Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba Inhibits Growth, Motility, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Abstract Artemisia gmelinii (Artemisia iwayomogi) has been used in traditional medicine to cure various infectious diseases such as cholecystitis, hepatitis, and jaundice. In this study, the Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract was investigated for the ability to inhibit growth of hepatocellular carcinoma and its underlying mechanism involved. The antiproliferative effect of Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract was evaluated using cell viability and proliferation assays. The effect of Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract on apoptosis was measured using western blotting, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin end labeling staining, JC-1 staining, cytochrome c release, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence in ex vivo mouse xenografts. Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic effect of Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract was observed via increased levels of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP, as well as elevated numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin end labeling-positive apoptotic cells. Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract also decreased XIAP and Mcl-1 expression via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Additionally, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell invasion and migration. In the ex vivo model, Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract significantly inhibited tumor cell proliferation and increased the number of apoptotic cells with more activated cleaved caspase-3. A mechanistic study revealed that Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract effectively suppressed the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Our findings demonstrate that Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract can efficiently induce apoptosis and inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and simultaneously block PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. We therefore suggest Artemisiae Iwayomogii Herba ethanol extract as a novel natural agent for prevention and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Feeding and Swimming Behavior in Grazing Microzooplankton1,2

A random-walk model of food-searching behavior is considered for the microzooplankton. It is suggested that in still waters a random walk of the conventional sort, modeled by a Wiener process, is less efficient than a Levy walk (a random walk whose excursions follow a Levy distribution) with Levy parameter less than two. For Levy parameter less than one, however, little advantage is gained by further reduction. In turbulent water, on the other hand, dispersion due to a random walk is dominated by the turbulent diffusion of the medium so that the Levy parameter appears to be less important. The effect of chemosensory responses is considered. It is suggested that these are most useful in still water, whereas in turbulent water their value would be less, and a non-specific filtering behavior might be more plausible.
Short Range Correlations in Nuclei – Progress and Prospects

Short-range correlations (SRCs) in nuclei, an area of longstanding study both theoretically and experimentally, are an aspect of nuclear structure that goes beyond the independent particle model. Short distance interactions between nucleons give rise to high momentum components common to all nuclei and arise from both the repulsive core of the NN potential and from tensor interactions. Evidence for SRCs and their isospin dependence has been well established and linked to the EMC effect though a fundamental understanding is lacking. A series of future experiments are planned.
Cooperation Among Unrelated Individuals: Evolutionary Factors

There are three categories of cooperation among unrelated individuals: group-selected behavior, reciprocal altruism, and by-product mutualism. A simple two-strategy game, the cooperator's dilemma, which generalizes the well-known prisoner's dilemma, provides a coherent framework for distinguishing the mechanisms that support cooperation in each category. The mechanism for cooperation in group-selected behavior is deme structure; variance among trait groups allows natural selection to favor individuals in groups with a higher frequency of cooperators. A prerequisite for this mechanism to work is differential productivity of trait groups. The mechanism for cooperation in reciprocal altruism is scorekeeping, which allows cooperators to relatiate against noncooperators by conditioning their behavior on that of others. A prerequisite for this mechanism is that the expected number of interactions between individuals be sufficiently high. In nonsessile organisms, individuals must typically have a sufficiently well-developed neural apparatus to recognize opponents and remember their actions on previous encounters. The mechanism for cooperation in by-product mutualism is the common enemy of a sufficiently adverse environment. A prerequisite for this mechanism is the boomerang factor, that is, any uncertainty that increases the probability that a noncooperator will be the victim of its own cheating. These mechanisms may operate, alone or together, in widely divergent taxa. Empirical studies suggest that cooperation among unrelated confoundresses in the desert seed harvester ant, Messor pergandei, exemplifies group-selected behavior. Other recent experiments suggest that predator inspection in fish may satisfy the prerequisites for cooperation via reciprocity between nonsessile organism. Cooperative hunting of large prey in lions appears to be an example of by-product mutualism. Both theoretical and empirical work are needed to distinguish among these possibilities, and future research directions are discussed.
Recovery from Anorexia Nervosa in contemporary Taiwan: A multiple-case qualitative investigation from a cultural-contextual perspective

