Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Signaling Pathways of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Development of Senescence and Aging Phenotypes in Cardiovascular Disease

The ASK1-signalosome→p38 MAPK and SAPK/JNK signaling networks promote senescence (in vitro) and aging (in vivo, animal models and human cohorts) in response to oxidative stress and inflammation. These networks contribute to the promotion of age-associated cardiovascular diseases of oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, their inhibition delays the onset of these cardiovascular diseases as well as senescence and aging. In this review we focus on whether the (a) ASK1-signalosome, a major center of distribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated stress signals, plays a role in the promotion of cardiovascular diseases of oxidative stress and inflammation; (b) The ASK1-signalosome links ROS signals generated by dysfunctional mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes to the p38 MAPK stress response pathway; (c) the pathway contributes to the sensitivity and vulnerability of aged tissues to diseases of oxidative stress; and (d) the importance of inhibitors of these pathways to the development of cardioprotection and pharmaceutical interventions. We propose that the ASK1-signalosome regulates the progression of cardiovascular diseases. The resultant attenuation of the physiological characteristics of cardiomyopathies and aging by inhibition of the ASK1-signalosome network lends support to this conclusion. Importantly the ROS-mediated activation of the ASK1-signalosome p38 MAPK pathway suggests it is a major center of dissemination of the ROS signals that promote senescence, aging and cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacological intervention is, therefore, feasible through the continued identification of potent, non-toxic small molecule inhibitors of either ASK1 or p38 MAPK activity. This is a fruitful future approach to the attenuation of physiological aspects of mammalian cardiomyopathies and aging.
A Study on Inhibitory Synaptic Circuits of an Associative Memory Model with STDP

Synaptic plasticity in the living body, which is dependent on the order of and interval between preand post-synaptic spikes (STDP), has been observed by physiological experiments. Recently, many investigators have attempted to re-create associative memory using electronic circuits. In the paper, we focus on a capacitor in inhibitory synaptic circuits, and make the capacitance value bigger than the previous circuit. As a result, it is shown that the recollection ability range was extended. 1. まえがき 人間の脳には情報伝達を行うニューロンが存在し,この ニューロンはシナプスを介して互いに結合している。 シナ プスにはシナプス結合荷重が変化するシナプス可塑性が あり,長期増強であるLTP (Long Term Potentiation)と長期抑 圧であるLTD(Long Term Depression)が報告されている. ま た,シナプス可塑性には,ニューロンの発火タイミング, および時間差に依存して,シナプス前細胞と後細胞間のシ ナプスの伝達効率が変化する,STDP(Spike Timing Dependent synaptic Plasticity)が報告されている. 更に,LTP,LTD の 領域が非対称型の時間窓や,メキシカンハット型の時間窓 を示すことが報告されている. 先に我々は STDP を有するパルス形ハードウェアニュー ロンモデル(以下 P-HNM)を用いて ANN を構成し,記憶し た情報を読み出す連想記憶モデルを提案した. 想起を行う上で,抑制性シナプスが関与しているという 報告があり,連想記憶を工学的に応用するためには,抑制 性シナプスのモデル化が重要である. 今回,STDPを有した 連想記憶モデルの抑制性シナプス回路について検討を行っ た. 2. 本論 Fig.1 に今回の検討に用いた STDP シナプス回路を有した 連想記憶モデルを示す. 図中,□,―○,―●,―■,は,それぞ れ順に細胞体モデル,STDPシナプスモデル,興奮性シナプ ス回路,抑制性シナプス回路を示している. 図中の自己連 想ネットワークでは、細胞体 A~J(I は除く)それぞれに時間 差のある刺激電流を入力し記銘を行う. 構成については STDP シナプス回路と非対称型の時間窓を示す結合荷重制 御回路で細胞体モデル同士を相互結合した. 相互連想ネッ トワークでは細胞体AA~JJ(IIは除く)それぞれに時間差のあ るきっかけ刺激電流を入力し想起を行う. 本モデルは,自 己連想ネットワークの構成に加えて,想起を行うために必 要な回帰抑制をそれぞれの細胞体モデルと相互結合する構 成とした. Fig.1 Associative memory model using STDP synapse circuit(Except cell I, cellII) Fig.2 に Fig.1 の自己連想ネットワークにおける記銘の波 形を示す. 図中,縦軸に細胞体モデルの出力電圧,横軸に 時間を示している. 波形左から細胞体モデルA,B,C,D,E,F,G,J の電圧を示しており,出力電圧が約0. 2Vでピークになって いる波形が細胞体モデル H の出力電圧を示している. すな わち,刺激電流は細胞体Hに入力していない. Fig.2 Memorization waveforms Fig.3 に Fig.1 の相互連想ネットワークにおける想起の波 形を示す. 図中,縦軸に細胞体モデルの出力電圧,横軸に 時間を示している. 波形左から細胞体モデル AA,BB,CC,DD,EE,FF,GG,JJ の電圧を示しており,出力電圧 1:日大理工・学部・子情 2:日大理工・院・電子 3:日大理工・教員・子情 平成 23年度 日本大学理工学部 学術講演会論文集
Compression Loads Finite Element Analysis of Sacroiliac Joint Fixation under

