Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synchrony in Old Age: Playing the Mirror Game Improves Cognitive Performance

ABSTRACT Objective Studies have shown that synchronized motion between people positively affects a range of emotional and social functions. The mirror-game is a synchrony-based paradigm, common to theater, performance arts, and therapy, which includes dyadic synchronized motion, playfulness, and spontaneity. The goal of the current study is to examine the effects of the mirror-game on subjective and cognitive indices in late life. Method Thirty-four older adults (aged 71–98) participated in a within-group study design. Participants conducted two sessions of 9-minute movement activities: the mirror-game and the control condition – a physical exercise class. Several measures were taken before and after experimental sessions to assess socio-emotional and attentional functions. Results The mirror-game enhanced performance on the attention sub-scale and led to faster detections of spoken words in noise. Further, it enhanced perceived partner responsiveness and led to an increase in positive reported experience. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that the mirror-game, rather than the exercise class, may have an immediate impact on mood and some attentional functions. Clinical implications The mirror-game is a novel intervention, with potential benefits of social-emotional and cognitive functioning, which can be easily implemented into the daily routine care of older adults. Future studies should explore the effect of the mirror-game on additional cognitive and socio-emotional aspects.
Analyzing gender inequality through large-scale Facebook advertising data

Significance We present the Facebook Gender Divide, an inexpensive, real-time instrument for measuring gender differences in Facebook access and activity in 217 countries. The Facebook Gender Divide captures standard indicators of Internet penetration and gender equality indices in education, health, and economic opportunity. We find that the tendency of countries to approach economic gender equality is negatively associated with a high Facebook Gender Divide. Our results suggest that online social networks, while suffering gender imbalance, may lower information access barriers for women and narrow the economic gender gap. Online social media are information resources that can have a transformative power in society. While the Web was envisioned as an equalizing force that allows everyone to access information, the digital divide prevents large amounts of people from being present online. Online social media, in particular, are prone to gender inequality, an important issue given the link between social media use and employment. Understanding gender inequality in social media is a challenging task due to the necessity of data sources that can provide large-scale measurements across multiple countries. Here, we show how the Facebook Gender Divide (FGD), a metric based on aggregated statistics of more than 1.4 billion users in 217 countries, explains various aspects of worldwide gender inequality. Our analysis shows that the FGD encodes gender equality indices in education, health, and economic opportunity. We find gender differences in network externalities that suggest that using social media has an added value for women. Furthermore, we find that low values of the FGD are associated with increases in economic gender equality. Our results suggest that online social networks, while suffering evident gender imbalance, may lower the barriers that women have to access to informational resources and help to narrow the economic gender gap.
Application of double network of gellan gum and pullulan for bone marrow stem cells differentiation towards chondrogenesis by controlling viscous substrates

Hydrogels have a large amount of water that provides a cartilage‐like environment and is used in tissue engineering with biocompatibility and adequate degradation rates. In order to differentiate stem cells, it is necessary to adjust the characteristics of the matrix such as stiffness, stress‐relaxing time, and microenvironment. Double network (DN) hydrogels provide differences in cellular biological behavior and have interpenetrating networks that combine the advantages of the components. In this study, by varying the viscous substrate of pullulan (PL), the DN hydrogels of gellan gum (GG) and PL were prepared to determine the cartilage differentiation of bone marrow stem cell (BMSC). The characteristics of GG/PL hydrogel were investigated by examining the swelling ratio, weight loss, sol fraction, compressive modulus, and gelation temperature. The viability, proliferation, and toxicity of BMSCs encapsulated in hydrogels were evaluated. Cartilage phenotype and cartilage differentiation were confirmed by morphology, GAG content, and cartilage‐specific gene expression. Overall results demonstrate that GG/PL hydrogels can form cartilage differentiation of BMSCs and can be applied for tissue engineering purposes.
Quantum interference among heavy NMSSM Higgs bosons

In the next-to-minimal supersymmetric standard model (NMSSM), it is possible to have strong mass degeneracies between the new singletlike scalar and the heavy doubletlike scalar, as well as between the singletlike and doubletlike pseudoscalar Higgs states. When the difference in the masses of such states is comparable with the sum of their widths, the quantum mechanical interference between their propagators can become significant. We study these effects by taking into account the full Higgs boson propagator matrix in the calculation of the production process of τ+τ- pairs in gluon fusion at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We find that, while these interference effects are sizeable, they are not resolvable in terms of the distributions of differential cross sections, owing to the poor detector resolution of the τ+τ- invariant mass. They are, however, identifiable via the inclusive cross sections, which are subject to significant variations with respect to the standard approaches, wherein the propagating Higgs bosons are treated independently from one another. We quantify these effects for several representative benchmark points, extracted from a large set of points, obtained by numerical scanning of the NMSSM parameter space, that satisfy the most important experimental constraints currently available.
Appropriate Dynamic-Stall Models for Performance Predictions of VAWTs with NLF Blades

