Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effects of Crataegus pinnatifida (Chinese hawthorn) on metabolic syndrome: A review

Metabolic syndrome is described as a group of risk factors in which at least three unhealthy medical conditions, including obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension or dyslipidemia occur simultaneously in a patient. These conditions raise the risk for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Many recent studies have focused on herbal remedies and their pharmacological effects on metabolic syndrome. Crataegus pinnatifida or Chinese hawthorn has been widely used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Its leaves, fruits and seeds have various active substances such as, flavonoids, triterpenic acids and sesquiterpenes, which through different mechanisms can be beneficial in metabolic syndrome. Flavonoids found in the leaves of hawthorn can significantly reduce atherosclerotic lesion areas, the fruit extracts contain two triterpenic acids (oleanolic acid and ursolic acid), that have the ability to inhibit the acyl-coA-cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) enzyme and as a result reduce very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Another example regards a sesquiterpene found in the seeds of C. pinnatifida, which exhibits the ability to inhibit platelet aggregation, thus showing antithrombotic activity. Various studies have shown that C. pinnatifida can have beneficial effects on controlling and treating high blood sugar, dyslipidemia, obesity and atherosclerosis. The aim of this review is to highlight the interesting effects of C. pinnatifida on metabolic syndrome.
Design of an absorber with high impedance surfaces

High impedance surface comprising lossy frequency surface are employed to design a electromagnetic absorbers. Using transmission line model to analysis the absorbers loaded high impedance surfaces, and find the key parameter of the structure are the FSS shape and surface impedance, substrate parameters. Lastly, we have showed two electromagnetic absorbers loaded high impedance surfaces, and compared with the classical electromagnetic absorbers. Numerical results that demonstrate the validity and efficiency of proposed scheme are presented in this paper.
Subspace-based signal analysis using singular value decomposition

A unified approach is presented to the related problems of recovering signal parameters from noisy observations and identifying linear system model parameters from observed input/output signals, both using singular value decomposition (SVD) techniques. Both known and new SVD-based identification methods are classified in a subspace-oriented scheme. The SVD of a matrix constructed from the observed signal data provides the key step in a robust discrimination between desired signals and disturbing signals in terms of signal and noise subspaces. The methods that are presented are distinguished by the way in which the subspaces are determined and how the signal or system model parameters are extracted from these subspaces. Typical examples, such as the direction-of-arrival problem and system identification from input/output measurements, are elaborated upon, and some extensions to time-varying systems are given. >
Biomarkers in heart failure: the importance of inconvenient details

The proliferation of cardiac‐related biomarkers and advocacy for their use has often come without adequate discussion of limitations in the interpretation of values and their best use in heart failure (HF) patients to provide a balanced assessment of how cardiac biomarkers are advocated for use in HF and areas where we would argue there are no gaps in knowledge. We include suggestions to address these issues. We have focused on peer‐reviewed publications over the period 2000 to present. Most studies have used samples at one or at most two points in time to define risk. Although biomarkers might add to the magnitude of risk, it is unclear how often they lead to changes in treatment. We suggest that defining the use of serial biomarker testing over time would be more helpful. To do this, it is necessary to take into account the biomarker's analytical and biological variability in addition to its ability to define and monitor therapy. These factors are often overlooked leading to conclusions that may be statistically significant but not clinically or analytically robust. An appreciation of the value and limitations of biomarker use is important to all clinicians who manage HF patients. If the proper studies are done so that biomarkers are used optimally, they will likely be helpful in defining when and how to intervene. If we continue as we have, we will continue to have ambiguity about the use of these valuable probes in the assessment and management of HF.
MultiScale Modeling of Physical Phenomena: Adaptive Control of Models

It is common knowledge that the accuracy with which computer simulations can depict physical events depends strongly on the choice of the mathematical model of the events. Perhaps less appreciated is the notion that the error due to modeling can be defined, estimated, and used adaptively to control modeling error, provided one accepts the existence of a base model that can serve as a datum with respect to which other models can be compared. In this work, it is shown that the idea of comparing models and controlling model error can be used to develop a general approach for multiscale modeling, a subject of growing importance in computational science. A posteriori estimates of modeling error in so-called quantities of interest are derived and a class of adaptive modeling algorithms is presented. Several applications of the theory and methodology are presented. These include preliminary work on random multiphase composite materials, molecular statics simulations with applications to problems in nanoindentation, and analysis of molecular dynamics models using various techniques for scale bridging.
Comparative Study of Distributed Consensus-based Estimation Schemes for Small-Cell Networks

