Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hyperforin, a bio‐active compound of St. John's Wort, is a new inhibitor of angiogenesis targeting several key steps of the process

Hyperforin, a phloroglucinol derivative found in St. John's wort related mainly to its antidepressant effects, has been reported recently to induce apoptosis in tumour cells and to inhibit cancer invasion and metastasis. We show that hyperforin inhibits angiogenesis in vitro in bovine aortic endothelial cells and in vivo in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. In a variety of experimental systems representing the sequential events of the angiogenic process, hyperforin treatment of endothelial cells resulted in strong inhibitory effects. Hyperforin inhibited the growth of endothelial cells in culture. Capillary tube formation on Matrigel was abrogated completely by addition of hypeforin at the low micromolar range. Hyperforin also exhibited a clear inhibitory effect on the invasive capabilities of endothelial cells. Zymographic assays showed that hyperforin treatment produced a complete inhibition of urokinase and a remarkable inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase 2. Our data indicates that hyperforin is a compound that interferes with key events in angiogenesis, confirming the recent and growing evidence about a potential role of this compound in cancer and metastasis inhibition and making it a promising drug for further evaluation in the treatment of angiogenesis‐related pathologies. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Pulvinar neurons reveal neurobiological evidence of past selection for rapid detection of snakes

Significance The present study shows preferential activity of neurons in the medial and dorsolateral pulvinar to images of snakes. Pulvinar neurons responded faster and stronger to snake stimuli than to monkey faces, monkey hands, and geometric shapes, and were sensitive to unmodified and low-pass filtered images but not to high-pass filtered images. These results identify a neurobiological substrate for rapid detection of threatening visual stimuli in primates. Our findings are unique in providing neuroscientific evidence in support of the Snake Detection Theory, which posits that the threat of snakes strongly influenced the evolution of the primate brain. This finding may have great impact on our understanding of the evolution of primates. Snakes and their relationships with humans and other primates have attracted broad attention from multiple fields of study, but not, surprisingly, from neuroscience, despite the involvement of the visual system and strong behavioral and physiological evidence that humans and other primates can detect snakes faster than innocuous objects. Here, we report the existence of neurons in the primate medial and dorsolateral pulvinar that respond selectively to visual images of snakes. Compared with three other categories of stimuli (monkey faces, monkey hands, and geometrical shapes), snakes elicited the strongest, fastest responses, and the responses were not reduced by low spatial filtering. These findings integrate neuroscience with evolutionary biology, anthropology, psychology, herpetology, and primatology by identifying a neurobiological basis for primates’ heightened visual sensitivity to snakes, and adding a crucial component to the growing evolutionary perspective that snakes have long shaped our primate lineage.
4-dimensional modulation for a bandlimited channel using Q/sup 2/PSK

We introduce M-ary orthogonal modulation for a bandlimited channel with non-linearity. A set of 16 vectors which have the minimum distance is symmetrically constructed on the surface of a 4-dimensional (4-D) sphere. For the modulation, we have used 4-D orthogonal basis signals whose power efficiency is maximized within a fixed bandwidth. We compare the performance of 4-D constant amplitude signals in terms of transmission parameters on the additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel. After mapping the derived 4-D vectors into the modulation without coding, we have obtained 2.7 dB gain over QPSK and 0.9 dB over Q/sup 2/PSK in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) while maintaining the minimum bandwidth.
First Steps towards Automated Synthesis of Tableau Systems for Interval Temporal Logics

—Interval temporal logics are difﬁcult to deal with in many respects. In the last years, various meaningful fragments of Halpern and Shoham’s modal logic of time intervals have been shown to be decidable with complexities that range from NP-complete to non-primitive recursive. However, even restricting the attention to ﬁnite interval structures, the step from model-theoretic decidability results to the actual implementations of tableau-based decision procedures is quite challenging. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of making use of automated tableau generators. More precisely, we exploit the generator M ET T E L2 to implement a tableau-based decision procedure for the future fragment of the logic of temporal neighborhood over ﬁnite linear orders. We explore and contrast two alternative solutions: a concrete tableau system, that operates on a concrete interval structure explicitly built over a ﬁnite, linearly-ordered set of points, and an abstract one, that operates on an interval frame which is forced to be isomorphic to a concrete interval structure by suitably constraining its accessibility relation.
Use of β-Blockers and Risk of Fractures

