Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gestational TSH and FT4 Reference Intervals in Chinese Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) change dynamically during pregnancy. Differences in geographic regions, populations, and manufacturer's methodologies can affect the reference intervals for thyroid function tests. The 2017 guidelines of the American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommended 4.0 mU/L as the cut-off point for the upper limit of serum TSH in early pregnancy. A systematic review is called for to establish practical, gestational-specific TSH and FT4 reference intervals for pregnant Chinese women and to explore whether the criteria are suitable for China. Methods: English and Chinese articles published from inception to Aug 2017 were searched in the PubMed, EMBASE, and SCIE English-language databases and the CNKI, WanFang, and CQVIP Chinese databases. The relative descent or ascent rates of serum TSH and FT4 were calculated, after which Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results: Eleven studies (6 in English and 5 in Chinese), five kits and 11,629 Chinese women from nine cities were considered in this meta-analysis. Compared with the reference ranges provided by manufacturers, serum TSH decreased in the first trimester, with the upper limit declining by 21.7% (5.0–36.6%), to a value close to 4.0 mU/L, and the lower limit declining by 85.7% (73.5–97.1%). It continued decreasing in the second trimester, with the upper limit declining by 24.0% (6.4–40.9%) and the lower limit declining by 40.7% (9.0–85.7%). For FT4, the upper limit fluctuated slightly, and the lower limit increased by 6.8% (1.0–14.6%) in the first trimester. Serum FT4 dropped gradually, with the upper limit declining by 21.8% (2.5–31.8%) and the lower limit declining by 12.7% (2.6–19.6%) in the second trimester. During the third trimester, the upper limit decreased by 25.1% (12.7–35.0%), while the lower limit decreased by 20.9% (14.8–27.3%). Conclusions: Various regions, kits and test methods affect the gestational TSH and FT4 levels. The non-pregnant serum TSH upper limit minus 22% is very close to 4.0 mU/L, which can be used as a sub-optimal approach to represent the cut-off value for pregnant Chinese women in the first trimester.
Influence of the Membrane Dye R18 and of DMSO on Cell Penetration of Guanidinium‐Rich Peptides

A quantitative analysis by confocal fluorescence microscopy of the entry into HEK293 and MCF‐7 cells by fluorescein‐labeled octaarginine (1) and by three octa‐Adp derivatives (2 – 4, octamers of the β‐Asp‐Arg‐dipeptide, derived from the biopolymer cyanophycin) is described, including the effects of the membrane dye R18 and of DMSO on cell penetration.
STAT3 in Skeletal Muscle Function and Disorders

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling plays critical roles in regulating skeletal muscle mass, repair, and diseases. In this review, we discuss the upstream activators of STAT3 in skeletal muscles, with a focus on interleukin 6 (IL6) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1). We will also discuss the double-edged effect of STAT3 activation in the muscles, including the role of STAT3 signaling in muscle hypertrophy induced by exercise training or muscle wasting in cachectic diseases and muscular dystrophies. STAT3 is a critical regulator of satellite cell self-renewal after muscle injury. STAT3 knock out affects satellite cell myogenic progression by impairing proliferation and inducing premature differentiation. Recent studies in STAT3 signaling demonstrated its direct role in controlling myogenic capacity of myoblasts and satellite cells, as well as the potential benefit in using STAT3 inhibitors to treat muscle diseases. However, prolonged STAT3 activation in muscles has been shown to be responsible for muscle wasting by activating protein degradation pathways. It is important to balance the extent of STAT3 activation and the duration and location (cell types) of the STAT3 signaling when developing therapeutic interventions. STAT3 signaling in other tissues and organs that can directly or indirectly affects skeletal muscle health are also discussed.
Resting-State Activity of Prefrontal-Striatal Circuits in Internet Gaming Disorder: Changes With Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Predictors of Treatment Response

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is effective for the treatment of Internet gaming disorder (IGD). However, the mechanisms by which CBT improves IGD-related clinical symptoms remain unknown. This study aimed to discover the therapeutic mechanism of CBT in IGD subjects using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI). Twenty-six IGD subjects and 30 matched healthy controls (HCs) received rsfMRI scan and clinical assessments; 20 IGD subjects completed CBT and then were scanned again. The amplitude of low-frequency (ALFF) values and the functional connectivity (FC) between the IGD group and the HC group were compared at baseline, as well as the ALFF values and FC before and after the CBT in the IGD group. Prior to treatment, the IGD group exhibited significantly increased ALFF values in the bilateral putamen, the right medial orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA), the left postcentral gyrus, and the left anterior cingulate (ACC) compared with the HC group. The HC group showed significantly increased FC values between the left medial OFC and the putamen compared with the IGD group, the FC values of IGD group were negatively associated with the BIS-11 scores before treatment. After the CBT, the weekly gaming time was significantly shorter, and the CIAS and BIS-II scores were significantly lower. The ALFF values in the IGD subjects significantly decreased in the left superior OFC and the left putamen, and the FC between them significantly increased after the CBT. The degree of the FC changes (ΔFC/Pre−FC) was positively correlated with the scale of the CIAS scores changes (ΔCIAS/Pre−CIAS) in the IGD subjects. CBT could regulate the abnormal low-frequency fluctuations in prefrontal-striatal regions in IGD subjects and could improve IGD-related symptoms. Resting-state alternations in prefrontal-striatal regions may reveal the therapeutic mechanism of CBT in IGD subjects.
Using Persistent Homology as a New Approach for Super-Resolution Localization Microscopy Data Analysis and Classification of γH2AX Foci/Clusters

