Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assisted therapeutic system based on reinforcement learning for children with autism

Abstract Assisted therapy is increasingly used in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) for improving social interaction and communication skills in recent years. A lot of studies have proven that the form of interactive games for therapy has a good effect on children with autism. Thus, our study provided an assisted therapeutic system based on Reinforcement Learning (RL) for children with ASD, which has five interactive subgames. As is well known, it is necessary to establish and maintain compelling interactions in therapeutic process. Therefore, we aim to adjust the interactive content according to the emotions of children with autism. However, due to the atypical and unusually differences in children with autism, most systems are based on off-line training of small samples of individuals and online recognition, so the existing assisted systems are limited in their ability to automatically update system parameters of new mappings. The integration of RL and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-Support Vector Regression (SVR) was used to deal with the updating online of prediction model’s weights. The normalized emotion labels were evaluated by the therapists. Eleven children with autism as subjects were invited in this experiment and captured facial video images. The experiment lasted for five weeks of intermittent assisted therapy, and the results were evaluated for the system and the therapy effect. Finally, we achieved a general reduction in the root mean square error of the model prediction results and labels. Although there is no significant difference in Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) scores before and after assisted therapy (p value = 0.60), in individual subjects (Sub. 1, Sub. 2 and Sub.3), the SRS total score is significantly reduced (Average drop of 19 points). These results demonstrate the effectiveness of prediction model based on RL and show the feasibility of assisted therapeutic system in children with autism.
Defect Detection of Aluminium Plates Based on Near-Field Enhancement of Lamb Waves Generated Using an Electromagnetic Acoustic Tranducer

Ultrasonic testing is an important means to detect defacing defects, such as scratches and cracks, but when the size of these defects is smaller than the wavelength of ultrasonic waves, it is difficult to detect them using traditional methods like the pulse-echo method and broadband ultrasound attenuation method for the diffraction of ultrasonic waves at the defects. Based on the non-contact characteristic of electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs), a transducer for scanning inspection was developed in this paper. The transducer was utilized to detect and measure the depth of the defacing defects on an aluminium plate based on the near-field enhancement of ultrasonic Lamb waves. The results show that the amplitude of the S0 Lamb wave experiences a large enhancement when the transducer is passed over the scratch defects and the enhancement has a clearly positive correlation with the depth of the scratch defects. When the depth increases from 0.1 mm to 0.9 mm, the amplitude of S0 Lamb waves increases from 1.13 times to 2.27 times the S0 Lamb waves received on the aluminium plate without defects. The new method can be utilized to detect the defacing defects on the aluminium plate and get better detection effects than the traditional methods without analyzing the relatively small reflection waves.
Investigating a Participation-Based Friendship Intervention for Youth with Disabilities: Effects on Goal Attainment, Social Self-Efficacy, and Engagement

Abstract Aims: This preliminary study examined the effects of a participation-based friendship intervention for youth with physical and developmental disabilities on their goal attainment, social self-efficacy, and engagement in program sessions. Methods: Before and after the eight-session intervention, five youth with physical and developmental disabilities ages 15–20 (3 females) completed a measure of goal attainment scaling (GAS) and the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) for goals related to friendship, along with a measure of social self-efficacy. Engagement was assessed after every second session (i.e. four times). After the program, youth completed interviews to capture their perceptions of each of these variables. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, enriched with the qualitative data. Results: Overall, youth achieved their GAS goals and demonstrated clinically significant change in mean COPM performance and satisfaction. Three youth displayed clinically significant change in social self-efficacy. Engagement in the program was high, with the majority of participants reporting slightly increasing levels of engagement over the sessions. The interviews substantiated these quantitative changes. Conclusions: There are few evidence-informed friendship interventions for youth with disabilities. This study provides initial evidence for the effectiveness of a participation-based friendship intervention incorporating coaching and focusing on real-world goals and contexts.
“Everyone Has the Right to Drink Beer”: A Stakeholder Analysis of Challenges to Youth Alcohol Harm-Reduction Policies in Lebanon