This paper illustrates the relative merits of using Natural Laminar Flow (NLF) airfoils in the design of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT). This is achieved by the application of the double-multiple-streamtube model of Paraschivoiu to the performance predictions of VAWTs equipped with conventional and NLF blades. Furthermore, in order to clearly illustrate the potential benefit of reducing the drag, the individual contributions of lift and drag to power are presented. The dynamic-stall phenomena are modelled using the method of Gormont as modified by several researchers. Among the various implementations of this dynamic-stall model available in the literature, the most appropriate and general for NLF applications has been identified through detailed comparisons between predicted performances and experimental data. This selection process is presented in the paper. It has been demonstrated that the use ofNLF airfoils in VAWT applications can lead to significant improvements with respect to conventional design only in a very low wind speed range, the extent of which is negligible with respect to the VAWT operational wind speeds.
Mechanism of succinate efflux upon reperfusion of the ischaemic heart

Abstract Aims Succinate accumulates several-fold in the ischaemic heart and is then rapidly oxidized upon reperfusion, contributing to reactive oxygen species production by mitochondria. In addition, a significant amount of the accumulated succinate is released from the heart into the circulation at reperfusion, potentially activating the G-protein-coupled succinate receptor (SUCNR1). However, the factors that determine the proportion of succinate oxidation or release, and the mechanism of this release, are not known. Methods and results To address these questions, we assessed the fate of accumulated succinate upon reperfusion of anoxic cardiomyocytes, and of the ischaemic heart both ex vivo and in vivo. The release of accumulated succinate was selective and was enhanced by acidification of the intracellular milieu. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition, or haploinsufficiency of the monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) significantly decreased succinate efflux from the reperfused heart. Conclusion Succinate release upon reperfusion of the ischaemic heart is mediated by MCT1 and is facilitated by the acidification of the myocardium during ischaemia. These findings will allow the signalling interaction between succinate released from reperfused ischaemic myocardium and SUCNR1 to be explored.
Method for Producing Long-cane Blackberry Plants

The objective of this study was to evaluate primocane cane training and propagation techniques for the production of long-cane blackberry (Rubus spp.) plants. Seventeen to 29 6-ft-long canes were produced from each semierect ‘Triple Crown’ and trailing ‘Siskiyou’ blackberry plant grown on the rotating cross-arm (RCA) trellis and cane training system. By early August, the lateral canes had grown beyond the top wire 6 ft above the ground and continued growing downward to the ground. The tips of the lateral canes reached the soil level from mid-August to mid-September at which time they were placed in 1/2-gal pots containing peatbased media. In early Oct. 2009, the tip-rooted lateral canes were cut from the stock plant at the uppermost trellis wire. Among the long-cane plants produced in 2009, 76% of buds in ‘Siskiyou’ broke, but less than 30% of buds in ‘Triple Crown’ broke in a heated greenhouse. Flowering occurred in 15% of the shoots that developed on rooted ‘Siskiyou’ long canes, but the shoots on the long-cane plants of ‘Triple Crown’ were morphologically vegetative and flowering did not occur. In 2010–11, the long-cane plants were detached from the stock plants in December, January, and March. The numbers of nodes with a flowering shoot improved to 41% and 16% and the number of flowers per shoot increased to two and five flowers on long-cane plants of ‘Siskiyou’ and ‘Triple Crown’ blackberry, respectively.
Retinal Cell Biology Granulin 1 Promotes Retinal Regeneration in Zebrafish

Citation: Tsuruma K, Saito Y, Okuyoshi H, et al. Granulin 1 promotes retinal regeneration in zebrafish. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018;59:6057–6066. https://doi.org/ 10.1167/iovs.18-24828 PURPOSE. Retinal degenerative diseases can progress to severe reductions of vision. In general, the changes are permanent in higher vertebrates, including humans; however, retinal regeneration can occur in lower vertebrates, such as amphibians and teleost fish. Progranulin is a secreted growth factor that is involved in normal development and wound-healing processes. We have shown that progranulin promotes the proliferation of retinal precursor cells in mouse retinas. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role played by granulin 1 (grn1) in the retinal regeneration in zebrafish.
CLOVER IN BINARY MIXTURES WITH OATS , TRITICALE OR BARLEY FOR SILAGE AND LATE SEASON GRAZING

