Fourier Analysis of Written Words Focusing on Vowels: From Word Salad to Literary Works

We compared the population and the periodicities of vowels in texts of word salad, normal conversations and literary works using random walk representation and its Fourier transformation, in both Japanese and English. The random walk patterns of normal conversations were more coherent than those of word salads. Significant differences in characteristic periodicities were observed at around 7 and further long periodicities in word salad in Japanese, while in word salad in English they were observed at around 4. Similar analyses were performed on literary works by Japanese novelists, Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai. These analyses demonstrated that the random walk pattern was more spread in Dazai’s novels than those by Mishima. In Dazai’s novels, systematic upward deviation of the slope of the random walks was evident as a function of age, possibly representing his mental decline. The same analyses were performed for literary works by English novelists, Arthur Conan Doyle and Lucy Maud Montgomery. The results indicated that the random walk pattern was more spread in novels by Montgomery than in those by Doyle. A slight systematic upward deviation of the slope of the random walk pattern was also observed in Montgomery’s novels as a function of age, possibly representing an alteration of her mental state. The random walk pattern and Fourier transform analyses of texts, wherever they are written or spoken, presented here would be useful to elucidate various stages of human mental states, and, in future, could also be implemented in social robots to assess of the mental state of a cared person. Keywords: Signifier, Signified, Fourier Analysis, Random Walk, Vowel, Word Salad, Literary Works, Multi-language Analysis DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/63-05 Publication date: December 31st 201

Caffeoylquinic Acids Are Major Constituents with Potent Anti-Influenza Effects in Brazilian Green Propolis Water Extract

Influenza A viral infections reached pandemic levels in 1918, 1957, 1968, and, most recently, in 2009 with the emergence of the swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus. The development of novel therapeutics or prophylactics for influenza virus infection is urgently needed. We examined the evaluation of the anti-influenza virus (A/WSN/33 (H1N1)) activity of Brazilian green propolis water extract (PWE) and its constituents by cell viability and real-time PCR assays. Our findings showed strong evidence that PWE has an anti-influenza effect and demonstrate that caffeoylquinic acids are the active anti-influenza components of PWE. Furthermore, we have found that the amount of viral RNA per cell remained unchanged even in the presence of PWE, suggesting that PWE has no direct impact on the influenza virus but may have a cytoprotective activity by affecting internal cellular process. These findings indicate that caffeoylquinic acids are the active anti-influenza components of PWE. Above findings might facilitate the prophylactic application of natural products and the realization of novel anti-influenza drugs based on caffeoylquinic acids, as well as further the understanding of cytoprotective intracellular mechanisms in influenza virus-infected cells

Electrochemical and Mechanistic Study of Superoxide Scavenging by Pyrogallol in N,N-Dimethylformamide through Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Scavenging of electrogenerated superoxide radical anion (O2•−) by pyrogallol (PyH3) was investigated on the basis of cyclic voltammetry and in situ electrolytic electron spin resonance spectrum in N,N-dimethylformamide with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Quasi-reversible dioxygen/O2•− redox couple was modified by the presence of PyH3, suggesting that O2•− was scavenged by PyH3 through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) involving two proton transfer and one electron transfer. DFT calculation suggested that the pre-reactive formation of a hydrogen-bond (HB) complex and the subsequent concerted two-proton-coupled electron transfer characterized by catechol moiety in PyH3 is plausible mechanism that embodies the superior kinetics of the O2•− scavenging by PyH3 as shown in the electrochemical results. Furthermore, it was clarified that the three hydroxyl groups of PyH3 promote the formation of HB complex, in comparative analyses using related compounds, resulting in the promotion of the O2•− scavenging

Electrochemical and Mechanistic Study of Reactivities of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-Tocopherol toward Electrogenerated Superoxide in N,N-Dimethylformamide through Proton-Coupled Electron Transfer

Scavenging of superoxide radical anion (O2•−) by tocopherols (TOH) and related compounds was investigated on the basis of cyclic voltammetry and in situ electrolytic electron spin resonance spectrum in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Quasi-reversible dioxygen/O2•− redox was modified by the presence of TOH, suggesting that the electrogenerated O2•− was scavenged by α-, β-, γ-TOH through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), but not by δ-TOH. The reactivities of α-, β-, γ-, and δ-TOH toward O2•− characterized by the methyl group on the 6-chromanol ring was experimentally confirmed, where the methyl group promotes the PCET mechanism. Furthermore, comparative analyses using some related compounds suggested that the para-oxygen-atom in the 6-chromanol ring is required for a successful electron transfer (ET) to O2•− through the PCET. The electrochemical and DFT results in dehydrated DMF suggested that the PCET mechanism involves the preceding proton transfer (PT) forming a hydroperoxyl radical, followed by a PCET (intermolecular ET–PT). The O2•− scavenging by TOH proceeds efficiently along the PCET mechanism involving one ET and two PTs

Anti-prion activity of an RNA aptamer and its structural basis.

