Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bitter melon extract ameliorates palmitate-induced apoptosis via inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress in HepG2 cells and high-fat/high-fructose-diet-induced fatty liver

Background Bitter melon (BM) improves glucose level, lipid homeostasis, and insulin resistance in vivo. However, the preventive mechanism of BM in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been elucidated yet. Aim & Design To determine the protective mechanism of bitter melon extract (BME), we performed experiments in vitro and in vivo. BME were treated palmitate (PA)-administrated HepG2 cells. C57BL/6J mice were divided into two groups: high-fat/high-fructose (HF/HFr) without or with BME supplementation (100 mg/kg body weight). Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, and biochemical markers were then examined by western blot and real-time PCR analyses. Results BME significantly decreased expression levels of ER-stress markers (including phospho-eIF2α, CHOP, and phospho-JNK [Jun N-terminal kinases]) in PA-treated HepG2 cells. BME also significantly decreased the activity of cleaved caspase-3 (a well known apoptotic-induced molecule) and DNA fragmentation. The effect of BME on ER stress–mediated apoptosis in vitro was similarly observed in HF/HFr-fed mice in vivo. BME significantly reduced HF/HFr-induced hepatic triglyceride (TG) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as markers of hepatic damage in mice. In addition, BME ameliorated HF/HFr-induced serum TG and serum-free fatty acids. Conclusion These data indicate that BME has protective effects against ER stress mediated apoptosis in HepG2 cells as well as in HF/HFr-induced fatty liver of mouse. Therefore, BME might be useful for preventing and treating NAFLD.
Chronic Hippocampal Abnormalities and Blunted HPA Axis in an Animal Model of Repeated Unpredictable Stress

Incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) ranges from 3 to 30% in individuals exposed to traumatic events, with the highest prevalence in groups exposed to combat, torture, or rape. To date, only a few FDA approved drugs are available to treat PTSD, which only offer symptomatic relief and variable efficacy. There is, therefore, an urgent need to explore new concepts regarding the biological responses causing PTSD. Animal models are an appropriate platform for conducting such studies. Herein, we examined the chronic behavioral and neurobiological effects of repeated unpredictable stress (RUS) in a mouse model. 12 weeks-old C57BL/6J male mice were exposed to a 21-day RUS paradigm consisting of exposures to a predator odor (TMT) whilst under restraint, unstable social housing, inescapable footshocks and social isolation. Validity of the model was assessed by comprehensive examination of behavioral outcomes at an acute timepoint, 3 and 6 months post-RUS; and molecular profiling was also conducted on brain and plasma samples at the acute and 6 months timepoints. Stressed mice demonstrated recall of traumatic memories, passive stress coping behavior, acute anxiety, and weight gain deficits when compared to control mice. Immunoblotting of amygdala lysates showed a dysregulation in the p75NTR/ProBDNF, and glutamatergic signaling in stressed mice at the acute timepoint. At 6 months after RUS, stressed mice had lower plasma corticosterone, reduced hippocampal CA1 volume and reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. In addition, glucocorticoid regulatory protein FKBP5 was downregulated in the hypothalamus of stressed mice at the same timepoint, together implicating an impaired hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal-axis. Our model demonstrates chronic behavioral and neurobiological outcomes consistent with those reported in human PTSD cases and thus presents a platform through which to understand the neurobiology of stress and explore new therapeutic interventions.
Efficient Rectenna Design for Harvesting Microwave Power from SSPS System

The purpose of this work is to design an efficient and simple ground based rectenna system for receiving microwave power. The performance of designed system is tested in Advanced Design System (ADS) simulation environment. This system can receive microwave power from Space Solar Power Satellite (SSPS) system and convert microwave energy into Direct Current (DC). The ground based rectenna consists of microstrip patch antenna array with rectifier circuit using Schottky diode. The rectifier circuit consists of low pass filter, diode, matching circuit and Dickson charge pump voltage multiplier circuit. This multiplier circuit increases output voltage considering small input power. In this paper, 8 elements microstrip patch antenna array operated at 2.45 GHz frequency with high efficient rectifier circuit is designed. The simulation results show better gain and directivity of proposed rectenna system which increase the performance of existing SSPS systems.
Indexing Execution Patterns in Workflow Provenance Graphs through Generalized Trie Structures

