Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relieving Effects of BrainPower Advanced, a Dietary Supplement, in Older Adults with Subjective Memory Complaints: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Subjective memory complaints (SMCs) are common in older adults that can often predict further cognitive impairment. No proven effective agents are available for SMCs. The effect of BrainPower Advanced, a dietary supplement consisting of herbal extracts, nutrients, and vitamins, was evaluated in 98 volunteers with SMCs, averaging 67 years of age (47–88), in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjective hypomnesis/memory loss (SML) and attention/concentration deficits (SAD) were evaluated before and after 12-week supplementation of BrainPower Advanced capsules (n = 47) or placebo (n = 51), using a 5-point memory questionnaire (1 = no/slight, 5 = severe). Objective memory function was evaluated using 3 subtests of visual/audio memory, abstraction, and memory recall that gave a combined total score. The BrainPower Advanced group had more cases of severe SML (severity ⩾ 3) (44/47) and severe SAD (43/47) than the placebo group (39/51 and 37/51, < 0.05, < 0.05, resp.) before the treatment. BrainPower Advanced intervention, however, improved a greater proportion of the severe SML (29.5%)(13/44) (P < 0.01) and SAD (34.9%)(15/43)(P < 0.01) than placebo (5.1% (2/39) and 13.5% (5/37), resp. ). Thus, 3-month BrainPower Advanced supplementation appears to be beneficial to older adults with SMCs.
Identification of basic fibroblast growth factor as a cholinergic growth factor from human muscle

Dissociated embryonic chick ciliary ganglion cells in culture were used as a bioassay to isolate a cholinergic growth‐promoting protein from extracts of autopsied adult human muscle. An active protein was purified after acid and salt precipitation of extract, cation exchange, molecular sieving, heparin affinity chromatography, and in some cases, SDS‐PAGE. This protein increased levels of choline acetyltransferase activity and ACh synthesis with time in culture. The protein was identified as basic FGF by several criteria. It shared the high affinity for heparin and was the same approximate molecular weight, 18 kD, as basic FGF. Activity was removed from solution by antibodies specific for basic FGF. Recombinant human basic FGF was equally effective in stimulating CAT activity, but was not additive with our purified protein at saturating concentrations. Basic FGF was also found in extracellular matrix and conditioned medium from cultured embryonic chick muscle. The activity could be released from extracellular matrix by treatment with heparinase or high salt extraction. Basic FGF stimulates neurite outgrowth as well as the capacity for transmitter synthesis. Thus, basic FGF is present in embryonic and adult muscle and capable of acting as a growth regulator for cholinergic neurons.
Cytoplasmic LRIG2 expression is associated with poor oligodendroglioma patient survival

The three leucine‐rich repeats and immunoglobulin‐like domains (LRIG) genes encode integral membrane proteins. Of these, LRIG1 negatively regulates growth factor signaling and is implicated as a tumor suppressor in certain malignancies. In astrocytic tumors, the subcellular distribution of LRIG proteins is associated with specific clinicopathological features and patient survival. The role of LRIG proteins in oligodendroglioma has not previously been studied. Here we used immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression of the LRIG proteins in 63 oligodendroglial tumors, and evaluated possible associations between LRIG protein expression and clinicopathological parameters. Notably, cytoplasmic LRIG2 expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor associated with poor oligodendroglioma patient survival. This is the first report of an LRIG protein showing a negative effect on survival, suggesting that LRIG2 might have a function different from that of LRIG1, and possibly contributing to the etiology of oligodendroglioma.
Yeast as a Tool to Study Signaling Pathways in Mitochondrial Stress Response and Cytoprotection

Cell homeostasis results from the balance between cell capability to adapt or succumb to environmental stress. Mitochondria, in addition to supplying cellular energy, are involved in a range of processes deciding about cellular life or death. The crucial role of mitochondria in cell death is well recognized. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with the death process and the onset of numerous diseases. Yet, mitochondrial involvement in cellular adaptation to stress is still largely unexplored. Strong interest exists in pharmacological manipulation of mitochondrial metabolism and signaling. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven a valuable model organism in which several intracellular processes have been characterized in great detail, including the retrograde response to mitochondrial dysfunction and, more recently, programmed cell death. In this paper we review experimental evidences of mitochondrial involvement in cytoprotection and propose yeast as a model system to investigate the role of mitochondria in the cross-talk between prosurvival and prodeath pathways.
Book review: Corporate Social Responsibility in Asia