Grounded in a cultural and contextual perspective, the current study examined the lived experiences and the recovery pathways of three Taiwanese women diagnosed with various subtypes of anorexia nervosa, at varying stages of their recovery. Specifically, using a multiple-case qualitative method, this study explored the complex, dynamic interactions of sociocultural factors and forces (i.e., cultural, familial, and societal influences) that impinge upon the three Taiwanese female participants in relation to living with anorexia nervosa in contemporary Taiwan. Data were collected based on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the participants and relevant written materials and journal entries provided by these participants. The data were first analyzed within each case and then again across all cases. Accordingly, we present the results of the study by illustrating each participant’s story and narrative of struggling with and recovering from anorexia. We then describe three main culturally-related themes that emerged from the cross-case analysis, which pertain specifically to the recovery process of the participants under the East-West ‘biculturalism’ in Taiwan: 1) anorexia as a function of the conflictual bicultural self; 2) recovery as a pathway towards an integrated bicultural self; and 3) the paradoxical roles of Chinese cultural heritage in anorexia and recovery. Findings of the study highlight the role of local cultural factors/forces, including Chinese familism, Confucianism, filial piety, face-saving, gender role prescriptions, biculturalism, Westernization, and self-relation-coordination, in affecting and shaping Taiwanese women’s struggling with anorexia. Implications and recommendations for future research and clinical interventions are discussed.
Avaliação de larvicidas de origem microbiana no controle da traça-das-crucíferas em couve-flor

Two bioinsecticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis sub species kurstaki (Btk) and aizawai (Bta) and non-systemic insecticide of biological origin based on spinosad were evaluated on cauliflower crop for diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lep.:Plutellidae) control. The experiment was conducted in a vegetable production area of Brazlândia, Brazil. The crop was conducted using the same technology of production adopted by farmers for pest control management. The experiment was conducted between July and September 2002. Randomized blocks with four treatments and four replications were used. Six holes per plant in the four central leaves, were used as a parameter to indicate the necessity of applying insecticides. The number of holes was evaluated weekly. Based on this parameter spinosad was applied three times and Btk and Bta six times. Similar results were obtained in the treatments using insecticides. However significant differences in production were observed between treatments in which insecticide was used and the untreated control. The area treated with Btk produced 78.1% of commercial heads, the area treated with Bta 76.5 % and the one treated with spinosad 75.5 %. On the untreated area 34.4% of the production was lost. The increase on profitability per hectare were U$ 785.32; for Btk U$ 592.99 for spinosal and U$ 612.71 for Bta.
An Iterative Deconvolution-Time Reversal Method with Noise Reduction, a High Resolution and Sidelobe Suppression for Active Sonar in Shallow Water Environments

Matched filtering is widely used in active sonar because of its simplicity and ease of implementation. However, the resolution performance generally depends on the transmitted waveform. Moreover, its detection performance is limited by the high-level sidelobes and seriously degraded in a shallow water environment due to time spread induced by multipath propagation. This paper proposed a method named iterative deconvolution-time reversal (ID-TR), on which the energy of the cross-ambiguity function is modeled, as a convolution of the energy of the auto-ambiguity function of the transmitted signal with the generalized target reflectivity density. Similarly, the generalized target reflectivity density is a convolution of the spread function of channel with the reflectivity density of target as well. The ambiguity caused by the transmitted signal and the spread function of channel are removed by Richardson-Lucy iterative deconvolution and the time reversal processing, respectively. Moreover, this is a special case of the Richardson-Lucy algorithm that the blur function is one-dimensional and time-invariant. Therefore, the iteration deconvolution is actually implemented by the iterative temporal time reversal processing. Due to the iterative time reversal method can focus more and more energy on the strongest target with the iterative number increasing and then the peak-signal power increases, the simulated result shows that the noise reduction can achieve 250 dB in the “ideal” free field environment and 100 dB in a strong multipaths waveguide environment if a 1-ms linear frequency modulation with a 4-kHz frequency bandwidth is transmitted and the number of iteration is 10. Moreover, the range resolution is approximately a delta function. The results of the experiment in a tank show that the noise level is suppressed by more than 70 dB and the reverberation level is suppressed by 3 dB in the case of a single target and the iteration number being 8.
Phosphates in red cells of two South American osteoglossids: Arapaima gigas and Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