Background Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a known chronic pain-generator. The last resort of treatment is the arthrodesis. Different implants allow fixation of the joint, but to date there is no tool to analyze their influence on the SIJ biomechanics under physiological loads. The objective was to develop a computational model to biomechanically analyze different parameters of the stable SIJ fixation instrumentation.
Psychocardiology concern for the management of thalassemic heart disease: A summarization from an endemic area in Indochina

Thalassemia is an important congenital hemoglobin disorder. This disease can cause anemia and other systematic clinical problems including cardiac problem. The psychological problem due to congenital disorder among patients with thalassemia is also observable. Both cardiac and psychological problems should be well managed. There is an interrelationship between cardiac and psychological problems in thalassemic patients. The interdisciplinary management of thalassemia to manage both mind and heart is necessary. In the present review article, the authors summarize and discuss the psychocardiology concern for the management of thalassemic heart disease.
Sentiment in the betting market on Spanish football

We employ a sample of over 3000 bets available on matches from the top tier of Spanish football in an examination of the efficiency of betting odds offered in the on-line betting market. Odds appear to be influenced by the relative number of fans of each club in a match, with supporters of the more popular team offered more favourable terms on their wagers. We report similar findings for a sample of games from Scotland. The results contrast with studies of American sports betting markets but are consistent with competitive behaviour by profit maximizing bookmakers in a market where bettors can choose between several operators.
Look before You Leap: The Effects of Cognitive Impulsiveness and Reasoning Process on Rational Decision Making

Impulsivity may lead to several unfortunate consequences and maladaptive behaviors for clinical and non-clinical people. It has a key role in many forms of psychopatology. Although many studies discuss the negative impact of it, few of them emphasize the relationship between cognitive impulsiveness and decision making in non-clinical subjects. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cognitive impulsiveness on decision making and explore the strategies used by non-clinical participants to solve problems. For this purpose, we apply two measures of impulsivity: the self-report Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the performance based Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT). This is the first study that compares self-report impulsiveness based on BIS-11 with performance-based reflectivity measured by CRT. Moreover, we evaluate participants’ reasoning processes employed to answer CRT questions based on the calculation expressions and data organization they made while answering the CRT, notice that we apply the instruments with pen and paper. These reasoning processes are related to the role of Executive Functions for decision making and its relationship with impulsiveness. The sample consists of 191 non-clinical adults, either professionals or undergraduate students from the fields of business, management or accounting. Results show that cognitive impulsiveness may negatively affect decision making, and that who calculate CRT questions on the paper sheet make better decisions. Moreover, there is no difference in strategies used by impulsive and non-impulsive people during a decision making. Finally, people who inhibit their immediate answers also perform better during a decision making.
Estimation of dead fuel moisture content from meteorological data in Mediterranean areas. Applications in fire danger assessment