convincing backdrop for the development and emergence of a combined third-order system, and they note that this outcome was not the result of government interest alone. Moreover, they contend that a number of ‘social systems’ converged at key times to facilitate change, which is couched in terms of a roughly coordinated communicative process. They conclude by posing questions of this third-order system, and of particular note is the discussion on how the second-order systems strategise their involvement (or perhaps collaboration) with the third. Accountability is the theme of Section 3, and Richard Hull takes the illustrative case of communityowned broadband to show that even relatively humble community organisations can be subject to the influence of political power. In his auto-ethnographic study, Hull describes the creation of a community cooperative that, over the period of several years, suffered several mishaps that he interprets as ‘elite patronage’. Thus, in terms of accountability, the misconduct, as he describes, is conceived as a collective response to clientelism and is symptomatic, therefore, of issues already raised about the uncomfortable fits between the state and market. The final section concludes with chapters concerned with Hybridity, and Marlene Le Ber and Oana Branzei examine business model innovation using a feminist analysis of a historical case study. The innovations they focus on are those shown via Goodwill Industries International (GII), and they explain that such innovations can assist in tackling three core social problems: marginalisation, co-optation and subordination. They situate this claim on the premise that such research sits between the critical management agenda and mainstream business research. The case analysis shows not only that core social problems can be alleviated though innovation driven by hybridity, but also a complimentary approach can manage these multiple issues effectively. In their chapter, the authors also expose the tension in this kind of research where problems are either overor under-problematised. In summary, this book provides a useful addition to the growing critical literature on the Third Sector and their constituent organisations. Many of the chapters latch on to current or emergent issues in the field and offer a much needed international perspective that is sometimes lacking in Third Sector research originating in the United Kingdom. As such, the approach followed in convening the contributions of this book is novel and rather refreshing. Furthermore, they add helpfully to the ongoing conversations between academics, practitioners and policy makers in developing a more rounded critique.
Multi-scale analysis of skin hyper-pigmentation evolution

In this paper, we use statistical inference and muti-spectral images to quantify the evolution of skin hyper-pigmentation lesions under treatment. We show that statistical inference allows getting change maps of the disease which can be useful for dermatologists to analyze the disease evolution. Indeed, a local change map is obtained by computing the deviation between two multi-spectral images in a region of interest (ROI). Then, we normalize the obtained map and develop a statistical inference framework to quantify the changes. Finally, we propose a criterion that integrates change maps in order to quantify the treatment efficacy on a patient.
Sexuality and Marital Life: Results of a Survey

This article presents the results of a telephone survey regarding the conjugal and sex life of men and women from the Montreal region. Surprising as it may seem, the relationship between sexual and marital functioning within the couple has been the focus of little study to date. In fact, relatively little is known about the relationship among sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, sexual fantasies, and marital functioning. In this survey, a questionnaire covering these four variables was administered to 996 subjects chosen at random. The results indicate that women seem to have a more positive perception of their sexual behavior, whereas men seem to have a more positive perception of their marital life. Multiple regression analyses were run to examine the relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual functioning. The links between sexual satisfaction and other items of the questionnaire concerning sexual behavior, sexual attitudes, and sexual fantasies were also analyzed. For this purpose, we subdivided the subjects into two age groups (under 60 and 60 and over) based on the loss of interest in sexual activity that the questionnaire allowed to discern in the 60+ group. The relationship between marital functioning and items related to sexual behavior proved statistically significant. Various items pertaining to sexual functioning also proved to be related to a global assessment of sexual satisfaction. Cognitive variables (sexual attitudes and sexual fantasies) were found to influence sexual satisfaction but had a lesser impact on marital functioning. Gender and age (under 60 or 60 and over) also had an effect on these relationships.
Process of Irradiation Effectiveness of Irradiation Issues of Concern Destruction of Vitamins Formation of Lipid Oxides Radiolytic Products in Foods Packaging Materials Regulatory Status of Irradiation Summary

The continuing saga of foodborne disease outbreaks as reported in scientific publications and the popular press has raised consumer anxiety about foodborne illness and revitalized interest in irradiation as a method for eliminating or reducing foodborne pathogens.In addition to the well-known problems of salmonellae on poultry products, E. coli O157:H7 in hamburger, and, most recently, Listeria in packaged meats, there have been numerous reports of Vibrio spp. in shellfish and of fresh fruits and vegetables contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and parasites such as Cyclospora. Irradiation has the potential to enhance food safety for both fresh foods that will be consumed raw and for raw foods that will be further processed. Many of the recent, well-publicized, large recalls of hamburger and other meats have raised consumer awareness of the particular significance of food safety for the young, the old, and those with impaired immune systems. These factors and better education of consumers about what irradiation of food involves and what it does (and does not do) to foods appear to have increased consumer acceptance of irradiation as one means of producing safe foods.
Channel Estimation with Space-Time Windowing in MIMO PE-SDM Transmission