Prion proteins (PrPs) cause prion diseases, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The conversion of a normal cellular form (PrP(C)) of PrP into an abnormal form (PrP(Sc)) is thought to be associated with the pathogenesis. An RNA aptamer that tightly binds to and stabilizes PrP(C) is expected to block this conversion and to thereby prevent prion diseases. Here, we show that an RNA aptamer comprising only 12 residues, r(GGAGGAGGAGGA) (R12), reduces the PrP(Sc) level in mouse neuronal cells persistently infected with the transmissible spongiform encephalopathy agent. Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed that R12, folded into a unique quadruplex structure, forms a dimer and that each monomer simultaneously binds to two portions of the N-terminal half of PrP(C), resulting in tight binding. Electrostatic and stacking interactions contribute to the affinity of each portion. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of an RNA aptamer as to prion diseases

3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic Acid, a Major Constituent of Brazilian Propolis, Increases TRAIL Expression and Extends the Lifetimes of Mice Infected with the Influenza A Virus

Brazilian green propolis water extract (PWE) and its chemical components, caffeoylquinic acids, such as 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,4-diCQA), act against the influenza A virus (IAV) without influencing the viral components. Here, we evaluated the anti-IAV activities of these compounds in vivo. PWE or PEE (Brazilian green propolis ethanol extract) at a dose of 200 mg/kg was orally administered to Balb/c mice that had been inoculated with IAV strain A/WSN/33. The lifetimes of the PWE-treated mice were significantly extended compared to the untreated mice. Moreover, oral administration of 3,4-diCQA, a constituent of PWE, at a dose of 50 mg/kg had a stronger effect than PWE itself. We found that the amount of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) mRNA in the mice that were administered 3,4-diCQA was significantly increased compared to the control group, while H1N1 hemagglutinin (HA) mRNA was slightly decreased. These data indicate that PWE, PEE or 3,4-diCQA possesses a novel and unique mechanism of anti-influenza viral activity, that is, enhancing viral clearance by increasing TRAIL

Development Automobile Engine Hood Latch

V diplomové práci se zabývá konstrukčním návrhem automobilového zámku, který má hlavní komponenty v „plastovém“ provedení (rohatka, západka, tělesa). Tyto plastové díly jsem vhodně navrhl a optimalizoval na požadované zatížení. Zároveň srovnávám plastový zámek a ocelový zámek přední kapoty, srovnávám jak cenu zámků, tak hmotnost a zatížení zámků. V krátkosti porovnávám automobilové zámky přední kapoty v současném automobilovém průmyslu. Také se zabývám etapou výroby prototypového vzorku v současnosti.The diploma thesis deals with the design of the car lock, which main components such as claw, pawl and housing are made of plastic. My main goal was to optimized these plastic parts for a certain amount of power. The following part shows a comparison of plastic lock and the steel lock of front bonnet. The following part shows a comparison of the plastic lock and the steel lock of the front bonnet. The comparison is made in terms of the price, weight and load of the locks. The diploma thesis also briefly deals with the comparison of car locks of car locks of front bonnets in the current automotive industry and the stage of prototype sample production nowadays.340 - Katedra výrobních strojů a konstruovánívelmi dobř

Dietary Lactoferrin Alleviates Age-Related Lacrimal Gland Dysfunction in Mice

BACKGROUND: Decrease in lacrimal gland secretory function is related to age-induced dry eye disease. Lactoferrin, the main glycoprotein component of tears, has multiple functions, including anti-inflammatory effects and the promotion of cell growth. We investigated how oral administration of lactoferrin affects age-related lacrimal dysfunction. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Twelve-month-old male C57BL/6Cr Slc mice were randomly divided into a control fed group and an oral lactoferrin treatment group. Tear function was measured at a 6-month time-point. After euthanasia, the lacrimal glands were subjected to histological examination with 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) antibodies, and serum concentrations of 8-OHdG and hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL) were evaluated. Additionally, monocyte chemotactic protein-1(MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) gene expression levels were determined by real-time PCR. The volume of tear secretion was significantly larger in the treated group than in the control. Lactoferrin administration reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and the MCP-1 and TNF-α expression levels. Serum concentrations of 8-OHdG and HEL in the lactoferrin group were lower than those in the control group and were associated with attenuated 8-OHdG immunostaining of the lacrimal glands. CONCLUSION: Oral lactoferrin administration preserves lacrimal gland function in aged mice by attenuating oxidative damage and suppressing subsequent gland inflammation