Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Forest Bathing Enhances Human Natural Killer Activity and Expression of Anti-Cancer Proteins

In order to explore the effect of forest bathing on human immune function, we investigated natural killer (NK) activity; the number of NK cells, and perforin, granzymes and granulysin-expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) during a visit to forest fields. Twelve healthy male subjects, age 37–55 years, were selected with informed consent from three large companies in Tokyo, Japan. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip in three different forest fields. On the first day, subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; and on the second day, they walked for two hours in the morning and afternoon, respectively, in two different forest fields. Blood was sampled on the second and third days, and NK activity; proportions of NK, T cells, granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells in PBL were measured. Similar measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day as the control. Almost all of the subjects (11/12) showed higher NK activity after the trip (about 50% increased) compared with before. There are significant differences both before and after the trip and between days 1 and 2 in NK activity. The forest bathing trip also significantly increased the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells. Taken together, these findings indicate that a forest bathing trip can increase NK activity, and that this effect at least partially mediated by increasing the number of NK cells and by the induction of intracellular anti-cancer proteins.
A Segmentational Analysis of Prescription Drug Information Seeking

Drug information-seeking proclivities were examined using data from a telephone survey of 835 individuals who had obtained new outpatient prescriptions within the previous 4 weeks. Factor analytic and clustering techniques were used to segment patients based on the source and nature of drug information received in conjunction with the prescription. A four-cluster solution appeared to represent the most stable, distinct, yet homogeneous solution for the data. The groups were named “physician reliant” (40%), “pharmacist reliant” (19%), “questioners” (7%), and “uninformed” (34%). The four groups were compared for demographic, situational, and attitudinal differences. The physician-reliant group appeared most satisfied with the direct counseling of the doctor. Although this group may have sought additional information, the information appeared to reinforce the physician's directions. The pharmacistreliant group often obtained prescriptions at independent pharmacies and tended not to rely on magazines or reference books for additional information. The questioners were often taking multiple medications. This group tended to seek out reference information from nonprofessional sources and reported several barriers to seeking information from professionals. The uninformed group was the oldest, tended to receive little information, and was more likely than the other groups to agree that one need not ask questions if one trusts the doctor. Different types of patient education programs were recommended as appropriate for each of the four groups. Motivational messages directed to the uninformed segment appeared to be the largest unmet need in patient-oriented prescription drug education.
De la théorie des sous-ensembles flous aux probabilités non-additives: 36 remarques

Depuis l’article initial "Fuzzy Sets", de L.A. Zadeh, en 1965, dans Information and Control, nombreux et varies furent les domaines d’application de la theorie des sous-ensembles flous ( linguistique, intelligence artificielle, biologie. ). En ce qui concerne la science economique, l’influence de cette nouvelle theorie mathematique - dont on devrait dire qu’elle constitue essentiellement une generalisation au sens d’une "theorie generale” qui accepte comme cas limite l’approche standard - s’est uniformement repartie par dela les domaines traditionnels de l’analyse micro-economique2 : theorie des preferences, agregation des preferences, theorie des jeux, theorie de la valeur, recherche operationnelle, decision multicritere, analyse des donnees, analyse spatiale, choix d’investissement et theorie de la decision. Il est facile de constater qu’il existe en fait deux courants distincts, relatifs d’une part a l’application directe de la theorie des sous-ensembles flous ( PR1 ) - relations de preference, theoremes de point fixe, structure topologique d’economie, fonctions d’utilite et axiomatique - et d’autre part a l’utilisation des mesures non-additives d’incertitude ( PR2 ) qui en derivent ( possibilite, necessite )3. De plus, il est raisonnable de constater que l’impact de PR2 dans l’uni vers des economistes ( via l’extension aux probabilites non-additives de Gilboa 1987 et Schmeidler 1982,1984/1989 ) est plus important que celui de PR1. L’un des objectifs que ce papier s’est fixe, consiste a proposer un certain nombre d’arguments servant a expliquer cette difference de reussite. Pour cela, nous allons essayer de faire un bilan comparatif des deux programmes tout en proposant quelques explications et conjectures quant a leur developpement et leur avenir. Dans une premiere section, nous defendons la these suivant laquelle PR1 ne s’est globalement concentre que sur une approche en termes de generalisation. Dans une seconde, nous cherchons a montrer que PR2, a l’inverse, s’est attache a produire des resultats autonomes. Ceci aurait permis a PR2 de s’integrer facilement a l’interieur de thematiques en arret ou en crise ( ce qui est incontestablement le cas de la theorie standard de la decision ) cependant que PR1 n’etait envisage que sous l’angle d’une sorte de jeu mathematique consistant a appliquer des regles nouvelles a un modele ancien. Dans le premier cas (PR2), on pourrait ainsi parler d’un principe de resolution, et dans le second cas (PR1 ), d’un principe d’extension.
[Nutritional status of an hospitalised aged population].

