Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pterostilbene: Biomedical applications

Abstract Resveratrol and its naturally dimethylated analog, pterostilbene, show similar biological activities. However, the higher in vivo bioavailability of pterostilbene represents a fundamental advantage. The main focus of this review is on biomedical applications of pterostilbene. The metabolism and pharmacokinetics of this stilbene in inflammatory dermatoses and photoprotection, cancer prevention and therapy, insulin sensitivity, blood glycemia and lipid levels, cardiovascular diseases, aging, and memory and cognition are addressed. Safety and toxicity, as well as recommendations for future research and biomedical uses, are discussed. This review includes comparisons between pterostilbene and other polyphenols, with particular emphasis on resveratrol. Potential benefits of using combinations of different polyphenols are considered. Based on present evidences we conclude that pterostilbene is an active phytonutrient and also a potential drug with multiple biomedical applications.
The concentration of offenders in families, and family criminality in the prediction of boys' delinquency.

The main aims of this study were to investigate inter-relationships among offending by three generations of relatives (fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, uncles, aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers) and the concentration of offending in families. This study also investigates how far criminal relatives predict a boy's delinquency. The parents of 1395 Pittsburgh boys aged 8, 11 or 14 reported arrests by all relatives. Parent reports of boys' arrests predicted their later referrals to juvenile court, demonstrating predictive validity. Offenders were highly concentrated in families; if one relative had been arrested, there was a high likelihood that another relative had also been arrested. Arrests of relatives were compared with arrests of the boy, court petitions of the boy, and the boy's reported delinquency (according to the parent, boy and teacher). Arrests of brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, grandfathers and grandmothers all predicted the boy's delinquency. The most important relative was the father; arrests of the father predicted the boy's delinquency independently of all other arrested relatives. Studies of explanatory variables suggested that having a young mother, living in a bad neighbourhood, and low guilt of the boy may be links in the causal chain between arrested fathers and delinquent boys.
The hypoglycemic effects of American red ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on a diabetic mouse model.

UNLABELLED American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) root health benefits include treatment of type 2 diabetes and this study evaluated the hypoglycemic effects of American red ginseng (ARG). ARG roots have increased bioactive phenolic contents, such as cinnamic acid and ferulic acid during the steaming process. The antihyperglycemic effects of methanol fraction extract of ARG, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid were examined using a type 2 diabetic mouse model. The ARG treated group presented relatively lower blood glucose levels than the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the glycogen and high density lipoprotein (HDL) contents were significantly increased while levels of plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration were significantly decreased in the ARG treated group. The groups treated with ferulic and cinnamic acids showed similar effects as those found in the ARG treated group. Thus, it is suggested that ARG roots, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid have hypoglycemic effects in an animal model. PRACTICAL APPLICATION This study was conducted to elucidate the hypoglycemic effects of American red ginseng (ARG) using a type 2 diabetic mouse model. ARG showed an enhanced antioxidant capacity and higher antihyperglycemia effect. The glycogen and high density lipoprotein (HDL) contents were significantly increased while levels of plasma cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration were significantly decreased in the ARG treated group. It is suggested that ARG has a potential to be used for human diabetic treatment.
Effective stimulus for the xenopus laevis lateral‐line hair‐cell system

An in vitro preparation of the lateral‐line organ of the African clawed toad Xenopus laevis was used to evaluate the properties of the physiological stimuli which are most effective in evoking neural responses in this simple hair‐cell system. Changes in the mean firing rate and the amount of modulation of the neural activity in the fibers innervating the hair cells were determined during the presentation of well‐controlled pressure or water‐movement stimuli in a specially designed chamber that prevented movement and deformation of the organ during stimulation.
Variations on Inductive-Recursive Definitions

