Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identification of Everyday Sounds Perceived as Noise by Migraine Patients

Objective Sound hypersensitivity is highly comorbid with migraine headaches. To elucidate the pathogenic mechanism of migraine attacks, we must first identify the types of everyday environmental sounds they perceive as unpleasant and clarify the acoustic properties of such sounds. This study aimed to clarify the true nature of “noise,” i.e. everyday sounds perceived as unpleasant by migraineurs, by evaluating their subjective comfort/discomfort in response to several sounds commonly heard in everyday life. Methods Participants were presented with 20 environmental sounds they would likely hear daily. Subjects rated the pleasantness/unpleasantness of each stimulus using a nine-step scale. Patients We recruited 50 adults with migraine headaches (46 women, 4 men) and 50 healthy controls (35 women, 15 men). Results Migraineurs provided statistically significantly lower (more unpleasant) ratings to ambulance sirens, police car sirens, and railroad crossing bells than did controls. Our analysis also investigated the acoustic characteristics associated with higher rating gaps between the two groups. Greater divergence in ratings for the same stimulus was associated with less power (smaller amplitude envelope) and slower temporal variation in signals in the 400-Hz band. Conclusion We identified specific signal components associated with different subjective (un)pleasantness scores between migraineurs and healthy adults, which may lead to the elucidation of the pathogenic mechanism underlying migraine attacks triggered by sound.
Neurobehavioral symptom validity in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mild traumatic brain injury evaluations

ABSTRACT Introduction: The use of the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) by U.S. Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA) providers for all mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) evaluations led to the development of methods to screen for symptom exaggeration. The present study was designed to explore the clinical utility of three metrics—the Validity–10 scale, the NSI total score, and the mild Brain Injury Atypical Symptoms Scale (mBIAS)—relative to the results of several different criterion measures of symptom validity. Method: Participants in this study were 82 U.S. military veterans referred for evaluations by a VA polytrauma clinic in the context of a history of mTBI. All participants were administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–Second Edition–Restructured Form (MMPI–2–RF), NSI, and mBIAS. Results: None of the three scales displayed adequate accuracy at predicting failure on cognitive performance validity tests or on the MMPI–2–RF Fp-r scale. For the remaining MMPI–2–RF overreporting indices (F-r, Fs, FBS-r, RBS) and for an index based on elevation of any single MMPI–2–RF overreporting index, both the NSI total score and Validity–10 displayed high positive predictive power with adequate to good sensitivity values (39% to 76%). Conclusion: These findings support the use of Validity–10 and NSI total score as symptom validity tests (SVTs) that can be used to assess for neurobehavioral symptom exaggeration.
Ecological consequences of anomalies in atmospheric moisture and snowpack.

Although increased frequency of extreme-weather events is one of the most secure predictions associated with contemporary climate change, effects of such events on distribution and abundance of climate-sensitive species remain poorly understood. Montane ecosystems may be especially sensitive to extreme weather because of complex abiotic and biotic interactions that propagate from climate-driven reductions in snowpack. Snowpack not only protects subnivean biotas from extreme cold, but also influences forage availability through timing of melt-off and water availability. We related relative abundances of an alpine mammal, the American pika (Ochotona princeps), to measures of weather and snowpack dynamics over an 8-yr period that included before and after a year of record-low snowpack in Washington, USA. We sought to (1) quantify any change in pika abundance associated with the snowpack anomaly and (2) identify aspects of weather and snowpack that influenced abundance of pikas. Pikas showed a 1-yr lag response to the snowpack anomaly and exhibited marked declines in abundance at elevations below 1,400 m simultaneous with increased abundances at higher elevations. Atmospheric moisture, indexed by vapor pressure deficit (VPD), was especially important, evidenced by strong support for the top-ranked model that included the interaction of VPD with snowpack duration. Notably, our novel application of VPD from gridded climate data for analyses of animal abundances shows strong potential for improving species distribution models because VPD represents an important aspect of weather that influences the physiology and habitat of biota. Pikas were apparently affected by cold stress without snowpack at mid elevations, whereas changes to forage associated with snowpack and VPD were influential at high and low elevations. Our results reveal context dependency in pika responses to weather and illustrate how snow drought can lead to rapid change in the abundance of subnivean animals.
A Stochastic Sampling Mechanism for Time-Varying Formation of Multiagent Systems With Multiple Leaders and Communication Delays

