Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neural Correlates of Expert Visuomotor Performance in Badminton Players.

INTRODUCTION Elite/skilled athletes participating in sports that require the initiation of targeted movements in response to visual cues under critical time pressure typically outperform nonathletes in a visuomotor reaction task. However, the exact physiological mechanisms of this advantage remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the neurophysiological processes contributing to superior visuomotor performance in athletes using visual evoked potential (VEP). METHODS Central and peripheral determinants of visuomotor reaction time were investigated in 15 skilled badminton players and 28 age-matched nonathletic controls. To determine the speed of visual signal perception in the cortex, chromatic and achromatic pattern reversal stimuli were presented, and VEP values were recorded with a 64-channel EEG system. Further, a simple visuomotor reaction task was performed to investigate the transformation of the visual into a motor signal in the brain as well as the timing of muscular activation. RESULTS Amplitude and latency of VEP (N75, P100, and N145) revealed that the athletes did not significantly differ from the nonathletes. However, visuomotor reaction time was significantly reduced in the athletes compared with nonathletes (athletes = 234.9 ms, nonathletes = 260.3 ms, P = 0.015). This was accompanied by an earlier activation of the premotor and supplementary motor areas (athletes = 163.9 ms, nonathletes = 199.1 ms, P = 0.015) as well as an earlier EMG onset (athletes = 167.5 ms, nonathletes = 206.5 ms, P < 0.001). The latency of premotor and supplementary motor area activation was correlated with EMG onset (r = 0.41) and visuomotor reaction time (r = 0.43). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicate that superior visuomotor performance in athletes originates from faster visuomotor transformation in the premotor and supplementary motor cortical regions rather than from earlier perception of visual signals in the visual cortex.
Allosteric effector ppGpp potentiates the inhibition of transcript initiation by DksA

DksA and ppGpp are the central players in the Escherichia coli stringent response and mediate a complete reprogramming of the transcriptome from one optimized for rapid growth to one adapted for survival during nutrient limitation. A major component of the response is a reduction in ribosome synthesis, which is accomplished by the synergistic action of DksA and ppGpp bound to RNA polymerase (RNAP) inhibiting transcription of rRNAs. Here, we report the X-ray crystal structures of E. coli RNAP holoenzyme in complex with DksA alone and with ppGpp. The structures show that DksA accesses the template strand at the active site and the downstream DNA binding site of RNAP simultaneously and reveal that binding of the allosteric effector ppGpp reshapes the RNAP–DksA complex. The structural data support a model for transcriptional inhibition in which ppGpp potentiates the destabilization of open complexes on rRNA promoters by DksA. We also determined the structure of RNAP–TraR complex, which reveals the mechanism of ppGpp-independent transcription inhibition by TraR. This work establishes new ground for understanding the pleiotropic effects of DksA and ppGpp on transcriptional regulation in proteobacteria. Highlights DksA has two modes of binding to RNA polymerase DksA is capable of inhibiting the catalysis and influences the DNA binding of RNAP ppGpp acts as an allosteric effector of DksA function ppGpp stabilizes DksA in a more functionally important binding mode
Semiconducting polymers are light nanotransducers in eyeless animals

Light polymer nanotransducers control cell functions in vivo. Current implant technology uses electrical signals at the electrode-neural interface. This rather invasive approach presents important issues in terms of performance, tolerability, and overall safety of the implants. Inducing light sensitivity in living organisms is an alternative method that provides groundbreaking opportunities in neuroscience. Optogenetics is a spectacular demonstration of this, yet is limited by the viral transfection of exogenous genetic material. We propose a nongenetic approach toward light control of biological functions in living animals. We show that nanoparticles based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) can be internalized in eyeless freshwater polyps and are fully biocompatible. Under light, the nanoparticles modify the light response of the animals, at two different levels: (i) they enhance the contraction events of the animal body, and (ii) they change the transcriptional activation of the opsin3-like gene. This suggests the establishment of a seamless and biomimetic interface between the living organism and the polymer nanoparticles that behave as light nanotransducers, coping with or amplifying the function of primitive photoreceptors.
Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled feeding study