The estimation of moisture content of dead fuels is a critical variable in fire danger assessment since it is strongly related to fire ignition and fire spread potential. This study evaluates the accuracy of two well-known meteoro- logical moisture codes, the Canadian Fine Fuels Moisture Content and the US 10-h, to estimate fuel moisture content of dead fuels in Mediterranean areas. Cured grasses and litter have been used for this study. The study was conducted in two phases. The former aimed to select the most efficient code, and the latter to produce a spatial representation of that index for operational assessment of fire danger conditions. The first phase required calibration and validation of an estimation model based on regression analysis. Field samples were collected in the Cabaneros National Park (Central Spain) for a six-year period (1998-2003). The estimations were more accurate for litter (r 2 between 0.52) than for cured grasslands (r 2 0.11). In addition, grasslands showed higher variability in the trends among the study years. The two moisture codes evaluated in this paper offered similar trends, therefore, the 10-h code was selected since it is simpler to compute. The second phase was based on interpolating the required meteorological variables (temperature and relative humidity) to compute the 10-h moisture code. The interpolation was based on European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecast- ing (ECMWF) predictions. Finally, a simple method to combine the estimations of dead fuel moisture content with other variables associated to fire danger is presented in this paper. This method estimates the probability of ignition based on the moisture of extinction of each fuel type.
Diffusion of Resveratrol in Silica Alcogels

The trans-resveratrol (RSV)-loaded silica aerogel (RLSA) was prepared by the sol-gel method, adding the drug during the aging process, solvent replacement and freeze drying. A series of characterizations showed that RSV stays in the silica aerogel in two ways. First, RSV precipitates due to minimal solubility in water during the solvent replacement process. After freeze drying, the solvent evaporates and the RSV recrystallizes. It can be seen from scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images that the recrystallized RSV with micron-sized long rod-shaped is integrated with the dense silica network skeleton. Second, from small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) results, a portion of the RSV molecules is not crystallized and the size is extremely small. This can be attached to the primary and secondary particles of silica to enhance its network structure and inhibit shrinkage, which is why the volume and pore size of RLSA is larger. In addition, the diffusion of RSV in silica alcogel was studied by a one-dimensional model. The apparent diffusion coefficients of inward diffusion, outward diffusion and internal diffusion were calculated by fitting the time- and position-dependent concentration data. It was found that the outward diffusion coefficient (5.25 × 10−10 m2/s) is larger than the inward (2.93 × 10−10 m2/s), which is probably due to the interface effect. The diffusion coefficients obtained for different concentrations in the same process (inward diffusion) are found to be different. This suggests that the apparent diffusion coefficient obtained is affected by molecular adsorption.
No Stakes for High Strength Corn

In September 2019, hurricane Dorian swept across to the southeast coast of the United States, and strong winds and downpours led to major crop losses in corn ( Zea mays ) and soybean ( Glycine max ). There is little plants can do in the face of a hurricane, yet it does raise the issue of how crops
Calibration of Airborne Laser Scanning Intensity Data Ants

The airborne laser scanning (ALS) intensity data is a useful source of information for environmental studies, change detections etc. The main factors affecting the intensity are atmospheric effect, flying altitude, incidence angle and pulse energy. All these factors and methods to minimize their effect on intensity data are discussed in this paper. To calibrate the intensity values, some kind of reference targets have to be used. A possibility of using natural reference targets has been studied in this article. The results show that asphalt can be used as a reference target to calibrate ALS intensity values. The paper also discusses the automatic gain control (AGC)related problems . New Leica scanners use AGC to improve the response rate from transmitted pulses but it also has an effect on the intensity values. Therefore it is important to remove the AGC effect on intensity before it is used in any kind of study or comparison. The aim of this paper is to present possible ways to correct ALS intensity data and discuss the problems with AGC and correction procedure. Radiometric calibration, lidar, reflectance, atmospheric attenuation, backscattering.
Differential Gene Expression Patterns in the Basal Stems of Wheat at the Jointing Stage

Improved differential display of mRNA was used to analyze alterations in gene expression during the internode elongation of basal stem of wheat plant. Three patterns of differential expression were observed: (I) bands observed in pre-elongation basal stem tissue, but not in elongated; (II) bands occurring in elongated but not in pre-elongation basal stem tissue; (III) bands vibrated during the phase. Three differentially expressed cDNA fragments (WSR1-3) had been cloned and sequenced. Sequence homology search in GenBank database showed that one (WSR2) of them has no homology hits; one transcripts (WSR1) had similarity to barley serine/threonine protein kinase; while the product of WSR3 showed high similarity to Ty3/gypsy-type retrotransposon reverse transcriptase, which indicated diverse pathways may be involved in the internode elongation of wheat stem.
Dat is What the PM Said: A Quantitative Analysis of Prime Minister Chrétien's Pronunciation of English Voiced Dental Fricatives