AIMS The aims of the study were to evaluate the nutritional status of the hospitalised elderly patients, to estimate the prevalence and distribution of malnutrition among them and to value the correlation of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) with nutritional biochemical and anthropometric parameters. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross sectional survey was done among a sample of 200 elderly patients admitted to the USP San Carlos Hospital (Murcia) during a period of 3 months. The study employed the MNA and a blood test including hemogram and albumin and transferrin serum levels. Chang's protocol was used to classify the nourishing pattern. For statistical analyses of the MNA tool, the Spearman's coefficient was employed. RESULT Mean age of the 200 patients was 80.72 SD 7.43 years. Mean weight was 63.41 SD 19.57 kg and mean height was 160.93 SD 8.36 cm, with a mean Body Mass Index of 24.27 SD 7.31. The serum values of albumin and transferrin and total lymphocytes in blood were 3.09 SD 0.5 g/l, 1.69 SD 0.37 mg/dl and 1412 mm3 respectively. Average score of the MNA was 15.9 SD 6.21 with a maximum value of 27 and a minimum of 5.5 points. According to this scale, 50% (n=100) of the patients were malnourished, and 32% (n=32) of them presented mixed undernutrition of moderate degree. Values of malnutrition in the MNA test correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with values under normality of the biochemical and immunological parameters. CONCLUSIONS Patients over 80 years of age are either malnourished or at risk of malnutrition. These results are obtained both by means of the nutritional classic valuation and the MNA and presents a statistically significantly correlation. Therefore the MNA represents a useful, reliable and easily administered clinical tool to identify elderly people at risk of malnutrition and guide nutritional intervention in order to improve nutritional status.
The Role of Business Model Analysis in the Supervision of Insurers

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) supervises insurance companies since, in the absence of regulation, there could be adverse effects for policyholders and financial stability. Like all firms, insurers’ business models — the ways they make profit — and the risks they face evolve over time. The PRA uses business model analysis (BMA) as part of its forward-looking supervisory approach, to help to ensure that these evolving risks are recognised. This article explains the use of BMA, using as case studies the rise of price comparison websites in the motor insurance market, and the growth of non-standard annuity products for life insurers.
Measuring the burden of psychiatric illness on the family: an evaluation of some rating scales

Synopsis The gradual shift towards non-institutional treatment for severe and chronic psychiatric illnesses has been accompanied by a recognition of potentially harmful effects (‘burden’) upon the patient's caregivers. This paper aims to provide a framework for the development of further research into the burden of ‘community care’ by offering a clear definition of the burden concept, an exposition of the criteria for evaluating rating scales to measure the concept, a review of major rating scales of burden, and some suggestions for improvements in methodology which are urgently required.
Epithelial Tight Junctions in Intestinal Inflammation