The time-varying formation problem for multiagent systems (MASs) with stochastic sampling and multiple leaders is studied in this paper, in which communication delays are taken into account. All the agents are divided into the set of the follower group and the set of the leader group. Under the proposed stochastic sampling mechanism for time-varying formation of the MASs with communication delays, the followers are driven to achieve time-varying formation where the center of the formation is the convex combination of the states of the leaders. In the theoretical analysis, sufficient conditions for the MASs achieving time-varying formation in mean square under stochastic sampling with multiple leaders and communication delays are derived. Moreover, some corollaries are also given in this paper. Finally, the theoretical analysis is verified by a given simulation example.
A molecular mechanism of mouse placental spongiotrophoblast differentiation regulated by prolyl oligopeptidase

Summary In eutherian mammals, the placenta plays a critical role in embryo development by supplying nutrients and hormones and mediating interaction with the mother. To establish the fine connection between mother and embryo, the placenta needs to be formed normally, but the mechanism of placental differentiation is not fully understood. We previously revealed that mouse prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) plays a role in trophoblast stem cell (TSC) differentiation into two placental cell types, spongiotrophoblasts (SpT) and trophoblast giant cells. Here, we focused on SpT differentiation and attempted to elucidate a molecular mechanism. For Ascl2, Arnt, and Egfr genes that are indispensable for SpT formation, we found that a POP-specific inhibitor, SUAM-14746, significantly decreased Ascl2 expression, which was consistent with a significant decrease in expression of Flt1, a gene downstream of Ascl2. Although this downregulation was unlikely to be mediated by the PI3K-Akt pathway, our results indicated that POP controls TSC differentiation into SpT by regulating the Ascl2 gene.
Multi-Stage Particle Separation based on Microstructure Filtration and Dielectrophoresis

Particle separation is important in chemical and biomedical analysis. Among all particle separation approaches, microstructure filtration which based particles size difference has turned into one of the most commonly methods. By controlling the movement of particles, dielectrophoresis has also been widely adopted in particle separation. This work presents a microfluidic device which combines the advantages of microfilters and dielectrophoresis to separate micro-particles and cells. A three-dimensional (3D) model was developed to calculate the distributions of the electric field gradient at the two filter stages. Polystyrene particles with three different sizes were separated by micropillar array structure by applying a 35-Vpp AC voltage at 10 KHz. The blocked particles were pushed off the filters under the negative dielectrophoretic force and drag force. A mixture of Haematococcus pluvialis cells and Bracteacoccus engadinensis cells with different sizes were also successfully separated by this device, which proved that the device can separate both biological samples and polystyrene particles.
Small‐Vessel Disease in the Heart and Brain: Current Knowledge, Unmet Therapeutic Need, and Future Directions

I schemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and dementia are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, notably affecting aging populations. The public health burden related to chest pain is substantial and the epidemiology of IHD because of large-vessel coronary atherosclerosis is well documented. By contrast, the epidemiology of small-vessel disease (SVD) in the heart is less well established. Cohort studies indicate that the underlying cause of anginal chest pain may be SVD in more than 1 in 3 of all-comers with stable symptoms. IHD because of SVD associates with vascular risk factors, such as hypertension and female sex. The vascular anatomy of the heart and brain is similar in that conduit arteries are distributed on the surface of these organs with tissue perfusion achieved through deep penetrating arteries. In the heart, SVD involves the deep penetrating coronary arterioles and the subendocardial plexus of microvessels. The clinical sequelae of SVD in the heart include stable and acute coronary syndromes and heart failure in the longer term. SVD in the brain mainly involves small subcortical cerebral arteries. Occlusion of 1 of these vessels may result in a clinical stroke syndrome known as a lacunar syndrome. Acute imaging may show a lesion (<20 mm) on diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicating an acute lacunar infarct. Later imaging may continue to identify the resulting end-stage lesion as a lacune (<15 mm). Long-term ischemia from SVD may show only white matter hyperintensities with or without lacunes and may manifest as vascular cognitive impairment. SVD may manifest as a multisystem disorder implying commonality between disorders of small vessels of the heart and brain (and potentially other organs such as the kidney) (Figure 1). In this article, we review the co-existence of SVD in heart and brain. We consider evidence for and against a pathophysiological link between SVD in the heart and brain. We identify gaps in knowledge and disease-modifying therapy. Clinical cases are presented in Figure 2.
Transition and change: prospective effects of posttraumatic stress on smoking trajectories in the first year of college.

