Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plant Flavone Apigenin Binds to Nucleic Acid Bases and Reduces Oxidative DNA Damage in Prostate Epithelial Cells

Oxidative stress has been linked to prostate carcinogenesis as human prostate tissue is vulnerable to oxidative DNA damage. Apigenin, a dietary plant flavone, possesses anti-proliferative and anticancer effects; however, its antioxidant properties have not been fully elucidated. We investigated sub-cellular distribution of apigenin, it’s binding to DNA and protective effects against H2O2-induced DNA damage using transformed human prostate epithelial RWPE-1 cells and prostate cancer LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145 cells. Exposure of cells to apigenin exhibited higher accumulation in RWPE-1 and LNCaP cells, compared to PC-3 and DU145 cells. The kinetics of apigenin uptake in LNCaP cells was estimated with a Km value of 5 µmole/L and Vmax of 190 pmoles/million cells/h. Sub-cellular fractionation demonstrated that nuclear matrix retains the highest concentration of apigenin (45.3%), followed by cytosol (23.9%), nuclear membranes (17.9%) and microsomes (12.9%), respectively. Spectroscopic analysis of apigenin with calf-thymus DNA exhibited intercalation as the dominant binding mode to DNA duplex. Apigenin exposure resulted in significant genoprotective effects in H2O2-stressed RWPE-1 cells by reduction in reactive oxygen species levels. In addition, apigenin exposure suppressed the formation of 8-hydroxy-2′ deoxyguanosine and protected exposed cells from apoptosis. Our studies demonstrate that apigenin is readily taken up by normal prostatic epithelial cells and prostate cancer cells, and is incorporated into their nuclei, where its intercalation with nucleic acid bases may account for its antioxidant and chemopreventive activities.
Cubist Style Rendering from Photographs

The contribution of the paper is a novel nonphotorealistic rendering (NPR) technique, influenced by the style of Cubist art. Specifically, we are motivated by artists such as Picasso and Braque, who produced art work by composing elements of a scene taken from multiple points of view; paradoxically, such compositions convey a sense of motion without assuming temporal dependence between views. Our method accepts a set of two-dimensional images as input and produces a Cubist style painting with minimal user interaction. We use salient features identified within the image set, such as eyes, noses, and mouths, as compositional elements; we believe the use of such features to be a unique contribution to NPR. Before composing features into a final image, we geometrically distort them to produce the more angular forms common in Cubist art. Finally, we render the composition to give a painterly effect, using an automatic algorithm. This paper describes our method, illustrating the application of our algorithm with a gallery of images. We conclude with a critical appraisal and suggest the use of "high-level" features is of interest to NPR.
Practical considerations for the application of ear simulators in the calibration of audiometers in the extended high frequency region

Abstract Objective: Calibration service providers for audiometric equipment often encounter impracticalities in fully implementing the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) guidelines for the extended high frequency region. This report evaluates some of the work-around solutions sometimes employed in practice and the implications these have for audiometer calibration results and uncertainties. Design: The impact of using four different microphone configurations on the ear simulator calibration in the frequency range 125 Hz to 20 kHz, and especially in the extended high frequency range from 10 kHz to 20 kHz, was investigated, at a range of temperatures. Results: Variations in the response of the ear simulator of up to 6 dB were observed with the different microphone configurations. In addition, using the microphone without its protection grid produced a dip in the high frequency response of approximately 15 dB. Conclusion: While deviation from the practices required in IEC standards is not recommended, replacing the microphone protection grid with a specially fabricated collar (essentially a grid with the top removed) was found to constrain deviations in response to within ±2 dB. It was also concluded that simply removing the microphone protection grid resulted in a wholly unsatisfactory performance.
Evaluation of ultra-low-volume insecticide dispensing systems for use in single-engined aircraft and their effectiveness against Aedes aegypti populations in South-East Asia.