A sociolinguistic–variationist type analysis was applied to the pronunciation of the English voiced dental fricative // by one Francophone Canadian, Prime Minister Jean Chretien. Fricative []–realisations were favoured in an interview setting, and plosive [d]–realisations were favoured in formal speeches, attributable to difficulties associated with the task of reading aloud. []–realisations were favoured following fricatives, and [d]–realisations were favoured following voiceless but not voiced plosives; the latter result is proposed to be due to differences in intra–oral pressure. [d]–realisations were favoured preceding mid–high vowels, but []–realisations were favoured preceding /i/, explainable in terms of an articulatory effect that also produces affrication in Canadian–French /d/ preceding high–front vowels. Statistical analyses were conducted using GoldVarb and SPSS software. The latter allows for tests of the significance of individual factors and of factor group interactions. La prononciation de la fricative dentale voisee anglaise // chez un locuteur canadien francophone, le Premier ministre Jean Chretien, a ete soumise a une analyse variationniste sociolinguistique. Les realisations fricatives [] ont ete favorisees en contexte d'entrevue et les realisations plosives [d] dans les discours formels, ce qui peut etre attribue aux difficultes associees a la lecture a voix haute. Les realisations [] ont ete favorisees apres des fricatives et les realisations [d] ont ete favorisees apres des occlusives sourdes, mais non voisees; nous proposons que ce dernier resultat est relie a la pression intra–buccale. Les realisations [d] ont ete favorisees devant les voyelles mi-hautes, alors que les realisations [] ont ete favorisees devant /i/, ce qui peut etre explique par un effet articulatoire qui produit egalement l’affrication en francais canadien de /d/ devant les voyelles anterieures hautes. Des analyses statistiques ont ete realisees avec les logiciels GoldVarb et SPSS, ce dernier permettant de tester la significativite des facteurs individuels et des interactions entre groupes de facteurs.
PULPING AND BLEACHING OF PARTIALLY CAD-DEFICIENT WOOD

ABSTRACT Mutant loblolly pine trees that are partially deficient in cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) have been studied as a possible new source of pulpwood. Young (4- and 6-year-old) partially CAD-deficient pine trees are ˜20% more easily delignified (pulping and bleaching) and provide similar pulp yields to that of similarly aged normal pines grown on the same plots. Bleached pulp from a 6-year-old partially CAD-deficient pine tree displayed better strength properties than the same age normal pine tree; this probably reflects the milder pulping conditions needed in the case of the partially CAD-deficient tree. Studies also were conducted on a limited number of 14-year-old trees from a different genetic background. In contrast to the results with young trees, no real differences in ease of delignification, pulp yields, bleached pulp strength properties, and wood specific gravities were observed with the 14-year-old trees. There would likely be no penalty if partially CAD-deficient trees were used for lumber products. The rapid growth of partially CAD-deficient trees could make them a valuable pulpwood.
The Sle1 Cell Wall Amidase Is Essential for β-Lactam Resistance in Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300

Most clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have become resistant to β-lactams antibiotics through horizontal acquisition of the mecA gene encoding PBP2a, a peptidoglycan transpeptidase with low affinity for β-lactams. The level of resistance conferred by mecA is, however, strain dependent, and the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. ABSTRACT Most clinically relevant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have become resistant to β-lactams antibiotics through horizontal acquisition of the mecA gene encoding PBP2a, a peptidoglycan transpeptidase with low affinity for β-lactams. The level of resistance conferred by mecA is, however, strain dependent, and the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood. We show here that β-lactam resistance correlates to expression of the Sle1 cell wall amidase in the fast-spreading and highly virulent community-acquired MRSA USA300 clone. Sle1 is a substrate of the ClpXP protease, and while the high Sle1 levels in cells lacking ClpXP activity confer β-lactam hyper-resistance, USA300 cells lacking Sle1 are as susceptible to β-lactams as cells lacking mecA. This finding prompted us to assess the cellular roles of Sle1 in more detail, and we demonstrate that high Sle1 levels accelerate the onset of daughter cells splitting and decrease cell size. Vice versa, oxacillin decreases the Sle1 level and imposes a cell separation defect that is antagonized by high Sle1 levels, suggesting that high Sle1 levels increase tolerance to oxacillin by promoting cell separation. In contrast, increased oxacillin sensitivity of sle1 cells appears linked to a synthetic lethal effect on septum synthesis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that Sle1 is a key factor in resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in the JE2 USA300 model strain and that PBP2a is required for the expression of Sle1 in JE2 cells exposed to oxacillin.
Extracellular HtrA2 Induces Apoptosis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