Dybjer and Setzer introduced the definitional principle of inductive-recursively defined families - i.e. of families (U : Set, T : U -> D) such that the inductive definition of U may depend on the recursively defined T --- by defining a type DS D E of codes. Each c : DS D E defines a functor [c] : Fam D -> Fam E, and (U, T) = \mu [c] : Fam D is exhibited as the initial algebra of [c]. This paper considers the composition of DS-definable functors: Given F : Fam C -> Fam D and G : Fam D -> Fam E, is G \circ F : Fam C -> Fam E DS-definable, if F and G are? We show that this is the case if and only if powers of families are DS-definable, which seems unlikely. To construct composition, we present two new systems UF and PN of codes for inductive-recursive definitions, with UF a subsytem of DS a subsystem of PN. Both UF and PN are closed under composition. Since PN defines a potentially larger class of functors, we show that there is a model where initial algebras of PN-functors exist by adapting Dybjer-Setzer's proof for DS.
Bayesian Analysis of Repeated Events Using Event-Dependent Frailty Models: An Application to Behavioral Observation Data

In social interaction studies, one commonly encounters repeated displays of behaviors along with their duration data. Statistical methods for the analysis of such data use either parametric (e.g., Weibull) or semi-nonparametric (e.g., Cox) proportional hazard models, modified to include random effects (frailty) which account for the correlation of repeated occurrences of behaviors within a unit (dyad). However, dyad-specific random effects by themselves are not able to account for the ordering of event occurrences within dyads. The occurrence of an event (behavior) can make further occurrences of the same behavior to be more or less likely during an interaction. This article develops event-dependent random effects models for analyzing repeated behaviors data using a Bayesian approach. The models are illustrated by a dataset relating to emotion regulation in families with children who have behavioral or emotional problems.
The effect of atypical versus typical antipsychotics on tardive dyskinesia: a naturalistic study.

OBJECTIVE The aim was testing whether atypical antipsychotics (versus typicals) were associated with less risk of tardive dyskinesia (TD) in 516 severely mentally ill patients. METHODS The sample included 11% (57/516) with no exposure before current treatment with atypicals; 9% (48/516) with prior and current treatment with atypicals but no exposure to typicals; 18% (94/516) with lifetime exposure to typicals for <5 years (plus atypicals); and 62% (317/516) with lifetime exposure to typicals for >or=5 years (plus atypicals). The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) was used to assess dyskinetic movements. Following Schooler and Kane's criteria TD was considered present when mild movements were present in at least two body areas or moderate movements were present in at least one body area. RESULTS TD prevalences were 5% (3/57) in previously naïve patients, 19% (9/48) after exposure only to atypicals, 19% (18/94) after typical exposure of <5 years, and 42% (132/317) after typical exposure of >or=5 years. There was no significant effect comparing those taking only atypicals to those exposed to typicals for <5 years (OR = 1.0, CI 0.42-2.5). CONCLUSION This study is limited by the naturalistic design, the relatively small samples in the first two groups, the lack of information on the duration of the atypicals and their relatively recent introduction to the market (ziprasidone and aripiprazole were introduced to the market in the middle of the study). This study raises the question that new TD studies need to establish whether decades of treatment with atypical antipsychotics make a difference.
Konzeptuelle Modellierung für modellgetriebene Decision Support Systeme

1.1 Problemstellung Entscheidungsunterstutzungsoder Decision Support Systeme (DSS) sind nach Alter (1996) ursprunglich computer-basierte Systeme, die den Benutzer bei der Identifikation und Auswahl geeigneter Entscheidungsalternativen in Situationen, zu denen keine Erfahrungen oder praktischen Losungsansatze vorliegen, unterstutzen. Die Auffassung der Special Interest Group on Decision Support, Knowledge and Data Management Systems der Association for Information Systems aus dem angloamerikanischen Raum DSS in die Klassen kommunikations-, daten-, dokumenten-, wissensund modellgetriebene Systeme zu unterscheiden, findet heute im wissenschaftlichen Raum weltweit Unterstutzung (Turban, Aronson, Liang & Sharda, 2007) und soll auch diesem Forschungsvorhaben zugrunde liegen. Modellgetriebene Decision Support Systeme (MDSS) werden oft auch synonym Spreadsheet-basierte DSS genannt, da Spreadsheet Pakete, wie z.B. Microsoft Excel, oft fur die Implementierung solcher Systeme herangezogen werden (Turban et al., 2007; Holsapple und Whinston, 1996; Power und Sharda, 2007).
Spring viraemia of carp virus induces autophagy for necessary viral replication