An evaluation study of ultra-low-volume (ULV) spraying of insecticide from aircraft was carried out in Thailand, to determine if this technique could be used for the emergency control of Aedes aegypti, the major vector of haemorrhagic fever. A small, single-engined aircraft, a Cessna-180, was used in the trials and 2 types of spraying equipment were tested; both were found to be equally effective. The aircraft was fitted with 6 spraying nozzles and flew at an altitude of 150 feet (46 m) at a speed of 100 miles/h (161 km/h). The insecticide used was 95% technical grade malathion and swaths 75 feet wide (22.8 m) were laid down; the rate of application was 3 US fl oz/acre (219 ml/ha). Trials were made in 3 villages near Bangkok and it became apparent that a small aircraft could not produce the required even distribution of insecticide; the rate of application was therefore increased to 6 US fl oz/acre (438 ml/ha). This increased rate appeared to compensate for the narrow width of the swath and produced very satisfactory mortalities in caged mosquitos as well as in natural populations.The size and distribution of droplets was monitored by the use of oil-sensitive red dye cards which showed that there was a good penetration of insecticide into dwellings, etc. Trial results were evaluated by biting counts, bioassays of Aedes and Culex adults and larvae, Culex dips and ovitraps. Biossays indicated that the 6 US fl oz/acre rate of application was almost 100% effective in the open and produced satisfactory mortalities inside markets and dwellings.It was concluded that larger aircraft would be required to treat areas of more than 1000 acres (405 ha) and congested city areas but that the rate of application of insecticide could be considerably lower. Nevertheless, small aircraft can be useful in smaller and less congested areas.
Virucidal Activity of a GT-Rich Oligonucleotide against Herpes Simplex Virus Mediated by Glycoprotein B

ABSTRACT We have investigated the antiviral mechanism of a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide, ISIS 5652, which has activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the low micromolar range in plaque reduction assays. We isolated a mutant that is resistant to this compound. Marker rescue and sequencing experiments showed that resistance was due to at least one of three mutations in the UL27 gene which result in amino acid changes in glycoprotein B (gB). Because gB has a role in attachment and entry of HSV, we tested the effects of ISIS 5652 at these stages of infection. The oligonucleotide potently inhibited attachment of virus to cells at 4°C; however, the resistant mutant did not exhibit resistance at this stage. Moreover, a different oligonucleotide with little activity in plaque reduction assays was as potent as ISIS 5652 in inhibiting attachment. Similarly, ISIS 5652 was able to inhibit entry of preattached virions into cells at 37°C, but the mutant did not exhibit resistance in this assay. The mutant did not attach to or enter cells more quickly than did wild-type virus. Strikingly, incubation of wild-type virus with 1 to 2 μM ISIS 5652 at 37°C led to a time-dependent, irreversible loss of infectivity (virucidal activity). No virucidal activity was detected at 4°C or with an unrelated oligonucleotide at 37°C. The resistant mutant and a marker-rescued derivative containing its gB mutations exhibited substantial resistance to this virucidal activity of ISIS 5652. We hypothesize that the GT-rich oligonucleotide induces a conformational change in gB that results in inactivation of infectivity.
El bienestar subjetivo

En el presente trabajo se realiza un análisis del concepto de bienestar subjetivo. Inicialmente se lleva a cabo desde una perspectiva histórica una acotación del término, analizando sus elementos integrantes. Entre éstos destacan sus componentes afectivoemocional y cognitivo-racional, identificados respectivamente con las medidas de balance afectivo y satisfacción vital. Junto con esta dimensión afectivocognitiva, se tienen en cuenta otras –positivo-negativo, frecuencia-intensidad e interno-externo-, así como todas aquellas variables que influyen en el bienestar subjetivo, agrupándolas en las siguientes categorías: salud y variables sociode-mográficas, características individuales, variables comportamentales y acontecimientos vitales. Por último, se describen las teorías y modelos explicativos del bienestar subjetivo, tanto desde la perspectiva abajo-arriba (bottom-up) interesada en la satisfacción de las necesidades humanas como vía para conseguirlo, cuanto desde el enfoque arribaabajo (top-down), que centra sus esfuerzos en los aspectos interno-perceptivos que condicionan la valoración del sujeto acerca de su bienestar. Entre estas últimas se destaca la Teoría de las Discrepancias Múltiples, de Michalos.
Establishment of a Phonemic Clustering System for American Sign Language