The serine protease high-temperature-required protein A2 (HtrA2) has been identified as a key intracellular molecule promoting apoptosis in cells during ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. IR injury in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) contributes to overall myocardial damage. HtrA2 has further been shown to be significantly increased in the serum of patients with STEMI. In the present pilot study, we use human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to investigate whether extracellular HtrA2 induces apoptosis using Annexin V staining. Furthermore, we examine whether HtrA2 is released extracellularly after staurosporine-induced apoptosis using ELISA. We find that HtrA2 is released upon induction of apoptosis by staurosporine into the cell culture medium. Furthermore, treatment of HUVECs with extracellular HtrA2-induces apoptosis, while the addition of anti-HtrA2 antibodies reduces both HtrA2- and staurosporine-induced endothelial cell apoptosis. In conclusion, we show here that extracellular HtrA2 induces apoptosis in human endothelial cells, although the exact molecular mechanisms have to be investigated in future.
The Human Estrogen Receptor-α Isoform hERα46 Antagonizes the Proliferative Influence of hERα66 in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells

The expression of two human estrogen receptor-alpha (hERalpha) isoforms has been characterized within estrogen receptor-alpha-positive breast cancer cell lines such as MCF7: the full-length hERalpha66 and the N terminally deleted hERalpha46, which is devoid of activation function (AF)-1. Although hERalpha66 is known to mediate the mitogenic effects that estrogens have on MCF7 cells, the exact function of hERalpha46 in these cells remains undefined. Here we show that, during MCF7 cell growth, hERalpha46 is mainly expressed in the nucleus at relatively low levels, whereas hERalpha66 accumulates in the nucleus. When cells reach confluence, the situation reverses, with hERalpha46 accumulating within the nucleus. Although hERalpha46 expression remains rather stable during an estrogen-induced cell cycle, its overexpression in proliferating MCF7 cells provokes a cell-cycle arrest in G(0)/G(1) phases. To gain further details on the influence of hERalpha46 on cell growth, we used PC12 estrogen receptor-alpha-negative cell line, in which stable transfection of hERalpha66 but not hERalpha46 allows estrogens to behave as mitogens. We next demonstrate that, in MCF7 cells, overexpression of hERalpha46 inhibits the hERalpha66-mediated estrogenic induction of all AF-1-sensitive reporters: c-fos and cyclin D1 as well as estrogen-responsive element-driven reporters. Our data indicate that this inhibition occurs likely through functional competitions between both isoforms. In summary, hERalpha46 antagonizes the proliferative action of hERalpha66 in MCF7 cells in part by inhibiting hERalpha66 AF-1 activity.
Multi-objective Design of Linear Antenna Arrays with Particle Swarm Optimization

The presence of large sidelobe radiation beam levels of an antenna is undesirable as the antenna performance and efficiency will be greatly degraded. Techniques for designing antenna arrays can be realized by determining the physical layout, and a set of the amplitude and phase of the current excitations of the antenna array. The design problems strive for the desired radiation patterns which satisfy several conflicting objectives such as controllable beamwidth (HPBW), minimum sidelobe level (SLL), maximum directivity, and noise sensitivity. Thus, the design problem worsens if multi-objective criteria is considered. Much effort has been introduced in antenna designs by using evolutional optimization algorithm such as genetic algorithm (GA) [1], [2], simulated annealing (SA), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) [3]. PSO has gained tremendous popularity as a new approach to optimization problems in electromagnetics. It has been used to obtain the excitation coefficients and optimise the amplitude, phase, spacing and position of an array antenna [4]-[7]. This paper applies an efficient PSO algorithm [8] to deal with the multi-objective problems (minimum sidelobe level (SLL) and controllable first-null beamwidth (FNBW)) at the same time. The PSO algorithm is used to locate the optimum element distance positions based on symmetric and even element linear antenna arrays (LAA) of isotropic radiators. The trade-off performance between the above two criteria is shown for different cases of 6and 10-element LAA. The successfully generated radiation patterns demonstrate the capability of the developed PSO algorithm in achieving optimization. The results obtained showed that the PSO algorithm is capable of finding the optimal solution in almost all cases with superior performance over GA [1].