Over the last years, scientific workflows have become mature enough to be used in a production style. However, despite the increasing maturity, there is still a shortage of tools for searching, adapting, and reusing workflows that hinders a more generalized adoption by the scientific communities. Indeed, due to the limited availability of machine-readable scientific metadata and the heterogeneity of workflow specification formats and representations, new ways to leverage alternative sources of information that complement existing approaches are needed. In this paper we address such limitations by applying statistically enriched generalized trie structures to exploit workflow execution provenance information in order to assist the analysis, indexing and search of scientific workflows. Our method bridges the gap between the description of what a workflow is supposed to do according to its specification and related metadata and what it actually does as recorded in its provenance execution trace. In doing so, we also prove that the proposed method outperforms SPARQL 1.1 Property Paths for querying provenance graphs.
IMPACT 2020: Predictions for the Next 10 Years of the Design Industry … and What to Do about it

Like the giant plates under the San Andreas Fault ever building the force that will someday result in a massive earthquake, the forces that will shatter traditional architectural and engineering practices are now in place and bulging like the molten dome in a waiting volcanic explosion. Designing our built environment as it is known today will be shattered over the next decade, giving birth to a bold new approach to how we shape the environment in which we live. Right now is the best opportunity to accelerate change in the design firm industry to capitalize on these predictions. Stretching our minds to grasp the inevitable future is a scary proposition, but holding onto the past will result in certain failure for individual firms and for the industry as a whole. Those bold enough and courageous enough to adopt a permanent culture of change will be the ones who lead the profession by 2020. It is clear that the next decade will bring with it unprecedented change. Design firm owners might see the earthquakes that are about to shake the architectural and engineering (A/E) industry as threats to the survival of their firms, but we should understand that the flux that will occur over the next decade offers huge opportunities for firms. I counsel you to plan ahead so as to take advantage of the incredible opportunities on the horizon! It is natural in today’s busy world for leaders of architecture and engineering firms to be singularly focused on day-to-day operations. But firm leaders need to keep one eye on the future and avoid becoming all-consumed by the churning grind of the here and now. People buried in the trenches are unaware of what is going on around them, but economic, political, social, and technological trends are changing the world and the design profession at an everquickening pace. These trends are global in nature, and they will have a very real impact on your design firm in the decade to come. One of the major blind spots among architecture and engineering professionals is a real failure to grasp the speed at which the world is changing. But think of all the staples of daily life that didn’t even exist ten years ago, such as high-definition televisions, the iPhone, YouTube, Twitter, and Wikipedia. It was only six years ago that four Harvard undergraduates developed a Web site out of their dorm room, mostly to help them meet girls on campus. Their invention was the social networking site Facebook, which now reports more than 750 million active users and is growing exponentially (it took just ten months between April 2009 and February 2010 for the number of Facebook users to double). Businesses are making decisions on much IMPACT 2020: Predictions for the Next 10 Years of the Design Industry . And What to Do About It
Classification accuracy performance of Naïve Bayesian (NB), Bayesian Networks (BN), Lazy Learning of Bayesian Rules (LBR) and Instance-Based Learner (IB1) - comparative study

In recent years the used of personalization in service provisioning applications has been very popular. However, effective personalization cannot be achieved without accurate user profiles. A number of classification algorithms have been used to classify user related information to create accurate user profiles. In this study four different classification algorithms which are; naive Bayesian (NB), Bayesian networks (BN), lazy learning of Bayesian rules (LBR) and instance-based learner (IB1) are compared using a set of user profile data. According to our simulation results NB and IB1 classifiers have the highest classification accuracy with the lowest error rate. The obtained simulation results have been evaluated against the existing works of support vector machines (SVMs), decision trees (DTs) and neural networks (NNs).
The Role of Efferocytosis in Autoimmune Diseases