The epithelium in inflamed intestinal segments of patients with Crohn's disease is characterized by a reduction of tight junction strands, strand breaks, and alterations of tight junction protein content and composition. In ulcerative colitis, epithelial leaks appear early due to micro‐erosions resulting from upregulated epithelial apoptosis and in addition to a prominent increase of claudin‐2. Th1‐cytokine effects by interferon‐γ in combination with TNFα are important for epithelial damage in Crohn's disease, while interleukin‐13 (IL‐13) is the key effector cytokine in ulcerative colitis stimulating apoptosis and upregulation of claudin‐2 expression. Focal lesions caused by apoptotic epithelial cells contribute to barrier disturbance in IBD by their own conductivity and by confluence toward apoptotic foci or erosions. Another type of intestinal barrier defect can arise from α‐hemolysin harboring E. coli strains among the physiological flora, which can gain pathologic relevance in combination with proinflammatory cytokines under inflammatory conditions. On the other hand, intestinal barrier impairment can also result from transcellular antigen translocation via an initial endocytotic uptake into early endosomes, and this is intensified by proinflammatory cytokines as interferon‐γ and may thus play a relevant role in the onset of IBD. Taken together, barrier defects contribute to diarrhea by a leak flux mechanism (e.g., in IBD) and can cause mucosal inflammation by luminal antigen uptake. Immune regulation of epithelial functions by cytokines may cause barrier dysfunction not only by tight junction impairments but also by apoptotic leaks, transcytotic mechanisms, and mucosal gross lesions.
Facteurs associes a l'asthme sévère chez les patients asthmatiques suivis au Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-phtisiologie de Cotonou (Benin) en 2014

Introduction la présente étude vise à déterminer la fréquence de l'asthme sévère chez les patients asthmatiques suivis au Centre National Hospitalier de Pneumo-Phtisiologie (CNHPP) de Cotonou et identifier les facteurs de risque qui lui sont associés Méthodes l’étude transversale, descriptive et analytique a porté sur 213 patients asthmatiques de la file active 2013 du CNHPP. Les données ont été collectées par l'exploitation des dossiers et l'entretien individuel avec les patients. Elles ont été traitées et analysées à l'aide des logiciels EPIINFO7 et STATA11. Le test Chi2 de Pearson, la régression logistique uni variée et multi variée ont été utilisés au seuil de signification de 0,05 Résultats au total, 154 patients asthmatiques soit 72,7% ont répondu au questionnaire. Parmi eux 20,8% (IC95%:(14,67; 28,05)) souffraient d'asthme sévère. L’âge des patients s’étendait de 10 à 76 ans avec une médiane de 41 ans; 51,3% étaient de sexe féminin, 79,9% avaient des antécédents d'allergie, 61,7% ont commencé leur asthme après l’âge de 12 ans et seuls 11% ont consommé ou consommaient du tabac. Les facteurs associés à la survenue de l'asthme sévère étaient: l’âge de 46 à 55 ans (p = 0,04); les troisième et quatrième quintiles du bien-être économique (p = 0,01) et le début de l'asthme après l’âge de 12 ans (p < 0,001) Conclusion l’étude a montré une fréquence élevée de l'asthme sévère au Bénin et permettra d'améliorer sa prise en charge au CNHPP.
NEXT and FEXT models for twisted-pair North American loop plant

Measurements of near-end crosstalk (NEXT) and far-end crosstalk (FEXT) in 26-AWG and 24-AWG polyethylene insulated cable (PIC) twisted pair cables are presented. This data is used to develop crosstalk models that indicate existing T1.417 Standard NEXT and FEXT models are probably conservative by about 5 dB for 25-pair binder groups. However, many cables start from wire centers as pulp cables of 100-pair binder groups. Even if most of these older pulp cables are 26-AWG, prudence dictates that a more conservative model be used for these cases. On a going forward basis for new and rehab construction, it should be recognized that PIC (air core and filled) cables with not larger than 25-pair binder groups are the predominant cable media supplied by manufacturers for feeder and distribution loops. Results for NEXT in 12-pair binders are also analyzed and show that 26-AWG cable has about 2 dB more NEXT loss than 24-AWG cable and 12-pair binders have about 2 dB more NEXT loss than 25-pair binders. In addition, the NEXT loss separation between adjacent binders of 12 and 13 pairs is found to be not more than 10 dB as compared with the more optimistic 15.5 dB assumed within the industry.
Peptides derived from a wild-type murine proto-oncogene c-erbB-2/HER2/neu can induce CTL and tumor suppression in syngeneic hosts.