DNA double strand breaks (DSB) are the most severe damages in chromatin induced by ionizing radiation. In response to such environmentally determined stress situations, cells have developed repair mechanisms. Although many investigations have contributed to a detailed understanding of repair processes, e.g., homologous recombination repair or non-homologous end-joining, the question is not sufficiently answered, how a cell decides to apply a certain repair process at a certain damage site, since all different repair pathways could simultaneously occur in the same cell nucleus. One of the first processes after DSB induction is phosphorylation of the histone variant H2AX to γH2AX in the given surroundings of the damaged locus. Since the spatial organization of chromatin is not random, it may be conclusive that the spatial organization of γH2AX foci is also not random, and rather, contributes to accessibility of special repair proteins to the damaged site, and thus, to the following repair pathway at this given site. The aim of this article is to demonstrate a new approach to analyze repair foci by their topology in order to obtain a cell independent method of categorization. During the last decade, novel super-resolution fluorescence light microscopic techniques have enabled new insights into genome structure and spatial organization on the nano-scale in the order of 10 nm. One of these techniques is single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) with which the spatial coordinates of single fluorescence molecules can precisely be determined and density and distance distributions can be calculated. This method is an appropriate tool to quantify complex changes of chromatin and to describe repair foci on the single molecule level. Based on the pointillist information obtained by SMLM from specifically labeled heterochromatin and γH2AX foci reflecting the chromatin morphology and repair foci topology, we have developed a new analytical methodology of foci or foci cluster characterization, respectively, by means of persistence homology. This method allows, for the first time, a cell independent comparison of two point distributions (here the point distributions of two γH2AX clusters) with each other of a selected ensample and to give a mathematical measure of their similarity. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, cells were irradiated by low LET (linear energy transfer) radiation with different doses and the heterochromatin and γH2AX foci were fluorescently labeled by antibodies for SMLM. By means of our new analysis method, we were able to show that the topology of clusters of γH2AX foci can be categorized depending on the distance to heterochromatin. This method opens up new possibilities to categorize spatial organization of point patterns by parameterization of topological similarity.
Triangle Estimation using Polylogarithmic Queries

Estimating the number of triangles in a graph is one of the most fundamental problems in sublinear algorithms. In this work, we provide the first approximate triangle counting algorithm using only polylogarithmic queries. Our query oracle "Tripartite Independent Set" (TIS) takes three disjoint sets of vertices $A$, $B$ and $C$ as input, and answers whether there exists a triangle having one endpoint in each of these three sets. Our query model is inspired by the "Bipartite Independent Set" (BIS) query oracle of Beame et al. (ITCS, 2018). Their algorithm for edge estimation requires only polylogarithmic BIS queries, where a BIS query takes two disjoint sets $A$ and $B$ as input and answers whether there is an edge with endpoints in $A$ and $B$. We extend the algorithmic framework of Beame et al., with TIS replacing BIS, for triangle counting using ideas from color coding due to Alon et al. (J. ACM, 1995) and a concentration inequality for sums of random variables with bounded dependency due to Janson (Rand. Struct. Alg., 2004).
A systematic review of the vitamin B12, folate and homocysteine triad across body mass index

Multiple studies have explored the association between serum or plasma vitamin B12 status and obesity, in part because of the relationship between elevated homocysteine concentrations and atherosclerosis. This review will address the inconsistent finding of these studies with the objective of determining whether vitamin B12 concentrations are lower in people with higher body mass indices.
A New Measure for Assessing Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: The Addictive Behavior Questionnaire (ABQ)

This article evaluates the psychometric properties of a new measure for assessing Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders: the Addictive Behavior Questionnaire (ABQ). The ABQ is a self-report measure composed of two sections: the Severity Index (SI) and the Seven Domains Addiction Scale (7DAS). Materials and methods. A total sample of 698 subjects divided into two groups (515 subjects in the clinical sample and 183 subjects in the control sample), participated in this study. We applied Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to examine features of ABQ construct validity, we used Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to assess its internal reliability, and explored some aspects of its concurrent validity by examining its associations with other measures assessing addictive behaviors and psychopathology. Results and conclusions: results of EFA indicated that all the scales of the ABQ are unidimensional and showed good internal consistency. The correlations between the sections of the ABQ and the other measures used in the current study were significant and in the expected directions. These results suggest that the ABQ has good psychometric properties and allows researchers and clinicians to gather relevant information regarding behaviors, psychopathology and severity of symptoms, for the best clinical reasoning and for planning tailored treatment for each patient.
Evolution of platelet functions in cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation: A prospective exploration over a month