Executive functioning, the self-regulatory or control system that governs all cognitive, behavioral, and emotional activity, may be measured by means of a variety of psychological and neuropsychological tests, including tests of verbal fluency. A subset of these tasks, phonemic fluency, requires a person to generate words based on a letter cue (e.g., words that begin with the letter f). However, such tests are designed for users of spoken language. This article reports on the use of a measure of verbal fluency for American Sign Language (ASL) for which, in addition to the traditional score based on the total number of words produced during the task, an analysis of ASL-based “clusters” (related signs produced in succession) and “switches” (transitions from one cluster to another) was developed. Previous research with standard verbal fluency tasks has suggested that cluster and switching analysis reflects mental flexibility and cognitive search skills. A system for analyzing phonemic clusters in ASL is described, and its application is demonstrated using a case example.
Linear tapered slot antennas on LTCC substrate for millimeter-wave applications

In this paper, one linear tapered slot antenna (LTSA), backed with an air cavity, is proposed and fabricated on low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. Conventionally, when LTSA is designed on LTCC board, due to its high dielectric constant and thickness, the gain and radiation property is degraded seriously. Therefore in this paper. by adopting an air cavity in the back side of the LTCC substrate, high gain and good endfire radiation pattern can be obtained. In particular, this antenna has broad bandwidth (about from 45 GHz to 75 GHz) and high gain (4.9-6.9 dB) property. This antenna can be used for a variety of millimeter-wave applications due to its easy integrability with 3D LTCC modules.
Impulsive Neural Networks Algorithm Based on the Artificial Genome Model

To describe gene regulatory networks, this article takes the framework of the artificial genome model and proposes impulsive neural networks algorithm based on the artificial genome model. Firstly, the gene expression and the cell division tree are applied to generate spiking neurons with specific attributes, neural network structure, connection weights and specific learning rules of each neuron. Next, the gene segment duplications and divergence model are applied to design the evolutionary algorithm of impulsive neural networks at the level of the artificial genome. The dynamic changes of developmental gene regulatory networks are controlled during the whole evolutionary process. Finally, the behavior of collecting food for autonomous intelligent agent is simulated, which is driven by nerves. Experimental results demonstrate that the algorithm in this article has the evolutionary ability on large-scale impulsive neural networks
Dynamics of DNA Methylation during Early Development of the Preimplantation Bovine Embryo

There is species divergence in control of DNA methylation during preimplantation development. The exact pattern of methylation in the bovine embryo has not been established nor has its regulation by gender or maternal signals that regulate development such as colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2). Using immunofluorescent labeling with anti-5-methylcytosine and embryos produced with X-chromosome sorted sperm, it was demonstrated that methylation decreased from the 2-cell stage to the 6–8 cell stage and then increased thereafter up to the blastocyst stage. In a second experiment, embryos of specific genders were produced by fertilization with X- or Y-sorted sperm. The developmental pattern was similar to the first experiment, but there was stage × gender interaction. Methylation was greater for females at the 8-cell stage but greater for males at the blastocyst stage. Treatment with CSF2 had no effect on labeling for DNA methylation in blastocysts. Methylation was lower for inner cell mass cells (i.e., cells that did not label with anti-CDX2) than for trophectoderm (CDX2-positive). The possible role for DNMT3B in developmental changes in methylation was evaluated by determining gene expression and degree of methylation. Steady-state mRNA for DNMT3B decreased from the 2-cell stage to a nadir for D 5 embryos >16 cells and then increased at the blastocyst stage. High resolution melting analysis was used to assess methylation of a CpG rich region in an intronic region of DNMT3B. Methylation percent decreased between the 6–8 cell and the blastocyst stage but there was no difference in methylation between ICM and TE. Results indicate that DNA methylation undergoes dynamic changes during the preimplantation period in a manner that is dependent upon gender and cell lineage. Developmental changes in expression of DNMT3B are indicative of a possible role in changes in methylation. Moreover, DNMT3B itself appears to be under epigenetic control by methylation.
Parasite richness and abundance in insular and mainland feral cats: insularity or density?