Background: Alcohol use is a major risk factor in premature death and disability, especially among youth. Evidence-based policies to prevent and control the detrimental effect of alcohol use have been recommended. In countries with weak alcohol control policies—such as Lebanon, stakeholder analysis provides critical information to influence policy interventions. This paper assesses the views of stakeholders regarding a national alcohol harm reduction policy for youth. Methods: We interviewed a total of 22 key stakeholders over a period of 8 months in 2015. Stakeholders were selected purposively, to include representatives of governmental and non-governmental organizations and industry that could answer questions related to core intervention areas: affordability, availability, regulation of marketing, and drinking and driving. We analyzed interview transcripts using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes emerged: Inadequacy of current alcohol control policies; weak governance and disregard for rule of law as a determinant of the status quo; and diverting of responsibility towards ‘other’ stakeholders. In addition, industry representatives argued against evidence-based policies using time-worn strategies identified globally. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that alcohol harm reduction policies are far from becoming a policy priority in Lebanon. There is a clear need to shift the narrative from victim blaming to structural conditions.
APLNR is involved in ATRA‐induced growth inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and may suppress EMT through PI3K‐Akt‐mTOR signaling

The apelin receptor (APLNR) is a GPCR involved in many pathophysiological processes; however, the correlation between APLNR expression and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been reported. In this study, we used cDNA microarray data to determine APLNR expression levels in NPC tissues. We found that APLNR expression was reduced in NPC tissues compared with noncancerous nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues. Subsequently, a large‐scale sample of 1015 tissues was used to validate this discovery and explore the relationship between APLNR expression and prognosis of NPC. Expression levels of APLNR in NPC tissues were indeed down‐regulated. Furthermore, positive expression of APLNR in NPC predicted a better prognosis (disease‐free survival: P = 0.001; overall survival: P < 0.001). Moreover, ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that an indirect interaction existed between APLNR and retinoic acid (RA) in the cancer regulatory network. Consistently, after treatment with all‐trans‐RA (ATRA), we found that APLNR was significantly up‐regulated in NPC cell lines (5‐8F and HNE1), and proliferation of NPC cells was inhibited. Cell cycle arrest occurred in the G0/G1 phase. In contrast, knockdown of APLNR diminished ATRA‐induced growth inhibition of NPC cells. In addition, we surprisingly found that APLNR also played an important role in migration and invasion of NPC. Wound‐healing and Transwell assays revealed that APLNR overexpression led to reduced migratory and invasive properties in 2 NPC cell lines. Western blot results revealed that hallmarks of epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) were altered as well, suggesting that APLNR was capable of inhibiting EMT in NPC cells. Our study further demonstrated that low expression of APLNR promoted EMT in NPC cells by activating the PI3K‐protein kinase B‐mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway. Taken together, our data suggest that APLNR could potentially predict prognosis for patients with NPC and inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT in nasopharyngeal cancer cells. —Liu, Y. , Liu, Q. , Chen, S. , Liu, Y. , Huang Y. , Chen, P., Li, X. , Gao, G. , Xu, K. , Fan, S. , Zeng Z. , Xiong W. , Tan, M. , Li, G. , Zhang W. APLNR is involved in ATRA‐induced growth inhibition of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and may suppress EMT through PI3K‐Akt‐mTOR signaling. FASEB J. 33, 11959‐11972 (2019). www.fasebj. org
Optimal Combination of Compression Rate and Depth During Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Functionally Favorable Survival.