Outbreaks of spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) in several carp species and other cultivated fish can cause significant mortality and jeopardize the billion‐dollar worldwide fish industry. Spring viraemia of carp virus, also known as Rhabdovirus carpio, is a bullet‐shaped RNA virus that enters and amplifies in gill epithelium and later spreads to internal organs. Young fish under stressed conditions (spring cold water, etc.) are more vulnerable to SVCV‐induced lethality because of their lack of a mature immune system. Currently, the host response of SVCV remains largely unknown. Here, we observed that autophagy is activated in SVCV‐infected epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells. We demonstrated that the SVCV glycoprotein, rather than viral replication, activates the autophagy pathway. In addition, SVCV utilized the autophagy pathway to facilitate its own genomic RNA replication and to enhance its titres in the supernatants. Autophagy promoted the survival of SVCV‐infected cells by eliminating damaged mitochondrial DNA generated during viral infection. We further showed that SVCV induces autophagy in EPC cells through the ERK/mTOR signalling pathway. Our results reveal a connection between autophagy and SVCV replication and propose autophagy suppression as a novel means to restrict SVCV viral replication.
Intimate Cell Conjugate Formation and Exchange of Membrane Lipids Precede Apoptosis Induction in Target Cells during Antibody-Dependent, Granulocyte-Mediated Cytotoxicity1

Ab-dependent polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN)-mediated cytotoxicity may play an important role in the control of malignant diseases. However, little is known as to which particular pathways are used for the killing of malignant cells by PMN. The production of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROI) has been observed to occur during Ab-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, PMN from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease demonstrated strong ADCC against malignant lymphoma cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of ROI production in PMN from healthy donors had no significant effect on ADCC. Therefore, ROI production by the NADPH oxidase of PMN does not appear to be mandatory for PMN-mediated ADCC. Recent data suggest a role for perforins in PMN-mediated cytotoxicity. However, in our assays concanamycin A, an inhibitor of perforin-mediated ADCC by mononuclear cells, had no inhibitory effect on PMN-mediated ADCC. Using electron microscopy we observed that PMN and their target cells intimately interact with the formation of interdigitating membrane protrusions. During PMN and target cell contact there was a mutual exchange of fluorescent membrane lipid dyes that was strongly increased in the presence of tumor-targeting Abs. This observation may be closely related to the recently described process of trogocytosis by lymphocytes. The presence of transient PMN-tumor cell aggregates and the accumulation of PMN with tumor cell-derived membrane lipids and vice versa were associated with effective ADCC as measured by chromium-release or apoptosis induction.
Nervous System Sensitization as a Predictor of Outcome in the Treatment of Peripheral Musculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review

Research suggests that peripheral and central nervous system sensitization can contribute to the overall pain experience in peripheral musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. It is unclear, however, whether sensitization of the nervous system results in poorer outcomes following the treatment. This systematic review investigated whether nervous system sensitization in peripheral MSK conditions predicts poorer clinical outcomes in response to a surgical or conservative intervention.
Affine visual servoing for robot relative positioning and landmark-based docking

This paper addresses the problem of positioning a robot camera with respect to a fixed object in space by means of visual information. The ultimate goal of positioning is to achieve and/or to maintain a given spatial configuration (position and orientation) with respect to the objects in the environment so as to execute at best the task at hand. Positioning involves the control of 6 d.o. f. in space, which are conveniently referred to as the parameters of the transformation between a camera-centered frame and an object-centered frame. In this paper, we will address the positioning problem referring to these d.o. f. 's, regardless of the specific robot configuration used to move the camera (e.g. eye-in-hand setup, navigation platform with a robot head mounted on it, etc.). The domain of application ranges from navigation tasks, (e.g. localization, docking, steering by means of natural landmarks), grasping and manipulation tasks, and autonomous/intelligent tasks based on active visual behaviors such as reading.
A novel self-aligned T-shaped gate process for deep submicron Si MOSFET's fabrication

