Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Initial psychometric characterization for the Portuguese version of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi)

ABSTRACT This work reports the initial psychometric characterization of the Morningness-Eveningness-Stability-Scale improved (MESSi) for Portuguese young-adults (N = 466). A confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a three-factor model (i.e. Morning Affect, Eveningness and Distinctness) in our data, as originally proposed. Furthermore, construct validity evidence in relation to external variables (i.e. morningness/eveningness and satisfaction with life), as well as adequate reliability (i.e. internal consistency and test-retest reliability), were found. Finally, sex-based invariance and between-sex differences were investigated for the three subscales, as were correlations with age. Results point to the suitability of the MESSi for multi-cultural research on relevant and multiple aspects of chronotype.
Selection of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes from a large electronic medical records database and a study of the use of disease-modifying therapy in the United States

Objectives Treatment patterns for patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) outside clinical trials are not well described. Our objective was to evaluate treatment patterns and patient characteristics that influence time to disease-modifying therapy in patients with MDS in the USA. Design, participants and outcome measures Patients with MDS treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), iron chelation therapy, lenalidomide (LEN) and the hypomethylating agents (HMAs) azacitidine and decitabine, were retrospectively identified in the GE Centricity Electronic Medical Record database between January 2006 and February 2014; LEN and HMAs were defined as ‘disease-modifying’ therapies. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to ascertain patient characteristics associated with time to disease-modifying therapy. Results Of the 5162 patients with MDS, 35.7%, 40.3% and 4.6% received 1, ≥1 and ≥2 therapies, respectively. ESAs were the first-line (72.5%) and only (64.0%) treatment in the majority of patients who received ≥1 therapy. ESA-only patients were older and had more comorbidities, including isolated anaemia. LEN and HMAs were first-line treatment in 12.4% of patients each; 32.7% received LEN or HMAs at any time. The majority of del(5q) patients (77.6%) received ≥1 therapy, most commonly LEN, compared with 40% of patients without del(5q). A shorter time to disease-modifying therapy was significantly associated with absence of comorbidities, diagnosis after February 2008, lower baseline haemoglobin level, age <80 years and male gender (p<0.002 for all). Conclusions A high proportion of patients diagnosed with MDS in the USA do not receive approved disease-modifying therapies. It is important to improve access to these therapies.
Waterborne Infections in Reunion Island, 2010-2017.

Gram-negative bacilli Vibrio spp. , Aeromonas spp. , and Shewanella spp. are a major cause of severe waterborne infection. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and microbiological characteristics and prognosis of patients hospitalized in Reunion Island for a waterborne infection. This retrospective study was conducted in the two university hospitals of Reunion Island between January 2010 and March 2017. Patients diagnosed with a Vibrio, Aeromonas, or Shewanella infection were evaluated. Over the study period, 112 aquatic strains were isolated at Reunion Island: Aeromonas spp. were found in 91 patients (81.3%), Shewanella spp. in 13 patients (11.6%), and Vibrio spp. in eight patients (7.2%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 11.6%. The main sites of infection were skin and soft tissue (44.6%) and the abdomen (19.6%). Infections were polymicrobial in 70 cases (62.5%). The most commonly prescribed empiric antibiotic regimen was amoxicillin-clavulanate (34.8%). Eighty-four percent of the aquatic strains were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate and more than > 95% were susceptible to third or fourth generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones. After multivariate analysis, the only independent risk factor of in-hospital mortality was the presence of sepsis (P < 0.0001). In Reunion Island, the most commonly isolated aquatic microorganisms were Aeromonas spp. Sepsis caused by aquatic microorganisms was frequent (> 50%) and associated with higher in-hospital mortality. This study suggests that empiric antibiotic regimens in patients with sepsis or septic shock caused by suspected aquatic microorganisms (tropical climate, skin lesion exposed to seawater…) should include broad-spectrum antibiotics (third or fourth generation cephalosporins).
Gatekeeper Suicide Training's Effectiveness Among Malaysian Hospital Health Professionals: A Control Group Study With a Three-Month Follow-Up

