Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on hypoglycaemic effects of polyherbal preparation in streptozotocin-induced diabetic male albino rats

Many traditional treatments have been recommended in the alternative system of medicine for diabetes mellitus. However, the mode of action of most of the herbals used has not been defined. It has been reported that sex hormones are important regulators of insulin-mediated events in skeletal muscles. In view of this, a novel herbal preparation containing antidiabetic and aphrodisiac plants was used in the present study. Adult male albino rats were divided into following groups after induction of diabetes. Rats were given an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of streptozotocin (STZ), at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight after overnight fasting, to induce diabetic state with blood glucose levels >250 mg/dL. Group 1—Control rats treated with single i.p. injection of vehicle, Group 2—Rats treated with polyherbal preparation (PHP; 500 mg/kg body weight by oral intubation, morning and evening for 30 days), Group 3—STZ-diabetic rats treated orally with equal volumes of vehicle (water) alone and Group 4—STZ-diabetic rats treated with PHP after 10 days of diabetic induction. STZ-diabetes decreased the body weight, serum insulin level and glucose oxidation in liver and skeletal muscles but increased the fasting blood glucose level. After polyherbal treatment, body weight and glucose oxidation were completely restored to control level while serum insulin level was restored partially and the glucose tolerance was significantly improved. There was a significant decrease in total haemoglobin (Hb) level of diabetic rats when compared to control but polyherbal treatment significantly improved the same. However, the other parameters studied (red blood cell [RBC], white blood corpuscle [WBC], packed cell volume [PCV], mean corpuscular volume [MCV] and mean corpuscular haemoglobin [MCH]) were unaltered. In conclusion, the anti-diabetic properties of PHP appear to be mediated through pancreatic β-cell regeneration, resulting in maintenance of optimal blood glucose and its oxidation in liver and skeletal muscles.
Dynamics of the Establishment of Multinucleate Compartments in Fusarium oxysporum

ABSTRACT Nuclear dynamics can vary widely between fungal species and between stages of development of fungal colonies. Here we compared nuclear dynamics and mitotic patterns between germlings and mature hyphae in Fusarium oxysporum. Using fluorescently labeled nuclei and live-cell imaging, we show that F. oxysporum is subject to a developmental transition from a uninucleate to a multinucleate state after completion of colony initiation. We observed a special type of hypha that exhibits a higher growth rate, possibly acting as a nutrient scout. The higher growth rate is associated with a higher nuclear count and mitotic waves involving 2 to 6 nuclei in the apical compartment. Further, we found that dormant nuclei of intercalary compartments can reenter the mitotic cycle, resulting in multinucleate compartments with up to 18 nuclei in a single compartment.
Multimodal speaker diarization using oriented optical flow histograms

Speaker diarization is the task of partitioning an input stream into speaker homogeneous regions, or in other words, to determine ”who spoke when. ” While approaches to this problem have traditionally relied entirely on the audio stream, the availability of accompanying video streams in recent diarization corpora has prompted the study of methods based on multimodal audio-visual features. In this work, we propose the use of robust video features based on oriented optical flow histograms. Using the state-of-the art ICSI diarization system, we show that, when combined with standard audio features, these features improve the diarization error rate by 14% percent over an audio-only baseline.
Semantics and Computability of the Evolution of Hybrid Systems

In this paper we consider the semantics for the evolution of hybrid systems, and the computability of the evolution with respect to these semantics. We show that with respect to lower semantics, the finite-time reachable sets are lower-semicomputable, and with respect to upper semantics, the finite-time reachable sets are upper-semicomputable. We use the framework of type-two Turing computability theory and computable analysis, which deal with obtaining approximation results with guaranteed error bounds from approximate data. We show that, in general, we cannot find a semantics for which the evolution is both lower- and upper-semicomputable, unless the system is free from tangential and corner contact with the guard sets. We highlight the main points of the theory with simple examples illustrating the subtleties involved.
Genome-wide analysis of the diversity and ancestry of Korean dogs