Water-soluble phosphates of red blood cells of the South American osteoglossid fish Arapaima gigas were measured by ion-exchange column chromatography. Major phosphate components were ATP and GTP with the former predominant. Of special interest was the presence of a large pool of inositol pentaphosphate, hitherto seen only in red cells of birds and turtles. A close relative of Arapaima, another South American osteoglossid, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, had no inositol polyphosphates in its red cells. This study stemmed from work on the research vessel Alpha Helix on the Amazon River.
Effects of acupuncture in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES to analyze the effects of acupuncture techniques in patients with chronic kidney disease. METHODS a systematic review conducted in six databases, from September to December 2017, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' criteria. The following descriptors were used: Acupuncture AND Chronic Renal Insufficiency AND Clinical Trial. RESULTS nine studies were selected; the acupuncture techniques used were auriculotherapy, electroacupuncture and acupressure aimed at improving quality of life, fatigue, sleep and clinical variables of the disease. The studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. Studies that assessed quality of life, sleep and fatigue presented significant benefits. There was no statistical significance in the improvement of serum creatinine levels and glomerular filtration rate. Methodological and assessment tools' divergence made impossible meta-analysis Conclusions: studies reinforce the positive effect of acupuncture in improving quality of life, fatigue and sleep in patients.
150–200 V Split-Gate Trench Power MOSFETs with Multiple Epitaxial Layers

A rating voltage of 150 and 200 V split-gate trench (SGT) power metal-oxide- semiconductor field-effect transistor (Power MOSFET) with different epitaxial layers was proposed and studied. In order to reduce the specific on-resistance (Ron,sp) of a 150 and 200 V SGT power MOSFET, we used a multiple epitaxies (EPIs) structure to design it and compared other single-EPI and double-EPIs devices based on the same fabrication process. We found that the bottom epitaxial (EPI) layer of a double-EPIs structure can be designed to support the breakdown voltage, and the top one can be adjusted to reduce the Ron,sp. Therefore, the double-EPIs device has more flexibility to achieve a lower Ron,sp than the single-EPI one. When the required voltage is over 100 V, the on-state resistance (Ron) of double-EPIs device is no longer satisfying our expectations. A triple-EPIs structure was designed and studied, to reduce its Ron, without sacrificing the breakdown voltage. We used an Integrated System Engineering-Technology Computer-Aided Design (ISE-TCAD) simulator to investigate and study the 150 V SGT power MOSFETs with different EPI structures, by modulating the thickness and resistivity of each EPI layer. The simulated Ron,sp of a 150 V triple-EPIs device is only 62% and 18.3% of that for the double-EPIs and single-EPI structure, respectively.
Psychosocial therapies in severe mental illness: update on evidence and recommendations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To provide an overview of the update of the evidence-based and consensus-based German S3 guideline on psychosocial therapies for severe mental illnesses (SMI), with particular attention to current developments and future research tasks. RECENT FINDINGS There has been a significant increase in studies on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions in treatment of people with SMI. In the guideline a distinction is made between system-level interventions (e.g. multidisciplinary team-based psychiatric community care) and single-handed (nonteam-based) interventions (e.g. psychoeducation). Furthermore, principles of treatment (e.g. recovery-orientation) and self-help interventions (e.g. peer support) are addressed. The update of the guideline includes 33 recommendations and 12 statements. Compared with the first edition, there were upgrades in the recommendation of Supported Employment (A) and Supported Housing (A). Interventions such as peer support (B) and lifestyle interventions (A) were included for the first time. Developments are discussed in the context of most recent literature. Areas for further research are highlighted and fields for next updates such as antistigma interventions and supported parenting were identified. SUMMARY The present guideline offers an important opportunity to further improve health services for people with SMI. However, guideline implementation is challenging.
Primary nitrogen assimilation in higher plants and its regulation

Characteristics of the enzymes involved in the assimilation of NO3− and NH4+, in particular the nitrate and nitrite reductases, glutamine synthetase, glutamate synthase, glutamate dehydrogenase, glutamate decarboxylase, and asparagine synthetase, are described. The cellular organization of these enzymes in root and leaf tissues are assessed in view of recent research developments that utilize various tissue blotting techniques. Regulation of nitrate assimilation is analyzed at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. Key words: nitrate, ammonium, assimilation, regulation.
Targeting Casein Kinase 1 Delta Sensitizes Pancreatic and Bladder Cancer Cells to Gemcitabine Treatment by Upregulating Deoxycytidine Kinase