ContextAnimal studies suggest that the β-blocker propranolol increases bone formation, but data on whether use of β-blockers (with or without concomitant use of thiazide diuretics) is associated with reduced fracture risk in humans are limited.ObjectiveTo determine whether use of β-blockers alone or in combination with thiazides is associated with a decreased risk of fracture in adults.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsCase-control analysis using the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD). The study included 30 601 case patients aged 30 to 79 years with an incident fracture diagnosis between 1993 and 1999 and 120 819 controls, matched to cases on age, sex, calendar time, and general practice attended.Main Outcome MeasuresOdds ratios (ORs) of having a fracture in association with use of β-blockers or a combination of β-blockers with thiazides.ResultsThe most frequent fractures were of the hand/lower arm (n = 12 837 [42.0%]) and of the foot (n = 4627 [15.1%]). Compared with patients who did not use either β-blockers or thiazide diuretics, the OR for current use of β-blockers only (≥3 prescriptions) was 0.77 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-0.83); for current use of thiazides only (≥3 prescriptions), 0.80 (95% CI, 0.74-0.86); and for combined current use of β-blockers and thiazides, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.64-0.79). Data were adjusted for smoking; body mass index; number of practice visits; and use of calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, antipsychotics, antidepressants, statins, antiepileptics, benzodiazepines, corticosteroids, and estrogens.ConclusionsOur data suggest that current use of β-blockers is associated with a reduced risk of fractures, taken alone as well as in combination with thiazide diuretics. Many elderly patients with hypertension who are at risk of developing osteoporosis may potentially benefit from combined therapy with β-blockers and thiazides.
Interaction of training and diet on metabolism and endurance during exercise in man.

1. Ten untrained young men ingested a carbohydrate‐rich diet (65 energy percent (E%) carbohydrate, T‐CHO) and ten similar subjects a fat‐rich diet (62 E% fat, T‐FAT) while endurance training was performed 3‐4 times a week for 7 weeks. For another 8th week of training both groups ingested the carbohydrate‐rich diet (T‐CHO and T‐FAT/CHO). 2. Maximal oxygen uptake increased by 11% (P < 0.05) in both groups after 7 and 8 weeks. Time to exhaustion at 81% of pre‐training maximal oxygen uptake increased significantly from a mean (+/‐ S.E.M.) of 35 +/‐ 4 min to 102 +/‐ 5 and 65 +/‐ 7 min in T‐CHO and T‐FAT, respectively, after 7 weeks (P < 0.05, T‐CHO vs. T‐FAT). After 8 weeks, endurance remained unchanged in T‐CHO but increased (P < 0.05) to 77 +/‐ 9 min in T‐FAT/CHO which, however, was still less (P < 0.05) than in T‐CHO. 3. Muscle glycogen breakdown rate during exercise was halved by endurance training equally in both T‐CHO and T‐FAT after 7 and 8 weeks, and muscle glycogen stores at exhaustion were not depleted in any group. 4. During exercise after 7 weeks, the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was unchanged in T‐CHO (0.88 +/‐ 0.01) compared with pre‐training but decreased (P < 0.05) to 0.82 +/‐ 0.02 in T‐FAT. After 8 weeks, RER in both T‐CHO and T‐FAT/CHO was approximately 0.87. 5. During exercise, plasma noradrenaline concentration and heart rate were higher in T‐FAT than in T‐CHO both at 7 and at 8 weeks. 6. It is concluded that ingesting a fat‐rich diet during an endurance training programme is detrimental to improvement in endurance. This is not due to a simple lack of carbohydrate fuel, but rather to suboptimal adaptations that are not remedied by short‐term increased carbohydrate availability. Furthermore, the study suggests that the decrease in RER usually seen after training when exercising at the same absolute intensity as before training can be prevented by a carbohydrate‐rich diet.
RF-Noise of Deep-Submicron MOSFETs: Extraction and Modeling