There are various hypotheses on dog domestication based on archeological and genetic studies. Although many studies have been conducted on the origin of dogs, the existing literature about the ancestry, diversity, and population structure of Korean dogs is sparse. Therefore, this study is focused on the origin, diversity and population structure of Korean dogs. The study sample comprised four major categories, including non-dogs (coyotes and wolves), ancient, modern and Korean dogs. Selected samples were genotyped using an Illumina CanineHD array containing 173,662 single nucleotide polymorphisms. The genome-wide data were filtered using quality control parameters in PLINK 1.9. Only autosomal chromosomes were used for further analysis. The negative off-diagonal variance of the genetic relationship matrix analysis depicted, the variability of samples in each population. FIS (inbreeding rate within a population) values indicated, a low level of inbreeding within populations, and the patterns were in concordance with the results of Nei’s genetic distance analysis. The lowest FST (inbreeding rate between populations) values among Korean and Chinese breeds, using a phylogenetic tree, multi-dimensional scaling, and a TreeMix likelihood tree showed Korean breeds are highly related to Chinese breeds. The Korean breeds possessed a unique and large diversity of admixtures compared with other breeds. The highest and lowest effective population sizes were observed in Korean Jindo Black (485) and Korean Donggyeong White (109), respectively. The historical effective population size of all Korean dogs showed declining trend from the past to present. It is important to take immediate action to protect the Korean dog population while conserving their diversity. Furthermore, this study suggests that Korean dogs have unique diversity and are one of the basal lineages of East Asian dogs, originating from China.
ProjectQ: An Open Source Software Framework for Quantum Computing

We introduce ProjectQ, an open source software effort for quantum computing. The first release features a compiler framework capable of targeting various types of hardware, a high-performance simulator with emulation capabilities, and compiler plug-ins for circuit drawing and resource estimation. We introduce our Python-embedded domain-specific language, present the features, and provide example implementations for quantum algorithms. The framework allows testing of quantum algorithms through simulation and enables running them on actual quantum hardware using a back-end connecting to the IBM Quantum Experience cloud service. Through extension mechanisms, users can provide back-ends to further quantum hardware, and scientists working on quantum compilation can provide plug-ins for additional compilation, optimization, gate synthesis, and layout strategies.
Trying to Live With Pumping: Expressing Milk for Preterm or Small for Gestational Age Infants

Purpose:To describe mothers' experiences with expressing breast milk for preterm or SGA infants. Study Design and Methods:This is a descriptive qualitative study involving 130 mothers of preterm or SGA infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. Data were collected in collaboration with two Finnish peer support associations. An Internet-based questionnaire with open-ended questions was administered to respondents. Responses were analyzed with inductive content analysis. Results:Mothers had to try to manage daily life and breast pumping. The combination of preterm birth and separation from the hospitalized infants served simultaneously as motivating factors and obstacles. Mothers tried to look beyond the unnatural and difficult process of milk expression, looking forward to eventual breastfeeding. Concerns about time and scheduling, equipment, environment, and sufficient milk supply were prevalent, as well as feelings of unfamiliarity, difficulty, frustration, and loneliness. Clinical Implications:Expressing breast milk should be considered as a helpful factor for preterm or SGA infants' mothers. Separation between mother and infant should be avoided. Mothers need adequate equipment and a private space for expressing milk, in addition to assistance with their daily routines. For mothers to successfully manage expression, they also require an environment that fosters a sense of caring, normality, and hope, as well as frequent care for their emotional needs.
What Next After Infliximab?

The use of infliximab (Remicade®) has revolutionized the care of Crohn's disease (CD) patients who have proved refractory to standard treatment. The use of infliximab is very well tolerated in the majority of patients but in a small subset of patients may lead to the production of antibodies (termed “antibodies to infliximab”—ATI). The production of these antibodies has been associated with the development of both acute and delayed infusion reactions, although even in patients who develop ATIs, these reactions are relatively uncommon. Nonetheless, these reactions may occasionally be severe enough to lead to intolerance to infliximab. Another group of patients, after initially having excellent responses to infliximab, experience an attenuated response or loss of response over time. What is the cause of this loss of efficacy? ATIs may play a role in some patients but other potential reasons for this phenomenon have provoked much debate. The importance of other cytokines after TNF-α has been neutralized may be relevant as (this has been shown to be the case in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the idea of beneficial autoimmunity production to TNF-α. (Wildbaum G, Nahir MA, Karin N. Beneficial autoimmunity to proinflammatory mediators restrains the consequences of self-destructive immunity. Immunity 2003;19:679–88.) It has been shown that during the course of an autoimmune condition, the immune system mounts a beneficial autoantibody response to proinflammatory mediators. This response counteracts, to a certain degree, the autoimmune pathology. This natural counteraction has been illustrated in animal models of autoimmunity, and there has been evidence demonstrated that this occurs in human RA. Whether this occurs in Crohn's is unknown; infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody containing an approximately 25% murine region. It had been hoped that the development of humanized or fully human monoclonal antibodies would provide therapeutic antibodies that did not induce an immune response. While this has unfortunately not proven to be the case—these products still have significant immunogenicity—these products do present an alternative therapy when infliximab cannot be used. In light of this, adalimumab (Humira®) a human monoclonal antibody used for treating rheumatologic conditions has been investigated as an alternate treatment for patients with CD who after initially responding to infliximab experience intolerance or loss of efficacy. Is this a viable alternative?
An in vitro biocompatibility study of conventional and resin-modified glass ionomer cements.