Rodent studies demonstrate that supplementing the maternal diet with choline during pregnancy produces life‐long cognitive benefits for the offspring. In contrast, the two experimental studies examining cognitive effects of maternal choline supplementation in humans produced inconsistent results, perhaps because of poor participant adherence and/or uncontrolled variation in intake of choline or other nutrients. We examined the effects of maternal choline supplementation during pregnancy on infant cognition, with intake of choline and other nutrients tightly controlled. Women entering their third trimester were randomized to consume, until delivery, either 480 mg choline/d (n = 13) or 930 mg choline/d (n = 13). Infant information processing speed and visuospatial memory were tested at 4, 7, 10, and 13 mo of age (n = 24). Mean reaction time averaged across the four ages was significantly faster for infants born to mothers in the 930 (vs. 480) mg choline/d group. This result indicates that maternal consumption of approximately twice the recommended amount of choline during the last trimester improves infant information processing speed. Furthermore, for the 480‐mg choline/d group, there was a significant linear effect of exposure duration (infants exposed longer showed faster reaction times), suggesting that even modest increases in maternal choline intake during pregnancy may produce cognitive benefits for offspring. — Caudill, M. A. , Strupp, B. J., Muscalu, L. , Nevins, J. E. H. , Canfield, R. L. Maternal choline supplementation during the third trimester of pregnancy improves infant information processing speed: a randomized, double‐blind, controlled feeding study. FASEB J. 32, 2172–2180 (2018). www.fasebj. org
Suboptimal Clinical Documentation in Young Children with Severe Obesity at Tertiary Care Centers

Background and Objectives. The prevalence of severe obesity in children has doubled in the past decade. The objective of this study is to identify the clinical documentation of obesity in young children with a BMI ≥ 99th percentile at two large tertiary care pediatric hospitals. Methods. We used a standardized algorithm utilizing data from electronic health records to identify children with severe early onset obesity (BMI ≥ 99th percentile at age <6 years). We extracted descriptive terms and ICD-9 codes to evaluate documentation of obesity at Boston Children's Hospital and Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Medical Center between 2007 and 2014. Results. A total of 9887 visit records of 2588 children with severe early onset obesity were identified. Based on predefined criteria for documentation of obesity, 21.5% of children (13.5% of visits) had positive documentation, which varied by institution. Documentation in children first seen under 2 years of age was lower than in older children (15% versus 26%). Documentation was significantly higher in girls (29% versus 17%, p < 0.001), African American children (27% versus 19% in whites, p < 0.001), and the obesity focused specialty clinics (70% versus 15% in primary care and 9% in other subspecialty clinics, p < 0.001). Conclusions. There is significant opportunity for improvement in documentation of obesity in young children, even years after the 2007 AAP guidelines for management of obesity.
Repellent Effect of Volatile Fatty Acids on Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus)

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are a group of common metabolites and semiochemicals mediating information transfer between higher organisms and bacteria, either from microbiome or external environment. VFAs commonly occur among various insect orders. There are numerous studies exploring their influence on the behavior of different insect species. In relation to the papers published by J. E. McFarlane in 1985, we assessed the effects of formic, acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric acids on the spatial preference of the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), a common pest of stored food grain products and the poultry industry. The main aim of the presented study was to provide new angles in VFA research, recreating the classical study both with new methods and on economically significant pest species. This paper presents a novel method of continuous, simultaneous assessment of site preference and the travelled distance in a constant-flow olfactometer. All the tested VFAs, except valeric acid, had a significant repellent effect, with formic acid being effective even at the lowest used concentration. Additionally, the VFAs significantly altered the distance travelled by the insects. The obtained results indicate a potential role for VFAs in the olfactory guided behavior of A. diaperinus. It is suspected that the reaction to the presence of VFAs may deviate from the specificity of species’ original habitat.
Comprehensive genomic and phenotypic characterization of germline FH deletion in hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is a familial cancer syndrome associated with the development of cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas, and an aggressive form of type 2 papillary kidney cancer. HLRCC is characterized by germline mutation of the FH gene. This study evaluated the prevalence and clinical phenotype of FH deletions in HLRCC patients. Patients with phenotypic manifestations consistent with HLRCC who lacked detectable germline FH intragenic mutations were investigated for FH deletion. A series of 28 patients from 13 families were evaluated using a combination of a comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) array and/or CLIA‐approved FH deletion/duplication analyses. Thirteen distinct germline deletions were identified in the 13 UOB families, including 11 complete FH gene deletions and 2 partial FH gene deletions. The size of eight evaluated complete FH deletions varied from ∼4.74 Mb to 249 kb, with all deletions resulting in additional gene losses. Two partial FH gene deletions were identified, with one resulting in loss of exon 1 and the upstream region of the FH gene only. Kidney cancer was diagnosed in 9 (32%) of 28 patients and 7 (54%) of 13 families possessing either complete or partial FH deletions. Cutaneous and uterine leiomyomas were observed at similar rates to those in FH point mutation families. Complete or partial FH gene alterations in HLRCC families are associated with all of the canonical HLRCC manifestations, including type 2 papillary kidney cancer and should be screened for in any patient at‐risk for this disorder.
Intrauterine elimination of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in full-term and preterm infants.