In this analysis, we examined whether peptides derived from a wild-type murine proto-oncogene, c-erbB-2, function as tumor rejection Ags. Expression of murine c-erbB-2 examined by means of reverse transcription-PCR was observed in several normal adult tissues, such as intestine, kidney, and testis. We then transduced human and murine c-erbB-2 cDNA into two mutually noncross-reactive fibrosarcoma lines of BALB/c origin, CMS7 and CMS17. In BALB/c mice immunized with CMS17HE (CMS17 transduced with human c-erbB-2 cDNA), the growth of subsequently challenged CMS7HE (CMS7 transduced with human c-erbB-2 cDNA) was significantly suppressed. CTL against human c-erbB-2-expressing cells were generated from BALB/c spleen cells in vivo and in vitro sensitized by CMS17HE. The CTL activity was also directed against murine c-erbB-2-expressing cells, CMS7ME and CMS17ME, and was blocked by anti-CD8 or anti-Kd mAbs. A series of peptides of human or murine c-erbB-2 compatible with the Kd binding motif was synthesized. The CTL were reactive with P1.HTR (H-2d) pulsed with three of these peptides, p63-71 (human c-erbB-2 derived), p63-71(A) (murine c-erbB-2 derived), and p780-788 (common for human and murine c-erbB-2). Spleen cells immunized in vivo and in vitro with syngeneic spleen cells pulsed with these peptides became cytotoxic for CMS17HE and/or CMS17ME, but not CMS17neo (CMS17 transduced with control vector). The growth of CMS7ME was suppressed in mice immunized with the murine c-erbB-2-derived peptide, p63-71(A) or p780-788. There was no apparent pathologic change in mice that rejected CMS7ME after vaccination with these peptides.
CMOS Image Sensor Noise Analysis Through Noise Power Spectral Density Including Undersampling Effect Due to Readout Sequence

This paper presents a noise analysis in the frequency domain using noise power spectral density and considering the undersampling process coming from the native readout circuit sequence of image sensors. It reveals aliasing effect impacting the noise level of the image sensor. Key parameters of the undersampling process, such as sampling period, power spectral density level, and type, are explored. Low-frequency noise and particularly 1/f noise impact show a major impact in results. The new calculation algorithm is implemented in MATLAB software. Two CMOS image sensor technologies are used to perform a comparison between noise estimation and measurements. This comparison shows a very good correlation between estimations and measurements.
Combined Separation of Cu, Fe and Zn from Rock Matrices and Improved Analytical Protocols for Stable Isotope Determination

Isotope ratios of heavy elements vary on the 1/10000 level in high temperature materials, providing a fingerprint of the processes behind their origin. Ensuring that the measured isotope ratio is precise and accurate depends on employing an efficient chemical purification technique and optimised analytical protocols. Exploiting the disparate speciation of Cu, Fe and Zn in HCl and HNO3, an anion exchange chromatography procedure using AG1‐×8 (200–400 mesh) and 0.4 × 7 cm Teflon columns was developed to separate them from each other and matrix elements in felsic rocks, basalts, peridotites and meteorites. It required only one pass through the resin to produce a quantitative and pure isolate, minimising preparation time, reagent consumption and total analytical blanks. A ThermoFinnigan Neptune Plus MC‐ICP‐MS with calibrator‐sample bracketing and an external element spike was used to correct for mass bias. Nickel was the external element in Cu and Fe measurements, while Cu corrected Zn isotopes. These corrections were made assuming that the mass bias for the spike and analyte element was identical, and it is shown that this did not introduce any artificial bias. Measurement reproducibilities were ± 0.03‰, ± 0.04‰ and ± 0.06‰ (2s) for δ57Fe, δ65Cu and δ66Zn, respectively.
Fault tolerance of SRAM-based FPGA via configuration frames

Fault tolerance is an important system metric to increase chip reliability. The conventional technique for improving system reliability is through component replication, which usually comes at significant cost: increased design time, testing, power consumption, volume and weight. In this contribution, we propose a technique based on partial dynamic reconfiguration (PDR) to tolerate faults in configurable logic blocks (CLBs) and routing resources (RRs). The fault tolerance is achieved through SRAM cells of configuration frames. Our method do not require preallocated spare CLBs or RRs. The reliability of frames is analyzed and improved.
Transcriptional response to foraging experience in the honey bee mushroom bodies