Importance Previous studies of basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) indicate that both chest compression rate (CCR) and chest compression depth (CCD) each are associated with survival probability after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, an optimal CCR-CCD combination has yet to be identified, particularly with respect to age, sex, presenting cardiac rhythm, and CPR adjunct use. Objectives To identify an ideal CCR-CCD combination associated with the highest probability of functionally favorable survival and to assess whether this combination varies with respect to age, sex, presenting cardiac rhythm, or CPR adjunct use. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used data collected between June 2007 and November 2009 from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) clinical trials network registry of out-of-hospital and in-hospital emergency care provided by 9-1-1 system agencies participating in the network across the United States and Canada (n = 150). The study sample included 3643 patients who had out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and for whom CCR and CCD had been simultaneously recorded during an NIH clinical trial of a CPR adjunct. Subgroup analyses included evaluations according to age, sex, presenting cardiac rhythm, and application of a CPR adjunct. Data analysis was performed from September to November 2018. Interventions Standard out-of-hospital cardiac arrest interventions compliant with the concurrent American Heart Association guidelines as well as use of the CPR adjunct device in half of the patients. Main Outcomes and Measures The optimal combination of CCR-CCD associated with functionally favorable survival (modified Rankin scale ≤3) overall and by age, sex, presenting cardiac rhythm, and CPR adjunct use. Results Of 3643 patients, 2346 (64.4%) were men; the mean (SD) age was 67.5 (15.7) years. The identified optimal CCR-CCD for all patients was 107 compressions per minute and a depth of 4.7 cm. When CPR was performed within 20% of this value, survival probability was significantly higher (6.0% vs 4.3% outside that range; odds ratio, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.07-1.94; P = .02). The optimal CCR-CCD combination remained similar regardless of age, sex, presenting cardiac rhythm, or CPR adjunct use. The identified optimal CCR-CCD was associated with significantly higher probabilities of survival when the CPR device was used compared with standard CPR (odds ratio, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.06-3.38; P = .03), and the device's effectiveness was dependent on being near the target CCR-CCD combination. Conclusions and Relevance The findings suggest that the combination of 107 compressions per minute and a depth of 4.7 cm is associated with significantly improved outcomes for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The results merit further investigation and prospective validation.
Viral composition and context in metagenomes from biofilm and suspended growth municipal wastewater treatment plants

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) contain high density and diversity of viruses which can significantly impact microbial communities in aquatic systems. While previous studies have investigated viruses in WWTP samples that have been specifically concentrated for viruses and filtered to exclude bacteria, little is known about viral communities associated with bacterial communities throughout wastewater treatment systems. Additionally, differences in viral composition between attached and suspended growth wastewater treatment bioprocesses are not well characterized. Here, shotgun metagenomics was used to analyse wastewater and biomass from transects through two full‐scale WWTPs for viral composition and associations with bacterial hosts. One WWTP used a suspended growth activated sludge bioreactor and the other used a biofilm reactor (trickling filter). Myoviridae, Podoviridae and Siphoviridae were the dominant viral families throughout both WWTPs, which are all from the order Caudovirales. Beta diversity analysis of viral sequences showed that samples clustered significantly both by plant and by specific sampling location. For each WWTP, the overall bacterial community structure was significantly different than community structure of bacterial taxa associated with viral sequences. These findings highlight viral community composition in transects through different WWTPs and provide context for dsDNA viral sequences in bacterial communities from these systems.
Inhibition of COX‐2 Pathway as a Potential Prophylaxis Against Arthrofibrogenesis in a Rabbit Model of Joint Contracture

Arthrofibrosis is a common complication following total knee arthroplasty caused by pathologic fibroblast activation and excessive collagen deposition around a synovial joint leading to debilitating loss of motion. Treatment options are limited because the pathologic mechanisms remain to be characterized. Dysregulation of the inflammatory cascade may lead to communication between myofibroblasts and immune cells triggering tissue metaplasia, and excessive collagen deposition described clinically as arthrofibrosis. We explored the novel use of celecoxib (selective cyclooxygenase‐2 [COX‐2] inhibitor) to disrupt the downstream effects of the post‐traumatic inflammatory cascade and inhibit scar tissue formation in a validated rabbit model of arthrofibrosis combined with new parameters for quantifying the stiffness of the posterior capsule. Biomechanical and molecular analyses, of contracted rabbit knee posterior capsule tissue after COX‐2 inhibition revealed increased maximal passive extension and down‐regulation of collagen messenger RNA compared with controls. Histopathologic examination suggested a trend of decreased quantities of dense fibrous connective tissue with COX‐2 inhibition. These data may suggest that inhibiting the inflammatory cascade could potentially reduce pathologic myofibroblast activation, thereby reducing scar tissue formation and increasing the range of motion in arthrofibrotic joints. Implementing a multi‐modal pharmacologic approach may simultaneously target numerous cellular components contributing to the complex process of arthrofibrogenesis. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2609–2620, 2019
Phosphoproteomic analysis reveals plant DNA damage signalling pathways with a functional role for histone H2AX phosphorylation in plant growth under genotoxic stress