Introduction: There is a lack of suicide-related training in the nonpsychiatric health professional's basic education. We suggest that a continuing education through a brief gatekeeper suicide training program could be a suitable platform to improve suicide-related knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes. This study aimed at examining the effectiveness of the Question, Persuade, Refer gatekeeper program on improving the knowledge, self-efficacy in suicide prevention, and understanding of/willingness to help suicidal patients of Malaysian hospital health professionals. Methods: The Question, Persuade, Refer program materials were translated and adapted for implementation in the hospital setting for nonpsychiatric health professionals. There were 159 (mean age = 35.75 years; SD = 12.26) participants in this study. Most participants were female (84.9%), staff/community nurses (52.2%), who worked in the general medical department (30.2%) and had no experience managing suicidal patients (64.2%). Intervention participants (n = 53) completed a survey questionnaire at pretraining, immediately after training, and after three months. Control participants (n = 106) were not exposed to the training program and completed the same questionnaire at baseline and three months later. Results: Significant improvement occurred among intervention participants in terms of perceived knowledge, self-efficacy, and understanding of/willingness to help suicidal patients immediately after training and when compared with the control participants 3 months later. Improvements in declarative knowledge were not maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Discussion: This study confirmed the short-term effectiveness of the gatekeeper training program. Gatekeeper suicide training is recommended for implementation for nonpsychiatric health professionals nationwide.
The Perceived Caregiver Burden Among Turkish Family Caregivers Providing Care for Frail Older Adults

Purpose: The older population has reached to 8.5%, and the prevalence of frailty is reported as 39.2% in Turkey. The purpose of the study was to assess caregiver burden in families who care for frail older adults in Turkish culture. Method: This descriptive study was conducted in Turkey between June and October 2017. Frail older adults who had no severe cognitive impairment were included. Data were measured using the Older Adult Information Form, Edmonton Frailty Scale, Caregiver Information Form, and Zarit Burden Interview. Results: In total, 131 older person/caregiver dyads were analyzed; the Zarit Burden Interview mean score was 37.59 ± 18.20. Caregivers with less education and providing care more than 8 hours experienced a higher burden (p < .05). The severity of frailty significantly correlated with the caregiver scores (R = .36, p < .01). Conclusion: The caregiver burden in Turkish family caregivers was found mild to moderate and correlated with the degree of frailty. Policymakers should focus on culture-specific formal caregiver services.
Enhancing Product and Service Capability Through Scaling Agility in a Global Software Vendor Environment

Agile software development has become increasingly common in software vendor organisations, and their impact on practices and roles is now extending beyond the project level across the entire organisation. In this study, we investigate how a major Australia-based multi-site global software vendor transitioned from a structured to a Scaled Agile approach. We demonstrate how practices and roles in a distributed software vendor evolved over time across the organisation in an on-going process of their global agile transformation. Through this elaboration, we identify three major agile transitions and the contribution of a scaled agile approach in the building of market driven capabilities. We theorised a relationship between increased dynamic capabilities of the firm and a scaled agile transition. Supporting our view, we noted that agile practices and roles across the organisation contributed as expected to improved internal process capability. More surprisingly, they were also found to increase our vendor's ability both to identify and take advantage of opportunities and to innovate in global product and service development and delivery.
Novel case of recurrent intraventricular atypical central neurocytoma with prominent gangliogliomatous differentiation in a 10‐year‐old boy with 10 years of follow up

Central neurocytoma is a rare neuronal tumor that typically occurs in young adults. Infrequently, these tumors exhibit advanced neuronal maturation and glial differentiation, giving rise to a histologically diverse tumor, in contrast to a typical central neurocytoma. We present a novel case of intraventricular central neurocytoma with prominent gangliogliomatous differentiation that developed atypical features upon recurrence after 10 years of follow up in a 10‐year‐old boy. Our case provides insight into the divergent differentiation capability of a neurocytic tumor and illustrates the diverse histological features of this rare entity.
The feeding apparatus of the salamander Amphiuma tridactylum: Morphology and behavior