Apoptosis happens continuously for millions of cells along with the active removal of apoptotic debris in order to maintain tissue homeostasis. In this respect, efferocytosis, i.e., the process of dead cell clearance, is orchestrated through cell exposure of a set of “find me,” “eat me,” and “tolerate me” signals facilitating the engulfment of dying cells through phagocytosis by macrophages and dendritic cells. The clearance of dead cells via phagocytes is of utmost importance to maintain the immune system tolerance to self-antigens. Accordingly, this biological activity prevents the release of autoantigens by dead cells, thus potentially suppressing the undesirable autoreactivity of immune cells and the appearance of inflammatory autoimmune disorders as systemic lupus erythematous and rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, the apoptosis pathways and their immune regulation were reviewed. Moreover, efferocytosis process and its impairment in association with some autoimmune diseases were discussed.
Psychiatric In-Patients Are More Likely to Meet Recommended Levels of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity If They Engage in Exercise and Sport Therapy Programs

Background: People with mental disorders engage in sedentary behaviors more often than their healthy counterparts. In Switzerland, nearly all psychiatric hospitals offer structured exercise and sport therapy as part of their standard therapeutic treatment. However, little is known about the degree to which psychiatric patients make use of these treatment offers. The aim of this study is to examine, in a sample of psychiatric in-patients (a) how many participate in the structured exercise and sport therapy programs offered by the clinic, (b) how many engage in exercise and sport activities on an individual basis, and (c) how many meet recommended levels of health-enhancing physical activity during their stay at the clinic. Furthermore, we examine whether those who engage in exercise and sport activities are more likely to meet internationally accepted physical activity recommendations. Methods: 107 psychiatric in-patients (49% women, Mage = 39.9 years) were recruited at three psychiatric clinics in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. All participants were engaged in treatment and received usual care. Based on accelerometer data, participants were classified as either meeting or not meeting physical activity recommendations (≥150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week). Participation in structured and individually performed exercise and sport activities was assessed with the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: In total, 57% of all patients met physical activity recommendations. 55% participated in structured exercise and sport therapy activities, whereas only 22% of all patients engaged in exercise and sport activities independently. Psychiatric patients were significantly more likely to meet recommended levels of health-enhancing physical activity if they engaged in at least 60 min per week of structured exercise and sport therapy or in at least 30 min of individually performed exercise and sport activity. Conclusions: Given that prolonged immobilization and sedentary behavior have harmful effects on patients' physical and mental well-being, promoting exercise and sport activities is an important endeavor in psychiatric care. Clinics currently succeed in involving between 50 and 60% of all patients in sufficient physical activity. While this is encouraging, more systematic efforts are needed to ensure that all patients get enough physical activity.
Incentivising Cooperation between Agents for Content Sharing

The performance of many emerging communication paradigms depend on high levels of cooperation amongst the peers in the network. Although an individual’s best strategy may be to selfishly consume resources without reciprocation, the optimal social performance requires agents in the network to behave in an altruistic manner. This paper considers a P2P data dissemination scenario, and applies an autonomic trust protocol that forms social network structures to incentive cooperation. Trust links are formed according to the simple criterion that ‘individuals seek to interact with others at least as cooperative as themselves’ and these links are used to prioritise the choice of peers to interact with. The success of the protocol is validated through a prisoner’s dilemma based simulation which uses the similarity of interest between peers to define pay-offs. While the variation in interests reduces the average payoff (per iteration) received by the most cooperative individuals, only the most ‘divergent’ and uncooperative nodes are heavily affected and ostracized from interaction by other cooperative nodes.
Conditional Random Fields as Recurrent Neural Networks for 3D Medical Imaging Segmentation

The Conditional Random Field as a Recurrent Neural Network layer is a recently proposed algorithm meant to be placed on top of an existing Fully-Convolutional Neural Network to improve the quality of semantic segmentation. In this paper, we test whether this algorithm, which was shown to improve semantic segmentation for 2D RGB images, is able to improve segmentation quality for 3D multi-modal medical images. We developed an implementation of the algorithm which works for any number of spatial dimensions, input/output image channels, and reference image channels. As far as we know this is the first publicly available implementation of this sort. We tested the algorithm with two distinct 3D medical imaging datasets, we concluded that the performance differences observed were not statistically significant. Finally, in the discussion section of the paper, we go into the reasons as to why this technique transfers poorly from natural images to medical images.
Distributed Second-order Convex Optimization