T-shaped gate electrode is highly desired for high-speed FET fabrication since it can significantly reduce the gate resistance. In this study, we propose and demonstrate a self-aligned method of forming T-shaped gate which is suitable for ULSI Si-MOSFET's fabrication. This method employs CMP planarization, BOE selective etching and poly-Si sidewall spacer techniques to form the T-shaped poly-Si gate structure. Ti and Co silicidation were also incorporated to demonstrate the effectiveness of this process. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed process not only reduces the parasitic gate resistance, but also improves the thermal stability of the gate structure.
Identiﬁcation of antioxidant compound from Asparagus racemosus

Roots of Asparagus racemosus were found to possess antioxidant property. DPPH autography‐directed separation resulted in the identiﬁcation of a new antioxidant compound named racemofuran (3) along with two known compounds asparagamine A (1) and racemosol (2). The structure of 3 was fully characterized by spectroscopic data (UV, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and 2D NMR). Racemofuran revealed antioxidant property against DPPH with IC50 value of 130 µM. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OPIOID PEPTIDES IN THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: PHYSIOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

All endogenous opioid peptides derive from three precursor molecules i.e. proopiomelanocortin, proenkephalin and prodynorphin. The endogenous opioid peptides exert their biological effects through opioid receptors. Each endogenous opioid peptide exhibits higher binding affinity towards a specific type of opioid receptors. Current evidence suggests that endogenous opioid peptides play important regulatory roles in reproduction. Endogenous opioid peptides are present through the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The hypothalamic opioidergic mechanism represents one of the important central control systems of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin release. Opioids mediate the sex steroid effect exerted on gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing hormone secretion and play a crucial role in the integration of several neuroendocrine mechanisms. There is also evidence that suprahypothalamic mechanism enhances endogenous opioid inhibition of gonadotropin-releasing hormone. The genes of the endogenous opioid peptides are also expressed in peripheral reproductive tissues such as the endometrium and placenta. At least part of the endogenous opioid peptides effects may be paracrine or autocrine in nature. The possible roles of opioids in various physiological processes of the female reproductive system are also reviewed. Biomedical Reviews 1995; 4: 71-83.
Permeability and contractile responses of collecting lymphatic vessels elicited by atrial and brain natriuretic peptides

• Atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP, respectively) are hormones released into the bloodstream when heart muscle is stretched (e.g. zero‐gravity, hypertension, congestive heart failure) and serve to reduce the blood volume. • One way that these peptides relieve blood volume is to increase the permeability of the smallest blood vessels, facilitating fluid and protein distribution into the tissue spaces. • Whether these peptides target lymphatic vessel function to participate in fluid distribution is currently unknown. • ANP and BNP (100 nm) both elicited significant increases in lymphatic vessel permeability, but altered contractile function differentially in vivo. • A likely consequence is that more fluid leaks from the lymphatics into the tissues, which represents a novel compensation for volume overload. This work demonstrates for the first time that lymphatic vessel permeability can be regulated in vivo.
Serum transferrin receptor concentrations during normal pregnancy.