OBJECTIVE College matriculation begins a period of transition that is marked by new freedoms and responsibilities and by increases in a variety of risky behaviors, including smoking. Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are well-established risk factors for smoking outcomes, and thus may be a point of intervention for college smoking. Yet, no studies have examined associations among trauma, PTSD, and smoking in college students. The present study provides such an examination. METHOD Matriculating student smokers (N = 346) completed surveys in September (T1) and at 5 subsequent time points (T2-T6) over their first year of college. With latent growth analysis, we modeled smoking trajectories conditioned on PTSD symptom status (i.e., No PTSD Symptoms vs. Partial PTSD vs. Full PTSD). RESULTS Results showed that although smoking tended to decline during the first semester for all groups, significant risk for escalation in smoking during the second semester was conferred specifically by the presence of PTSD at matriculation. CONCLUSIONS Interventions that offer support and resources to students entering college with PTSD may help to prevent smoking behaviors from escalating and may ultimately prevent the adoption of daily smoking in later adulthood.
Aquaporin-4 antibody positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder subsequent to rhabdomyolysis: a case report and literature review

Abstract Rhabdomyolysis could be caused by various mechanisms including autoimmune reaction. Here, we reported a case of 76-year-old-woman diagnosed with aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG positive neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) following rhabdomyolysis. After a review of literature, we propose that physical injury of skeletal muscle cells may lead to the production of AQP4 IgG and this AQP4 IgG might further decrease in the stability of skeletal muscle cells creating a positive feedback loop. HyperCKemia might be an inducement of NMOSD.
The use of the Renfrew Bus Story with 5–8-year-old Australian children

Abstract Purpose: Research into the language sampling practices of Australian speech pathologists suggests the Bus Story Test is a frequently used standardized tool for eliciting story retelling samples for screening, diagnosis, goal-setting, and progress monitoring purposes. Because this task has not been normed on an Australian population, this study investigated the usefulness of the Bus Story for young school-age Australian children. Method: In total, 125 Australian primary-school children (aged 5;3–8;9) participated in the Bus Story task. Children attending Year 2 also retold the story Frog Where Are You. Children's performance was analysed for measures of information and sentence length (Bus Story only), story length, MLU, number of different words and clausal density. Result: Performance on the Bus Story improved with year-of-schooling for all measures. Between 21–64% of the children performed below expectations on information or length scores when using the published norms. The retell task Frog Where Are You elicited longer samples, containing a higher number of different words. Conclusion: Using the published Bus Story norms will potentially result in over- identification of language impairment. The retell task Frog Where Are You may provide a useful alternative for assessing young school-aged children's story retelling ability.
Muscarinic antagonist control of myopia: evidence for M4 and M1 receptor-based pathways in the inhibition of experimentally-induced axial myopia in the tree shrew.

PURPOSE The broadband muscarinic antagonist atropine is effective in stopping the progression of myopia in animals and humans. The partially selective M(1)/M(4) antagonist pirenzepine also slows progression of myopia, although not as effectively as atropine. Due to the supra maximal doses utilized in these studies, it is unclear if this antimyopia effect occurs through a receptoral-based mechanism, and if so, which receptors are involved. Studies in chicks indicate the involvement of the M(4) muscarinic receptor. The current study investigated the effect of the highly selective muscarinic antagonists Muscarinic Toxin 3 (MT3) (M(4) selective) and Muscarinic Toxin 7 (MT7) (M(1) selective) on experimental myopia in a mammalian model. METHODS Tree shrews (n = 23) underwent daily intravitreal injections of MT3, MT7, or vehicle (phosphate buffered saline) for five days in the treated eye, combined with deprivation of vision with a translucent occluder (MD). The contralateral eye was unocccluded and underwent intravitreal injections of vehicle for the same period. Two additional groups (n = 10) underwent daily intravitreal injections of MT7 or vehicle for 10 days in the treated eye combined with negative lens (-9.5 diopter [D]) defocus (LIM). The control eye was injected with saline and wore a plano lens. RESULTS Both MT3 and MT7 treatment reduced the development of deprivation-induced myopia (treated-control eye [T-C]; vehicle-MD; -4.3 ± 0.6 D versus MT3-MD; -0.7 ± 0.2 D and MT7-MD; -0.7 ± 0.4 D; P < 0.001). MT7 treatment was effective at inhibiting lens-induced myopia (T-C; vehicle-LIM; -4.6 ± 0.5 D versus MT7-LIM; 0.2 ± 0.2 D; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate that inhibition of form-deprivation myopia by muscarinic antagonists involves both M(4) and M(1) muscarinic receptor signaling pathways in mammals.
Assessing the relationship between multimorbidity and depression in older men and women: the International Mobility in Aging Study (IMIAS)

