth, eyes, and eyebrows) of a computer animated face performing seven basic facial expressions were selected. These single regions, as well as combinations of these regions, were animated for each of the seven chosen facial expressions. Participants were then asked to recognize these animated expressions in the experiments. The findings show that the animated avatar in general is a useful tool for the investigation of facial expressions, although improvements have to be made to reach a higher recognition accuracy of certain expressions. Furthermore, the results shed light on the importance and interplay of individual facial regions for recognition. With this knowledge the perceptual quality of computer animations can be improved in order to reach a higher level of realism and effectiveness.
Single cell PCR amplification of diatoms using fresh and preserved samples

Single cell Chelex® DNA extraction and nested PCR amplification were used to examine partial gene sequences from natural diatom populations for taxonomic and phylogenetic studies at and above the level of species. DNA was extracted from cells that were either fresh collected or stored in RNAlater. Extractions from Lugol's fixation were also attempted with limited success. Three partial gene sequences (rbcL, 18S, and psbA) were recovered using existing and new primers with a nested or double nested PCR approach with amplification and success rates between 70 and 96%. An rbcL consensus tree grouped morphologically similar specimens and was consistent across the two primary sample treatments: fresh and RNAlater. This tool will greatly enhance the number of microscopic diatom taxa (and potentially other microbes) available for barcoding and phylogenetic studies. The near-term increase in sequence data for diatoms generated via routine single cell extractions and PCR will act as a multiproxy validation of longer-term next generation genomics.
Restriction Site-dependent PCR: An Efficient Technique for Fast Cloning of New Genes of Microorganisms

Abstract New bioactive proteins need to be screened from various microorganisms for the increasing need for industrial and pharmaceutical peptide, proteins, or enzymes. A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, restriction site-dependent PCR (RSD-PCR), was designed for rapid new genes cloning from genomic DNA. RSD-PCR strategy is based on these principles: (i) restriction sites disperse throughout genomes are candidacy for universal pairing; (ii) a universal primer is a combination of a 3′-end of selected restriction sites, and a 5′-end of degenerated sequence. A two-round PCR protocol was designed and optimized for the RSD-PCR: amplify the single strand target template from genomic DNA by a specific primer and amplify the target gene by using the specific primer and one of the universal RSD-primers. The optimized RSD-PCR was successfully applied in chromosome walking using specific internal primers, and cloning of new genes using degenerated primers derived from NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of protein.
A constructive approach for nonlinear system identification using multilayer perceptrons

This paper combines a conventional method of multivariable system identification with a dynamic multi-layer perceptron (MLP) to achieve a constructive method of nonlinear system identification. The class of nonlinear systems is assumed to operate nominally around an equilibrium point in the neighborhood of which a linearized model exists to represent the system, although normal operation is not limited to the linear region. The result is an accurate discrete-time nonlinear model, extended from a MIMO linear model, which captures the nonlinear behavior of the system.
PERSPECTIVE - Collective Intelligence in the Organization of Science

Whereas some suggest that consensus is the desirable end goal in fields of science, this paper suggests that the existing literature on collective intelligence offers key alternative insights into the evolution of knowledge in scientific communities. Drawing on the papers in this special issue, we find that the papers fall across a spectrum of convergent, divergent, and reflective activities. In addition, we find there to be a set of ongoing theoretical tensions common across the papers. We suggest that this diversity of activities and ongoing theoretical tensions---both signs of collective intelligence---may be a far more appropriate measure than consensus of the health of a scientific community.
Reinforcement Learning for Weakly-Coupled MDPs and an Application to Planetary Rover Control