This prospective observational study was designed to analyze platelet functions across time in 50 patients scheduled for liver transplantation (LT) secondary to decompensated cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. Platelet functions were assessed before LT (pre-LT), one week (D7) and 1 month (D28) after LT. Platelet count significantly increased from pre-LT time to day 28 as well as circulating CD34+hematopoietic stem cells. To avoid any influence of platelet count on assays, platelet function was evaluated on platelet-rich-plasma adjusted to pre-LT platelet count. Although platelet secretion potential did not differ between time-points, as evaluated by the expression of CD62P upon strong activation, platelet aggregation in response to various agonists significantly increased along time, however with no concomitant increase of circulating markers of platelet activation: platelet microvesicles, platelet-leukocyte complexes, soluble CD40L and soluble CD62P. In the multivariate analysis, hepatic function was associated with platelet count and function. A lower platelet aggregation recovery was correlated with Child C score. History of thrombosis or bleeding was associated with respective higher or lower values of platelet aggregation. This longitudinal analysis of platelet functions in LT patients showed an improvement of platelet functions along time together with platelet count increase, with no evidence of platelet hyperactivation at any time-point.
Examination of the Neural Basis of Psychoticlike Experiences in Adolescence During Reward Processing

Importance Psychoticlike experiences (PLEs) are subclinical manifestations of psychotic symptoms and may reflect an increased vulnerability to psychotic disorders. Contemporary models of psychosis propose that dysfunctional reward processing is involved in the cause of these clinical illnesses. Objective To examine the neuroimaging profile of healthy adolescents at 14 and 19 years old points with PLEs, using a reward task. Design, Setting, and Participants A community-based cohort study, using both a cross-sectional and longitudinal design, was conducted in academic centers in London, Nottingham, United Kingdom, and Dublin, Ireland; Paris, France; and Berlin, Hamburg, Mannheim, and Dresden, Germany. A group of 1434 healthy adolescent volunteers was evaluated, and 2 subgroups were assessed at ages 14 and 19 years. Those who scored as either high or low PLE (based on the upper and lower deciles) on the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences Questionnaire (CAPE-42) at age 19 years were included in the analysis. The study was conducted from January 1, 2016, to January 1, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures Participants were assessed at age 14 and 19 year points using functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a monetary incentive delay reward task. A first-level model focused on 2 predefined contrasts of anticipation and feedback of a win. The second-level analysis examined activation within the reward network using an a priori–defined region of interest approach. The main effects of group, time, and their interaction on brain activation were examined. Results Of the 1434 adolescents, 2 groups (n = 149 each) (high PLEs, n = 149, 50 [33.6%] male; low PLEs, n = 149, 84 [56.4%] male) were compared at ages 14 and 19 years. Two regions within the left and right middle frontal gyri showed a main effect of time on brain activation (F1, 93 = 5.559; P = .02; F1, 93 = 5.009; P = .03, respectively); there was no main effect of group. One region within the right middle frontal gyrus demonstrated a significant time × group interaction (F1, 93 = 7.448; P = .01). Conclusion and Relevance The findings are consistent with evidence implicating alterations in prefrontal and striatal function during reward processing in the etiology of psychosis. Given the nature of this nonclinical sample this may reflect a combination of aberrant salience yielding abnormal experiences and a compensatory cognitive control mechanism necessary to contextualize them.
Autophagy as a mechanism of Apo2L/TRAIL resistance

ABSTRACT Apo2 ligand (Apo2L)/tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is unique to selectively induce apoptosis in tumor cells while sparing normal cells. Thus there is tremendous interest in Apo2L/TRAIL therapy; however, drug resistance is a serious limitation. Autophagy is a cellular housekeeping process that controls protein and organelle turnover, and is almost consistently activated in response to apoptosis-inducing stimuli, including Apo2L/TRAIL. Unlike apoptosis, autophagy leads to cell death or survival depending on the context. Various molecular mechanisms by which autophagy regulates Apo2L/TRAIL-induced apoptosis have been identified. Further, whether autophagy is completed (intact autophagic flux) or not could determine the fate of cancer cells, either cell survival or death. Thus, targeting autophagy is an attractive strategy to overcome Apo2L/TRAIL resistance. We present the current view of how these regulatory mechanisms of this interplay between autophagy and apoptosis may dictate cancer cell response to Apo2L/TRAIL therapy.
Portable System for Real-Time Detection of Stress Level

