Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperforin Ameliorates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-Like Murine Skin Inflammation by Modulating IL-17A–Producing γδ T Cells

Hyperforin is a major active constituent of Hypericum perforatum L. extract, which is widely used for the treatment of depressive disorders. Recent studies have reported that hyperforin reduced inflammation in stroke and suppressed proliferation and differentiation in keratinocytes. Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease in which the IL-23/IL-17 axis plays an important role. To investigate the underlying inflammatory mechanisms and response of hyperforin in psoriasis, we use imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mice model, in vitro cultured murine splenic γδ T cells, and HaCaT cells in this study. Data showed that hyperforin reduced epidermal thickness and decreased IMQ-induced pathological scores of cutaneous skin lesions in mice. Meanwhile we proved that hyperforin suppressed infiltration of CD3+ T cells and downregulated expression of Il1, Il6, Il23, Il17a, Il22, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the skin lesion. Hyperforin significantly inhibited imiquimod-induced splenomegaly, reduced serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6, and IL-17A in splenocytes and draining lymph nodes. Our study also suggested that hyperforin lessened the infiltration of γδ T cell and CCR6+ γδ T cells in spleen and lymph nodes. Hyperforin also suppressed the typical psoriasis-like inflammatory responses and the infiltration of IL-17A+ cells in dermal γδ T cells of IMQ treated Tcrd −/− mice transferred with γδ T cells. In vitro studies, hyperforin reduced the expression and secretion of IL-17A in γδ T cells, and suppressed the activation of MAPK/STAT3 pathways in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells and γδ T cells. In conclusion, hyperforin alleviates IMQ-induced inflammation in psoriasis through suppressing the immune responses exerted by IL-17 A-producing γδ T cells and related cytokines by modulating MAPK/STAT3 pathways. Our study provided a novel therapeutic tragedy for psoriasis by which hyperforin attenuates psoriasis-related inflammatory responses.
A Rodent Model of Mild Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

In the brain of full-term newborns, Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a consequence of severe hypoxia and ischemia due to low cardiac output, is frequently observed and results in cerebral injuries with dramatic consequences for life. To investigate the physiopathology of HIE, several animal models have been developed, but none closely replicate human cases, mostly because they are based on a single carotid ligation protocol. In the present study we aimed to develop a novel and more accurate HIE model in juvenile (post-natal days (PND) 14–16) rats. For this, we induced a 9 min hypoxic cardiac arrest (CA) by stopping mechanical ventilation of intubated, ventilated and curarized rats followed by a cardiopulmonary resuscitation. To evaluate the consequences of the CA we performed radiological (cerebral MRI), behavioral (Open Field, Elevated Plus Maze, Fear Conditioning), and histological (Cresyl Violet and Fluoro-Jade B) testing on treated animals. We found that rats in the CA group developed an anxiolytic-like behavioral profile in adulthood without any locomotor impairment, nor memory deficits. However, MRI investigation performed early after CA failed to reveal any change in apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in brain tissue (including the hippocampus, striatum, and thalamus), suggesting no massive anatomical lesion had occurred. In contrast, signs of neurodegeneration were found in the Dentate Gyrus and the CA1 region of the hippocampus at day 1 post-CA, suggesting that the anxiolytic-like phenotype observed in adulthood could be related to an abnormal degeneration of this brain region beginning immediately after CA. Thus, our model, despite not representing a severe condition of HIE, nonetheless constitutes a potential model for studying mild, yet persistent and region-specific cerebral injury resulting from an acute oxygen deprivation.
Feelings of Parental Authenticity Moderate Concurrent Links Between Breastfeeding Experience and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

A negative breastfeeding experience is a contextual risk factor for the development of postpartum depressive symptoms among mothers. Many current interventions targeted at disrupting this association rely on the ability to make breastfeeding experiences positive. As a beginning step toward identifying alternative approaches, we investigated a potential psychological buffer of the negative relation between breastfeeding experience and symptoms of postpartum depression: feeling authentic in one's role as a parent. Authenticity appears to enhance well-being and buffer negative outcomes more generally, but has largely gone unaddressed in mothers, particularly during the critical peripartum period when depressive symptoms are at increased prevalence. We tested whether three facets of felt authenticity in the parent role (authentic living, acceptance of external influence, and self-alienation) moderated the association between satisfaction with breastfeeding experience and postpartum depressive symptoms in mothers (N = 92, 81% White, 85% non-Hispanic, college-educated, Mage = 30.49). We found that mothers who felt high in authentic living in the parent role showed fewer depressive symptoms when breastfeeding experiences were positive. In addition, we found that the association between negative breastfeeding experience and greater postpartum depression was mitigated when feelings of self-alienation in the parent role, or the sense that one is unaware of or disconnected from who “she really is” as a mother, were low. This work suggests that enhancing women's feelings of connectedness to “who they truly are” as a mother may be protective against some of the negative mental health effects linked to problems with breastfeeding.
Association of a Single-Item Self-Rated Diet Construct With Diet Quality Measured With the Alternate Healthy Eating Index