This study addressed the intrauterine elimination of pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) in 15 preterm and 31 full-term infants, thereby providing estimates of fetal vitamin consumption as well as maternal vitamin requirements during pregnancy. Elimination was calculated as the difference in the plasma PLP concentration between umbilical vein and umbilical artery times the umbilical plasma flow. Plasma flow in the umbilical vein was calculated from pulsed Doppler ultrasonographic determination of blood flow and from the hematocrit value. Plasma PLP concentrations were assayed in maternal and umbilical veins and the umbilical artery; PLP concentrations were similar in preterm and full-term infants (P > 0.05). In both groups of infants the PLP concentration in the umbilical vein (preterm: 100.3 nmol/L; full-term: 63.9 nmol/L) was ninefold higher than in maternal circulation (P < 0.001). In full-term infants, PLP concentrations in maternal and umbilical veins correlated weakly (r = 0.358, P < 0.05), but no significant correlation was found in the preterm group (P > 0.05). The arteriovenous concentration gradient of PLP in cord vessels was higher in preterm infants (15.0 nmol/L) than in full-term infants (2.1 nmol/L), but the difference between groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Preterm infants eliminated 1.7 nmol PLP.kg-1.min-1 in utero, whereas full-term infants eliminated 0.2 nmol PLP.kg-1.min-1 (P < 0.05). The significantly higher plasma flow in preterm infants (116 mL.min-1.kg-1) compared with full-term infants (78 mL.min-1.kg-1) contributed to the higher PLP elimination in preterm infants.
Bioelectrical impedance measurements in patients with gastrointestinal disease: validation of the spectrum approach and a comparison of different methods for screening for nutritional depletion.

BACKGROUND Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) may be of value in identifying patients with nutritional depletion. OBJECTIVE The primary aim of the study was to assess the validity of BIS in patients with gastrointestinal disease. The secondary aim was to compare different screening methods for identifying nutritionally depleted patients. DESIGN In 70 patients with gastrointestinal disease, BIS measurements were performed and fluid compartments were calculated from extrapolated resistance (R) values of extracellular (R(ECW)) and intracellular (R(ICW)) water based on mixture equations. Results were compared with total body water and ECW, which were measured by dilution methods. Patients were classified as depleted if their actual fat-free mass (FFM) was <90% of their ideal FFM (iFFM). Different screening approaches for depletion were compared: the impedance vector method and the resistance index (RI) in relation to iFFM (RI/iFFM). RESULTS Total body water and ICW were largely underestimated (4 L) in the not-depleted patients but not in the depleted patients. In both groups, ECW was slightly overestimated (0.6-0.7 L). The critical frequency was 60% higher and the membrane capacitance was 40% lower in the depleted than in the not-depleted patients. The impedance vector method failed to identify depleted patients, whereas the proposed ratio at R(50) (R measured at 50 kHz) and R(inf) (R at infinite frequency) resulted in comparable sensitivity (86%) and specificity (73-80%). CONCLUSIONS BIS measures of body fluids are influenced by the presence of depletion, probably because of alterations in the electric properties of the body at the cellular level. However, for screening purposes, the use of the ratio (L(2)/R)/iFFM at R(50) and R(inf) may be of value.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B Impairs Diabetic Wound Healing Through Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor 2 Dephosphorylation

Objective—Impaired wound healing is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. The mechanisms that govern wound healing, however, are complex and incompletely understood. In the present study, we determined the inhibitory role of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in the process of diabetic wound healing. Approach and Results—First, by comparing the wound healing process in PTP1B knockout (PTP1B−/−) mice, ob/ob mice and their wild-type littermates in the presence or absence of streptozotocin treatment, we showed that the inhibition of mouse wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic conditions is because of the upregulation and activation of PTP1B. Second, the impaired wound healing in ob/ob mice and streptozotocin-treated wild-type mice was rescued by a PTP1B inhibitor. Third, PTP1B, which is upregulated under hyperglycemic condition, inhibited the tube formation, proliferation, and migration of human microvascular endothelial cells induced by vascular endothelial growth factor, whereas this inhibition was largely abolished by the PTP1B inhibitor. Finally, mechanism study further indicated that PTP1B likely suppressed the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells through dephosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2. Conclusions—Our study demonstrated that PTP1B negatively modulated the diabetic wound healing process by dephosphorylating the endothelial cell vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 and that the specific inhibitor of PTP1B might serve as a potential novel therapeutic tool for diabetic wound healing.
A longitudinal study of urinary calcium, magnesium, and zinc excretion in lactating and nonlactating postpartum women.