Anatomical studies of cephalic bones and muscles combined with cine and high‐speed videographic analyses of feeding demonstrate that Amphiuma tridactylum uses two distinct types of suction feeding. Small or relatively immobile prey generally elicit a stationary capture mode in which mouth opening precedes buccal expansion and there is no forward movement of the head of the salamander. Actively moving prey are captured by a rapid strike during which mouth opening and buccal expansion are synchronous and the extent of buccal expansion is greater than in stationary feeding. Differences between these feeding modes may be due to differences in the timing of contraction of the rectus cervicis muscle. Synchronous hyoid and mandibular excursions during the strike are probably generated by simultaneous contractions of the depressor mandibulae and rectus cervicis, whereas delay of hyoid excursions during stationary capture suggests sequential contraction of the depressor and rectus cervicis.
Incidence and Risk Factors of Ocular Hypertension following Pars Plana Vitrectomy and Silicone Oil Injection

Purpose: To evaluate the risk factors for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with silicone oil injection (SOI). Procedures: This prospective interventional study included 254 consecutive eyes receiving PPV with SOI. Results: Elevated IOP developed in 48% of the eyes postoperatively. The onset of IOP elevation was early (≤1 week) in 61.5% of the eyes, intermediate (1–6 weeks) in 28.7%, and late (> 6 weeks) in 9.8%. The incidence of IOP elevation was higher with primary uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment than with tractional detachment (p = 0.01). Pseudophakia, high myopia, and high preoperative IOP were found to have higher incidences of ocular hypertension, whereas diabetic patients had a lower incidence. Conclusion: IOP elevation is a common complication following silicone oil (SO) tamponade. Risk factors for ocular hypertension development are pseudophakia, high myopia, high preoperative IOP, and low-viscosity SO.
Distribution of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) immunoreactivity in the brain of the teleost Cyprinus carpio

Cholinergic systems play a role in basic cerebral functions and its dysfunction is associated with deficit in neurodegenerative disease. Mechanisms involved in human brain diseases are often approached by using fish models, especially cyprinids, given basic similarities of the fish brain to that of mammals. In the present paper, the organization of central cholinergic systems have been described in the cyprinid Cyprinus carpio, the common carp, by using specific polyclonal antibodies against ChAT, the synthetic enzyme of acetylcholine, that is currently used as a specific marker for cholinergic neurons in all vertebrates. In this work, serial transverse sections of the brain and the spinal cord were immunostained for ChAT. Results showed that positive neurons are present in several nuclei of the forebrain, the midbrain, the hindbrain and the spinal cord. Moreover, ChAT-positive neurons were detected in the synencephalon and in the cerebellum. In addition to neuronal bodies, afferent varicose fibers were stained for ChAT in the ventral telencephalon, the preoptic area, the hypothalamus and the posterior tuberculum. No neuronal cell bodies were present in the telencephalon. The comparison of cholinergic distribution pattern in the Cyprinus carpio central nervous system has revealed similarities but also some interesting differences with other cyprinids. Our results provide additional information on the cholinergic system from a phylogenetic point of view and may add new perspectives to physiological roles of cholinergic system during evolution and the neuroanatomical basis of neurological diseases.
Trends in bacterial and fungal communities in ant nests observed with Terminal-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques—validity and compatibility in ecological studies