Abstract Objectives: Our study aims to assess whether multimorbidity is an independent risk factor for the development of depression in older adults living in Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and Albania and examines differences in incidence of depression regarding social and psychosocial characteristics. Methods: The longitudinal International Mobility Aging Study (IMIAS) collected information from adults between 65–74 years old. Depression was defined by a 16 or higher score assessed by the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale. Multimorbidity was defined as having two or more chronic conditions, which were self-reported by participants using a list of eight physical chronic conditions. Poisson regression was performed to estimate the relative risk of depression in older adults with multimorbidity compared to those living with 0–1 chronic conditions, adjusting for sex, age, education, number of doctor visits, degree of assistance needed, social support, and smoking status. The analysis was stratified by study region (Canada; Latin America; Albania). Results: Crude and adjusted models showed no statistically significant associations between multimorbidity and the incidence of depression in any of the study regions, confirmed by sensitivity analyses. However, the incidence of depression varied across study region, confirmed by the intra-class correlation coefficient which indicated that 13% of variations in depression incidence were due to geographic differences. Conclusion: Multimorbidity does not appear to increase the risk of developing depression in older adults between 65–74. Higher rates of depression in Latin America and Albania (compared to Canada) may be attributed to lifecourse exposures to social and economic adversity in these regions.
Integrated Functional Genomic Analysis Enables Annotation of Kidney Genome-Wide Association Study Loci.

BACKGROUND Linking genetic risk loci identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to their causal genes remains a major challenge. Disease-associated genetic variants are concentrated in regions containing regulatory DNA elements, such as promoters and enhancers. Although researchers have previously published DNA maps of these regulatory regions for kidney tubule cells and glomerular endothelial cells, maps for podocytes and mesangial cells have not been available. METHODS We generated regulatory DNA maps (DNase-seq) and paired gene expression profiles (RNA-seq) from primary outgrowth cultures of human glomeruli that were composed mainly of podocytes and mesangial cells. We generated similar datasets from renal cortex cultures, to compare with those of the glomerular cultures. Because regulatory DNA elements can act on target genes across large genomic distances, we also generated a chromatin conformation map from freshly isolated human glomeruli. RESULTS We identified thousands of unique regulatory DNA elements, many located close to transcription factor genes, which the glomerular and cortex samples expressed at different levels. We found that genetic variants associated with kidney diseases (GWAS) and kidney expression quantitative trait loci were enriched in regulatory DNA regions. By combining GWAS, epigenomic, and chromatin conformation data, we functionally annotated 46 kidney disease genes. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate a powerful approach to functionally connect kidney disease-/trait-associated loci to their target genes by leveraging unique regulatory DNA maps and integrated epigenomic and genetic analysis. This process can be applied to other kidney cell types and will enhance our understanding of genome regulation and its effects on gene expression in kidney disease.
A split sleep schedule rescues short-term topographical memory after multiple nights of sleep restriction

Abstract Study Objectives Chronic sleep restriction in adolescents is widespread, yet we know little about how to apportion the limited amount of sleep obtained to minimize cognitive impairment: should sleep occur only nocturnally, or be split across separate nocturnal and daytime nap periods? This is particularly relevant to hippocampal-dependent cognitive functions that underpin several aspects of learning. Method We assessed hippocampal function in four groups by evaluating short-term topographical memory with the Four Mountains Test (4MT). All participants began with 9 hours nocturnal time-in-bed (TIB) for 2 days before following different sleep schedules over the next 3 days. Each day, one group had 5 hours nocturnal TIB (5.0h; n = 30), another, 6.5 hours nocturnal TIB (6.5h; n = 29), and a third had 6.5 hours split into 5 hours nocturnal TIB and a 1.5 hour TIB daytime nap (5.0 + 1.5h; n = 29). A control group maintained 9 hours nocturnal TIB (9.0h; n = 30). The 4MT was administered mid-afternoon (1.5 hours after awakening for those who napped). Results Performance of the 5.0h and 6.5h nocturnal TIB groups was significantly impaired relative to the 9.0h control group. Performance of participants on the split- sleep schedule (5.0 + 1.5h) did not significantly differ from controls. Conclusions These findings suggest that hippocampal function is sensitive to moderate multi-night sleep restriction, but deficits can be ameliorated by splitting sleep, at least for a period after waking from a daytime nap. While this split sleep schedule should not be considered a replacement for adequate nocturnal sleep, it appears to benefit the cognitive and neurophysiological functions that underpin learning in those who are chronically sleep deprived.