Although gemcitabine is the cornerstone of care for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), patients lack durable responses and relapse is inevitable. While the underlying mechanisms leading to gemcitabine resistance are likely to be multifactorial, there is a strong association between activating gemcitabine metabolism pathways and clinical outcome. This study evaluated casein kinase 1 delta (CK1δ) as a potential therapeutic target for PDA and bladder cancer, in which CK1δ is frequently overexpressed. We assessed the antitumor effects of genetically silencing or pharmacologically inhibiting CK1δ using our in-house CK1δ small-molecule inhibitor SR-3029, either alone or in combination with gemcitabine, on the proliferation and survival of pancreatic and bladder cancer cell lines and orthotopic mouse models. Genetic studies confirmed that silencing CK1δ or treatment with SR-3029 induced a significant upregulation of deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), a rate-limiting enzyme in gemcitabine metabolite activation. The combination of SR-3029 with gemcitabine induced synergistic antiproliferative activity and enhanced apoptosis in both pancreatic and bladder cancer cells. Furthermore, in an orthotopic pancreatic tumor model, we observed improved efficacy with combination treatment concomitant with increased dCK expression. This study demonstrates that CK1δ plays a role in gemcitabine metabolism, and that the combination of CK1δ inhibition with gemcitabine holds promise as a future therapeutic option for metastatic PDA as well as other cancers with upregulated CK1δ expression.
Reducing second-hand smoke exposure among non-smoking pregnant women: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION Exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in pregnancy leads to an increased risk of stillbirths, congenital malformations and low birth weight. There is a lack of evidence about how best to achieve reductions in SHS exposure among non-smoking pregnant women. This work systematically reviews individual or household interventions to reduce pregnant women's exposure to SHS. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were searched from their dates of inception to 17th April 2019. Studies were included if: participants were non-smoking pregnant women; involved an intervention to reduce SHS exposure or encourage partner quitting; and measured SHS exposure of pregnant women and/or recorded quit rates among partners. The UK National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Appraisal checklist was used to determine internal and external validity. RESULTS Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. Educational interventions were primarily targeted at the pregnant woman to change her or others' behaviour, with only two studies involving the partner who smoked. Intervention delivery was mixed, spanning brief discussions through to more involving sessions with role play. The effective interventions involved multiple follow-ups. There was no standardised method of assessing exposure to SHS. Many of the included studies had moderate to high risk of bias. CONCLUSION There is mixed evidence for interventions aimed at reducing pregnant women's exposure to SHS, though multi-component interventions seem to be more effective. The effectiveness of family-centred approaches involving creating smoke-free homes alongside partner smoking cessation, perhaps involving pharmacological support and/or financial incentives, should be explored.
Toxicological, Electrophysiological, and Molecular Characterisation of Knockdown Resistance to Pyrethroid Insecticides in the Diamondback Moth,Plutella xylostella(L.)

Abstract Nerve insensitivity was shown to be a major cause of high pyrethroid resistance in a Taiwanese strain of the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella. Initial evidence for this type of target site insensitivity, also termed knockdown resistance orkdr, was provided by nonsynergizable cross-resistance to a range of pyrethroids and DDT and an incompletely recessive autosomal inheritance of the resistance trait. This was corroborated by using a larval neuromuscular preparation to assess spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic potentials (mEPSPs) and evoked EPSPs in response to varying concentrations of the pyrethroid deltamethrin. Intracellular recordings revealed a pyrethroid-induced increase in mEPSP activity and a decline in the EPSP amplitude; responses were induced only at considerably higher concentrations in resistant larvae when compared to larvae of a susceptible standard strain. These findings were supported by the detection of two amino acid changes in part of thepara-type voltage-sensitive sodium channel (the primary target site of pyrethroids) of the resistant strain. One of these mutations, a leucine to phenylalanine replacement in transmembrane segment 6 of domain II, has previously been shown to correlate withkdrin the house fly,Musca domestica, and German cockroach,Blattella germanica.
Nest Predation in Forest Tracts and the Decline of Migratory Songbirds

Nest predation has been suggested as an important cause of the decline of breeding populations of migratory songbirds in small woodlots in eastern North America. I tested this hypothesis by placing artificial nests with fresh quail eggs in forests of different sizes in Maryland and Tennessee. Predation rates were higher in small woodlots than in large tracts. Predation was especially intense in woodlots near suburban neighborhoods compared to woodlots in isolated rural areas. Experimental open-cup nests were more vulnerable to predators when placed on the ground vs. 1-2 m above ground. In either position these open-cup nests were more vulnerable to predators than experimental cavity nests. Since most species of migratory songbirds construct open-cup nests, and several species place them near the ground, migratory songbirds should be strongly affected by higher predation rates in small forest tracts.