Summary DNA damage responses are crucial for plant growth under genotoxic stress. Accumulating evidence indicates that DNA damage responses differ between plant cell types. Here, quantitative shotgun phosphoproteomics provided high‐throughput analysis of the DNA damage response network in callus cells. MS analysis revealed a wide network of highly dynamic changes in the phosphoprotein profile of genotoxin‐treated cells, largely mediated by the ATAXIA TELANGIECTASIA MUTATED (ATM) protein kinase, representing candidate factors that modulate plant growth, development and DNA repair. A C‐terminal dual serine target motif unique to H2AX in the plant lineage showed 171‐fold phosphorylation that was absent in atm mutant lines. The physiological significance of post‐translational DNA damage signalling to plant growth and survival was demonstrated using reverse genetics and complementation studies of h2ax mutants, establishing the functional role of ATM‐mediated histone modification in plant growth under genotoxic stress. Our findings demonstrate the complexity and functional significance of post‐translational DNA damage signalling responses in plants and establish the requirement of H2AX phosphorylation for plant survival under genotoxic stress.
Computed tomography perfusion in stroke mimics

Objective To describe the prevalence and patterns of abnormal findings on automated computed tomography perfusion in patients with stroke mimic. Methods We reviewed a retrospective multi-site cohort of consecutive patients undergoing computed tomography perfusion for suspected acute ischemic stroke within 24 h from last normal (June 2017 to December 2017). The primary outcome was the diagnosis of stroke mimic. Hypoperfusion abnormalities on iSchemaView RAPID automated computed tomography perfusion were compared between patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack and stroke mimic using mixed-effects multivariable logistic regression, focusing on absence of perfusion abnormalities and discordance with clinical symptoms and computed tomography angiography findings. Results Of 410 consecutive patients who underwent computed tomography perfusion, 348 met inclusion criteria (178 (51%) stroke, 19 (6%) transient ischemic attack, and 151 (43%) mimic). Time-to-maximum of the tissue residue function (Tmax>6s) abnormalities were seen in 42 (28%) patients with stroke mimic and 122 (62%) patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack (p < 0.001). Patients with stroke mimic were more likely to have a normal Tmax pattern (volume = 0mL; adjusted OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1–4.3, p = 0.02). When the Tmax pattern was abnormal, a higher proportion of patients with stroke mimic had Tmax patterns fully discordant with clinical symptoms than patients with stroke/transient ischemic attack (28/39 (71%) vs. 10/115 (9%), p < 0.001). Fully discordant Tmax abnormalities were strongly associated with stroke mimic (adjusted OR: 48.6, 95% CI: 7.0–336, p < 0.001), with a negative predictive value for identifying mimic of 91% (95% CI: 85–94%). Conclusion While one-quarter of patients with stroke mimic show Tmax abnormalities on automated RAPID computed tomography perfusion imaging, the majority of patterns were discordant with symptoms and vessel status. Normal or fully discordant Tmax abnormalities are were more common with stroke mimic and may inform stroke treatment decision making.
A Heterodox Economics Critique of Financial Liberalization

Abstract We explore a short run structural macroeconomic model with a focus on “the problem of financing economic development“ (Kaleçki, 1976). It is demonstrated that banks, in contrast to nonbanks, have a unique role to play in the production and circulation of commodities in a monetary economy. A case is made for class-based policy.
Total Synthesis of Palodesangren B Trimethyl Ether and D Dimethyl Ether via a Late-Stage Formation of 2H-Pyran-2-one of the Tetrahydrobenzo[c]pyranochromenone Core.