Currently, mental stress is a major problem in our society. It is related to a wide variety of diseases and is mainly caused by daily-life factors. The use of mobile technology for healthcare purposes has dramatically increased during the last few years. In particular, for out-of-lab stress detection, a considerable number of biosignal-based methods and systems have been proposed. However, these approaches have not matured yet into applications that are reliable and useful enough to significantly improve people’s quality of life. Further research is needed. In this paper, we propose a portable system for real-time detection of stress based on multiple biosignals such as electroencephalography, electrocardiography, electromyography, and galvanic skin response. In order to validate our system, we conducted a study using a previously published and well-established methodology. In our study, ten subjects were stressed and then relaxed while their biosignals were simultaneously recorded with the portable system. The results show that our system can classify three levels of stress (stress, relax, and neutral) with a resolution of a few seconds and 86% accuracy. This suggests that the proposed system could have a relevant impact on people’s lives. It can be used to prevent stress episodes in many situations of everyday life such as work, school, and home.
Self-Calibration of Angular Position Sensors by Signal Flow Networks

Angle position sensors (APSs) usually require initial calibration to improve their accuracy. This article introduces a novel offline self-calibration scheme in which a signal flow network is employed to reduce the amplitude errors, direct-current (DC) offsets, and phase shift without requiring extra calibration instruments. In this approach, a signal flow network is firstly constructed to overcome the parametric coupling caused by the linearization model and to ensure the independence of the parameters. The model parameters are stored in the nodes of the network, and the intermediate variables are input into the optimization pipeline to overcome the local optimization problem. A deep learning algorithm is also used to improve the accuracy and speed of convergence to a global optimal solution. The results of simulations show that the proposed method can achieve a high identification accuracy with a relative parameter identification error less than 0.001‰. The practical effects were also verified by implementing the developed technique in a capacitive APS, and the experimental results demonstrate that the sensor error after signal calibration could be reduced to only 6.98%.
Effects of Specific Language Impairment on a Contrastive Dialect Structure: The Case of Infinitival TO Across Various Nonmainstream Dialects of English.

Purpose Using data from children who spoke various nonmainstream dialects of English and who were classified as either children with specific language impairment (SLI) or typically developing (TD) children, we examined children's marking of infinitival TO by their dialect and clinical status. Method The data came from 180 kindergartners (91 speakers of African American English, 60 speakers of Southern White English, 29 speakers of +Cajun); 53 were children with SLI, and 127 were TD children. Data included 4,537 infinitival TO contexts extracted from language samples; each was coded as zero or overtly marked and by preceding verb context (i.e., verbs of motion vs. other). Results Across dialects, overall rates of zero marking differed by the children's clinical status (SLI > TD), and other verb contexts accounted for this result. Across the TD and SLI groups, dialect variation was evident for verbs of motion contexts, and the effect was stronger for the TD than for the SLI groups, particularly if the TD children's dialects were classified as +Cajun. Conclusion Children's marking of infinitival TO can be affected by both their dialect and clinical status. Results support language assessments that include context-specific rate-based measures of infinitival TO and other contrastive structures when they prove useful for understanding the linguistic profile of SLI within a dialect.
Carotid intima media thickness and ankle brachial index are inversely associated in subjects with and without diabetes

Abstract Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and ankle brachial index (ABI) are non-invasive indicators of generalised atherosclerosis. The aim was to determine the association between carotid IMT and ABI in subjects with and without diabetes mellitus (DM), and to analyse specific age change-points. We included 2744 subjects from the Copenhagen City Heart Study (mean age (SD) 56.6 (17.2) years, 56.8% women and body mass index (BMI) 25.4 (4.1) kg/m2). Carotid IMT and ABI measurements were performed during the fifth examination. Of the 2744 subjects, 125 subjects (4.6%) had DM. Average carotid IMT was 0.667 (0.145) mm and ABI was 1.06 (0.14). Subjects with DM were older, had higher BMI and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (all p < .001). Carotid IMT was higher in subjects with DM (0.754 (0.150) mm) compared to subjects without DM (0.662 (0.144) mm) (p < .001), whereas there was no difference in ABI between the two groups. ABI was inversely associated with carotid IMT (slope = −0.17 [−0.207; −0.137] (p < .001). The association remained significant after adjustment for risk factors both in subjects with DM (slope = −0.168 [−0.328; −0.007], p = .040), and in subjects without DM (slope = −0.100 [−0.148; −0.052], p < .001), with a stronger effect of carotid IMT on ABI among subjects with DM. Carotid IMT and ABI were inversely associated in subjects with DM and without DM, but with a stronger effect in subjects with DM. Age and ABI revealed a change-point with a stronger inverse association among subjects aged >60 years.