Background: A single-item self-rated diet measure (SRD) may provide a quick, low-burden screener. However, assessment of its validity is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association of an SRD construct with measured diet quality among adults in Puerto Rico (PR). Methodology: Participants (30–75 years old; n = 247) of the PR Assessment of Diet, Lifestyle, and Diseases (PRADLAD) cross-sectional study reported SRD with a single question (“How would you describe your current dietary habits and diet quality? ”) with a five-point scale: excellent to poor. More complete diet quality was calculated using the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI), with 11 food and nutrient components assessed by the food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable general linear models were used to test associations between SRD with AHEI and its components. Associations were also tested between recall SRD in youth and current AHEI. Results: Most participants (35.2%) self-rated diet as “good,” 13.8% as “excellent,” and 4.1% as “poor,” with the remainder split between middle scale points. SRD was not significantly associated with AHEI, although participants with “excellent” vs. “poor” SRD had marginally higher AHEI (P = 0.07). SRD was significantly associated with higher fruit intake (P = 0.02) and marginally associated with intakes of vegetables (P = 0.07) and long-chain fatty acids (P = 0.07). Unexpectedly, AHEI was significantly higher among those reporting “poor” SRD in young adulthood (P = 0.01) or childhood (P = 0.05). Conclusions: SRD may capture current diet quality at extreme intakes. Larger studies should confirm these findings and replicate them in other underrepresented populations. Further research should clarify the inverse associations between adult AHEI and earlier reported SRD.
Association vs. Prediction: The Impact of Cortical Surface Smoothing and Parcellation on Brain Age

Association and prediction studies of the brain target the biological consequences of aging and their impact on brain function. Such studies are conducted using different smoothing levels and parcellations at the preprocessing stage, on which their results are dependent. However, the impact of these parameters on the relationship between association values and prediction accuracy is not established. In this study, we used cortical thickness and its relationship with age to investigate how different smoothing and parcellation levels affect the detection of age-related brain correlates as well as brain age prediction accuracy. Our main measures were resel numbers—resolution elements—and age-related variance explained. Using these common measures enabled us to directly compare parcellation and smoothing effects in both association and prediction studies. In our sample of N = 608 participants with age range 18–88, we evaluated age-related cortical thickness changes as well as brain age prediction. We found a negative relationship between prediction performance and correlation values for both parameters. Our results also quantify the relationship between delta age estimates obtained based on different processing parameters. Furthermore, with the direct comparison of the two approaches, we highlight the importance of correct choice of smoothing and parcellation parameters in each task, and how they can affect the results of the analysis in opposite directions.
Nicotine and Cognition in Cognitively Normal Older Adults

The cholinergic system has been shown to be the primary neurotransmitter system which is responsible for the cognitive symptoms associated with dementia; its role in healthy non-demented older adults remains a gap in the literature. Understanding the effects of age-related functional changes on the nicotinic system will address this knowledge gap. As the older adult population grows and hence the importance of understanding cognitive changes that impact functional abilities and everyday life. In this article we examine the benefits of using nicotine as a method for improving cognition in non-demented healthy older adults which may have the potential for slowing neurodegeneration in aging. Furthermore, we discuss how nicotine can play a crucial role in maintaining cognitive abilities throughout normal cognitive aging.
Handwashing Message Type Predicts Behavioral Intentions in the United States at the Beginning of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

Handwashing has been widely recommended to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Despite this, handwashing behavior remains low in the general public. Social marketing has been employed as a successful health promotion strategy for changing many health behaviors in the past. The present study examines if message framing influences the effectiveness of a handwashing health promotion messages at the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a between-subjects cross-sectional experiment, participants (N = 344) in the United States were randomly assigned to view one of four handwashing messages or a control message before completing self-report measures of attitudes, emotions, readiness to change, and behavioral intentions around handwashing. Simple handwashing messages were presented with different framings, including a simple exchange message, a gain message, a social norm appeal, and a guilt appeal. Results revealed that message type influenced handwashing behavioral intentions and emotions. Post-hoc comparisons revealed that the simple exchange message produced significantly higher intentions than other messages and that only the simple exchange message significantly differed from the control message on emotions regarding handwashing. Mediational analyses showed handwashing emotions fully mediated the relationship between messaging and handwashing intentions. This mediation effect was moderated by age, such that it occurred for the younger and middle age participants, but not older participants. These results suggest that even simple, brief, and easily conveyable messages can positively impact behavioral intentions around handwashing during the early stages of a health crisis. Consistent with recent research comparing affective and cognitive pathways for health behavior, the mediational analysis suggests that effect of the simple exchange message on intentions was due to increased positive emotions around handwashing.
Dispersion and agglomeration mechanism of flaky graphite particles in aqueous solution