In 4 steps from the tricyclic core, palodesangren B trimethyl ether as well as palodesangren D dimethyl ether could be synthesized in 29% and 18% overall yields, respectively. A reaction sequence comprising the regioselective MgCl2-mediated Casnati-Skattebøl ortho-formylation of phenol, Wittig methylenation, acryloylation, and Ru(II)-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis (RCM) led to the formation of the final 2H-pyran-2-one ring of the desired tetracyclic core.
Metformin Prolongs Survival in Type 2 Diabetes Lung Cancer Patients With EGFR-TKIs

Background: Metformin use reportedly reduces cancer risk and improves survival in lung cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of metformin use in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and lung cancer receiving epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) therapy. Methods: A nationwide, population-based cohort study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. From January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2012, a total of 373 metformin and 1260 non-metformin lung cancer cohorts with type 2 DM and EGFR-TKI treatment were studied. Results: Metformin use was significantly associated with a reduced risk of death (hazard ratio: 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.62-0.85, P < .001), as well as a significantly longer median progression-free survival (9.2 months, 95% CI: 8.6-11.7, vs 6.4 months, 95% CI: 5.9-7.2 months, P < .001) and median overall survival (33.4 months, 95% CI: 29.4-40.2, vs 25.4 months, 95% CI: 23.7-27.2 months, P < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, metformin may potentially enhance the therapeutic effect and increase survival in type 2 DM patients with lung cancer receiving EGFR-TKI therapy.
Identification of potential histone deacetylase1 (HDAC1) inhibitors using multistep virtual screening approach including SVM model, pharmacophore modeling, molecular docking and biological evaluation

Abstract Histone Deacetylases (HDACs) play a significant role in the regulation of gene expression by modifying histones and non-histone substrates. Since they are key regulators in the reversible epigenetic mechanism, they are considered as promising drug targets for the treatment of various cancers. In the present study, we have developed a workflow for identification of HDAC1 inhibitors using a multistage virtual screening approach from Maybridge and Chembridge chemical library. Initially, a support vector machine based classification model was generated, followed by generation of a zinc-binding group (ZBG) based pharmacophore model. The hits screened from these models were further subjected to molecular docking. Finally, a set of twenty-three molecules were selected from Maybridge and Chembridge library. The biological evaluation of these hits revealed that three out of the twenty-three tested compounds are showing HDAC1 inhibition along with the moderate anti-proliferative activity. It was found that the identified inhibitors are exerting chromosomal loss effect in growing yeast cells. Further, to extend the activity spectrum of the identified inhibitors, the optimization guidelines were drawn with the hydration site mapping approach by using in silico tool Watermap. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma
Oxidative stress response to different exercise intensity with an automated assay: thiol/disulphide homeostasis

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different intensity treadmill exercises on the thiol disulphide homeostasis which is a new marker of oxidative stress in rats. Male albino Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: control (CNT), low (LEx), moderate (MEx) and high-intensity exercise (HEx) group. Exercise was performed for 4 weeks. Following completion of the experimental protocol, serum total thiol, native thiol and disulphide concentrations were determined using a novel automated measurement method. Additionally, dynamic disulphide status, reduced thiol, oxidised thiol and thiol oxidation reduction percentage ratios were compared among the groups. Disulphide levels were significantly lower in MEx group and highest in CNT group (p = .047). The lowest oxidised thiol and the highest reduced thiol were determined in CNT group (p = .086; p = .083). These findings indicate that moderate-intensity exercise is more effective in reducing oxidative stress than low and high-intensity exercise.