Hosts living on islands carry few parasite species, and the prevalence and intensity of directly transmitted parasites are often higher in insular than in mainland populations. However, it is unclear whether density or other features of insular populations can be responsible for the pattern observed. We compared the parasite richness, prevalence and intensity of parasites between 2 feral populations of cats living either at low density on an island (Kerguelen) or at high density on the mainland (Lyon). Parasite richness was higher in Lyon than in Kerguelen, where only Toxocara cati was found. T. cati egg prevalence was higher in Kerguelen (71·1%) than in Lyon (58·0%). Because cat density cannot explain this pattern, we propose that the low number of parasite species, the diet and/or immunity of cats act to increase prevalence in Kerguelen. Moreover, prevalence, intensity and variance-to-mean ratio increased with age and body mass in Kerguelen whereas, in Lyon, prevalence decreased with age and body mass. We hypothesize that the pattern of exposure differs between populations, and that density-dependent parasite mortality is lower in Kerguelen than in Lyon. We discuss the consequences concerning the influence of parasites on insular host populations.
Inpatient compared with home-based rehabilitation following primary unilateral total hip or knee replacement: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Home-based rehabilitation is increasingly utilized to reduce health-care costs; however, with a shorter hospital stay, the possibility arises for an increase in adverse clinical outcomes. We evaluated the effectiveness and cost of care of home-based compared with inpatient rehabilitation following primary total hip or knee joint replacement. METHODS We randomized 234 patients, using block randomization techniques, to either home-based or inpatient rehabilitation following total joint replacement. All patients followed standardized care pathways and were evaluated, with use of validated outcome measures (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC], Short Form-36, and patient satisfaction), prior to surgery and at three and twelve months following surgery. The primary outcome was the WOMAC function score at three months after surgery. RESULTS The mean length of stay (and standard deviation) in the acute care hospital was 6.3 +/- 2.5 days for the group designated for inpatient rehabilitation prior to transfer to that facility compared with 7.0 +/- 3.0 days for the home-based rehabilitation group prior to discharge home (p = 0.06). The mean length of stay in inpatient rehabilitation was 17.7 +/- 8.6 days. The mean number of postoperative home-based rehabilitation visits was eight. The prevalence of postoperative complications up to twelve months postoperatively was similar in both groups, which each had a 2% rate of dislocation and a 3% rate of clinically important deep venous thrombosis. The prevalence of infection was 0% in the home-based group and 2% in the inpatient group. None of these differences was clinically important. Both groups showed substantial improvements at three and twelve months, with no significant differences between the groups with respect to WOMAC, Short Form-36, or patient satisfaction scores (p > 0.05). The total episode-of-care costs (in Canadian dollars) for the inpatient rehabilitation and home-based rehabilitation arms were $14,532 and $11,082, respectively (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Despite concerns about early hospital discharge, there was no difference in pain, functional outcomes, or patient satisfaction between the group that received home-based rehabilitation and the group that had inpatient rehabilitation. On the basis of our findings, we recommend the use of a home-based rehabilitation protocol following elective primary total hip or knee replacement as it is the more cost-effective strategy.
The superlens as a filter of the spatial spectrum

Rüdiger Vahldieck has been one of the early pioneers in field-theoretical microwave filter design and optimization. His perspective of any multi-port as a filter has been evident in much of his later work and has led to new insights and innovative approaches in Computer-Aided Design of microwave and millimeter-wave components. Adopting Rüdiger's view, this paper treats the Veselago/Pendry Superlens from the perspective of a filter in k-space that processes the spatial spectrum of an electromagnetic image. It provides not only a fresh look at the nature of the superlens but also allows us to incorporate the effect of losses and the dynamic behavior of image formation.
Multi-fidelity optimization via surrogate modelling