The dense deployment of small-cells is a promising approach to realize the rate demand in future wireless communication systems. Cooperative processing among distributed radio access points is an interesting approach to achieve the performance of centralized solutions with limited backhaul traffic. In this paper, we investigate cooperative multi-user detection by applying the Distributed Consensus-based Estimation (DiCE) algorithm and two recently proposed modifications of it. The schemes are compared by means of communication overhead and estimation performance.
Morphogenesis of the mouse neural plate depends on distinct roles of cofilin 1 in apical and basal epithelial domains

The genetic control of mammalian epithelial polarity and dynamics can be studied in vivo at cellular resolution during morphogenesis of the mouse neural tube. The mouse neural plate is a simple epithelium that is transformed into a columnar pseudostratified tube over the course of ∼24 h. Apical F-actin is known to be important for neural tube closure, but the precise roles of actin dynamics in the neural epithelium are not known. To determine how the organization of the neural epithelium and neural tube closure are affected when actin dynamics are blocked, we examined the cellular basis of the neural tube closure defect in mouse mutants that lack the actin-severing protein cofilin 1 (CFL1). Although apical localization of the adherens junctions, the Par complex, the Crumbs complex and SHROOM3 is normal in the mutants, CFL1 has at least two distinct functions in the apical and basal domains of the neural plate. Apically, in the absence of CFL1 myosin light chain does not become phosphorylated, indicating that CFL1 is required for the activation of apical actomyosin required for neural tube closure. On the basal side of the neural plate, loss of CFL1 has the opposite effect on myosin: excess F-actin and myosin accumulate and the ectopic myosin light chain is phosphorylated. The basal accumulation of F-actin is associated with the assembly of ectopic basal tight junctions and focal disruptions of the basement membrane, which eventually lead to a breakdown of epithelial organization. Highlighted article: In the neuroepithelium, apical cofilin 1 activates actomyosin contractility to promote neural tube closure, while basally it prevents ectopic myosin activation and tight junction formation.
- Jun 2005 IMPROVED METHOD TO DETERMINE THE HARDNESS AND ELASTIC MODULI USING NANO-INDENTATION

It is well known that hardness and elastic moduli can be determined by indenting the specimen to various depths. This paper shows the application of three approximation approaches for this purpose: the ideal method, Sun’s method, and modified Oliver & Pharr’s method. A comparison of the results for silicon (100) and high speed steel (HSS) specimens in terms of hardness and elastic moduli has been made. In general, the results obtained from the Sun’s method are more stable and reliable than the other methods.
Failure prognosability of stochastic discrete event systems

We study the prognosis of fault, i.e., its prediction prior to its occurrence, in stochastic discrete event systems. We introduce the notion of m-steps Stochastic-Prognosability, called Sm-Prognosability, which allows the prediction of a fault at least m-steps in advance. We formalize the notion of a prognoser and also show that Sm-Prognosability is necessary and sufficient for the existence of a prognoser that can predict a fault at least m-steps prior to occurrence, while achieving any arbitrary false alarm and missed detection rates. We also provide a polynomial algorithm for the verification of Sm-Prognosability.
Signaling at A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins Organizes Anesthesia-Sensitive Memory in Drosophila

The ubiquitous cAMP–protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway exhibits complex temporal requirements during the time course of associative memory processing. This directly raises questions about the molecular mechanisms that provide signaling specificity to this pathway. Here, we use Drosophila olfactory conditioning to show that divergent cAMP signaling is mediated by functionally distinct pools of PKA. One particular pool is organized via the PKA regulatory type II subunit at the level of A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs), a family of scaffolding proteins that provides focal points of spatiotemporal signal integration. This AKAP-bound pool of PKA is acting within neurons of the mushroom bodies to support a late phase of aversive memory. The requirement for AKAP-bound PKA signaling is limited to aversive memory, but dispensable during appetitive memory. This finding suggests the existence of additional mechanisms to support divergence within the cAMP–PKA signaling pathway during memory processing. Together, our results show that subcellular organization of signaling components plays a key role in memory processing.
F-theory duals of M-theory on S 1 / Z 2 × T 4 / Z N

In this note, we use results of Aspinwall and Morrison to discuss the F-theory duals of certain T /ZN orbifold compactifications of Hořava–Witten theory. In the M-theory limit an interesting set of rules, based on anomaly cancellation, has been developed for what gauge and matter multiplets must be present on the various orbifold fixed planes. Here we show how several aspects of these rules can be understood directly from F-theory.
Evaluating Malware Mitigation by Android Market Operators

All Android markets are confronted with malicious apps, but they differ in how effective they deal with them. In this study, we evaluate the mitigation efforts of Google Play and four third-party markets. We define three metrics and measure how sensitive they are to different detection results from anti-virus vendors. Malware presence in three third-party markets – Liqucn, eoeMarket and Mumayi – is around ten times higher than in Google Play and Freeware Lovers. Searching for certain keywords in Google Play leads leads to a fifty times higher malware rate than those for popular apps. Finally, we measure malware survival times and find that Google Play seems to be the only market that effectively removes malware, though it contains a cluster of apps flagged as adware and malware over long time periods. This points to different incentives for app markets, anti-virus vendors and users.
Differences in boldness are repeatable and heritable in a long-lived marine predator