Among the physiologic changes during pregnancy, the disproportionate increases in plasma volume and red cell mass produce a decrease in hemoglobin concentration. Pathologic anemia of pregnancy is mostly attributable to iron deficiency associated with increased requirements and inadequate intake (1), but physiologic changes also occur in iron markers. Iron plays an essential role in a spectrum of metabolic processes. Cellular iron uptake is facilitated by transferrin receptor (TfR)-mediated endocytosis (2). Serum TfR (sTfR) is a sensitive indicator of iron deficiency in inflammatory states and in the anemia of chronic diseases because its concentration is not influenced by the acute phase response (3). The sTfR concentration is closely related to erythroid TfR turnover; therefore, sTfR may be a useful marker to monitor erythropoiesis in various clinical situations (4). Erythropoiesis is a highly dynamic process and can be monitored by quantitative reticulocyte counting. Flow cytometric analysis of reticulocytes provides a quantitative reticulocyte measurement with high sensitivity and precision (5). The fluorescence intensity of reticulocytes is directly proportional to erythrocyte RNA content, and reticulocytes can be divided into three subpopulations by fluorescence intensity: low fluorescence reticulocytes, middle fluorescence reticulocytes, and high fluorescence reticulocytes (5)(6). The reticulocyte maturity index (RMI) is calculated from the proportion of reticulocyte subpopulations and can be used as the earliest and most sensitive predictor of bone marrow erythropoiesis (6). The sTfR concentration and the RMI during normal pregnancy have not been studied extensively, and the reported values for sTfR show a wide range of discrepancies. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the sequential changes in sTfR concentrations according to gestational age in healthy pregnant women without anemia and iron deficiency. We …
Signal integrity loss in SoC's interconnects: a diagnosis approach using embedded microprocessor

Presents a systematic approach for utilizing the microprocessor capabilities in testing the SoC's interconnects for signal integrity. We propose a graph representation of SoC/interconnects to minimize the test time while performing thorough test of interconnects for integrity loss. This is achieved by using the embedded microprocessor for two main tasks: (1) to dynamically determine the best test plan based on resource constraints and the test results from previous sessions, and (2) to execute the test plan, that includes test generation/delivery, signature analysis/diagnosis and process control.
Structural determination of glucosylceramides isolated from marine sponge by fast atom bombardment collision-induced dissociation linked scan at constant B/E.

Five glucosylceramides (GlcCers) were isolated by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography from the MeOH extracts of a marine sponge, Haliclona (Reniera) sp. , collected from the coast of Ulleung Island, Korea, and analyzed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB-MS) in positive-ion mode. FAB-mass spectra of these compounds included protonated molecules [M + H](+) and abundant sodiated molecules [M + Na](+) from a mixture of m-NBA and NaI. The structures of these GlcCers, which were similar, were elucidated by FAB-linked scan at constant B/E. To find diagnostic ions for their characterization, the GlcCers were analyzed by collision-induced dissociation (CID) linked scan at constant B/E. The CID-linked scan at constant B/E of [M + H](+) and [M + Na](+) precursor ions resulted in the formation of numerous characteristic product ions via a series of dissociative processes. The product ions formed by charge-remote fragmentation provided important information for the characterization of the fatty N-acyl chain moiety and the sphingoid base, commonly referred to as the long-chain base. The product ions at m/z 203 and 502 were diagnostic for the presence of a sodiated sugar ring and beta-D-glucosylsphinganine, respectively. For further confirmation of the structure of the fatty N-acyl chain moiety in each GlcCer, fatty acid methyl esters were obtained from the five GlcCers by methanolysis and analyzed by FAB-MS in positive-ion mode. On the basis of these dissociation patterns, the structures of the five GlcCers from marine sponge were elucidated. In addition, the accurate mass measurement was performed to obtain the elemental composition of the GlcCers isolated from marine sponge.
Now What? Toward an Integrated Research and Practice Agenda in Distress Screening

Significant gains have been made in the detection and treatment of cancer, contributing to increased survival, but a cancer diagnosis and treatment may be accompanied by physical and psychosocial after-effects. Distress screening has been championed as a mechanism to identify patients with high levels of psychosocial morbidity for subsequent assessment and psychosocial care delivery. However, implementation of distress screening has been variable, in scope and in the consistency and quality of metrics and methods used. This capstone article identifies challenges in the measurement and implementation of distress screening and examines future opportunities for research and implementation.