An experiment was conducted at northerly latitudes with berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L) in binary mixtures with oats (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack). The effects of cereal species, variety and density were assessed for a two cut harvest. Total dry matter yields were 11.7 to 14.5 t ha-1, with 7.8 to 10.2 t ha-1 as silage, and 2.0 to 6.0 t ha-1 as berseem regrowth. Berseem regrowth added an average of 4.0 t ha-1 in forage yield. Total yields did not differ with cereal type, but triticale mixtures had higher silage yields and lower regrowth yields than the other cereals. The silage yield of the 1⁄4 triticale mixture had the best combination of high yield (10.2 t ha-1) and high berseem component (23%). Early maturity of the barley allowed for a longer period of regrowth. The full rate of cereals was too competitive and greatly suppressed berseem initial growth and regrowth. Reducing the cereal density to 1⁄4 of the full rate, increased the percentage of berseem in yields, and increased the total yields of barley, AC Mustang oat and triticale mixtures. Intercropping of berseem clover with silage cereals shows promise as a means to extend the grazing season and increase total forage yields.
Application of different magnetic intensities for the treatment of landfill leachate in Egypt

Abstract Leachate produced from sanitary landfill should be treated before discharge into the environment, whereas it contains high concentrations of organic pollutants and high counts of pathogenic microorganisms. A bench-scale treatment unit was designed to study the effects of low-strength magnetic field on the physicochemical and bacterial properties of landfill leachate using three different magnetic intensities (120, 240 and 360 μT). Also, the effect of contact time was examined. Characterization of raw leachate showed high concentrations of organic pollutants and conductivity as well as high counts of both total bacterial count and total coliforms. The results showed the ability of magnetic force to improve the quality of leachate. Moreover, it was observed that, by increasing the magnetic intensity, the removal percent of pollutants increased. The magnetic force of 360 μT showed the maximum removal percent of 38.2, 30.5, 16.0, 32.7, 16.0, 45.2 and 41.2% of Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Total Suspended Solids, ammonia-nitrogen, conductivity, total bacterial count, and total coliforms, respectively. Depending on the obtained results, the magnetic force can be used as a clean, cheap and eco-friendly pre-treatment technology for the improvement of physicochemical and bacterial properties of landfill leachate.
Impact of side-hole geometry on the performance of hemodialysis catheter tips: A computational fluid dynamics assessment

Hemodialysis catheters are used to support blood filtration, yet there are multiple fundamentally different approaches to catheter tip design with no clear optimal solution. Side-holes have been shown to increase flow rates and decrease recirculation but have been associated with clotting/increased infection rates. This study investigates the impact of changing the shape, size and number of side-holes on a simple symmetric tip catheter by evaluating the velocity, shear stress and shear rate of inflowing blood. A platelet model is used to examine the residence time and shear history of inflowing platelets. The results show that side-holes improve the theoretical performance of the catheters, reducing the maximum velocity and shear stress occurring at the tip compared to non-side-hole catheters. Increasing the side-hole area improved performance up to a point, past which not all inflow through the hole was captured, and instead a small fraction slowly ‘washed-out’ through the remainder of the tip resulting in greater residence times and increasing the likelihood of platelet adhesion. An oval shaped hole presents a lower chance of external fibrin formation compared to a circular hole, although this would also be influenced by the catheter material surface topology which is dependent on the manufacturing process. Overall, whilst side-holes may be associated with increased clotting and infection, this can be reduced when side-hole geometry is correctly implemented though; a sufficient area for body diameter (minimising residence time) and utilising angle-cut, oval shaped holes (reducing shear stress and chances of fibrin formation partially occluding holes).
Stability and $L_2$ Synthesis of a Class of Periodic Piecewise Time-Varying Systems

In this paper, the stability, stabilization, and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>-gain problems are investigated for periodic piecewise systems with time-varying subsystems. Continuous Lyapunov function with time-varying Lyapunov matrix is adopted. A condition guaranteeing the negative definiteness of a matrix polynomial, deriving from the Lyapunov derivative, is first obtained. Based on such a condition, an exponential stability condition is provided. Moreover, a state-feedback controller with time-varying gain is developed to stabilize the unstable periodic piecewise time-varying system. The <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L_{2}$</tex-math></inline-formula>-gain criterion for periodic piecewise time-varying system is also studied. Numerical examples are given to show the validity of the proposed techniques.
Exposure to family and domestic violence is associated with increased childhood hospitalisations

Background Children’s exposure to family and domestic violence (FDV) is a global public health concern and is considered one of the most common and severe stressors children can experience. While it is acknowledged that children who are exposed to FDV have poorer general health, there is a lack of data on the outcomes of children exposed to FDV. The use of longitudinal data has been suggested as a way to gain an understanding of the impact on children’s long-term outcomes. Methods Our cohort study used deidentified individual-level linked administrative data of children born 1987–2010, in Western Australia, who were exposed to FDV in the prenatal period (12 months prior to birth) to five years of age (early years). Results Children exposed to FDV are more likely to be hospitalised than non-exposed children. Children exposed to FDV in both the prenatal and early childhood period had a threefold increased odds of mental health hospitalisation. We found a significant increase in odds of pregnancy-related hospitalisation in FDV exposed children. When stratified by Aboriginal status, Aboriginal children had a higher proportion of hospitalisations than non-Aboriginal children. Conclusion Exposed children have an increased likelihood for hospitalisation than non-exposed children. Within the exposed cohort differences were apparent between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. Aboriginal children had greater odds for hospitalisation in most of the diagnostic groups compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Our findings represent an important advance in the literature with respect to the burden of disease of children exposed to FDV.
Leaf and root bark extracts of Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst ex. A. Rich (Rhamnaceae) ameliorate hepatic, renal and splenic injuries induced by phenylhydrazine in rats