This paper demonstrates the application of correlated Gaussian process based approximations to optimization where multiple levels of analysis are available, using an extension to the geostatistical method of co-kriging. An exchange algorithm is used to choose which points of the search space to sample within each level of analysis. The derivation of the co-kriging equations is presented in an intuitive manner, along with a new variance estimator to account for varying degrees of computational ‘noise’ in the multiple levels of analysis. A multi-fidelity wing optimization is used to demonstrate the methodology.
COMPARISON OF MOTIVATIONS FOR PARENT CARE BETWEEN KOREANS AND AMERICANS

This study compares filial motivations of Koreans with those of Americans and identifies cross-culturally equivalent, as well as country-specific types of filial motivations. Both groups cited "affection/love," "repayment/reciprocity," and "filial responsibility/obligation" as major forms of motivation. Despite cultural differences, there are similarities between the two groups in the relative emphasis on these qualitative dimensions of parent care. In other kinds of motivation, the two groups are dissimilar. For the Koreans, filial respect, family harmony, and filial sacrifice emerge as outstanding forms of motivation. These forms are not cited by the Americans. The reciprocity of the parent-child relationship, the influence of cultural traditions, and related issues are discussed in relation to filial motivation.
A standard picture of healthy oral mucosae by direct oral microscopy

Introduction Direct oral microscopy constitutes a novel technique of in vivo oral mucosae examination. The basic principles of this method derive from colposcopy and dermoscopy. The main goal of direct oral microscopy is the earliest possible detection of oral precancerous lesions in order to implement their treatment as quickly as possible and prevent malignant transformation. Aim To establish a standard picture of healthy oral mucosae with direct oral microscopy applying standard colposcopic criteria in order to create a reference point for further diagnosis of precancerous lesions. Material and methods Thirty patients of both genders with clinically unaltered oral mucosae were examined. For every individual, clinical examination with the naked eye was performed, followed by direct oral microscopy with colposcopic assessment criteria. Oral mucosae at various sites (lip, cheek, floor of mouth, ventral and lateral sides of the tongue, alveolar ridge and soft palate) were examined. Results Subepithelial blood vessel patterns, mucosal surface, colour tone and transparency were described for healthy oral mucosae. Moreover, cases with clinically unaltered oral mucosae where direct oral microscopy revealed subclinical alterations were described. Conclusions Direct oral microscopy with colposcopic assessment criteria enables establishment of a repeated picture of unaltered oral mucosae. The standard picture of healthy oral mucosae is an essential reference point for application of this technique to early diagnose potentially malignant oral mucosal lesions as well as apply their early treatment.
Bacteria From Marine Sponges: A Source of New Drugs.

BACKGROUND Sponges are rich source of bioactive natural products synthesized by the symbiotic bacteria belonging to different phyla. Due to a competition for space and nutrients the marine bacteria associated with sponges could produce more antibiotic substances. To explore the proactive potential of marine microbes extensive research has been done. These bioactive metabolites have some unique properties that are pharmaceutically important. METHODS For this review, we have performed a non-systematic search of the available literature though various online search engines. This review provides an insight that how majority of active metabolites have been identified from marine invertebrates of which sponges predominate. RESULTS Sponges harbor abundant and diverse microorganisms, which are the sources of a range of marine bioactive metabolites. From sponges and their associated microorganisms, approximately 5,300 different natural compounds are known. Current research on sponge-microbe interaction and their active metabolites has become a focal point for many researchers. Various active metabolites derived from sponges are now known to be produced by their symbiotic microflora. CONCLUSION In this review, we attempt to report the latest studies regarding capability of bacteria from sponges as producers of bioactive metabolite. Moreover, these sponge associated bacteria are an important source of different enzymes of industrial significance. In present review, we will address some novel approaches for discovering marine metabolites from bacteria that have the greatest potential to be used in clinical treatments.