Postpartum lactating (n = 12) and nonlactating (n = 11) women and never pregnant women (n = 14) collected urine samples and diet records 2 d each month for 6 mo to determine whether postpartum women conserved urinary calcium, magnesium, or zinc. Mean daily excretions were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance and covariance to assess group and time effects. Lactating women excreted less urinary calcium (1-6 mo) than never pregnant (n = 8) and nonlactating (n = 4) women who did not use oral contraceptives (P < 0.01); however, excretion rose (P < 0.05) by 3 mo postpartum. In the nonlactating and never pregnant groups, women using oral contraceptives excreted less urinary calcium than the other women (P < 0.01). Lactating women excreted less urinary zinc (1-6 mo) than did control and non-lactating women (P < 0.01). Mechanisms may possibly be operating during lactation that depress urinary calcium for > or = 2 mo and urinary zinc < or = 6 mo postpartum.
Microstructural white matter tract alteration in Prader‐Willi syndrome: A diffusion tensor imaging study

Prader‐Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder characterized by infantile hypotonia, hyperphagia, hypogonadism, growth hormone deficiency, intellectual disability, and severe emotional and behavioral problems. The brain mechanisms that underpin these disturbances are unknown. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) enables in vivo investigation of the microstructural integrity of white matter pathways. To date, only one study has used DTI to examine white matter alterations in PWS. However, that study used selected regions of interest, rather than a whole brain analysis. In the present study, we used diffusion tensor and magnetic resonance (T 1‐weighted) imaging to examine microstructural white matter changes in 15 individuals with PWS (17–30 years) and 15 age‐and‐gender‐matched controls. Whole‐brain voxel‐wise statistical analysis of FA was carried out using tract‐based spatial statistics (TBSS). Significantly decreased fractional anisotropy was found localized to the left hemisphere in individuals with PWS within the splenium of the corpus callosum, the internal capsule including the posterior thalamic radiation and the inferior frontal occipital fasciculus (IFOF). Reduced integrity of these white matter pathways in individuals with PWS may relate to orientating attention, emotion recognition, semantic processing, and sensorimotor dysfunction.
Design of a novel flexible shape memory alloy actuator with multilayer tubular structure for easy integration into a confined space

This paper presents a novel flexible shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator, which is mainly composed of an SMA wire and a multilayer tubular structure. The multilayer tubular structure, which consists of a polytetrafluoroethylene tube, a metallic hose and a rubber tube, possesses the properties of good flexibility and high axial stiffness. The flexibility makes the SMA actuator easy to integrate into a compact or thin, narrow space with dimension constraints. The high axial stiffness helps in handling serious bending and prevents buckling of the SMA actuator. To verify the performance of the proposed actuator, a prototype was fabricated and a corresponding experimental setup was established. The effects of critical parameters, including heating current, winding angle, and applied load were experimentally investigated. The result demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed actuator and its easy integration into confined spaces. This work creates expanded opportunities for developing SMA actuators into broader application fields.
Association of of Atrial Fibrillation Clinical Phenotypes With Treatment Patterns and Outcomes: A Multicenter Registry Study

Importance Atrial fibrillation (AF) is usually classified on the basis of the disease subtype. However, this characterization does not capture the full heterogeneity of AF, and a data-driven cluster analysis reveals different possible classifications of patients. Objective To characterize patients with AF based on a cluster analysis and to evaluate the association between these phenotypes, treatment, and clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This cluster analysis used data from an observational cohort that included 9749 patients with AF who had been admitted to 174 US sites participating in the Outcomes Registry for Better Informed Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation (ORBIT-AF) registry. Data analysis was completed from January 2017 to October 2017. Exposure Patients with diagnosed AF who were included in the registry. Main Outcomes and Measures Composite of major adverse cardiovascular or neurological events and major bleeding, as defined by the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis criteria. Results Of 9749 total patients, 4150 (42.6%) were female; 8719 (89.4%) were white and 477 (4.9%) were African American. A cluster analysis was performed using 60 baseline clinical characteristics, and it classified patients with AF into 4 statistically driven clusters: (1) those with considerably lower rates of risk factors and comorbidities than all other clusters (n = 4673); (2) those with AF at younger ages and/or with comorbid behavioral disorders (n = 963); (3) those with AF who had similarities to patients with tachycardia-brachycardia and had device implantation owing to sinus node dysfunction (n = 1651); and (4) those with AF and prior coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and/or atherosclerotic comorbidities (n = 2462). Conventional classifications, such as AF subtype and left atrial size, did not drive cluster formation. Compared with the low comorbidity AF cluster, adjusted risks of major adverse cardiovascular or neurological events were significantly higher in the other 3 clusters (behavioral comorbidity cluster: hazard ratio [HR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.10-2.00; device implantation cluster: HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.15-1.68; and atherosclerotic comorbidity cluster: HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31-1.92). For major bleeding, adjusted risks were higher in the behavioral disorder comorbidity cluster (HR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05-1.73), those with device implantation (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.05-1.47), and those with atherosclerotic comorbidities (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.96-1.33) compared with the low comorbidity cluster. The same clusters were identified in an external validation in the ORBIT AF II registry. Conclusions and Relevance Cluster analysis identified 4 clinically relevant phenotypes of AF that each have distinct associations with clinical outcomes, underscoring the heterogeneity of AF and importance of comorbidities and substrates.