Abstract Objectives Ziziphus abyssinica (ZA) is employed in managing several ailments in Traditional African Medicine. Scientific evaluations are necessary to ascertain the medicinal potential of ZA as a source of new drug molecules. This study investigated the possible therapeutic benefit of ZA leaf (ZAL) and root bark (ZARB) extracts in an experimental model of multi-organ injuries induced by phenylhydrazine (PHZ). Methods Hyperbilirubinaemia, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and splenic injuries were induced by pretreating albino rats with PHZ (40 mg/kg, p.o.) for two alternate days. Afterward, six out of the eight groups of rats (n = 5) used were treated with either ZAL or ZARB (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for seven days. Naïve control rats received saline without PHZ whereas negative control group received saline after PHZ. After one week of treatment, rats were sacrificed and blood collected for assessment of haematological and biochemical parameters. Liver, kidney and spleen sections were processed for histology and examined under light microscope. Results Data indicate that PHZ significantly (p < 0.05) increased total bilirubin, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and BUN/creatinine ratio whereas red blood cell count was significantly reduced. These anomalies were significantly reversed in rats treated with ZAL or ZARB. The therapeutic effect of the extracts was supported by photomicrographs of the liver, kidney, and spleen of rats which revealed recovery from PHZ-mediated pyknosis, glomerular degeneration and multiple splenic necrosis respectively. Conclusions Overall, data from this study suggest that ZA may be useful in multiple organ injuries associated with PHZ-like xenobiotic toxicity.
Incorporating tree- and stand-level information on crown base height into multivariate forest management inventories based on airborne laser scanning

This study examines the alternatives to include crown base height (CBH) predictions in operational forest inventories based on airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. We studied 265 field sample plots in a strongly pine-dominated area in northeastern Finland. The CBH prediction alternatives used area-based metrics of sparse ALS data to produce this attribute by means of: 1) Tree-level imputation based on the k-nearest neighbor (k-nn) method and full field-measured tree lists including CBH observations as reference data; 2) Tree-level mixed-effects model (LME) prediction based on tree diameter (DBH) and height and ALS metrics as predictors of the models; 3) Plot-level prediction based on analyzing the computational geometry and topology of the ALS point clouds; and 4) Plot-level regression analysis using average CBH observations of the plots for model fitting. The results showed that all of the methods predicted CBH with an accuracy of 1–1.5 m. The plot-level regression model was the most accurate alternative, although alternatives producing tree-level information may be more interesting for inventories aiming at forest management planning. For this purpose, k-nn approach is promising and it only requires that field measurements of CBH is added to the tree lists used as reference data. Alternatively, the LME-approach produced good results especially in the case of dominant trees.
) Target Gather Resourses Gather Info Profile Target Misuse PhishTrick Break In ExploitInfect Access General Attack Data : Render Vulnerable Manipulate Data Transfer Data Steal Deface

This paper describes a new approach to detection and tracking of potential cyberattacks from analyzing large quantities of cyber-related webpage text, using ontological knowledge about such attacks combined with composable causal models represented in Probabilistic Soft Logic. The stages of a cyberattack kill chain are viewed as a sequence of both observed and unobserved events (e.g., reconnaissance, weaponize, exploit, install) and explicit mentions of, or related to, such events are examined as potential signals for a future attack. Using a suite of natural language processing techniques, sentences from input news texts are automatically classified according to the described cyberattack event, then enriched with named entity recognition for the rapid detection of key elements that might be associated with potential cyberattacks. We present our work as a framework for rapid and flexible predictive analysis of the ever-increasing amount of cyber-related text data, with initial experiments indicating that event detection using parsing and named entity recognition combined with statistical relational learning show promise in time-series prediction from news text.
Gabor Deconvolution Revisited Gabor Deconvolution Revisited

Gabor deconvolution has been updated and experience has been obtained on real data. The updates are (1) a new method of spectral smoothing called hyperbolic smoothing, (2) a Gabor transform using compactly supported windows that improves run times by one to two orders of magnitude (3) a post-deconvolution time-variant bandpass filter whose maximum frequency tracks along a hyperbola in the timefrequency plane. We discuss the technical details of these improvements and present a data example.