Enriched environmental conditions induce neuroanatomical plasticity in a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate species. We explored the molecular processes associated with experience‐induced plasticity, using naturally occurring foraging behavior in adult worker honey bees (Apis mellifera). In honey bees, the mushroom bodies exhibit neuroanatomical plasticity that is dependent on accumulated foraging experience. To investigate molecular processes associated with foraging experience, we performed a time‐course microarray study to examine gene expression changes in the mushroom bodies as a function of days foraged. We found almost 500 genes that were regulated by duration of foraging experience. Bioinformatic analyses of these genes suggest that foraging experience is associated with multiple molecular processes in the mushroom bodies, including some that may contribute directly to neuropil growth, and others that could potentially protect the brain from the effects of aging and physiological stress. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 72: 153–166, 2012
Direct observation of the intermittency of intense vorticity filaments in turbulence.

Cavitation in a liquid seeded with bubbles is used as a new visualization technique to single out the regions of very low pressure of a fully developed turbulent flow. By this means, the sudden appearance of high vorticity filaments is observed. These structures are very thin and short lived and display a high degree of temporal as well as spatial intermittency. They contribute to the flow organization: In particular their disintegration corresponds to the formation of large eddies.
Teenagers' Use of Tobacco and Their Perceptions of Tobacco Control Initiatives

Background: Tobacco use leads to more deaths each year than any other single factor. This research examined teenagers' perceptions of anti-tobacco messages to determine which campaigns and educational approaches were most effective in preventing tobacco use among youth. Methods: Students from five rural high schools in western Pennsylvania were included in this survey-based study (N = 204). Results: A total of 30% of the study population reported current tobacco use. Tobacco users held more negative perceptions of anti-tobacco messages than non-users. A majority of students held supportive views about anti-tobacco education programs that were facilitated by peer leaders. Conclusions: Existing anti-tobacco campaigns and education are essential components of tobacco control initiatives. Students' perspectives provide novel insights that educators and campaign designers should consider as they develop anti-tobacco programs.
"Conceivably, plasma and tissue endocannabinoids may represent reliable diagnostic markers of reproduction and pregnancy outcomes …"

that the cellular, biochemical and behavioral responses to marijuana use are encoded in our genes [3,4]. Much of this progress in cannabi­ noid genomics is providing genetic variants and mutations in the ECS that deepen our under­ standing of cannabinoid pharmaco genomics. Such recent advances in understanding the biological actions of marijuana, cannabinoids and eCBs are unraveling the genetic basis of marijuana use, with functional implication for cannabinoid pharmacotherapy [3,4].
Relação entre parâmetros biomecânicos e a aceleração no basquetebol

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIOMECHANICS PARAMETERS AND ACCELERATION TASKS ON BASKETBALL PLAYERS Author: RODRIGO MACIEL ANDRADE Adviser: PROF. DR. ALEXANDRE MOREIRA The main aim of the study was to investigate the multiple-acceleration task construct from vertical jumps biomechanics parameters. Nineteen female basketball players from Brazilian national team performed the multiple-acceleration test (T test), countermovement jump (VJ) and countermovement jump preceded by run (VJr). The VJ biomechanics parameters observed were: concentric phase duration (CPD), propulsion peak force (PPF), time to reach propulsion peak force (TPPF), rate of force development (RFD) and impulse (I); for VJr the parameters were mean velocity (MV), movement total duration (MTD), passive peak force (PaPF), time to reach passive peak force (TPaPF), propulsion peak force (PPF), time to reach propulsion peak force (TPpPF), load rate (LR) and rate of force development (RFD). Data were first analyzed by principal component analysis. The results showed that 61.3% of VJ variance could be explained by time factor (CPD, TPPF and PPF), and 20.7% by kinetic factor (I and RFD). To VJr, 58.7% of total variance could be explained by time factor (MTD, TPaPF, TPpPF, LR, RFD) and 15.4% by kinetic factor (PPF and PaPF) and 12.8% by velocity factor (MV). Furthermore, significant correlations were found between T test with CPD, MV and PPF (0.55, -0.54 and -0.49, respectively), revealing a T test construct related to the ability of generating high level of force in concentric