PURPOSE To evaluate the biocompatibility of a glass-ionomer (GIC) and a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement (RM-GIC), cell viability was examined in a model of human gingival fibroblasts using morphological, biochemical, and ionic patterns by means of phase contrast microscopy, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and quantitative x-ray microanalysis (EPXMA). MATERIALS AND METHODS The GIC Ketac-Molar Easymix (3M ESPE) and the RM-GIC Vitrebond (3M ESPE) were compared in human gingival fibroblasts exposed to the cements for 72 h. As controls, fibroblasts cultured with DMEM culture medium (negative control) and with 1% triton × (positive control) were used. RESULTS Light microscopic findings showed greater morphological alterations in cells exposed to RM-GIC than to GIC. The relative percentage of LDH released from the cells to the supernatant was significantly higher in RMGIC cultures than in the control. Quantitative x-ray microanalysis showed that cultures exposed to RM-GIC were characterized by an increase in intracellular Na and a decrease in intracellular Cl and K. These changes in ion composition were significant compared to control and GIC cultures. CONCLUSION The three indicators of cellular biocompatibility after 72 h of exposure showed that RM-GIC led to more marked alterations than GIC in human gingival fibroblasts.
Cyber-Bullying: Bullying in the 21st Century

The effectiveness of a Cyberbullying presentation is being evaluated among junior high students. Six junior high students in a rural, Western New York setting were participants in the presentation. A pre and post-test questionnaire was given to assess the effectiveness of a Cyberbullying PowerPoint presentation. The findings indicate that participants were better able to identify types of cyberbullying and how to keep themselves safe. This information is relevant for counselors as cyberbullying appears to be a current trend affecting a multitude of students nationwide.
Increasing Incidence of Human Melioidosis in Northeast Thailand

Melioidosis is a serious community-acquired infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. A prospective cohort study identified 2,243 patients admitted to Sappasithiprasong Hospital in northeast Thailand with culture-confirmed melioidosis between 1997 and 2006. These data were used to calculate an average incidence rate for the province of 12.7 cases of melioidosis per 100,000 people per year. Incidence increased incrementally from 8.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.2–10.0) in 2000 to 21.3 (95% CI = 19.2–23.6) in 2006 (P < 0.001; χ2 test for trend). Male sex, age ≥ 45 years, and either known or undiagnosed diabetes were independent risk factors for melioidosis. The average mortality rate from melioidosis over the study period was 42.6%. The minimum estimated population mortality rate from melioidosis in 2006 was 8.63 per 100,000 people (95% CI = 7.33–10.11), the third most common cause of death from infectious diseases in northeast Thailand after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis.
Validez de constructo y desarrollo de la inteligencia emocional

Este trabajo se lleva a cabo con una muestra universitaria y de bachillerato de cantabria. Por medio del cuestionario TMMS-24, que evalua el meta-conocimiento de las personas sobre su atencion, claridad y reparacion emocional, (Salovey et al, 1995; Fernandez-Berrocal et al, 1998) se mide la inteligencia emocional percibida de las personas, en el marco del modelo de habilidad de inteligencia emocional (Salovey y Mayer, 1990). Se busca la validacion del constructo de inteligencia emocional por medio de su validez discriminante con la personalidad (EPQ-RV, Eysenck y Eysenck, 1985), e inteligencia fluida (g) (Krowrousky y Renes 1987). A su vez, se estudia la relacion entre inteligencia emocional y un criterio de exito como es la satisfaccion familiar percibida de las personas. Tambien se explora la relacion entre este constructo y el clima social en las familias, asi como se buscan diferencias en funcion del genero, edd y contexto socioeconomico. Los resultados indican una validez discriminante de la inteligencia emocional respecto a otros constructos limitrofes como la personalidad e inteligencia fluida. Tambien se encuentran relaciones entre la inteligencia emocional y la satisfaccion familiar, asi como con el clima social en la familia. Sin embargo al comprobar la validez incremental de este constructo controlando la personalidad e inteligencia fluida en los resultados, observamos que el efecto de la inteligencia emocional es fundamentalmente indirecto, solo permaneciendo significativas la relaciones entre claridad emocional, satisfaccion familiar y autonomia familiar. Diferencias de resultados en funcion del genero son confirmados. Ademas, las mujeres atienden a las emociones mas que los hombres, asi como los grupos de mas edad respecto a los menores, con diferencias signiticativas entre ambos grupos.
Examining the Impact of Sexual Stereotyping in Black Women