Animal personalities, composed of axes of consistent individual behaviors, are widely reported and can have important fitness consequences. However, despite theoretical predictions that life-history trade-offs may cause and maintain personality differences, our understanding of the evolutionary ecology of personality remains poor, especially in long-lived species where trade-offs and senescence have been shown to be stronger. Furthermore, although much theoretical and empirical work assumes selection shapes variation in personalities, studies exploring the genetic underpinnings of personality traits are rare. Here we study one standard axis of personality, the shy–bold continuum, in a long-lived marine species, the wandering albatross from Possession Island, Crozet, by measuring the behavioral response to a human approach. Using generalized linear mixed models in a Bayesian framework, we show that boldness is highly repeatable and heritable. We also find strong differences in boldness between breeding colonies, which vary in size and density, suggesting birds are shyer in more dense colonies. These results demonstrate that in this seabird population, boldness is both heritable and repeatable and highlights the potential for ecological and evolutionary processes to shape personality traits in species with varying life-history strategies.
The effect of acute intraocular pressure elevation on peripapillary retinal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness, and retardance.

PURPOSE To determine whether acutely elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) alters peripapillary retinal thickness, retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), or retardance. METHODS Nine adult nonhuman primates were studied while under isoflurane anesthesia. Retinal and RNFLTs were measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography 30 minutes after IOP was set to 10 mm Hg and 60 minutes after IOP was set to 45 mm Hg. RNFL retardance was measured by scanning laser polarimetry in 10-minute intervals for 30 minutes while IOP was 10 mm Hg, then for 60 minutes while IOP was 45 mm Hg, then for another 30 minutes after IOP was returned to 10 mm Hg. RESULTS RNFLT measured 1120 microm from the ONH center decreased from 118.1 +/- 9.3 microm at an IOP of 10 mm Hg to 116.5 +/- 8.4 microm at 45 mm Hg, or by 1.4% +/- 1.8% (P < 0.0001). There was a significant interaction between IOP and eccentricity (P = 0.0006). Within 800 microm of the ONH center, the RNFL was 4.9% +/- 3.4% thinner 60 minutes after IOP elevation to 45 mm Hg (P < 0.001), but unchanged for larger eccentricities. The same pattern was observed for retinal thickness, with 1.1% +/- 0.8% thinning overall at 45 mm Hg (P < 0.0001), and a significant effect of eccentricity (P < 0.0001) whereby the retina was 4.8% +/- 1.2% thinner (P < 0.001) within 800 microm, but unchanged beyond that. Retardance increased by a maximum of 2.2% +/- 1.1% 60 minutes after IOP was increased to 45 mm Hg (P = 0.0031). CONCLUSIONS The effects of acute IOP elevation on retinal thickness, RNFL thickness and retardance were minor, limited to the immediate ONH surround and unlikely to have meaningful clinical impact.
Mindfulness in the workplace: Mindful self-regulation

Organizations are under pressure to perform and adapt to an ever-changing environment, creating stress on the employees, translating to direct and indirect costs to the organization. Mindfulness is recognized as an effective approach to managing stress, and has benefits on cognition, attention, and well-being, but limited research has investigated how individuals integrate mindfulness into their workplaces, which is the purpose of this study. The primary research question in this study asked how mindfulness workplace practice help individuals to self-regulate a) attention or thoughts, b) emotions, and c) both attention or thoughts and emotions and what the associated benefits are in mindfulness workplace practice. It also examined the barriers to mindfulness workplace practice and what can support it. This study addressed these questions through a qualitative exploratory approach using semi-structured interviews with working individuals who have a mindfulness practice (N=8). Each participant was interviewed three times for about thirty-minutes over a course of six to ten weeks. The interviews
Analysis of Cytadherence-Deficient, GapA-NegativeMycoplasma gallisepticum Strain R

ABSTRACT Comparison of the phenotypic expression of Mycoplasma gallisepticum strain R low (passage 15) to that of strain R high (passage 164) revealed that three proteins, i.e., the cytadhesin molecule GapA, a 116-kDa protein (p116), and a 45-kDa protein (p45), are missing in strain R high. Sequence analysis confirmed that the insertion of an adenine 105 bp downstream of the gapAtranslational start codon resulted in premature termination of translation in R high. A second adenine insertion had also occurred at position 907. Restoration of expression of wild-type gapAin R high (clone designated GT5) allowed us to evaluate the extent to which the diminished cytadherence capacity could be attributed to GapA alone. The results indicated that GT5 attached to the same limited extent as the parental R high, from which it was derived. The cytadherence capability of the parental R high was not restored solely by gapA complementation alone, indicating that either p116 or p45 or both may play a role in the overall cytadherence process. The gene encoding p116 was found to be immediately downstream ofgapA in the same operon and was designatedcrmA. This gene exhibited striking homology to genes encoding molecules with cytadhesin-related functions in bothMycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium. Transcriptional analysis revealed thatcrmA is not transcribed in R high. We are currently constructing a shuttle vector containing both the wild-typegapA and crmA for transformation into R high to assess the role of CrmA in the cytadherence process.
Antigen-driven B cell differentiation in vivo