A method for the extraction of all four noise parameters of a MOSFET (channel noise, induced gate noise and complex correlation coefficient) based on a description of noise by means of correlation matrices is presented. For the first time values for the gate noise and the correlation coefficient for deep-submicron transistors are reported. Compared to long channel theory an increase of the gate noise up to a factor 30 is observed.
HETEROMORPHISM FOR A HIGHLY REPEATED SEQUENCE IN THE NEW ZEALAND FROG LEIOPELMA HOCHSTETTERI

A satellite DNA sequence, Lhl, was cloned from the New Zealand endemic frog Leiopelma hochstetteri. Large tandem arrays of Lh1 were localized by in situ hybridization to the long arm of a small telocentric autosome in some individuals, but these arrays were absent from other individuals. Lh1 is also present in varying amounts on some supernumerary chromosomes in some individuals. Heteromorphism for the presence of Lh1 exists in two populations that have been separated by a sea channel since the end of the Pleistocene, indicating that the heteromorphism either has arisen repeatedly or has persisted for at least 10,000 years. Individuals lacking Lh1 thus appear to be at no significant selective disadvantage. The variation in Lh1 copy number probably results from its interstitial chromosomal location, which exposes it to more frequent unequal crossovers than the pericentromeric or telocentric locations of most satellite DNA. Lh1 may be parasitic or simply inert junk, but in either case it may be deleted or dispersed throughout the rest of the genome through unequal crossing over.
Effect of Lipids and Thermal Processing on Antioxidant Activities of Tested Antioxidants and Tom-Kha Paste Extract

The effect of lipids on antioxidant activities of tested antioxidants and Tom-Kha paste extract was determined in the food system. 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) scavenging activity, peroxide value (PV), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and p-anisidine value (AV) were methods for determining. The result showed that heating at 121˚C for 15 min caused decreasing on DPPH scavenging activity of lauric acid but didn’t affect ABTS scavenging activity of both lauric acid and virgin coconut oil. DPPH scavenging activity of all mixtures was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after thermal processing. ABTS scavenging activity of the mixtures lauric acid and antioxidants was decreased at ratios 2:1 and 5:1 while at ratios as 10:1 and 15:1 were not changed after heating. Additionally, ABTS scavenging activity in systems of virgin coconut oil mixed with gallic acid and Trolox was decreased after heating. Surprising ABTS scavenging activity of p-hydroxycinnamic acid and Tom-Kha paste extract in both lauric acid and virgin coconut oil systems increased after thermal processing. In food systems of lauric acid, PV of almost mixtures except lauric acid-Tom-Kha paste extract 2:1 and lauric acid-Trolox 15:1 was increased after heating. TBARS value of the mixtures was not significantly different (p  0.05) after thermal processing. AV of only lauric acid-gallic was enhanced after heating. PV of virgin coconut oil added with all tested antioxidant was not changed after heating. TBARS of virgin coconut oil added with antioxidant samples seemed to slightly increase after heating. AV of virgin coconut oil with added gallic acid and Tom-Kha paste extract were not changed by heat treatment while AV of virgin coconut oil with added p-hydroxycinnamic acid and Trolox seemed to decrease after heating.
In search of an accurate and rapid method for sperm counting