Microbes are ubiquitous and often occur in functionally and taxonomically complex communities. Unveiling these community dynamics is one of the main challenges of microbial research. Combining a robust, cost effective and widely used method such as Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (T-RFLP) with a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) method (Illumina MiSeq), offers a solid alternative for comprehensive assessment of microbial communities. Here, these two methods were combined in a study of complex bacterial and fungal communities in the nest mounds of the ant Formica exsecta, with the aim to assess the degree to which these methods can be used to complement each other. The results show that these methodologies capture similar spatiotemporal variations, as well as corresponding functional and taxonomical detail, of the microbial communities in a challenging medium consisting of soil, decomposing plant litter and an insect inhabitant. Both methods are suitable for the analysis of complex environmental microbial communities, but when combined, they complement each other well and can provide even more robust results. T-RFLP can be trusted to show similar general community patterns as Illumina MiSeq and remains a good option if resources for NGS methods are lacking.
Unveiling the Multifaceted Mechanisms of Antibacterial Activity of Buforin II and Frenatin 2.3S Peptides from Skin Micro-Organs of the Orinoco Lime Treefrog (Sphaenorhynchus lacteus)

Amphibian skin is a rich source of natural compounds with diverse antimicrobial and immune defense properties. Our previous studies showed that the frog skin secretions obtained by skin micro-organs from various species of Colombian anurans have antimicrobial activities against bacteria and viruses. We purified for the first time two antimicrobial peptides from the skin micro-organs of the Orinoco lime treefrog (Sphaenorhynchus lacteus) that correspond to Buforin II (BF2) and Frenatin 2.3S (F2.3S). Here, we have synthesized the two peptides and tested them against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, observing an effective bactericidal activity at micromolar concentrations. Evaluation of BF2 and F2.3S membrane destabilization activity on bacterial cell cultures and synthetic lipid bilayers reveals a distinct membrane interaction mechanism. BF2 agglutinates E. coli cells and synthetic vesicles, whereas F2.3S shows a high depolarization and membrane destabilization activities. Interestingly, we found that F2.3S is able to internalize within bacterial cells and can bind nucleic acids, as previously reported for BF2. Moreover, bacterial exposure to both peptides alters the expression profile of genes related to stress and resistance response. Overall, these results show the multifaceted mechanism of action of both antimicrobial peptides that can provide alternative tools in the fight against bacterial resistance.
Molecular imaging mass spectrometry for probing protein dynamics in neurodegenerative disease pathology

Recent advances in the understanding of basic pathological mechanisms in various neurological diseases depend directly on the development of novel bioanalytical technologies that allow sensitive and specific chemical imaging at high resolution in cells and tissues. Mass spectrometry‐based molecular imaging (IMS) has gained increasing popularity in biomedical research for mapping the spatial distribution of molecular species in situ. The technology allows for comprehensive, untargeted delineation of in situ distribution profiles of metabolites, lipids, peptides and proteins. A major advantage of IMS over conventional histochemical techniques is its superior molecular specificity. Imaging mass spectrometry has therefore great potential for probing molecular regulations in CNS‐derived tissues and cells for understanding neurodegenerative disease mechanism. The goal of this review is to familiarize the reader with the experimental workflow, instrumental developments and methodological challenges as well as to give a concise overview of the major advances and recent developments and applications of IMS‐based protein and peptide profiling with particular focus on neurodegenerative diseases.
Bacteriological study of orthopaedic infections

Open fractures are often associated with severe soft tissues damage, devascularization, and devitalization of bone fragments, thus increasing the susceptibility of bone to infection. Infections at the site of orthopaedic implants are also devastating complication. Hence an endeavor is made to study the different bacteria causing orthopaedic infections and susceptibilities of isolated bacteria to various antimicrobial agents. 75 osteomyelitis patients’ specimens were collected, bacterial species were isolated and identified by morphology, cultural characteristics and biochemical reactions according to standard techniques and different antibiotics were tested for various microorganisms. Osteomyelitis mainly affects tibia 30.6% of the cases, more common in males 76%, and was common in 20-39 yrs age group, predominantly of monomicrobial 78% colonies. Majority of the organisms isolated were Gram positive. Staphylococcus aureus is the commonest pathogen causing Osteomyelitis, among gram negative bacilli Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the commonest isolates. All MRSA strains were 100% sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid and Gram negative bacteria were sensitive to Cefepime 96% and Amikacin 70%. From the present study we conclude that Bacteriological study of orthopaedic infections is very much required to treat the osteomyelitis patients with less number of complications and Sequeale.
Voiceprint Identification for Limited Dataset Using the Deep Migration Hybrid Model Based on Transfer Learning