The secretion of specific antibodies and the development of somatically mutated memory B cells in germinal centers are consequences of T cell- dependent challenge with the hapten (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP). Using six-parameter flow cytometry and single cell molecular analysis we can directly monitor the extent of somatic hypermutation in individual responsive (isotype switched) antigen-specific B cells. The current study provides a direct quantitative assessment of recruitment into the antibody-secreting compartment on the one hand, and the germinal center pathway to memory on the other. Cellular expansion in both compartments is exponential and independent during the first week after challenge. The first evidence of somatic mutation, towards the end of the first week, was restricted to the germinal center pathway. Furthermore, germinal center cells express a significantly shorter third hypervariable region (CDR3), even when unmutated, than their antibody-secreting counterparts, suggesting a secondary selection event may occur at the bifurcation of these two pathways in vivo. By the end of the second week, the majority of mutated clones express a shorter CDR3 and affinity-increasing mutations as evidence of further selection after somatic mutation. These data provide evidence for substantial proliferation within germinal centers before the initiation of somatic mutation and the subsequent selection of a significant frequency of mutated clonotypes into the memory compartment.
CEO sob desafio duplo: crise econômica e inovação tecnológica

Este caso de ensino tem como questão central os desafios para a sobrevivência da empresa Ccaps Translation and Localization – empresa do segmento de localização de software, que é a adaptação de programas de computador para outros países, idiomas e culturas. O caso foi estruturado para desenvolver o conhecimento de alunos em cursos de graduação ou pós em Administração de Empresas e Engenharia de Produção, em particular nas disciplinas de estratégia e inovação. O caso possibilita que os alunos apreendam os conceitos fundamentais da Teoria da Inovação Disruptiva e da Ambidestria Organizacional. A primeira teoria descreve o impacto e desafios suscitados por inovações como as que ameaçam a sobrevivência da Ccaps e a segunda constitui instrumento estratégico para vislumbrar alternativas viáveis e promissoras para perenizar a empresa. Os alunos devem ser conduzidos pelo professor para a análise crítica dos ambientes competitivos e das capacidades atuais e futuras da Ccaps, explorando o caráter inibidor (problemas e restrições) e habilitador (soluções e “alavancas”).
Adaptive Stackable 3D Cache Architecture for Manycores

With the emergence of many core architectures, the need of on-chip memories such as caches grows faster than the number of cores. Moreover the bandwidth to off-chip memories is saturating. Big memory caches can alleviate the pressure to off-chip accesses. In this paper, we present an adaptive 3Dcache architecture taking advantage of dense vertical connections in stacked chips. Then we propose a dynamically adaptive mechanism to optimize the use of the aforementioned 3D cache architecture according to the workload needs. Finally, we analyze the gain on memory accesses and on software execution time in a realistic model of many core architecture and we study the hardware cost of our proposal, showing that our approach can lead to a 50% reduction of both external memory accesses and application execution time.
The Learnability of Mobile Application Interfaces Needs Improvement

devices have much potential to support older adults in their daily lives. However older adults have reported that they find mobile devices, such as existing mobile phones, difficult to learn to use. We argue that more research is needed to improve the learnability of mobile software applications for older adults. We present three different approaches for improving mobile device learnability: improving graphical icons, using multi- layered interfaces, and augmenting the mobile interface.
ISPARK : Interactive Visual Analytics for Fire Incidents and Station Placement

In support of helping to reduce the response time of firefighters, and thus deaths, injuries, and property loss due to fires, we introduce ISPARK. The ISPARK system determines where fire stations should be located, analyzes the primary causes of fires, the existing infrastructure, and response times, by using visualizations which show the GIS mapping of fire stations on a dashboard. Incidents and response times are shown as additional layers, with clustering of fire incidents to determine predicted fire station locations, forecasting of fire incidents using regression, causal, infrastructure, and personnel analysis, creating an interactive, multi-faceted method for locating fire stations. A comparison of urban and rural fire incident response times is another dimension of this study. We demonstrate ISPARK’s usage and benefits using a publicly available dataset describing 300,000 fire incidents in the states of Massachusetts and Maine. ISPARK is generalizable to other geographic areas and domains, such as police stations, schools, hospitals.