In a frequency-selective MIMO channel, the optimum beamforming is achieved by using eigenvectors, i.e., eigenbeam-space division multiplexing (E-SDM), in the frequency domain. However, the calculation load of eigenvalue decomposition increases in proportion to the number of FFT points. In addition, eigenvectors without consideration of frequency continuity increase the delay spread of the effective channel observed at the receiver. To solve these issues, a pseudo eigenvector technique has been proposed. It has also been reported that a pseudo E-SDM (PE-SDM) technique can provide almost the same or better performance compared with the E-SDM when the receiver employs a simple channel estimator with time windowing. In this paper, focusing on the calculating process of pseudo eigenvectors, we propose a spatial windowing scheme improving the accuracy of the effective channel estimates. The simulation results show that the accuracy in the PE-SDM can be improved by combining the proposed scheme with the conventional time windowing scheme.
Multimedia teaching and learning for computer networks subject in the direct problem-based learning approach: A pilot study

This study investigates the impacts of multimedia teaching and learning for Computer Networks subject in the direct problem-based learning (m-DPBL) approach, especially impacts of the students' attitude, students' interest, students' creative thinking and students' teamwork skills. Third-year students (N=30) who took Computer Networks subject from Informatics Engineering department in Dian Nuswantoro University Indonesia and one Computer Networks lecturer in the sample class participated in this pilot study. The result of this pilot study shows that most of the students were agreed that the m-DPBL could be used as a medium of instruction in the classroom.
Muscle spindle and fusimotor activity in locomotion

Mammals may exhibit different forms of locomotion even within a species. A particular form of locomotion (e.g. walk, run, bound) appears to be selected by supraspinal commands, but the precise pattern, i.e. phasing of limbs and muscles, is generated within the spinal cord by so‐called central pattern generators. Peripheral sense organs, particularly the muscle spindle, play a crucial role in modulating the central pattern generator output. In turn, the feedback from muscle spindles is itself modulated by static and dynamic fusimotor (gamma) neurons. The activity of muscle spindle afferents and fusimotor neurons during locomotion in the cat is reviewed here. There is evidence for some alpha–gamma co‐activation during locomotion involving static gamma motoneurons. However, both static and dynamic gamma motoneurons show patterns of modulation that are distinct from alpha motoneuron activity. It has been proposed that static gamma activity may drive muscle spindle secondary endings to signal the intended movement to the central nervous system. Dynamic gamma motoneuron drive appears to prime muscle spindle primary endings to signal transitions in phase of the locomotor cycle. These findings come largely from reduced animal preparations (decerebrate) and require confirmation in freely moving intact animals.
The Role of Mothers' Marital Satisfaction on Predicting Anxiety and Self- Concept of Female Adolescents

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mothers' marital satisfaction on the prediction of self-concept and anxiety of female adolescents. The study was a descriptive and correlation research. The population of the study consisted of all female students in the third grade of guidance schools of Tehran in the academic year 2011-2012 (1390-91s.c.). 144 students of fourth education region in Tehran were selected through cluster random sampling. Research instruments included Cattell's Anxiety Questionnaire (1960), Carl Rogers' Self-concept Questionnaire (1957) and short form of ENRICH Marital inventory (Olson, 1989). The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The results of the study indicated that mothers' marital satisfaction, communication, conflict resolution and idealistic distortion can predict anxiety in female adolescents (P<0.05). Also, mothers' marital satisfaction (P<0.01), communication (P<0.05), conflict resolution (P<0.05), and idealistic distortion (P<0.01) can predict self- concept in female adolescents. Moreover, subscales of Marital satisfaction can predict 25% of variation in anxiety and 33% of variation in self-concept of female adolescents (P<0.01). In sum, the results of the study indicate that mothers' marital satisfaction has a role in predicting anxiety and self-concept of female adolescents.
Assessing Sensitivity to Unmeasured Confounding Using a Simulated Potential Confounder

ABSTRACT A major obstacle to developing evidenced-based policy is the difficulty of implementing randomized experiments to answer all causal questions of interest. When using a nonexperimental study, it is critical to assess how much the results could be affected by unmeasured confounding. We present a set of graphical and numeric tools to explore the sensitivity of causal estimates to the presence of an unmeasured confounder. We characterize the confounder through two parameters that describe the relationships between (a) the confounder and the treatment assignment and (b) the confounder and the outcome variable. Our approach has two primary advantages over similar approaches that are currently implemented in standard software. First, it can be applied to both continuous and binary treatment variables. Second, our method for binary treatment variables allows the researcher to specify three possible estimands (average treatment effect, effect of the treatment on the treated, effect of the treatment on the controls). These options are all implemented in an R package called treatSens. We demonstrate the efficacy of the method through simulations. We illustrate its potential usefulness in practice in the context of two policy applications.
Line graph explorer: scalable display of line graphs using Focus+Context