Weakly-coupled Markov decision processes can be decomposed into subprocesses that interact only through a small set of bottleneck states. We study a hierarchical reinforcement learning algorithm designed to take advantage of this particular type of decomposability. To test our algorithm, we use a decision-making problem faced by autonomous planetary rovers. In this problem, a Mars rover must decide which activities to perform and when to traverse between science sites in order to make the best use of its limited resources. In our experiments, the hierarchical algorithm performs better than Q-learning in the early stages of learning, but unlike Q-learning it converges to a suboptimal policy. This suggests that it may be advantageous to use the hierarchical algorithm when training time is limited.
Amputation following internal fixation of an ankle fracture via the posterolateral approach – a case report

© 2016 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis on behalf of the Nordic Orthopedic Federation. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) DOI 10.1080/17453674.2016. 1262679 A 39-year-old previously healthy woman sustained a dislocated trimalleolar ankle fracture as a result of a low-energy twisting injury. The fracture was reduced and stabilized at the emergency department (Figure 1). After reduction, the foot was vital and sensation and motor function were normal. Because of the tendency of the ankle joint to dislocate posteriorly, we decided to fi x the posterior malleolar fracture with an anatomic locking plate through a posterolateral approach. The surgery went according to plan and postoperative radiographs were considered acceptable (Figure 1). However, during the fi rst postoperative day the patient developed severe pain in her foot that was unresponsive to pain medication. Sensation was impaired at the dorsal and plantar aspects of the foot. Active fl exion of toes was intact, but passive extension of the foot caused pain at the level of the ankle. The foot was warm, but neither the dorsalis pedis artery nor the posterior tibial artery was palpable or could be detected with Doppler ultrasound. Because of the absent distal pulses, a computed tomography angiography (CTA) was performed 24 h after surgery. The CTA revealed a bilateral dominant peroneal artery as the only artery supplying vascularity to the foot (Figure 2). However, vascular occlusion was not evident on CTA. Because of the intense pain, urgent revision surgery was done 36 h after primary surgery. During the surgery, a sural nerve entrapment in the subcutaneous sutures was observed. The nerve was liberated, the peroneal muscles were found to be vital, and there were no signs of compartment syndrome.
Fitting In and Feeling Good

Abstract This study examined self-evaluation (self-esteem, perceived physical attractiveness, and perceived social competence) and indicators of psychological stress (physical and somatic symptoms of depression and substance use) among 463 adolescent biracial girls from three different backgrounds: Black-White, Hispanic-White, and Asian-White. Patterns of self-evaluation and psychological stress were examined as a function of both parentage and self-identification as either White or non-White. Biracial girls were compared with nonbiracial girls on all variables. Results indicated that outcomes vary as a function of parentage and ethnic self-identification and that there is broad variability among biracial girls from different backgrounds.
A novel boosting algorithm for multi-task learning based on the Itakuda-Saito divergence

In this paper, we propose a novel multi-task learning algorithm based on an ensemble learning method. We consider a specific setting of the multi-task learning for binary classification problems, in which features are shared among all tasks and all tasks are targets of performance improvement. We focus on a situation that the shared structures among dataset are represented by divergence between underlying distributions associated with multiple tasks. We discuss properties of the proposed method and investigate validity of the proposed method with numerical experiments.
Examining the role of goals and motives for physical activity and eating behaviour in commercial weight-loss program participants

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between physical activity and healthy eating behaviour with the participant's motives and goals for each health behaviour. Methods: Participants (N= 121; 93.2% female) enrolled in commercial weightloss programs at the time of data collection, completed self-reported instruments using a web-based interface that were in accordance with Deci and Ryan's (2002) Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Results: Multiple linear regression models revealed that motivation and goals collectively accounted for between 0.21 to 0.29 percent and 0.03 to 0.16 percent of the variance in physical and healthy eating behaviours in this sample. In general, goals regarding either behaviour did not appear to have strong predictive relationships with each health behaviour beyond the contributions of motives. Discussion: Overall, findings from this study suggest that motives seem to mattermore than goals for both physical activity and healthy eating behaviour in clientele of commercial weight-loss programs. Therefore commercial weight-loss program implementers may want to consider placing more attention on motives I than goals for their clientele when designing weight-loss and weight-maintenance initiatives.