Convex optimization problems arise frequently in diverse machine learning (ML) applications. First-order methods, i.e., those that solely rely on the gradient information, are most commonly used to solve these problems. This choice is motivated by their simplicity and low per-iteration cost. Second-order methods that rely on curvature information through the dense Hessian matrix have, thus far, proven to be prohibitively expensive at scale, both in terms of computational and memory requirements. We present a novel multi-GPU distributed formulation of a second order (Newton-type) solver for convex finite sum minimization problems for multi-class classification. Our distributed formulation relies on the Alternating Direction of Multipliers Method (ADMM), which requires only one round of communication per-iteration -- significantly reducing communication overheads, while incurring minimal convergence overhead. By leveraging the computational capabilities of GPUs, we demonstrate that per-iteration costs of Newton-type methods can be significantly reduced to be on-par with, if not better than, state-of-the-art first-order alternatives. Given their significantly faster convergence rates, we demonstrate that our methods can process large data-sets in much shorter time (orders of magnitude in many cases) compared to existing first and second order methods, while yielding similar test-accuracy results.
Dietary Pattern, Hypertension and Cognitive Function in an Older Population: 10-Year Longitudinal Survey

Background: There is a paucity of studies that have explored the association between dietary pattern and cognitive function, and whether there is an interaction between dietary pattern and hypertension in relation to older people's cognitive functioning. Methods: We analyzed data from the China Health and Nutrition (CHNS) survey. Dietary data have been collected since 1991, and cognitive function interview data were collected between 1997 and 2006. We analyzed ten years of data, including 4,847 participants with 10,658 observations (aged ≥55 years). Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify dietary patterns. Cognitive function measures include cognitive global scores and verbal memory scores. Linear mixed models were used to investigate the association between dietary patterns, hypertension and cognitive function. Results: Three dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis, named “Traditional Chinese,” “Protein-rich,” and “Starch-rich” dietary pattern. A Protein-rich dietary pattern (high intake of milk, eggs and soymilk) was significantly associated with higher cognitive global scores and verbal memory scores, while the starch-rich dietary pattern (high intake of salted vegetable and legumes) was significantly associated with lower cognitive global and verbal memory scores. In addition, we found that participants with hypertension were independently associated with significant low cognitive function. Conclusion: The study reinforces the importance of diet in preventing cognitive decline among the older population. Identification of older populations who had hypertension should be targeted in intervention studies to maintain their cognitive health.
Prestin Contributes to Membrane Compartmentalization and Is Required for Normal Innervation of Outer Hair Cells

Outer hair cells (OHC) act as amplifiers and their function is modified by medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferents. The unique OHC motor protein, prestin, provides the molecular basis for somatic electromotility, which is required for sensitivity and frequency selectivity, the hallmarks of mammalian hearing. Prestin proteins are the major component of the lateral membrane of mature OHCs, which separates apical and basal domains. To investigate the contribution of prestin to this unique arrangement, we compared the distribution of membrane proteins in OHCs of wildtype (WT) and prestin-knockout (KO) mice. In WT, the apical protein PMCA2 was exclusively localized to the hair bundles, while it was also found at the lateral membrane in KOs. Similarly, a basal protein KCNQ4 did not coalesce at the base of OHCs but was widely dispersed in mice lacking prestin. Since the expression levels of PMCA2 and KCNQ4 remained unchanged in KOs, the data indicate that prestin is required for the normal distribution of apical and basal membrane proteins in OHCs. Since OHC synapses predominate in the basal subnuclear region, we also examined the synaptic architecture in prestin-KO mice. Although neurite densities were not affected, MOC efferent terminals in prestin-KO mice were no longer constrained to the basal pole as in WT. This trend was evident as early as at postnatal day 12. Furthermore, terminals were often enlarged and frequently appeared as singlets when compared to the multiple clusters of individual terminals in WT. This abnormality in MOC synaptic morphology in prestin-KO mice is similar to defects in mice lacking MOC pathway proteins such as α9/α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and BK channels, indicating a role for prestin in the proper establishment of MOC synapses. To investigate the contribution of prestin’s electromotility, we also examined OHCs from a mouse model that expresses non-functional prestin (499-prestin). We found no changes in PMCA2 localization and MOC synaptic morphology in OHCs from 499-prestin mice. Taken together, these results indicate that prestin, independent of its motile function, plays an important structural role in membrane compartmentalization, which is required for the formation of normal efferent-OHC synapses in mature OHCs.
Improving diets and nutrition: food-based approaches.

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