Among all women in the U.S., African American women are the most likely to experience denigration and sexualization (Eckert & McConnell-Ginet, 1999) due to being devalued as human beings and sexually objectified. The U.S. is plagued with a history of oppression of Black women based on their race, gender, and class. These intersecting forms of oppression have resulted in the devaluation of Black women and the promotion of negative stereotypes regarding their sexuality. The hip hop culture has been an outlet where the promotion of stereotypes of Black women has been normalized and accepted. Within this medium Black women are depicted as promiscuous, money-hungry, loud-mouthed, and manipulative individuals. Such widespread and culturally-accepted negative sexual stereotypes of Black women can have grave impacts on the way Black women view themselves and negotiate their sexual experiences. Black women with frequent exposure to the negative sexual stereotypes in the hip hop culture may internalize the negative images of themselves and develop cognitive sexual schemas based on those images. A large amount of hip hop videos depict women as having great sexual desire and as sexually uninhibited and these depictions serve as representations for how women should view themselves (Roberts 1996; Stephens and Few, 2007). Because risky sexual behavior and STIs are disproportionately prevalent among Black women, the current study explored the relations between internalized sexual stereotypes, Black women’s self-schemas and their self-reported risky sexual behavior.
Gambling in the Context of Other Recreation Activity: A Quantitative Comparison of Casual and Pathological Student Gamblers

The motivations for gambling of recreational and pathological student gamblers were described and compared with their motivations for other leisure activities. Students (n = 996) at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas completed self-report questionnaires including the South Oaks Gambling Screen and the Recreation Experience Preference scales. Despite statistical differences, pathological gamblers and recreational gamblers shared seven of the top ten ranked motives for gambling.
OTL: A Framework of Online Transfer Learning

In this paper, we investigate a new machine learning framework called Online Transfer Learning (OTL) that aims to transfer knowledge from some source domain to an online learning task on a target domain. We do not assume the target data follows the same class or generative distribution as the source data, and our key motivation is to improve a supervised online learning task in a target domain by exploiting the knowledge that had been learned from large amount of training data in source domains. OTL is in general challenging since data in both domains not only can be different in their class distributions but can be also different in their feature representations. As a first attempt to this problem, we propose techniques to address two kinds of OTL tasks: one is to perform OTL in a homogeneous domain, and the other is to perform OTL across heterogeneous domains. We show the mistake bounds of the proposed OTL algorithms, and empirically examine their performance on several challenging OTL tasks. Encouraging results validate the efficacy of our techniques.
A Comparative Study upon the Therapeutic Indices of Some Natural and Synthetic Anti-inflammatory Agents

Objective(s) The aim of the present study was to compare the therapeutic indices of several agents used in treatment of inflammatory conditions which included: Vitamin E, hydro-alcoholic extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra, Matricaria aurea, dexamethasone, piroxicam and diclofenac using Wehi-164 fibrosarcoma cells. Materials and Methods Cytotoxicity evaluation was based on vital dye exclusion assay. Matrix-metalloproteinases inhibition (MMPI) was assessed by gelatinase zymography method. The collected data were used to estimate the IC50 (50% MMPI concentration), LC50 (50% cytotoxicity concentration) and the therapeutic index (LC50/IC50). Results Among the natural anti-inflammatory agents used, M. aurea was the least toxic and the most effective inhibitor of MMP. Vitamin E not only increased MMP activity, but also was the most toxic of all the agents tested. Next in terms of toxicity to vitamin E was G. glabra. Diclofenac was more toxic than both piroxicam and dexamethasone. Conclusion Findings from this study suggest that medicinal plants reputed to have anti-inflammatory properties are not equally effective and safe. In order to assess the implications of these findings, further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed.
A critical knowledge pathway to low‐carbon, sustainable futures: Integrated understanding of urbanization, urban areas, and carbon

Independent lines of research on urbanization, urban areas, and carbon have advanced our understanding of some of the processes through which energy and land uses affect carbon. This synthesis integrates some of these diverse viewpoints as a first step toward a coproduced, integrated framework for understanding urbanization, urban areas, and their relationships to carbon. It suggests the need for approaches that complement and combine the plethora of existing insights into interdisciplinary explorations of how different urbanization processes, and socio‐ecological and technological components of urban areas, affect the spatial and temporal patterns of carbon emissions, differentially over time and within and across cities. It also calls for a more holistic approach to examining the carbon implications of urbanization and urban areas, based not only on demographics or income but also on other interconnected features of urban development pathways such as urban form, economic function, economic‐growth policies, and other governance arrangements. It points to a wide array of uncertainties around the urbanization processes, their interactions with urban socio‐institutional and built environment systems, and how these impact the exchange of carbon flows within and outside urban areas. We must also understand in turn how carbon feedbacks, including carbon impacts and potential impacts of climate change, can affect urbanization processes. Finally, the paper explores options, barriers, and limits to transitioning cities to low‐carbon trajectories, and suggests the development of an end‐to‐end, coproduced and integrated scientific understanding that can more effectively inform the navigation of transitional journeys and the avoidance of obstacles along the way.