Scientific measurements are often depicted as line graphs. State-of-the-art high throughput systems in life sciences, telemetry and electronics measurement rapidly generate hundreds to thousands of such graphs. Despite the increasing volume and ubiquity of such data, few software systems provide efficient interactive management, navigation and exploratory analysis of large line graph collections. To address these issues, we have developed Line Graph Explorer (LGE). LGE is a novel and visually scalable line graph management system that supports facile navigation and interactive visual analysis. LGE provides a compact overview of the entire collection by encoding the y-dimension of individual line graphs with color instead of space, thus enabling the analyst to see major common features and alignments of the data. Using Focus+Context techniques, LGE provides interactions for viewing selected compressed graphs in detail as standard line graphs without losing a sense of the general pattern and major features of the collection. To further enhance visualization and pattern discovery, LGE provides sorting and clustering of line graphs based on similarity of selected graph features. Sequential sorting by associated line graph metadata is also supported. We illustrate the features and use of LGE with examples from meteorology and biology.
Influence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on Drosophila melanogaster longevity

Most age-related diseases and aging itself are associated with chronic inflammation. Thus pharmacological inhibition of inflammatory processes may be effective antiaging strategy. In this study we demonstrated that treatment of Drosophila melanogaster with 10 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: CAY10404, aspirin, APHS, SC-560, NS-398, SC-58125, valeroyl salicylate, trans-resveratrol, valdecoxib, licofelone) leads to extension of lifespan, delays age-dependent decline of locomotor activity and increases stress resistance. The effect of the lifespan increase was associated with decrease of fecundity. Depending on the concentration, NSAIDs demonstrated both anti- and pro-oxidant properties in Drosophila tissues. However, we failed to identify clear correlation between antioxidant properties of NSAIDs and their pro-longevity effects. The lifespan extending effects of APHS, SC-58125, valeroyl salicylate, trans-resveratrol, valdecoxib, and licofelone were more pronounced in males, valdecoxib and aspirin - in females. We demonstrated that lifespan extension effect of NSAIDs was abolished in flies with defective genes involved in Pkh2-ypk1-lem3-tat2 pathway.
A national survey on myocarditis associated with the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic in Japan.

BACKGROUND An influenza pandemic occurred in 2009 and myocarditis associated with the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic was reported among hospitalized patients from August 2009. METHODS AND RESULTS The Japanese Circulation Society organized the Clinical Research Committee on Myocarditis Associated with Influenza Pandemic A (H1N1) 2009 and called for a case report on myocarditis for a national survey. The diagnosis of myocarditis was performed using the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Myocarditis (JCS 2009). Fifteen patients were reported to the committee. Fulminant myocarditis developed in 10 patients. Mechanical circulatory support (intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) and/or percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS)) was used on all 10 patients, 8 of whom were rescued. Abnormalities on echocardiography and elevated cardiac enzymes were seen in most of the patients. Myocarditis was found by endomyocardial biopsy in 6 patients. Three patients had complications with pneumonia. CONCLUSIONS In reality, myocarditis associated with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) seemed to be more common in hospitalized patients, compared with previous seasonal influenza virus outbreaks. To avoid misdiagnosis of acute myocarditis associated with influenza pandemic A (H1N1) 2009, it is essential to determine the characteristic symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings of acute myocarditis during influenza pandemics. Mechanical circulatory support (IABP and/or PCPS) was required to rescue patients with fulminant myocarditis.
Birthweight-adjusted Dubowitz methods: reducing misclassification of assessments of gestational age in a Zimbabwean population.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the performance and the utility of using birthweight-adjusted scores of the Dubowitz method of estimating gestational age in a Zimbabwean population. DESIGN A validation study. SETTING Harare Maternity Hospital, from October to December 1999. SUBJECTS 364 African newborn infants with a known last menstrual period (LMP), within the first 56 hours of life. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Differences between regression lines and variances explained by Dubowitz scores obtained by examining newborn infants compared to gestational age calculated from the last menstrual period, in models with and without the addition of birthweight. RESULTS The Dubowitz method was a good predictor of gestational age, useful in differentiating term from pre-term infants. The beta coefficients from regression lines with and without addition of birthweight differed significantly from each other (z = 2.83, p < 0.01). Our regression line without adding birthweight was Y(LMP gestational age) = 23.814 + 0.301* score. Addition of birthweight to the regression models improved prediction of gestational age, Y(LMP gestational age) = 23.512 + 0.219* score + 0.0015* grams, and accounted for 69% of the variance compared to 66% in models without birthweight. CONCLUSION The introduction of birthweight improves estimation of gestational age, correcting for the overestimation reported for the original Dubowitz methods and the error caused by low birthweight. We recommend the use of our birthweight-adjusted Dubowitz maturity scales for studies of prematurity, and for routine clinical practice.