ABSTRACT The dispersion and agglomeration behavior of flaky graphite particles in an aqueous solution was studied. The small particles of flaky graphite naturally formed a large and compact agglomeration in an aqueous solution at pH 7.0 and 9.0, respectively. The theoretical calculation result based on typical DLVO theory was opposite the phenomenon observed by optical microscope, indicating that the interaction force between the flaky graphite particles exceeded the van der Waals and electrostatic double-layer forces. When the extended DLVO theory was used, the total interaction energy (UT = UA + UR + UHI) was negative over most of the distance range, indicating that the agglomeration of the small particles was attributed to the attraction. This result indicated that hydrophobic interactions dominated the dispersion and agglomeration behavior of the hydrophobic flaky graphite particles. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
New Targets in Heart Failure Drug Therapy

Despite recent advances in chronic heart failure management (either pharmacological or non-pharmacological), the prognosis of heart failure (HF) patients remains poor. This poor prognosis emphasizes the need for developing novel pathways for testing new HF drugs, beyond neurohumoral and hemodynamic modulation approaches. The development of new drugs for HF therapy must thus necessarily focus on novel approaches such as the direct effect on cardiomyocytes, coronary microcirculation, and myocardial interstitium. This review summarizes principal evidence on new possible pharmacological targets for the treatment of HF patients, mainly focusing on microcirculation, cardiomyocyte, and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Development and Validation of a Novel Prognostic Model for Acute Myeloid Leukemia Based on Immune-Related Genes

The prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is closely related to immune response changes. Further exploration of the pathobiology of AML focusing on immune-related genes would contribute to the development of more advanced evaluation and treatment strategies. In this study, we established a novel immune-17 signature based on transcriptome data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. We found that immune biology processes and transcriptional dysregulations are critical factors in the development of AML through enrichment analyses. We also formulated a prognostic model to predict the overall survival of AML patients by using LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) regression analysis. Furthermore, we incorporated the immune-17 signature to improve the prognostic accuracy of the ELN2017 risk stratification system. We concluded that the immune-17 signature represents a novel useful model for evaluating AML survival outcomes and may be implemented to optimize treatment selection in the next future.
When to Hedge in Interactive Services

In online data-intensive (OLDI) services, each client request typically executes on multiple servers in parallel; as a result, “system hiccups”, although rare within a single server, can interfere with many client requests and cause violations of service-level objectives. Service providers have long been fighting this “tail at scale” problem through “hedging”, i.e., issuing redundant queries to mask system hiccups. This, however, can potentially cause congestion that is more detrimental to tail latency than the hiccups themselves. This paper asks: when does it make sense to hedge in OLDI services, and how can we hedge enough to mask system hiccups but not as much as to cause congestion? First, we show that there are many realistic scenarios where hedging can have no benefit—where any hedging-based scheduling policy, including the state-of-the-art, yields no latency reduction compared to optimal load balancing without hedging. Second, we propose LÆDGE, a scheduling policy that combines optimal load balancing with work-conserving hedging, and evaluate it in an AWS cloud deployment. We show that LÆDGE strikes the right balance: first, unlike the state of the art, it never causes unnecessary congestion; second, it performs close to an ideal scheduling policy, improving the 99th percentile latency by as much as 49%, measured on 60% system utilization—without any difficult parameter training as found in the state of the art.
Breaking the Transience-Equilibrium Nexus: A New Approach to Datacenter Packet Transport

Recent datacenter transport protocols rely heavily on rich congestion signals from the network, impeding their deployment in environments such as the public cloud. In this paper, we explain this trend by showing that, without rich congestion signals, there is a strong tradeoff between a packet transport’s equilibrium and transience performance. We then propose a simple approach to resolve this tension without complicating the transport protocol and without rich congestion signals from the network. Our approach factors the transport into two separate components for equilibrium and transient handling. For equilibrium handling, we continue to use existing congestion control protocols. For transients, we develop a new underlay algorithm, On-Ramp, which intercepts and holds any protocol’s packets at the network edge during transient overload. On-Ramp detects transient overloads using accurate measurements of one-way delay, made possible in software by a recently developed time-synchronization algorithm. On the Google Cloud Platform, On-Ramp improves the 99th percentile request completion time (RCT) of incast traffic of CUBIC by 2.8× and BBR by 5.6×. In a bare-metal cloud (CloudLab), On-Ramp improves the RCT of CUBIC by 4.1×. In ns-3 simulations, which model more efficient NIC-based implementations of On-Ramp, On-Ramp improves RCTs of DCQCN, TIMELY, DCTCP and HPCC to varying degrees depending on the workload. In all three environments, OnRamp also improves the flow completion time of non-incast background traffic. In an evaluation at Facebook, On-Ramp significantly reduces the latency of computing traffic while ensuring the throughput of storage traffic is not affected.
Effect of tabs on transverse jet instabilities, structure, vorticity dynamics and mixing