The convolutional neural network (CNN) has made great strides in the area of voiceprint recognition; but it needs a huge number of data samples to train a deep neural network. In practice, it is too difficult to get a large number of training samples, and it cannot achieve a better convergence state due to the limited dataset. In order to solve this question, a new method using a deep migration hybrid model is put forward, which makes it easier to realize voiceprint recognition for small samples. Firstly, it uses Transfer Learning to transfer the trained network from the big sample voiceprint dataset to our limited voiceprint dataset for the further training. Fully-connected layers of a pre-training model are replaced by restricted Boltzmann machine layers. Secondly, the approach of Data Augmentation is adopted to increase the number of voiceprint datasets. Finally, we introduce fast batch normalization algorithms to improve the speed of the network convergence and shorten the training time. Our new voiceprint recognition approach uses the TLCNN-RBM (convolutional neural network mixed restricted Boltzmann machine based on transfer learning) model, which is the deep migration hybrid model that is used to achieve an average accuracy of over 97%, which is higher than that when using either CNN or the TL-CNN network (convolutional neural network based on transfer learning). Thus, an effective method for a small sample of voiceprint recognition has been provided.
A Naturally-Occurring Dominant-Negative Inhibitor of Keap1 Competitively against Its Negative Regulation of Nrf2

Transcription factor Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a master regulator of antioxidant and/or electrophile response elements (AREs/EpREs)-driven genes involved in homeostasis, detoxification, and adaptation to various stresses. The cytoprotective activity of Nrf2, though being oppositely involved in both cancer prevention and progression, is critically controlled by Keap1 (Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1), which is an adaptor subunit of Cullin 3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase and also is a key sensor for oxidative and electrophilic stresses. Here, we first report a novel naturally-occurring mutant of Keap1, designated Keap1ΔC, which lacks most of its C-terminal Nrf2-interacting domain essential for inhibition of the cap’n’collar (CNC) basic-region leucine zipper (bZIP) factor. This mutant Keap1ΔC is yielded by translation from an alternatively mRNA-spliced variant lacking the fourth and fifth exons, but their coding sequences are retained in the wild-type Keap1 locus (with no genomic deletions). Although this variant was found primarily in the human highly-metastatic hepatoma (MHCC97H) cells, it was widely expressed at very lower levels in all other cell lines examined. Such Keap1ΔC retains no or less ability to inhibit Nrf2, so that it functions as a dominant-negative competitor of Keap1 against its inhibition of Nrf2 due to its antagonist effect on Keap1-mediated turnover of Nrf2 protein.
Sleep-wake classification via quantifying heart rate variability by convolutional neural network

Objective: Fluctuations in heart rate are intimately related to changes in the physiological state of the organism. We exploit this relationship by classifying a human participant’s wake/sleep status using his instantaneous heart rate (IHR) series. Approach: We use a convolutional neural network (CNN) to build features from the IHR series extracted from a whole-night electrocardiogram (ECG) and predict every 30 s whether the participant is awake or asleep. Our training database consists of 56 normal participants, and we consider three different databases for validation; one is private, and two are public with different races and apnea severities. Main results: On our private database of 27 participants, our accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and values for predicting the wake stage are , 52.4%, 89.4%, and 0.83, respectively. Validation performance is similar on our two public databases. When we use the photoplethysmography instead of the ECG to obtain the IHR series, the performance is also comparable. A robustness check is carried out to confirm the obtained performance statistics. Significance: This result advocates for an effective and scalable method for recognizing changes in physiological state using non-invasive heart rate monitoring. The CNN model adaptively quantifies IHR fluctuation as well as its location in time and is suitable for differentiating between the wake and sleep stages.