In this issue, Jin-Chin Lu and co-workers compare several methods for determining sperm concentration, including flow cytometry, computer-assisted sperm analysis and manual microscopic assessment [1]. Accurate determination of the sperm number in an ejaculate is important in the evaluation of infertile couples, in reproductive toxicology and in testing potential male contraceptives. Although the results of semen analysis cannot be taken as predictive of the fertility potential of a man, they may provide important clinical information. Assessment of sperm concentration is a central step in routine semen analysis, and studies have shown that sperm concentration and total sperm count are related to natural pregnancies [2–5]. Traditionally, sperm concentration has been determined by microscopic examination of the semen, and the method recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) involves use of a haemocytometer [6]. Since preparation of the sample and counting 200 spermatozoa in duplicate are often considered laborious, and include several potential sources of error, efforts have been made worldwide to establish an accurate and rapid method for sperm counting. A variety of counting chambers have been developed, some of them intended for undiluted samples. Precision may be low with undiluted samples, however, since it is more challenging to enumerate a moving sperm than an immobilized one. Furthermore, in some chambers there is no uniform distribution of the spermatozoa, which means that assessment has to be done at several different distances from the site of loading [7]. Comparative studies have revealed considerable differences in accuracy, precision and agreement between counting chambers [8–12]. Systems for digital image semen analysis were developed in an attempt to obtain an objective measurement of semen characteristics, especially for sperm movements, and introduced in the 1980s [13]. In obtaining reproducible values for sperm concentration with this method it is important to use DNA-specific stain in order to distinguish
Asthma‐specific quality of life questionnaires in children: Are they useful and feasible in routine clinical practice?

This study used well‐validated quality of life (QOL) instruments to compare the QOL scores achieved by children aged 7–17 years with the views of their parents of the effects of their child's asthma on family life. Also, a comparison was made between the child's QOL scores and the judgment of the clinician in charge in regard to asthma control.
Relationship of homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 with depression in a middle-aged community sample

Background. Case control studies have supported a relationship between low folic acid and vitamin B12 and high homocysteine levels as possible predictors of depression. The results from epidemiological studies are mixed and largely from elderly populations. Method. A random subsample of 412 persons aged 60–64 years from a larger community sample underwent psychiatric and physical assessments, and brain MRI scans. Subjects were assessed using the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire for syndromal depression and severity of depressive symptoms. Blood measures included serum folic acid, vitamin B12, homocysteine and creatinine levels, and total antioxidant capacity. MRI scans were quantified for brain atrophy, subcortical atrophy, and periventricular and deep white-matter hyperintensity on T2-weighted imaging. Results. Being in the lowest quartile of homocysteine was associated with fewer depressive symptoms, after adjusting for sex, physical health, smoking, creatinine, folic acid and B12 levels. Being in the lowest quartile of folic acid was associated with increased depressive symptoms, after adjusting for confounding factors, but adjustment for homocysteine reduced the incidence rate ratio for folic acid to a marginal level. Vitamin B12 levels did not have a significant association with depressive symptoms. While white-matter hyperintensities had significant correlations with both homocysteine and depressive symptoms, the brain measures and total antioxidant capacity did not emerge as significant mediating variables. Conclusions. Low folic acid and high homocysteine, but not low vitamin B12 levels, are correlates of depressive symptoms in community-dwelling middle-aged individuals. The effects of folic acid and homocysteine are overlapping but distinct.
Adaptive control of induction motor systems despite rotor resistance uncertainty

In this paper, we present an adaptive, partial-state feedback, position/velocity tracking controller for the full-order, nonlinear dynamic model representing an induction motor actuating a mechanical subsystem. The proposed controller compensates for uncertainty in the form of the rotor resistance parameter and all of the mechanical subsystem parameters while yielding asymptotic rotor position/velocity tracking. The proposed controller does not require measurement of rotor flux or rotor current; however, the controller does exhibit a singularity when the magnitude of the estimated rotor flux is zero. Simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the approach.
Cognitive Deficits from in Utero AED Exposure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), especially carbamazepine (CBZ) and valproate (VPA), on intelligence in prenatally exposed children of mothers with epilepsy. METHODS: Intelligence of 182 children of mothers with epilepsy (study group) and 141 control children was tested in a blinded setting at preschool or school age by using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Revised or Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children–Revised. Data on maternal AED treatment and seizures during pregnancy were gathered prospectively. The study group represented approximately 50% of the children born to mothers with epilepsy in Uusimaa province during 1989 through 1994. One hundred seven children were exposed to AED monotherapy: 86 to CBZ and 13 to VPA. Thirty children were exposed to polytherapy: 23 combinations included CBZ, and 17 included VPA. The median maternal doses and blood levels during the second half of pregnancy were 600 mg and 26 μM for CBZ and 950 mg and 300 μM for VPA. RESULTS: The mean verbal and nonverbal IQ scores in the children exposed in utero to CBZ monotherapy were 96 (95% CI, 93–100) and 103 (95% CI, 100–106). They did not differ from control subjects, whose mean verbal and nonverbal IQ scores were 95 (95% CI, 92–97) and 102 (95% CI, CI, 100–105). Significantly reduced verbal IQ scores were found in children exposed to VPA (mean, 82; 95% CI, 78–87) and to polytherapy (mean, 85; 95% CI, 80–90) compared with the other study group children and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: CBZ monotherapy with maternal serum levels within the reference range does not impair intelligence in prenatally exposed offspring. Exposures to polytherapy and to VPA during pregnancy were associated with significantly reduced verbal intelligence. The independent effects of VPA remain unconfirmed because the results were confounded by low maternal education and polytherapy.
Strained Silicon Nanowire p-Channel FETs With Diamond-Like Carbon Liner Stressor