Abstract This experimental study examined the effects of strategic positioning of tabs in the periphery of the exit plane of a transverse jet as a means of controlling shear layer instabilities and vorticity as well as jet structure and mixing. Conditions corresponding to a naturally absolutely unstable upstream shear layer (USL), with low jet-to-crossflow momentum flux ratios $J$ (below 8–9) and to a convectively unstable USL ($J\geq 20$) were explored for different jet Reynolds numbers, 1900 and 2300. Acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence imaging and stereo particle image velocimetry were utilized to explore the influence of the tab. Placement of the tab in the upstream region of the jet exit caused significant weakening of the USL instability at lower $J$, but with only marginal weakening for larger $J$ values. Yet tab placement was observed to affect cross-sectional structure and vorticity dynamics much more significantly at high $J$ values. For all flow conditions, tab placement in the upstream region improved molecular mixing to a greater degree than at other locations. Vorticity fields, proper orthogonal decomposition modes, and coefficient plots extracted from centreplane velocity field measurements showed significant influence of tab placement on jet dynamical characteristics depending on $J$. Tab locations with the greatest influence were consistent with wavemaker regions predicted in numerical simulations of the transverse jet (Regan & Mahesh, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 877, 2019, pp. 330–372), providing evidence for the potential to tailor shear layer rollup, jet structure and mixing via simple passive geometrical alterations.
Coupled oscillations of deformable spherical-cap droplets. Part 2. Viscous motions

Abstract A spherical drop is constrained by a solid support arranged as a latitudinal belt. The spherical belt splits the drop into two deformable spherical caps. The edges of the belt support are given by lower and upper latitudes, yielding a support of prescribed extent and position: a two-parameter family of geometrical constraints. In this paper we study the linear oscillations of the two coupled surfaces in the viscous case, the inviscid case having been dealt with in Part 1 (Bostwick & Steen, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 714, 2013, pp. 312–335), restricting to axisymmetric disturbances. For the viscous case, limiting geometries are the spherical-bowl constraint of Strani & Sabetta (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 189, 1988, pp. 397–421) and free viscous drop of Prosperetti (J. Méc., vol. 19, 1980b, pp. 149–182). In this paper, a boundary-integral approach leads to an integro-differential boundary-value problem governing the interface disturbances, where the constraint is incorporated into the function space. Viscous effects arise due to relative internal motions and to the no-slip boundary condition on the support surface. No-slip is incorporated using a modified set of shear boundary conditions. The eigenvalue problem is then reduced to a truncated set of algebraic equations using a spectral method in the standard way. Limiting cases recover literature results to validate the proposed modification. Complex frequencies, as they depend upon the viscosity parameter and the support geometry, are reported for both the drop and bubble cases. Finally, for the drop, an approximate boundary between over- and under-damped motions is mapped over the constraint parameter plane.
Grover on Caesar and Vigenère Ciphers

Quantum computers can solve or accelerate speciﬁc problems that were not possible with classical computers. Grover’s search algorithm, a representative quantum algorithm, ﬁnds a speciﬁc solution from N unsorted data with O ( √ N ) queries. This quantum algorithm can be used to recover the key of symmetric cryptography. In this paper, we present a practical quantum attack using Grover’s search to recover the key of ciphers ( Caesar and Vigen`ere ). The proposed quantum attack is simulated with quantum programming tools (ProjectQ and Qiskit) provided by IBM. Finally, we minimize the use of quantum resources and recover the key with a high probability.
Hardware Deployment of Hybrid PQC

In this work, we present a small architecture for quantumsafe hybrid key exchange targeting ECDH and SIKE. This is the ̋rst known hardware implementation of ECDH/SIKE-based hybrid key exchange in the literature. We propose new ECDH and EdDSA parameter sets de ̋ned over the SIKE primes. As a proof-of-concept, we evaluate SIKEX434, a hybrid PQC scheme composed of SIKEp434 and our proposed ECDH scheme X434 over a new, low-footprint architecture. Both schemes utilize the same 434-bit prime to save area. With only 1663 slices on a small Artix-7 device, our SIKE architecture can compute an entire hybrid key exchange in 320 ms. This is the smallest SIKE architecture in the literature. The hybrid SIKEX434 adds approximately 16% communication overhead and 10% latency overhead over SIKEp434. The additional overhead to support multiple primes indicates the need for new standardized ECC parameters for area-e°cient designs in the future.