We report the first integration of a high-compressive-stress diamond-like carbon (DLC) liner stressor with gate-all-around Si nanowire p-channel field-effect transistor (FET). DLC liner stressors with thicknesses of ~ 20 and ~ 40 nm were formed on p-FETs to induce high compressive strain in the channel region. As compared with nanowire p-FETs without liner stressor, substantial enhancements in ION and saturation transconductance GMSat were observed on p-FETs with DLC liner stressors. A thicker DLC liner stressor leads to a larger performance enhancement.
Influence of Ball-in-Play Time on the Activity Profiles of Rugby League Match-Play

Abstract Gabbett, TJ. Influence of ball-in-play time on the activity profiles of rugby league match-play. J Strength Cond Res 29(3): 716–721, 2015—Most investigations of the activity profiles of rugby league match-play have reported the physical demands across the entire match irrespective of stoppages in play. This study investigated the activity profiles of rugby league match-play, accounting for time when the ball was “in” and “out-of-play. ” One-hundred four players (mean age, 24.0 ± 3.0 years) from 11 semiprofessional rugby league teams underwent global positioning system analysis during 22 matches. Matches were coded for activity and recovery cycles. Time when the ball was continuously in play was considered activity, whereas any stoppages during the match (e.g., for scrums, penalties, line drop-outs, and tries) were considered recovery. The relative distance (125.1 ± 16.1 m·min−1 vs. 86.7 ± 9.8 m·min−1), low-speed activity (115.3 ± 15.7 m·min−1 vs. 81.7 ± 9.8 m·min−1), and high-speed running (9.5 ± 2.9 m·min−1 vs. 5.0 ± 1.8 m·min−1) demands were significantly (p < 0.0001) higher when accounting for ball-in-play time. The frequency of collisions (0.67 ± 0.28 per minute vs. 0.41 ± 0.17 per minute) and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) bouts (1 every 6.1 ± 4.7 minutes vs. 1 every 10.7 ± 8.3 minutes) were also higher when stoppage time was excluded. Large negative correlations (p ⩽ 0.001) were found between total ball-in-play time and relative measures of total distance (r = −0.67) and low-speed activity (r = −0.60). These results demonstrate the greater movement, contact, and RHIE demands when rugby league time-motion data are expressed relative to ball-in-play time. Furthermore, the reduction in relative intensity with longer total ball-in-play time suggests that during prolonged passages of play, players adopt a pacing strategy to maintain high-intensity performance and manage fatigue.
Eusociality and Cooperation

The evolution of eusociality, here defined as the emergence of societies with reproductive division of labour and cooperative brood care, was first seen as a challenge to Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. Why should individuals permanently forgo direct reproduction to help other individuals to reproduce? Kin selection, the indirect transmission of genes through relatives, is the key process explaining the evolution of permanently nonreproductive helpers. However, in some taxa helpers delay reproduction until a breeding opportunity becomes available. Overall, eusociality evolved when ecological conditions promote stable associations of related individuals that benefit from jointly exploiting and defending common resources. High levels of cooperation and robust mechanisms of division of labour are found in many animal societies. However, conflicts among individuals are still frequent when group members that are not genetically identical compete over reproduction or resource allocation.